Chapter 9

"Autumn, is that any way to speak to your stepmother?"

A voice came from the doorway, followed by a middle-aged man stepping into the room, dressed in a sharp suit.

He wasn’t particularly tall, but his demeanor was gentle and refined, giving off the air of a cultured gentleman.

It was Richard Lewis, Autumn’s father in name only.

Autumn pressed her lips together, her eyes meeting his with the indifference one might show a stranger.

"Then why don’t you tell me, Mr. Lewis, which part of what I said was wrong?"

She had left this house with her mother when she was just five years old.

There was no real bond between her and Richard, only resentment.

Having watched her mother struggle after the divorce, Autumn had learned to be self-reliant from a young age.

Over the years, aside from her two older brothers who occasionally kept in touch, the rest of the Lewis family had treated her and her mother as if they didn’t exist.

Richard’s expression darkened. "Autumn, I’m your father."

Autumn curved her lips into a cold smile.

"Oh, right. I almost forgot I had such a wealthy father. Though your wealth doesn’t seem to have anything to do with me, does it?

"Or did you forget how you kicked my mother and me out with nothing? Left us to fend for ourselves?"

If it hadn’t been for two uncles’ help, she and her mother would’ve starved on the street.

Back when they needed him most, Richard turned his back on them.

And now he dared to stand here and remind her he was her father?

What a joke.

Richard's temper flared, and he snapped, "Who says I didn’t care? Every month I…"

Susan quickly stepped in to cut him off. "Let’s not drag up the past, alright? What’s done is done. Autumn, I bought you a dress. Why don’t you try it on and see if it fits?"

She bent down to pick up the shopping bag and pulled out the dress.

It was the same one Luna was already wearing.

Autumn didn’t reach for it.

Her tone was flat. "I don’t like white dresses. You can let Luna have it."

Hearing that, Susan looked a little embarrassed, a flicker of displeasure passing through her eyes, but she still said gently, "I’m sorry. I didn’t know what kind of dresses you liked.

"How about this—we go shopping together this afternoon, and you pick one you like yourself, alright?"

Looking at her fake, smiling face, Autumn pressed her lips together and stayed silent.

Beside her, Hector couldn’t take it anymore.

His face darkened as he snapped, "Autumn, it’s just a damn dress. If you don’t like it, exchange it. What’s with the attitude?

"Susan is already humbling herself just to talk to you. If you had a shred of decency, you wouldn’t still be sulking here."

Richard sighed and tried to persuade her in a softer tone.

"Autumn, your stepmother genuinely likes you. She really wants to get along. Please stop being difficult, alright?

"I know you’ve had issues with her because of your mother, but what’s done is done. Your mother is gone now. What’s the point of holding on to this resentment, don’t you think?"

At the mention of her mother, Autumn’s body visibly trembled.

Her eyes reddened in an instant.

Her expression darkened, her gaze bloodshot as she said coldly, "You don’t have the right to mention my mom. If you hadn’t cheated and had a child with your mistress, Luna wouldn’t even exist.

“My mom wouldn’t have chosen to leave with nothing just to get away from you.

"You ruined our lives. And now you think a few words can cover up everything? You people really are shameless."

She still remembered how, during their worst days, she used to wonder—how wonderful it would’ve been if her father hadn’t changed, if their family of five could’ve just stayed happy together.

But there was no ‘what if.’

Her mom had to raise her alone, waking up before dawn and staying out late just to make ends meet.

After finally putting her through college, she never got a chance to enjoy a peaceful life.

Her body broke down from the years of exhaustion.

Even on her deathbed, she never got to see her two sons again.

She left with regret.

How could Autumn not hold a grudge?

"Autumn!"

Richard’s face turned livid with rage. "What kind of talk is that? You don’t understand anything. Your mother and I already had problems long before.

"Even if Susan hadn’t come along, your mother and I would’ve ended up divorced anyway. Why can’t you let this go?"

Autumn let out a bitter laugh. "Oh? So that’s your excuse for cheating? If you didn’t love her anymore, you could’ve just said so.

“Why sneak around and have a child with another woman? Let’s be real—you’re all just shameless.

“If my mom hadn’t walked away, she and her daughter would still be nothing but the hidden mistress and illegitimate child."

They might think it was all in the past, but for Autumn, it would never be over.

Richard had betrayed her mother, forcing her to leave with nothing.

For years, he never once reached out to them.

And now he dared to stand there and lecture her like this?

How did he not choke on the hypocrisy?

Furious, Richard’s chest rose and fell sharply.

He raised a hand, about to strike her, but Ginny grabbed his arm.

Her tone was cold. "Have you all had enough? If you want to fight, take it outside. Do you enjoy turning this house into chaos?"

She cast a sharp glance at Susan. "You’ve been Mrs. Lewis for years and still haven’t learned restraint.

"If this dress was meant as a gift for Autumn, why would you buy the exact same style Luna’s wearing? Who were you trying to provoke?"

She had never liked Susan and her daughter.

They were always playing innocent and fishing for sympathy from the family, especially every time Autumn came home, all they ever did was maintain a fragile peace on the surface.

However, behind her back, they were always scheming and trying to set her up.

Ginny knew this well.

But she also knew Autumn wasn’t the type to suffer in silence.

There was no way she’d let herself be bullied.

Now that Ginny had spoken, Richard could only awkwardly rub his chin and clear his throat.

"Alright, enough. Everyone just go do what you need to do. Stop with all this nonsense.”

"Autumn doesn’t come home often. Look at the scene you’re all making. Honestly, what does it look like?"

After getting scolded, Susan’s expression soured, but she could only nod.

"Mom, I really didn’t know Autumn wouldn’t like that style of dress.

"She and Luna are about the same age. I assumed they had similar tastes, so I didn’t think much of it and just bought the same one."