Chapter 270
Chapter 270:
The final touch: I replaced the crown with a custom-cut obsidian cabochon, low profile but cool to the touch. No one else would notice, but he would.
Once I had the gift wrapped, I drove out to the Laurents’ estate.
Gwendolyn was already waiting by the door.
Her voice shot out before I even reached the last step. “Mirabelle! Come in, come in. It’s freezing out here p>
Technically, she was my mother-in-law. Kind of. I didn’t like her much, but she hadn’t done anything outrageous yet, and I wasn’t about to start a war over a hunch. Plus, she was probably still traumatized from how much she spent the last time we met.
“I’ve cleaned Ashton’s old room for you to stay the night,” she beamed at me. I gave her a vague smile and mumbled something noncommittal, pretending I hadn’t heard.
The staff had strung up a few lights in the sitting room. There were balloons, cake boxes stacked on the sideboard, and a faint smell of polish and vanilla.
Once everything was set, I texted Ashton: I’m at the Laurent estate. Come for dinner tonight.
He called before I even put the phone down.
“Where are you?” His voice was low and tight. I could hear the drag of his breathing, like he was trying not to snap.
“Gwendolyn invited me,” I said. “She said it’s your birthday. We wanted to p>
“Birthday,” he cut in. He said it slowly, like the word tasted off.
I could picture his face from the silence—set jaw, narrowed eyes, that blank look he used when he was holding something in with both hands.
He really hated birthdays?
I thought he was like me—just didn’t care for them. I figured if someone remembered, he’d be quietly pleased.
gⱯ𝗅𝗇0ν𝖊𝗅𝘀.𝗰𝗈𝗺, 𝒶𝒸𝒸𝑒𝓈𝓈 𝒽𝑒𝓇𝑒
Apparently not.
My chest tightened. I cleared my throat. “What’s wrong p>
He didn’t answer.
The line was dead quiet.
I glanced down to check if the call had ended.
It hadn’t.
Finally, a sharp breath hit the speaker, followed by his voice, low and flat. “I’ll be there soon.” Then, he hung up.
I stood still for a second, phone still in my hand. Something was off. That tone wasn’t annoyed. It was worse.
I headed for the kitchen, but before I could reach it, Edouard came down the staircase.
He glanced at the cake box on the side table. “Whose birthday is it p>
Message from Noa: Good morning, lovely readers. God loves you, and Noa wishes you all the best. ꉂ(˵˃ ᗜ p>