Chapter 601 Shattered Illusions
Tilda returned to her family, hiding her true identity. She didn’t come back for money, fame, or status. What she wanted was simple–real love from her parents and brothers. They were her blood. They should have given her that without question.
But Russell was the first to misunderstand her. He hurt her so deeply that she left the house in despair. He had promised her the truth. However, he always ended up making excuses, always siding with Kyla. Arrogant and blind, Russell never once admitted he was wrong. He only piled more humiliation on Tilda.
If Tilda had not later proven her strength, Russell would never have looked at her differently. In those days, he had not cared about her life, her feelings, or whether she lived or died.
The truth was cruel, and Russell should have faced it long ago.
Russell knew the truth all along, but to protect the last shred of his pride, he chose to bury it.
He didn’t want to admit it. Now, with Tilda’s raw words tearing into him, that final cover was ripped to pieces.
He was exactly what she called him–a selfish, cold-blooded man.
Russell had no right to call himself her father.
Aside from the painful bond of blood that had once promised hope but had become a bottomless pit of despair, Russell gave Tilda nothing.
He gave her life, but nothing more.
Russell never fulfilled the duties of a father.
In front of Ashby and Malcom, Tilda crushed Russell’s dignity underfoot, leaving him humiliated and broken.
What stung most was watching him stand there, silent, timid, and unable to fight back.
Ashby and Malcom barely recognized him.
Was this really the same Russell they remembered? The man who fearlessly walked into a dangerous city of Kheason to make a deal years ago?
It was because of that bold move when Russell was young. Against all odds, he had survived and also closed the deal. That was why Ashby and Malcom admired him so deeply. Even to this day, that respect has never faded.
But now, before his daughter, Russell couldn’t lift his head.
He looked small. Weak.
Tilda turned and walked away.
This time, no one dared to stop her.
What none of them saw was the pair of eyes watching from the shadows.
His lips curled into a mocking smile.
He had only come to meet Malcom, yet stumbled onto something unexpected.
Something about Tilda.
Interesting.
He thought for a moment, then quietly followed the direction Tilda had gone.
Russell stayed where he was for a long time, motionless.
If not for the rise and fall of his chest, one might have thought he was dead.
Ashby sighed and stepped forward. He awkwardly patted Russell on the shoulder and spoke guiltily, “Russell, I’m sorry. If it weren’t for me—”
“This isn’t your fault, Ashby,” Russell cut in. “This is on me. It’s my sin. Tilda tore into me, and she was right–she woke me up. But God, it hurts. How could I have been such a terrible father back then? No father would do the awful things I had done?
“Tilda said I only think about gain, that I only felt guilty once she did well. She’s right. If she hadn’t become who she is today, maybe I never would’ve changed. Maybe I would have forgotten that I had a daughter.
“Maybe people like me don’t deserve to have children. I only pay attention when they do well. If they don’t, I ignore them. How do heartless fathers like me even exist?”
Russell’s voice broke. He laughed then–at first a bitter, hollow laugh that climbed into sobs. He coughed until his shoulders shook.
He tilted his head backward. He took several deep breaths to stop the tears from spilling and embarrassing himself in front of his friends.
Ashby didn’t know what to say nor how to comfort his friend.
He’d known Russell for years but had never seen him so vulnerable, so broken.
Frankly, they were all in their fifties now. If it weren’t for Dominic and Tilda’s troubles, Russell would probably be retired. He would be traveling the world with Blair, enjoying life.
They’d seen so many kinds of people and things. They were immune to a lot of things. Nothing shocked them anymore.
But if you wanted to hurt someone, the sharpest tool was still family–use that like a blade.
Malcom stepped forward. “I’m not trying to preach, Russell, but I can see you really want to treat your daughter right. Look how far this has gone. If you’d known, would you have acted differently? You may have cut Tilda’s heart deeper than you realize.”
Russell forced out a breath. “Yes, if I’d known, I would’ve done things differently. No wonder people would do anything for a second chance in life. I wish I could go back to the time when Tilda first came home. I would shake some sense into that foolish, narrow, self-satisfied version of myself.”