Out of the Shadows: Tilda’s Second Life Begins
"For this family to go back to the happy place it used to be, full of laughter, I have to leave! I have to go!" Kyla sobbed so hard her voice broke. Her words tore at Blair's heart and left everyone else shaken. This was the very thing they feared most. Day to day, they rarely mentioned Tilda. Everyone worried that Kyla would think too much about how their attitude toward Tilda had changed. "Kyla, don't be so foolish. As long as I'm alive, you will always be a Jensons. You will always be my daughter!" Blair's voice trembled. "No one has the right to drive you out of this family. Kyla, please open the door. Don't scare me. You know my health hasn't been good lately." Her voice cracked, tears filling her eyes. "If you leave me too, how will I go on? I wouldn't have the strength to keep living."As Blair spoke, her eyes filled with tears. Her voice trembled, and then she broke into a fit of violent coughing. "Mom?" "Mom!" Kyla finally pulled open the door. Her face was streaked with tears and snot, her eyes swollen red. She rushed into Blair's arms, clinging to her. "Mom, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to worry you. But I feel so useless. I can't help with anything. Because of me, Tilda hates us too much to come home. I don't even know why I should stay in this house anymore. "I know everyone wants Tilda to come home. I-I just don't belong here. I can leave. Tilda is so much better than me. She's stronger, smarter, everything I'm not. Mom, you should bring her back. I don't deserve to be your daughter." "Enough, Kyla. Don't say another word!" Blair cried, cutting her off. "Tilda has already cut ties with us. I've lost my real daughter—I can't lose the only one I have left!" She pressed her hand over Kyla's mouth, hugging her so tightly that her own shoulders shook. Blair's eyes shut, tears running down her face.Kyla broke down completely in her arms, crying out loud. The sight was heartbreaking. Kayden and Justin stood nearby, lowering their heads. Their noses stung, and their eyes blurred with tears. Dear God, what had they done to deserve this? Why couldn't there be a way to have both? Tilda was their beloved sister. But so was Kyla. Why couldn't Tilda forgive them, return to the family, and accept Kyla's place in it? ... Only Russell and Darell stayed in the living room. From upstairs came the sound of sobbing. Neither of them moved. Darell raised his brows in surprise. "Dad, aren't you going to check on them?" In the past, if Blair or Kyla cried like that, Russell would have rushed up right away. His heart torn apart, desperate to comfort Kyla before anyone else. But now Russell pressed his lips tightly together. "What's the point? Your mom and your brothers are already with her." He couldn't bring himself to say the real reason. Because Russell knew the truth. Back then, his misunderstanding about Tilda had driven her to leave the family. Kyla was the mastermind behind the scheme. Even if the investigation wasn't completely confirmed yet, the thought alone chilled him to the bone. Behind that sweet, innocent face of the girl he thought was pure and kind lurked a heart darker than anyone imagined. Russell shuddered at the thought. For the first time, he felt real fear of Kyla. My God, all these years, how had none of them seen through her? He had always thought Blair understood Kyla better, but he had raised her, spoiled her, and watched her grow. Russell thought he knew his daughter. But after learning the truth of what she had done, he couldn't escape the thought. He had failed as a father. Russell had never truly understood his beloved daughter. And worse, he had misunderstood about his real daughter and driven her away. Speaking of seeing through Kyla as who she was, maybe Darell had always seen what the rest of them refused to. Russell's gaze slid toward Darell. "Darell," Russell said slowly, "I know you've never liked Kyla. You treated her kindly only for our sake. Why is that? Why don't you like her?" Darell froze, startled by the question. He had not expected it from his father. Darell studied his father carefully. "Dad, did you find out something?" Russell opened his mouth.But in the end, he couldn't say it. Russell couldn't reveal that Kyla had plotted against Tilda. "I don't know," he murmured instead. "I want to hear your answer." Deep down, he still clung to a shred of hope. He hoped the investigators he had sent were wrong. Somehow, there was still a chance to set things right. Darell hesitated. "Dad, I never wanted to say this. Because if I do, you'll probably be furious with me."
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