?Chapter 1208:

    Now? Only calm remained. She truly wished Kristian the best.

    Ellis felt a weight lift. She had finally let go of that painful chapter.

    Back at the hotel, Kristian stood by the window for what felt like forever, lost in thought. He didn’t move until Gerard came in carrying a cake.

    “Your parents sent this,” Gerard announced, cing the cake down gently. “They also wanted me to pass along a message.”

    Kristian hesitated. A cake?

    “Don’t let your twenty-ninth year be a rerun of your twenty-eighth,” Gerard said, repeating the words.

    “Got it,” Kristian murmured. Only then did he register the date. It was his birthday. His expression turned even more unreadable. “Take the cake with you.”

    “But it’s your birthday cake.”

    “Call it my treat.”

    “Your mom asked me to snap a photo of you making a wish,” Gerard added.

    Kristian froze.

    With a reluctant sigh, he pressed his lips together and shoved on the absurdly shy birthday crown. Once the candles were lit, he made a wish.

    If wishes had any power left, Kristian wished for Freya’s happiness.

    As he silently made his wish, Gerard queued up the birthday tune, letting the cheerful melody fill the room.

    Once the final candle had been extinguished with a soft breath, Gerard leaned in, unable to resist. “So, what did you wish for?”

    “If I tell you, it won’te true.”

    “Not telling won’t make it happen either.”

    Kristian didn’t answer. He gave Gerard a withering look. This guy really had a gift for getting under his skin.

    “I’ve got something for you,” Gerard said, his voice light,ced with mystery. “Come with me.”

    L?t?st ch?pt?rs in g?lnovels.c?m

    Normally, Kristian wouldn’t have bothered, but tonight, the silence felt like too much. He didn’t want to be alone—not tonight. Even Gerard’s annoying chatter was better than nothing.

    “Sir?” Gerard called again.

    Kristian pulled himself together and rose. “Let’s go.”

    Gerard led him to the room next door.

    When the door opened, Kristian was met with a suite decked out like a party hall, the words “Happy Birthday” proudly disyed across the wall. A burst of confetti filled the air.

    Countless ribbons and streams of confetti fluttered down from above, swirling through the air like colorful whirlwinds.

    Right on cue, Liam sprang out from behind the curtain, dressed like an old-schooledian. “Kristian, happy birthday!”

    “Kristian, happy birthday!” Isaac and Melinda followed closely behind, stepping out from the same curtain.

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