Chapter 620

Matthew instinctively glanced at his phone and froze. A notification appeared, showing a $100,000 transfer and a message: "[Don't give up. Keep moving forward. There's always a silver lining.]"

Matthew blinked, wondering if it was real. Before he could process it, tears streamed down his face. The tall, 6'1" teenager covered his face, his body trembling as he sobbed uncontrollably. Below, someone shouted, "Someone's going to jump! Call for help! Call the police!"

Sirens wailed. A safety air cushion was quickly deployed, and firefighters, along with onlookers, rushed to the rooftop. They pleaded, "Kid, come here! Don't do anything stupid!"

Seeing their genuine concern, Matthew felt his chest tighten. Tears poured down again. He'd once thought the world was cold, but now he understood: as long as you keep moving forward, there's always a silver lining.

Tiffany put down her phone as Caleb called. "Boss, I apologize," Caleb said nervously. He'd revealed her identity in anger, defying her instructions, and worried about her reaction. His voice trembled.

Tiffany raised an eyebrow. "It's fine," she replied casually. StarRise Entertainment's rapid growth meant her identity was only temporarily hidden; it was inevitable someone would discover it. She'd initially kept it secret to avoid trouble, but now StarRise was established enough to handle anything.

Caleb breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you, boss." Tiffany hung up. Looking at her meal, she realized the dishes were cold. "Oops," she thought. The public uproar had caused her to unintentionally leave Richard waiting for two hours.

Feeling guilty, she looked up, expecting him to be upset. To her surprise, he was calm and composed, his handsome face serene, his eyes elegant and patient.

08:25 Tue, Dec 3 Chapter 620 TG

Richard simply asked, "All sorted out?" Tiffany nodded.

Public opinion is fickle. Take the baseless rumors about her: many attacked her, and the majority followed suit without seeking the truth, preferring surface-level criticism. But once the negative voices subsided, the tide shifted. Truth and lies intertwined, and few cared to investigate. In any case, Tiffany had a clear conscience.

She glanced at the cold food and playfully shook Richard's arm. "Sorry for ignoring you."

Richard affectionately tapped her nose. "You haven't eaten enough, have you?" He gestured for the waiter to bring fresh dishes.

Tiffany put her phone aside and ate. To make up for ignoring him, and to thank him for peeling shrimp for her, she coughed lightly. "Are you heading back to the office after dinner? I want to give you something."

"Nope," Richard replied decisively. Their wedding was the next day, and he'd worked tirelessly to free up time with her. He wasn't missing the gift-giving opportunity.

"What are you planning to give me?" Richard asked, intrigued.

Tiffany smiled mysteriously. "You'll find out soon."

After dinner, they left hand in hand. By 2:10 PM, Tiffany told John to drive to Luna Villa. Within ten minutes, they arrived at the grand villa. Lucifer, their dog, greeted them enthusiastically.

Tiffany tossed Lucifer two spirit herbs before pulling Richard inside. The servants left, leaving them alone. Tiffany led Richard to her second-floor art studio.

An easel covered with a gray dust cover stood in the center. Richard raised an eyebrow. "Is this the gift?"

"That's right!" Tiffany nodded. "Uncover it and see if you like it."

"If it's something my wife put her heart into, of course, I'll love it." Smiling, Richard pulled off the dust cover.

It was a painting of him, rendered lifelike. Behind him stood a young woman bathed in sunlight, smiling adoringly.

Richard froze, dazed and overwhelmed. Tiffany wrapped her arms around his waist. "This painting is my second love letter to you. Do you like it?"

In the painting, their shadows merged, representing their enduring love. Richard's voice was hoarse. "How long did it take you to paint this?"

Tiffany, a skilled artist even admired by Philip, needed considerable time for each painting. Richard had visited her nightly, yet never noticed the painting.

Tiffany counted on her fingers. "Over a month."

"Burning the midnight oil?" Richard asked.

"Yes," Tiffany nodded. "I wanted to surprise you." She couldn't think of a more meaningful gift than her sincere love. "Do you like it?"

Richard didn't answer. He turned, his eyes blazing, and kissed her passionately. Dazed, Tiffany heard him murmur, "I love it. I love it so much."

Tiffany couldn't tell if he meant the painting or her, or both. She smiled, meeting his passion. Outside, the sun blazed; inside, their warmth burned just as fiercely.