''Danger, danger, danger! Come on, Papa, what danger could a bunch of harmless high school students possibly cause? It's just a birthday banquet and not even a field trip for heaven's sake!''
''Eve—'' her father tried to persuade her.
''No, Papa,'' Geneveieve interrupted him. ''It bad enough that I never celebrated a birthday in my life. It's disheartening enough that this is the only one you will be allowing me to celebrate. The first and last one! Why can't I just be allowed celebrate it to the fullest with all of my friends?!''
Her mother took hurried steps forward, her voice coaxing as she pulled Genevieve to her side.
''What are you doing, Genevieve? You know your father has his reasons for this. He wouldn't just want to take away your joy—''
''It's okay,'' Genevieve cut her off, ''It's really okay.'' Her expression was visibly downcast.
''You mean that?'' Her mother asked tentatively.
Genevieve shrugged, feigning indifference even though her voice was laced with bitterness.
"I do. What's so special about a birthday anyway?" She headed back into her room, still speaking, "Just cancel the celebrations, and let's continue living as we've been doing within these suffocating walls, trapped in this gloomy mansion." She shoved a stack of gift boxes, including the ones her family had just presented her, out the door. "You can withdraw me from school like you've always wanted and hire a private tutor instead. What use are friends anyway? "
Turning sharply, she fixed a cold stare on the guard. "Follow my Papa's instructions. Turn away anyone without an invitation. And as for those who had invitations and have been allowed in? Tell Leyla and the other maids to escort them out once they're done eating. Genevieve Armani's 16th birthday is officially cancelled."
With that said, she stormed into her room and slammed the door after herself. As usual, it didn't take long before the knocks started resounding on her door and her father's voice filtered through.
''I'm sorry, Bambina. Just told the guards to let them in.''
''Your dad is speaking the truth, Eve.'' her mom's voice came, ''Open the door and get your gifts. Who else are we to give if the owner rejects it?''
A flurry of murmurs came from behind the door, before her father's voice rose above the others, ''I am sorry for making you feel caged, Bambina. It's just... you know…''
''She doesn't know anything,'' she heard her mother interrupt, the woman's voice barely above a whisper but loud enough for Genevieve to hear. ''We are keeping it away from her!''
''Stop talking about that right in front of her door,'' her brother, Vince's, voice finally came up. ''Eve?'' he called.
''What?'' she snapped.
''Would you throw away the chance to have the birthday of your lifetime all for an unnecessary tantrum?''
Genevieve didn't reply.
''Ignoring me?'' Vince chuckled. ''I hope you know your sulking only affects your Papa and Mama. And it will only affect them for 24 hours at most since they are leaving for a work trip tomorrow." He snickered, forcing as much mockery as he could into his voice, "You will be left with me, and I won't hesitate to tease you about this so much that you'll cry. In the long run, you're the one who will suffer alone for letting this opportunity pass you by.''
That was the last straw, prompting Genevieve to yank open the door. She turned to her brother first, ''Want to know the truest fact in the world, Vince? It's that you are the nastiest brother in the world, and you don't deserve a sister like me!"
''Exactly, Vincent! How could you talk to your sister like that?'' Her mother backed her up immediately, pulling her into her arms. ''We're sorry, Baby. It's your big day, and we had no right to dampen it like that.''
''Do you forgive us, Bambina?''
Smiling unabashedly, Genevieve hugged them one after the other, mumbling her thanks and apologies into the warmth of their bodies.
''We will be waiting for you,'' Vince scoffed, even though his tone bore a hint of a laugh.
An hour later, Genevieve was stepping onto the podium of a lavishly decorated hall, the pink train of her gown flowing behind her as she took one step after the other. Her father held one hand, her mother the other, guiding her toward the throne like seat on the elevated stage. It was exactly how she had envisioned it; her dream birthday.
Her first. And, as she silently acknowledged, her last.
Her gaze swept over the guests filled with her ex-classmates, current classmates, and, if she were honest, a sea of strangers who had simply responded to the Armani princess's grand invitation. She barely recognized eighty percent of the guests, but voicing that thought aloud would only result in her parents throwing them out.
Why? The same reason they did everything. Safety.
"Is this to your liking, baby?" her mother whispered.
Genevieve gave a small nod. The approval must have been all they needed because the moment they reached the grand chair, her parents exchanged a smile, their expressions filled with rare warmth. Her brother stood beside the chair, dressed impeccably, the very image of a young prince. As a family, they turned to face the crowd and an applause erupted in the air.
And then, just when Genevieve thought things were finally going well, all hell broke loose.