Chapter 36 Why Is He Here?
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Finished
Una glared at Wade’s back as he walked away.
She couldn’t say it out loud–that Tilda had already cut ties with the Jensons, moved out, and cut off every last connection.
If that truth got around, cruel people would twist it. They’d use it to mock her, humiliate her, and hurt her even more.
Wade,ifIeverfindoutyoumesswithTildaagain,IswearI’llneverforgiveyou!
Wade wanted to find Tilda, but Orica University was huge.
And from what Shaun had said, it sounded like Tilda had already been gone for a while.
Ifshealreadyleftcampus,andIdon’tevenhaveawaytocontact her,howamIsupposed tofindherinagiantcitylikeSlosa?
Idon’thavehernumber.
Idon’tknowwhereshelikes tohangoutoncampus.
AndonceshesteppedoutsideOrica,wherecouldsheevengo?
ThedayshelefttheJensons‘housewithnothingbutasuitcase,wheredidsheendup?
Isshestaying atUna’s? Ahotel?Sometinyrentedapartment?
He had no clue.
And suddenly, Wade felt the weight of what he’d done.
HowcouldIhavebeensocrueltothesisterI’vebeenseparatedfromfor19years?
Inevereventriedto knowher.
Instead,I’vethrownupwallsofdisgust,stabbedherwithsharpwords,andforcedhertokeepherdistance,neverlettinghernear.
EvenifItrytojustifythatitwasallforKyla’ssake,thetruthisclear–I’vefailedasabrother.
Idon’tknow herfavoritefood,herfavoriteoutfits, orwhereshelikestogo.
Idon’teven knowabouttheincredibletalentshe’shiding.
His steps slowed.
Fear started eating at him.
Withallthisguilt,howcanIfacehernow?
WhatcanIevensay?
Right then, his phone buzzed with a sharp ding
It was a message from Clive.
Wade, someone said they saw Tilda sunbathing near Skyview Lake on campus.”
Wade replied, “Thanks”
sliding his phone back into his pocket, Wade took a deep, shaky breath.
He told himself. I’m notgoingthereas herbrother
11:20 AM P P.
Chapter 36 Why Is He Here?
I’mjust goingassomeonewho needstolearnfromher.
IfI thinkofit likethat,maybeitwon’t hurtsomuch.
Maybe.
By the time he reached Skyview Lake, he saw Tilda.
She was lying on the grass with a blanket under her, soaking up the autumn sun with lazy indifference.
The air was cool and crisp, the season shifting, but the scene felt soft and golden, as if time itself had slowed down.
Her pale, delicate face glowed under the sunlight, so strikingly beautiful that it almost didn’t feel real.
Her clean, short hair made her look even sharper, as if her whole presence carried a bold, sharp edge.
Wade’s mind flashed back.
The day Tilda first returned to the Jensons, her hair had been long.
And it was Wade who had sneered that her long hair was disgusting, that it made him sick.
That same night, she hadn’t come down for dinner.
He could never forget the look in her eyes, that wounded, broken stare.
Finished
The next morning, when he saw her again, her long, gorgeous hair was gone. She had chopped it off into the short style she
wore now.
And she had stood there, small and timid, forcing herself to speak words meant to please.
“Wade, I didn’t know you hated long hair. I’m sorry. I cut it short. Please don’t hate me. Please don’t feel sick when you look at me. I’ll be careful from now on. I’ll make sure not to upset you again.”
Her voice had been so soft and desperate, as if she had nothing left and was some unwanted weed on the side of the road.
But irritated by Tilda’s sorry tone, Wade snapped at her again before storming out and slamming the door.
He couldn’t stand the sight of her broken, self–hating self.
Compared to Kyla’s bright grace, her charm, and her sweet confidence, Tilda had seemed unbearably low, as if she didn’t belong at all.
But still, he remembered faintly the tears slipping down her face, silent and invisible.
At the time, he had felt nothing. If anything, he wished she would break faster so he could drive her out of the Jensons‘ lives once and for all
But now, looking back, the memory twisted inside him until the sharp and suffocating guilt rose up to drown him.
Tilda must have known that Wade didn’t actually hate long hair. He liked it.
Because Kyla had long hair.
And Wade had praised Kyla’s hair more than once, running his fingers through it, telling her how beautiful itwas
The truth was, he just couldn’t stand seeing Tilda grow hers out, longer and prettier, as if she could replace Kyla
That was why he’d spat those cruel words
Now under the autumn sun. Tilda stirred She felt his stare
open just slightly, catching him standing not too far away, watching her with a conflicted look.
Disgustswelled in her stomach as her mouth twitched.
11:20 AMPP.
Chapter 36 Why Is He Here?
Gosh, whyishe here?
D
Finished
Inmylast life,IwastedmylifechasingaftertheJensons,humiliatingmyselfwithdesperateactsofdevotion,beggingforscrapsoflove,andevena littlerecognition.AndallIevergotwasmorehatred,colderrejection,andevenstrongerfavoritismtowardKyla.
But inthislife.I’veletgo.I’vecuttheties.TheJensonsandIarestrangersnow.
Andthat’sexactlywhat theywantedfromthestart.Sowhydothese“accidental”run–inskeephappening?
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