It was a fleeting glimpse in the forest, but Tiffany’s stunningly beautiful face and the overly delicate bow left an indelible mark on Richard’s memor
Richard gave Sidney a firm smack on the back. “Stop gawking and place a bet.”
“What?” Caught off guard, Sidney replied without thinking, “Who should I bet on?”
Richard, composed as ever, pointed towards Tiffany below. “Her.”
The bets remained open until the very end, and while everyone’s attention was on the arena, few noticed that someone had just placed a one-million-dollar bet on Tiffany to win.
As Tiffany lazily released her first arrow, the crowd watched intently. The arrow sliced through the air with impressive momentum but, to everyone’s surprise, dropped to the ground without grazing the target-missing by a wide margin.
Laughter erupted from the audience. “I knew it! She’s just a pretty face, nothing more!” someone jeered.
“Yeah, all flash and no substance! What a joke!” another chimed in.
“Looks like we’re in for a good show today. That strip dance is definitely happening!” someone else cheered, the excitement growing among the onlookers.
Amid the roaring laughter, Tiffany remained composed, her face a mask of indifference as she loaded her second arrow. But she missed again.
The crowd’s laughter only grew louder. Tiffany missed five consecutive shots in a flash, not earning a point.
To win now, Tiffany would need to hit the bullseye with each of her next five arrows. But the crowd scoffed at the idea, doubting it was even possible.
Ged laughed so hard he clutched his stomach, pointing at Tiffany as he banged on the table. “Just admit defeat! If you beg me now, I might let you get away with only stripping halfway!”
Given the warm weather and her light attire, Ged clearly implied that she’d have to dance in only her undergarments.
Tiffany cast a cold glance at Ged before drawing her bow again. Time to get serious, she thought
The audience assumed the outcome had already been decided, and there was no need to watch further.
“She’s just making a last-ditch effort before losing,” someone scoffed as the chatter and ridicule continued filling the arena.
Even Sidney, observing from the second floor, shook his head in disbelief. “She’s going to lose, he muttered.
“Not necessarily,” Richard countered while leaning casually against the floor-to-ceiling window, his expression relaxed but his tone confident.
“Really?” Sidney was skeptical until he glanced back at the arena and suddenly exclaimed, “What the…
“A perfect ten!”
Tiffany had just released her arrow, striking the bullseye with flawless precision!
The crowd’s laughter ceased abruptly, stunned by the unexpected turn.
Just moments ago, Tiffany had missed every shot. Many wondered if this was sheer luck, like a blind cat stumbling upon a dead mouse.
Some who hadn’t been paying close attention earlier quickly concluded that she must have cheated.
But Tiffany remained unflappable. Without hesitation, she released another arrow!
Tiffany scored another perfect ten. And then, in rapid succession, her remaining three arrows. hit the bullseye.
With a final score of fifty points, Tiffany won the match.
Ged was stunned! It wasn’t until that moment that everyone realized Tiffany had intentionally missed her first five shots. She wanted to
five arrows instead of ten. It was a devastating victory, making it clear that she didn’t even see
prove she could defeat Ged with just Ged as a worthy opponent.
Then, a voice from the crowd rang out, “Someone bet 200 thousand dollars on Tiffany!” The crowd was shocked, realizing that every cent they bet on Ged was lost.
But the spectacle wasn’t over. As Tiffany stepped down from the platform, she glanced at Ged, a faint smile on her lips. “Go on, dance. Make sure everyone gets a good look at that unsightly figure of yours.”
Is it too late to back out?’ Ged wondered, thinking of making a quick escape. But before he could move, someone enthusiastically shoved him onto the stage.
The crowd erupted in chants, “Dance! Dance! Dance!”
“What’s wrong? Can’t handle losing?” someone taunted.
With his face burning with shame, Ged reluctantly started to dance, his movements stiff and awkward. As he swayed his hips and began stripping, the scene became almost too painful to watch.
Tiffany had no interest in watching any more of Ged’s humiliating performance and quietly left Nocturne Arena. Not wanting to inconvenience her family’s driver, she was about to hail a taxi. But just as she stepped outside, she ran into Kenneth and Sandra, who was clinging to his arm like a lifeline.
“Tiffany, you’re out already? Kenneth and I were just about to check on you. We were worried someone might have bullied you. Are you okay?” Sandra’s words dripped with insincere concern, and her tone was deliberately laced with affection and provocation.
Tiffany found it laughable and turned to leave, but Sandra suddenly grabbed her arm, her sharp nails digging into Tiffany’s flesh.
“Get lost!” Tiffany snapped, yanking her arm free.
Sandra let out a dramatic shriek and collapsed to the ground, making it look as though Tiffany had pushed her. It all happened so fast that Kenneth could only rush to help Sandra when he realized what was happening.
Glaring at Tiffany, Kenneth shouted, “Sandra was worried about you and asked me to check on you. This is how you repay her kindness?”
Tiffany scoffed, “You came to check on me? Do you really think you’re that important that everyone should bow down to you? Who do you think you are?”
Her words sliced through Kenneth’s composure, leaving him momentarily speechless. The Harper family was a prominent and respected clan in Lovell City-no one had ever dared to speak to him like that.
“You…” Kenneth stammered, pointing at Tiffany, too furious to form a complete sentence.
Tiffany tilted her head, leaning in closer with a mocking smile. “What’s the matter, Mr. Harper? Are you going to hit me?”
Kenneth’s few words had sparked a fierce anger within Tiffany. If not for the last thread of self-control she held onto, she would have gladly knocked this arrogant man to the ground.
The tension between them thickened, but beneath Sandra’s facade of concern, she secretly reveled in the escalating conflict.
Feigning concern, Sandra tugged on Kenneth’s arm and spoke with a teary voice, “Kenneth, it’s all my fault. Don’t be angry with Tiffany. She’s just venting her frustration. Please don’t take her words to heart!”
Instead of diffusing the situation, Sandra’s words only fanned the flames. Her gentle and understanding demeanor contrasted sharply with Tiffany’s, making Tiffany seem malicious and unreasonable.
“Let’s go!” Kenneth snapped at Tiffany, taking Sandra’s hand for the first time despite Tiffany still being his fiancée.
A loud clap of thunder rumbled through the sky as summer rain began to pour down without warning. There was no shelter outside the Nocturne Arena, leaving no place to hide from the downpour.
Already seated in Kenneth’s car, Sandra rolled down the window and called, “Tiffany, get in the car. Don’t get drenched in the rain.”
Sandra’s tone was patronizing as if she were offering a mere act of charity. Just as Tiffany was about to respond, she felt a firm grip around her waist. Startled, she looked up swiftly, only to find herself staring into an exceptionally handsome face, striking like a devilish apparition.