Swapping Parents Every September, But They Only Choose My Sister Chapter 05

Swapping Parents Every September, But They Only Choose My Sister Chapter 05

Every September, when Arden and I switched homes, I would 

arrive at the restaurant two hours early. 

knew how Dad liked his steak, that Mom didn’t eat scallions, 

and that Arden hated cilantro. 

I ordered everyone’s favorite dishes, confirmed every dietary 

restriction, and arranged the seats and tableware. 

So when Mom entered the private dining room and found 

the table empty, she froze. 

Dad and Arden had just arrived. He frowned at Mom. 

Where’s Aveline? Why hasn’t she ordered anything?” 

Mom set down her bag. “I don’t know. Her suitcase was gone 

when I woke up this morning. I thought she’d already come to order.” 

Arden pouted. “Just order something quick. I’m meeting 

friends tonight, and I don’t want to wait.” 

Mom and Dad readily agreed and called a server over. 

When the food arrived, Arden stared at it. 

“Mom, this has cilantro on it.” 

Only then did Mom look down. 

The shrimp weren’t the only problem. 

The roasted potatoes were sprinkled with scallions, and the 

salad had a dressing Dad disliked. 

Nearly half the food on the table was something one of them refused to eat. 

Irritated, Mom took out her phone to order more dishes. 

This is all Aveline’s fault. She always handled it before. 

Dorian, when you pick her up tonight, punish her properly Cut her allowance in half this week! 

Look how late it is. How dare she keep the three of us waiting?” 

But unlike before, Dad didn’t immediately join her in blaming me. 

Marina, haven’t you noticed that Aveline has been… strange this past year?” 

When they argued on Family Day, Aveline hadn’t tried to stop them. That had puzzled him. 

With Aveline acting as a buffer, they had someone else to vent their anger on and never fought each other quite so viciously. 

By the time he remembered to look for Aveline, she was already far away. 

When they took Arden on vacation during fall break, Aveline hadn’t said a word about it. That was completely unlike her. 

That uneasy feeling peaked today when he opened the private room and found the seat where she always waited for 

them empty. 

Mom’s fingers paused. She had clearly noticed it too. 

She continued studying the menu as if nothing were wrong 

She has been a little strange. 

It’s probably stress from high school. 

“She’s… still in her senior year, isn’t she? Forget the allowance 

cut. This is an important year, and her training must be stressful.” 

Arden, who had been absorbed in her game, suddenly looked up. 

Mom, I’m starting my senior year. 

How could Aveline be in the same year as me?” 

Both our parents went pale. 

No matter how hard they tried, they couldn’t remember their older daughter’s age. 

Was she one year older than Arden? Two? 

Whatever the answer, she couldn’t be younger. 

And Arden was already a senior. 

Mom called me at once. 

My phone lay on the desk below while I made my bed. 

One of my roommates asked, “Aveline, you’re getting a call 

from an unknown number ending in 9862. Want to answer?” 

My hands never stopped smoothing the sheets. 

9862… Hang up. It’s probably a sales call.” 

My roommate said, “Oh,” but she had already answered. 

Is this another loan or insurance scam? Give it up. You’re not getting any money from us!” 

Then she hung up. 

On the other end, Mom stood frozen for a long moment. 

Dad pressed her. 

Did you find out? Where did she go? 

Has she already started at an academy, or is she still in her senior year?” 

Mom shook her head. “The voice on the phone wasn’t hers.” 

When she called again, she found herself blocked. 

Dad felt strangely irritated. 

Forget it. If she doesn’t want to come, fine. 

“Let’s eat. We’ll take Arden back to school afterward. I won’t have time tomorrow.” 

Most students returning early that day lived in other pack territories. 

The campus was nearly empty. 

As they passed the main building, Mom glanced to the side. 

She froze. 

My photograph hung in the most prominent spot on the Hall 

of Honor. 

The display beneath it read. [Aveline Whitmore] 

[Graduating Class Rank: No. 1] 

Wolf Potential Rating: SSS] 

Royal Frostvale Warrior Academy – Special Admission] 

Dad followed her gaze and froze too. 

Two parents of new students happened to be standing before the wall. 

SSS? This year’s graduating class actually produced an SSS–rated trainee.” 

‘I heard Snowridge offered her admission too, but she chose Royal Frostvale.” 

That’s one of the hardest warrior academies to enter in the North.” 

“Her parents must be so proud.” 

My parents, who should have been the proudest of all, stood there. 

Yet their faces showed only embarrassment and panic.