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The flickering candlelight on the cake danced across the bewildered faces of the Clark family.

‘Has it really been that many years?‘ they thought to themselves.

Andrew and Madeline thought back to Natasha’s birthdays before she turned six.

As the only girl in the family, they’d always spoiled her a little more than Thomas and Noel.

Every year, no matter how far away they were, they made a promise to come home and make a big deal out of Natasha’s birthday.

But now, seventeen years later, those brief bursts of joy were painfully out of place against all these long, empty years.

They’d never really thought about what all those years of atonement meant to Natasha.

They just didn’t dare to.

Olivia clenched her fists.

She thought, ‘A day is meant for remembering, not reopening old wounds. If it’s been left alone for seventeen years, why dig it up again now?‘

Among the guests, those who knew the Clark family’s past could already guess the meaning behind that number.

They couldn’t help but sigh, ‘Mr. Turner really knows how to twist the knife. He doesn’t just

for the win. He makes sure it stings.’

go

The Clark family had ignored Natasha for seventeen years. Now, right in front of them, Alexei was making up for every single missed birthday.

Some people thought even further. Seeing how fiercely Alexei was protecting Natasha, they realized that things were about to be turned upside down for both the Clark and Turner families.

*****

After everyone had been filled in on the backstory, the room fell silent.

Alexei walked calmly, holding Natasha’s hand as they approached the first cake. His eyes were soft with a gentle smile.

“Make a wish,” he said softly.

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Chapter 59

Natasha took a deep breath, clasped her hands together, and closed her eyes.

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In the darkness behind her eyelids, she saw the frightened, innocent face of her as a little girl.

She was locked in a dark room to reflect on her actions, hungry and scared, all because Olivia had fallen into the pool.

‘Happy birthday, seven–year–old Natasha,‘ she told herself.

When she blew out the candles, the sadness in that little girl’s eyes faded away, and right in front of her was a huge pink gift box waiting for her.

face seemed so much

and saw a big,

was so soft to the

eyes sparkled. “It’s so cute! I love

thought into the gift, and Natasha

the present he had picked

hand as they

the same routine over and over, but each time brought a

seventeen times took quite a while,

that tonight, Natasha was the

tired of saying happy birthday

so seriously, no one would even think about sneaking out

first time everyone got to see Alexei acting

anyone had told them before today that the ruthless Alexei would stand up for someone like

Natasha kept opening gifts, each one

items, the kind

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Chapter 59

most seasoned guests found

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only ones who couldn’t bring themselves to watch Natasha

treated the whole thing, the more it highlighted just how much they had neglected

each gift landed like a loud, stinging

was

layer, then came Natasha and Alexei,

family was boxed in at the very center so tightly that they

mocking, scornful stares coming at them

their candles already snuffed out, it felt

felt like an eternity, they finally made it to the last cake, which was for Natasha’s

time, instead of closing her eyes and making a wish like before, Natasha pressed her hands together and

I want to open the gift my mom gave me right here, right now, with my

she met the cold, distant gaze in Natasha’s eyes, a chilling realization

warmth of family.

said with fake concern, “Natasha, are you really

suddenly clenched

can’t let her have the

up that last tie, what else do I have left to

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Chapter 59

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to be hiding something,

themselves.

on? Did Madeline seriously not get her daughter a

person said, “Come on, it’s not like the Clark family

know. I heard they

it was for Natasha’s birthday, but in the

face was tense. “I’ve already prepared Natasha’s gift.

set of jewelry she had originally bought

for

she was at it, she would take the chance to tell the butler to

bracelet.

been watching her closely, so she hadn’t had a single chance to

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