Chapter 291 Birthday mes
Julius spoke in a slow, almost gentle murmur. “Then I’ll stay at your side, and anyone who tries <b>to </b><b>stand </b>between us–I’ll remove them.”
The words were calm, yet the re beneath hisshes burned with gathering madness.
Quinn pressed her lips together. During these past days with him, she had almost forgotten that the <b>man </b>beside her was the head of the Whitethorn family–the one person in all Jexburgh everyone feared provoking.
She drew a steady breath. “Let’s change the venue,” she said.
Julius answered at once, “Then let’s go back to the apartment. Everything is prepared–only you are missing.”
“The apartment?” Quinn’s brows knitted.
Julius tilted his head, mocking tenderness in his voice. “What, have you changed your mind? A moment ago, you promised to spend my birthday with me.”
“No,” she replied, turning toward the exit. She left first, and he followed.
Minutester, their car pulled up in front of the apartment–the same ss–and–<b>steel </b>aerie where they had once, for a time, lived together.
As Quinn stepped inside, she saw that the ce had indeed been transformed. Multicolored balloons drifted against the ceiling, ribbons cascaded down, and every surface glittered with birthday–party decorations.
Beneath the ribbons hung dozens of photographs<b>–</b>snapshots of the two of themughing together. Quinn stared at her younger self, at the carefree light in her eyes. Back then, she had never imagined their love might fracture like this.
While she was lost in thought, Julius stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her from behind. “Look,” he whispered against her hair, “we were happy once, weren’t we? Quinnie, no one on earth will ever love you more than I do. Come back to me.”
Quinn snapped back to the present. “We’re already over. If you don’t let go right now, I’ll leave–and the promise I made to spend your birthday with you will vanish the moment I walk out.”
Julius’s eyes dimmed as he loosened his embrace. “I always thought I was ruthless,” he murmured, “but it seems your heart is colder than mine.”
Quinn stepped away, meeting his gaze. “Whatever existed between us is finished. I’m here tonight on because I promised to keep youpany on your birthday.”
<i>Yes</i><i>, </i><i>that’s all</i><i>–</i>just keep <i>him </i><ipany</i>.
She had felt a pang of pity when she learned he had never celebrated a birthday. In her own <b>memories</b><b>, </b>even when her family was scattered, they still mailed gifts and love. To outsiders, Julius‘ <b>life </b><b>seemed </b>dazzling, yet he had been denied even that simple joy. Coming tonight, she decided, would <b>be </b><b>their </b>full stop–the neat, final period to their story.
AUG
Chapter 291 Birthday mes
<b>“</b>Then help me light the candles,” he said, moving to the table where <b>a </b>cake waited<b>. </b><b>Julius </b>pressed slender candles into the frosting, then flicked his lighter and coaxed each wick to life.
The mes trembled. Julius closed his eyes, brought his hands together, and–silently, solemnly<b>–</b><b>made </b>his birthday wish.
After a breath of silence, he opened his eyes. He leaned forward, puffed the lone candle into smoke<b>, </b><b>and </b>turned to Quinn. “Aren’t you curious about the wish I just made?”
Quinn folded her arms. “Whatever you wished has nothing to do with me now.”
Julius lifted the silver knife, carved a neat square of cake, and set it on a te. “That’s where you’re <b>wrong</b><b>. </b>My wish is about us–about you taking my hand and growing old beside me. It is the very <i>hope </i>you tucked into the birthday gift you once picked out for me.”
She shook her head. “That was before. I can’t possibly-”
“Nothing is impossible!” he cut her off, advancing with the te bnced in his hand. “You say the <b>lies </b>killed your trust. If so, we’ll start again. I will earn back every shard of it, one truthful day after another<b>. </b>
“Your brother is still missing because I looked away when it mattered. Let me keep searching.
“The Whitethorn family runs its own overseas intelligence web–Doria included. I know you have military contacts, but add mine, and the clues will surface faster.
“Quinnie, call off this breakup, and every resource my family owns is yours. However long it takes<b>, </b>I will help you bring Rowan home.”
He finished speaking, stopped only inches from her, and held the te between them like <i>a </i>fragile <i>treaty</i>. “So–will you stay with me, please?”