Chapter 137 Why Should She Hide?
DJ figured Tilda might worry about her safety, so he picked a crowded café on purpose. In Cetherland, no hitman would try anything in a crowded area–it’s way too messy to clean up.
But… this Cornerstone Café carried some ugly memories for Tilda. In her past life, Dominic had been a regular here.
Even though it was a popular café, it wasn’t one of those flashy chain spots that just focus on hype, make a quick buck, and disappear. This place was run with real care. The vibe and the décor had a classic, timeless charm. The coffee beans were top-quality imports, and the baristas followed strict rules to get each cup just right. The coffee they brewed was perfect in color, aroma, and taste. Even though each cup was pricey, people loved it anyway. The owner was Dominic’s close friend, Jody Granger. Dominic had taken his family here countless times. Kyla came most often, but he never once brought Tilda.
After hearing Kyla rave about the place constantly, Tilda finally gave in to her curiosity. Then the memory surged. That day, she went alone, ordered a latte, and wanted to see what made this café so special to her older brother.
The coffee at Cornerstone Café was excellent. It had a calming magic that could wash away stress. Just as Tilda sat quietly by the window, savoring her drink alone, Dominic walked in with Wade and Kyla. When they spotted her, Wade sneered.
“Wow, look who’s trying to copy Kyla now. Pathetic puppet!”
All eyes turned to Tilda. Dominic didn’t even glance at her. He just turned and walked out with Wade and Kyla. As he left, he tossed a cruel remark over his shoulder, “This café’s been spoiled by someone who doesn’t belong. Even the coffee tastes awful now. Let’s go somewhere else.”
That cold, dismissive attitude, like she was some kind of germ…. It left Tilda frozen, humiliated, roasted by all those stares. That feeling… It had been a long time, but just hearing “Cornerstone Café” brought it all flooding back. It was like it had just happened. The memories hit her like a punch to the chest, sharp and sudden.
“Mentor … are you still there? Is this place not okay? We can go somewhere else if you want,” DJ typed again, afraid she might not like the place. This café was Dominic’s buddy’s place, and the coffee was amazing. He always went there and really liked it. It was also considered the most famous café in Slosa. Taking all these factors into account, it was completely safe for Queen. Picking that place to meet up with Queen wasn’t random–Dominic had thought it through. He kept thinking maybe Queen hated loud spots, or maybe she didn’t even drink coffee–what if he totally messed up? If Queen got irritated and bailed before they even met … He’d regret it forever.
“I’m here,” Queen replied. “This place is fine.”
Even though Tilda had bad memories here, she refused to let her past life control her. She wasn’t going to let the Jensons’ drama rule her anymore. If she skipped the place just because Dominic liked it, letting the ugly memories from her past keep dragging her down, then she hadn’t really cut ties with them, and she still hadn’t stepped out of that shadow to stand on her own. In this life, Tilda wasn’t gonna waste tears or feel hurt over the Jensons anymore. If she wanted coffee, a night out, or to see anyone she liked, she’d do it. She wasn’t running from them–if anything, they should be the ones staying away. She hadn’t done anything wrong. Her conscience was clean. Why should she hide? What a joke.
“Alright, I’ll see you next Friday. Can’t wait!” DJ texted.
“Sounds good!” Queen replied.
She logged off the dark web.
Then … a WhatsApp notification popped up. Tilda’s heart skipped a beat when she saw the sender. It was Jude. She didn’t know why it affected her so much. Shaking off the feeling, she opened the message.
It was a photo. Stars spread across the night sky. Colorful auroras stretched over a mountain at night. The photo was incredibly artistic.
“Passed by here, caught the aurora,” Jude wrote. “Thought you’d like it, so I snapped this for you.”
“Wow, thanks, it’s so pretty,” Tilda typed back. “Oh, and how come you never mentioned you were flying out to Lucien for work that night?”