Audrey’s POV
Thalia looked at me like I’d just asked the dumbest question in the world.
“Tonight is my brother and Laurel’s proposal,” she said with a smirk. “Blake’s been planning it for
over a month.”
I pointed to the decorations. “Then why does everything say ‘Happy Birthday?”
Thalia followed my gesture to a white ribbon hanging from the ceiling. Gold letters spelled “Happy Birthday” across its length.
Her mouth dropped open. “That’s ”
“Look at the gifts too,” Astrid said, nodding toward a corner table stacked with white and gold boxes, each with “Happy Birthday” tags.
Thalia spun around, suddenly noticing all the birthday decorations shed somehow missed. Her composure vanished.
“This is wrong! Where’s security?” she snapped. “This…”
A commotion at the entrance cut her off. Laurel appeared in a blue gown that caught the light perfectly, photographers trailing behind her. Camera flashes bounced off the chandeliers as she paused dramatically.
“Blake darling!” she called.
Blake stepped out from a side door in a black suit. Laurel headed straight for him, looping her arm through his with practiced ease. She turned toward the cameras with a camera–perfect smile.
Reporters swarmed around them.
“Look this way!”
“Perfect couple!”
“Mr. Parker, what’s tonight’s occasion?”
Thalia’s earlier confusion vanished. “It’s starting!” She clapped excitedly. “Laurel’s moment is here!”
She shot me a warning look, “Don’t mess this up.”
“Right, because we’re dying to ruin this special moment for the cheater and his mistress,” Astrid
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muttered, giving Thalia a withering look.
I grabbed some juice from a passing waiter and watched Blake’s face. His jaw was tight as he leaned toward Laurel, whispering something. Whatever was happening, he wasn’t happy about it.
What is Blake Parker really doing tonight? I wondered, studying his tense expression.
Blake’s POV
“Laurel, these reporters…” I frowned, keeping my voice low.
This wasn’t what I planned. I’d kept tonight small – just friends and family. These cameras would ruin everything.
“I invited them,” Laurel said, squeezing my arm. “Don’t you think this moment deserves to be recorded?”
She looked up with wide eyes. “You’re not mad, are you? This helps my career. I am an actress.”
“Being sick kept me away from the spotlight so long,” she added, her voice softening. “This reminds
everyone I’m back.”
I shook my head. “Laurel, not everything needs an audience. This was supposed to be
“Please?” Her voice had just the right amount of tremor. “It would mean a lot.”
I bit back my frustration. Something felt wrong tonight. I’d planned every detail carefully, inviting people who knew Audrey. Now strangers with press badges were everywhere, cameras pointed at us.
I spotted Audrey across the room in that red dress I’d bought her. She stood with Astrid, watching everything with obvious confusion.
This should’ve been simple, I thought. Why is nothing going right?
Audrey’s POV
The lights suddenly went out. Darkness swallowed the ballroom, followed by surprised gasps and
nervous laughter.
Astrid grabbed my hand. “Power outage at the Four Seasons? That’s a first.”
I held my juice glass tightly. This blackout felt too perfect to be accidental. My brain tried to sort al, and now through the mixed signals – birthday decorations at what was supposed to be a pr this theatrical darkness.
Blake’s words from months ago echoed in my head: “I can’t give her a wedding ceremony. I don’t feel
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Chapter 139
that way about her.”
Then, dismissively: “Maybe I’ll throw her a birthday party sometime, just to be polite.”
I felt a cold smile form in the darkness. I’d thought he’d forgotten that casual promise, especially after rushing to propose to Laurel right after our divorce. But now…
A glow appeared in the distance. As my eyes adjusted, I saw Michael and other Parker Group staff wheeling in a huge cake covered with flickering candles.
They sang “Happy Birthday” as they pushed the cake forward, their voices filling the darkened room.
“What’s going on?” Astrid whispered. “Another mistake?” She leaned closer. “Is it actually someone’s
birthday?”
I watched the approaching cake as everything suddenly made sense. “Maybe,” I said quietly, “it’s for my birthday.”
“Wait – your ID shows today as your birthday!” Astrid slapped her forehead.
魚
She stared at me in disbelief. “If Blake’s throwing you a birthday party, that’s wild. First, he got the date wrong – your real birthday was two days ago. After three years together, how could he not know? Second, you’re divorced! Who throws their ex–wife a birthday party?”
Blake Parker does, apparently, I thought as the cake came closer.
Thalia’s voice shattered the moment.
“Wrong! All wrong!” she shrieked. “Turn the lights on NOW!”
The lights suddenly blazed on. Thalia stormed across the room toward Michael, her pink dress swishing as she moved.
“What are you doing?” She jabbed a finger at his chest. “Have you lost your mind?”
Michael just stared at her, still holding the cake server.
“You’ve ruined everything!” she yelled. “First birthday decorations everywhere, now you’re singing ‘Happy Birthday‘? At a proposal?”
She spun toward Blake. “Look what your idiot assistant did!”
“Thalia, calm down,” Laurel said in a soothing voice. “Michael’s probably overworke happen.”
listakes
She smiled at Blake. “I don’t mind, really. Don’t be angry with him. The wrong decorations don’t
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Chapter 139
matter.”
Blake looked between them, frowning. “Laurel, what are you talking about?”
“Michael didn’t make any mistake,” he added.
Michaei nodded. “Exactly. I followed Mr. Parker’s instructions.”
“Then why” Thalia started.
“Today is Miss Sinclair’s birthday,” Michael said simply. “I prepared her birthday party as Mr. Parker requested. What mistake?”
The room went silent. Everyone looked at me as the truth hit them. This wasn’t Laurel’s proposal. It was my birthday party.
Thalia’s face went white. Laurel froze, her perfect smile stuck on her face.
The reporters looked at each other in confusion. Some cut their feeds while others kept recording the unfolding drama.
Guests started whispering:
“It’s Audrey Sinclair’s birthday! That’s why she’s in red!”
“I thought it was Blake’s proposal to Laurel. I brought a gift!”
“I knew those ‘Happy Birthday‘ signs meant something…”
“Blake must still care about her. Throwing a party even after divorce.”
“He booked this place a month ago. Maybe they divorced after he made these plans?”
I watched Laurel’s composure crack. Her hands curled into fists, nails digging into her palms. When she finally spoke, her voice was rough.
“Blake darling…” She looked up at him, eyes wide. “So today is Audrey’s birthday.”
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