Richard's sudden appearance caught Tiffany off guard. He stood beside her, holding an umbrella that shielded them both. His other arm, securely wrapped around her waist, pulled her closer, ensuring she stayed dry.

A sleek black car, unmistakably from the Hampton family, zoomed up and stopped boldly at the arena's entrance. Richard chuckled softly as Tiffany, still dazed, remained still. He gently patted her waist. "Get in," he said.

His deep, magnetic voice left no room for hesitation, and Tiffany slipped into the car without a second thought.

Sandra's previously smug expression soured. "That's Richard Hampton—the most influential man in Lovell City! When did Tiffany connect with the Hampton family?" Her thoughts raced. "And he's Kenneth's uncle!" The realization made her glance nervously at Kenneth.

"Kenneth…" Sandra began.

"I'll take you home," Kenneth cut her off.

Kenneth's tone was icy, seething with frustration. He was still reeling from Tiffany's earlier insults, and seeing her so closely involved with Richard made his blood boil.

Sandra bit her lip; Kenneth's earlier charm paled in comparison to the memory of Richard's striking appearance.

While Kenneth and Sandra wrestled with their own thoughts, Tiffany already regretted her impulsive decision. "What was I thinking? Why did I just jump into his car like that?"

The ride was silent until Tiffany cleared her throat, breaking the awkward tension. "Mr. Hampton, how's your injury?"

Richard's expression darkened at her formality. Sidney, in the passenger seat, stifled a laugh, but his amusement vanished under Richard's stern glare in the rearview mirror.

"Do I really seem that old-fashioned?" Richard asked through gritted teeth, his eyes narrowing.

Tiffany shook her head vigorously, indicating it wasn't her intention to offend. Richard, the youngest son of the Hampton family (born later in his father's life), was only seven years older than Tiffany, but his seniority placed him in her father's generation, making her formal address technically correct.

Noticing Richard's displeasure, Tiffany swiftly shifted the conversation. "Thank you for helping me and for the ride home."

"No need for thanks," Richard replied with a faint smile. "Just returning the favor for tending to my injuries and saving me earlier."

Tiffany fell silent, feeling a pang of guilt. "Did he notice the bow I tied?" she wondered, not daring to say another word.

Suddenly, Sidney turned around with a teasing grin. "Hey, you're the first girl to ride in Richard's car. How does it feel?" (The extraneous online promotion has been removed.)

Sidney was hinting at Richard's usually cold demeanor toward relationships. Seeing Richard seemingly interested in someone for the first time, Sidney felt it his duty to play matchmaker.

Caught off guard, Tiffany instinctively replied, "Oh, I'm very honored."

Richard was momentarily speechless. Sidney, on the other hand, burst into laughter, thumping the steering wheel. "Her calm and straightforward answer is just too adorable. Couldn't she at least pretend to be excited or surprised?" he thought.

As Sidney laughed, Tiffany studied his face, feeling a vague sense of familiarity. She couldn't quite place where she had seen him before and drifted into thought.

Richard leaned in closer, his voice taking on a teasing edge. "Enjoying the view?"

Tiffany snapped back to reality, suddenly aware of how close Richard was. He was so near that she felt practically pinned in the corner of the car, surrounded by his faint, pleasant scent. The proximity felt uncomfortably intimate, and she felt flustered.

With nowhere to retreat, Tiffany whispered, "I'm running out of space here…"

Richard remained silent, his eyes locked on her with curiosity, scrutiny, and a touch of something more unsettling.

Tiffany's heart raced as she recalled hearing about Richard's unpredictable temperament. Up close, she could feel the unpredictability radiating from him, making her pulse quicken with unease.

As the car came to a stop, Tiffany quickly opened the door and stepped out. "Thank you for the ride, Richard! I'll treat you to a meal sometime!" she called over her shoulder as she hurried away.

Sidney watched her go with a mix of curiosity and amusement. Turning to Richard, whose expression was unreadable, he asked, "What did you do to her?"

"Nothing," Richard replied calmly. "But she's a labyrinth of hidden thoughts and motives. You better keep your distance."

Sidney blinked, bewildered. "Why am I getting dragged into this?" he thought. Then, a sudden realization hit him. "Wait, does Richard mean only he can get close to her, but I can't?"

A shiver ran down Sidney's spine, but he brushed it off, thinking he was probably overthinking things. After all, expecting someone as cold as Richard to warm up so quickly seemed unlikely.

Sandra stepped out of Kenneth's vehicle just as Sidney and Richard were about to depart. Spotting the Hampton car, she quickly decided to stage an accident—not for money, but to catch Richard's attention.

However, before she could act, Sidney, oblivious to her presence, hit the gas. The car sped off, sending a wave of water from a nearby puddle splashing all over Sandra, drenching her before she could make her move.

Drenched and fuming, Sandra stomped her foot in frustration, wondering what she lacked and how infuriating it was that everyone only had eyes for Tiffany.

A flash of malice flickered in her eyes as she gazed up at the grand villa. "Sooner or later, all of this will be mine," she vowed. "And Tiffany will be the one groveling at my feet, never to rise again!"