No More Yielding Chapter 01
On the day our daughter secured the early decision admission slot for the Architecture Department at the University of Toronto, my husband, a Lieutenant-Colonel in Canadian Army, came home to cook—a rare occurrence.
But that night, standing outside the study door, I heard him on the phone with the admissions office.
“Yes, withdraw the Guaranteed Admission Privilege. Transfer Isabella’s Permanent Academic Record to the Thunder Bay Nursing School.
“Lily has excellent grades; she will do well anywhere.
“My comrade Robert Bennett passed away early, and his sole surviving heir, Isla Bennett, suffers from depression. She can’t handle the blow of failing the exams. That early decision admission slot must be given to Isla.”
“Isla goes to the University of Toronto, and Lily becomes a nurse. That way, she can even take care of Isla’s health in the future.”
I covered my mouth tightly, tears striking the back of my hand, an agonizing pain piercing my very bones.
Lily had suffered from claustrophobia since childhood. To perfect her architectural drawings, she had locked herself in the studio, enduring three grueling years!
With a single sentence, “give it to Isla,” he was going to brutally break his own daughter’s wings and trample her into the mud as a stepping stone!
Pushing the door open, I met his astonished eyes with utter despair.
Since you can crush your own daughter’s dreams for the sake of an outsider.
Then there is no need for this family anymore.
＊＊＊
The moment the study door was pushed open, the air fell deathly silent.
I wasn’t hysterical.
I merely stared unblinkingly at Arthur Pendelton, even my fingertips radiating a sickly coldness.
“Who did you just say you were giving Lily’s early decision admission slot to?”
Arthur frowned slightly and put down the phone.
“Since you eavesdropped, I’ll just say it straight.
“Isla has severe depression and can’t take the blow of failing the exams.
“Margaret has wasted away to skin and bones just trying to take care of her.
“Robert died taking a bullet for me!
“If anything happens to Isla, how could I ever face my old comrade in the afterlife?”
He stood up, leaving no room for argument.
“Lily has strong mental fortitude.
“I’ve already made the arrangements at the Thunder Bay Nursing School; she’ll go straight into the military hospital after graduation.
“Being a nurse is also about saving lives, and she can conveniently take care of Isla.
“The matter is settled!”
I bit my lower lip so hard I tasted rust.
Lily has strong mental fortitude?
He must have forgotten how Lily got her claustrophobia in the first place.
When she was ten, Isla came over as a guest and insisted on playing with Lily’s architectural model.
Lily refused, and Isla faked a fall.
Without asking for the truth, Arthur locked Lily in a windowless basement for a whole day and night.
Ever since then, Lily would tremble and dry heave whenever she was in an enclosed space.
To perfect the architectural drawings required by the University of Toronto, Lily locked herself in the studio, crying as she drew, suffering through three long years!
Now, with a single phrase, “give it to Isla,” he was going to crush Lily’s very life.
I stared at him fixedly, the last glimmer of light in my eyes completely extinguishing.
“What gives you the right to use my daughter’s future to pay off your debt?”
“Adhara!” Arthur interrupted me sharply. “I am informing you, not discussing it with you! Look at how mercenary you’re acting right now, where is your collective mindset as an officer’s family member?”
Before he even finished speaking, a faint noise came from the hallway.
I whipped my head around.
Lily stood quietly in the shadows, wearing thin pajamas.
Her face was deathly pale, her hands tightly clutching the architectural drawings meant to be submitted to the University of Toronto tomorrow.
She didn’t cry or make a fuss, only looking at Arthur with hollow eyes.
“Daddy, if I become a nurse, will Aunt Margaret and Isla finally be happy?”
A fleeting trace of awkwardness flashed through Arthur’s eyes, but he quickly masked it with parental authority.
“Lily, Isla doesn’t have a father. It’s only right that you give way to her.
“Once you start nursing school, Daddy will send you a larger allowance.”
The phone in his pocket suddenly buzzed.
Arthur glanced at it, his cold, stern features instantly softening.
“Margaret? Isla is throwing a tantrum again?
“Alright, keep her calm. I’ll be right there.”
Hanging up, he grabbed his car keys without hesitation and headed out.
He brushed past Lily without breaking his stride.
“Throw out those useless drawing papers over the next few days, and get ready to report to nursing school.”
The front door slammed shut with a heavy thud.
Lily stood frozen in place.
After a long while, she slowly lowered her head and, piece by piece, tore the architectural drawings she had spent several sleepless nights on into shreds.
Scraps of paper littered the floor.
I walked over and wrapped my arms around her freezing body.
“Mom,” Lily buried her face in the crook of my neck. “I don’t have a daddy anymore, do I?”
I closed my dry, aching eyes and held her even tighter.
“That’s right. We don’t need him anymore.”