CHAPTER 75: CHAPTER 75: YOU DON’T EVEN REMEMBER YOUR OWN BIRTHDAY?

Serena Jennings visited five gem suppliers in one day; although there were better sources than AOD, none of them were distinctive.

Seeing that tomorrow is the last day AOD promised to hold the rough stone for her, she must make a decision.

Once, Serena thought that having assets worth millions made her genuinely rich.

But after opening her own studio, she realized that money was easily spent, especially in the jewelry business.

If she purchased that marked-up rough stone and still couldn’t surpass Claire Shaw...

Sitting in the car, Serena shook her head vigorously.

She couldn’t back down before even starting.

Just as Serena was feeling troubled, her phone rang; it was a call from Caleb Lockwood.

Serena held her phone, hesitating between answering and not answering.

In the end, she answered the call.

"What are you doing? Why did you take so long to answer the phone?"

Caleb’s voice from the other end wasn’t questioning; his gentle tone sounded more like he cared about her.

Serena was stunned.

Like her, Claire has her own studio, but with Caleb Lockwood as her backing, she never worried about sources of funding.

Serena fell into a long silence, and Caleb’s voice came through the phone again:

"Are you encountering difficulties?"

Serena’s heart tightened.

"...No..."

Even if she did have difficulties, she wouldn’t seek help from Caleb.

Even if she asked, Caleb wouldn’t help her.

"Prepare yourself for tomorrow. I’ll pick you up to go back to the old mansion."

"What?"

Serena was puzzled, and then heard a light laugh on the phone.

"You haven’t even remembered your own birthday?"

Only after Caleb’s blunt reminder did Serena realize.

Tomorrow is her birthday.

"Grandpa is setting up a banquet at the old mansion to celebrate for you."

"You don’t have to go through so much trouble..."

"It’s Grandpa’s sincere wish."

Caleb’s words left Serena without room to refuse without seeming disrespectful to Lance Lockwood.

After marrying into the Lockwood Family, she received birthday gifts every year.

One was from Lance Lockwood, and the other was from Caleb.

Every time she received a gift from Caleb, she would be moved to tears.

She thought it was something Caleb had carefully prepared for her.

She believed it was a sign of Caleb’s love for her.

But now she understood.

The only person who truly remembered her birthday was Grandpa.

Caleb had Mr. Miller, his assistant, who reminded and prepared everything for him.

"No need for you to come pick me up; I’ll drive there myself."

"...Okay."

After hanging up Caleb’s call, Serena sighed.

On her birthday, she dressed simply, not too gloriously but not casually either.

This was her respect for Lance Lockwood.

Serena thought that the so-called birthday celebration was just the chefs and servants at the old mansion cooking a few extra dishes she liked, and then she could leave after dinner.

However, as Serena drove over to the Lockwood Family’s private property, she saw from a distance a huge hot air balloon.

The hot air balloon wasn’t airborne, but because it was so large, its eye-catching presence couldn’t be concealed even among the surrounding woods.

As she drove to the manor, Serena saw birthday decorations prepared for her everywhere, made of colorful balloons with her name and "Happy Birthday" written on them.

Was this prepared by Grandpa?

Serena knew she shouldn’t expect anything else, but she couldn’t help letting her mind wander.

After parking her car, Serena got out, her attention captured by the hot air balloon in front of the old mansion when suddenly thousands of balloons soared into the sky.

Macaron-colored balloons rained against the azure sky, like a grand midday meteor shower.

Serena was in shock and smelled a sweet scent at the tip of her nose.

Caleb pushed a three-tiered cake out from behind the hot air balloon, softly singing an English version of the birthday song.

The song...

Was beautiful.

The lack of music made it even more beautiful.

Briefly, Serena felt transported back to when she was 13.

Serena felt like she was dreaming.

She blinked, finding it hard to believe what was happening before her eyes.

Even during the time when Caleb actively pursued her in college, he never prepared such a romantic surprise for her.

Caleb came up to Serena, smiling, his affectionate eyes like the shimmering surface of the sea.

Serena felt as if she was being drawn into Caleb’s eyes.

She held her breath, unable to control her erratically beating heart.

"Happy Birthday."

Caleb spoke, his voice like the strings of a cello vibrating with deep resonance.

Serena stood face to face with Caleb while the rain of balloons danced above their heads.

The grand Lockwood mansion next to them and the enormous hot air balloon seemed to be the most luxurious backdrop.

Serena’s heart was restless as she looked at Caleb in surprise and confusion, seeing him draw a delicate gift box from his suit pocket.

"For you."

Serena took the gift box but didn’t open it on the spot.

Even now, she still felt a sense of unreality.

Were these...all deliberately prepared for her?

To celebrate her birthday?

Breathing deeply, she tried to maintain her composure.

Even if all these were arrangements by Caleb, they were probably Grandpa’s instructions.

"Thank you..."

Serena was about to walk past Caleb, but he grabbed her arm.

"I’m here, where are you going?"

Caleb’s voice was deep yet tender.

Serena felt that the patch of skin where her hand connected with Caleb’s felt like it was burning.

"I...I want to see Grandpa..."

"There’s no one else here, just the two of us."

"Eh?"

Serena was surprised.

Caleb’s smile lifted slightly, seeing through Serena’s thoughts.

"Grandpa wanted to celebrate your birthday, but I said to leave it to me, so...these were all my arrangements."

"..."

Serena opened her mouth.

She wanted to ask Caleb why?

Why did he do all this for her?

He didn’t love her.

Would Caleb really do something with no gain?

"Peter mentioned before that you’re allergic to pollen, so I didn’t use a single flower in the decoration, just balloons."

Caleb helped the bewildered Serena onto the hot air balloon.

The hot air balloon rose slowly, like an ark welcoming happiness.

Serena and Caleb sat inside, with Caleb taking the initiative to cut a piece of cake for her.

At that moment, Serena was the happiest woman in the world—

If it weren’t for that spreadsheet on Caleb’s computer, if it weren’t for Claire Shaw.

But...

There was no "if".

The houses and trees below them became smaller, and the colors around them changed from sky blue to orange-yellow.

The sunset cast a crimson glow, illuminating Caleb’s strikingly handsome profile.

Serena never voluntarily spoke to Caleb.

Caleb didn’t say anything to her either.

Both of them kept silent, only the cake on the plate reached its end.

Night had fallen.

Stars became more numerous and dazzling.

Serena wanted to say to Caleb, "Let me down."

No matter how romantic today’s birthday was, it didn’t sweep her off her feet.

She still remembered today was the last day AOD would hold the rough stone for her.

She had decided to buy that rough stone.

So she had to leave.

Bang!

A loud explosion rang in her ear.

Serena’s eyes widened with glittering colors.

Firework after firework, surrounded their hot air balloon in splendid colors.

Amid the crackling of fireworks, Caleb’s magnetic voice was so distinct.

"Don’t go back tonight."