Chapter 678

The sun had risen. The forest echoed with the crisp calls of birds, their sounds repeating in the still morning air. There was no response from Richard. "Where could he have gone?" Tiffany frowned.

She considered using her power to fly and search for him, but it was already daylight. Smoke rose from nearby village chimneys, and diligent farmers worked in the fields. If she took off, someone might see her.

With no other options, Tiffany tried to call Richard, only to remember he hadn't brought his phone the previous night. "Where could he be?" she frowned again.

She knew Richard was highly skilled and could handle himself. If he had disappeared without a word, it must be serious—something that forced him to leave her.

After one last scan of her surroundings, Tiffany decided to suppress her concerns. She descended the mountain, went to the nearest town, rented a car, and headed back to Lovell City.

She first checked Royal Bay. The bedroom was exactly as they'd left it; Richard hadn't returned.

Unwilling to be idle, Tiffany retrieved the Treasure Box. Activating it, she asked, "Where is he?"

The Treasure Box's sentient consciousness replied calmly, "Master, I cannot search for him."

Tiffany's expression darkened. "Explain. What does that mean?"

It wasn't that it couldn't find him; it wasn't allowed to.

The consciousness hesitated before explaining, "This is beyond my abilities. Some things cannot be known."

The laws of existence seemed to bar her from certain mysteries.

Tiffany scoffed. "You're completely useless when it matters."

The Treasure Box appeared to sulk, its ethereal blue glow dimming noticeably. Its voice even held a hint of a whine.

Tiffany didn't argue. She put away the Treasure Box. She would have to wait.

At the hospital, Sidney finally woke after two days of deep sleep. His head injury wasn't severe, but he'd worked tirelessly on multiple surgeries for days without rest, leaving him mentally drained. Even with the spirit herbs, he needed two full days to recover.

The moment his eyes opened, his mother, Donna, who had been watching him, became emotional. She called for the doctor, but Sidney raised a hand. "No need, Mom. I'm perfectly fine."

After a long sleep, Sidney felt refreshed and clear-headed.

08:56 Wed, Dec [Date] Chapter 678 - 24.95%

Thanks to the potent healing power of the spirit herbs, the wound on his head was nearly 80% healed. Sidney swung his legs off the bed, preparing to leave. Donna tried to stop him, stomping her foot. "You've just woken up! You need to rest. Why are you rushing out?"

He said, "Mom, I have something important to take care of."

"What could be so important? Are you planning to confront that woman who caused your injury?" Donna asked.

"How do you know that?" Sidney looked at his mother suspiciously. His expression soured. "Did you cause trouble for her?"

"So what if I did? She almost got you killed. Am I not allowed to give her a piece of my mind?" Donna admitted firmly. "Without my permission, you're not going to see her!"

Sidney laughed bitterly. He was baffled that his mother still tried to control his life.

Dodging her attempts to stop him, Sidney strode out of the hospital room.

It was the weekend, so Sidney assumed Zoe wouldn't be at school. He took a taxi directly to her apartment building.

Zoe was packing her luggage. In a couple of days, her foundation would deliver winter supplies to an impoverished area, and she'd decided to join them.

Her phone rang. It was an unfamiliar number; her first instinct was to ignore it, but she answered.

"Hello, who's this?" she asked.

"It's me, Sidney," he replied.

"Oh, Mr. Pauley. What can I do for you?" Her tone was distant and polite.

Sidney frowned. "I'm downstairs at your building."

Zoe responded, "Then please leave. Goodbye."

The call ended.

Zoe resumed packing, but her mind wandered. Her phone rang again. Expecting a sharp retort from Sidney, she was surprised by his subdued voice: "I I don't have money for the cab fare."

Sidney had rushed out of the hospital, forgetting his wallet. He'd even borrowed the cab driver's phone to call her.

Zoe was speechless.

With a sigh, she grabbed her wallet and went downstairs. From a distance, she spotted Sidney leaning against the taxi, still in a hospital gown. He looked pale, but this only made his features seem more striking.

Her heart skipped a beat.

08:56 Wed, Dec 11 [Year] Chapter 678

Suppressing the flutter in her chest, Zoe paid the cab fare. "You're all set. You can leave now," she said curtly.

But Sidney added, "I'm hungry…"

Zoe was annoyed. She rolled her eyes. "Didn't the hospital feed you? Or are you telling me they mistreated you? And since you're well enough to leave, why not enjoy a gourmet meal at home instead of bothering me?"

She wanted distance from him. Donna wasn't wrong; they came from different worlds. The Pauleys were one of Lovell City's most prominent families. A man like Sidney should be with a woman of equal status.

Zoe decided to forget their recent words of affection.

After her retort, Zoe turned to leave, but a soft murmur stopped her. "I'm sorry," Sidney said. "I'm sorry for causing you trouble. I'll talk to my mother about it, but could you could you take just one step toward me too?" His voice was soft and pleading.

Zoe's heart quivered; her blood surged. Her pulse stuttered.

But after a long silence, she said, "Let's end here." It had been a mistake. Better to end it now.

She ran back upstairs. Sidney watched her go. The light in his eyes dimmed.

If only that night hadn't ended with him hitting his head. Maybe Zoe would have said yes. But fate interfered.

Taking a deep breath, Sidney hailed another taxi and left.

Back at the Pauley residence, Sidney was barely inside when Donna approached, offering advice. "Sidney, what about Mr. Swift's daughter? She's such a good match. What don't you like about her?"

Sidney froze. He recalled that this woman had pretended to be his fiancée to trouble Zoe.

SEND GIFT