Out Of The Shadows: Tildaโs Brilliant Second Life
Chapter 26 Monster
But Tilda wasnโt as unshakable as she acted.
A wound was still a wound. Even if she covered it up, the scar stayedโand sometimes it throbbed, dragging her back to that ugly, shameful past. Still, sheโd promised herself never to show weakness in front of anyone again.
Only the people who deserved it would get mocked. Only the few who truly cared would ever get to see her hurt.
โYeah, maybe sometimes I wish I were dead. But Iโm still here, breathing and fighting. Thatโs just how it is. From now on, my life has nothing to do with the Jensons. Itโs only going up from here."
โIโm not going anywhere. Iโm only getting stronger. Bet that really gets under your skin, Mrs. Jenson!โ
Tilda swallowed the ache in her chest and forced the words out. This time, I wonโt forgive.
Iโll never forgive that so-called โfamilyโ for what they did to me. The cuts, the humiliation, the countless nights I cried because of their coldness, the way it burnedโIโll never forget. Not even if I die.
Blair froze when she saw the pure hatred burning in Tildaโs eyes. Her face went pale.
Gosh, why did I say those things? I was blinded by anger. It wasnโt really what I meant at all. Or more accuratelyโฆ Iโve never said anything so cruel before. Not ever. Yet I said it to my daughter.
The weight of being Mrs. Jenson suddenly felt crushing, filling her with a sharp, heavy regret.
โBlair, youโre right. What good is a daughter like that? Sheโs not even worth a fraction of Kyla!โ Daphne smiled, satisfied. Sheโd been waiting for the day Blair would cut Tilda off for good. Sheโd worried Blair might resist, but today, things had blown up exactly the way she wanted.
โNoโฆ Daphne, Iโโ Blair tried to explain. It isnโt really how I feel. I just said all that out of anger!
โWow. I didnโt think the top two families in Slosa could be this nasty.โ Alfie clapped slowly, his sharp gaze dripping with disgust. Even heโcarefree and usually obsessed with gossipโlooked sickened. That alone said how badly Blair and Daphne had acted.
โWhat did you just say?! Youโre just a restaurant managerโwho do you think you are, talking to me and Blair like that? Get your boss right now! Iโm filing a complaint! I want you fired!โ Daphneโs temper snapped. Whatโs going on tonight? First, that lowborn, Tilda, dared to talk back, now even the restaurant manager? Everyone has lost their minds!
โHow scary. Jude, your aunt wants to fire me. Iโm shaking.โ Alfieโs eyes shifted toward a corner of the restaurant, a sly smile on his lips.
JโJude? Daphne froze. She turnedโand saw him.
Jude stood up slowly. Hands in his pockets, he walked over. Unaโs reaction was instantโlike a mouse spotting a cat. She held her breath and slipped behind Tilda.
To someone like Una, Judeโs presence was dangerousโblinding, even. You didnโt get close to a man like that. You didnโt even look at him for too long. He could drag you straight into the abyss.
Tilda didnโt move, watching him come closer. Judeโs eyes met hers for a brief second before sliding away.
Under the glow of the crystal chandeliers, his face looked like something carved by the gods. Two buttons on his shirt were undone, showing a pale, strong chest. His lips were pressed tight. His eyes were bottomless, sharp, and coldโtoo intense to stare into.
Everything about him was untouchable, like a ruler from another world. He had a kind of presence you couldnโt look away from. You could feel the massive gap between yourself and this man.
โJude, wโwhy are you here?โ Daphneโs voice cracked. Even though she and Judeโs core family didnโt get along, Judeโs quick, ruthless methods were legendary. He had taken more lives than she could dare imagine. No one with sense would ever cross him.
Thatโs Jude. Blairโs heart pounded wildly. Sheโd seen him beforeโbut only from a safe distance, at glittering elite gatherings. He carried an aura that warned people to stay away. He didnโt seem like a man in his 20s. He felt more like a monster.