Chapter 4

For the next few days, Alex shut himself in his room and didn't come downstairs once.

Sophia, Susan, and the rest of the Young family acted as if he'd been erased from their lives. No one bothered to ask about him or even cared how he was holding up.

The servants' timely delivered meals were the sole reminder that he was still alive.

Then, one day, the sound of laughter and excited voices traveled upstairs, like some huge celebration was being prepared.

It suddenly hit Alex that today was Jason's birthday. It was his, too, but for him, this day had never brought him a single ounce of happiness.

From the moment Alex was born, Jason's tears and his words cast an unbreakable curse. "Alex and I have the same birthday. Will you love him more than me?" he'd cried. From then on, Susan acted as if Alex didn't exist.

Even his birthday faded from her memory.

Jason's birthday party was just as lavish as ever.

After being "shut away" upstairs for days, Alex was finally "pardoned" and allowed to join them downstairs.

Sophia came upstairs herself and brought him a suit.

The moment the door opened and she saw how pale Alex had become, a trace of distress flickered in her eyes.

"You haven't been eating or sleeping well, have you? Why do you look so haggard?" she asked.

Her voice carried a hint of guilt, and she sighed gently, "I'm also to blame. I've been neglecting you for the past few days. Don't be upset with me, Alex."

As Sophia spoke, she hugged Alex out of habit and gently patted his back.

Deep down, Alex knew how hopeless he was, but the woman standing before him was the one he'd loved for more than twenty years and the only person he'd risk everything to protect.

No matter how many times she hurt him, just a little bit of kindness from her was enough to make him cave. He simply couldn't say no to her.

He shook his head almost immediately. "Sophia, I don't blame you," he said, his voice soft.

Sophia handed him the suit. "Go on and get changed. It's Jason's birthday today, and there are going to be lots of family and friends coming over."

There, she paused, and when she spoke again, her tone carried a hint of pleading. "Alex, can you try to be the bigger person and not quarrel with Jason? Let him enjoy his birthday, okay?"

Alex's hand, which was reaching for the suit, froze in mid-air. He turned to look at Sophia, and her eyes, which had once been so full of love, now seemed distant and unfamiliar.

His voice was cold and flat. "Sophia, this is the real reason you came up to see me today, isn't it?"

It was almost laughable. His own fiancée only came to see him because of his rival. All she cared about was Jason's birthday, completely forgetting that today was his birthday too.

When Sophia saw the depth of loneliness in Alex's eyes, her heart ached, as though it was pricked by a needle.

She couldn't help but step forward and wrap her arms around him tightly once more, her voice turning even gentler as she tried to comfort him. "Alex, I'm doing all this for you. I don't want things to get worse between you and Jason.

"If you're upset that I'm always around Jason, just hold on for three more days. It'll be our wedding. Once we move into our own home, I'll be able to stay by your side all the time, okay?"

When their eyes met, Alex could see the genuine sincerity in Sophia's gaze.

He thought that she was also looking forward to their wedding.

If they could actually go through with the wedding, their relationship could reach a perfect ending, and he could die in peace.

So Alex reached out and hugged Sophia tightly, like he was hanging on to the last bit of warmth life could offer him.

"I'll listen to you, Sophia. Promise me you won't forget to marry me three days from now, okay?" he said.

Outside the doorway, Jason witnessed their embrace. Malice flashed in his eyes as he lurked in the shadows like a viper.

He didn't make a sound, silently turning around and walking downstairs with steady, measured steps.

As night fell, the Young Manor was ablaze with lights, filled with endless laughter and joy.

Jason, dressed in a bespoke suit, was surrounded by guests. He stood in the center of the stage, basking in the kind of attention usually reserved for royalty.

Meanwhile, in the corner, Alex stood there by himself in simple, unremarkable clothes. His eyes brimmed with envy and yearning as he stared at the stage, watching the life of glamor and celebration he'd never had for himself.

Just as everyone was busy showering Jason with expensive gifts, someone from the Young family seemed to have recalled something and blurted out loudly, "Hey, isn't today Alex's birthday too? Where's Alex? Why isn't he on the stage with Jason?"

Only then did everyone's eyes turn to Alex.

Susan's face flickered with discomfort. She quickly walked to Alex, held his hand, and tried to explain things to the guests with an embarrassed expression.

"Alex has always liked things a little quieter. He's never been one for big parties, so I let Jason stand in for him up on stage," she said.