Chapter 8 Who Needs Family Anyway Tilda's heart jolted . Her blood type wasn't just rare - it was almost unheard of . 78 % +10 Free Coins Doctors called it " Golden Blood , " officially known as the Omega type . It was a newly discovered , ultra - rare blood group that could be given to anyone but could only receive blood from someone with the exact same type . Anything else , and her body would reject it . No one knew how she had it . Russell and Blair both had perfectly normal blood types . The doctors just shrugged and called it a mutation . That blood type was the reason she'd been adopted from the orphanage by her mentor - a brilliant , mysterious figure who taught her everything she knew . Her mentor had even . suggested that her uncanny ability to learn , her sharp instincts , and her adaptability might all be tied to her blood . Years ago , she'd been badly injured and needed a transfusion . The hospital didn't have a single unit of Omega - type blood in the entire country . Desperate , she'd called Andy and asked him to search the dark web . After paying a small fortune , they'd finally tracked down one matching donor . That incident serves as a warning . From then on , she always kept a supply of her blood in storage . She even asked Andy to quietly search for others like her , just in case . Even though she kept her identity hidden well , anyone who worked in the dark web made enemies . And when you lived that kind of life , you learned to keep backup plans . But in her previous life , after she left the dark web and Andy - those safety nets vanished . She'd been afraid that keeping any ties to that world might bring trouble to the Jensons . " What did the caller say ? " she asked . Andy hesitated , then replied , " He made a strange request . He wants to sign a contract with you ... to sleep beside him . " Tilda blinked . " Come again ? " " Apparently , because of the side effects of this blood type , he hasn't been able to sleep for C O 1/6 23:13 Thu , Sep 4 Chapter 8 Who Needs Family Anyway 78 % +10 Free Coins years . It's only gotten worse . He says the scent of someone with the same blood type helps him fall asleep . He's offering a lot of money , Queen ." " ... I see ." After hanging up , Tilda stepped out onto the balcony . Her phone buzzed - payment received . More than enough to keep her going for a while . " Omega blood side effects , huh , " she muttered , rubbing her temples . Truth was , she had them too . Not insomnia , like him . Hers came in the form of nightmares . When she was little , the nightmares came once or twice a week . But as she grew older , they became more frequent - darker , heavier . By the time she died in her previous life , she was haunted six nights a week . They always showed her the things she feared most . And back then , her greatest fear was her family - their accusations , their betrayal , and their rejection . In the dreams , she would watch Kyla being embraced as the real daughter , laughing in perfect family photos . Meanwhile , Tilda would be trapped inside a glass sphere , pounding on the walls and screaming , but no one could hear . Above her , sand and dust trickled down , slowly covering her , burying her alive . She watched as Kyla kept smiling in the light , surrounded by the family's warmth . " I wonder if I'll get another nightmare tonight ," she muttered with a self - mocking laugh . If the Jensons tried to hurt her again , she doubted she'd even feel it . Sometimes , unspoken pain weighs heavier than despair itself . The next morning . O 111 O 2/6 23:13 Thu , Sep 4 \\ Chapter 8 Who Needs Family Anyway Tilda groaned and rubbed her forehead . Another nightmare . It hadn't been about the Jensons this time , but it was just as bad . 78 % +10 Free Coins She'd dreamed of the fire again - the searing heat , the choking smoke , the raw pain that made her want to claw her way out of her own skin . After everything she'd been through , nightmares had become routine . Still , all she wanted was one good night of rest . She just wanted a peaceful life . Was this because of her rare blood type ? Could sleeping next to someone with the same type really help ? She reached for her phone . Sixteen missed calls . As she expected , not a single call from the Jensons . Every missed call was from her college best friend , Una Colon . In her last life , Tilda had nearly fallen into depression . The suffocating emotional trap of craving her family's love , the constant fear of being abandoned , and the relentless nightmares from her rare blood type had almost pushed her to have depression and nearly ended her life . If it hadn't been for Una , she might have done it - long before the Jensons had the chance to break her . Everyone has a weakness . Even Tilda . And in her past life , that weakness was her desperate longing for family . She'd given up everything for them - her pride , her dignity , even her life . But in this life ? She had cut the cord . That weakness no longer existed . 