#Chapter Twenty: The Kiss

I was stunned. Today is my birthday? I hadn’t celebrated my birthday in years—five, to be exact. So much of my life had been swallowed by a relentless pursuit of survival—working to pay off debts, searching endlessly for my stolen baby—that I had forgotten what it felt like to have a day just for me. The reminder should have felt joyous, but all I could think about was Olivia. The image of her kissing Elijah earlier that day resurfaced, a knot tightening in my chest. I glanced at Elijah, unsure what to say or how to act. The uncertainty of our situation hung over me like a dark cloud. I wanted to ask if he had agreed to Olivia's request to attend the gala together, but the words got stuck in my throat. What if the answer wasn’t what I wanted to hear? Instead, I mumbled an awkward, "Thank you," keeping it simple, even though my thoughts were anything but. Elijah’s gaze softened, his voice calm but steady. "If Olivia hadn’t intruded, tonight would’ve been perfect."