Chapter 4

On Alex's birthday, I started preparing everything at six in the morning.

It was his first official birthday after becoming the undisputed CEO of Whitmore Group.

Over the past fourteen years, I had celebrated countless birthdays with him.

There was one year when his startup failed.

He couldn't even afford a proper dinner.

I only bought a simple cake and sat with him on the floor of our tiny rented apartment.

Back then, he told me,

"Evelyn, when I succeed someday, I'll give you the best of everything."

This time, I personally designed the party decorations.

I chose every flower arrangement.

I even made the cake myself.

I remembered him telling me that the cake his mother made when he was young was his happiest childhood memory.

Since his mother was no longer around, I wanted to continue that happiness for him.

At seven in the evening, the guests began arriving one after another.

When Alex saw the venue, he rarely showed a genuine smile.

"You arranged all of this?"

I nodded.

"I just wanted you to be happy today."

His eyes fell on the cake.

He reached out and gently touched my hair.

At that moment, I thought everything had returned to how it used to be.

"Thank you, Evelyn."

That was the first gentle thing he had said to me tonight.

But that warmth was quickly interrupted.

Vivienne arrived.

She wore a black evening gown and carried an exquisite box in her hand.

Everyone's attention immediately shifted toward her.

"Alex, this is for you."

He opened the box.

Inside was a custom-made pocket watch.

It was made of expensive materials with a unique design.

His name was even engraved on it.

Everyone around immediately admired it.

"This is what suits the current Alex."

"How could those old things compare with Mr. Whitmore's current identity?"

Vivienne smiled as she looked at him.

"I think when someone enters a new stage of life, they should also have a new symbol."

Alex looked at the watch.

Then, in front of everyone, he put it on.

I stood outside the crowd, and no one noticed me.

Halfway through the birthday party, Vivienne suddenly came looking for me.

"By the way, I almost forgot something."

She took out a small box.

My heart suddenly sank.

It was the box where I kept the old pocket watch in the study.

"How did this end up with you?"

Vivienne opened the box.

Inside was the broken pocket watch.

The glass was cracked.

The hands had stopped moving.

At that moment, I felt as if every sound around me disappeared.

"Why did you touch my things?"

For the first time, my voice lost its calm.

But Vivienne looked completely innocent.

"I didn't know it belonged to you."

"I just saw it sitting in the study. I thought it was an unimportant old item and accidentally broke it."

She glanced at the watch.

"But honestly, it really doesn't suit Alex's current identity."

"Someone like him should have something better now."

Someone nearby laughed.

"Evelyn, you're not seriously upset over an old pocket watch, are you?"

"That thing looks like it's from more than ten years ago. Why keep it?"

I looked at Alex.

He knew exactly what this old pocket watch meant.

But he only frowned.

"Evelyn, watch your manners. Don't make a scene in front of everyone. Vivienne didn't do it on purpose."

Those words instantly extinguished the anger burning inside me.

I looked at him in disbelief.

"Alex, this pocket watch was left behind by your father."

"You told me before that it was important to you."

"Did you forget?"

He was silent for a while.

Then he lowered his voice.

"I didn't forget."

"But Evelyn, this is a birthday party. This isn't the right place to argue about this."

"You should know when to stop. Don't embarrass me."

I never expected him to say something like that.

But it was his birthday.

So I simply picked up the broken pocket watch.

And I stopped arguing.