Chapter 321: How Awful He Had Been

Santiago was stunned.

Hearing Kayden and Wade yelling at him so angrily left Santiago completely confused.

Have I said something wrong? But how could that be? What did I do wrong?

“Kayden, Wade, did Tilda put some kind of spell on you?"

“Causing trouble for the Jensons, messing with Kyla, and even hurting the Jenson Group’s stock… isn’t that all Tilda’s doing?"

“So why is it that when I get mad about it and want to get justice from Tilda, you guys are blaming me instead?” Santiago asked.

“Because all this happened because of our own mistakes! We were the ones who hurt Tilda first, and that caused all this! We’ve already learned our lesson! We don’t need you to fight for us, Santiago. You don’t know everything. You have the chance we’ve always dreamed of–to make peace with Tilda. Please! Don’t ruin it!”

Wade wished he could reach through the phone, shake Santiago, splash cold water on him, and wake him up! Why waste a once-in-a-lifetime chance that we can only dream of? Those of us who have hurt Tilda have no right to ask for forgiveness. Santiago has done nothing wrong. He’s the one who truly can approach Tilda. And he’s her real brother!

Santiago fell silent again, his mind spinning. He needed to think slowly.

Kayden continued, “Santiago, after Justin and I learned what Dominic, Howard, and Wade did, and saw their true regret, we realized it’s our family who wronged Tilda! We can’t blame Mom and Dad, but even from an outsider’s view, they didn’t do what they should have as parents to Tilda, who was missing for 19 years. Instead, they hurt her! Tilda suffered so much. Her heart became cold and broken. That’s why she left the Jensons and cut ties completely! She used to love this family so much, and now she hates it just as much! Dad knows his mistakes and wants to reconcile with Tilda. I won’t let you say anything against her! Not even you!”

“I–I understand…” Santiago stammered.

Faced with Kayden’s firm tone and feeling the weight of their shared blood and respect, Santiago obediently admitted his mistake, like a meek little chick.

Harry quietly sighed in relief. Even though this was a family matter, and Harry didn’t fully understand it, at least Santiago had regained control of himself. Otherwise, Harry worried his anger might reopen his head injury.

Seeing Santiago admit his mistake, Kayden’s tone softened a little. “Now focus on healing. I’ll come to Motrar to see you.”

“You’re coming? But… please don’t tell Mom and Dad anything about my injury…”

“I know what to say and what not to say. Luckily, it’s nothing serious. As your brother, I have to see you."

“Then it’s decided. I’ll take a flight tomorrow. Bye.”

The call ended.

Kayden handed the phone back to Wade.

Wade pressed his lips together. “Kayden, you’re not just going to Motrar to see Santiago, are you? You’re also thinking about how to find Tilda, right?”

“We’ll see what happens. Motrar is huge. Even if we know Tilda hasn’t returned to Cetherland yet, we might get lucky,” Kayden replied. “Justin already tried his best to win Tilda back. Even if it’s not my nature, I can’t just do nothing. Wade, our family has hurt Tilda. As her brother, I have to find a way to make it right!”

Wade nodded. “Thank you, Kayden. Even though the Jensons’ bond with Tilda is badly broken, and I should take most responsibility, the truth is… I’m the brother least qualified to face Tilda and ask for her forgiveness.”

Wade lowered his gaze, hiding the pain that felt as if it was killing him inside. Sometimes, Wade dreamed nightmares full of regret and heartbreak. He dreamt about how cruelly he had treated Tilda in the past, how he had ignored her completely, and how he wished Tilda would disappear, with Kyla having his full attention. Just like Santiago now.

He thought being cold wasn’t a kind of violence. He thought that bringing Tilda back to the Jensons and giving her inheritance meant she should be thankful and moved to tears. But everything else wasn’t hers. She wasn’t allowed to have it.

They didn’t realize… Tilda was their real sister! It was their cruelty that hurt her and drove her away!

Wade felt disgusted with his old self, realizing how awful he had been, doing things to Tilda worse than anything human should do.