Chapter 677
Veronica stared at Tiffany with gratitude, tears streaming down her trembling face. Turning, she saw her father lying in a pool of blood, unconscious and possibly dead. With a cry of distress, she rushed to him, her face etched with sorrow. Tiffany stopped her. "Don't move," she commanded.
Tiffany checked his pulse; it was weak, but present. She placed a spirit herb in his mouth. "Your father is fine," she said. "Don't shake him or move him."
"Okay" Veronica nodded, her anxious heart slowly calming at the sight of Tiffany's calm expression. However, she saw the man who had injured her father fleeing through the window.
"That scoundrel!" Veronica yelled. "He's escaping!"
Without hesitation, Tiffany chased after Jeffrey. He ran quickly, confident in his familiarity with the terrain. He ran for a long time, panting heavily. Looking back, he found it eerily quiet—no sound of footsteps, only the faint chirping of insects. A surge of triumph filled him. He'd shaken her off!
His satisfaction lasted mere seconds. Tiffany's voice, dripping with sarcasm, cut through the stillness. "Uncle Jeffrey," she said, "you really are scum. First, murder, then attempting to violate an innocent girl—the same age as your daughter! How could you?"
Startled, Jeffrey looked up to see Tiffany floating in mid-air before landing lightly on the ground. The scene was shocking—impossible in this remote mountain wilderness, yet undeniably real. His eyes widened. "What are you? A ghost?"
Tiffany lightly touched her face. "What do you think?" she mused, adding silently, I should be a fairy instead.
Jeffrey's shock morphed into anger. "This was all your plan, wasn't it? To stop me from getting the coal mine project! You pretended to be a Miracle Healer to set me up!"
Tiffany offered a half-smile. Some people, she thought, saw themselves as victims, appearing innocent and pitiful, while actually being despicable wolves in sheep's clothing. She sneered, uninterested in further conversation. "Are you going to break your legs waiting here, or shall I help you?"
"What do you want?" Jeffrey asked suspiciously.
Tiffany sighed, as if to herself. "Never mind. You won't cooperate. Let me handle it." With a swift motion, she kicked him down the hill.
The slope was gentle, but rocks caused a painful leg injury. Tiffany then made an anonymous call to the police, reporting Jeffrey's location. The sound of approaching sirens grew louder. Tiffany hid before their arrival; Jeffrey was soon captured.
Returning to the ranger's cabin, Tiffany found an ambulance already there. Veronica, eyes swollen and wet, stubbornly refused to let the medical personnel near her father.
The medical staff pleaded gently, "Every minute increases the danger! Please step aside. If it's too late…"
"No…" Veronica hesitated, remembering Tiffany's instructions. She shook her head.
The medical team, baffled, were about to intervene when Tiffany stepped forward. "I'll take a look," she said.
Veronica's eyes lit up. "Miss, I followed your instructions! How is he?"
Tiffany checked his pulse, offering a reassuring look. "You did well. He'll be fine."
The injuries were serious—head trauma with internal bleeding. The spirit herb was rapidly repairing the damage, but even slight movement could be fatal. Veronica's perfect adherence to instructions surprised Tiffany.
"Really? Is he okay? Can he be moved?" Veronica asked, brimming with joy.
"Yes," Tiffany replied.
Veronica breathed a sigh of relief. The medical staff, however, shook their heads. "Young lady, what nonsense? You're delaying treatment!"
A doctor reprimanded Tiffany, "What if something happens? Will you take responsibility?"
The doctor pushed past Tiffany to examine Veronica's father. His heart rate was normal, his vital signs stable. As the doctor examined him, his expression changed. The patient had suffered internal bleeding; careless movement could have been fatal. Tiffany's warning had been crucial. The doctor, a mix of shock and respect on his face, turned to thank her—but she was gone.
Tiffany yawned, walking through the forest, thinking of a good night's sleep. But something felt amiss. She'd forgotten Richard! In the cramped cabin, he'd remained by the door. In the chaos of the escape, she'd completely forgotten him. Hurriedly, she called out, "Richard, where are you?"