Chapter 609 Masks Torn Away
“Fine, Tilda! You’re tough! I’ll give you that, but I’ll remember this humiliation!” Malcom was so mad that his teeth nearly cracked.
Ever since Crown Group had risen to success, people treated him with nothing but flattery and respect. No one dared give him the cold shoulder. But Tilda had just done the unthinkable—making him wait half an hour like some clown, tossing him aside as if their meeting didn’t matter. Moreover, every word that came from her was dripping with sarcasm, contempt, and indifference.
That alone was enough to be unforgivable. And then she had the nerve to call him a rotten capitalist? How amusing. Very amusing.
Boiling with rage, Malcom stormed out of the room. The look on his face wasn’t that of a man leaving after having tea. It was someone ready to kill.
At the doorway, Kyla hurriedly ran over and peeked out. She caught sight of Malcom’s back as he left.
H–he just walked away? What about Tilda? Did Tilda agree to his proposal to become his adopted daughter? That was what Kyla most desperately wanted to know. Yet, she hadn’t heard a word of the important part.
Not wasting another second, she dashed into the Room Orchid. She saw it was empty. Tilda clenched her fists, then ran out again. Kyla caught sight of Malcom, but she knew better than to mess with a man like him.
No–her focus was still on Tilda. Her eyes swept the area like radar until they locked onto her target. Tilda was sitting behind the wheel of a BMW M4, about to drive off.
Kyla sprinted forward and threw herself in front of the car. “Tilda!”
The shrill voice made Tilda’s brow crease ever so slightly. She glanced out the window. There was Kyla, sweating under her mask, plastered against the glass like some kind of ghost.
Tilda’s lips twitched. “Kyla, are you a ghost? Why do you pop up everywhere I go?”
Kyla was furious, but she forced herself to stay in character. “Tilda, I never expected to run into you here. What a coincidence.” Her voice was soft, trembling with false worry. “I thought I saw you arguing with someone just now. Wasn’t that Mr. Lowell–Dad’s friend? What happened? I’m so worried about you.”
Even with half her face covered, Kyla’s eyes alone carried the perfect look of pity and concern. Tilda nearly rolled her eyes straight to the back of her head. It would be a loss if this woman didn’t use her talent and launch a career in show business. With just her eyes, she could put on an award–winning act. Born to be a drama queen.
“Want to know, Kyla? Then why don’t you take off that mask and show me what you really look like?” Tilda’s voice cut sharp. “I heard you were disfigured. That’s pathetic. I’m curious–how much have you recovered? Enough to make someone who used to worship beauty step outside the house with a face mask?”
Tilda’s remarks rendered Kyla speechless. She hadn’t expected Tilda to be this vile. Every word stabbed at her raw wound. Behind the mask, her lips twitched uncontrollably. Her eyes turned red, brimming with tears.
“Tilda, I–I’ve already suffered so much. Please, I know you hate me, I know you don’t like me, but stop hurting me,” Kyla’s voice broke. “Since my face was ruined, everyone at home keeps their distance. If even you treat me like this, I don’t think I can go on living.”
Tilda let out a cold laugh. “Then why don’t you just go end it? Why drag yourself here to play the poor victim? That act doesn’t work on your family anymore. And you think it’ll work on me?”
Kyla clenched her jaw. She made up her mind, ripped off the mask, and revealed a face marked by surgery.
Tilda lowered her sunglasses a fraction, staring straight at her. “Well, Kyla. This look suits you perfectly. Any little twitch makes you look like a monster. And you can’t pull off that fake sweet act anymore. Now you’re just ordinary. Tsk, tsk, tsk. Honestly, this fits you better.”
Kyla’s voice trembled. “Tilda, I know you hate me. I stole 18 years of love from Mom and Dad that should’ve been yours. I’ve paid for it—my face is ruined. You, of all people, should understand what that means to a woman.” She swallowed hard. “I came to stop you because I was worried. I saw how upset you were with Mr. Lowell earlier. Showing you my face, it’s proof I mean no harm.”
Tilda pondered this. She tilted her head, lips curling into a mocking smile. “Fine. At least I don’t live like you–lying every second, hiding behind masks, acting your way through life. So here’s the truth. Mr. Lowell asked me to be his adopted daughter.”
Kyla was deeply shocked. She forced her face into an expression of shock and worry. “Tilda … what? H–how is that even possible? Mr. Lowell is Dad’s friend. He knows everything that happened between you and our family. Why would he ever want to adopt you? Tilda, what do you think? Could it be-”