But when she heard about the footage, Daphne started to look uneasy.
The video started playing a moment later.
After watching, Alfie turned to Daphne. “Ma’am, the footage shows exactly what this young lady said. You clearly struck first. She only defended herself.”
The proof was obvious.
Daphne argued anyway. “I-I only meant to scare her! I wasn’t actually going to hit her! Look at my wrist – she did this to me. How can you call that self-defense?”
Tilda smirked without pity. “Did you even go to school?”
“What did you say?!”
“According to Section 736 of the Criminal Code, any proper response to an attack counts as self-defense. I grabbed your wrist to stop you. That’s it – no back-and-forth fight.
“If that’s not self-defense, then what is? Guess you’re not that smart, huh?”
Daphne was so furious she could barely breathe.
Who does she think she is?! No one has ever talked to me like this since I was a kid!
Before marrying Ryan, Daphne had been a spoiled daughter from a rich family.
After marrying into the Bells, she became one of the most respected women in Slosa.
“Tilda, what kind of nonsense is this? How dare you talk to your elders like that? Apologize to Daphne right now!”
Blair’s voice was cold and sharp.
Tilda really doesn’t know her place!
She thinks she’s tough now and can insult anyone, huh?
If I weren’t close friends with Daphne, Tilda’s little outburst would’ve gotten her blacklisted and ruined her social life in Slosa.
Even though Jude now ran the Bells, Ryan still had a huge influence.
If things went bad, Blair couldn’t protect her, and Russell wouldn’t risk the Bells for a daughter who had already cut ties.
“So this is the kind of mother you are? Taking the enemy’s side and making your daughter apologize when she’s the one who was attacked?
“Blair, as Mrs. Jenson, you’ve totally failed. If this got out, everyone would laugh at you!
“You call yourself my mother, but you can’t even protect me from being mistreated? Don’t even say my name. I’m disgusted!”
“Tilda!”
Blair’s nails dug into her palms as she glared, her eyes red with rage.
“Your father was right! Compared to Kyla, you’re a failure!
“I never thought I’d have such a selfish, unreasonable daughter!
“I used to feel guilty about you, but not anymore – and that’s all because of you!
“I wish I’d never had you, never found you, or that you had died 19 years ago! Why are you still here ruining my life?”
Her voice dripped venom.
“Tilda … “
Una’s face went pale.
She didn’t even get the chance to argue with Blair – she just stared at Tilda.
She was afraid Tilda’s heart might shatter completely.
Even Una, an outsider, felt crushed just hearing it. For Tilda, who had been starving for family love, it must’ve been unbearable.
Tilda couldn’t keep the faint smile on her face.
Slowly, it disappeared, bit by bit.
And her chest actually hurt.
Why am I so weak?
I’ve already suffered so much pain and heartbreak in my last life.
I promised myself I wouldn’t waste tears on people who don’t deserve them. Not anymore.
But Tilda wasn’t as unshakable as she acted.
A wound was still a wound.
Even if she covered it up, the scar stayed – and sometimes it throbbed, dragging her back to that ugly, shameful past.
Still, she’d promised herself never to show weakness in front of anyone again.
Only the people who deserved it would get mocked. Only the few who truly cared would ever get to see her hurt.
“Yeah, maybe sometimes I wish I were dead. But I’m still here, breathing and fighting.
“That’s just how it is. From now on, my life has nothing to do with the Jensons. It’s only going up from here.
“I’m not going anywhere. I’m only getting stronger. Bet that really gets under your skin, Mrs. Jenson!”
Tilda swallowed the ache in her chest and forced the words out.
This time, I won’t forgive.
I’ll never forgive that so-called “family” for what they did to me.
The cuts, the humiliation, the countless nights I cried because of their coldness, the way it burned – I’ll never forget. Not even if I die.
Blair froze when she saw the pure hatred burning in Tilda’s eyes.
Her face went pale.
Gosh, why did I say those things?
I was blinded by anger.
It wasn’t really what I meant at all.
Or more accurately … I’ve never said anything so cruel before.
Not ever. Yet I said it to my daughter.
The weight of being Mrs. Jenson suddenly felt crushing, filling her with a sharp, heavy regret.
“Blair, you’re right. What good is a daughter like that? She’s not even worth a fraction of Kyla!”
Daphne smiled, satisfied. She’d been waiting for the day Blair would cut Tilda off for good.
She’d worried Blair might resist, but today, things had blown up exactly the way she wanted.
“No … Daphne, I – “
Blair tried to explain.
It isn’t really how I feel.
I just said all that out of anger!
“Wow. I didn’t think the top two families in Slosa could be this nasty.”
Alfie clapped slowly, his sharp gaze dripping with disgust.
Even he – carefree and usually obsessed with gossip – looked sickened.
That alone said how bad Blair and Daphne had acted.
“What did you just say?! You’re just a restaurant manager – who do you think you are, talking to me and Blair like that?
“Get your boss right now! I’m filing a complaint! I want you fired!”
Daphne’s temper snapped. What’s going on tonight? First, that lowborn, Tilda, dared to talk back, now even the restaurant manager? Everyone has lost their minds!
“How scary. Jude, your aunt wants to fire me. I’m shaking.”
Alfie’s eyes shifted toward a corner of the restaurant, a sly smile on his lips.
J-Jude?
Daphne froze.
She turned – and saw him.
Jude stood up slowly.
Hands in his pockets, he walked over.
Una’s reaction was instant – like a mouse spotting a cat.
She held her breath and slipped behind Tilda.
To someone like Una, Jude’s presence was dangerous – blinding, even.
You didn’t get close to a man like that. You didn’t even look at him for too long.
He could drag you straight into the abyss.
Tilda didn’t move, watching him come closer.
Jude’s eyes met hers for a brief second before sliding away.
Under the glow of the crystal chandeliers, his face looked like something carved by the gods.
Two buttons on his shirt were undone, showing a pale, strong chest.
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