Out Of The Shadows
Chapter 548 Kneel
“Tilda, if you’re willing to visit the hospital and see Blair, I’ll agree to anything you want! I swear!” Russell shouted with all his strength.
Those words made Tilda pause mid-step. Seeing the opening, Russell rushed in front of her, right under Wade’s shocked gaze.
“I’m serious. I’ll grant whatever you ask, just this once! Only this time!” Russell’s eyes blazed with resolve, like a beast defending its mate. A fierce aura poured off him, making everyone else seem powerless.
“Russell, you only learn when you hit the bottom, don’t you? Fine. I don’t care much about your vows, but there’s one thing I’d enjoy seeing. Do you dare throw away your pride for your beloved wife?"
“Go on, kneel before me, Russell. If you do that, maybe I’ll think about visiting Blair!”
Kneel. Kneel down… In front of the whole crowd. Tilda clearly wanted to grind Russell’s dignity into the dirt. There’d be no coming back from it. Even Russell’s face twisted at her demand, his body trembling. Wade’s chest tightened. He remembered not long ago, breaking down, kneeling at Tilda’s apartment door with his six brothers. That kneeling had been out of remorse and shame toward his sister. But Russell? He couldn’t do this!
“Can’t manage it? Then step aside! You claimed you’d do anything if I agreed, but even this you can’t? Just empty words, Russell. You’re nothing but a liar who never keeps promises.” This time, Russell had nothing left to defend himself against Tilda. Dane and the others figured Russell would never actually kneel. If he kept spouting excuses, they’d just beat him down and leave.
Russell bit down hard, his words forcing their way out as he said, “So… If I kneel, you’ll visit Blair at the hospital?”
“Kneel first, then we’ll see. If you can’t even manage that, then shut up and get lost!” Tilda had barely finished, when….
Thud!
Russell dropped to his knees right before her.
“I’m begging you, Tilda, please go see Blair at the hospital. Look, I’m kneeling, I’m kneeling!”
“Dad!” Wade yelled in shock. He rushed forward to Russell’s side. “Dad, what are you doing? Stand up! Please, get up! If anyone should kneel, let me do it. You can’t!”
“No… Wade, let me kneel. This is what Tilda demanded, and it’s the debt I owe her as her father! Tilda, I lost you years ago, leaving you to suffer 19 years alone. Even if it wasn’t intentional, I failed to protect you as your dad! And all those years when Blair desperately searched for you, I kept urging her to stop… we finally brought you back. I still hurt you again and again because of Kyla! I don’t deserve to be your father! In this family, Blair was the only one who truly held on! This kneeling is my apology, my regret for everything I put you through!”
Russell cast off the last of his pride, laying down the armor of a father. He spoke honestly, overflowing with guilt and remorse toward Tilda.
These words were overdue. He should’ve spoken them years ago. But clinging to his so-called dignity, he thought just giving her life was enough. All those excuses and twisted reasoning felt worthless in the end.
Everyone was speechless. Russell had actually knelt. Dane and the others were stunned. Even Tilda hadn’t seen that coming.
So…
The man who once acted untouchable, wielding his role as her father, demanding everything from her simply because he gave her life… Even he was now on his knees, begging forgiveness. Just like Tilda had once done, degraded into a pathetic creature, begging for scraps of affection from her family.
Too bad… It was too late! Far too late! Tilda no longer felt pity, longing, or family affection for the Jensons. Even her resentment had thinned into nothing because she had found people who mattered, a new hope. The Jensons had become a worthless shadow of her past.
Wade saw Russell had made his choice. He said, “Tilda, Dad did what you demanded. Please, come with us to the hospital and see Mom.”
Tilda lowered her eyes, and she smiled mockingly. Linking arms with Danc, she said, “Oh is that so? Well, I refuse.” Her voice was light and playful.