“But you’ve misunderstood us,” Gerald said softly. “Spoiling you isn’t just for show. We truly mean it.”
As his words lingered in the air, Daniel suddenly appeared, pushing a cake cart toward me with a flourish.
“Do you know why we scheduled this celebration today?” he teased, grinning. “It’s because you, being the scatterbrain you are, forgot something important—your own birthday!”
“Happy Birthday!”
The room erupted into song and the lively atmosphere felt almost infectious.
Daniel led the employees in a cheerful chorus while Gerald clapped along with a smile, his gaze soft and warm. For a fleeting moment, it felt like the past—the days when their care and attention felt genuine.
I couldn’t help but wonder if I’d been too quick to judge them. Maybe I’d misread their intentions.
As the crowd cheered and celebrated, Nora approached me with a gift box in hand. Her smile was radiant, her tone syrupy sweet.
“Hannah,” she said, her voice dripping with sincerity. “I’ve always seen you as my closest sister. Today is your special day, so I prepared a gift just for you. I hope you’ll like it.”
The entire room fell silent as I opened the gift. All eyes were on me, their expressions a mix of anticipation and envy.
But as the lid came off, the atmosphere shifted.
Inside was a pair of green high heels.
The room erupted into laughter.
“Hannah, these shoes suit you perfectly!” Nora exclaimed with feigned excitement, her voice loud enough to incite the crowd further. “Go on, try them on! They’ll look stunning on you!”
Her eyes sparkled with mischief, the provocation unmistakable. The laughter around me grew louder, turning crueler with each passing second.
Green high heels. The insult wasn’t lost on me. A symbol of mockery, meant to humiliate.
I instinctively glanced at Gerald and Daniel, searching for some sign of solidarity. But what I saw instead made my chest tighten.
They were laughing too.
Not just laughing—they were enjoying the spectacle, like spectators entertained by a cruel joke.
The warmth and kindness they’d shown moments ago evaporated in an instant, replaced by smug amusement.
Daniel was the first to break the tension, clapping Gerald on the shoulder as he roared with laughter. “Look at her face! Did she actually think this was her birthday cake?”
“She really took it seriously!” He doubled over, gasping for breath. “No, no, this cake is for Nora. She’s the true star of this company, after all.”
The laughter felt like needles pricking my skin, each sound sharper than the last.
Gerald smirked and turned to Nora. “Nora, looks like we won this bet.”
Nora’s face lit up with triumph. “Alright, fine. I’ll admit it—you two were right!” she said, her voice laced with mockery. “I didn’t think Hannah would fall for it so easily. But I guess if you shine just a little bit of light on her, she’ll bloom like a flower.”
“She really can’t leave you two, can she?”
Both men grinned, their egos swelling with satisfaction.
Daniel leaned back, crossing his arms. “Of course not. We’ve treated her like a queen all these years. How could she ever survive without us?”
Gerald nodded in agreement, his tone patronizing. “Exactly. So don’t worry, Nora. No matter how upset she gets, she won’t dare to challenge us. She’s too dependent.”
My stomach churned as their words sank in.
This was all a game to them—a bet between them and Nora. They’d gambled on my loyalty, my inability to stand up for myself. They thought I was so used to their control that I’d never be able to break free.
For a moment, the world around me blurred. My chest felt tight, my breaths shallow. The laughter of the crowd roared in my ears, blending into a cacophony that made my head spin.
It wasn’t until I felt the sharp pain of my nails digging into my palms—so hard they broke the skin—that I snapped back to reality.
I told myself to stay calm. Now wasn’t the time to lash out.
Throwing a tantrum or screaming at Nora would only play into their hands. I’d look like a fool—a shrew unable to keep her composure.
No, I needed to bide my time.
I clenched my fists, inhaled deeply and forced a bitter smile.
“Thank you, Nora,” I said, my voice steady despite the storm brewing inside me. “The shoes are... lovely.”
Her smirk widened and the crowd’s laughter continued.
But I was done being their punchline.
Deep down, I knew one thing for certain: they may think they’ve won this battle, but the war was far from over.
