Chapter 441 Secrets at the Party
“Tilda, I’ve noticed my brother Theo’s been spending plenty of time with you. I don’t know what he’s involved in, but if you’re there, I know he’s in good hands. Watch out for him, will you?”
Alfie couldn’t help thinking about how secretive Theo had been recently, slipping away without telling anyone.
After digging around, Alfie found out Theo wasn’t just hanging out with childhood friends.
He had set up some kind of online base – and Tilda’s name was connected to it.
With Tilda involved, Alfie wasn’t as worried.
For some reason, he trusted her.
“Tilda, when did you meet Alfie’s brother?” Una asked, curious as ever.
She had never even met Theo herself.
Hmm, something felt off.
But on second thought, it wasn’t strange at all.
After all, Una not knowing Alfie’s brother made sense.
“Ahem, just a friend,” Tilda answered casually, brushing it off.
She couldn’t reveal the truth.
The Comet Squad was too sensitive a topic to talk about.
It involved national cyber security.
The dinner that night was a buffet.
World-class chefs had been brought in, and everything looked like it came out of a top-tier restaurant.
Drinks were all premium brands, and the desserts were beautifully decorated.
Most importantly, everything tasted amazing.
“Wow, Tilda, try this strawberry cake – it’s so good!” Una said, excited.
“And this chocolate cake looks so cool!”
Tilda reminded, “Don’t eat too much. Weren’t you trying to lose weight?”
“Oh, please. Who cares about dieting when the food is this good? I’ll start again tomorrow. This donut is delicious!”
She had no words.
Finally, Tilda pushed the food-obsessed Una over to Alfie to handle.
She poured herself a glass of champagne and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window. The silver frost outside shone under the moonlight, her eyes reflecting its glow.
“Tilda.”
A familiar voice came from behind her.
She turned her head. It was Stephen.
Tilda answered coolly, “Mr. Woodward.”
“Hey, drop the formality. We’ve met before, and Kayden already left the resort.”
“Oh.” Tilda’s tone stayed flat, her reply short and simple.
“Technically, this is your family business. I shouldn’t ask, and I don’t really have the right to,” Stephen said.
“But I saw Kayden plead with you. He has never met you, yet he still did it. You cut ties with your family so decisively. I’m not asking if you’ll forgive them, but… Kayden does seem pretty innocent.”
Even as he spoke, Stephen felt uneasy.
He hated playing the role of peacemaker; it was never something he liked or wanted to do.
“Mr. Woodward, if Kayden hadn’t helped you fix those violins, or if you didn’t know him, would you still be saying all this?” Tilda asked.
“No. Honestly, I don’t want to defend him either. But I saw him, a grown man begging for forgiveness. It was hard to watch. So if anyone’s going to take the heat for saying this, let it be me. If I’ve offended you, please forgive me.”
Stephen let out a heavy sigh.
“Mr. Woodward, you didn’t press charges when I entered your collection room without permission, and you even let me use that violin.
“I’m not mad. But I’ll make this clear – my feud with them is far more complicated than you think. I will never forgive them. Not in this life. For me to forgive the harm they did, the only way that happens is over my dead body."
Her tone was sharp, unyielding.
“So don’t ever bring this up again. No matter how many times you ask, my answer is the same. I will never forgive them.”
Tilda’s voice was firm. There was no room for persuasion.
Stephen knew there was no convincing her. He gave an apologetic nod. “I understand. I’m sorry for bringing up something so painful.”
“It’s fine,” Tilda replied flatly.
Stephen’s admiration for Kayden made sense.
He had helped him so much, and among wealthy families, favors carried weight.
The fact that Kayden had begged for her forgiveness had shocked even Tilda.
Stephen’s sympathy and his attempt to plead for Kayden were understandable.
But forgiving them?
That would mean returning to the same naive fool she had been in her past life, shackled by family ties.
And more than that – Tilda wanted their most beloved daughter to be the one to destroy the whole family.
Stephen left with a heavy heart.
Not long after, he bumped into Alfie.
Alfie greeted him respectfully. “Uncle Stephen.”
Stephen coughed lightly. “Alfie… yes, hello.”
“I just saw you talking to Tilda. Do you two know each other?” Alfie asked.
“You could say that. A lot has happened lately.”
Facing his most favored nephew, Stephen couldn’t hold it in any longer.
If he bottled it up, it would eat him alive.
“Oh, so that’s what happened,” Alfie murmured, surprised.