Chapter 407 Guilt

Genevieve knew she had to win the Jensons’ approval if she ever wanted to become Justin’s wife. Only then could she marry into the Jenson family and finally escape her “nightmare.”

To get there, she needed accomplishments worthy of being praised as the Jensons’ future daughter-in-law.

She glanced at the clock and figured Justin should be arriving soon.

Setting down her lipstick, Genevieve turned on her heels and walked away in her high heels.

At that moment, Blair, Russell, and Justin arrived at Starlight Dining.

The invitation was addressed to Justin. Genevieve had pulled strings, trading her performance gig here for a chance to get him an invitation. She hoped he would accept and come hear her play.

If it hadn’t been for the incident at the Morloss Hotel, Justin would have shown up much earlier. That disaster left a heavy shadow behind.

After Dominic and Blair were released from the hospital, Dominic decided Blair should return to Cetherland to rest.

Howard didn’t follow, along with Santiago, who was on break from school in Motrar, to help expand the business in Endralsia.

The first to come back were Justin, Kayden, and Wade, who had to prepare for finals.

The military in Endralsia had already warned the family not to spread word about the Jensons being caught up in the Morloss case.

The terrorist group had taken heavy losses—their leader dead, the rest just mercenaries paid to fight. The military didn’t get much more out of it.

Each invitation allowed only two guests, so Justin brought Russell and Blair. He wanted them to relax, to ease the lingering fear and darkness from Morloss.

The restaurant had dimmed its lights to match the performance mood. Because of that, Justin and the others didn’t notice Tilda sitting quietly in a corner.

As soon as Russell stepped in, the violin’s soaring notes washed over him. He closed his eyes, letting his mind rest and enjoy the sound.

“This violin piece is amazing. Justin, I can’t believe you got an invitation to Starlight Dining.”

For a family like the Jensons, it wasn’t hard to get into a place like this. But with all the preparations for New Year’s, then Blair and Dominic’s sudden kidnapping, Russell had never been in the mood to chase down an invite.

“It came from a friend of mine,” Justin said, leaving it at that.

When he had left suddenly for Motrar, Kayden hadn’t gotten the chance to see Genevieve either. Tonight, Justin’s main goal was simply to help Blair and Russell breathe a little easier.

For now, he chose to set aside his investigation into Genevieve’s real identity–and whether she was the one who saved him years ago.

The three of them took their seats. Russell handed the menu to Blair. “Darling, order anything you like.”

“I’ll have whatever you’re having,” Blair whispered softly.

She looked elegant, her outfit graceful, her hair and makeup carefully done. But she still couldn’t hide the tiredness in her eyes.

“Darling,” Russell said gently, “Justin brought us here so we could relax. That’s his kindness to us. Stop worrying. It’s over. We’re still together as a family. That’s what matters.”

He could see the fear in her eyes. With a sigh, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders, speaking softly.

“I know, honey… but I keep thinking about what Dominic said.

“Tilda saved us. And yet we treated her so cruelly before. Especially me, her birth mother. I was so furious with her that I said things I can never take back.”

Justin and Russell listened to her guilt-filled words but didn’t know how to comfort her.

For Russell, the weight was even heavier. He knew he owed Tilda the most.

Time and again, he had judged her without fairness. He had insulted her, forced her to kneel, and even raised his hand to strike her.

It had backfired on him, of course–Tilda had outsmarted him more than once. But as her father, he could not escape his guilt.

He had once thought she was nothing but a disgrace, wishing she would stay far away and never cross paths with the Jensons again.

Yet now, Tilda had saved Blair and Dominic, which meant she had saved Russell’s life, too—along with the entire Jenson family in its darkest hour.