Chapter 376 If Only

“We already got the notice. We can’t just fly over there."

“And even if we tried, it wouldn’t change anything. We’d likely make the situation worse."

“The only thing left is to count on the embassy to step in and help Endralsia handle those militants.”

Russell exhaled a long, weary breath. He covered his face with his hands. What he wanted most was to grow wings and rush straight to Blair and Dominic. The thought of the woman he adored, with her life hanging by a thread, trapped inside a hotel by gunmen… Was she suffering inside?

Russell felt like the air was being crushed out of his chest. The entire room turned unbearably heavy. No one could contradict Russell, because his reasoning held. For now… All they could do was stay alert to the news, and pray Dominic and Blair survived.

“Dad, we can’t just sit on our hands! There has to be something we can still do here!” Justin slammed the table and rose to his feet.

Everyone gaped at him.

“Dad, can you use your contacts to pull the full list of those stuck in the Hotel Morloss? I’ll try reaching their families. Maybe we can get some details from them!”

“Alright, I’ll do what I can!” Justin was right. Russell couldn’t simply wait around for foreign agencies to handle it! His wife, his child… Russell had to act to defend them!

Tilda and the other two’s New Year’s Eve dinner went smoothly. When Tilda returned to her apartment in Hetsa, she unpacked the groceries. One by one, she carried out steaming dishes and arranged them on the table.

“Tilda, you’re incredible. The food smells so good I’m about to drool!” After that restaurant incident, Mystro already knew Tilda’s cooking skills were the real deal! Even that chef had nothing but admiration, even wanting to secretly apprentice under her!

“This one is the dish I cooked on the Ferris wheel: French braised cabbage rolls. Taste it.”

“Perfect!”

“What are you two going on about?” Dane, who had been left out, was clearly annoyed. He demanded to know what was being said!

“Well…”

“Dane, that’s just between me and Tilda.” Mystro flashed Tilda a sly wink.

Dane suddenly wanted to sock him in the face. What was he supposed to do with that answer?

“Okay, don’t bully Dane. Dane, here’s what actually happened…” Tilda quickly explained what had gone down on the Ferris wheel.

“Tilda, you’re awesome. He’s such a pest!”

“Ahem…” Mystro looked slightly stung. He didn’t think Tilda would rat him out that quickly… Did Dane actually hold more weight to her than he did? Ouch.

As Tilda and the others enjoyed their New Year’s dinner, they turned on the TV for the holiday gala. Tilda even recorded a vlog and uploaded it to her social feed. She made sure to blur Dane and Mystro’s faces, since the two of them showing up together would cause an uproar. Almost instantly, her post got a wave of likes.

Una wrote, “Ugh. I wish I could eat Tilda’s New Year’s dinner! Too bad I’m stuck at home with no way out…” Astrid, Jarrett, Theo, and Zach also left reactions. When Tilda noticed Jude had liked it, she messaged him.

Tilda wrote, “Don’t tell me you’re still stuck working overtime on New Year’s?”

Jude replied, “No… I’m at dinner with the Bells.” After sending that, Jude glanced around at the so-called “relatives” seated at the table. Even though the Bells were always at each other’s throats for power, as long as Abram lived, every branch was forced to gather for the holidays. The whole thing was laughable. Everyone was plotting, buttering up Abram, all wanting to drag Jude down as head of the family. Yet here they were, pretending to be one big, happy household. Jude had grown up surrounded by this circus, so he had long since mastered the art of wearing a mask. Acting? He could do it blindfolded.

But this time… Maybe it was because he had met Tilda. Jude felt, deep in his bones, that this holiday meal was revolting.

Tilda wrote, “Ugh… I can totally picture how awful that dinner must feel for you.”

Jude replied, “Well, it’s because a certain someone wouldn’t spend New Year’s with me.”

Tilda replied, “??? I asked you! You said you had to be with the Bells. Don’t turn this on me!”

Jude wrote back, “Next year, I don’t want to come back here. Will you spend it with me?”

Jude was dead serious. He was completely sick of this hollow family charade. If only Tilda could be there with him….