Chapter 632 The Truth

Tilda picked up another box of tea from the table. Instead of fumbling with it like a beginner, she pinched a few leaves between her fingers and studied them.

“This is Ridgewell Snowbud. Its fragrance is like nothing else – rich, crisp, distinctive. It’s the crown jewel of Ridgewell teas. The mountains there stay veiled in mist, the soil dark and fertile. When steeped, the buds rise upright in the cup, long and slender, their tips dusted with a fine white fuzz that looks like snow on orchids. That’s why people also call it Orchid Snow.

“According to legend, two princes once adored this tea, so it became popular among regular folks. They’re very rare and expensive, too. But for you, the Bells’ fourth son, it’s just another cup.”

“That old title doesn’t mean much,” Devin replied. “Still, you’re right – I can’t shake the bloodline. No matter how far I’ve stepped from the Bells, I’ll always be Abram’s fourth son.”

He lifted his cup of Silverwood Reserve, savoring it slowly, a faint smile with a trace of bitterness curving his lips.

“I never cared for this stuff before. When Jude’s mother – the love of my life – died in childbirth, I drifted from place to place, trying to outrun my grief. Along the way, I picked up habits and bits of knowledge that seemed pointless at the time.

“But later, they mattered. Even the abbot at Serenity Abbey praised my tea and visited often. I asked him again and again to take me on as a student, but he always refused.

“In time, I settled into this rhythm. When I’m idle, I come here. I watch flowers bloom and fade, clouds drift by, and share tea with friends. Away from the Bells, away from the chaos, I don’t have to dwell on the past. It feels like peace.”

Tilda tipped back her cup in one smooth motion, her eyes never leaving him. “You’re nothing like the man Jude described – or the rumors I’ve heard. So who are you really?”

“You’ve probably been told I was a man who crumbled after his wife died, who became an empty shell, worthless and broken.

“And Jude… I doubt he ever spoke well of me. I was a failure as a father, too weak to protect him. He has every reason to hate me. I gave him life, but nothing beyond that. I was cold as stone,”

Devin glanced at her, his smile edged with self-mockery.

“I’ve heard about you and Jude, I’m glad he found someone like you. In some ways, you remind me of his mother.”

Tilda’s lips curved faintly. “If you’re being this candid, then don’t hold back. Tell me the truth. Jude’s been carrying that wound all these years because of your absence. Even if he won’t admit it, I can feel it.”

Devin didn’t reply right away. He poured tea, cup after cup, for her and for himself. By the fifth cup of Silverwood Reserve, he finally looked her straight in the eye and set his cup down.

“From the moment I learned about you and Jude, I wanted to meet you. But until now, I never had the chance. Maybe our meeting here was meant to happen. And you’re right – at least with you, I won’t pretend. I’m not who the stories say I am.

“When Heidi, Jude’s mother, died in childbirth, it was like the world ended. My life was shattered. I lost my drive, my confidence, even the will to keep going.

“When she carried Jude, we dreamed about the future. After she was gone, none of it mattered. And worse – I was too ambitious. In trying to seize control of the Bells, I made enemies inside DY Group’s headquarters. My own brothers stood aside, waiting for me to collapse.”

“I was like a crippled tiger, wounded and declawed. If I hadn’t withdrawn completely, I might not have lasted long. Even if I wasn’t forced out, I could’ve been ‘accidentally’ killed. And if I couldn’t even protect myself, how could I have protected Jude? He might not have lived to see adulthood.”

Tilda listened in stunned silence, unable to speak at first. Then a thought hit her. “So… are you saying Jude’s grandmother took him in because of you?”

Devin nodded. “Yes. I begged her. She didn’t want me and my brothers tearing each other apart. But both she and my father knew the Bells and DY Group would collapse if none of us proved strong enough to lead. The fight for the top wasn’t just between brothers – it was constant. Other branches of the family, allies waiting in the wings… all of them were circling, ready to strike.”