Richard’s sudden appearance caught Tiffany off guard. He stood beside her, holding an umbrella that shielded them both. His other arm was securely wrapped around her waist to pull 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 softly chuckled as Tiffany remained in a daze and gently patted her waist. “Get in.”
His deep, magnetic voice left no room for hesitation, and Tiffany slipped into the car without a second thought.
Sandra’s previously smug expression turned sour. “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 Sandra glance nervously at Kenneth.
“Kenneth…” Sandra began.
“I’ll take you home, Kenneth cut her off before she could continue.
Kenneth’s tone was icy, seething with frustration. He was still reeling from Tiffany’s earlier insults, and now, seeing her so closely involved with Richard made his blood boil.
Sandra bit her lip, the earlier charm of Kenneth now paling 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 to get into Richard’s car. ‘What was I thinking? Why did I just jump into his car like that?’
The ride was silent until Tiffany cleared her throat and broke the awkward tension. “Mr. Richard, how’s your injury?”
Richard’s expression darkened at her formality, while Sidney couldn’t help but stifle a laugh. However, his amusement vanished when he noticed Richard’s stern glare in the rearview mirror.
“Do I really seem that old-fashioned?” Richard asked through gritted teeth, his narrowing at Tiffany.
Tiffany shook her head vigorously, indicating it wasn’t her intention to offend.
Richard was the youngest son of the Hampton family, born later in his father’s life. Though he was only seven years older than Tiffany, he belonged to her father’s generation by seniority, making her formal address technically correct.
Noticing Richard’s displeasure at her formal address, 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?”
Sidney was hinting at Richard’s usual cold demeanor toward relationships. Now that Richard. seemed interested in someone for the first time, Sidney saw it as his duty to play matchmaker.
Caught off guard, Tiffany instinctively replied, “Oh, I’m very honored.”
Richard was momentarily speechless at their exchange.
On the other hand, Sidney burst into laughter again, thumping the steering wheel as he chuckled. ‘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 was practically pinned in the corner of the car, surrounded by the faint, pleasant scent he wore. The proximity felt uncomfortably intimate, and she couldn’t help but feel a little 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 off 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 the retreating figure 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 when 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!”