Chapter 125 Panic Line
Tilda’s hacking skills were just too good. The people who wanted her dead had no clue that the legendary Queen of the dark web—feared, respected, untouchable—was, in real life, just an ordinary-looking, harmless student at Cetherland.
“Still, I’m worried Howard might be dumb enough to team up with the Jensons and come after you again,” Andy said.
“He won’t,” Tilda replied coolly. “That guy’s too obsessed with his image. You really think he’d go around telling people I beat him until he looked like a swollen pig? Howard would rather die than admit that.”
She scoffed. She knew him too well. The kind of guy who pretended to have morals and a strong sense of justice, but when it came to people closest to him? That so-called ‘integrity’ vanished without a trace. The truth was, Howard had no real bottom line. And he was a master at convincing himself otherwise. He could spin any excuse—‘I did it for the family,’ ‘I sacrificed myself for others’—whatever made him feel like a hero.
Still, at least Howard owned being a jerk—loud and proud. That was better than Wade’s pathetic act. Wade would screw you over, frame you, and then show up pretending to care. In the end, it was just a race to the bottom.
“You’re right, but what about that video of Rebecca? What’s your plan for that? If you leak it online, I doubt that woman’s reputation would survive,” Andy said. Anyone who messed with Tilda? Andy would never let them walk away clean.
In the dark web, the most efficient way to solve a problem was to make someone disappear for good. That way, they could never disturb Tilda’s peace again. But since Tilda hadn’t given the order, Andy wasn’t about to suggest it. As the Queen, Tilda didn’t just have the power to protect herself; she had every right to toy with her prey however she pleased.
“This video? Not posting it would actually be more devastating than leaking it,” Tilda said calmly. “It’s like some kind of water torture. No real pain at first. Nothing obvious. But put someone in total darkness, cut off their senses, and let water drip, one drop at a time, onto their forehead—while they’re completely restrained… Eventually, the pressure alone will shatter their mind.”
When it came to someone like Rebecca, ruining her reputation would’ve been too easy. But she came after Tilda first. With both their past and present lives’ worth of bad blood, Tilda was going to settle it all at once. She’d make sure Rebecca would beg for death long before it came.
Right now, Rebecca didn’t even dare go home. She clung to Kyla like her life depended on it, trembling the entire way back to the Jenson villa. If Kyla hadn’t agreed to stay with her tonight, Rebecca was pretty sure she would’ve lost her mind. The household’s actual owners weren’t there, only a few servants. Russell, Blair, and Dominic were all spending yet another night at the office.
Kyla brought Rebecca into her own room to help calm her down first, then pulled out her phone and tried calling Howard and the others. Howard had promised earlier—after she told him about what happened to Rebecca—that he’d retrieve the video himself. But now it was already past 9 p.m., and she hadn’t heard a single word back. No one was picking up their phones, and a very bad feeling crept into Kyla’s chest.
Finally, Kyla got through, but it was Wade who picked up.
“Wade, what the hell is going on? Why haven’t you answered any of my calls? I’ve been worried sick!”
“Sorry, Kyla. We ran into a situation. Something urgent came up, and Howard and I had to handle it. He probably won’t be coming home for a while…” Wade glanced at Howard, who was still receiving treatment, and lied through his teeth.
“Oh my God, what happened? What’s going on with Howard? And Wade, did you get the video of Rebecca…”
“We didn’t get it. I’m sorry.”
Honestly, Kyla had already suspected as much. Wade’s radio silence basically said everything. It wasn’t her mess to clean up. She was about to say something polite, offer a few words of comfort, then hang up and figure out how to break the news to Rebecca—when Rebecca suddenly rushed into the room.
“Kyla! Is that Wade on the phone? Give it to me! Now!”
“Rebecca—”
Before Kyla could say anything, Rebecca had already snatched the phone from her hand, nearly knocking her over in the process. Kyla stumbled backward, barely staying on her feet.
Rebecca didn’t care; her voice shook as she pressed the phone to her ear. “Hello? Wade? Did you get the video?”
“Sorry, Rebecca. Tilda… we couldn’t do anything.”
“No! No, what am I supposed to do now? What am I gonna do?! If that video goes public, I’m finished!” Rebecca burst into tears.
All that arrogance she’d flaunted earlier at the amusement park—when she confronted Tilda and Una—was gone without a trace.
Wade went silent. What was he supposed to say? He already had enough of his own mess to deal with. Tilda had him completely cornered. Every time he faced her, he came out looking like the worst version of himself—ashamed, helpless, crushed by guilt.