Chapter 209 Just Clowns

Meanwhile, the Porsche Cayenne was driving down the road.

“Tilda…” Una couldn’t help herself. “Have you really let go of everything?”

Una’s voice was uncertain. She felt like Tilda was truly indifferent now, fully committed to the decision to cut ties with the Jensons when she left Jenson Villa. But back then, Tilda was so attached to her family. How could she feel nothing now, even if they wanted to make amends and win her back? Wouldn’t it still hurt?

Una didn’t care about the Jensons, but she was worried that Tilda might be pretending to be fine when, deep down, it was causing her pain.

“Don’t worry, I’ve truly moved on. I said I’d never forgive the Jensons for what they did. My bond with them is completely severed. No matter what they do, even if they die in front of me, I won’t care.”

Tilda said all this so calmly, her words sounding harsh and heartless to anyone else listening. Una could only relax when she saw that Tilda wasn’t just pretending.

“Well, since you’ve made up your mind, I support you,” Una said, her voice softening.

Tilda gave a small, teasing smile. “I thought you were going to try and talk me out of it.”

“Please, Tilda. Don’t think I’ll just blindly support you. I’m not one to forgive people who’ve hurt you, especially without some good reason. Even if Wade truly regrets what he did, the rest of the Jensons don’t necessarily think the same way. They treated you terribly, trampled on your hopes for family. If I were to encourage you to make peace with them, I’d be the worst kind of person.”

Una puffed her cheeks, clearly upset by Tilda’s distrust of her. She was angry and wanted Tilda to cheer her up.

“Yes, they hurt me so badly. Now, Wade thinks he can act all brotherly and expect me to forget the pain? Just so I’ll forgive them, only to be hurt again?”

Tilda couldn’t forget what happened. She wouldn’t forget the hellish five years she endured. She would never forgive the Jensons. If she did, she would be betraying the second chance life had given her. And besides, Tilda had found something more important than family–her dreams, her friends, her mentors, and her seniors.

As for the Jensons, if they wanted to keep playing pretend, she would let them. Tilda wouldn’t be moved, and she wouldn’t give them a second glance. To her, they were just clowns desperately trying to please her.

“It’s all too late!”

At home, Preston walked in to find Daphne still in her pajamas, waiting for him in the living room. After hanging his suit jacket on the coat rack, Preston saw that Daphne was still awake and asked with concern, “Mom, why aren’t you asleep yet?”

“Preston, why are you home so late? I was worried about you. Ugh, with everything that happened with Rebecca … Ryan even went to Hetsa to look for her. I just spoke to Ryan. He hasn’t found Rebecca yet, and no one knows where she’s gone. He even asked me about the video situation, and I couldn’t give him an answer.”

Daphne looked exhausted. Her well-kept eyes were shadowed by dark circles, and fine lines appeared around her eyes. Her face had taken on a sickly hue, likely from all the stress.

“Rebecca is such a disappointment.” Preston clenched his teeth. If Rebecca weren’t his sister, a good-for-nothing who only caused trouble, Preston would’ve handled her long ago. Preston and Ryan had warned her many times. Yet, before leaving for her trip abroad, Rebecca still managed to create a mess. Just as Preston was preparing to make his move against Jude and reclaim control of the Bells, Rebecca had to stab him in the back.

“Preston, no matter what, Rebecca is still your sister. Don’t worry about it for now. I’ll figure out how to get rid of the video.” But Tilda’s defiant attitude had only made things worse. It was clear that desperate measures were now required. Daphne’s eyes briefly flashed with a dangerous glint.

“By the way, Preston, weren’t you and Kyla at that National College Art Competition today? I saw on the news … Tilda didn’t just win the championship, she’s more famous than ever?”

When Daphne saw the news, she was completely stunned. She knew Preston had been involved in some behind-the-scenes planning. Tilda should never have won. But since Preston was out with Kyla, Daphne hadn’t wanted to disturb him. She’d been hoping he’d bring Kyla home soon, so she waited until he got back to ask.

“She was just lucky,” Preston muttered, his fists clenching as he thought about the humiliation he’d endured at Nightingale Bar that night, at the hands of Tilda and Una.

Preston didn’t want to mention this episode to Daphne.