Chapter 428 Foolish Move
“I don’t care how much it takes, I want Tilda gone! I want it done perfectly, without the smallest mistake!”
Daphne, the Bells’ daughter-in-law and the Kahler princess, had crossed paths with this shadowy group by accident. After only a handful of exchanges, she had grown certain of their skill. Anyone could be erased, so long as their price was paid.
Even… Tilda. That cursed woman. This was the plan Daphne had been crafting from the very beginning.
“We’re overloaded right now, and we don’t have the manpower to test things in the field. Wait a while. I’ll call you myself with an answer. Remember, when we act, the fee is steep."
“You think the Bells can’t pay? All I’m asking is for you to kill one helpless woman. No matter the cost, we can cover it!"
“You’ve already checked her out! Tilda is just some woman with titles that barely matter. To take her out for a fee should be nothing to you. Why waste time looking into it?”
Daphne thought they doubted her ability to pay.
“Watch yourself, Mrs. Bell.”
The voice on the other end went cold, sharp as frost. Her fury had been burning hot, but those words froze her in place. Her anger broke, and clarity struck her hard. She cursed herself. What am I, a fool?
If she crossed them, it would not just be Tilda who lost her life. Her own safety would be at risk.
“I’m sorry… I let my emotions get the better of me. I didn’t mean what I said….”
“Our group does not take orders from anyone. What we do defines our reputation. If you weren’t carrying the Bells name, your words would’ve been enough reason for me to end you. Wait for our reply.”
The call ended abruptly. Daphne clutched the phone so tightly her knuckles went white. Since stepping into the Bells’ world, she had never once been treated with such disgust. Yet because of Tilda, that wretched curse of a woman, her proud life had been crushed and slandered again and again.
“Tilda, your time is coming. I’ll never forgive you. Never. One day I’ll stand there and watch you sink into hell. I’ll make you pay for what you did to my children.”
When Tilda opened her eyes, her phone lit up with a message from Jude.
Jude’s message read, “Tilda, are you awake?”
Tilda answered, “Yeah, I just got up. Closed a case last night. Yaaawn.”
She swung her legs out of bed and poured herself a glass of milk.
Jude replied, “Alfie told me about Preston bothering you at Nightingale Bar. I’ll make sure he’s gone for good.”
Tilda answered, “Thanks. I’ll let you handle it.”
With Jude in control, she had no fear. She was already tired of Preston drifting around like some ghost, spouting nonsense and picking fights that meant nothing.
Her phone chimed. A new alert flashed across the screen. An overseas account had wired fifty million. The sender was Andy.
Jude texted again. “I’m sorry, Tilda. The Bells keep going after you…”
Tilda answered. “Not your fault. I just keep running into garbage. That has nothing to do with you. Honestly, I get a kick out of shutting them down. Life needs a little excitement, don’t you think?” She sent an emoji.
Reading her reply, Jude felt a rush swell inside him. If she agreed now to take her place as lady of the Bells, none of these pests would ever dare touch her again. But his reason held him back. It was too soon. He refused to scare her off.
Tilda texted, “Oh. Jude, you said since we met, your sense of taste has been slowly coming back?”
Jude answered. “Yes… at least now food no longer feels empty. Tilda, thank you. Because of you, I found something I thought I lost forever.”
As he typed the words, his eyes softened with warmth. And in his chest surged a deeper fire. It was the kind of love that made him want to hand her the whole world.
Tilda texted, “I see. I still haven’t thanked you properly. Come to my place tonight. I’ll cook for you myself.”
Jude’s heart skipped a beat when he read it. His eyes widened, his breath quickened. It felt unreal, like a dream he couldn’t believe.
“You mean it?”
“Of course I mean it. It’s just dinner, why would I lie? You’re always bringing me stuff meant for Omega-types, and I never got to say thanks. You dummy.”
“Tilda, I don’t need your thanks. You know what’s inside my heart.”
“Then you should know what’s inside mine, Jude. We have a long road ahead of us. There’s plenty of time for us to take it slow.”
“Alright.”
Vassal was on his own with Ryan and the others. But when his eyes landed on Jude, holding his phone, he saw a gaze of pure joy that Buck Vassal had never once seen from him before.