We Part In Autumn

“Zephyr, take a good look. This is your future!”

The moment she finished speaking, she let go with a sudden jerk.

The casing shattered instantly.

One of the shards grazed my cheek, leaving a thin trail of blood.

I really could not understand what our family had ever done to her.

She was doing everything in her power to destroy me.

I braced myself against the cold floor, slowly stood up, and walked toward the door.

There was still time. I was going to find a computer and change my college application.

“Oh, right, I almost forgot. Tomorrow is the deadline for college applications.”

Luke covered his mouth, feigning surprise.

“Zephyr, you aren’t planning on going to an internet cafe to change your application, are you?”

My heart sank.

Eula looked at me with an unexpectedly dark expression.

“Lock him in the basement.”

She gave concise orders to the two lackeys by her side.

The basement of my house was dark and damp. It never saw the light of day.

Most importantly, I had claustrophobia.

I have had it since childhood. Until that moment, it was still a nightmare that I could not shake off.

“No!

“Eula, you can’t lock me in the basement! Please, you know I’m afraid of it.”

I pleaded incoherently. My dignity had long since been crushed to dust.

“I’ll stay in the living room. I won’t go anywhere, okay?

“I’ll just sit here and watch you guys. Please…”

Eula seemed slightly moved. However, that flicker of hesitation was quickly dispelled by Luka’s soft snort.

“Eula, you can’t let your heart get in the way.

“What if he runs away? Wouldn’t all our efforts today have been for nothing?”

The last trace of hesitation in Eula’s eyes vanished instantly.

“Drag him down.”

I was roughly thrown into the basement.

The darkness was absolute. The silence was as still as death.

I curled up in fear on the cold floor. My whole body trembled uncontrollably as my teeth chattered.

From upstairs came the sounds of their revelry, which grew even more unrestrained.

I heard Luke’s excited suggestion.

“Eula, let’s go on a trip. I want to go skiing in Swisserland!”

“Sure,” Eula replied with a laugh. Her tone was full of passion.

“We’ll go wherever you want to go. I’ll show you the world.”

When I opened my eyes again, I was already in the hospital.

It turned out that after Eula and the others had left, the maid hiding in the kitchen had immediately rescued me.

Just as I started speaking, the hospital room door burst open.

My parents rushed in, looking haggard. Their faces were filled with anxiety and relief.

When Dad learned the whole story, he was so furious that he was shaking all over.

“That beast! We, the Golding family, have raised her all these years, only to end up with an ungrateful wretch!”

He immediately grabbed his phone. His voice was overflowing with uncontrollable rage.

“Freeze every single bank account in Eula’s name!

“From today on, the Golding family has nothing to do with her!”

After hanging up, he looked at me. His eyes filled with heartache and guilt.

“Zephyr, it’s my fault. I let that disaster into our home and caused you so much pain.”

I shook my head, nestled into Mom’s embrace, and forced a smile.

Actually, I had already secured a guaranteed spot at Ozford before the SATs.

I had only taken the exams to support Eula.

So, whatever college she listed as my choice had absolutely no impact on me.

She thought she was ruining my future. But in reality, she had only destroyed the last shred of affection between us.

Meanwhile in Swisserland, Eula discovered that her cards had been frozen.