Chester narrowed his eyes mischievously, deliberately dragging out his words as he teased the group. "With such precise timing, I can’t help but wonder… do you guys, uh, check the time for everything you do together too?"
Annie immediately threw a punch his way, her face flushing red as she angrily scolded him. "Chester!! You’re getting more and more shameless!"
Amid their playful banter, I forced a smile, trying not to dampen the lively mood. But no matter how hard I tried, the smile wouldn’t reach my eyes.
Distracted, my gaze landed on the postcard in front of the cake. In Jared’s handwriting were the words [The One and Only in This Life.]
It felt like the cruelest joke.
Jared loved me so much—so much that he’d meticulously planned this birthday "surprise."
I’d once thought we would be blissfully happy forever, stepping into marriage and growing old together.
How laughable that I only now realized I was the biggest fool in the world.
Snapping back to reality, I held back my tears and, amidst my friends’ blessings, clasped my hands together and closed my eyes to make a wish.
Just as I opened my eyes, ready to blow out the candles, the door swung open, and Jared walked in.
The moment I saw him, my eyes stung with unbidden tears. A wave of sour pain spread through me, tightening my chest and making it ache. But I bit my lip and told myself I wouldn’t cry.
"Happy birthday, my darling!" he greeted.
Jared, his hair was still damp, thrusting a large bouquet of roses—symbols of love—eagerly in front of me.
Panting for breath, he grinned and said, "I made it just in time!"
With his usual tenderness, he ruffled my hair, leaned down, and kissed my forehead.
His friends began recounting his efforts, saying he had rushed back immediately after his art exhibition, running eight red lights just to be with me on time.
"Really?" I replied skeptically, my tone laced with disbelief as I pushed him away, a cold smile on my lips.
Jared seemed stunned, pursing his lips momentarily before gripping my shoulders and flashing his signature hopeful smile. "My darling, what birthday wish did you make?"
I smiled faintly. "I’ll tell you in seven days."
After the party ended, Jared went outside to see his friends off while I stayed behind to help clean up with the housekeeper.
"You should rest, miss," the housekeeper urged. "I can take care of everything. If Mr. Brown sees you doing this, he’ll feel bad."
I shook my head, saying it was fine. But as I moved a piece of hard packaging, it unexpectedly sliced my finger.
"Hiss…" I gasped softly as a line of red quickly surfaced.
"Are you okay, darling?"
Jared had returned just in time to witness it. In a few quick strides, he reached me, grabbing my hand with a look of pure concern. Without hesitation, he brought my finger to his lips to suck the blood.
"How could you be so careless? Does it hurt?" He frowned deeply, pulling me on the sofa and carefully tending to my wound.
"Why are you doing this? We have a housekeeper for a reason."
Watching him at that moment, so focused and full of care, I felt a fleeting sense of confusion.
If I hadn’t seen that video, I might still believe I was the happiest woman in the world.
But it was all a lie.
Jared claimed to love me so deeply, yet behind my back, he entangled himself with another woman.
While he went to get the first aid kit, he left his phone beside me.
His password was my birthday. It took just seconds for me to unlock it.
