Chapter 4 Vivica's Birthday Celebration

Brooklyn wiped her tears and replied, “My mind went blank, Fiona. As I stood weeping in the Home Affairs parking lot, a handsome stranger approached me and offered to give me a ride.

There was something in the handsome stranger’s calm demeanor that made me accept his offer.

I had never laid eyes on him before, yet he spoke my name with startling familiarity. Against my better judgment, I took the handsome stranger’s offer.

When he dropped me off in the hospital parking lot, he wished me a happy birthday, and then he gave me a bouquet of red roses.

I stared at the flowers, and my name was written in elegant script on the card. I realized with a shiver that while he was a stranger to me, I was certainly no stranger to him.”

Fiona smiled brightly as she was thinking about the handsome stranger who approached her at the hospital looking for her best friend and asked, “Do you know the name of the handsome stranger, my dearest Brooklyn?”

Brooklyn smiled with tears in her eyes and replied, “He told me that his name is Jason Ashford.” Fiona was over the moon and asked, “When did you meet the CEO of the Ashford Group, Brooklyn?”

Brooklyn looked at his friend with a confused expression and asked, “What are you talking about, Fiona?”

Fiona smiled brightly and replied, “Jason Ashford is the heir of the Ashford Group, and his family is the second-wealthiest family in the country.”

When the handsome stranger approached her in the hospital corridor, Fiona didn't recognize him at first because she was captivated by his handsomeness.

Even though she had seen him in financial magazines and on television many times before, when she saw him in person, her mind went blank.

It wasn't until she caught the nurses’ excited whispers of his name that the truth finally clicked into place.

When Brooklyn learned that Jason Ashford was the heir of the wealthiest family in the country, the news left her speechless. Her mouth agape in disbelief, she asked, “How do you know that it was him who gave me a helping hand, Fiona?”

Fiona took the financial magazine from her designer handbag, then she handed it to Brooklyn and said, “Mr Ashford came to the hospital looking for you, and I let it slip where you were. I hope you are not angry with me, my friend.”

Brooklyn froze. Her eyes were wide in disbelief as she recognized the kind-hearted stranger's face staring back at her from the cover of the financial magazine.

Brooklyn smiled at her best friend and replied, “I am not angry with you, Fiona. However, please don’t tell anyone that I am married to Preston James. I don’t want to drag you into my mess.”

A few minutes later, Fiona’s off-key voice filled the room with a cheerful 'Happy Birthday’ song.

Brooklyn closed her eyes to make a silent wish before they finally tucked into the delicious cake. She wished for the Lord to remove Preston’s love from her heart.

At the Cartwright family estate, Mr Grayson Cartwright Senior was in the exquisitely decorated living room with his friend, Mr Benjamin Ashford Senior, chatting and laughing.

Grayson looked at his friend, smiling and asked, “How is your precious grandson, Benjamin? He is such an outstanding young man. I don’t mind having him as my grandson-in-law.”

Benjamin chuckled at his old friend and replied, “You have already been blessed with three outstanding grandsons. Are you really that greedy that you’re trying to claim mine as your grandson-in-law, too, Grayson?

Ever since the tragedy that took his girlfriend, my precious grandson has retreated into a shell of silence. He had been using work to bury his heartache.”

At that moment, Hiram walked into the living room smiling. He greeted the elders with respect. The family butler, Sid Blunt, informed him that his mother and sister were in the sunroom.

Then Hiram went to the sunroom to greet his favourite people. His mother was with Jason’s mother, Aunt Eleanor Ashford, his sister, and Preston James’s sister, Ziva James.

His mother smiled brightly when she saw her eldest son and said, “Your father mentioned that you had a client meeting this evening.

I was worried you would miss your sister’s birthday celebration. Is the meeting canceled?”

Hiram kissed his mother and Aunt Eleanor on the cheeks. Then he kissed his beloved sister and her friend on the forehead.

He smiled broadly at his mother and replied, “I rescheduled the meeting, Mom. I wouldn't miss my baby sister's birthday for anything.”

Vivica beamed at her eldest brother, her eyes full of gratitude, and she said, “Thank you, Big Brother, for putting me first. It means a lot.”

Vivica was the apple of her eldest brother’s eye. Ever since she was a child, Vivica had been pampered and spoiled by her eldest brother, finding joy in making her life as easy as possible.

Hiram ruffled his sister’s hair, and then he turned to his mother and asked, “How is Dad, Mom?”

His mother smiled and replied, “Your father is in the study room right now; he refuses to rest. Even the flu couldn't keep him away from his work.”

Hiram couldn’t believe his ears. Then he went to the study room to greet his father, Hilton Cartwright. His father was the Chairman of the Cartwright Group.

His father beamed with joy when he saw his eldest son and asked, “Son, did you move the client meeting forward?”

Hiram shook his head and replied, “I rescheduled the meeting for tomorrow morning, Dad. How are you feeling, Dad?”

His father looked at him and replied, “The family doctor has confirmed that I have a fever, and he prescribed me some medication. However, I have to push through to finalize the collaboration contract with the Ashford Group.”

Hiram looked at his father with pleading eyes and said, “Dad, your health is more important than anything else. Please forget about the collaboration contract. I will ask Patrice to finalize it. Please go to bed to rest, Dad.”

Patrice Cartwright was his second brother, one of the legal profession's brilliant minds with an airtight success rate. His father reluctantly left the study room and went to his bedroom to rest.

An hour later, the Cartwright family and the Ashford family gathered in the living room to celebrate Vivica’s nineteenth birthday. She was showered with properties and luxury cars, a testament to her family's deep affection and wealth.

The most substantial gift came in the form of a legacy. Her grandfather promised that on her twenty-first birthday, she would be handed the reins of a subsidiary company to manage as her own.

The entire family was over the moon to learn of the grand legacy that Grandpa Cartwright had bestowed upon his beloved granddaughter, Vivica.

The Cartwright family wasn't merely wealthy; they were a titan of industry with the power to secure their future for generations to come.

Vivica was overwhelmed with emotion as she expressed her gratitude to her family for such thoughtful and generous gifts. She also thanked them for their unwavering love and support.