Ho, Damien et truly intended to divorce. He only used the threat to scare her; to be cruel, he never even considered going through with it. Instead, he took pleasure in using it as a tool to demean her, to manipulate her, and to keep her attention. Through this constant psychological torment, Autumn gradually let her guard down, slowly growing more tolerant of Damien’s behavior.
After her escape, taking back the lockbox, she found her self almost unrecognizable. There was nothing wrong with loving someone; the fault lay in his cruelty.
Yesterday at the Sherwood Restaurant, Damien couldn’t stand by while Emilia faced even a minor slight. He immediately intervened, confronting Olivia and making his love and protectiveness for Emilia unmistakably clear.
Autumn had mused to herself, “How does it feel to witness the man you once loved show such tenderness to another?” Internally, she’d claimed indifference, assuring herself she didn’t care anymore. But she couldn’t relate to that version of herself at all; processed feelings still burdened her. However, these feelings had evolved. Her former sadness about Damien’s affection for another had hardened into rage at the calculated pain he’d caused her.
The most frustrating part was that she had nowhere to direct her anger. Aram could confront Damien with everything she’d been holding in, but he’d only deflect, armed with endless excuses. Worse, he might accuse her of being overly sensitive, of never letting things go. What she really wanted was to hear him say, “I’m sorry.” But she knew he never would.
She hadn’t anticipated Britney’s taunts would spark such deep introspection. But with the truth now laid bare, Autumn finally met Jamie’s gaze. Seeing the patience in his eyes, she chose to be honest with him and with herself. “I’m doing so well,” she said earnestly. Her usually clear eyes plated with a sudden bout of tears as she spoke.
Meeting Jamie’s gaze, Autumn’s cool, distant eyes showed no emotion, just a quiet arrogance reminiscent of Dawson’s own. The pause between Janie’s question and Autumn’s reply lasted at least a few seconds, making it clear that her answer was considered, not just a polite deflection.
The brevity in Autumn’s response hit Jade the hardest, leaving his heart in turmoil long afterward. He profoundly regretted probing her pain. He wished he’d simply feigned ignorance, but then again, he'd brought this on himself. That very moment, Autumn blinked, and aside from a faint redness, her eyes were dry. That fleeting glimpse of vulnerability now seemed like nothing more than a figment of his imagination.
Jamie’s confusion quickly gave way to shock. It was how calmly she was selecting delicacies from the long table, eating with apparent delight, as if nothing had happened. How could someone be so affectless? Jamie pursed his lips. “Do… Autumn…”
Autumn took a bite of pudding, and met the shock in Jamie’s eyes. “I know what you’re thinking. But we’re all adults. Everyone’s life is a bit of a mess, with worries here and there. Britney’s harsh words aren’t the end of the world. It’s not that big a deal. I still have work later; I need to pull myself together, eat, and face the rest of the day.” There was no trace of forced optimism and no attempt to put on a brave face. Her words were genuine, straight from the heart.
Janae was struck by Autumn’s resilience and inner strength. Above anything, she was the kind of person who knew how to handle the weight of negative emotions and keep going.
Meni said, “You’re doing too well. I meant the pain had cut so deep she could no longer function.” But Autumn wasn’t as fragile as Jamie had imagined; she didn’t need to be. She might remain a little guarded, perhaps a little wary, but she truly wanted to move forward. It was a subtle shift, a slight change in posture. She turned toward the entrance. Barton and his friends… she had met them so young.