Chapter 2 You Better Apologize , Tilda ! Tilda stared at her reflection in the mirror . The face looking back at her seemed younger - like it was from five years ago . Softer , but still showing hints of the beauty / she would grow into . " I - I came back to life ? " She whispered , barely able to hear her own voice . The date on her phone read : October 23 , 2030 . Five years before the fire that had taken her life . And just two weeks after the Jensons had brought her home . 79 % +10 Free Coins She let out a self - mocking smile . " Is this the universe's way of making fun of me ? Giving me a second chance just to remind me how stupid I used to be ? " Whatever the reason , she wasn't going to waste it . She wasn't here to win anyone's approval this time . She wasn't going to twist herself into someone else's idea to fit in . Given a second chance at life , this time , she was going to live for herself - and no one else . Her eyes scanned the bedroom . Familiar , but strangely distant . She changed out of her pajamas into a plain white T - shirt and faded jeans . Her short hair framed her face with a sharper , more confident look . She looked into the mirror again . When she first arrived here , she'd brought nothing but a small suitcase and a fragile hope- hope that she'd finally found her real family . Hope that she wouldn't be alone anymore . And so , she moved into this house . A place called home , but it never felt like one . From the outside , it was grand and polished , the kind of place that looked perfect in a 4 1/6 ||| O Г 23:11 Thu , Sep 4 Chapter 2 You Better Apologize , Tilda ! magazine . But inside , it had chewed her up and spit her out . Just as Tilda was lost in her grief- Bang ! Bang ! A loud pounding echoed from the door . She pushed the sorrow aside , her eyes turning cold . Without a word , she opened it , her face blank . " Tilda ! Mom and Dad want you downstairs . " ¥ 79 % +10 Free Coins Wade Jenson stood there - tall , athletic , dressed in designer clothes , and glaring at her , hatefully . Her biological brother . Seventh in the Jensons lineup . They both went to Orica University , a prestigious school . Wade was a junior , Tilda a sophomore . Kyla , the youngest , had just started her freshman year after finishing her SAT . " I heard you ," Tilda said flatly . Wade blinked , thrown off . This wasn't the Tilda he remembered . Back then , she'd been stiff , nervous , and desperate to please everyone . She'd had no pride - always quick to help , always the last to speak , wanting to be close but too afraid to truly connect . Wade was annoyed with that timid , pitiful version of her . Even after finding out she was their long - lost sister , he still couldn't make himself care . He already had a sister - Kyla . Sweet , gentle Kyla , the one he'd grown up with and protected his whole life . Wade didn't need a biological sister showing up out of nowhere . As far as he was concerned , gentle , kind - hearted Kyla was all he needed . 2/6 O 4 ||| O 23:11 Thu , Sep 4 Chapter 2 You Better Apologize , Tilda ! 79 % +10 Free Coins With a short snort , he said , " You know what you did . Get downstairs and get ready for your lecture . " Then he walked away . " What did I do ? " Tilda muttered with a cold laugh . Memories rushed back . She knew exactly what today was . Perfect . Hands in her pockets , she strolled downstairs . The first thing she heard was soft crying coming from the living room . She saw Kyla sitting curled between Russell and Blair Jenson , their hands on her back , murmuring comfort . From the outside , you'd think Kyla was the birth daughter and Tilda was the adopted one . Their places had completely reversed . The pain that stabbed Tilda's heart was sharp but far from new . She had wanted this kind of closeness her whole life - wanted it so badly that she'd hidden her real strength , buried her true self , and lived as if she were nothing . She'd given up everything just to scrape together the smallest pinch of family love . Even with this second chance , letting go of those feelings from the start wasn't easy . But she'd already decided - she would never let herself fall into that trap again . She stood in silence , watching her parents with cool detachment , like they were actors on a stage . Tilda wasn't part of this scene anymore - just a spectator . If it had been a good performance , maybe she would have even clapped . But she no longer felt anything for the people still caught in the play . That was it . Nothing more . ||| 3/6 23:11 Thu , Sep 4 Chapter 2 You Better Apologize , Tilda ! 79 % +10 Free Coins Wade came downstairs , and the moment he saw Tilda's expression , his temper flared instantly . " Aren't you going to ask why Kyla's crying ?! " He barked . " It's not my fault she's crying . Why should I ask ? " Tilda's voice was ice . " You brat ! " Tilda didn't look the slightest bit sorry . She acted like the whole thing had nothing to do with her . That only made Wade angrier . He was seconds away from hitting her . He couldn't stand it . He refused to believe this cold , vile girl was his sister . Kyla was the one who belonged in their family . Tilda ? She didn't even deserve to exist . If she had just died , Kyla wouldn't be upset right now . His glare was full of hatred , like he wanted her gone - not just from the room , but from the world entirely . Tilda felt it . She knew exactly what that look meant . He probably wished she were dead . Then Kyla could take her place , and there'd be no more reason for all this drama . The old Tilda would have been crushed . Her heart would've broken , the pain tearing her apart from the inside . She would have asked herself over and over what she'd done wrong to deserve that look from her brother . She'd grown up for nineteen years without love , without warmth , surviving on nothing but grit and stubbornness . And when the Jensons finally found her ? Even with Kyla already there , she had never been jealous . She'd treated Kyla like a real sister - putting her first , caring about her feelings , and never competing with her for anything . Whenever people compared them , Tilda always stepped back . Again and again . She gave up everything for one thing : family . O ||| O 4/6 23:11 Thu , Sep 4 Chapter 2 You Better Apologize , Tilda ! +10 Free Coins Tilda never asked to be loved the way Kyla was . All she wanted was for her family to notice her , even once . She had lowered herself until she felt like nothing . Tilda had gave away her life just for a chance to belong . Wasn't that enough ? Apparently not . Never enough . To the Jensons , Kyla was the only one who mattered . Tilda was just a shadow , someone they barely noticed . 11 Maybe they really did wish she'd never been found . Maybe her death would have been easier than letting her mess up the perfect picture they had . The only reason they brought her home was because not bringing her home would've made them feel guilty . They didn't want guilt hanging over them . So , to ease their conscience and get rid of any regret , they reluctantly took her in . Now , none of it mattered to Tilda anymore . The growing tension between her and Wade finally caught Russell's attention to tedy part " Blair , stay with Kyla , " he told his wife quietly . Then he stood and walked toward Tilda , his face dark with anger . " Tilda , you'd better apologize - now ! " His voice hit the room like a cold , heavy bell . Wade crossed his arms and smirked , ready to watch the show . She made Kyla cry ? Then she was about to pay for it . The old Tilda would have panicked . She would have obeyed , trembling and scared . But this time , she met Russell's fury with a calm , steady gaze . " And why exactly should I apologize ? " 5/6 C O 4 ||| O 23:11 Thu , Sep 4 Chapter 2 You Better Apologize , Tilda ! Tilda looked at Russell with steady eyes . 79 % +10 Free Coins Compared to his explosive anger , her calm was like still water - and it carried a strange kind of power . In that moment , their presence alone made it clear who stood taller .