Her Anger

Russell puffed out his cheeks, acting wounded. "Darling, I'd never do that. I'm grown. I know how to handle myself."

"We've been married for years. Don't you think I know you by now? At most parties, you're fine. But this kind? Who knows what you'll pull?"

Still, Blair’s heart felt light and happy.

Darell sat nearby, peeling an apple for her and grinning. "Yeah, Dad, Mom is the boss now. Better just do as she says."

Justin and Kayden walked up with a box of grapes. "Mom, these are fresh, just flown in from Lumenland. Have some!"

Wade spoke up seriously, "Mom, this is a big deal. I'll do what you say, watch over Dad, stay focused, and try to make some good connections."

Blair reached out, touched his face, and laughed. "Good boy."

"Wade, even you're saying that? You’ve totally taken your mom’s side!" Russell muttered, feeling wronged.

He looked ready to tear up – something only Blair's kiss and soft words could fix.

Seeing Russell, usually so serious, acting that way made everyone crack up.

The room was full of warmth, laughter, and love. It was like the sweetness of spring, as if music itself was drifting through the air.

No one noticed Kyla standing in the shadows by the stairs. The Jenson villa overflowed with joy, but she didn’t belong in it at all.

She clenched her teeth so hard that it felt like they'd shatter. She was clenching her fists, her nails digging into her palms until pain shot up her arms. Rage burned inside her, and she felt like she could cough up blood.

She couldn't even step forward to say a single word, afraid she'd destroy the happy scene.

Kyla felt that if she dared to walk over, she'd be treated like an outsider, a bug to be crushed.

There was a time when moments like those, full of love and laughter, were hers.

Back then, all the Jensons revolved around her.

She thought it was only natural, like the whole world existed to keep her glowing, with the sun and moon shining just for her smile.

And when Kyla caught Tilda hiding in some corner, ignored, watching with eyes full of hope and fear, it made Kyla feel satisfied in a twisted way.

Everything changed when Blair found her real daughter after 19 long years.

Kyla had been terrified that her spot as heiress would be snatched away by that girl.

Tilda was the real daughter who’d been missing for 19 years. She had all the advantages. The Jensons had poured endless time, money, and effort into finding her – of course, they would spoil her.

But strangely, they didn't. They treated her like she wasn’t even there. They were cold and distant.

Instead, they kept doting on Kyla, even bullying Tilda for her sake.

Only Kyla mattered. She was the one they called their good daughter, their precious sister.

For 18 years, Kyla had played the perfect act, never slipping up. She truly believed she had won, that Tilda couldn’t touch her.

Even though she was just adopted, she still stood higher than Tilda—the real daughter who had finally come home.

Tilda, the one Blair had searched for all those years, longed for the things Kyla thought were just normal.

Kyla looked down on her, convinced she could crush Tilda like nothing.

But now, everything flipped. The corner where Tilda once sat crying, unnoticed, had become Kyla's place.

Tilda had turned into the family's treasure, untouchable and adored.

And Kyla? She was nothing now – just the air, the pest ruining their happiness.

Why? How had it all gone so wrong?

The love that used to belong to her so easily now sat just out of reach.

And Tilda didn’t even care.

Didn’t that mean Kyla was the one being stepped on now?

All her pride, all her smugness – it all came back like invisible slaps to her face.

No, it can’t be real. This has to be some kind of mistake.

A maid came over to clean and spotted Kyla by the stairs. She asked subconsciously, "Ms. Kyla, what are you doing here?"

Kyla spun her head around.

The maid froze and stepped back in fear.

Because Kyla was looking at her with an expression she'd never seen before – cold, dark, and filled with deadly intent.