Chapter 156 Black Swan

"You’re on good terms with the Jensons, aren’t you? The Colons and the Jensons aren’t exactly friends right now. What are you doing here?"

Tilda didn’t even look at Clive as she spoke. She just gazed out at the city lights beyond the hotel window, sipping her champagne.

“You think I want to be here? If it weren’t for my brother…”

“Never mind. It’s not your problem. I’m just so frustrated I started asking dumb questions.”

“So you do realize you’re not the brightest. Well, Mr. Genius, why don’t you go somewhere else? You’re kind of hurting my eyes.”

Clive was wordless. He nearly choked on his drink. Now he finally understood how Wade felt every time he had to talk to Tilda. This woman… Her words are sharper than a knife. One vile sentence is enough to make you cough up blood.

For the sake of his own sanity, Clive bit his tongue and walked away. But he didn’t go far. He stood at the end of the hallway, watching as Tilda lingered by the balcony, holding her champagne and staring into the distance.

The night breeze lifted Tilda’s long hair. The moonlight mixed with the soft yellow glow from the hotel’s classic lamps. Tilda looked strangely beautiful.

From where Clive was standing, he could just make out the side of Tilda’s face. There was something about her posture–a kind of loneliness that you could feel, even from behind. Her evening gown wasn’t expensive, but it looked just right on her. A black swan, dancing alone in the moonlight.

Clive couldn’t help himself. He pulled out his phone and texted Wade a message.

“Wade, I know you’re taking care of Dominic, but I just saw Tilda.” He snapped a quick photo of Tilda’s silhouette and sent it to Wade. Tilda stood under the starlit sky with the city lights sparkling below. Her chin was tilted up a little, and she held a champagne glass in one hand. Her pale legs and black heels peeked out from beneath her dress. She looked every bit the queen–proud and unbreakable.

About 30 seconds later, Wade replied, “Where are you?”

Clive typed back, “Umm… Don’t get mad, but Mrs. Colon is having a birthday party. I didn’t really want to be here, but my brother insisted. You know what he’s like–if I refused, I’d never hear the end of it.” He tried his best to explain to his buddy.

Right then, Wade called with a video chat. Clive hesitated for a second, then answered. Wade’s face appeared on screen.

“Clive, point the camera at Tilda.”

“Wait, are you serious?”

“Please.”

His reply stunned Clive. He paused for a second, wondering if he was hearing things. He’d been friends with Wade since they were kids. Yet, this was the first time he’d ever heard Wade sound so genuinely desperate. Is the world turning upside down? Or… Had Tilda really changed Wade that much?

Without a word, he turned his phone so Wade could see Tilda.

Through the video call, Wade watched Tilda standing alone in the hallway. A lonely and icy aura wrapped around her. Wade lowered his eyes, and a flash of guilt passed through them. Memories of Tilda flooded his mind again. He recalled the first time she came home, nervous, shy, and full of hope. He remembered when Blair introduced him as her big brother, how Tilda’s eyes lit up with admiration and longing. Now, those memories played in Wade’s mind more clearly than ever.

He’d thought he’d forgotten, but the truth was, he hadn’t. It was when he realized what he’d lost that everything started to come back to him.

It turned out Tilda’s eyes hadn’t always been filled with hatred and anger. Once, there had been warmth, love, and admiration. And Wade was the one who ruined it all.

Even now, he couldn’t help but wish, deep down, that he could have the old Tilda back. He wanted to pretend nothing had ever happened, hoping everything could return to how it was the very first day they met. If he could turn back time, he’d give anything for another chance. Maybe then, their family could have been really happy and whole, not broken and empty, like they were now.

Everyone in the family felt guilty toward Tilda. The family was changing because of her–some for better, some for worse. But in the end, the person who had really destroyed their peace wasn’t Tilda. It was their prejudice against her.

Tilda finished her champagne and set the glass aside. She took out her phone and scrolled through her contacts. Her finger paused on Jude’s name. She thought about Andy. Tilda had already talked to him too much, and he had work to do. And Una–there was too much she couldn’t say. Besides, Una was hosting her mom’s birthday party.

After thinking it over, Tilda finally messaged Jude first.

Tilda asked, “Are you there?”

She waited five seconds.

Jude replied calmly, “I’m here.”

Tilda pressed, “Are you busy?”

Jude answered, “I am, but if you reach out to me, I’m always here for you.”