I spoke coldly, “Alright then, leave. Now.”
Carson cried even harder, his shoulders trembling like a wounded rabbit, barely holding himself together.
Just as he turned to go, Jenna reached out and grabbed his arm.
“Carson, there’s no need for you to leave. I agreed to this arrangement today. I said we’d combine Aunt Symonne’s third death anniversary with the birthday banquet, and I always keep my word.”
Then she turned to me with a look of growing impatience.
“Bryce, that’s enough. Stop making a scene.”
I glanced at the funeral wreath and memorial display behind me, and fury surged like wildfire through my chest. My voice turned sharp with disbelief.
“You said your assistant would handle the birthday preparations. This is what you call a celebration?”
“Jenna, whether it’s superstitious or not, I’m not sick enough to celebrate my birthday in a damn memorial hall. Get rid of all this, now.”
Seeing that my tone left no room for argument, her frown deepened, and her expression hardened.
“Bryce.”
She stepped forward and gently pressed down on my hand, her brows furrowed as she tried to coax me with a soft tone.
“So many guests came today, all here to celebrate your birthday. Carson is just a young man, alone in this city. He’s sensitive. Can you not make this a scene? Just give me some face.”
I sneered and shook her hand off. “Give you face? And where’s mine?”
“Jenna, you do know today’s my birthday. All the influential uncles and elders from the capital are attending.”
“Now, guess what happens if this gets out? That I, Bryce, spent my twenty-fifth birthday at a memorial alongside someone’s death anniversary. Do you think the Reeves family would still have any standing in the capital?”
As soon as the words left my mouth, Jenna’s face darkened, bit by bit.
She knew I wasn’t wrong.
Even if our family wasn’t the most powerful, we still held weight. My father’s network stretched across the entire capital, and most of the guests today were prominent figures who came here just for me.
But Jenna’s next words turned everything on its head.
“Bryce, don’t go too far.”
“That’s Carson’s mother. Aunt Symonne raised him all on her own. She’s a respected elder, not some ‘dead person’ like you called her. Show a little respect.”
My eyes turned red in an instant, brimming with cold ridicule.
So that was it. I thought her silence earlier meant she was seeing things from my side. Turns out, after all that hesitation, she was simply offended I didn’t show enough respect to Carson’s mother.
“Fine. I misspoke. I apologize. But now, please leave. Bodyguards, get rid of all this.”
The moment I gave the command, the bodyguards behind me stepped forward. But Jenna frowned and rushed to block them.
“Bryce, Carson spent the entire night preparing this. I won’t let you destroy it.”
“I told you already, it’s just symbolic. It’s not like I’m cutting off anyone’s limb. Can’t you show a little empathy?”
“And if you tear this down now, what do you think people will say? The entire company will talk. They’ll think Carson messed up badly. Are you really going to sit back and watch him lose everything?”
“Bryce, you’re being unbelievably cruel.”
I almost laughed, furious beyond words. To her, even black could be twisted into white.
Whatever surprise or fondness I once held for Jenna had long evaporated.
“You remember you’re his boss, but did you forget, you’re also my fiancée?”
Carson dropped to his knees, his shoulders shaking, tears falling one by one.
“Brother Bryce, I know I didn’t think this through. But the banquet’s already set, and my mom’s portrait is already here.”
“It won’t take long. Please, just let her memorial last for half an hour. That’s all I’m asking.”
