Chapter 70 They’re Looking at You
Clive cleared his throat a couple of times before speaking.
“I didn’t want to say anything, but since you’re my buddy, I’ll be straight with you. Wade, you guys truly went too far this time.”
Clive could kind of understand, though. The Jensons had raised Kyla for 18 years, watched her grow, and built memories with her. So when Tilda, who had been missing for 19 years, suddenly came back, it was hard for them to accept. They were unsure how to treat her and also worried about hurting Kyla. That part made sense.
But what didn’t make sense was how the Jensons handled it. They misunderstood, humiliated, and even gave her the cold shoulder. Clive actually felt bad for Tilda. Coming back home was supposed to mean reuniting with family. Instead, she was treated worse than a stray dog.
“Yeah, I know it was wrong. But I couldn’t stop it. I’ve also done things to Tilda I can’t take back. At least she cut ties with us before my other brothers did something worse. But I was the only one at home at that time. As her real brother, I forced Tilda to cut off her favorite long hair. And right in front of her, I said Kyla’s hair was prettier, even though Tilda’s was actually better. It was just because I hated that Tilda was copying Kyla. When she called me, begging for help, I brushed her off. When she was crying, scared out of her mind, I just walked away. I even accused her of causing that news incident, thinking she wanted to hurt Kyla and take her place. Deep down, I kept wishing Tilda would just vanish forever–or even die.”
Wade sucked in a shaky breath. It was terrifying. He just now realized his family was scary. And honestly, so was he. Looking back, maybe he was the last person Tilda ever needed. Maybe the one who should’ve disappeared wasn’t her–it was him.
Clive could hear the guilt dripping from Wade’s words. He patted Wade’s shoulder. “It’s not too late to turn things around. Just start treating her well. No matter what’s happened, she’s still your family. If you truly regret it, I’m sure she’ll notice and be touched by how genuine you are. Blood ties aren’t that easy to cut.”
Wade looked at Clive, uncertainty flashing in his eyes. Could regret truly fix anything?
Wade was starting to realize how badly he and his family had messed up. But then, he remembered that cold, sharp look Tilda had given him. No matter what he did, he felt like nothing could undo the damage.
Suddenly, Clive spotted something and quickly tapped Wade’s shoulder. “Wade! Look–it’s Tilda. Your sister is here!”
Wade froze, turning his head stiffly. He followed Clive’s gaze and saw her.
Her hair was short now, sharp and stylish. It gave her a cool, confident look. She was dressed casually, almost the same as when she was on campus. A trench coat, jeans, plain tee, and white sneakers–that was it. But she walked with a natural swagger. Her every move radiated an irresistible charm that no one could ignore.
Some folks recognized her as the dancing star from the other night and even let out whistles. Everyone at Nightingale Bar had money to burn. That dance video had already spread through their circles. It blew up fast. Tilda’s wild, carefree style on the dance floor shocked people and stuck in their minds. Later on, Tilda and Una even crossed paths with Preston. She’d kicked him so hard he ended up in the hospital. Nobody forgot that.
Meanwhile, the man standing by Tilda gave off the vibe of a secretive, noble vampire straight out of the 1700s. His green eyes caught the dim light, and his golden curls shifted like they were touched by the wind. The elegance he carried almost didn’t feel real.
The moment they stepped inside, everyone in the bar locked onto them. The place went so quiet that anyone could hear a pin drop. Every gaze followed Tilda and Andy. Some people were just made to stand in the spotlight.
Even world–famous celebs wouldn’t compare to Andy. His attractive green eyes made him look like a vampire out of a storybook. Tilda, on the other hand, inadvertently gave off a natural charm that outshone fireworks. Her grace couldn’t be put into words.
They sat down like nothing was going on.
“Tilda, they’re all looking at you,” Andy said, resting his chin on his hand. His eyes glinted with playful light. Tilda was stunning. He wanted to keep her hidden where no one else could see. But at the same time, he enjoyed flaunting her, soaking in the way people stared at her with awe and admiration.
It was as if the world was admiring his most priceless treasure. That gave him a sense of pride he couldn’t explain.