Be Your Lover Forever (Alicia)

Catching a glimpse of the clock, Elijah's face grew ugly with his mouth slightly agape. Even if Carolien tried ignoring him, she could take everything clearly into her eyes.

She turned off her phone and turned around to open the door.

"Carolien..."

As if he had used up all of his strength, Elijah gathered everything he had to utter the feeble cries. His big palm remained to seize the brocade box in his pocket, but he longer had the courage to take it out right then. Even if it was just to give her a birthday present, he couldn't bring himself to do so!

"I know what you're trying to say. My birthday is over, and I'm blessed. I don't need extra blessings!"

Without looking back or even giving him a single glance, her voice was so calm that no a single ripple was heard. Stepping into the room, Carolien's hands reached out to close the door.

No matter how precious an item was, it could be worthless with just a single flaw. If she didn't know about Gracie and the meaning behind the name, Gracie, she might be seething, but rationality was all that remained for her to face reality right then. If she couldn't even daydream about it, why should she bother?

For the first time, Carolien came to a deep realization that it was just a deal between the two of them, with not a single trace of love detected. Since there weren't any feelings between them, it was all a dream. When the deal was completed, nothing else mattered!

Elijah was well aware that Carolien showed such a reaction out of extreme anger. In fact, he hadn't forgotten about her birthday, not to mention how he came over after reminding Hart to bring the birthday present along. Yet, even after all he had done, he couldn't bring himself to say the simplest "Happy birthday". It was not that he forgot about it, but he had too much on his hands these days. Not to mention having the time to keep her company, there wasn't even the time for him to get a proper meal. Other than attending business gatherings, he would make do with his meals and sleep with Hudson, all because the emergency was just too urgent.

He dared not explain himself, for fear that he would have to reject Carolien, and with the gift not sent over in time, things might be too hard on her. Instead, he figured that she could probably be more at ease with the assumption that he was busy at work. Of course, it was a result of the different ways men and women think. Plus, he stubbornly held onto the wishful thinking that if Hart made it, he might still be able to give her a surprise, which motivated him to act in such a way. Even if it couldn't go as planned, she would probably be happier to have him come over before midnight with a happy birthday than to be rejected on her big day. Just how nervous and terrified Elijah had been when he had received her text, for fear of her bringing up the word "birthday". If she said so, Elijah believed that he would never bring himself to say words of rejection.

the lunar calendar, which would fall on the seventh of July. It was a date that symbolized Valentine's Day. Even if he couldn't spend her birthday with her right then, he could do it

the man's insulting means, Kim Mi-chi was stabbed by a needle and spiked.

feel guilty about her,

whatever he said was unnecessary at the moment, so in the end, he grabbed Carolien's wrist, losing all the courage to take out the engagement ring

"Carolien..."

he exerted a little more strength in his hands. With a frown, Carolien

favor...I need to ask

drained of all her strength. She paused briefly, and with a glance at her wrist, an idea

that Mrs.

hadn't received the doctor's

at risk should there be any unforeseen incidents halfway through the operation. It was why a majority of organs for donations come from accidents or unfortunate dead people. On one hand, saving a life was deemed as gathering good deeds, while for some others, it could be to fulfill their wishes. For instance, criminals sentenced to death might choose to do

it was an organ, an essential part of her body. If it were not for her affection for him, she would not risk her life in exchange for mountains of gold, even if her life might

were subtle changes in Carolien's

had sincere, truthful feelings for him, not to mention how the person she would be saving was his mother. Right then, she had a general grasp of the situation in the Luther Family. Elijah had a father, although it was

Carolien hadn't thought about

his pleas, but a realistic thought came to

she was to do