Chapter 52

Lily stood in the living room, a sense of excitement bubbling within her as she admired the decorations she had carefully arranged. It was her first birthday as Ethan’s wife, and she had gone all out—balloons floated from the ceiling, colorful streamers adorned the walls, and a beautiful cake sat on the table, waiting to be cut.

This is it, she thought, her heart racing with anticipation. He’ll finally spend this day with me. No more feeling like a clingy teenager; now I’m his wife, and things will be different.

She glanced at the clock, her smile unwavering as she counted down the minutes until he would arrive. He’ll walk through that door, and we’ll celebrate together, just like I’ve always dreamed.

But as the minutes turned into hours, a flicker of doubt crept in. Where is he? She shook her head, trying to dispel the nagging worry. He wouldn’t forget, would he?

Lily’s heart sank a little, but she clung to the hope that this birthday would be special. Ethan loves me. He’ll be here soon. This is our first celebration together as a married couple.

With that thought, she took a deep breath, trying to hold onto the joy she had felt earlier, determined to believe that this year would be different.

Lily was jolted awake by the sound of the doorbell, her head resting on her crossed arms at the dining table. She blinked in confusion, the soft glow of the candles flickering around her. The clock read 2 AM, and her heart sank as she realized how late it was, feeling a wave of disappointment wash over her. Upset, she pushed herself up and walked toward the door, her heart heavy with anticipation.

When she opened the door, she saw Ethan standing there, looking disheveled. His hair was messy, his tie was loose, and his suit coat was crumpled in his hand. He looked at her with annoyance, and for a moment, her heart ached for him, but that feeling quickly faded.

She reached for his hand, forcing a smile despite her disappointment. “You are so late; I was waiting for you,” she said, trying to keep her voice light.

Ethan jerked his hand away, irritation etched on his face. “Did I say wait for me?” he snapped, turning away as he walked toward the bedroom.

Lily’s heart ached, but she followed him, desperation creeping into her voice. “It’s my birthday! I messaged you to come early.”

He turned to her, his expression cold. “I got the message, and that’s why I came late. Can’t you understand? I don’t have any interest in spending time with you. Are you that dumb? You are so annoying,” he said, his words cutting deep as he slammed the bedroom door behind him.

A tear slipped down Lily’s cheek, and she felt the weight of despair settle over her. Nothing has changed between us. The memories of their childhood flashed in her mind—how he had always pushed her away, and now it felt like history was repeating itself.

Slowly, she walked back to the living room, her heart heavy. She began to remove the decorations, each piece feeling like a reminder of her shattered expectations. Once everything was cleared away, she sat alone in the dark room, the silence enveloping her.

With trembling hands, she lit a candle and closed her eyes, making a wish as she blew it out. A single tear fell onto the table as she cut the cake, the sweetness of the moment lost in her loneliness. The celebration she had dreamed of had turned into a solitary farewell to the hope she had held onto for so long.

****

Mia placed her hand gently on Lily's shoulder, concern etched on her face. “Lily, are you crying?”

The question pulled Lily back to the present, and she blinked away the memories that had clouded her mind. She looked around the restaurant, the vibrant decorations and laughter of friends surrounding her. Lewis was staring at her, his expression knowing, as if he understood the turmoil she had just experienced.

Mia wrapped her arms around Lily in a comforting hug, and Lily wiped her tears, feeling a mix of emotions. “For the first time after my parents’ death, I got a chance to celebrate my birthday like this,” she said, her voice trembling slightly.

Lewis remained silent, lost in his own thoughts, the weight of Lily's words hanging in the air between them. The warmth of the celebration felt distant, overshadowed by the pain of the past, yet Lily knew she was not alone in this moment.

Lily smiled, her heart warming as she saw the happiness in Lewis's eyes. His effort to make her smile filled her with gratitude, and for a moment, the shadows of her past faded away.

Lewis reached into his pocket and placed a small box on the table in front of her. Confused, Lily raised an eyebrow. “What is it?” she asked, her curiosity piqued.

“A gift for the birthday girl,” Lewis replied, a playful grin on his face.

Lily shook her head, her expression turning serious. “I can't take this. You’ve already done so much for me. You saved my life, and this birthday surprise—it's too much. I’m sorry, Lewis.”

He met her gaze, his sincerity shining through. “You deserve to be celebrated, Lily. This is just a small token of how much you mean to me."

Lily carefully opened the box, her breath catching in her throat as she revealed its contents. Inside lay a small diamond pendant on a delicate silver necklace.

Mia gasped, her eyes widening in astonishment. “Oh my gosh, Lily! It’s beautiful!” she exclaimed, leaning closer to get a better look.

Lily's heart raced as she lifted the pendant from the box, the diamond sparkling under the restaurant lights. “I can’t believe you got me this,” she whispered, her voice filled with emotion.

“This is the first thing I bought with my first salary,” Lewis said, his voice steady but filled with emotion. “I tried to give it to you, but I couldn’t.”