Henry signaled his men to discretely escort her off the stage, as his face reddened with rage. He had expected Cecilia to keep her eye on Maeve.
"Where is Cecilia?" he growled to one of his men. "I thought she was the one meant to keep her from causing a scene."
Victoria stormed through the crowd, her heels stomping the carpeted lawn. She grasped Maeve's arm pulling her off the stage. "What sort of joke is this? You can't say such nonsense in front of all these many people!"
Victoria's face only reddened, her voice shrill. "Maeve, you ungrateful child. why do you do this to me and your family? Did you ever think your words hurt so much?"
Edward had appeared beside them, his face filled with annoyance. "Look, if you're upset about us, I apologize but take back your words, tell them it was a silly joke," he argued.
Maeve shook off his grasp. "It's not some silly joke. I am renouncing this family and removing my name from its register."
Henry's voice cuts through the chaos, calm but icy. "You have no say on who leaves this family, Only I do." She could feel the seething rage behind his levelled gaze directed at her.
"You really think you can escape by renouncing this family," Henry said to her. Maeve felt a shiver run down her spine but she refused to back down. "I've never been more sure of anything else in my life."
Victoria's sobs grew louder, drawing attention from the departing guests. "How could you do this to us, Maeve?"
Cecilia approached, her expression surprised by the turn of events. "Do you think life is so simple out there? You wouldn't be able to survive with what you have been provided all your life," she warned, trying to intimidate her out of her choice.
Maeve's voice remained adamant. "Any life out there would be better than the life I have here," Maeve concluded. She had her fingers curled into a tight fist. They were firmly placed by her side.
"Fine," Henry said, earning curious glances. "If you think renouncing the family is what you want, then I agree."
Victoria's eyes widened. "Are you insane? Why would you agree to this foolish prank that she's playing?" Victoria raved at her husband, Henry. She earned no response from him, only leading further rants until she was escorted away.
Henry's gaze narrowed. "Just so you know it. You can't come back after you have left this family. and for as long as I am alive. I won't allow it."
Maeve's voice was cold. "I'd rather be caught dead than return here as well."
Henry's face remained neutral expression, but his eyes betrayed a hint of anger. He turned and left the event.
As Maeve stood alone on the stage, she felt a mix of emotions swirling inside her. The stunned faces of the remaining guests at the event blurred together, their whispers and gasps fading into the background. Maeve's heart still raced from the fear of confronting her family. Should she call them that now that she wasn't part of them now?
She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. The weight of her words settled in - she had truly done it. She renounced her family.
A sense of liberation flickered within her, but it was quickly overshadowed by the sting of her family's rejection. Her father's icy gaze, her mom's worried state. Only if she believed was true.
Had she gone too far? Though there was no going back. Maeve felt a prick of anxiety at her decision. Though she had prepared three months for it. She steeled herself, no amount of regret could change her mind now.
Maeve went to the house, her room had been invaded. Lots of helpers scurried around with suitcases and her clothes in hand. "What are you doing in my room?" she asked them and they paused confused as to whether or not they were carrying out the right instructions.
"Bidding you fare well," Cecilia appeared at the door. her arms crossed over her chest. She stared at her deadpan. "Or don't tell me, all you said was a bluff just to get out of the engagement." Cecilia scoffed in a mocking tone.
Maeve straightened her shoulders. "Thank you very much but I won't be needing anything. I have already packed what I wanted." Maeve gestured to the little stylish bag on the bed.
Cecilia chuckled as though she had heard a joke.
"You're leaving with only that bag?" she asked dumbfounded. "Then I guess we will burn everything left inside here" Cecilia raised an eyebrow at her.
Maeve smiled with no concern. "Do whatever you must." With that, she picked up the bag and left.
Cecilia stomped out of her room in a fit of anger, while Maeve saw herself out of their mansion.
The sun was setting and the day coming to an end. She felt one small grip in her heart as she took her last steps out of the house. This is goodbye.
********************
Victoria's voice trembled with disbelief as she paced around Henry's office, the sift carpet muffling her footsteps. "How could you let her go, Henry,"
Henry leaned back in his leather chair, steepling his fingers as he gazed out the window. The afternoon sun cast a warm glow on his face, but his expression remained icy.
"It has all been accounted for," he said in a relaxed tone.
Victoria halted her pacing, her eyes flashing with frustration. "And what about the Brighton family? We agreed to engage our daughter with them. What will they think of us if we start making up stories? You know Cecilia isn't an option for them."
Henry's gaze hardened his eyes narrowing. "My heir would never be handed down to the likes of them. Their son is a sorry case. He dares not make demands."
Victoria's hands clenched into fists. "Then how are we going to bring back Maeve? You know how stubborn she can be.
Henry's confidence was palpable. "Even if she is stubborn, the life she's led is different from where she is headed. It's only a matter of time before she realizes she can't survive without us. She'll come crawling back, and the only option left will be the same engagement we proposed."
Victoria's face reddened, her voice laced with venom "You'll be shocked where she inherited that stubbornness from."
With that, she stormed out of his office, leaving Henry to his thoughts. Moments later, one of his men appeared in the doorway. "Sir?"
Henry didn't bother to look up. "Have you cancelled everything of hers?" The man nodded. "Yes sir. we blocked every one of her credit cards"
He was sure it wouldn't be long.