Amber's Pov ( Autumn's Mother ) :
" I don't know why I said that even , I just don't want to see my daughter end up in the same position I was once in . I don't want her to get hurt like me " a familiar voice said softly.
It was mom . She must have been talking to Austin and dad but what are they talking about . Similar to her? Hurt like her? What did she mean by that?
Curiosity got the better of me.
I quietly got out of bed and walked toward my bedroom door. Carefully, I opened it just enough to hear their conversation without being noticed.
"Baby, I understand where you're coming from, and I know everything you had to go through. But our daughter truly loves designing, and you know that yourself, don't you?" Dad said gently.
"You know what it feels like to love something more than your own life. If we don't understand our own daughter, then who will?"
"I do understand what both of you are saying, and I want to support her with all my heart," Mom replied, her voice trembling. "But I'm scared... scared that what happened to me might happen to her too. What if this time it's even worse? That man's accomplice could still be out there somewhere, watching us. We don't even know where."
Just what had happened to Mom that left her so terrified?
What kind of past had she been through that she would go this far just to stop me from studying design?
"Darling," Dad said softly, "that's exactly why we're all here—to protect her. And you know our daughter is a black belt. She can handle those mutts if they ever come near her. We should at least trust her a little, shouldn't we?"
Mom remained silent for a few moments before letting out a long sigh.
"I know, Gus," she said quietly. "I'm only trying to prevent something terrible from happening in the future. But... since both of you insist, I'll talk to Autumn again."
She paused before continuing.
"Austin, go and see if she's awake. If she is, bring her downstairs."
"Yes, Mom," Austin replied.
My heart began pounding.
I quickly stepped away from the door before anyone could catch me listening. I climbed back into bed and pulled the blanket over myself, pretending I had been asleep the whole time.
A few seconds later...
Knock. Knock.
"Autumn?" Austin called softly from outside my room. "Are you awake?"
He slowly opened the door and stepped inside and Sat beside me.
I rubbed my eyes before answering.
"Yeah... come in."
The door slowly opened, and Austin peeked inside.
"There you are." He smiled warmly. "Feeling any better?"
"A little."
He walked over and sat beside me on the bed.
"Mom wants to talk to you."
I looked away.
"I don't think I'm ready."
"I know."
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Austin gently ruffled my hair, something he had done ever since I was little.
"You don't have to forgive anyone today," he said softly. "Just... hear her out."
I let out a long sigh.
"Is she still angry?"
He smiled and shook his head.
"No."
"Then why does she hate my dream so much?"
Austin's smile disappeared.
He opened his mouth as if he wanted to answer...
...but closed it again.
"I'm sorry," he whispered. "That's not my story to tell."
Before I could ask another question, he stood up.
"Come downstairs whenever you're ready."
He walked out of the room, leaving me alone once again.
I stared at the closed door.
Not my story to tell...
Those words echoed inside my head.
Just what was everyone hiding from me?
I stayed there , staring into space for a few minutes before I snapped out of it and went to the bathroom to freshen up. I really needed a splash of cold water . Then I look at the clock . It's 4 pm right now which means I was out cold for 3 hours straight. Wow!!
After a while , I went downstairs .
The moment I reached the living room , I noticed how strangely quiet everything was.
Dad was sitting on the couch with his hands clasped together , while Mom Sat beside him , staring blankly at the floor . Austin stood near the window with his arms crossed .
The moment they noticed me , all Three of then turned toward me .
Well....this was awkward .
I slowly walked toward the couch and sat down , keeping a little distance from myself and Mom .
For a few seconds , nobody said anything.
" Autumn ..." Mom finally spoke .
I looked at her .
Her eyes were still slightly red .
" Iam sorry ."
I froze
Wait.
Did my mom just apologize to me ?
" I am sorry for what happened ." She continued quietly . " Things got out of hand."
Dad shifted slightly beside her.
Mom glanced at him before looking back at me .
" Your father shouldn't have shouted at you either."
Dad immediately looked at me.
" And I am sorry, Autumn , " he said quietly.
I stared at him.
My dad apologizing to me was almost as surprising as mom doing it.
" I should have shouted at you,"he continued "I was angry, but I shouldn't have taken it out on you. "
For some reason , hearing him say that hurt more than I expected .
Dad had never shouted at me before.
Not once.
And I didn't know why, but I wished he hadn't apologized either.
I wished none of this had happened in the first place.
"It's fine," I muttered .
" No," Dad said gently. "It's not."
The room fell silent again .
Mom finally looked at me .
" And I am sorry too."
I didn't say anything.
" I shouldn't have tried to force you into doing anything something you don't want to do ."
My eyebrows raised slightly.
Was I dreaming?
"I shouldn't have argued with you the way I did either ," she continued.
I looked between her and Dad before turning back toward her.
"Then why?"
Mom looked confused.
"Why what?"
"Why do you hate designing so much?"
The atmosphere changed immediately.
Dad looked toward Mom.
Austin's expression changed slightly.
Something was wrong.
"I don't hate designing," Mom finally said .
I frowned.
" Then why have you spent my entire life trying to stop me from becoming a designer?"
Mom looked down at her hands.
"I just..."
She stopped.
For a second , I thought she was finally going to tell me .
I waited.
Everyone waited.
But she never finished her sentence.
Mom took a deep breath before looking back at me.
"There are things you don't understand yet, Autumn."
" Oh , really ?" I crossed my arms." Then explain them to me."
Her eyes softened .
"I will."
" When?"
She didn't answer immediately.
"One day."
I stared at her in disbelief.
"That's not an answer."
" I know."
" Then tell me now."
Mom shook her head slowly.
"Not yet."
Of course.
There was always a not yet.
I leaned back against the couch , frustrated.
"How am I supposed to understand you if you won't tell me anything?"
Dad sighed quietly .
"Autumn --"
" No , Dad. I am tired of it ."
I looked toward Mom again.
"You want me to trust you, but you won't even tell me why you're trying to control my future."
Mom's expression changed.
For a moment, she looked almost....
Afraid.
Then she straightened herself.
"Fine."
Everyone looked at her.
" You can continue studying design."
My eyes widened.
Wait.
What?
"Seriously?" I asked.
Mom nodded.
" You can study whatever you want. I won't stop you anymore."
I stared at her suspiciously.
There had to be something.
" But?"
Mom sighed.
" There are conditions."
Ofcourse there were.
I knew it.
" What conditions?"
Mom looked toward dad briefly before answering.
"If you ever travel somewhere for your work , internships , competitions , anything -- you tell us and bring someone along. Like your brother or your dad ."
I frowned.
"That's it?"
"No."
Of course.
" You don't go anywhere alone without informing someone. If something ever feels wrong , you leave immediately."
I stared at her.
"What kind of conditions are those?"
Mom's expression remained serious.
"Just promise me."
I looked at Dad.
Then Austin.
Neither of them seemed surprised.
Okay.
Something was definitely going on.
" Fine," I muttered."I promise."
Mom visibly relaxed.
That was strange.
Way too strange.
Just as I was about to stand up , my sleeve slipped slightly down my arm .
Mom suddenly froze.
Her eyes landed on my bruised arm.
The entire room went silent.
" Autumn..."
I looked down.
Oh .
Shit.
Mom suddenly stood up from the couch.
"Where did those bruises come from?"
To be continued....