chapter 40: Turning The Game

Autumn
My current condition could be turned into the updated version of the Need for Speed game.
"Geez! I am alive. I am almost at the mansion. Where are you?"
"I am behind Dante's car," Ian mumbled. "Autumn, go to the right!"
Instantly, I followed his instruction. A bullet passed, almost touching the window. If I didn't follow his direction, this bullet would fly away with my ear.
"Why don't you shoot at the tires of his car?" I drove into the Beckett mansion.
"I really stop thinking when it's about you." I smiled softly at his words. This was my Ian.
"I am running inside the house," I said through the phone as I ran inside the house and saw my parents sitting in the living room. They didn't notice my presence. Why were they here?
"Cruz, she is miserable without Ian. He told you that she tore the divorce papers. Why don't you just let them be together forever?" Mom fixated her gaze on my dad.
"I knew this would happen. Thus, I already made another divorce paper ready with the help of my lawyer. We will take Ian's sign and then leave before Autumn gets home. Call him and say to come here."
Mom gave a disappointed look to Dad. "Just because he couldn't protect her, you decided to separate them. You made Ian feel guilty and made him promise to leave my daughter. But I know Autumn. She will never leave him."
I was unable to move my body by hearing the talk of my parents. Dad was the one who made Ian push me away from himself. He turned the villain of my love story. What more shocks were left for me to unfold?
"Autumn!" I turned behind, hearing Ian. I saw Dante pressed the trigger of the gun and Brianna was next to him, smirking at me. Ian was behind them and pushed Dante.
I couldn't respond to the current situation. It was as if paralysis took over me. Suddenly, darkness came across my vision.
When I got up, I was laying in the familiar red and white-colored bedroom. I felt a cold cloth over my forehead. Ian's blue orbs met mine. His care and love were visible in it.
"Why did you have to drench in the rain, you silly woman? You got a fever." He gave me an accusing look. I tried to get up. "Wait, I will help you."
After I sat on the bed, I asked, "Where are my mom and Dad?"
"Autumn, you need to rest."
"Ian," I said sternly. "Call Mom and Dad here, right now." He sighed and took out his phone to call them.
Soon, Mom and Dad entered the room. Mom was about to hug me, but I stopped her. "No, Mom. I don't want to hug you or Dad."
"I know you heard everything. Your dad was just conce��" I interrupted Mom.
"Concerned for me. He wanted me to be safe. He wanted to see me happy and blah blah blah craps. If he really cared for my emotions, he would have known that my life is Ian. I wouldn't be able to survive without him. Yet, he decides to make my husband promise to leave me forever. And my silly thick head of a husband decides to agree."
"Autumn, dear, I ��"
"No, Dad. I don't want to hear any crap. It was better when you were always traveling with mom. I loved those times when I didn't have anything to worry about. I was independent. I could cry anywhere, anytime. I could play everywhere. I didn't want to go on tours with you on purpose. I enjoyed my freedom when you were away." Ian tried to hold me but I pushed it away.
Dad pressed his lips, not knowing what to say. Meanwhile, mom was already crying. She sobbed, "Dear, your dad was trying to protect you."
"It's not called protecting, Mom. It's ruling. He wanted to let things go only in his way. I tried to cope up with his wishes, but not anymore. The only good thing he decided was to marry me off to Ian. He wants that to end too. I don't want you in my life. Go away and come back when your low mentality graduates to high standards. I am ashamed to call you my parents. Just disappear."
"Autumn �� " I cut off Ian before he could continue.
"Shut your damn mouth, Ian! Get them out of my vision. I don't care who they are. If possible, tell them to take the jet and fly to some other country."
"I will tell them," Simon said all of a sudden. Ada was holding his hand. When she entered the room, she ran to hug me.
"Oh my, dear! How are you feeling now?" She placed a hand on my forehead. "You are burning. I must call Sabrina."
"Mom, I already ca��" Ian was cut off in between.
"Shut up, Ian. I am disappointed with you. Don't talk to me."
Simon took my so-called parents away.
"Why are you angry with me?" Ian sat next to me.
"To whom exactly are you asking that question?" Ada retorted.
"Both of you."
"Well, I will tell you later on. The flight was long, and I need to rest." She got off the bed. Sabrina said that she already treated you, Autumn. Take care of yourself." Placing a kiss on my forehead, she left to give us some privacy.
"What happened to Dante and Brianna?" I asked coldly. I had to punish Ian for whatever he did. How could he agree with my dad? Didn't he think of me once? How could he think of divorcing me?
"They are in the torture cell. As you fainted due to high fever, the bullet didn't hit you."
I nodded and got up to head towards the washroom. He stopped me by holding my hand. I let out, "Ian, let me go."
"This was what I had to do before, but not anymore." He wrapped his arms around my stomach and put his head on my shoulder. I was facing a long mirror so I could see him through it. He said, "I am so sorry for everything, Autumn. You don't know what I went through while seeing your live video. I felt that my heart would pop out of my chest at any moment."
"I don't want to hear anything, Ian. Leave me." I tried to get out of his grip, but it tightened.
"I was so happy to see you again when you got up. I wanted to hug you and kiss you senseless. Only I know how I held myself back." He continued, "When you signed those shitty papers, I wanted to jump off the window. But your next action made me love you even more than before. I never expected you would tear those papers. And when you confessed your love to me, I was jumping in cloud nine. I wanted to tell you, I love you too Autumn, so damn fucking much."
I already melted hearing his words, but I needed to make him feel the same pain I went through. So, I stomped my foot on his and freed myself from his grip. "Well, keep your love to yourself because now, I changed my mind."
"What do you mean?"
I took my clothes and before entering the washroom, I said, "I want to be separated from you."