Chapter 2: Happy birthday.

Angela’s POV:

I always knew this day would come. I just hadn’t expected it so soon.

Kyle sat there, detached from the lively atmosphere around him, his presence magnetic. I couldn’t help but watch, wondering how he’d respond. Would he agree?

Before Kyle could say anything, Vivian appeared.

“Angela, what’re you staring at? Come on, everything’s already on the table,” Vivian said, tugging me toward our private dining room.

I followed, but my thoughts stayed behind.

Vivian had ordered an extravagant spread, but I barely touched my food.

Last night, when I’d seen Kyle, I’d been thrilled. I’d thought he came back early to celebrate my birthday. But now I knew better. He’d returned to meet his fiancée.

He probably didn’t even remember today was my birthday. To him, I was nothing more than a fling—a convenient distraction.

“Why the long face? Did your boss dump more work on you?” Vivian asked, snapping me out of my thoughts.

I shook my head. “No, I’m happy.”

“You should’ve stayed in fashion. What’re you doing playing assistant? Is that boss of yours even worth it?” Vivian frowned, clearly frustrated on my behalf.

I smiled faintly. “Landing an internship at X Corp with my degree was already lucky. I wasn’t exactly a stellar student.”

“That’s only because you held yourself back. You used to…” Vivian trailed off, biting her lip.

She didn’t need to finish. 

Yeah. My past was enough to make anyone feel pity.

During dinner, I drank more than usual.

Back at my apartment, I called my grandmom. My mom had passed when I was just a child. My dad remarried quickly, sending me to the countryside to live with my grandmom. In all these years, he’d stayed distant. To me, grandmom was my only real family.

We talked for a while before I heard the sound of the door keypad.

At this hour, only he knew the code.

“Grandma, I need to go. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

I hung up, hurriedly setting my phone aside just as Kyle walked in.

He stood tall, his six-foot-two frame filling the doorway. The overhead light cast a glow around him, giving him an almost golden aura.

He slung his jacket over a hook, loosening the tie around his neck with one hand.

I hadn’t expected him to come tonight. But maybe it was for the best. I had something to say.

Kyle stepped inside, holding a small box. “Brought you something from my trip.”

“Jewelry,” he added. “They said girls like this kind of stuff.”

I didn’t even glance at the gift.

“Let’s end this.”

I spoke at the same time. 

Kyle’s expression darkened, his voice ice-cold. “What did you just say?”

I stood firm, my tone calm, though I couldn’t meet his eyes. “Our deal was clear. If you got married or found a girlfriend, I’d leave. I saw you tonight. You’re getting engaged.”

Kyle’s anger sharpened, his voice dropping dangerously. “You think you can walk away? Without my permission?”

He yanked my close, his grip unyielding. “FUCK, you’ve got some new guy lined up? Is that it? Using this as an excuse? Forget it.”

“I…” I tried to speak, but Kyle silenced me with his mouth, his kiss fierce, possessive.

He was rougher than usual, as if punishing me for daring to suggest an end to things. 

I felt like my bones might shatter.

Later, lying limp in his arms, I couldn’t even move. Then I felt something cold around my neck.

 I touched it—a necklace.

Kyle’s POV:

“Fuck! How dare you can say that without my permission!”

I’d skipped her birthday dinner not by choice but because his mom had roped me into one of my family meals. 

I hadn’t known she’d bring Lydia along or start talking about engagement plans. I hadn’t agreed to any of it.

After rushing through dinner, all I wanted was to see Angela. To make it up to her.

But hearing her talk about leaving him? It flipped a switch.

It’d been weeks since they’d seen each other. Last night wasn’t enough—not even close.

“I can’t take this,” she said, recognizing its weight, its worth. She’d never accepted anything from him except money for her grandmom’s surgery.

“You’re not taking it off,” I said, my voice a low warning.

The fire inside me burned hotter than ever.

After savoring every curve of her body, I finally fastened the necklace around her delicate neck. The sight of her, so beautiful, left me breathless. As she recovered from climax, her fingers traced the necklace, her eyes wide with surprise.

"Want to thank me?" I murmured, my voice dark with desire. "Then let’s fuck again."

Before she could refuse, I was already moving again, my hands trailing over her, teasing her wetter pussy, exploring. I spread her legs wide, leaving no room for resistance.

With a gasp of pleasure and the sound of my name escaping her lips, I leaned in close, my breath hot against her ear. "Happy birthday."