Chapter 1

The moment Lucien appeared with Evelyn and her daughter Lily, I knew my birthday party was ruined.

Evelyn wore a beautiful purple dress and walked toward us holding Lily’s hand.

“Camilla, Lucien told me you personally invited me to this birthday party. Thank you so much!”

Evelyn smiled gently, but her eyes clearly carried a challenge.

She knew perfectly well I would never have invited her.

Lucien loaded the luggage into the trunk, then opened the back door.

My two brothers, Jack and Xavier, were already sitting in the available seats.

“What’s going on?” they asked.

“Uncle Jack! Uncle Xavier!” Lily heard their voices and rushed into the car.

“Lily! It’s you!”

Evelyn followed and stood outside the car, greeting them warmly: “Long time no see.”

They fell into lively conversation, completely ignoring me standing to the side.

Evelyn was their adopted sister.

I was their blood sister.

Yet I had never been able to fit into their circle.

“Evelyn, I thought you’d gone ahead,” Jack said, holding Lily.

Xavier patted the empty seat beside him: “Let Lily sit next to me. Evelyn, you take the front passenger seat…”

They looked toward the front passenger seat and only then realized I was sitting there.

“Looks like there’s no empty seat.”

Evelyn lowered her head slightly.

“In that case, Lily and I won’t go,” she said, eyes slightly red, looking at me. “Camilla, happy birthday.”

She picked Lily up and started to walk away, but after a few steps she turned back to look at Lucien, Jack, and Xavier.

“Lucien, Lily has never been to the seaside. I heard there’s a special birthday cake and fireworks tonight. Since we can’t go, could you send her some photos and videos of the fireworks later?”

Lucien hesitated.

Xavier frowned and suddenly said to me, “Camilla, why haven’t you gotten out yet?”

I froze.

“This is my seat.”

“I know,” Xavier said impatiently. “But Evelyn has a child with her. What are they supposed to do?”

Jack joined in.

“Evelyn rarely brings Lily out to have fun. What’s the big deal if you give way a little?”

I looked at them, almost thinking I had misheard.

Today was my birthday.

This birthday party was something I had prepared. The seaside manor was a place I had looked forward to for a long time.

Yet now my two blood brothers were casually demanding that I give up my seat for someone else.

I instinctively looked at my fiancé Lucien.

The hesitation in his eyes was gone.

He looked at the hopeful expression in Lily’s eyes and seemed to have made up his mind.

He walked over to my side of the car, opened the door, and pulled me out.

“Camilla, there aren’t enough seats. Evelyn has her daughter with her. Let them go first. I’ll come back for you later, okay?”

I stared at him wide-eyed.

I couldn’t believe he and my brothers were really going to leave me by the roadside.

Today was my birthday. I was clearly the star of the birthday party.

He turned away, avoiding my gaze, and said firmly, “There’s no time to find another car. Be good and wait here for a bit. I’ll be back soon.”

I looked straight into Lucien’s eyes, hoping to see even a trace of hesitation.

But his gaze was calm and cold, as if leaving me behind truly didn’t matter.

I lowered my head to hide the ache inside and quietly picked up my bag.

“You all go ahead. It’s fine.”

I walked to the side.

Before they drove away, Evelyn held Lily and waved at me triumphantly.

Through the window I saw Lucien’s profile.

He didn’t even glance back at me once.

As if the person being left behind was just some insignificant stranger.

During the two-hour drive to the seaside manor, Evelyn posted ten updates on her social media—scenery along the way, and Lucien’s handsome side profile while driving.

Someone in the comments asked: “Evelyn, is that your boyfriend? He’s so handsome!”

Evelyn didn’t reply. She only posted a shy emoji.

Along the way, Lucien called me.

He told me to stay where I was and wait for him to come back.

But it was sunset, and residual sunlight remained.

My skin began to burn.

Vampires cannot stay exposed to sunlight for long. Soon I would dehydrate and become exhausted.

But I said nothing. I even agreed.

After all, today was my birthday.

And I still wanted to see whether Lucien would keep his promise.