Chapter 45 Didn’t Even See Her as Human

Howard barked, “Since we’re siblings, let me give you a warning. You’ve been gone 19 years—you don’t know Dad at all!

“If you keep this up, you’re just going to smash into a wall and end up bloody and covered in scars!”

Howard brushed Tilda off as nothing more than a hotheaded girl who didn’t think before she acted.

Truth was, he was already so mad he didn’t want to deal with her anymore.

But because he still felt guilty for accusing her wrongly in the past, he forced himself to throw in that last warning.

“Heh. Howard, you really think you’re my brother? Sorry—I don’t see you as my brother. And I sure don’t see the Jensons as family!

“It wasn’t the Jensons who cut me off—I cut you off myself!

“So don’t stand there acting like some wise big brother, preaching at me! I know exactly what I’m doing—crystal clear!”

Now he wants to play big brother? Too late for that.

He’s had years and years of chances. But never once had he treated me like a sister he cared about, never once guiding me kindly.

Instead, Russell came to yell at me without caring to figure out the truth, even hurting Una without hesitation.

And Howard has the nerve to suddenly pop up, pretending to care, just to tell me not to fight Russell?

What a joke.

A sick, twisted joke!

“You little… I must’ve been blind to waste my time on someone as impossible as you!

“You’re nothing like Kyla. Kyla is gentle, kind, and obedient. Whatever I ask, she does it perfectly, without hesitation.

“Someone like you should never have been part of the Jensons. You’re not worthy! You don’t deserve to be my sister. Kyla is all the sister I’ll ever need!”

And just like that, Howard’s mask ripped wide open.

The real him spilled out—his unstable temper, his rage, his cruelty.

After being pushed a little, he snapped and spat venom, throwing out every ugly, poisonous word.

That side of him? He got it straight from Blair.

Corner Blair, and she lashed out the same way. Mother and son, no doubt.

Una froze in shock as her blood turned to ice.

Gosh, to think that just minutes ago, I actually believed Howard had changed. That he really cared for Tilda.

But no.

It was all fake. A mask. A cheap trick to fool Tilda into softening, to trick me into settling.

For the first time in my life, I hate someone this much.

No—hate isn’t even enough. Howard isn’t a person. He’s a monster who’s rotten to the core. He doesn’t even deserve to breathe.

Tilda’s face stayed blank as she pulled Una along.

This was the real Howard, and what he said were his real thoughts.

In her past life, she had heard words like these from him countless times.

All that cursing, rejection, and insults—more than once, he had practically wished her dead, right to her face.

He was always comparing her to Kyla, always saying Kyla was better.

He insulted Tilda until she was nothing but dust under Kyla’s heel, crushed so badly that she didn’t even feel human anymore.

People don’t change deep down.

Some things never change.

This ugly, vicious Howard was exactly the man she remembered.

That fake big brother act earlier, pretending it was for her own good?

It was sickening, enough to make her spit.

Una stayed quiet, letting Tilda lead her step by step out of Orica University.

“Tilda…”

“We didn’t even get to eat. I’m starving. Una, let’s go to the food street next door and grab something tasty.

“At least over there, the Jensons won’t show up to ruin everything.”

Tilda smiled faintly, her voice light and casual, as if the storm inside hadn’t touched her at all.

Una’s nose stung, tears pricking at her eyes. She sniffed hard, pushed them back, then threw her arms around Tilda. “Tilda, I feel so sorry for you.”

“Thank you, Una. But my heart doesn’t ache anymore. Feel it—see? It’s warm, steady, and strong.”

Tilda pressed Una’s hand gently against her chest, her gaze soft but firm.

“I never expected anything from the Jensons. So why would I feel hurt or disappointed?”

This second chance at life had stripped away every illusion.

The Jensons weren’t family. They were demons.

Their house was a shiny, beautiful hell dressed up in money and power.

“Tilda, I’m with you. This time, we’ll make Russell apologize. We’ll make him pay!

“If there’s anything I can do, just say it. I’ll stand strong, right next to you!”

Una wiped her tears, her voice sharp with determination.

She had never wanted to drag Tilda into more fights, but this time, the Jensons had gone too far.

They didn’t just reject Tilda as family—they didn’t even see her as human.

But Tilda was human. She felt, she bled, she loved, and she hurt. Behind her unbreakable armor was a heart that could bruise, break, and bleed.

Family wounds cut deeper than any knife. They drove people mad and could even kill. And just imagining it made Una’s chest ache.

Tilda was strong. So strong that it hurt Una to watch.

“Tilda, lunch is on me today. Whatever you want—I’ll buy it.”

“Well, since you said so, how could I say no?”

They walked to their favorite restaurant, slid into their usual seats, and placed their order.