Chapter 659 Last Resort

Hesitating, Megan dialed Tilda’s number.

Beep… beep… beep…

Each tone thudded like a hammer against Megan’s chest.

She closed her eyes instinctively, silently praying like a devout believer, hoping Tilda would pick up.

Finally, the call connected.

“Hello?”

Tilda’s calm, detached voice came through the line.

Megan’s heart nearly stopped. Stay calm, Megan, she told herself. Getting through the call was only the first step–there were still many more to face.

“T–Tilda… it’s been so long since we last spoke. I… I just wanted to check in, see how you’re doing. I hope I’m not disturbing you.”

“Of course not,” Tilda replied, her tone sharp and cool. “But let’s be honest–we’re not close enough for casual calls, are we? So tell me straight–what do you want? I don’t have much time, and I don’t want to waste it on small talk.”

The sudden coldness hit Megan like a slap. She felt a chill run down her spine, leaving her words stuck in her throat.

Megan steeled herself, forcing the next words out. “I–I want to borrow some money.”

“Borrow money? How much? A few thousand? I suppose a rich lady like you wouldn’t even flinch at that. Can’t scrape together a few grand, huh?”

“I–I need… a million.”

The figure left Tilda momentarily speechless.

Megan’s chest tightened, each breath coming harder than the last. She desperately wanted to hang up, to escape the humiliation of waiting like this. But she couldn’t.

If she hung up, she would have no choice but to rely entirely on Kyla and leech off of her. It was the one thing she dreaded but would have to do for survival. So, she could only endure the humiliation, clinging to the tiniest thread of hope that Tilda might help.

Then Tilda’s laugh cut through the tension, cold and mocking. “Hahaha… Megan, let’s not even pretend this makes sense. Do you have any idea how ridiculous you sound? A million? For an ordinary college student, that’s astronomical. And we aren’t even related–how could I possibly hand you that much? Are you insane?”

“I–I know it’s sudden, but I’ve been cornered. I’m divorced. That man took everything. I barely have anything left–I can’t even cover basic living expenses… Borrowing is the only way. Everyone avoids me…”

Tilda cut her off before she could finish. “If all your friends avoid you, why would a near stranger like me lend you a million? Besides, if you’re broke, get a job and work hard. You’re not gonna starve. Stop clinging to that lifestyle you used to have! You should do some research on how much a million is. It’s not something anybody would just have. It’s astronomical for an ordinary family!”

Megan gritted her teeth, holding the phone tight, biting her lip to keep from shouting. “O- okay… I’m sorry, Ms. Tilda. I crossed a line. Goodbye.”

She hung up.

Her last resort was gone.

For a moment, Megan felt as if her world had gone completely dark. She had barely found a gullible mark, and her decade-long fantasy collapsed before it even began.

At that moment, James called her. “Why are you in the restroom so long? Kyla’s getting impatient! Hurry up!”

“I–I’m coming…”

Megan quickly wiped her tears, touched up her makeup, and hurried out.

The group moved toward the nearby hospital.

After Kyla and the others left, Tilda leisurely finished her coffee, paid the bill, and moved on to her next source of amusement.

Meanwhile, the hospital was eerily quiet. Only nurses moved silently through the halls; not a single patient was in sight.

Kyla, James, and Megan waited for the DNA results.

Thanks to advanced technology, what used to take eight to ten days could now be processed within hours for a fee.

James sat with his legs crossed, hands clasped behind his head, humming a carefree tune as if he already knew the outcome.

Guilt-ridden, Megan glanced at Kyla, who kept her head down in silence, and asked softly, “Kyla, are you thirsty? Do you want some water?”

Kyla didn’t respond.

Megan sighed quietly to herself.