Chapter 367 I Found Her

“Alright, I’m feeling a bit tired. Kayden and Wade are back, right? I’ll go check on them, then take a shower.”

“Okay, Dad.”

Howard watched as Russell headed upstairs.

Only Kyla sensed that something was off with Russell.

She just couldn’t shake the feeling that he was keeping his distance from her.

It must just be my imagination…

We had such a great time together on Christmas. Everything felt perfectly normal.

The next day, at Orica University—

On Tilda’s first day back on campus, she immediately became the center of attention—the university’s hero.

During the assembly in the auditorium, every university leader praised Tilda, calling her the pride of Cetherland and the university, a true world champion.

Tilda stood confidently on stage, a calm smile on her lips.

When it was her turn to speak, she delivered a poised and flawless speech. Her thoughts were well organized, and her words were clear and confident.

The entire audience cheered, clapped, and called out her name again and again.

Kyla knew the university was holding a ceremony to welcome Tilda back on her first day, so she called in sick.

All of Kyla’s “best friends” did the same.

After all, they had once helped Kyla try to frame Tilda.

But the plan completely backfired on them.

Now, the thought of having to watch Tilda bask in the spotlight was torture.

They’d rather die than have to witness it.

Wade and Clive stood among the crowd, watching Tilda command the stage like a queen.

It brought up all sorts of feelings.

“Who could’ve guessed, back when we first met Tilda, that she’d become this accomplished?"

“We really misjudged her,” Clive said with a sigh.

Wade managed a wry smile. “That’s her talent, not ours.”

“Exactly. Tilda’s incredible. You need to let go, too. A woman like her was born to shine—she’d never be content living in the Jensons’ shadow.

“We were the ones who overrated the Jensons and underestimated Tilda.”

Clive finally saw things clearly.

Actually, Clive was a fan of X, too.

And he wasn’t alone—anyone who had ever heard of X or seen her work would be a fan.

Maybe they weren’t obsessed fans or anything like that.

But no one could forget X, that blazing genius who came and went like a comet.

“It’s just a shame… we realized it all too late.”

Wade looked down, hiding the sadness flickering in his eyes.

The very day Tilda cut ties with the Jensons, she’d made it clear.

It wasn’t that the Jensons rejected her.

She was the one who gave up on them.

Once Tilda made up her mind, she never looked back.

At the time, Wade thought she was just being stubborn.

He didn’t believe anyone would walk away from the kind of wealth and status that came with being a Jenson heiress.

But reality proved him wrong.

All those harsh judgments he’d held against Tilda over the years now felt like invisible slaps.

Each memory stung, sharp as a slap in the face, echoing painfully inside.

While Tilda gave her speech on stage, Kayden stood silently at the fire exit.

He watched quietly while holding his phone, his eyes flickering with uncertainties.

That night on the Ferris wheel… could what I felt have been real?

Justin still hadn’t come back.

Kayden wondered… had he really found his first love, the one who once saved him?

Lost in thought, Kayden’s phone suddenly rang.

It was Justin calling.

Kayden’s heart skipped a beat.

He answered right away.

“Justin, where have you been? I haven’t been able to get hold of you all night!”

“Kayden, listen! I found her! I found the girl who played that song back then!

“I’ve been gone all night just to confirm it! It’s true, Kayden, I swear!”

Justin’s voice shook with excitement.

Kayden was stunned.

“Justin… are you sure? You really found her?

“How did it happen so suddenly? We’ve been searching together for so long.”

“I know, I was surprised too. That’s why I went to see for myself.

“She remembered everything about that piano piece, and she played it perfectly.

“It’s the exact song I heard all those years ago!”

Justin wasn’t joking.

Kayden knew that no matter how swept up Justin was, he’d never mess up something as important as verifying the girl’s identity.

“Justin, calm down. Where are you? I’ll come find you!”

“I’m at home now… I know you want to meet her. She’s an incredible pianist—she just won the Chopin competition and is heading for the international stage!”

“Got it. I’ll head back right now.”

After hanging up, Kayden glanced back at Tilda on stage one last time.

Then he turned and left.

Just as Tilda finished her speech, she caught sight of Kayden slipping away.

She’d noticed him standing by the fire exit, quietly watching her the whole time.