Out Of The Shadows: Tildaโs Brilliant Second Life
Chapter 15 Do You Even Deserve to Call Me โBroโ?
At first, Howard thought his eyes were playing tricks on him.
Whatโs Tilda doing here?
Heโd never really met her before. Out of the seven Jenson brothers, only a few had actually seen her in person. Howard only knew from the news that their little sister, who had been missing for 19 years, had finally been found. Back then, he was stuck in brutal training and couldnโt come home. His family just sent him a few photos to keep him calm.
It wasnโt that Howard didnโt want to meet the sister whoโd been gone almost two decades. He just had his own responsibilitiesโand he worried Kyla might get hurt if she learned the truth too soon. Only yesterday, after finishing his work and getting a short break, Howard flew straight to the Jenson Villa.
That was when he heard the news about Tilda cutting ties with the family, the online drama, and all the misunderstandings. Howard didnโt feel guilty like Russell and the othersโhe hadnโt been part of that mess. But seeing Kyla take all the blame, shut herself in her room, refusing to eat, and crying until her eyes were swollenโit hit him hard.
After a lot of coaxing, he finally got Kyla to eat and took her out. He even planned to buy her a Porsche to cheer her up.
Tilda quietly looked away.
Then Una grabbed her hand. โTilda, are you okay?โ Una scanned her face with worried eyes.
Almost without thinking, her gaze slid toward Howard and Kyla. She didnโt know Howard, but sheโd heard about Kyla. Seeing Kyla being comforted by a guy about her age, she guessed he had to be one of Tildaโs brothers. No matter how well Tilda hid it, Una still caught the faint sadness in her eyes.
โIโm fine. Letโs go for a drive.โ Tilda smiled to reassure her and squeezed her hand.
Watching Howard spoil Kyla like that didnโt stir anything in Tilda anymore. Not even the smallest ache. Sheโd seen all this beforeโin her last life.
This time, she wasnโt going to let the Jensons steal her happiness.
โTilda?โ Kyla had spotted her too. Her voice carried a hint of surprise.
Whatโs she doing here? This is a Porsche dealership! No way sheโs here to buy a car.
After cutting ties with the Jensons, thereโs no way she can afford something like this.
Howardโs mood darkened on the spot. So it really is herโฆ He understood why she broke ties. Honestly, Russell and the others were at fault. But from his point of view, anything that upset Kyla would drive the Jensons crazy. Still, he thought Tilda was being petty.
Canโt she try to see things from our side? How could she just cut ties like that?
With his fiery temper, Howard wasnโt about to let that slide.
Tilda had no interest in Kyla or Howard. She hated everything about the Jensons now. Even breathing the same air as them made her uneasy.
โLetโs go, Una.โ
โOkay.โ
If this had been yesterday, Una might have told Tilda to at least say hello. They were still blood, after all. And Una knew how much Tilda wanted a family. Cutting ties had broken her heart.
But after Wadeโs behavior yesterday, Una knew having family like that hurt more than having none at all. Sheโd stand by Tildaโs decision, no questions asked.
โTilda โฆโ Kyla sniffled, her eyes red, tears pooling again.
Seeing that, Howard snapped. He strode right up to Tilda.
โTilda! Why wonโt you even answer when Kyla calls you?!โ His voice was low but fierceโlike a wild beast growling in the dark, ready to attack. Everyone nearby shivered. Howardโs presence was crushing, intimidating the people standing close.
But Tildaโs expression didnโt change. Her deep eyes stayed cold, showing nothing.
Suddenly, Howard felt a chill crawl up his spine, spreading through him like fire. He hadnโt felt that in years. Not in fights, not in the ring, not even after countless injuries. And now, it came from his own sisterโsomeone so distant and indifferent.
โHoward, is there a law saying I have to answer just because someone calls me?โ Tilda almost laughed. She laughed at how obvious his favoritism was, at how clueless he seemed.
Look at himโthreatening me for Kylaโs sake. Is this how you treat a sister you lost for 19 years, finally found again?
Who could believe the Jensons ignored the real daughter for almost two decades, spoiled the adopted one, and now threatened the true heiress instead?
This was their first meeting in this life. But Tilda had already lived through Howardโs anger and violence countless times, always over Kyla. She carried wounds so deep theyโd almost crushed her. But Howard had never cared. For him, Kyla was precious. Tilda was just someone to dump his temper onโbecause she wanted a family too much to fight back.
Howardโs chest tightened.
Have I just seen pure hatred in her eyes?
That hatred hit him like a spear. But in the next blink, her gaze was calm again.
Maybe I imagined it.
โWhat did you just call me?โ Howardโs jaw tightened.
โI called you Howard. What, never heard that before? Iโve cut ties with the Jensons. Weโre done."
โYou think Iโd call you โBroโ?โ
โGet lost! Tilda, you donโt even deserve to call me โBroโ! Only Kyla can call me that. Hearing it from you makes me sick!โ