Chapter 590
Melody's next question presented a difficult situation. She was in a public space and couldn't remove someone from the school unnoticed. Deciding to take the risk, she gritted her teeth, placed Tiffany on her shoulder, and hurried toward the school gate. A staff member stopped her.
"What's going on?" the staff member asked.
"Sir, she fainted. I need to take her to the hospital!" Melody replied.
The staff member, believing her, allowed them to leave. Melody hailed a taxi and placed Tiffany inside. As the taxi pulled away, she saw Zoe running toward the gate. Fortunately, the technology building was close, allowing Melody to escape before Zoe caught up.
However, everyone now knew Melody had taken Tiffany. If anything happened to Tiffany, Melody would be held responsible. Her plan had its risks and rewards; she desperately hoped the experiment would succeed. Success meant a new life, using Tiffany's body to achieve everything she'd only dreamed of.
Melody gazed at the unconscious Tiffany, a mix of joy and jealousy churning within her. "Soon, I'll be unstoppable, and you'll watch helplessly as I live my best life with your body!" she thought.
Lost in her thoughts, Melody didn't notice a car following them from the school gate to the suburbs. The taxi finally stopped at a villa in the woods—Felix's residence, though he wasn't always there.
Lorenzo was already waiting. Seeing Tiffany's comatose state, his eyes widened in surprise and excitement. "How did you do it?" he asked.
He couldn't believe Melody had managed to subdue Tiffany so easily.
"Heh, I took advantage of her illness and used an electric shock," Melody said, nudging Lorenzo. "Let's get this over with. I'll bring her in. Get the instrument ready."
"With pleasure," Lorenzo replied. He was acting behind Felix's back. After Felix returned the Treasure Box to Tiffany, he'd forbidden attacks against her without his permission. Lorenzo, however, was unwilling to pass up this opportunity.
Melody carried Tiffany into the open villa. Lorenzo had already powered up the instrument in the basement. The villa's exterior was unremarkable, but the inside held advanced technology.
"Are you sure there's no danger? Are you sure this will work?" Melody asked anxiously.
Lorenzo retorted, "Do you have another option?"
Melody remained silent; she didn't.
"Hurry! Felix will be back tonight. He'll kill us if he discovers this," Lorenzo urged.
"Alright," Melody said resolutely, settling into the second pod of the experiment module.
With everything prepared and Tiffany still unconscious, Melody closed her eyes. Lorenzo silently pressed the start button. Just as the pods were about to close, a wave of cold air swept in, freezing the dust motes. Time stopped, the pods frozen mid-closure, and Lorenzo's hand mid-press.
Tiffany's eyes snapped open. She hadn't fainted; Melody's shock was barely a nuisance. She'd only pretended to be unconscious.
She sat up, observing the frozen scene—the time-stopped monitor, the suspended dust. Silence reigned. As she stood, a gust of wind lifted her into a warm embrace, the scent of Richard filling her senses.
Looking up, she met Richard's dark eyes, a gentle smile on his lips. "I'm here for you, Your Highness," he murmured.
Stunned, Tiffany couldn't comprehend his sudden arrival or the frozen time. She only felt the pounding of her heart.
She snuggled into his embrace. "Honey, you came just in time!" she said coquettishly.
This had been her plan, though she'd worried about alerting their enemies. Richard's methods always surprised her.
Richard chuckled. "How could I be careless when you're in danger?"
He hadn't wanted her to risk this, but her determination had left him little choice. He'd only agreed to support her while staying vigilant.
"Where's June? Did she bring her?" Tiffany asked, looking around. Then, she saw June entering the basement with Wilma, seemingly oblivious to the frozen time.
June looked shocked and terrified of Richard, a reaction understandable given his overwhelming power. Wilma, however, focused solely on Melody, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Is this the person I'll swap minds with?" she asked.