Chapter 392 Salvation
Only Tilda could make Jude’s blood burn hot in his veins. Only she could calm the storms that ripped through his nights and dragged him toward madness. Everyone else saw only his victories. They thought he was untouchable. She, however, saw the shadows that clung to him and the pain he buried deep within.
Tilda kept her eyes on the floor below. Rebecca’s screams kept tearing through the room. At first, the cries felt satisfying, but the sound stretched on too long and scraped against her nerves until her stomach churned. She felt Jude’s stare burning at her side. She turned and frowned. “What are you looking at me for? Is there something on my face?” She ran her hand across her cheek just in case. “Tilly, I love you.” The words slammed into her so hard she nearly choked. “Jude, why did you just throw a confession like that out of nowhere?” His cousin was literally losing her fingers right beneath them. The timing was insane. “I wanted to say it, so I did.” His voice dropped. “Besides my grandma, no one ever asked me about the cruel things I went through.” Jude lowered his eyes to hide the storm in them. He knew this was the wrong time, but he had to let her see. He had to let her know how much he loved her. Tilda just looked at him. This was the man who stood like a king before the world. Only with her did he show his cracks. He was like a beast that had crushed countless enemies and carried the weight of war. But when he went back to his den, alone, he licked wounds that never healed. Those were the wounds that cut through him every night. Now he was laying those wounds bare for her to see. She pressed her lips together and reached for his hand. A shock jolted through him like a live wire. Their fingers slowly locked together. “No matter what comes, I’m here with you. No matter what you’ve endured, you’re still standing, and you’re right here with me.” Her voice carried like a song, steady and gentle. “And one more thing,” she whispered. “You’ve never had me in your life until now. But I don’t plan on letting you go for the rest of my life. Tilly, you’re never getting rid of me.”
His grip tightened, his eyes blazed, and his voice was warm like music humming in the air. She smiled with a spark in her eyes. “Then prove it.”
Upstairs, they were wrapped in closeness. Down below, Rebecca felt none of it. There was no bond of shared sorrow. When she realized she had no way out, she raised the blade and sliced off two of her own fingers. Without medicine to numb her, the pain ripped through until her eyes rolled back and her body dropped limp. Daphne’s heart split apart. She rushed forward to stop the bleeding, but Ryan’s grip locked her in place. Ryan looked at Abram. “Father, the punishment’s done. Has your fury calmed down now?” “Ryan, don’t mock me. I once led the family to hold our ground in Slosa. Something this small couldn’t shake me. The Bells have grown tall and wide. With so many branches and children, there will always be rotten fruit. When that happens, you cut it off. A few rotten pieces won’t topple a tree that has stood for centuries.” Abram’s tone was even, his eyes impossible to read. Ryan bowed his head. “Yes, Father. I shouldn’t have stepped out of line.” “Grandpa, given Rebecca… has taken her punishment, perhaps we should… let her get treated now.” Jarrett forced the words out, his eyes fixed on her pale skin. If she lost more blood, she would die. In the chapel, only their quiet branch dared to speak up. When Jarrett spoke, Nathan followed at once. “Yes, Grandpa, please let her get treated.” “Abram, please. She knows she was wrong. She’s paid her price. Please let her see a doctor.” Daphne collapsed to her knees. Her cries broke into the silence as she begged. Preston bit down on his lip. Ryan’s stare kept him frozen, so he begged only with his eyes. “Leave the fingers here. And call a doctor for her.” Abram’s words sliced through the air. “And when she heals up, send her overseas. Without my order, she is never to return.” Daphne’s face drained of color. “What? Dad, you’re sending her away? You’re keeping her out of Cetherland forever?” “What is this? Are you saying you’ll disobey me?”