Tiffany felt a surge of exhilaration after ending the call with such decisiveness.
Meanwhile, Kenneth was left dumbfounded. Tiffany always reacted with meekness and caution, no matter how harshly he spoke. But this time, she had actually cursed at him and hung up.
Looking at his phone, Kenneth sneered, “Playing hard to get, aren’t you?”
On the other side, Tiffany felt satisfied, thinking. This is just the beginning, Kenneth Harper! Soon, I’ll break off this ridiculous engagement between us!”
After cutting off the call with that scoundrel, Tiffany immediately dialed home. The sound of her mother’s worried voice nearly brought her to tears. In her previous life, her family home had burned to the ground while she was still in prison. By the time she was released, all that awaited her was a lonely gravestone.
Everyone had said her mother died by suicide, setting the house on fire, and Tiffany had naively believed it-until she later discovered her uncle had cruelly murdered her mother. Tiffany choked back her tears. “Mom, I’m fine. I miss you and want to come home.”
Her mother, assuming her daughter had been bullied, quickly replied, “Alright, come home now. If anything is bothering you, we’ll discuss it when you return. Where are you? I’ll come and pick you up right away.”
Tiffany gave her mother the address, but her water-damaged phone became unusable as soon as the call ended.
Determined to make it easier for her mother to find her, Tiffany stood up and limped forward. However, after only a few steps, she heard a mu**d groan from a nearby grove, accompanied by a thick, metallic scent of blood.
Having endured countless hardships, especially the years of abuse while in prison, Tiffany had transformed from a helpless young lady into someone tough and formidable. Her senses were sharp, and her instincts were honed.
Tiffany hesitated after hearing the noise. She wasn’t one to meddle in others’ affairs, but a memory flashed before her eyes.
While hesitating, Tiffany recalled a news story about Richard Hampton from the powerful Hampton family. She remembered reading about how he had been ambushed and how he collapsed from severe blood loss after escaping. Although he was later rescued, the Hampton family had kept the details of the incident tightly under wraps.
‘Could it be… Tiffany thought, her heart racing. Could the person in the grove really be Richard Hampton?”
synonymous
The Hampton family was with power and prestige throughout the city. It was an ancient clan that commanded immense respect and fear.
Richard Hampton was the aging patriarch’s youngest son, the backbone of the family. A prodigy with extraordinary talent, Richard was a prominent figure in the business world, holding the Hampton family together with his sharp insight and unyielding resolve.
Tiffany’s mind raced as she weighed her options. Making a good impression on Richard might prove invaluable if she ever needed the Hampton family’s assistance in the future.
Guided by the faint sounds she had heard earlier, Tiffany began a lengthy search. Though she didn’t find anyone at first, she eventually stumbled upon a large pool of fresh blood beneath a tree. The amount of blood indicated that the person was seriously injured.
Crouching down, Tiffany touched the blood, noting that it was still wet. Hence, she figured that the injured person couldn’t have gone far.
Just as she prepared to continue her search, Tiffany felt a rush of wind, like someone was about to strike from behind. Instinctively preparing to dodge, she suddenly reconsidered. Raising her hands in a gesture of surrender, she called out, “Wait! I’m not a bad guy!”
The attacker’s movement halted mid-air. Tiffany exhaled in relief and turned slowly, only to face an extraordinarily handsome man. His features were exquisitely chiseled, exuding an ethereal grace. Despite his severe injuries, his presence remained noble and commanding, akin to a fierce, battle-hardened lone wolf.
‘So, this is Richard Hampton? He looks incredibly young. Tiffany thought, while Richard scrutinized her with a piercing gaze, his expression a blend of curiosity and caution.
“Who are you?” Richard’s voice carried an imposing weight, his aura radiating dominance and menace.
Tiffany blinked innocently at the man. “I heard some noise while passing by and thought I’d check it out. Are you alright? My family is coming to pick me up, and I could take you to the hospital on the way,” she offered, trying to convey her good intentions, hoping to make a favorable impression on him.
But Richard’s expression remained cold. “Get lost,” he replied curtly.
How rude, Tiffany thought, momentarily stunned by his response. She turned to leave, but after a few steps, she heard a heavy thud behind her. Glancing back, she saw that Richard had collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
Rolling her eyes, Tiffany muttered under her breath, grumbling about his earlier attitude as she returned to check his injuries.
A large, deep wound on Richard’s abdomen was bleeding profusely. Seeing no one else around to help, Tiffany tore off her thin tank top and used it as a makeshift bandage, pressing it against the wound to slow the bleeding.
In a small act of defiance, she tied the bandage into a neat bow, letting out some of her frustration.
“There, much better,” she said with a hint of satisfaction, clapping her hands as she stood up and left the grove.
Not long after, a large convoy from the Hampton family arrived, and dozens of black-clad bodyguards stormed the area, frantically searching for Richard.
Minutes later, Richard was carefully loaded into a vehicle. As the car sped away, he briefly regained consciousness. Looking down, he noticed the conspicuous bow on his bandaged wound.
His eyes twitched in disbelief. Who did this?’ he wondered, and the image of the delicate, beautiful girl he had met in the grove flashed through his mind, especially her bright, mischievous eyes.
Sidney Pauley, the man treating Richard’s wounds, raised an eyebrow at the sight of the bow, a smirk on his lips. “Well, well… Is this a girl’s tank top?”
Richard was known for keeping women at a distance. Many had tried to win his favor, only to be swiftly and coldly dismissed. Yet now, here he was, wounded and apparently cared for by a girl.
Catching Sidney’s increasingly amused and curious expression, Richard sighed and muttered, “Just focus on treating the wound. Or are you hoping I’ll bleed out?”
With a confident smile, Sidney replied, “I’m here with you, so you’re not going anywhere. My skills are more than enough.”
Sidney was Richard’s most trusted friend and the youngest heir of the Pauley family, renowned for their medical expertise. Years ago, Sidney had pulled Richard back from the brink of death with his exceptional abilities, so this wound was hardly a challenge.
With his eyes closed, Richard’s thoughts drifted to the delicate, charming face of the girl. He
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