Chapter 40
The revolving doors of the hotel spun round and round,swallowing people inside, while golden chandeliers hung from the ceiling.
Bouquets were stacked upon bouquets in the private room,a champagne tower bubbling under the lights. In the center sat two birthday hats–yet the only one truly crowned was Fiona.”
Dressed in a white puffed dress,Fiona smiled sweetly. “Callista, come on,everyone’s waiting for you.”
I silently set the gift box down on the long table at the side.
It was Jason who told me to bring a gift, saying that since Fiona had also prepared one for me,I couldn’t show up empty–handed.
When Fiona saw the box,she looked both touched and delighted. Without hesitation,she reached out to unwrap it,her fingertips tugging at the golden thread.
In the very next instant,a dead rat tumbled out of the box. Its tail flicked as it hit the thick carpet,leaving behind a dark,glistening arc.
The room fell silent at first–then erupted.”
“Ah,disgusting!“someone screamed.”
Ethan let out a cold sneer.“Callista,are you deliberately looking for trouble? How dare you give a dead rat as a gift!”
Simon’s face darkened on the spot. “Today is Fiona’s birthday and you bring something like this…Do you have no shame at all?”
Jason’s expression turned grim,his voice icy.“I clearly prepared an LV bag for you to give her–when did you turn it into a dead rat,Callista?”
I lowered my eyes,staring at the stiff rat and found I no longer even had the desire to defend myself.
It wasn’t me who put it there, but any explanation would be useless.”
After all,nothing I said would ever be believed.”
“It’s fine…“Fiona shrank back behind Jason as if” frightened,”clutching his arm with reddened eyes. “Maybe she was just… joking.Simon, Ethan,Jason,don’t blame her.”
The more she acted this way,the more disgusted they all felt toward me.
Jason cast me a glance,his eyes as cold and distant as snow.“Don’t make a scene. Sit down. I’ll deal with you later.”
For the sake of not ruining their beloved sister’s–or woman’s–birthday banquet,the men swallowed their anger and carried
on with the celebration.
I sat at the very edge,close to the door,like an outsider who could be thrown out at any moment.
A waiter pushed in a two–tiered strawberry cream cake,candles arranged in the shape of a heart.”
Someone called out,laughing,“Fiona,make a wish first!”
Fiona pressed her hands together with a beaming smile–yet her eyes were fixed squarely on me.”
She spoke slowly,her voice soft and sweet.“My first wish…is to be with Jason forever.”
The crowd immediately erupted into cheers.“Kiss!Kiss!“}
Rising on her toes,she pressed her lips to his.”
Jason didn’t turn away–instead, he even slipped an arm around her waist.”
Applause,whistles and laughter crashed over me in waves,each louder than the last,drowning me.
“And the second wish?“someone asked.
“The second….“Fiona lowered her gaze,her cheeks tinged red. “Jason, let’s rehearse the wedding,okay? The wedding is only three days away and I’m afraid I won’t be a good bride.”
She seized Jason’s hand and, imitating the tone of a wedding officiant, said, “Groom,please kneel on one knee and give me a promise,okay?”
I heard the scrape of a chair leg against the floor.
Jason actually knelt down.
Right in front of me–his still–legally–wedded wife–he knelt to propose to another woman.
Looking up at her,his voice low and steady.he said, “I will treat you well,Fiona.“N
I sat in the corner,as if watching a drama that belonged to someone else’s life.N
On the screen,the two kissed,embraced, exchanged vows. Outside the screen,my chest felt hollow–so empty that I couldn’t even summon the strength to feel bitter.&
It didn’t matter.I was leaving.I thought.
From now on,we would never see each other again.
8:30 AM
From now on,we would never see each other again.” Fiona looked at me,but her smile gradually faded.”
My calmness had taken away from her joy.”
Suddenly, she turned and pouted playfully at the crowd.“I want to spend a little private birthday time with my girlfriends. Can you all go outside and help me pick up the party favors the hotel sent to this floor? Just treat it as a surprise for me,okay?“\ Simon was the first to stand.“Alright, we’ll go check with the front desk.“\
Ethan left with a few of the guys,muttering under his breath as he walked,”Better not let anything else go wrong…”
As he stepped out the door,Jason glanced at me,his look like a warning.“Don’t cause trouble.“%
The door clicked shut,the lock falling into place.
Inside the private room,only 1,Fiona and her so–called “girlfriends“remained.”
The music was turned down and the sweet,cloying scent of cake suddenly became nauseating.
Fiona’s stilettos clicked against the floor as she walked step by step toward me. She bent down slightly,smiling. “Are you satisfied with this birthday banquet? Everyone worked so hard for me–oh,pardon me,for you too,since it is your birthday as
well.”
8:30 AM
