Chapter 89 The Steel in Tilda’s Heart

Howard gave Tilda an angry glare, spat out his threat, and stormed off after Russell.

Tilda’s lips curled into a smile, and her eyes hardened like ice. To her, it was almost funny.

“Regret? No. I’ll never regret a damn thing.”

The words could have been aimed at Russell and Howard, but in truth, she was saying them to herself.

After what she endured in her last life – left to burn like garbage in a fire, broken and humiliated – she had been reborn.

And in this life, she swore she would never regret doing anything she had never thought of before.

That included cutting the Jensons out of her life completely.

They had no idea…

For a sunflower to turn its back on the sun, it had to be hurt so deeply that it could never forgive.

That was the depth of her scar.

Andy reached out, ruffling her hair with a tenderness that softened his tone. “Alright, Tilda. Please don’t waste your anger on people like them. They’re not worth it.”

“You’re right. They’re not worth it. Not one bit.”

Tilda nodded, her voice steady, fierce.

Then, she flashed him a smile, warm enough despite the coldness still clinging to her eyes:

“The only people worth it to me are you all–my friends. My real family,”

She wasn’t alone anymore.

Losing the blood relatives who had shattered her meant nothing.

In their place, she had gained something she never truly saw in her last life – light she had almost overlooked, shining right beside her all along.

Waiting only makes sense if it’s for someone who matters.

The ones who truly care about you–who treasure you will fight tooth and nail to crash into your world.

Not like how Tilda was in her past life… throwing away her pride, clawing to break into the Jenson family’s world, only to be shoved out, broken, and left to wither.

Night settled in.

Tilda and Andy had laughed themselves breathless before she finally dropped him at his hotel.

When she asked if he wanted to change hotels, Andy just scoffed.

“After what I told them today, if the Jensons still try to buy me off, then they’ve got pig brains.

“No family at the top would be dumb enough to keep banging their head against a wall.”

He stayed put.

Tilda drove back to her apartment. A message from Una lit up her phone.

Tilda, what have you been up to lately? I miss you!!

Tilda replied, “Just wrapped up with the lawsuit, Una. The hearing’s in two days. Don’t get involved for now. Just wait for Russell to give you the apology you deserve.”

“Tilda… about that, I don’t need the apology anymore. But you need to win this case. I want you to fight. I’m behind you all the way!

“I’ve been thinking about it a lot. Even if Mom and Dad know, they’ll support me. But I’m scared the Jensons might retaliate against my family.”

Her parents already knew about the lawsuit, about the apology Tilda was demanding from Russell.

They weren’t angry. They had listened, learned the truth of how Tilda had been abused, and their outrage boiled over. They stood firmly by her side, promising to help however they could.

And really–what kind of parent wouldn’t? Especially after learning their long–lost daughter had been missing for 19 years. Any real parent would move heaven and earth to protect and make up for that loss.

But the Jensons weren’t real parents. They had found their missing daughter only to beat her, starve her of affection, and give all their love to the adopted one who had lived in luxury for 18 years. That kind of cruelty was almost unbelievable.

Una’s parents were furious when they heard it–nearly sick with rage.

But…

Una’s parents were the opposite. They were ordinary, middle–class, not powerful like the Jensons. Against the likes of the Jensons, one of the city’s most powerful dynasties, they didn’t stand a chance.

Even so, Una was deeply grateful. Her parents understood her, stood by her, and wanted justice for Tilda.

In this world, families like the Jensons were rare. Families like hers–the Colons–were the majority.

They stood with their daughter. And that was worth more than any empire.

She couldn’t let her own troubles drag the Colons into disaster.

“Una, do you trust me?”

“Why would you even ask that? Of course, I trust you.”

“Then hear me. If the Jensons are shameless enough to lay a finger on your family, I’ll make sure the Colons rise to the top of Slosa–and I’ll crush the Jensons under your feet.”

That was Tilda’s limit.

The apology was non–negotiable.

Russell had targeted Una just to break her.

And if the Jensons thought they could go further, using the Colons as leverage against her, then they were beyond redemption.

They would pay, no matter the cost.

Tilda would do whatever it takes.

She would lift Una’s family into glory, and she would bury the Jensons.

“… I believe you.”

Una had only paused three seconds before replying.

Not just because they were close as sisters, but because from the day they became friends, she had seen the steel in Tilda’s heart.