Chapter 43 Not My Problem
By now, it was pointless for Una to regret not stopping Tilda from going back to the Jensons.
All she wanted was to grab Tilda’s hand tight and keep her far, far away from them.
“Don’t worry, Una. I’m not hurting. My head’s clear. I saw through the Jensons‘ real faces a long time ago.
“This isn’t about family ties–it’s about you. If I can’t even protect my best friend, who got dragged into this mess and hurt because of me, then honestly, I might as well be dead.”
<i>This </i><i>second </i><i>chance </i><i>at </i><i>life</i>, <i>the </i>one <i>God </i><i>gave </i><i>me</i>, <i>isn’t </i><i>for </i><i>me </i>to <i>keep </i><i>hiding </i>like <i>a </i><i>coward</i><i>, </i><i>dodging </i><i>the </i><i>Jensons</i>, <i>and </i><i>taking </i><i>hit </i><i>after </i><i>hit, </i><i>pretending </i><i>like </i>an <i>ostrich </i>with <i>its </i><i>head </i>in <i>the </i><i>sand</i>.
<i>No. </i><i>It’s </i><i>for </i><i>me </i><i>to </i><i>rise</i>, to <i>shine</i><i>, </i><i>to </i><i>carve </i><i>a </i><i>marvelous </i><i>path </i><i>for </i><i>myself</i><i>, </i><i>to </i><i>live </i>wild <i>and </i><i>free</i>, <i>and </i>to <i>never </i><i>again </i><i>let </i><i>anyone </i><i>chain </i><i>me </i><i>down</i>.
<i>If </i><i>the </i><i>Jensons </i><i>push </i><i>me </i><i>too </i><i>far</i><i>, </i><i>I’ll </i><i>crush </i><i>them </i><i>without </i>a <i>second </i><i>thought</i>.
<i>I </i><i>don’t </i><i>care </i><i>anymore</i>. <i>I </i><i>refuse </i><i>to </i><i>let </i><i>my </i><i>heart </i><i>ache </i><i>again </i><i>for </i><i>that </i>so<i>–</i><i>called </i><i>family</i>.
Seeing Tilda’s fierce determination and that untouchable look in her eyes, Una stayed quiet.
She had promised before that no matter what, she would always stand with Tilda, strong and steady.
That promise held yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
So, she didn’t stop her.
Warmth filled Una’s chest instead.
Thank <i>you</i><i>, </i><i>Tilda</i>.
Meeting you <i>and </i><i>bing </i><i>your </i><i>best </i><i>friend </i>is <i>the </i><i>best </i><i>thing </i><i>that’s </i><i>ever </i><i>happened </i>to <i>me</i>…
Russell had stormed out, leaving behind a giant mess only Howard could clean.
Howard might’ve been a fighter, but in his bones, he carried the Jensons‘ kind of polish–he had been raised rich and trained by high society.
Cleaning up disasters like this was second nature for him.
He was almost 6’3“, with muscles built like stone, chest like armor, abs cut into eight hard ridges, skin a warm bronze from the sun, and eyes burning hot like fire, sharp enough to slice anyone down.
Even dressed, Howard’s presence screamed danger. His aura was so heavy that no one dared step up against him.
Once he exined who he was and why he was here, the security guards fell in line immediately.
They started taking phones, deleting photos and videos of every student.
Didn’t want to hand it over? imed you didn’t record anything? Refused?
Fine
The Jensons weren’t just donors of Orica University–they were untouchable in Slosa.
If something leaked out and you were the one who did it, you wouldn’t just be in trouble. You’d be ruined.
Awsuit would be the lightest punishment. After that? Crushing fines, expulsion, and a lifetime where nopany would ever hire you
Who would risk that? No one.
Not a single student dared go against the Jensons
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Chapter 43 Not My Problem
They were Slosa’s top family.
Finished
Even the rich kids standing there knew–if their families found out they picked a fight with the Jensons, they’d be thrown out on the street that same night.
Nobody wanted that.
So everyone obediently wiped their phones clean and swore the cafeteria scene would never leave their mouths.
Once Howard made sure every student’s phone was cleared, he ordered the guards to erase the surveince footage too.
Only after covering Russell’s tracks did Howard finally let hisplicated gaze fall on Tilda.
Tilda hadn’t left. She was busy on her phone, fingers flying.
When she noticed his stare, she slid her phone away and shed a cold, sharp smile.
“ssic Jenson move. You screw up, then force everyone into silence. You delete evidence and cover it up, all so nothing ugly leaks and ruins that shiny Jenson reputation.
“It’s fucking disgusting!
“What, now? You gonna search my phone next?”
“No need.”
Howard had already checked every other student’s phone.
Nobody had sent anything out..
Nobody even had Tilda’s number or contact info. <fn4530> Chapters first released on find?novel</fn4530>
And during the fight with Russell, neither she nor Russell had pulled out a phone to record.
Now all the evidence was gone, the cameras erased …
Tilda raised her brows.
The old <i>Howard </i>would’ve <i>already </i>blown <i>up</i>, <i>demanding </i>to <i>search </i><i>my </i><i>phone</i><i>, </i><i>tearing </i><i>through </i><i>my </i><i>stuff </i>with <i>brute </i><i>force</i><i>–</i><i>just </i>like at the <i>Porsche </i>dealership, <i>when </i><i>he </i><i>called </i><i>me </i><i>a </i><i>thief </i><i>and </i><i>dragged </i><i>me </i><i>to </i><i>the </i>police <i>station</i>.
<i>To </i><i>Howard</i><i>, </i><i>I’m </i><i>nothing </i><i>but </i>a <i>stain</i><i>, </i>a <i>curse </i><i>that </i><i>threatens </i><i>the </i><i>ce </i><i>of </i><i>K</i><i>, </i><i>the </i><i>sister </i><i>he </i><i>truly </i><i>cares </i><b><i>about</i></b>.
<i>He </i><i>wants </i><i>me </i><i>gone</i><i>, </i><i>erased</i><i>, </i><i>and </i><i>destroyed</i>.
So what’s up <i>today</i><i>? </i>
<i>Why </i>isn’t Howard <i>doing </i><i>the </i>same thing now?
<i>He </i><i>actually </i>seems <i>toned </i>down.
But whatever<i>. </i><i>Not </i><i>my </i>problem.
<i>Even </i>if <i>Howard </i><i>tried </i><i>to </i>check <i>my </i><i>phone</i><i>, </i><i>I’m </i><i>ready</i><i>. </i>
<i>He </i>wouldn’t have found <i>a </i>single <i>thing</i>.
Howard sucked in a long, heavy breath.
“Wh–what exactly are you trying to do?”
Una hated Howard with her whole being.
This was the same <b>man </b>who had one teamed up with K at that dealership to frame Tilda, humiliating her and tearing her
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Chapter 43 Not My Problem
Finished
And now, seeing him here, Una’s eyes narrowed, sharp and fierce, as she stepped forward with her arms spread wide, shielding Tilda.