Chapter 5 You Actually Believed It ? How Ridiculous When the call ended , the room fell into an uncomfortable silence . 78 % +10 Free Coins Russell , Blair , and Wade all looked uneasy - because they'd just accused Tilda without proof . Thinking back on what Stan had said , the flaws in his story were obvious . Still , the moment they found even the flimsiest scrap of evidence , they pounced , convinced Tilda had leaked the news to force them into acknowledging her as the real daughter . The truth ? They never trusted her . Their love for Kyla blinded them completely . The second Kyla shed a tear , all reason went out the window . " Tilda , I'm so sorry ," Kyla finally spoke , breaking the heavy silence . Her eyes were red and watery as she stepped closer . " They jumped to defend me because I looked so upset . This is my fault . If I'd never come into this family , none of this would've happened ." She started to bow , ready to ask for Tilda's forgiveness . " Kyla ! What are you doing ?! " Wade , standing closest , quickly grabbed her arm . But Kyla wouldn't stop . " Don't try to stop me , Wade . This is my fault . If Tilda won't forgive us , I won't get up . " With a dramatic drop , she bent at a perfect ninety degrees , tears spilling down her cheeks , dropped on the floor . " Kyla , enough ! Get up ! " Russell and Blair rushed forward , panicked , trying to pull her upright . Her show of devotion moved them deeply . In that instant , every doubt they'd had about her vanished . Of course Kyla couldn't be behind anything so cruel - how could a sweet , selfless girl like her ever scheme ? It had to be someone else . " Tilda , we were wrong to accuse you , " Russell said firmly . " Don't worry . I'll find out who did this and make sure they pay . Anyone who tries to slander our family is bound to pay ! " His jaw tightened . Nothing enraged him more than someone trying to divide his family . Harmony always came first in his book . " You're going to make it right ? " Tilda let out a sharp laugh , like she'd just heard the most absurd joke in the world . It started OO 4 111 O 1/5 23:12 Thu , Sep 4 Chapter 5 You Actually Believed It ? How Ridiculous 林 念 78 % +10 Free Coins small but quickly grew louder , her whole body shaking until she had to hold her stomach . Tears slid down her cheeks - not from sadness , but from how unbelievably funny she found it . Russell scowled . " What's so funny ? " Tilda's laughter only grew . She couldn't help it - it was too absurd . Russell's grand promise to make things right had to be the biggest joke she'd ever heard . This was the same man who had accused his daughter without a second thought , defending the adopted one without a shred of proof . The same man who had rallied the whole family against her , terrified that the daughter they had abandoned for years might come back and take even the smallest piece of what they had given Kyla . They ignored the truth , throwing every ounce of blame at her feet . And now he wanted to make things right? Maybe the old Tilda would've clung to that hope , desperate for their love . But not this time . This Tilda wasn't the same naïve girl who believed their empty promises and chased after them like a fool . " Mr. Jenson , " she said coolly , " do you honestly think you ever had the slightest intention of setting things right ? If you ask me , you're just an old man past his prime - how are you going to uncover anything ? " Her words were sharp , but she didn't feel an ounce of guilt . In fact , it felt good . So good . She remembered it all - taking a bullet for Russell , lying alone in a hospital bed , choking on smoke as the fire closed in , and that brutal kick that left her gasping . They had left her there to die . Every memory burned inside her , feeding a dark , seething satisfaction to get her revenge . And she was nowhere near finished . No one - absolutely no one - had expected Tilda to speak like this . O 4 O 2/5 23:12 Thu , Sep 4 , Chapter 5 You Actually Believed It ? How Ridiculous Even Wade stared at her like she'd lost her mind . How else could she dare to say so outrageous ? The meek , eager - to - please girl was gone . 