Everyone in My Family Had AC Except Me-So I Walked Away Chapter 05

Everyone in My Family Had AC Except Me-So I Walked Away Chapter 05

“She just graduated, and now she thinks she doesn’t have to listen to her family anymore? She won’t even answer her phone?”

Dad snapped, “Just wait. I’m coming home right now. Mrs. Dawson sits near the entrance to the

neighborhood chatting with people all day. She must have seen Erin leave.”

After hanging up, Dad hurried home and went straight into the yard next door. Mrs. Dawson was still sitting

in her chair watching television, and she was visibly startled when he suddenly appeared.

“Robert, what happened?”

“Did you see Erin this morning? Did she tell you where she was going?”

Mrs. Dawson muted the television.

“Yes, I saw her. She was carrying a packed backpack and said she was going to work. She seemed to be in a

pretty good mood. Why? Didn’t she tell you?”

“Work?” Dad froze. “What job? Didn’t she fail her interview yesterday?”

Mrs. Dawson shook her head.

“I wouldn’t know anything about that. She only said she was going to work. But Erin has always been

responsible, so I don’t think you need to worry too much.”

Dad returned home with a dark expression and told the others what she had said. Mom was the first to slam

her hand against the table.

“Work? What job could she possibly have? I went out of my way to find her that teacher’s aide position, and it

doesn’t even start until school opens in the fall. Where could she be going to work now?”

Dad tugged irritably at his collar.

“Why are you asking me? How am I supposed to know? She asked us this morning if we could drive her to

the airport. You don’t think she actually got on a plane and left by herself, do you?”

“That’s impossible,” Mom said immediately. “Erin has always been obedient. She would never dare disappear without saying a word.”

Even as she said it, she had already opened the family group chat and quickly sent a message.

Mom: Everyone, please try to contact Erin. She suddenly went off to start a job without telling us anything, and now she isn’t answering her phone or replying to messages. Does anyone know where she went?

Dad immediately followed with another message.

Dad: If anyone knows Erin’s work address, tell us immediately.

Lily walked out of her room, chewing on a piece of dried mango.

“Don’t worry so much. Erin couldn’t have gone very far. She probably just stayed out longer than expected, and her phone died.”

“No,” Mom said firmly. “Your sister is extremely careful. She would never let her phone die, and she would never deliberately shut us out like this.”

Less than a minute after the messages were sent, Aunt Lucy called. “What’s going on? Where did Erin go?”

She sounded concerned, but her voice still carried its usual lecturing tone.

“Honestly, what is that girl thinking? She just graduated. Why isn’t she staying home instead of running around everywhere? Helen, I told you a long time ago that the outside world is dangerous. She has no idea how the real world works, so you need to keep a closer eye on her. That teacher’s aide job is perfect. It’s stable, easy, and close to home. Why can’t she appreciate what she has?”

Messages began pouring into the family group chat. Our other aunts, uncles, and cousins all took turns speaking. Some wondered whether Erin had secretly gotten a boyfriend. Some repeatedly tagged her and demanded that she reply immediately. Most of them lectured her about how dangerous the outside world was and insisted that home was still the best place for her. Dad sat on the couch, watching the messages flood the screen one after another, his expression growing darker by the minute.

Two hours passed, and they still had not heard anything from Erin. Mom grew so anxious that she burst into

tears. Even Lily finally realized the situation might be more serious than she had assumed.

“Mom, should we call the police? What if something happened to Erin?”

With trembling fingers, Mom opened the dialer on her phone.

She had just started dialing 911 when Jordan suddenly shouted from upstairs. “Mom! Dad! I found it! I know

where Erin went!”