Tiffany was stunned. She wondered if she'd accidentally triggered a trap. The mural hanging on the lounge's beam suddenly moved. An arrow shot from it, straight toward her head. Everything happened in a blink. Completely unprepared, she remained frozen in shock. By the time she reacted, it was too late.

Her face paled. A huge force pulled her out of the way just in time, into a warm embrace. Dizzy from the sudden movement, she felt no pain. Opening her eyes, she saw herself on the floor, Richard pressing down on her. The arrow that nearly killed her had landed where she'd stood, its tail still vibrating.

This scene felt strikingly familiar. She recalled the incident at Velvet & Vine—another near-miss with an arrow. Anger brought tears to her eyes. "Richard, you bastard!" she cried. "Did I offend you? Are you trying to kill me?"

Feeling wronged, she swore she'd followed guest etiquette: she hadn't entered his room or forbidden areas; she'd simply been enjoying the lounge. Yet, it nearly cost her life. She wouldn't tolerate such nonsense.

Richard hadn't expected this. Royal Bay had many hidden traps, particularly on the second and third floors, automatically activated when triggered. Servants usually stayed in designated areas. The first person there besides the servants was the Miracle Healer, who now looked aggrieved.

Feeling apologetic, Richard said, "Sorry. I forgot to mention the traps."

Tiffany felt even more aggrieved. Her eyes red, she complained, "So it's my fault then?"

For the first time, Richard felt at a loss. He sheepishly said, "I didn't mean that."

Tiffany sniffed and mumbled, "Forget it. I guess I'm just unlucky." Her voice, nasal from crying, sounded more adorable than usual.

As she tried to get up, she realized she was still lying on Richard. In saving her, he'd pulled her away, but they'd both fallen due to inertia. To make matters worse, his hand was still around her waist.

Panicked, she quickly got up and distanced herself, worried he'd discover her true identity. She'd altered her appearance, but feared his perceptiveness, especially given their closeness and her emotional state. While confident in her disguise with others, she wasn't so sure with Richard.

Using the floor-to-ceiling window's reflection, she checked her face. Fortunately, her disguise was intact. Relieved, she didn't notice Richard's stillness as he detected the familiar scent of the Miracle Healer. Curiosity and pensiveness twinkled in his dark eyes.

To avoid further awkwardness, Tiffany quickly said, "I'm going to check on Evan." She hurried back to Evan's room, afraid her bad luck would trigger more traps.

Richard went downstairs. In the living room, June, a woman in her late thirties with excellent posture, sat on the couch. Her elegance surpassed many wealthy women's.

Noticing Richard, June asked, "How did it go? Can Evan be saved?"

"Yes," Richard replied, then added, "You two can stay here throughout the treatment. Thank you for your service." Medical treatments, especially complicated ones like Evan's, took time.

June had no qualms about Tiffany staying. "I'll leave," she said. "I have other things to deal with. I'll pick up the Miracle Healer in a few days."

"Sure," Richard replied. Unbeknownst to June, she'd essentially sold Tiffany to the devil. She was confident Tiffany was in good hands, unaware of their acquaintance.

Tiffany only learned of this two hours later, after examining Evan. June had readily agreed because she didn't know Tiffany and Richard knew each other.

Panicked, Tiffany thought, "What if Richard finds out about my identity?" She refused to stay. "It's inconvenient," she said. "There are too many traps."

Richard raised an eyebrow. "All the traps are deactivated," he assured her.

Tiffany argued, "It's still inconvenient. I didn't bring anything."

"The servants have prepared everything for you," Richard replied.

Defeated, Tiffany could only stay. Her room was next to the master bedroom, its walk-in closet filled with the latest haute couture, all delivered an hour prior. The price of one item shocked her.

Puzzled, she wondered why they'd prepared as if she were staying long-term. She thought, As expected of a rich tycoon like Richard.

Lunch, prepared by a top chef, was nutritious and delicious. Though at opposite ends of the large table, they maintained polite silence during the meal.

Afterward, Tiffany furtively glanced at Richard. He looked handsome and mysterious. The more she looked, the more she fell for his charm.

Sensing her gaze, he looked up. His eyes were cold, emotionless, even with a hint of disgust. She recalled the rumors of his disinterest in women, which she'd previously dismissed due to his past flirtations. Now, she understood. She wondered his reaction if he discovered his despised and cherished person were one and the same.

Amusing herself with this thought, she maintained a polite distance. "I'm done eating, Mr. Hampton," she said, returning to her room.

The thin mask was fine for a few days. She fell asleep on the large bed.

Downstairs, Richard received a call. "Did you find anything?" he asked.

(Note: The promotional text for FindNovel.net was removed as it was irrelevant to the story's cleanup.)