No More Yielding Chapter 03
Only ten hours remained until the overseas online interview.
A sudden rainstorm struck in the night, tripping the power in the officers’ housing compound and plunging everything into a dead, silent darkness.
The moment darkness fell, a muffled thud came from Isabella’s room.
My heart jolted violently, and I rushed inside through the pitch black.
“Isabella!”
By the pale flash of lightning, I saw Isabella huddled in the corner of her wardrobe.
Her hands were desperately clutching her own neck as she gasped for air, drenched in cold sweat.
Her claustrophobia had completely flared up.
I forcefully pried her bruised fingers away and held her tightly in my arms.
“Mom is here, don’t be afraid…”
Isabella was trembling like a leaf, letting out broken, dry heaves from her throat, her eyes unfocused.
We had run out of anti-anxiety medication, so I frantically dialed Arthur’s number.
The phone rang for a long time.
The moment it connected, however, the sweet, giggling voice of Isla came through.
“Uncle Arthur, this college acceptance cake is so beautiful, thank you!”
My heart turned to ice.
“Where is Arthur? Put him on the phone!” my voice was hoarse.
A few seconds later, Arthur’s impatient voice came through.
“It’s the middle of the night, what are you doing now?”
“The power is out! Isabella is having an episode, and it’s really bad! Get someone to fix the electricity immediately, and bring her medicine back!”
I spoke incredibly fast, but Arthur just gave a cold sneer.
“Aren’t you tired of using the same old trick?
“The entire officers’ housing compound lost power. Everyone else is fine, but she has to be dramatic?
“To avoid going to the Nursing School, she’s even resorting to faking an illness!”
Isabella convulsed violently in my arms, throwing up bile.
I dug my nails fiercely into my palms.
“She is your biological daughter, do you have to be so heartless?”
“Don’t try to guilt-trip me with that.”
Arthur’s voice was like a knife.
“Isla’s emotions have just stabilized, and we are celebrating for her, so don’t cause trouble. If Isabella has the energy to fake sick, she might as well accept her fate early.”
The call was ruthlessly hung up.
Listening to the busy tone, I suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of absurdity.
I didn’t call back, nor did I cry.
I just held Isabella tightly, humming her childhood lullabies over and over in the darkness.
It wasn’t until dawn when the power returned that Isabella finally fell into a deep sleep.
Looking at her pale face, I wiped away the last trace of attachment in my heart.
At nine in the morning.
Arthur’s orderly, Daniel Foster, knocked on the door, holding a cardboard box.
He looked embarrassed.
“Mrs. Pendelton, Colonel Pendelton said… Isabella is going to study nursing, so she won’t need her old art supplies anymore. He asked me to take them away and replace them with nursing textbooks.”
I looked at the crude textbooks in the box, feeling absolutely nothing.
“Come in and pack them up. They’re in the left cabinet. Take everything, don’t leave a single piece behind.”
Daniel froze for a moment. After hesitantly finishing the packing, he whispered.
“Mrs. Pendelton, Colonel Pendelton is actually doing this for your own good. Thunder Bay might be a bit far, but it’s stable…”
“Thank you,” I interrupted him. “Tell him we are very satisfied.”
Daniel carried the box away.
Isabella was standing at the door, though I didn’t know when she had appeared.
Looking at the empty bookcase, her eyes were as still as an ancient well.
“Mom, can tonight’s interview be moved up?”
I looked at the resolute glimmer in her eyes.
“Yes. After the interview, we leave.”