Chapter 341 A Fly in the Way

Tilda snapped a photo with the trophy and sent it off to Dane.

Moments later, his message popped up.

“I’m so jealous.” And at the end of the text, there was a silly emoji.

Tilda laughed and typed back, “Don’t worry, Dane, I’ll be back in Cetherland soon. I’ll come by Lab Seven for New Year’s. We can celebrate together.”

Dane’s response came fast. “You said it, Tilda. I’ll hold you to that.” And he added a cute emoji to his text.

Tilda blinked at the message.

Was it just her, or did Dane really love using those silly emojis?

Maybe it was because of his illness, his inability to speak.

Instead of words, he used these faces to show how he felt.

She tucked her phone away and linked arms with Mystro, the two of them chatting as they headed out of the ski grounds.

“Tilda!”

That grating voice called out again, making her stomach turn.

She leaned close to Mystro and said softly, “Ignore them, Mystro.”

Then she kept walking, as if she hadn’t heard a thing.

But Kayden wasn’t about to be ignored. He sprinted ahead, cutting them off and spreading his arms to block their path, panting hard.

Tilda’s eyes turned cold. “Funny. Looks to me like somebody just can’t take a hint.”

Mystro fixed his gaze on Kayden, his tone edged with warning. “What now? Don’t tell me you lost, got embarrassed, and came here just to hassle Tilda.”

“Don’t misunderstand,” Kayden said quickly. “That’s not why I’m here.”

He turned to Tilda, a mix of nerves and urgency in his eyes. “I’m sorry for stopping you like this… but I have something important to give you. Here!”

He fumbled into his backpack, pulled out a folder, and thrust it toward her.

“And what exactly is this supposed to be?”

“Just–just take a look at it and you’ll understand,” Kayden stammered.

He pressed the folder into her hands before she could refuse, already backing away.

Just then, Tilda looked up and opened her mouth to speak.

“I don’t want anything from the Jensons. Just the thought of it disgusts me.”

Without even glancing inside, she tossed the folder straight into a nearby trash bin.

It landed perfectly inside with a dull thud.

She didn’t spare it a second look.

The sound hit Kayden like a lightning strike. He froze, hollow and stunned.

The scheme he had built up, the bold plan to force the folder into her hands, had been crushed without mercy–discarded as if it were nothing.

“Come on, Mystro. Let’s go,” Tilda said calmly.

“Alright.”

Mystro followed at her side as they walked away.

People who had witnessed the exchange stared after Kayden. Some pitied him.

Others thought Tilda’s response had been brutally heartless.

But none of them knew exactly what had happened between Kayden and Tilda.

Kayden let out a bitter laugh.

He moved like a man drained of life, dragging himself to the trash bin.

Slowly, he reached in and pulled the folder back out.

“Tilda … do you really hate us that much? Hate the Jensons that much?” His voice was low, almost pleading.

“What do I have to do? What would it take to make it up to you?”

He had no answer.

Every attempt to reach her had been met with her icy rejection, each one cutting him deeper than the last.

For the first time, Kayden felt completely powerless, crushed by a sense of failure he had never known.

Maybe…

Maybe letting her go was the only way.

Maybe that was the only chance he had at finding peace himself.

Confusion clouded Kayden’s face.

Then his phone buzzed.

The screen lit up with Wade’s name.

He straightened slightly, tucked the folder under his arm, and answered.

“Hey, Wade.”

“Kayden, did you find her? Did you talk to Tilda?”

Before he left, Kayden had told Wade that Tilda would be at the ski resort outside Fairville.

Hours had passed with no word, and Wade, unable to wait any longer, finally called.

“I’m sorry. I just don’t know what to do anymore. I don’t know how to face her, how to make it up to her.

“No matter what I do, no matter how much hard I try, I can’t seem to warm her up.”

For the first time, he admitted his true feelings.

Against a wall that solid, could he ever break through?

On the other end, Wade went silent.

When he finally spoke, his breath was long and deep.

“Then let it go, Kayden. None of us will blame you.

“Tilda was hurt by me, Dominic, and Howard. You and Justin weren’t even at home back then. You never did anything to her.

“But you still got dragged into this mess because of us. You and Justin never agreed with what we did. You knew we were wrong….

“I was too weak. I tried to make you carry the weight of the damage I caused. I’m sorry, Kayden. I really am.”

Listening to the remorse in Wade’s voice, Kayden slowly calmed down.

“Wade, don’t say that. I’m the one who should apologize. I lost control just now.”