Chapter 351 The Birthday Surprise
Trevor’s expression remained composed.
Only he knew what he’d just discovered.
The butterfly brooch he had given Rose was a limited-edition design.
Only a handful existed anywhere in the world.
Even wealth wasn’t enough to guarantee ownership.
The jeweler offered an exclusive personalization service, and Trevor had taken advantage of it.
On the back of Rose’s brooch...
A short French phrase had been engraved just for her.
The one that had fallen from her dress...
Had no engraving at all.
It wasn’t the same brooch.
Someone had replaced it.
But when?
More importantly...
Why?
Trevor lifted his eyes.
Ryan stood only a few feet away.
Their gazes met.
Ryan neither looked away nor offered any explanation.
His face revealed nothing.
He remained impossible to read.
Trevor didn’t ask any questions.
Not here.
Not today.
There would be time to investigate later.
For now...
Neither he nor Rose needed to know that anything had happened.
Trevor smiled politely.
"I’m afraid I can’t stay."
"My daughter’s friends are waiting for us."
"If you’ll excuse me."
Ryan gave a slight nod.
Nothing more.
Trevor walked away.
Oliver watched him disappear into the crowd before turning to Ryan with obvious irritation.
"Ryan..."
"I’ve got to say..."
"I think Mr. Robinson is playing this a little too smoothly."
Ryan said nothing.
Oliver lowered his voice.
"He knew you and Rose were still married back then."
"Doesn’t that make him the guy who stepped into someone else’s marriage?"
"And now he acts like nothing ever happened."
Oliver shook his head.
"Then they invite you to the party on top of it."
"I honestly don’t know how you’re keeping your cool."
Ryan’s response was as brief as ever.
"Mm."
Oliver blinked.
"That’s it?"
"Just ’mm’?"
He looked ready to lose his mind.
Before he could continue...
James walked past them.
His expression was colder than usual.
His eyes lingered on Ryan for only a moment.
Then he said quietly, "Who exactly has the right to be angry?"
His voice carried a sharp edge.
"We all made our own choices."
Without waiting for a response, James continued toward another table.
Oliver stared after him.
"...James?"
Then he looked back at Ryan.
"What is going on with you two?"
Ryan offered no explanation.
Oliver sighed in frustration.
Lately...
It felt like everyone knew something except him.
*****
James didn’t look back.
He also paid no attention to Alicia.
She stood where she’d been left, lowering her eyes.
The place where James had grabbed her wrist still hurt.
Clear finger marks remained on her skin.
She understood what that grip had meant.
It hadn’t been anger.
It had been instinct.
Protection.
He hadn’t wanted her anywhere near Ariel.
Alicia bit her lip.
She drew a quiet breath before approaching Ryan and Oliver.
"Good evening, Mr. Knight."
"Mr. Brown."
Oliver forced a polite smile.
"Good evening."
Ryan’s eyes drifted toward Alicia for only a brief second.
She instinctively looked up.
Their eyes met.
His expression remained distant.
Emotionless.
A heartbeat later...
He looked away as though she weren’t there.
Without offering even a greeting...
Ryan walked on.
Oliver hurried after him.
Alicia stood alone again.
Her fingers unconsciously twisted the edge of her dress.
*****
Outside the resort...
A woman wearing a baseball cap and oversized sunglasses stood across the street.
Samantha.
She stared at the brightly lit hotel.
Luxury cars arrived one after another.
Guests dressed in designer gowns and tuxedos filled the entrance.
Everywhere she looked...
There was celebration.
Inside that building...
Rose was living the life Samantha believed should have belonged to her.
The Robinson family accepted Rose completely.
They treated her with respect despite her failed marriage.
And now...
There was even a chance Rose was actually the long-lost daughter of the Taylor family.
The thought made Samantha’s stomach twist.
If she hadn’t overheard Alicia that day...
She might never have learned the truth.
Her fingernails dug painfully into her palms.
Hatred burned inside her.
She crossed the street and blended into the arriving crowd.
With so many guests entering...
Sneaking inside shouldn’t have been difficult.
Or so she thought.
She hadn’t taken more than a few steps before a tall man in a dark suit blocked her path.
He wore an earpiece.
His posture immediately identified him as professional security.
"Invitation, please."
Samantha forced a smile.
"I work here."
"Employee ID."
She froze.
The guard didn’t move.
His eyes never left her face.
For a birthday party?
This level of security?
Samantha gritted her teeth.
She knew she couldn’t force her way inside.
There were security officers everywhere.
Any disturbance would end with her being restrained before she reached the lobby.
She turned and hurried toward a side entrance instead.
Her mind raced.
There had to be another way.
Moving too quickly, she slammed into someone coming around the corner.
"Watch where you’re—"
The words died in her throat.
It was Alicia.
Alicia barely noticed her.
She muttered a quick apology without looking up and continued toward the entrance.
Samantha almost called after her.
Then...
Something fluttered to the ground.
An invitation.
It had slipped from Alicia’s handbag.
Alicia kept walking, completely unaware.
Samantha stared at the envelope.
Then looked toward Alicia.
Then back at the invitation.
A slow smile spread across her face.
She bent down.
Picked it up.
And quietly slipped it inside her coat.
*****
Inside the ballroom...
The celebration officially began.
Staff wheeled out an enormous decorative cake nearly seven feet tall.
Its elaborate design resembled a fairy-tale castle.
Every tower sparkled beneath crystal lights.
Ariel gasped.
"So pretty!"
The towering cake was only for display.
A second, smaller cake waited nearby for the ceremony itself.
Guests gathered around the center of the ballroom.
Trevor reached for Ariel’s left hand.
Rose took her right.
Together...
The three of them walked toward the cake.
The lights dimmed.
Only the candlelight remained.
Trevor looked toward Rose.
"Ready?"
She smiled.
"For Ariel."
He nodded.
Rose placed one hand over Ariel’s tiny fingers as they wrapped around the cake knife.
Trevor stepped closer.
His arm naturally settled behind Rose as he placed his hand over hers.
Together...
The three of them cut the first slice.
Applause immediately filled the ballroom.
From across the room...
Ryan watched quietly.
One hand rested inside his pocket.
His face revealed nothing.
The warm candlelight reflected faintly in his eyes.
Beside him...
Oliver looked increasingly miserable.
He leaned closer and whispered,
"Ryan..."
"You’re seriously just going to stand here?"
He glanced toward Trevor, Rose, and Ariel smiling together.
"They already look like a real family."
Oliver groaned.
"At this rate..."
"They’ll be announcing baby number two before long."
Ryan didn’t answer.
His gaze remained fixed on the family standing beneath the lights.
Unreadable.
Silent.