Chapter 4
-- flashback --
Lila smiled smugly as she saw the awe and envy on her classmates’ faces. She had just told them that she was the niece of Tony Stark, the famous billionaire, inventor, and superhero.
“Yes, it’s true,” she said casually, “Uncle Tony and I are very close. He always sends me gifts and
invites me to his parties. He even made me a special bracelet that can project holograms. Look!” She waved her wrist
and a fake image of Iron Man appeared in the air.
“He says I’m his favourite niece and he trusts me with his secrets. He’s so cool, don’t you think?”
She basked in the attention and ignored the sceptical look on Marinette’s face. She knew that no one would dare to question her. After all, who would lie about being related to Tony Stark?
-- end of flashback --
Lila stormed up to the boarding gate, her ticket crumpled in her hand. Her eyes blazed with indignation as she confronted the unsuspecting flight attendant. The bustling airport seemed to hold its breath, every passenger’s gaze drawn to the unfolding drama.
“This is unacceptable!” Lila’s voice echoed through the concourse. “I booked a first-class seat, and what do I get? A middle seat in economy! Do you even realize who I am?” She brandished her ticket like a weapon, hoping no one would scrutinize its authenticity too closely.
Her plan had been audacious: slip into the first-class cabin with her forged ticket, bask in luxury, and flaunt her supposed connections. But reality had a cruel sense of humor. Now she was trapped in a seat she despised, her dreams of champagne flutes and plush recliners shattered.
The flight attendant remained remarkably composed. “I apologize, miss,” she said, her voice steady. “But your ticket is not valid for first class. You’ll need to take your assigned seat or risk missing the flight.”
Lila’s face flushed crimson. Humiliation gnawed at her pride. She had no choice but to accept her fate—a fate that felt more like a cosmic joke.
And then she saw them: Marinette and her friends, ensconced in the coveted first-class seats. Their laughter floated across the aisle, mocking her. Lila had spun her web of lies, convincing the class that she had airline connections, that she could whisk them away in style. But her web had frayed, leaving her dangling in economy.
Fury surged within her. She’d been cheated, and Marinette was the thief. Lila squared her shoulders, ignoring the flight attendant’s futile attempts to halt her. She barged into the first-class cabin, her eyes locking onto Marinette’s surprised expression.
“What are you doing here, Lila?” Marinette’s voice held a hint of innocence. “You should be in your seat. The plane is about to take off.”
She crossed her arms, determined to hold her ground. “Don’t play dumb with me, Marinette,” she retorted. “I know you and your friends are here because of me. I’m the one who got you these seats, remember?”
Marinette’s raised eyebrow was a silent challenge. She shook her head, her expression unyielding. “Actually, Lila,” she said evenly, “you didn’t. These seats were booked by my uncle, who works for the airline. He gave them to us as a gift for our class trip. You had nothing to do with it.”
Lila’s face flushed with embarrassment and frustration. Her web of lies had unraveled, leaving her exposed. She opened her mouth to protest, but before she could utter a word, the flight attendant intervened. The no-nonsense woman grabbed Lila’s arm, her grip firm.
“Miss,” the flight attendant’s voice brooked no argument, “you need to leave this cabin immediately. You’re causing a disturbance and violating safety regulations. Come with me, or I’ll have to call security.”
And just like that, Lila was dragged away from the plush first-class seats, her illusions shattered. She shot one last venomous glare at Marinette before being deposited next to Alya