Birthday Party

Today was a special day for the Williams, the wealthiest family in the country of Mali. Not only was it the birthday of the family patriarch, Old Macdonald Williams, but their eldest grandson was also returning home after five years. The occasion became even more significant as the eldest grandson was bringing his wife with him. Leo Williams had adamantly refused to get married for ten long years, so the old man was overjoyed and agreed to arrange a grand banquet to celebrate the occasion. The anticipation and excitement extended to every member of the family.

Milan Williams, Leo's mother, was thrilled to see her son after such a long absence. Although she wasn't entirely happy about his sudden marriage, she was eager to meet the woman who had managed to melt Leo's cold heart. Milan and Leo had never been particularly close, as he had always been distant from everyone since he was young. No one dared to touch his belongings or even approach him without risking his wrath.

"Make sure everything is in the right place," Milan instructed, bustling around to ensure that everything was done correctly. She couldn't afford for anything to go wrong. Milan was a perfectionist and didn't want to end up on the wrong side of the old man, who was notoriously difficult to deal with.

"Both my sons are coming with their partners, so make sure you treat them properly. They are special guests and should be treated with respect," she emphasized before going to get ready herself. The guests had already started to arrive.

Later that evening, the guests arrived one after another, their luxurious cars filling up the huge parking area. The old man sat at the highest seat in the room, commanding attention and respect.

A young, handsome man dressed in a sleek black designer suit walked in, accompanied by a stunning woman. They walked arm in arm, their steps perfectly synchronized. It was Ryan Williams, the youngest grandson of the Williams family, and his infamous girlfriend, Zoe Kindiki. Behind them, a group of men carried boxes.

"Grandfather, I am here to wish you a happy birthday," Ryan announced cheerfully, receiving a nod of acknowledgement from his grandfather.

"Grandfather, happy birthday," Zoe chimed in, also extending her well wishes. However, the old man seemed slightly confused.

"Oh, grandfather, this is my girlfriend, Zoe Kindiki. She is Prime Minister Kindiki's daughter," Ryan explained, seeking his grandfather's approval. The old man nodded in approval, acknowledging Zoe's introduction. Ryan then ordered the gifts to be brought forward, one by one.

"Grandfather, here are some gifts I found while traveling the world. I know you love antiques. I hope you like them," Ryan said, presenting the gifts to his grandfather, who eagerly opened them one by one.

"You certainly know me well. Thank you for the gifts," the old man smiled, as Ryan took his place next to his grandfather, with Zoe seated beside him. It had been over five years since Ryan had seen his brother, Leo, and he was eager to meet the woman who had captured his brother's heart. She must be captivating and intelligent to have won over Leo, who was notoriously picky when it came to women. Throughout their time together, no woman had ever managed to capture his interest, no matter how beautiful she was. At times, they even wondered if Leo had any interest in women at all. Being thirty-five and unmarried was quite unusual for their family, as their grandfather had married at twenty-five, their father at twenty-two, and now Ryan was soon to be married at twenty-seven.

"When is your brother getting here?" Zoe asked, feeling somewhat out of place. No one seemed to be paying much attention to her, not even the grandfather, who casually glanced at her with no real interest. Since she had started dating Ryan, she had struggled to fit in with the Williams family. Her own family was well-off, but not as wealthy or as close-knit as the Williams.

"Why are you in such a hurry? They'll arrive when they feel like it," Ryan replied with a smile, but his answer only served to dampen Zoe's spirits. She decided not to complain further and simply smiled at the people around her, trying to gauge if anyone had overheard their conversation.

It didn't take long after the party had begun for the room to fall into silence. Standing at the door were a man and a woman, both radiating an air of confidence and elegance. The man looked like a model, with his impeccably tailored black suit that accentuated his every feature.

The fit of his suit was impeccable, perfectly tailored to his frame. Standing beside him was a woman adorned in an elegant satin gown. The floor-length dress featured a romantic split blouson sleeve, a pleated wrap-effect bodice, and a deep V-neckline. With a gathered A-line skirt that boasted a thigh-grazing split, she exuded sheer beauty. As soon as they entered the room, all eyes were drawn to them.

The guests couldn't help but wonder, "Who is that woman?" One after another, they started to ask questions. It seemed that they had never laid eyes on such a stunning woman before.

A guest who had previously seen Leo Williams remarked, "The man is the eldest grandson of the Williams family. He is incredibly handsome. The woman beside him must be his wife." While the guest had seen Leo before, he had never encountered the woman by his side.

Even Ryan, who was usually composed and unflappable, found himself mesmerized by her presence. He couldn't tear his eyes away from her. Zoe, who was holding onto Ryan tightly, glanced at the woman and was taken aback. There was something about her that seemed strangely familiar. An uneasiness settled in her heart, but Ryan was so captivated by the woman that he failed to notice Zoe's grip.

Leo gently held Chloe's hands as they made their way towards his grandfather. The old man's smile stretched wide across his face, a testament to the joy that Leo brought him. It was ironic that Leo, who rarely smiled himself, could effortlessly bring a smile to his grandfather's face. Though his coldness was evident to those around them, his genuine and warm care for his wife was unmistakable.

Ryan, lost in thought, couldn't help but wonder why the woman seemed so familiar. He and his brother had been close in their youth, but over the years, they had grown apart. While he felt a twinge of envy that his brother had found such a gorgeous woman, there was also a tightness in his heart when he looked at her. She seemed simultaneously familiar yet distant. But where had he seen such a beautiful woman before? If she had been his woman, he would never have let her go.

His thoughts raced until he felt a sharp pain and numbness in his hand. Zoe had been clutching his arm tightly, unconsciously pinching him.

"Hey, what are you doing? Do you want to rip my arm off? Behave yourself, or else don't blame me if I embarrass you," Ryan muttered in an agitated voice, attempting to maintain his composure. Meanwhile, deep inside, Zoe was pained. They had been dating for five years, but his treatment towards her had always been less than ideal.

"Don't you think the woman looks familiar?" she couldn't help but ask Ryan. Doubts had been gnawing at her, and she needed to confirm her suspicions. She glanced at her ex-best friend and hesitated, "She looks like Chloe, but I..." Zoe stopped herself mid-sentence, realizing she had mentioned Chloe.

"Chloe...no way. She wasn't this beautiful. Perhaps they just bear a resemblance," Ryan replied, but his heart was pounding hard. He couldn't help but think about what he had done to her. Over the years, he had thought of her more than he cared to admit. She was just a village girl, nothing special. He repeated these thoughts to himself over and over again.

There was no way his brother's wife could be his ex-girlfriend, or so he desperately tried to convince himself.