#22 A Shocking News

Neither my sister nor I could process what mother just said. However, mother had a big smile on her face despite what she said. Did she break when she heard the news or was it tears of happiness?

We returned to our rooms while the maids comforted mother in the living room.

"Was what mother said true?" I still couldn't believe my ears.

"Why do you think she would lie about that?"

"Who knows? She might want to see our reaction if that really happened to our father."

However, despite the shocking news, we weren't really bothered about it. Our only concern was how we were supposed to live our life with our mother controlling us?

I was still traumatized about my mother controlling my phone via Bluetooth. Will she do it again when she has the chance?

I took out my phone, wanting to text Mia about it but I didn't want to ruin her trip with such news so I decided not to. Just when I was about to take a nap, Eric texted me.

"Well aren't you happy now that you aren't under the Asia family anymore?" I was thinking of how to reply to him when suddenly, a message popped-up on my screen.

[The Asia clan has been totally wiped out.]

'What is this?'

Out of the sudden, my classmates texted me. They kept spamming my inbox until my phone was lagging.

"Amanda, are you okay?"

"Amanda?"

"Amanda!"

"Amanda, what happened?"

"Are you okay?"

"Please reply if you're still alive!"

I couldn't handle all the texts at once while my head was full of things. Did they receive the same message too?

First thing first, I should contact Mia. She's always the most calm person in every situation.

"What do you mean your father passed away? Explain yourself."

"That's all I know. He passed away last night while on his way home. My mother didn't want to say the reason though."

Mia was worried about how I would survive with my mother's harsh orders everyday. I wanted to talk to father about my engagement but I guess the only person now is mother.

I didn't want to bother Mia during her fun time so I put my phone aside and went to the kitchen to get some ice cream to relieve my boredom. I checked my books to make sure my assignments had been completed, just in case.

My sister knocked on my door when I wanted to nap.

"Amanda," she had a piece of paper in her hand when I opened the door. "What do you think?"

I read the words that were written and was shocked. "Escape plan? Andrea, what do you think you're doing?"

"We're no longer Asia. It's possible to escape this harsh life," she pointed at the destination she located on the paper, 'grandma's mansion'.

My sister had a very serious look on her face so I thought it might work out, but that ray of hope inside us broke when we heard a voice coming from behind her.

"Both of you will be under my family, the Calnan clan." Our jaws dropped when mother said that. "Your family name will be changed too." Mother grabbed the paper from my sister's hand and tore it before throwing it away.

My sister fell on her knees when mother left. "That was our last hope..." I wanted to tell her it's impossible but I didn't want to hurt her further.

She returned to her room while I lay on my bed. I wouldn't end up in this mess if only I wasn't part of the family.

I checked my phone for messages since I was bored and found Mia sending me pictures of their trip. They couldn't enter the dining room until dinner was served so they were waiting outside.

Judging by the smiles on their faces, I could see that they were enjoying their stay there. Well, not for Eric, who could be seen annoyed at the corner of the picture.

While I was looking at the pictures I received, Eric texted me.

"Are you okay?"

Did the news spread to his side already? That was quick.

"Yes. Why are you asking this when you have to entertain guests?"

"I was just worried since you didn't reply."

Reply? Oh, that! It's all that damn message's fault that had me busy replying to all of the texts coming in until I've totally forgotten about the first person who texted me.

We had a small chat until dinner on my side was ready. I felt guilty of leaving him just for dinner but what else choice do I have? I have to follow mother's orders after all.

By the time I reached the dining room, both mother and my sister were already there, awaiting my arrival. Mother wasn't nagging like usual and I guessed it was because of the news we received this morning.

"If only I gave birth to a male." Mother was mumbling the same thing over and over again during the whole dinner. She must be really broken to know that the Asia clan has been wiped out since no boys are left behind.

"I don't care anymore," she suddenly raised her voice and looked at both of us. "Do whatever you want, rebellious children."

Huh? Did we do something?

I didn't understand what mother meant so I asked my sister after dinner, she might know something.

"I just told her to break your engagement. That's it."

My sister answered me with such a short reply and went to her room. I could hear a rustling sound in her room but I didn't want to meddle.

I returned to my room and pulled out the photograph I took from grandma's mansion from my book. The more I look, the more I find him familiar. No matter how I looked at it, flashbacks of me playing with him during childhood just kept coming into my mind.

'Just who is he?'

I took the photo and lied on my bed. 'If it's in grandma's mansion, does that mean she is related to him?' I thought it through and finally made up my mind.

I checked my calendar to see if I have any plans the next day.

"Tomorrow, that is."

I've decided. Tomorrow, I'll be visiting grandma in the hospital.