Chapter 623 A Slap That Shook Everyone

“Mom, please calm down. Don’t get so worked up, okay?”

Kyla stepped forward, crying hard as she tried to comfort Blair.

When Blair saw her daughter’s tear-filled eyes and heard her desperate plea, her wild expression softened a little.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t pity you. Watching you suffer and end up disabled—it almost feels like karma has caught up with you. I can’t deny there’s a twisted satisfaction in that. If you really want to be treated badly, I’ll give you all the harsh words you want. I’ll say whatever it takes to hurt you!”

“Kyla, take your mom. You two better get out of here. Your crying’s so annoying. It’s driving me crazy. Stop acting pathetic! You’re making me sick.”

Kyla’s face froze. She turned her head and pleaded, “Tilda! I know this is my fault. I shouldn’t have come into this family and made you mad. If I leave—”

Smack!

Before she could finish, a slap cracked across her face.

The burning sting spread instantly, leaving a bright red handprint like a brand on her cheek.

Kyla’s head snapped to the side. Her eyes trembled in shock.

I… I got slapped? In front of everyone?

She never imagined Tilda would actually hit her here, with all these people watching.

Tilda shook her hand, eyes cold and full of disdain. “I’m sick of hearing your fake apologies. Keep whining in front of me and I’ll slap you again. I’ll keep slapping you until you’re too scared to open your mouth.”

There wasn’t a hint of a joke in her voice.

If anything, her words carried a sharp edge of menace and murderous intent.

Kyla had never seen this side of her. She was so scared that she shrank back, her knees felt weak, and her lips turned pale.

“Kyla!”

Blair rushed over, holding her daughter and checking the red mark on her face. Then she glared at Tilda, her voice filled with anger. “Tilda, this is too much! This family wronged you, but Kyla is innocent! Why are you hurting her?”

“Mom, stop,” Kyla sobbed. “It’s okay. Tilda has every right to hate me. If I hadn’t stolen her place in this family, if I hadn’t taken all the love that should’ve been hers, she wouldn’t have cut ties with our family. None of us would be in so much pain now.”

Kyla leaned into the moment, crying harder, playing the victim like she had no choice but to carry the blame.

At first, Justin and Russell felt a flicker of pity when they saw Kyla take a sudden slap from Tilda.

Kyla hadn’t been wrong; she was only pleading for Blair.

But Tilda had hit her out of nowhere.

But when Kyla started talking like that, any sympathy and heartache vanished.

She wasn’t as innocent as she sounded.

It was all an act.

Kyla didn’t realize everyone except Blair had already seen through her act.

And she kept playing along.

Russell patiently said, “Blair, that’s enough. Let’s go. Tilda won’t listen.”

Russell worried Blair might spiral into madness if Tilda kept pushing her. He helped Blair to her feet.

Then Blair glared at Tilda. “Tilda! Apologize to Kyla.”

Tilda paused as if she’d heard the world’s funniest joke.

She raised an eyebrow with a mocking smile. “What did you just say? Say it again.”

Blair didn’t hesitate. “I said you need to apologize to Kyla.”

Haha! Hilarious!

Tilda almost laughed out loud. Seeing Blair so determined, with the wild light in her eyes, struck her as ridiculous.

Blair had just claimed she pitied Tilda and wanted to make things right.

Now she was demanding Tilda apologize to Kyla?

If that wasn’t crazy, what was? Clearly, she was delusional—beyond cure.

“Mom—please don’t do this,” Kyla begged. “You and Tilda already have enough grudges between you. Tilda hates me. Don’t make it worse for m—”

Her words were cut off when someone grabbed her hair and yanked it hard.

She cried out in pain as Tilda shoved her to the floor.

“Kyla!” Blair gasped.

She hadn’t expected Tilda to strike again, and it happened so fast no one could stop it.

“Kyla, I already warned you. If you kept whining and making me sick, I’d slap you. I meant it. Don’t test me.” Tilda’s voice was cold and flat.

“Tilda…”

Kyla’s face twisted in pain. The scar on her cheek showed again. She clapped a hand over her face and bowed her head, desperate to hide how terrible she looked.

Any more exposure would only bring worse shame.

“What’s wrong? Can’t even show your face, huh?” Tilda sneered. “Let everyone see how your ruined face looks when it twists. Look how much you resemble a monster. If I were you, I’d stay home and hide. Why parade around and make yourself a joke? Why embarrass yourself?”