Chapter 2
"Andrew, can I make three wishes?" In the main venue, Emily stood in front of the cake, smiling innocently.
Andrew was right by her side. "Tonight, you can wish for anything you want."
Someone joked from the crowd.
"Mr. Hartley really spoils her, huh."
"This is Luna Isle. People say even money can't buy you a night here."
"Emily, did you save Mr. Hartley in your last life or something?"
Emily lowered her head. "I'm really not that special. Andrew's just really good to me."
Andrew handed her the knife. "Don't be scared; just go ahead and cut it."
I'd just reached the entrance when I heard those words.
The waiter at the door stopped me. "Miss, may I see your invitation?"
John quickly stepped in. "Move aside."
The waiter recognized him and immediately stepped back.
I stayed outside.
I stood just behind the door.
On stage, Emily gripped the silver cake knife with both hands.
Andrew held her hand. "The first cut is for you."
Emily's eyes welled up with tears. "I never imagined I'd be celebrating my birthday on such a beautiful island."
Andrew said, "You'll get used to it."
There was a round of applause from the crowd.
"Mr. Hartley's words really pack a punch."
"I heard this island was Andrew's coming-of-age present. The Hartley family sure knows how to treat their kids."
"Looks like Emily's about to strike it rich, huh?"
Emily quickly shook her head. "Don't say that, Andrew's already engaged."
"Don't say that, Andrew's already engaged."
Someone chuckled.
"Marriage is marriage, but feelings are feelings."
"Miss Sinclair doesn't care about any of this, right? In the world of the rich, whoever takes things to heart is the loser."
Andrew didn't say a word to deny it.
He simply wiped away the tears at the corner of Emily's eye. "Tonight, let's not bring up anyone else."
I raised my hand.
John immediately moved in closer.
"Get ready to shut off the power and water," I said.
He hesitated, caught off guard. "Right now, Miss Sinclair?"
"Wait until she cuts the cake," I said.
John nodded and grabbed his phone.
On stage, Emily closed her eyes.
"My first wish is for Andrew to always be happy," Emily said softly.
The guests laughed and applauded.
"My second wish is for everyone to stay safe and sound." She paused, sneaking a quick glance at Andrew. "My third wish I want a home that's truly mine."
Andrew looked down at her, gentle.
"You will," he promised.
Emily sliced into the cake for the first time.
And right then, every light in the hall suddenly went out.
The music cut off.
The fountain stopped.
The big screen went pitch black.
A wave of gasps swept through the crowd.
"What's going on?"
"Did the power just go out?"
"Wait, Luna Isle can lose power too?"
Emily, frightened, pressed herself into Andrew's arms. "Andrew, I'm scared."
Andrew held her close. "Don't worry, I'll take care of it."
"Don't worry, I'll take care of it."
He pulled out his phone and called the island manager.
No one answered.
He tried calling John next.
John stood right next to me, just staring at the incoming call, not even bothering to pick up.
Andrew's voice was starting to sound shaky. "Where the hell is everyone? What the hell is going on?"
I lifted a finger.
The emergency lights around the venue snapped on.
Only the entrances and exits were lit, leaving the stage in darkness.
Security guards filed in from both sides, perfectly in sync.
The guests instantly shrank back.
"Who do these guys belong to?"
"Did Mr. Hartley send them?"
Andrew's face darkened. "Who gave you permission to come in?"
They stayed silent.
I strode in, heels clicking against the floor.
The crowd parted for me without a word.
A gasp rippled through the crowd as someone recognized me.
"Wait, is that Victoria?"
"No way, Mr. Hartley's fiancée just showed up?"
Emily lifted her head from Andrew's arms.
When she saw me, the panic on her face quickly shifted to a look of hurt.
Emily, her voice shaky, said, "Ms. Sinclair, please don't get the wrong idea. It's just a party with friends tonight."
I walked right up to the front of the stage. "A party with friends? On my island?"
Andrew's face darkened. "Victoria, what are you doing here?"
I shot back, "Am I not allowed to be here?"
"That's not what I meant," he said, trying to stay calm.
He was barely keeping his temper in check.
"There are so many people here tonight. Don't cause trouble," he said.
I glanced at the cake knife.
"Who's causing trouble here?" I shot back.
Emily bit her lip.
"Ms. Sinclair, if you're upset, I'll leave right now. Just don't blame Andrew. It's all my fault for not knowing any better," she said.
She turned to leave the stage.
Andrew grabbed her arm.
"Why are you leaving? This is your birthday party. I set all this up for you," he said.
I let out a mocking laugh.
"Yours?" I snapped.
Andrew looked at me.
"Victoria, let's talk in private," he said.
"We're talking right here," I replied.
I reached out.
Tom handed me the file bag.
I pulled out the property deed and laid it out next to the cake.
The gold-embossed Sinclair Family Crest was crystal clear under the emergency lights.
I looked at Andrew. "Luna Isle is registered under the Sinclair Family Trust. The right to use it belongs to me.
"Andrew, you used my property to throw a birthday party for someone else.
"And you even had the audacity to call it your own."
The whole room went dead silent.
Emily's hand was still clutching the cake knife.
Andrew's Adam's apple bobbed.
"Victoria, please, hear me out," he said.
I threw the property deed right at his chest.
The papers scattered, landing at his feet.
"So, are you going to explain how you snuck in using my permissions, or how you used my island to pamper her?" I shot back.
Emily choked out, tears streaming down her face.
"I didn't know, I really didn't know," she cried.
I stared at her. "You didn't know?"
She nodded, trembling.
"Andrew told me this place belonged to the Hartley family, so I came," she stammered.
I grabbed my phone and pulled up her post.
"He said Luna Isle is my home now, too," I read.
I turned the screen toward her.
"Didn't know? Funny how quick you are to claim it as yours," I said.
Someone in the crowd snickered.
Emily's face went ghostly pale.
Andrew stepped in front of her, blocking my way.
"Victoria, that's enough," Andrew said, his voice strained.
I stared at him.
"Not enough," I said.
I raised my hand.
"Clear out everyone who isn't authorized by the Sinclair family tonight," I ordered.
The security guards answered in unison.
Emily panicked.
"Andrew..." she called out, her voice trembling.
Andrew gritted his teeth. "Who dares touch her?"
"Who dares touch her?"
I looked at him. "You're on the list too."
"You're on the list too."