Aria listened quietly as they finished singing the birthday song, a faint smile touching her lips. “Can we turn on the lights now?” she asked.
Caleb and Owen looked helpless. “Sure.”
As the lights came on, Aria saw several snacks on the table, with a cake taking center stage.
She glanced up and noticed streaks of flour still smudged across Caleb’s face, even a dusting on his nose from kneading the dough.
Aria slowly approached with a soft chuckle. “Caleb, did you bake this cake yourself?”
Caleb froze, surprised. “How could you tell?”
Aria chuckled. “You’ve got some flour on your face.”
Caleb checked his reflection on the phone and immediately wiped the flour off, shooting Owen a sideways glance. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Owen replied lightly, “If you’d wiped it off, how would she know you made the cake yourself?”
Speechless, Caleb didn’t say anything more. He handed Aria the gift. “Happy 23rd birthday, Aria!”
Caleb scratched his head and said with a sheepish grin, “It’s my first time baking a cake, so it’s not exactly a looker.“,
Owen set his gift down on the other side with his usual calm. “Happy birthday.”
Aria smiled. “Thanks.”
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Meanwhile, at Saxon Manor, everyone said to Silvia with a bright smile, “Happy birthday, Silvia!”
The whole family gathered together, their faces alight with smiles, yet an unshakable sense that something was missing lingered in the air.
Caleb had always been there for her birthday, every single year.
But this year, for the first time, Caleb wasn’t there.
Silvia felt a pang of disappointment, but didn’t let it show. “Thank you, Grandpa, Mom, Dad, Uncle Luke, and Nathan.”
“Make a wish first,” Zoe said gently.
As Silvia closed her eyes, Zoe and Logan exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with quiet melancholy.
Today also marked Aria’s birthday.
They had never once celebrated their daughter’s birthday.
Nathan glanced at the empty seat where Caleb should have been and let out a quiet sigh.
He couldn’t help but envy Caleb, who was free to up and leave whenever he wanted, unchallenged and unquestioned.
He also couldn’t help but envy Derek’s shameless confidence.
As Silvia opened her eyes, the three of them swiftly masked all traces of their emotions and forced cheerful smiles.
After the birthday celebration ended, Silvia took out her phone and opened her that with Aria. She typed, [Happy birthday.] But no matter how many times she stared at those words, she just couldn’t bring herself to hit send.
Born on the same day, yet from that very moment, their fates diverged.
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137173 Fri, 13 Jun G
Chapter 285
From that day on, she took over Aria’s identity.
Silvia clenched her phone, hesitated, but in the end, she just couldn’t bring herself to send the message.
She had no right to do it.
A message from Caleb popped up: [Happy birthday!]
Silvia’s face lit up with joy. She quickly replied: [Thanks, Caleb.] It was attached with a heart emoji.
In the dead of night, a shadowy figure, wrapped head–to–toe in dark clothing, materialized soundlessly outside Betty’s place.
She moved in fits and starts, scanning her surroundings warily. Inch by inch, she crept closer, climbed over the fence, and slipped inside. Producing a slim metal pick, she slid it into the doorjamb and began working the lock with practiced, silent precision.
With a soft click, the door eased open.
She slipped inside, making a beeline for the room where Aria usually slept.
Flicking on her flashlight, Hannah swept the beam across the room, her eyes scanning every detail. She pulled open a drawer–oddly empty. A light tap on the bottom, then a firm press, and the hidden compartment sprang open.
Hannah’s eyes lit up as she lifted the panel and saw a blood–red seal.
It matched the photo Culver showed her exactly.
Hannah’s heart leapt. ‘This is it!‘ she thought, excitement surging through her.
Hannah quickly stuffed the seal into her pocket, restored the drawer to its original state, locked the door behind her, and slipped out through the window, leaving no trace she’d ever been there.
No sooner had she left than a tall figure emerged from the shadows where she’d just disappeared.
Fryderyk’s eyes locked onto the thief’s retreating figure. Just as he sprang forward to give chase, someone grabbed his arm.
