Chapter 412 A Thief
As Tilda walked by, Blair caught a familiar scent. At that moment, old memories came flooding back. She remembered when she first discovered Tilda was her long-lost daughter through the DNA test. Blair had been over the moon, hugging Tilda tightly. Back then, Tilda had trembled in her arms, and Blair had caught that scent. Tilda’s scent hadn’t changed at all. It felt like it all happened just yesterday.
So how had everything fallen apart to the point where they were worse than strangers? When did it all go wrong? No, it was on them. The Jensons had failed Tilda.
Right as Tilda was about to step out of the restroom, Genevieve spoke up again. “Ms. Tilda, don’t you have anything you want to say to Mrs. Jenson…your birth mother?”
Blair’s chest tightened at those words.
“Huh?” Tilda arched an eyebrow, tilting her head with a meaningful smile. “What did you say? Sorry, I didn’t hear you. Say it again.”
Her voice was light, but the edge in it made Genevieve’s heart clench. Still wanting to win Blair’s favor, Genevieve forced a gentle tone. “I can tell Mrs. Jenson truly misses you. I don’t know what went on between you two–”
“If you don’t know, then shut your mouth. Ever heard of minding your own business? Who do you think you are?”
Tilda’s sharp words instantly shut Genevieve up. Genevieve froze, not expecting Tilda to act so rudely. She thought someone from the Jenson bloodline would never speak so crudely. Nineteen years outside must have made Tilda pick up all the worst habits. So, was all that drama just because Tilda lacked the class to fit in?
With that thought, Genevieve turned cold. “Ms. Tilda, must you be so rude? Can’t you talk properly?”
“This is how I talk. Still beats being a thief.”
“A thief?” Genevieve snapped, her eyes blazing. “If you slander me again, I’ll sue you for defamation!”
“Oh, really? Was that piano piece you just played yours? You couldn’t even name it, yet you claim you wrote it? That’s a joke.”
Tilda hadn’t planned to call Genevieve out that soon. But even though the Jensons’ mess had nothing to do with her, she couldn’t just let someone steal her original piano piece. No way was she letting Genevieve pass it off as her own.
“You–”
Genevieve’s pulse jumped. Does Tilda know who wrote that piano piece? It’s not mine!
Damn it! Blair is right here!
If Justin ever uncovered her lies, everything would collapse. Her dream of marrying into the Jensons and running from her miserable life would be finished. And if he learned she tricked him with that piano piece, the Jensons would crush her. Just imagining the fallout made Genevieve’s whole body shake.
She could never admit the truth.
“I…I don’t know what you mean. That piano piece was mine. I wrote it years ago by chance!” As long as she kept insisting she was the one who uploaded the video, Tilda had no proof. It had been so long, and the song was never made public. There was no evidence of who the real composer was.
“Your original work, huh? Sure. Whatever you say.”
Tilda had already decided exactly how she’d tear apart Genevieve’s lie. She turned to walk away.
That was when Blair finally spoke.
“Tilda…wait.” She yanked her arm free from Genevieve and stumbled to block Tilda’s path. “Are you crazy?”
Tilda’s cold eyes pierced straight into Blair’s heart.
“I know we’ve had a lot of bad history. I’ve thought about it a lot. We…failed you. But even after everything, you still saved me, Dominic, and the whole family. Even if I can’t face you properly, I still have to thank you for what you did.”
Blair swallowed the ache in her chest, lowered her head, and bent deeply to Tilda. It was the only thing left she could do. She had to admit her mistakes.