Chapter 47

Elise shook her head. There wasn't really anything she wanted. Besides, it had been years since she'd properly celebrated a birthday. Before she got married, she'd been too busy with her lab work and taking care of Evelyn, so her birthdays had just slipped by. Even when Henry reminded her, she'd never had the time to celebrate. The first two years after her marriage had been different. When Lucas was still little, they'd actually had small celebrations. Anna would send gifts too. But for the past four years, since Samuel returned and Lucas started living with him, the only reminder of her birthday came in the form of gifts Anna sent over. When she'd lived in Hilltop Manor, Elise had secretly joined the family group chat for Samuel and watched the live streams for Zara's birthday celebrations. Every year, they were extravagant and grand. She used to cry herself to sleep after watching them. Now, she just felt nothing—she was numb, even. "Then sing with me tonight," Ivy said. Eli