Chapter 544 A Call
Rain and Tilda sat shoulder to shoulder on the couch, their eyes locked on the flashing TV screen as they waged war on the PS5. The bluish light lit up their faces in quick bursts, while their fingers flew over the controllers with frantic precision.
In the bedroom next door, Dane and Liam had sealed themselves in. They spoke in hushed tones, their focus fixed on Daneโs strange illness. Careful hands checked his body, while bottles and packets of medicine lay on the nightstand, waiting to be used.
The plan was simple. Once Dane swallowed the first round of pills, they would all head out together. They would wander the streets, breathe in the holiday air, and let the festive cheer of the holiday carry them.
Mystro stayed behind in the game room. A sketchpad balanced across his knees, and his pencil glided with sure strokes. The wide windows poured sunlight over the hardwood floor, and the air felt warm and easy. He kept drawing, capturing the two players caught in their laughter and competition.
For a moment, the world itself seemed quiet and tender.
When he finally lifted the pencil from the page, Mystro stretched until his spine popped, then let a tired smile curve across his lips. โItโs finished.โ
โLet me see it!โ
Rain and Tilda tossed their controllers onto the couch and hurried over. One look at the paper made their eyes go wide. Rain let out a breathless laugh. โThis is unreal. Darell, you really are the best painter alive. It looks like something out of a dream.โ
Mystro chuckled, the sound low and warm. โIf you both like it, Iโll make copies when I get the time. One each. No arguments.โ
โThat would be amazing!โ
Before they could go on, a sharp buzz rattled across the table. Tildaโs phone lit up with the word Security.
She swiped to answer. โHello? Whatโs happening?โ
โMs. Tilda?โ The guardโs voice faltered, then steadied. โHereโs the situationโฆโ
In the security office, the guard cast a glance toward Russell and Wade. Then, word for word, he repeated what Russell had told him.
Tildaโs response came fast and cold. โTell him no.โ
โMs. Tildaโฆ please forgive me, but he really seems serious about this."
Her voice snapped, hard enough to sting. โBro, listen carefully. That man is not my father. I cut ties with the Jensons. Weโre nothing to each other now.
โWhether he lives or dies has nothing to do with me. And I mean it. Donโt let him come near me again.โ
She ended the call before the guard could say another word.
The empty dial tone hummed in his ear, then faded.
He let out a tired sigh and turned back to Russell and Wade. His voice was careful as he explained that Tilda refused to see them.
Wadeโs face barely shifted. His eyes fell to the floor, and pain hung there, muted but clear. โDad, I told you this would happen. Letโs just go back to the hospital and be with Mom.โ
Russellโs hands balled tight at his sides. โYou go if you want, Wade. Iโm not leaving. Iโll wait here until Tilda comes out.โ
โWhat? Dad, why are you doing this to yourself?โ Wadeโs voice cracked under the weight of it. โItโs an impossible task! Even if this is what Mom wanted, weโve already tried everything. Isnโt that enough?โ
โIt isnโt enough. Not when I know sheโs right there. If sheโs inside, she has to step out sometime. And when she does, Iโll look her in the eyes and beg her myself.โ
โDad.โ
Wadeโs throat tightened. He knew nothing he said would change Russellโs mind.
โFine,โ Wade muttered. โIf youโre staying, then Iโll stay too.โ
He could only stand with him. For Blair. He had no choice.
The guard rubbed his temples, the start of a headache pressing down. โMr. Jenson, pleaseโฆ donโt make this harder on us.โ
Russellโs voice stayed firm. โWe wonโt cause trouble. Letโs go, Wade. Weโll wait outside.โ
โAlright.โ
Together, father and son walked away from the office. Their figures stretched thin under the sun as they moved down the path.
The guard stood still, watching until they disappeared, and a long sigh left him.
What curse had fallen over the Jensons, that a family once whole now lay cracked apart, bitter and broken?
Inside the apartment, silence pressed in.
Rain and Mystro had caught enough of Tildaโs phone call to piece things together.
Mystroโs lips thinned. โTilda, are you sure you donโt want to talk to them?โ
โI told you,โ Tilda said flatly. โI cut ties with the Jensons. Why bother meeting them again? Itโs the holiday. Iโd rather spend it with you. Why should I waste a single moment on them?
โThey threw me away first. And now Russell thinks Iโm some obedient little dog, just waiting for him to call me back. He thinks Iโll come running, tail wagging, begging for scraps.
โMystro, you promised to stand by me. Donโt think Iโm cruel. Donโt think Iโm cold. This is the right choice. Itโs the only choice I can make.โ
Mystro spoke. โI know. I only worry youโll regret it later. But I told you before, Iโll stand with you no matter what.
โIf this feels right to you, if youโre sure you wonโt regret it, then Iโll accept that.โ
His hand came down gently on her shoulder.
He already knew about the Sunlight Plaza incident.
He knew the Jensons had been swept into it.
And he knew Blair, Tildaโs mother, was in the hospital now, her life hanging by a thread.
Russell had almost certainly come for Blairโs sake.
And Blair was still Tildaโs mother, no matter how much hatred filled the space between them. If Tilda turned her back now, if she refused to see her even once more, then she would never be able to undo it.
Mystro wasnโt afraid of the Jensons. He was afraid of what this choice might do to Tilda.
He feared she would carry the weight of it for the rest of her life.