3/6 Chapter 8 Who Needs Family Anyway She returned the call . Three seconds later , the line connected . " Oh my God , Tilda ! Are you okay ? I saw the news at ten last night ! " +10 Free Coins " Sorry , Una , " Tilda said quietly . " I moved out of my family's place and was so tired I just crashed . I didn't mean to worry you ." " You moved out ?! " Tilda told her everything . " That's awful . You must be so upset . They'd first met freshman year at Orica University , both majoring in computer science . At first , Tilda had been distant and hard to approach . But as Una got to know her , she realized Tilda wasn't cold - she was just lonely . Tilda had grown up in an orphanage and had seen far too much of the world's darker side . By the time Tilda was a teenager , she had a sharp eye and a maturity far beyond her years . Her mentor had been the one to bring light into her otherwise bleak , hopeless life - strict , yet kind , teaching her everything she knew . But during her sophomore year, an accident took her mentor away . After that , Tilda locked her heart shut . All she wanted was to find her family . That's why she endured everything the Jensons threw at her - the false accusations , the punishments , the humiliations , and the emotional manipulation . She took it all without fighting back . Because she couldn't bear to lose the only family she thought she had . " I'm okay now , Una , " she said quietly . " I've finally figured it out . I may have lost a family , but I still have so much . I have you - my best friend . " In this life , she didn't need family anymore . She would live for the people who truly cared about her . 4/6 @ о 23:14 Thu , Sep 4 Chapter 8 Who Needs Family Anyway , She wouldn't be a desperate little puppy , begging for scraps of affection . ¥ 78 % +10 Free Coins " That's right ! From now on , I'm your sister , " Una declared . " My home is your home - you've met my parents , right ? They love you . You can even call them Mom and Dad if you like ." Una generously shared her warmth with Tilda . " Thank you , Una . By the way , I've already taken a few days off . Told my advisor I've got some personal matters to deal with . " " Tilda , do you have a place to stay ? You gave up your dorm when you moved into your family's house . Why don't you come stay at my place ? " " I'm okay . I've got somewhere lined up . But when I do need a shoulder to lean on , I'll be knocking on your door . " " Yeah , you'd better . My family might not have the Jensons ' money , but our home will always be your safe haven . " Tilda hung up and drew in a deep breath . Yes - she still had people worth holding onto . People like Andy . People like Una . In her past life , she'd been such a fool . But now ? Things were different . She stepped out of the motel wearing a mask and sunglasses , leaving her luggage at the front desk . First stop : the Porsche dealership . Tilda dropped a 150,000 dollars in cash on a brand - new Cayenne . No loans . No waiting lists . She wanted something straight off the lot , ready to drive . Pickup was set for tomorrow . The sales staff treated her with polite smiles and quiet respect . They were used to seeing girls like her young , mysterious , and clearly loaded . Next stop : a real estate office . She wired three million for a fully furnished apartment in a prime location . Perfect size . Move - in ready . She signed the contract , transferred the money , and walked out with the keys . No hassle . By the time it was all done , the sky had turned dark . Tilda wheeled her suitcase into her new home . She paused by the floor - to - ceiling windows , staring out at Slosa's glowing skyline . C O 4 ||| O 5/6 23:14 Thu , Sep 4 Chapter 8 Who Needs Family Anyway This was her fresh start . Her phone rang . It was Una . Tilda smiled as she answered . " Hey , Una . What's up ? " " Are you busy ? Am I interrupting ? " " Not at all . I'm pretty much done for the day . " " Want to meet me at Nightingale Bar ? I thought we could grab a drink ." ¥ 78 % at 78 % +10 Free Coins Una had been racking her brain for a way to comfort Tilda without digging into her wounds . In the end , she figured this was the safest choice . Nightingale Bar wasn't a noisy nightclub . It was a quiet , stylish lounge by the river where you could sip a drink , enjoy the cool breeze , and watch the city lights dance on the water . Una thought maybe a drink would lift Tilda's mood . Tilda knew exactly what Una was trying to do , and warmth bloomed in her chest . " Sure , " she said . " See you later ." The 12 11 10 10 13 1974 19 At Nightingale Bar . Wade sat alone at the counter , swirling the amber liquid in his glass . His eyes were fixed on nothing , his expression dark . " Wade , " a voice drawled from beside him , " never thought I'd see you like this . What's going on ? Drowning your sorrows ? " C