Chapter 2

Theodore rushed out of the meeting room when he heard the commotion. He barely glanced at my blood-stained clothes before hurrying to Janice's side, checking her over repeatedly. The glass had left a small cut on her calf, with a faint line of blood visible.

Theodore tenderly wiped the wound with his handkerchief, his eyes full of concern. He asked softly, "Does it hurt?"

Janice blinked her tear-filled eyes and shook her head pitifully. The barely noticeable cut had somehow turned into a dramatic scene of heartbreak and concern between them.

I could not help but laugh, drawing Theodore's attention. When his eyes met mine, the tenderness he had for Janice turned into cold indifference.

"Charlotte Bailey, did you hurt her?" he demanded icily.

I raised an eyebrow and nodded mockingly. "She deserved it."

Before Theodore could respond, Janice burst out, saying, "I'm just pursuing the man I love. What did I do to deserve this? Theo, am I not allowed to love you?"

She had transformed her role as the other woman into some noble pursuit of true love. For a brief moment, her determined gaze was almost convincing enough to move even me.

Theodore smiled and pulled her into his arms. He declared, "No one can tear us apart."

I knew him too well. One look was enough to tell me that he had genuine feelings for her.

He suddenly remembered something and turned to me. "Why are you even here?"

I pointed to the ruined cake on the floor without saying anything more. After all, we had an agreement. Every year, I would bake Theodore a cake on his birthday.

His expression grew unreadable as he gravely said, "Charlotte, help me fulfill my birthday wish this year."

When I disappeared, his only birthday wish was for me to return. Throughout our marriage, his only wish had been that I would not leave. Yet, he had changed because of Janice.

He said, "My wish this year is for you to apologize to Janice."

It was the first time another woman's name had appeared in his birthday wishes. The ringing in my ears returned as my surroundings began to blur. I dug my nails into my palms, using the pain to stay alert.

I forced a calm smile and replied, "I'm afraid that your wish won't come true." Then, I turned to leave.

I wondered if Theodore would regret acting this way if he knew that this was the last birthday I would ever celebrate with him.

I could not remember how I got home. All I remembered was the chaotic noise around me. When I next regained consciousness, I was already in my house.

In my confused state, I wanted to check the time. After searching every corner of the house, I finally found my phone in the refrigerator.

Clearly, my condition was worsening. I took my medication and lay in bed, feeling my eyelids grow heavier.

I comforted myself, thinking, "Just sleep. Everything will feel better when you wake up."

In my hazy state, I felt someone sit beside me, and the familiar cologne scent comforted me. Suddenly, I was back to when I was 18.

Theodore and I had just graduated high school and were accepted into our dream colleges. However, my family was poor, and I had a younger brother to think about. So, my parents had planned to send me to work in a factory to pay for my brother's education.

When I found out, I ran to Theodore, sobbing uncontrollably. I told him to live the life I could not—to study hard and explore the vast world.

Theodore did not say much. He simply gently patted my back. Before we parted, he held my face and made me promise to trust him. I was too distraught to understand his meaning, but after that day, he disappeared.

No matter how hard I searched, I could not find any information about him. Then, on the day before classes started, he appeared at my doorstep with an envelope.

A year's tuition was 3,000 dollars, and hauling bricks at the construction site only paid 50 dollars per load. The envelope did not contain cash but proof of 60 loads of bricks he had hauled. His hands were covered in cuts and blisters, with thick calluses forming on his palms.

I hit his chest with all my strength, crying, "Theodore, are you crazy? How could you do construction work for me? What if you ruined your hands? You have a better future ahead of you!"

My voice broke as I sobbed out the last words. "I'm not worth all this..."

He smiled and wiped away my tears, saying, "Charlotte, you are worth it. I'd give everything for you."

Theodore's gaze was passionate and bright, like a beacon illuminating my entire life. That day was Theodore's birthday, and I had clumsily made him a deformed birthday cake with the flour we had at home.

It was also the day we made that promise to each other. Lost in my dream, I did not want to wake up. I mumbled incoherently.

"Theo…"

"I'm here," a voice answered.

I smiled contentedly, sinking deeper into the dream. "Happy birthday. Let's blow out the candles together."