Chapter 18

After hearing that, Jayden couldn't hide the grin tugging at his lips. "No matter what kind of gift you've prepared, I know I'll love it." Natalie's smile widened. "Oh, I hope you love it," she mused. … In the blink of an eye, it was Jayden's birthday, and his party was full of socialites. Despite being the man of the hour, he spent most of the night introducing Natalie to everyone he spoke with. As the evening went on, the attention gradually shifted from him to her. Natalie knew exactly what he was doing. Back then, Clara had been the one beside him and the star of every gathering. It had been as if he'd completely forgotten that she was the one who had that spotlight. Now, he was simply returning what had always been hers. The party reached its peak when the fireworks went off outside. Surrounded by cheers and laughter, Jayden took Natalie's hand and guided her toward the cake. He looked into her eyes and, in a rare moment of vulnerability, made a wish he hadn't voiced in a