My fiancée told me she had a surprise planned for my birthday party. So, I showed up full of anticipation—only to feel like the floor dropped out from under me the moment I walked in.
“Eliane… this is your idea of a surprise?”
Right next to a giant cardboard standee of me—my birthday portrait, no less—stood a massive funeral wreath. And in the middle of it all, a bold black cross stared me dead in the face.
Then her assistant, Olivier, stepped forward holding a small casket in both hands, his eyes red and puffy.
“My dog, Luffy, passed away yesterday,” he said tearfully. “He was with me for years—like family. Director Langford said it’d be no trouble, so she offered to held the funeral along with your birthday celebration. Mr. Carrington… I hope you don’t mind?”
I felt the room spin. My blood rushed to my head. “Eliane, it’s my birthday. And you’re seriously letting someone hold a dog’s funeral… at my party?”
“Was this ever about celebrating me? Or are you trying to curse me?”
Eliane frowned like I was the one being unreasonable. “Oh, come on, it’s not that serious. Birthdays happen every year. But Ollie lost his only dog. Grief doesn’t wait for a convenient time—especially not for cake and champagne.”
“It’s just a symbolic gesture,” she went on. “A birthday or a funeral—it’s still just a gathering. No one got hurt, so why are you being so dramatic?”
I laughed coldly—and flipped the entire table over. “Well then, since it’s all the same to you… let’s cancel the birthday and our engagement while we’re at it.”
——
When I flipped the table, it knocked over the massive funeral wreath behind it. Instantly, Eliane’s expression turned cold.
“Jerome, what the hell is wrong with you?” she snapped. “Ollie had planned this entire celebration! He poured his heart into it. Sure, maybe this isn't perfect, but the least you could do is show a little appreciation!”
She waved someone over to set the table upright, then crouched to straighten the fallen wreath, frowning in annoyance.
My blood boiled. I pointed at the wreath and laughed bitterly.
“Eliane, do you even remember what you promised me? You said you’d fill this place with dozens roses for my birthday. And this, is what you came up with?” I gestured toward the funeral flowers.
My chest heaved with frustration. Even my voice cracked from it. “You say this isn’t some kind of curse? Honestly, even a dog wouldn’t believe that.”
Anyone walking in would’ve raised their eyebrows.
Right in the center of the room, just before the big cross, stood a life-size cutout of me, surrounded by white lilies and mourning wreaths. The entire place looked like a funeral parlor.
Any guest who didn't know the whole context would definitely think that they were attending my memorial!
Eliane rolled her eyes. “A wreath is still made of flowers, isn’t it? Stop being so superstitious. Ollie’s a sweet guy—he’d never wish you harm. And honestly, these flowers are just as nice as roses. It's a birthday, not your coronation. You should be grateful I even threw you something. Can you drop the spoiled-rich-boy attitude for once?”
As the room grew awkwardly tense, Olivier stood as he was about to place a black-and-white photo of his dog, completely at a loss. His eyes were red and he looked like he didn’t know where to hide. Then he stepped forward nervously.
“Mr. Carrington… please don’t be mad,” he said, voice trembling. “My dog Luffy passed away yesterday. He meant everything to me—he was family. Director Langford knew I only earn 450 crowns a month. There’s no way I could afford a proper send-off, so she offered to… include it with your party. I swear, I didn’t think you’d be so upset…”
Tears streamed down his face, like I’d just kicked him out into the cold. “If it really bothers you… I—I can take Luffy’s casket and leave,” he said.
While he said all that, I could see his feet stayed firmly planted. He didn’t plan on leaving.
I narrowed my eyes and said flatly, “Great. Then go.”
Olivier burst into heavier sobs. His shoulders shook violently—like a scolded kindergarten kid.
Soon as he began leaving, Eliane quickly grabbed his arm and pulled him back.
