Chapter 54: Ten Minutes
"Wow. I never thought Tilda would turn out this nasty. What's the point of talent if your personality is rotten? No one's gonna respect you anyway!"
People started muttering in Kyla's defense, tossing out little comments here and there.
Kyla just stood there with her head down, biting her lip while clenching her fists as silent tears slid down her cheeks.
Her shoulders shook as if she'd just suffered the biggest injustice in the world, too heartbroken to even speak.
"Had enough yet? You manipulative fake! Who exactly are you putting on this show for?"
Before Tilda could even respond, Una had already snapped.
She couldn't believe she'd ever been so blind, not seeing through Kyla's "sweet innocent girl" act sooner.
She used to think Kyla was harmless, maybe even kind—now, she wanted to slap herself for ever believing that. I must've been out of my mind back then!
"U–Una, no… I didn't…"
Kyla shook her head, tears pouring faster. Her voice was shaky, broken, and cracking apart as if it was designed to stab right into people's hearts and trigger every protective instinct possible.
"You didn't? Girl, you cry at the drop of one word, and you think this little act of yours still works? The only ones dumb enough to fall for it are shallow guys who only care about your face. You really think the rest of us women are that stupid?
"No wonder you don't have any girl friends. I didn't believe that rumor at first, but now I do. Who'd want to be friends with someone so fake?"
Una tore her down without mercy.
And honestly, girls were sharper than guys when it came to spotting an act.
Sure, Kyla was super popular with the boys at Orica University.
But with the girls? She rubbed them all the wrong way. Because let's be real—what girl didn't hate that type?
The one who cried over every little thing, acted fragile like porcelain, and triggered every single "pick me girl" radar in the room? Bump into her by accident, even breathe wrong around her, and suddenly you looked like the bully, while she got to play the victim. No wonder most girls avoided her.
Some clueless ones got fooled, sure, but most weren’t that blind.
Una's words hit home with the other girls, and soon they were chiming in.
"Seriously? What year is this? And there are still people who cry over nothing?"
"It's just being ignored, not the end of the world. Why act like your life is ruined?"
"And ugh, the way she makes herself sound pitiful. It makes me want to gag. I've read novels where the fake, manipulative side character wasn't even this gross."
"Only guys would fall for this act. The 'pick-me' vibes are so strong it's suffocating."
That last one ticked the guys off.
"Any normal person can see Kyla's the one suffering, okay? Who's really being tricked here?"
"She even tried greeting Tilda first like a real sister, and Tilda straight up ignored her. What else does that look like but Tilda pushing her out?"
"I'm so sick of this 'blame the victim' stuff. You girls are just proving how jealous and petty you are!"
The air grew thick, seconds away from exploding.
Finally, Tilda spoke.
"What now, Kyla? You wanna keep dragging this out? Doesn't bother me…"
"After all, I've got nothing to do with the Jensons anymore. You're the Jensons' precious daughter. If they get embarrassed, you're the one who'll take the shame."
She was fully admitting she had no ties to the Jensons anymore, but her voice was calm, casual, as if it didn't matter at all.
The crowd went dead silent.
Uh… wait. Did we just hear that right?
Kyla’s face darkened.
She hadn't expected her usual tricks to flop against Tilda.
Normally, someone would step in, drag her away, and she could cry some more, leaving the perfect image of a tragic adopted daughter who was raised by the Jensons but was now bullied and ignored by the real one.
But Una had wrecked everything.
"Tilda, I know you don't mean that. You're just upset. Please, let's talk. I really, really have something important to tell you."
Kyla slipped her mask back on, looking like the soft, flustered little sister desperate to reach her big sister’s heart.
Ohhh.
That was when it clicked for the crowd.
So Tilda only said she was cutting ties with the Jensons to get under Kyla’s skin.
She didn't even bother correcting them. Whatever people thought wasn't her problem. She just glanced at her watch, shoved one hand in her jeans pocket, and said casually, "Fine, ten minutes."
"Tilda, no! Don't waste your time humoring her."
Una grabbed Tilda's arm, glaring daggers at Kyla.
This pick-me bitch! If she wants a private talk, it could only mean trouble.
Kyla shrank back, neck hunching like she was scared of Una.
And just like that, the picture flipped again—Una looked like the mean bully, and Kyla the poor little Cinderella being mistreated.
"It’s fine, Una. Just grab my lunch for me, you know what I like."
Tilda gave her a reassuring look.
"Let's go."
"Thank you, Tilda…"
The two of them slipped away, heading somewhere with no people around.