Her Story: Rise Of Tiffany Novel by Rex Ring
Chapter 41

Tiffany’s words turned out to be spot-on, yet her brow furrowed even deeper instead of feeling relieved.

Sidney has arrived before us. And now the mountain is collapsing completely. He must be in danger, Tiffany thought

Tiffany remembered, in her previous life, that Sidney could have been saved, but he was trapped and died in his car because the rescue arrived too late. Now, even though the disaster had struck, there was still a chance to save him.

Then Tiffany said, “Don’t worry. If we start the search now, there’s still time.”

But before Richard could respond, he reached out and ruffled Tany’s hair suddenly, a faint smile touching his lips as he asked, “Are you worried about me?”

Tiffany froze for a moment.

Tiffany wanted to prevent this tragedy, partly because she didn’t want to see someone as skilled as Sidney die, and partly to repay Richard for his help. But to say she was worried about Richard? That wasn’t true.

While Tiffany hesitated over how to answer without offending him, Richard shifted the conversation himself. He said, “Come on, let’s go check it out.”

Soon, they both got out of the car, heading toward the blocked-off area, one following the other.

The landslide had struck so suddenly that it buried everything before anyone could react. The heavy rain and thunderstorms had also caused power outages, making it nearly impossible to get a signal in the area.

Meanwhile, the blockade had been set up by an elderly local, Jackson, to stop other vehicles or pedestrians from heading any further.

As Richard and Tillany approached, Jackson stepped forward to stop them quickly. “It’s dangerous ahead. You folks should turn back now.”

“Sir, how big is the area affected by the landslide?” Tiffany asked, holding her umbrella. “Our friend drove ahead and we haven’t been able to reach him. We’re really worried.”

“It’s hard to say, but there are still rocks falling from the mountain. If anyone’s caught in that, well, it doesn’t look good.” Jackson sighed. “I just hope the rescue teams get here soon. Maybe they can save a few more people if they hurry”

“They’re almost here, Tiffany replied.

Earlier, while Richard and Tiffany were still on the road, he had already called in the rescue teams, just in case. Judging by the time, they should be arriving any minute.

Sure enough, as soon as Tiffany finished speaking, the sound of helicopters echoed through the sky.

The rescue teams had arrived.

In an instant, six helicopters roared overhead, heading straight for the most devastated part of the landslide, deploying rescuers by rope.

Just ten minutes later, several fire trucks arrived on the scene. With such an intense rescue effort underway, the news was bound to come soon.

Tiffany watched from a distance, feeling a bit of relief finally.

The wind and rain were relentless, and the few streetlights on the narrow road had been knocked over by the storm, lying smashed on the ground. Tiffany sneezed, shivering slightly from the cold..

The next moment, a suit jacket was draped over Tiffany’s shoulders, carrying a faint, fresh scent of mint and the warmth of his body.

Then Tiffany looked up and smiled softly. “Thanks”

Let’s wait in the ear,” Richard said, and without waiting for a reply, he took her hand and led her back to the vehicle.

The waiting was always interminable. Tiffany leaned back in her seat, listening to the rain patter on the car, and the drowsiness crept over her until she dozed off.

She wasn’t sure how much time had passed, but a sudden clap of thunder jolted Tiffany awake. Then she sat up abruptly, only to feel something cool brush against her lips,

Tiffany blinked, still groggy, and found herself inches away from Richard’s face. He was leaning over her, tucking a blanket around her, and it seemed that in her sudden movement, she’d grazed his ear.

Tiffany’s mind went blank. “Oh no, I’m in trouble! Is he going to throw me out of the car because of his germaphobia?

Both of them froze, their eyes locking, as the atmosphere in the car became charged suddenly. But before any awkward tension could build, someone began pounding on the car window.

“Mr. Hampton!” A man in a rescue uniform called out urgently, his face drenched with rain.

Tiffany snapped back to reality and shrank back into her seat quickly.

Richard rolled down the window, his voice as calm as ever. “What’s going on?”

“We found something!” Theo, the rescuer, wiped the rain from his face and said, “We just discovered a sports car buried underground. It matches Mr. Pauley’s, but he wasn’t inside. He must have escaped.”

It was a relief to hear.

Richard nodded and said, “Expand the search area. Keep looking”

“Yes, sir!” Theo replied, then hurried back to the rescue operation.

As the window closed, Richard started the car and drove down a narrow side road.

Tiffany asked, “Where are we going?”

“Finding a place to stay. We might not make it back tonight,” Richard replied.

With the storm raging outside, driving on the highway wasn’t safe. Trees and streetlights had been knocked down by the wind, leaving the roadways in chaos. Even if they wanted to leave tonight, it wouldn’t be possible.

Besides, both Richard and Tiffany needed to stay nearby for any updates.

Noticing her distracted look, Richard sighed softly. “I didn’t expect the weather to turn so suddenly. Otherwise, I would’ve arranged for someone to take you home.”

“It’s okay,” Tiffany said casually. “Rescuing people is more important.”

They continued talking about trivial things, both avoiding any mention of the accidental kiss earlier deliberately. After driving for several minutes, they finally decided to stay with a warm-hearted elderly couple.

The couple were still active farmers, despite their age. They welcomed Tiffany and Richard into their home, offering them a place to stay.

Soon, night falls. It turned out they’d have to spend the night there

After a delicious homemade meal, Olivia, with a kind smile, prepared a room for them. And she said, “Sorry, there aren’t usually many guests, so the room is a bit simple. I hope you don’t mind.”

“Not at all,” Tiffany replied sweetly. “Thank you for the hospitality

“And the power might not come back on for a while. I’ve put some extra candles in your room, so if you need to get up during the night, you can use them,” Olivia said cheerfully before leading them to the room.

When Tiffany saw the room, she froze. Olivia’s house only had one spare room available, which meant she and Richard would have to share it tonight.

Tiffany stood there, flustered, as Olivia gave them a warm smile. “You two rest up, alright? I’m heading to bed now.”

“You two?” Tiffany thought. Then she opened her mouth to explain, but Olivia had already left.

The door closed, and Tiffany looked at Richard, who seemed even taller and more handsome in the candlelight. She scratched her head and hesitated before saying, “Maybe I should sleep outside?”

Richard glanced at Tiffany and then asked, “Are you worried about being in the same room with me? Scared you might take advantage of me in the middle of the night?”

Tiffany shook her head quickly and replied, “No.”

“That’s good.” Richard sat down on the bed, totally at ease, and said, “Then let’s sleep.