They had barely stepped into the Cosgrove mansion when Mason Cosgrove's voice thundered angrily.
"What the hell is wrong with you, Amelia?!"
Amelia barely spared him a glance as she stepped inside, her composure untouched by the storm brewing around her. She gracefully removed her earrings and necklace, placing them on the nearest table before turning to face him.
"You'll have to be more specific, Father," she said smoothly. "Are you referring to my refusal to be humiliated any further or my decision to spare our family's name from further disgrace?"
Mason's face twisted in anger, becoming extremely red. "Don't play games with me!" he roared. "You humiliated me—your family! What nonsense were you spouting in front of everyone? Canceling the engagement? Have you lost your mind?!"
Amelia met his angry gaze with an unreadable smile. "I simply came to my senses, Father."
"You—!"
"Father, please," Lilac said with a soft, trembling voice. She stepped forward, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "Sister, I never wanted this. I never wanted to come between you and Ace… but love is unpredictable." She clutched her hands to her chest as if in distress. "I begged Ace to stay with you, but… he loves me. What was I supposed to do?"
Amelia tilted her head slightly, as if considering her words. "You could have, perhaps, refused to meet him in secret. Refused to sleep with him. Refused to wear matching outfits with him to Grandfather's birthday party while I was still engaged to him," she mused. "But, I suppose, you're right. Love is unpredictable."
Lilac flinched and whimpered, "Sister, I..." Tears began to pour down her cheeks, drawing sympathy from the onlookers, causing any rational thought that was about to take place to vanish.
"Stop twisting things, Amelia!" Mason barked.
Ray scoffed from the side, his arms crossed. "Honestly, Amelia, don't be so dramatic. Ace didn't cheat on you. If he loved Lilac from the start, then it only made sense that you step aside. Why are you making this such a scandal? Besides, you haven't been the best fiancée to him."
Amelia smiled coldly at Ray, causing him to flinch back a bit.
"You brat, when the adults are talking, I expect you to keep quiet. Foolishly interfering in matters without thinking only makes you look stupid. I am pretty sure Grandmother is rolling in her grave now, wondering what kind of foolish heir her son has raised."
Ray's face flushed in embarrassment, and he wanted to retort, but he was interrupted by Eve.
"Amelia, I understand that you are aggrieved, but you have to at least try to keep the family's face and endure. Because of this, there will be so much scandal, and your father doesn't like this."
Amelia let out a mocking laugh.
These people were really brain-dead.
"If he wanted to save face, he should have heeded my request when I first brought it before him. Besides," she turned her gaze to Eve, "I do not think I wish to end up like my mother."
Understanding what Amelia had implied, Eve's face scrunched up into a frown, and Mason shook in anger.
"Amelia!" Mason slammed his hand against the table. "You are truly your mother's daughter!"
Amelia sighed, shaking her head. "You expect me to marry a man whose heart belongs to my sister? To share a home with him, knowing full well that at any moment, I might walk into my own bedroom and find my husband tangled in my sister's embrace?" She tilted her head, a hint of amusement in her voice. "Or perhaps I was meant to turn a blind eye, let them indulge while I played the dutiful wife? Is that what you wanted?" Amelia scoffed. "No, that's what you wanted. But you are right—I am my mother's daughter, and Lilac, my dear sister, is truly her mother's daughter."
Lilac gasped, clutching her chest. "Sister, how could you say such a thing? I would never—"
"You already have, Lilac." Amelia's gaze was sharp, but her voice remained gentle, as if speaking to a child. "But do not worry, I'm giving you exactly what you wanted. Ace is yours now. Treasure him."
"Enough!" Mason's voice boomed, his anger reaching its peak. "Since you want to be disobedient, then you have no place under my roof!"
Amelia held his gaze for a long moment before exhaling lightly. "Very well," she murmured.
"Since I am such a disgrace to the Cosgrove name, then I shall do you all a favor." She turned on her heel, moving towards the grand staircase. "I'll leave."
A stunned silence filled the room.
"What?" Lilac was the first to speak, her expression fading into a frown. Lilac studied Amelia. Unlike the other times when she had threatened to leave but never did, she looked pretty serious now.
Ray's brows furrowed. "You're bluffing."
But Amelia didn't answer.
She ascended the stairs unhurriedly, disappearing down the hall. A few moments later, she reappeared, a single suitcase in hand.
Lilac became a bit panicked, she had wanted to bully her a bit, but not to the point of causing her to actually leave.
Well, it seemed the rabbit, when backed into a wall, would finally fight back.
"A-Amelia, you are not really leaving, are you? Father was just concerned about you," she tried coaxing with a slightly cracked voice.
Ray rested his hand on Lilac's shoulder.
"Why are you so concerned about her? After two days, she'll come running back."
Lilac felt icked, and if not for the fact that she had a persona to uphold, she would have swatted his hand away.
Amelia walked past them, not even bothering to respond.
"Amelia, your father was just angry. Be a good girl and apologize to him," Eve said in a coaxing tone, though in her eyes was a gloating glint.
Finally, that wench was out of the house. It would be even better if her name was removed from the family record, but she knew that Grandfather Cosgrove would never allow it.
Despite being married to Mason for over ten years now, hers and Lilac's names were yet to be added to the family record just because of that old bastard.
Amelia passed by her too, without responding.
Mason's anger rose once more, seeing as Amelia ignored everyone.
"You unfilial—"
Before he could complete his sentence, Amelia had banged the door shut.
She had truly left the Cosgrove Mansion.