78 % +10 Free Coins something In her place stood someone bold enough to call Russell old and past his prime - right to his face . " What did you just say ?! " Russell barked , his voice shaking with fury . " I'm your father ! You dare talk to me like that ? I admitted I was wrong to accuse you , and I apologized . But this attitude - what is it ?! " Russell Jenson had never feared anyone in his life - except his wife . Everyone else ? Not a chance . All those kids of his knew better than to step out of line but were respectful in front of him ? And Tilda was actually challenging him ? How dare she ? " Tilda , no matter what , he's still your father . Apologize to him ! " Blair's voice was icy . Blair had felt a twinge of guilt earlier - but not anymore . What kind of attitude was this ? To speak so harshly to her father ? She could hardly believe it . Her daughter had spent nineteen years out in the world , only to come back like this . How could someone like her possibly be worthy of being their daughter ? " Father ? " Tilda's lips curled into a cold sneer . " If that's what a father is , then it disgusts me . I won't apologize . And your apology ? Keep it . I don't want it ." Her eyes blazed with clarity and fire . Her voice stayed steady , her tone unflinching - each word sharp , deliberate , and without pause . It felt like she could finally breathe again , like she was truly alive . At last , she had the to speak her truth . モー And the surprising part ? It wasn't even hard to say that to their face . courage She realized she had been trapped for years by the illusion of love . But now , that illusion was gone , shattered beyond repair . She didn't want this family . Not anymore . " Tilda ! " Russell trembled with rage . OO 4 ||| О 3/5 23:12 Thu , Sep 4 Chapter 5 You Actually Believed It ? How Ridiculous 78 % +10 Free Coins If Russell hadn't just accused her of something she didn't do , he probably would've slapped her by now . How had he ended up with such a bitter , spiteful daughter ? What a disgrace ! " Tilda , I know you're upset , but please don't blame Mom and Dad , " Kyla spoke up again . " Blame me . I'll bow to you , I'll walk out of this house , and I'll stay out of your way if that's what it takes . " If giving back your place makes you happy , then I'll give it back . Just stop being angry with them ." She stepped closer , eyes wide and pitiful , her voice as sweet as syrup . " Alright then , " Tilda said softly . She gave Kyla a half - smile . " Fine Walk out of this house and I'll drop it . You said it , not me . I didn't make you . " Kyla froze . Had Tilda lost her mind ? She actually agreed ?! Then again , Kyla's heart leapt in secret . This would make everyone angrier at Tilda . Kyla put on a wounded look , sniffled , and let tears stream down her cheeks . Wiping them away in one swift motion , she choked out , " I- I understand , Tilda . I'll leave now ! As long as I'm gone , this family can be at peace . I'm willing to do it ! " She turned and ran upstairs . Blair quickly grabbed Kyla's arm . " Kyla , don't be upset . Tilda's just talking out of anger . We're here ; no one's going to drive you away ! " " Mom , just let me go , " Kyla choked out . " This house was never mine . Tilda's your real daughter . I'm just the adopted one . " Kyla sobbed in Blair's arms , her voice raw from crying . Every word she spoke landed like a hammer to the chest . O 4 4/5 O < 23:13 Thu , Sep 4 Chapter 5 You Actually Believed It ? How Ridiculous Everyone could feel her pain - it tore right through them . Wade's voice thundered , " Tilda ! How dare you say that to Kyla ?! " 林 家 78 % +10 Free Coins The moment they realized Tilda truly meant to throw Kyla out , the rest of them snapped . " So this is the real you . You've been waiting for this , haven't you ? You just wanted Kyla gone so you could have it all ! " Well , guess what ? Over my dead body ! Kyla is a Jensons - she's my sister ! " Wade didn't hesitate to take Kyla's side , glaring at Tilda with nothing but fury . Looking at Wade's face - so much like her own - made something twist in Tilda's gut . For the first time in her life , she hated her face . Even the Jensons blood running through her veins disgusted her . The sickness in her stomach rose until she thought she might throw up . But fate had given her a second chance , and she wasn't going to waste it . " You're right ," she said quietly . She's your sister . I - I'm nobody . " I was nothing more than a way to ease your guilt - a splinter stuck in your hearts for nineteen years . One you barely noticed until it started to fester . And bringing me back was just your way of yanking it out . " I never mattered . " Each word cut her own heart open , the pain so sharp it left her numb . Only then did she finally feel free . These were truths she'd always known but never dared to say . Now she yanked them out - raw and hurting - and laid them right in front of everyone . Let them scoff . Let them sneer . Because she finally saw it : they never saw her as family . And she'd actually believed they did . How foolish . Russell lifted his hand . " I know you feel wronged and you're furious right now , but Kyla is innocent ! Go back to your room and reflect ! Think about how ugly and out of line you just were ! " 5/5 C