Chapter 5

Calvin turned to Luther. "So, was this cake meant for Vivian or for Evie?"

Luther glanced at me, fuming with rage, and then at Evie, whose eyes were red from crying and looking terribly aggrieved.

He let out a soft sigh. "It was meant for Evie. Alright, stop crying now."

Evie immediately wiped away her tears and shot me a triumphant smile. She reached out, wrapping her arm around his, acting spoiled.

"Luther, you are the best!"

Luther gave me a subtle look, as if telling me not to make a scene. Having gained the upper hand, Evie stood back as Klara immediately pointed a finger at me.

"Ever since you came back yesterday, you've been picking fights! And today, you even framed your own sister! I can't harbor a high-and-mighty princess like you in this house. Get the hell out!"

Luther froze, having never expected a simple cake to ignite such chaos. He looked at me, full of apologies. Yet I only felt that the person I had once had a crush on had shattered today.

I didn't feel a single flutter for him anymore.

"Fine. I'll leave."

Perhaps fate had brought me back this time just so I could sever every tie of family affection and romance. Taking a deep breath, I walked back into my room, grabbed my suitcase, and started heading for the door.

Luther grabbed my arm. "Just apologize to Evie, and this will all blow over. Don't do anything rash."

"If she wants to get lost, let her get lost!" Klara interrupted. "From now on, we'll pretend we never had a daughter like her. Luther, don't bother trying to reason with her."

My parents were convinced that even if I walked out today, I would eventually come crawling back to them.

Luther's hand slipped off.

Without giving them a backward glance, I stormed out the door. It wasn't until I had dragged my suitcase into a taxi that something hit me.

I couldn't just let myself be falsely accused like this. Therefore, I took screenshots of the text messages Luther had sent me and posted them into the family group chat.

For a long time, no one replied.

That was when I belatedly realized that to everyone in the house, the truth didn't matter at all.

Later, my phone lit up with an incoming call from Klara. I assumed she was reaching out to make another passive peace gesture to sweep everything under the rug.

But the moment I picked up, her voice came through in furious accusation.

"The cake had peanut butter in it. Evie had an allergic reaction and ended up in the hospital! You put it in the fridge on purpose so she would eat it, didn't you?"

"I didn't," I replied calmly. "And I'm not going to explain myself anymore. Think whatever you want."

With that, I hung up the phone.

...

Two days later, I arrived at the airport terminal and closed my eyes to rest.

Before long, I was jolted awake by a familiar, grating voice.

"Vivian? How did you find out we were going on vacation? Coming to stake out the airport like this? You're truly shameless!"

Opening my eyes, I saw my family standing right before me, glaring with hostility. Luther followed closely behind them and gasped in surprise.

"Vivian? How wonderful! Are you going to Celestunport too?"

Seeing Luther react like that made Evie jealous. She tugged on his arm and whined, "You offered to treat me to a summer getaway just to make up for my allergic reaction to the cake. I won't let her come along."

Klara and Robert growled at me. "This trip is for Numbers 1, 2, 3, and 4. There is no Number 6. Don't butt in where you don't belong. Stop making a fool of yourself."

Just then, the airport intercom chimed with the boarding alert for my flight.

I ignored them and dragged my luggage toward the boarding gate. Klara and Robert looked up at the flight number displayed on the screen above, freezing in place.

"That's not the flight to Celestunport. Vivian, where are you going?"