I Canceled The Banquet And Let Their Plan Burn Chapter 04
The house became chaotic around five o’clock the next morning.
My brother pounded violently on Lyra’s door. “Lyra, hurry up! The hair and makeup artist is downstairs, we need to head down to get your styling done!”
I watched through a crack in my door as the four of them got ready in their finest attire. Lyra wore a delicate diamond tiara on her head, lifting the hem of her gown with the absolute ecstasy of someone about to walk a Hollywood red carpet.
My mom caught sight of me standing in the hallway and stiffened, her expression turning incredibly awkward.
“Oh, Nadia… your brother’s car only seats five, and we have to fit the stylist and her equipment bags. There’s just no room left for you. Call an Uber to the venue yourself, okay? We’re going to head out first.”
I didn’t offer a single word in response.
My brother checked his watch, frowning impatiently. “Just hurry up, alright? Don’t show up late and embarrass us.”
With that, they grabbed their designer bags and swept out of the house in a chaotic rush, the front door slamming shut with a force that made my ears ring.
Close to nine o’clock, a text came in from Ruby: “Nadia, we’re downstairs.”
I wheeled my suitcase out of my room, placing my house key quietly on the dining table. I took one final, sweeping look at the house I had lived in for eighteen years, turned around, and walked out the door.
Climbing into the back of Mr. Miller’s truck, Mrs. Miller immediately handed me a warm, freshly wrapped breakfast sandwich. “Ruby mentioned you love hot pastrami with extra mustard.”
I took a bite, the comforting warmth of the food making my throat tighten. I forced myself to blink back the tears, swallowing the lump in my throat.
As the truck sped down the highway toward the train station, I pulled out my phone and clicked into the extended family group chat. Dozens of messages were flying back and forth—people asking for directions, relatives sending congratulatory digital gift cards.
Just ten minutes ago, my mom had uploaded a photo of Lyra getting her hair done. Her caption read: [My beautiful Lyra looks absolutely stunning today.]
I didn’t type a single word. I simply tapped the settings icon and chose ‘Leave Group’.
Within seconds, my phone vibrated with a direct message from my brother: [Nadia, are you insane? Why did you leave the family chat? Are you pulling another one of your pathetic stunts?!]
I didn’t reply.
Another message popped up right after: [Get back in the chat right now. Don’t make things difficult for Lyra. She saw you leave and she’s already crying, saying you must be furious with her.]
I stared at the text for three seconds. Then, I blocked his number and deleted his contact entirely.
Ruby glanced over at my screen from the seat beside me, her voice dropping to a gentle murmur. “You okay?”
“Never better,” I said quietly.
I slid the phone into my pocket and leaned my head against the cool glass window, watching the maple trees lining the highway blur into a continuous wall of green as they rushed backward.
We arrived at the station.
Mr. Miller lifted my suitcase out of the truck bed, while Mrs. Miller slid a thick, unmarked white envelope into my hand.
“Nadia, sweetheart, this is just a little something from us to help you secure a nice apartment out in Aethelgard,” she said gently.
I peeked inside and saw a thick stack of bills—at least five thousand dollars.
“Mrs. Miller, I can’t possibly accept this—”
“Take it!” Mrs. Miller insisted, firmly pressing my hands together over the envelope, her eyes glistening with emotion. “You spent six months tutoring my daughter and refused to take a single dime from us. I know exactly how much you’ve done. You have a beautiful, kind heart, Nadia, but being kind doesn’t mean you have to let people walk all over you.”
Ruby chimed in from the side, trying to lighten the mood. “Just take it, Nadia. My mom is almost never this generous, don’t ruin the moment.”
Mrs. Miller gave Ruby a playful swat before turning back to me, her expression dead serious. “Nadia, remember this: you are worthy of every single good thing this world has to offer. The people who failed to cherish you are the ones who are truly missing out.”
The lump in my throat returned, and I nodded fiercely.
As the train slowly pulled away from the platform, my phone vibrated again. This time, it was my mother. She hadn’t texted; she was calling me directly.
I hesitated for a moment before pressing answer.
“Nadia, where on earth are you? The celebration is about to start! Your uncles and aunts are all asking why you haven’t shown up yet!” My mom’s voice was frantic, layered over a chaotic background of clinking glasses, laughing relatives, and Lyra’s distinctive, high-pitched giggle.
“I’m not coming,” I said flatly.
The line went dead silent for a beat.
“What did you just say?”
“I said I’m not coming to the party. The press interview has been canceled too. Enjoy the party. Throw it for Lyra instead.”
My mom’s voice instantly spiked into a screech. “Nadia, have you completely lost your mind?! This is your graduation party! All our relatives are here, and the newspaper reporters are supposed to arrive any minute! You’re telling me you’re not coming?! Where are we supposed to hide our faces?!”
“That’s your problem, not mine.”
“How dare you speak to your mother like that!” my dad’s furious voice cut through the speaker, roaring into the phone. “Get into a cab and get over here right this second! Don’t think for a second that scoring high on an exam gives you the right to act untouchable! Let me tell you, if you don’t show up today, don’t expect this family to pay a single cent for your future!”
“I never planned on spending another dime of your money,” I said softly.
I hung up. Then, I powered down the phone completely.
Ruby handed me a small carton of iced coffee. I took a sip through the straw. It was incredibly sweet.
Aethelgard, here I come.
