Chapter 432 Endless Road

These ties—friendship, love, family—now held an irreplaceable place in Tilda’s life.

“Sometimes I really am grateful to God. At least… He gave me another chance."

"A chance to take back everything that should’ve been mine."

“And at the same time, let go of the so-called family ties that never belonged to me, the ones I should’ve never cared about."

Tilda rested her cheek in her hand, her eyes glowing with light.

She was beautiful in a way that felt almost untouchable.

To live again.

To correct the stupid mistakes of her past life.

Who wouldn’t kill for that chance?

She used to hate God for making her an orphan.

But now, when it came to the Jensons, she wanted nothing to do with them.

God had already given her more than enough grace.

“Tilda… before I met you. I used to blame fate. I hated the Bells. Sometimes I even hated my own blood, hated being born into that family.”

“But after meeting you, falling for you, I understood. Heaven is fair. Because at the very least it sent me you."

“Letting me sit here, sharing dinner, talking with you like this…"

Such an indulgent kind of happiness.

Jude had never imagined—no, he’d never even dared to hope for something like this.

For a man like Jude, happiness like this had always been out of reach.

And yet now, it was real.

It was simple. It was right in front of him.

“I set out to find you, crossing a thousand mountains, and ten thousand rivers. The lights glow bright. You stay like spring wind. I remain clothed in winter showers, I boil the winter’s frost, pluck flowers and blades of grass, and keep the long night for you."

“On this endless road, having you here—it’s enough.”

A hint of drunkenness glowed in Jude’s eyes, bright as moonlight over water.

He had always seemed untouchable—aloof, cold, like a god who could only be admired from afar.

But now he was flesh and blood, sitting before her, lips parting, hand reaching forward.

His fingers inched closer.

The space between them grew smaller.

At last, their fingers touched.

Tilda didn’t pull back.

The touch sparked like electricity.

A tingling sensation rushed through her.

But it was not painful at all.

Like magnetic poles, opposites pulled together.

She thought maybe she was drunk too.

Her whole body burned.

She could feel her blood racing.

And then their hands laced together.

Jude leaned in closer.

And for once, she didn’t think of resisting.

Whatever. It’s not like this is the first time.

The last kiss had been that night on Christmas Eve in Motrar.

She almost missed it.

When his lips touched hers, her heart surged wildly.

Something deep inside recognized it, accepted it.

He was the one.

If it were this person kissing her, she’d give everything willingly.

The kiss started soft, like a dragonfly skimming water.

Then deepened, like wind rolling through a wheat field.

She couldn’t breathe.

She couldn’t think.

She just fell into him, unable to escape.

“Tilda… remember to breathe,” Jude murmured.

He didn’t want to let go. She was too sweet.

But the girl in his arms was blushing so hard she looked like she might burst.

She even forgot to breathe while they were kissing.

Jude was worried she’d actually pass out from holding her breath.

He pressed a hand to his forehead.

“I… I don’t know how…”

Losing control was too dangerous for Tilda.

She never thought that….

She could master anything—hacking, chess, art, even fighting.

Yet when it came to kissing, she was as awkward as a teenager.

God, how humiliating. Two lives lived, in college already, and she’d never even kissed properly. “It’s alright. We’ve got time. The rest of our lives… we’ll take it slow.”

Jude stroked her hair gently, eyes soft with indulgence.

As long as he could hold her like this, taste her sweetness, he had all the happiness he needed.

Sometimes, happiness really was that simple.

He wanted to take it slow.

Alright!

Downstairs, Vassal was still waiting.

He leaned against the car, cigarette in hand, looking irritated.

He checked his watch.

The boss had been upstairs for three hours.

Sigh.

He crushed out the last cigarette and tossed it in the trash.

He doused himself with cologne—Jude hated the smell.

It was the first time he’d ever waited this long, and it was torture.

If the boss didn’t come back tonight… if he actually stayed at Tilda’s place…

His cool, untouchable boss—actually giving in to human desire?

The thought alone almost gave him a stroke. Unbelievable.

If a little Bell were conceived tonight… what the hell was he supposed to do?

Back at the Bell Residence, plenty of people were waiting like wolves for the boss to slip up. And Ms. Tilda—she was only a sophomore in college….