Out of the Shadows: Tildaโs Brilliant Second Life
Chapter 104 Tilly
Her head was a mess, which was only natural. She led Kyla out of the backstage area, and the girl immediately broke into tears.
โMomโฆ my heart hurts for Wade. I know heโs not that kind of personโฆ. And saying it like thisโitโs gonna crush Tilda. Just now, the way he treated me was so cold. Heโs never been like that before. Mom, does he think Iโm nothing but trouble too? If it werenโt for me, maybe Tilda never wouldโve leftโฆโ
Blair pulled her into her arms, brushing away the tears with a pained look. โKyla, donโt think like that. And donโt misunderstand Wade. You know better than anyone how much he spoiled you growing up. Heโs always loved you. Donโt ever say that again.โ
Before Kyla could answer, noise erupted outside. Russell had arrivedโflanked by Rose and two bodyguards. Under the blinding spotlights and the snap of cameras, he walked calmly onto the stage. His face was calm and steadyโlike none of the chaos online had touched him. That quiet confidence hit the room hard, an invisible pressure that hushed the crowd. Even the reporters, sharp and restless a moment ago, found themselves backing down, their questions losing bite.
Across town, Tilda and Andy lounged in front of the livestream, snacks piled highโchips, peanuts, anything within reach. They crunched and chewed, tossing out snarky commentary between mouthfuls.
Andy chuckled. โGotta hand it to himโMr. Jenson himself. Even in a storm like this, not a flicker on his face. Looks like he came prepared.โ
Tilda smirked, her tone laced with mockery. โSureโฆ letโs see how long that lasts.โ
To the outside world, Russell was the picture of composureโrefined, steady, and the image of a man too experienced to rattle. But Tilda had seen him lose control before. She knew the truth: he was just a man propped up too high, far from untouchable. Weaknesses everywhere, and one little push was all it took to make him crack.
Rose, their lawyer, was first to speak. Her opening remarks were polished to perfection, leaving no room for doubt, shutting down the murmurs in the crowd. Then she handed the mic to Russell.
He cleared his throat, his voice low and controlled. โAbout the trending scandal todayโIโm sure youโve all seen it. Yes, it happened. Because of my mistakes, I misunderstood my own daughter, Tilly. She was hurt so deeply she cut ties with the Jensons and even took us to court. For thatโฆ the blame falls on me, as her father.โ
He drew in a breath, steady as stone. โHere, I want to apologize to Tilly and to her friend, Una.โ
No excuses. No spin. He admitted it cleanly. Then, in full view of the livestream, the cameras, the reporters, and the whole country watchingโhe bowed. The sincerity in that gesture stunned the crowd. No one had expected this. Not like this. Everyone thought the chairman of the Jenson Group would use this press conference to spin the story, deny everything, and bury the mess. No one expected Russell to do the oppositeโown up, drop the act, and apologize to the daughter whoโd been missing for 19 years.
โShit!โ Andy almost choked watching the livestream. โThe way that bastard says โTillyโ makes my skin crawl. He needs to drop dead already.โ Even Andy couldnโt hold back. He never even gave Tilda a nicknameโher name was already everything to him. Hearing a scumbag like Russell use it made his skin crawl. Andy was always the calm one, always collected, smooth, and in control. But when it came to Tilda, none of that applied. She was the one thing that could break him. Anyone who knew him wouldnโt even recognize the man raging in front of the TV now.
And Tilda herself? She was just as furious. โShameless. God, I knew he was low, but this? This is another level.โ She clenched her teeth, eyes blazing. If sheโd been at that press conference, she wouldโve ripped him apart right there on stage. Tilly? He had no right to call her that. That was for people she trustedโfor people who actually loved her. And the irony? In all the years sheโd been his daughter, Russell had never called her by that name, always just โTilda,โ cold and formal. But now that he was cornered, now that he needed to play the doting father on live TV, suddenly he was softening his voice and throwing around โTillyโ like it meant something. Pathetic.
Rose stepped forward, taking the mic. โIโm sure everyoneโs wondering why my client is in a lawsuit against his own daughter, Ms. Tilda Jenson. So first, let me bring someone on stage." As soon as she finished, Wade walked out onto the platform. Tildaโs eyes narrowed, sharp and dangerous.