<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">As she surveyed the grand motorcade discreetly from a corner, Thalia Kelley dabbed at her tears. Though she was happy. she couldn’t bear to part with her daughter. It felt as if her daughter was getting married, even though she was only getting engaged.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Charlie Kelley did not know whether tough or cry as heforted her. “It’s just an engagement and you’re already weeping buckets. Are you going to cry non–stop on the day of your daughter’s wedding?”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">As he spoke, his own eyes became red–rimmed. “I’m going to cry too if you keep crying. As a father, Charlie couldn’t bear the thought of marrying his daughter off either.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Thalia couldn’t helpughing when she saw that her husband was on the verge of weeping too. She punched him yfully and chided him, “Why are you imitating me? You’re not allowed to cry on such a special day. How unbing for a strapping man like you…”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">“How is it unbing? So what if I’m a strapping man? Can’t a man shed tears of heartache…” Charlie argued back.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">“I can’t be bothered with you.” Thalia gave a dismissive snort.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">She turned around and went out of the house to wee her would–be son–inw who had just gotten out of the car. The moment Richard entered the house, there was a smallmotion upstairs. Then, Tiffany slowly walked down the stairs.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Her sun–kissed skin was glowing and the gown entuated her slim waist and curves. Her feathery eyshes fluttered delicately as she looked downward.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">When she raised her eyes, her eyebrows were perfectly arched while her eyes were as clear as spring water. They were so pristine that they seemed to be filled with stars, sparkling and resplendent. Indeed, she was a peerless beauty.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Richard gazed upon Tiffany with amazement. His thin lips curled up gradually until his handsome face was filled with gentleness and doting affection.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">He watched her intently. In the crowded sea of people, he only had eyes for her. It was as if there were only the two of them in this world.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Tiffany blushed as she felt that steadfast pair of eyes boring into her. Her heart began to beat wildly.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Tiffany snapped out of her reverie when she heard her styling team’s reminder to watch her step. She continued to descend carefully in her high heels.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Thereafter, she walked up to Richard.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">She smiled radiantly, shing a set of wless pearly whites. Her sparkling eyes resembled dancing stars in the night sky. She was unbelievably beautiful.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">“Mr. Hampton, I will be counting on your guidance in the future Tiffany murmured.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Richard came back to his senses. His thin lips curled up into a charming smile, much like a cier melting and reviving all living things. “Mrs. Hampton, I’ll be at your mercy from now on</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">When she heard that, Tiffany smiled even more sweetly. “I will definitely show mercy.” She batted her eyelids with a sly nce.</font></font>
Richard leaned close to her and said in a leisurely tone in her ear, “No need to show mercy. You can bully me in any way you want.”
The double entendre was not lost on Tiffany.
Only then did Tiffany realize that the words that this wicked man said at the beginning did not mean what she thought.
She had been too naive. She was no match for this big ravenous wolf!
Tiffany blushed furiously and could only re at him. However, her gaze was not intimidating at all. Instead, her dewy eyes only made her more alluring to Richard.
The onlookers nearby all looked away as they covered their mouths and tried to hold back fromughing out loud.
Thalia watched the whole exchange with a smile on her face. As long as her daughter was happy, everything was worth it. “It’s gettingte. Get in the car. We can’t waste any time,” Thalia irged the couple.
She gave her daughter a final hug before cing her daughter’s hand in her future son–inw’s hand. Charlie was also watching from the side. He sniffled a little as he watched Richard pick Tiffany up and carry her out of the house.
The engagement party was scheduled to start at 10:30 a.m. The couple would be just in time if they set off now.
Charlie and Thalia watched the lead car drive off with their daughter inside before they got into another car with their son Eric.
At first, Eric was pestering to get into the lead car with his older sister, but he was pulled back by Thalia. She admonished the boy with a smile, “You’re not allowed to be a third wheel today!”
Eric thought for a moment. Richard had always been very good to him, so he relented and happily got into the car behind with his parents to go to the hotel.
The motorcade did not encounter any obstruction on its way to the hotel thanks to the traffic diversions and roads that had been blocked. The majestic motorcade cruised down the road as bubbles floated down from the sky. It was as beautiful as a dream.
The long line of luxury cars finally arrived at the hotel.
Meanwhile, on another road, Scarface Lorenzo, who had been waiting for a long time, hit the steering wheel in exasperation.
They had been lying in wait here for a long time to carry out Felix Quaid’s instruction, which was to lure the Kelley couple away.
However, as they watched the motorcade cruise past, not only was the entire city under tightened security but all the roads that the motorcade passed by were also blocked. Unfamiliar cars were stopped from entering the restricted area in case they disrupted the engagement party.
Lorenzo rubbed the spot between his eyes as he grumbled glumly, “This guy really pulled out all the stops for his engagement party. The security is so tight that there is no loophole for me to take advantage of…”
Earlier, Felix had told them that today’s engagement party was their only chance. If they wanted to obtain the treasure box, they had to get rid of Richard Hampton.
As Richard was Keh’s uncle, the former would not sit back and do nothing if something happened to the Harper family. With Richard around, even if they obtained the treasure box, it would be a waste of effort in the end.
It was best to eliminate all possible threats to them at the source
Lorenzo gritted his teeth and drove after the motorcade. Another henchman beside him asked, “Lorenzo, what should we do now?”
“What should we do? You’re asking me? If I knew, would I still have a headache?” Lorenzo sted the hapless fellow.
Then again, Lorenzo was no fool and that was why he could get to where he was today. He growled through gritted his teeth, “We can only take the risk!”
“What?” The henchman didn’t understand.
“We’ll go to the hotel. We have to get in no matter what!” Lorenzo made up his mind and drove all the way to the hotel. Infuriatingly, the entire hotel was sealed off. Other than guests with invitations, no one was allowed to enter.
Moreover, there were manyyers of security checks performed by uniformed bodyguards both inside and outside. The breadth and depth of the whole setup was simply mind–boggling
Lorenzo parked the car near the hotel and scanned the surroundings. He caught sight of the Harper family members getting out of another car and he did a headcount.
He then turned to the henchman beside him, “If I remember correctly, the Harper family have a daughter named Alexia, don’t they?”
“Yep.” The henchman nodded.
They had done a lot of homework on the Harper family previously during their investigation of the treasure box. They knew everything about that family.
Lorenzo smiled. Among the people who had just entered the hotel, there were only Mr. and Mrs. Harper and their son. There was no sign of the daughter Alexia.
“You two go and look for Alexia Harper,” Lorenzo barked an order.
“Roger.” The two henchmen swung into action at once.
At first, Alexia was unwilling to attend Tiffany’s engagement party so she told her family that she would not being. However, she could not contain her curiosity and changed her mind at thest minute. In the end, she took a taxi to the hotel.
Due to the earlier incident when shended in trouble, she had many bodyguards following her at all times.N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.
When Scarface Lorenzo and the others found Alexia, she had just gotten out of the taxi and was about to enter the hotel. “Follow her!”
Lorenzo shouted from afar, “Miss, wait for me!”
Alexia turned around with a puzzled expression. “Who are you?”