<b>Chapter </b><b>54 </b>


    -CELINE-


    “How much longer?” Caesar bounces in his car seat, craning his neck to see but the window.


    I smile at my son’s excitement. “I don’t know<b>, </b><b>baby</b>, Caroline hasn’t told us where we’re going.”


    “It’s a surprise,” Caroline says from the driver’s seat, eyes fixed on the winding road ahead. “But I promise it’s worth the wait.”


    ke, sitting beside me in the back, squeezes my hand. “Whatever it is, I’m just happy to be included. It’s been ages since <b>I’ve </b>done anything fun.”


    The sleek ck SUV hugs the curves of the road as we climb higher into the mountains. Trees frame both sides, asionally breaking to reveal stunning views of the valley below.


    I’m still confused about why Caroline insisted I wear the ck dress she picked out at the mall. It feels too formal for a casual evening with friends.


    “You look amazing, by the way,” Caroline says, catching my eye in the rearview mirror. “That dress was made for you.”


    I blush, smoothing the silky fabric over my thighs, “It’s beautiful, but I feel overdressed for drinks.”


    “Trust me,” Caroline winks, “it’s perfect for where we’re going.”


    ke nudges me yfully. “You’re going to leave men breathless in that outfit.”


    “Mummy is pretty,” Caesar deres, his small hand reaching out to touch the fabric of my dress.


    Everyoneughs, and I kiss the top of his head. “Thank you, my love.”


    As we drive deeper into the woods, I try once more to get information from Caroline. “Seriously, where are we going? We’ve been driving for almost an hour<b>.</b>”


    “Patience,” Caroline sings, turning onto <b>a </b>narrow gravel road. “We’re almost there.”


    A few minutester, the trees part to reveal a stunning log cabin perched on the edge of ake. The setting sun casts golden light across the water, making it shimmer like liquid fire.


    The cabin itself isrger than I expected–more luxury retreat than rustic shelter,


    “Here we are!” Caroline announces, pulling up to the front,


    I step out of the <b>car</b>, momentarily forgetting my confusion as I take in the breathtaking <b>view</b>.


    The cabin sits on a small hill overlooking theke, with <b>a </b><b>wooden </b>deck extending out toward the water. In the distance, mountains rise against the darkening sky.


    “This is…” I struggle to find words.


    “Awesome!” Caesar shouts, jumping out of the car after ke helps him with his seat belt.


    Caroline grins, grabbing a small cooler from the trunk. “Follow me.”


    We walk up the stone path toward the cabin. As we get closer, I notice the garden is lit with fairy lights strung bewer shellove creating a magical atmosphere. My confusion deepens–this seems like a lot for a casual get–together.


    Caroline pushes open the cabin door, and we step inside. <fn0d9b> Fresh chapters posted on F?nd-Novel</fn0d9b>


    I <b>gasp</b><b>. </b>


    The interior is even more beautiful than the outside, but that’s not what makes my breath catch. Therge open space is <b>decorated </b>with balloons and streamers.


    A chocte cake sits on the dining table, surrounded by wrapped presents. A banner hangs from the ceiling: “Happy <b>Birthday</b>, Celine!”


    Caroline grins, dragging me forward. “Happy birthday! Did you think we forgot?”


    I’m stunned–I haven’t properly celebrated my birthday in years. Between raising Caesar and working, special asions always seemed like luxuries I couldn’t afford.


    “…” My voice catches. “I don’t know what to say.”


    Caesar rushes to the table, pointing excitedly at the cake. “Mummy! Cake!”


    keughs, putting her arm around my shoulders. “Happy birthday, girl. You deserve this.”


    <b>Caesar </b>runs back to me, thrusting a folded paper into my hands. “For you, Mummy<b>.” </b>


    I open it to find a handmade card, decorated with colorful scribbles and a wobbly drawing of what I assume is me holding his hand.


    Inside, in Caroline’s neat handwriting but clearly dictated by Caesar: “Happy Birthday to the best Mummy in the world. <b>Love</b>,


    Caesar.”


    Tears spring to my eyes. “Thank you, baby. It’s beautiful.”


    The sound of a <b>door </b>opening pulls my attention away from the card. From one of the side rooms, Hunter steps out


    My heart skips a beat. What is he doing here?


    His tall frame fills the doorway, dressed in dark jeans and a blue button–down shirt that makes his eyes look even more intense.


    Those eyes immediately lock onto mine, then travel down, taking in the ck dress that suddenly feels too tight, too revealing.


    “Mr. Reid,” I stammer, confused by his presence. “L.. I didn’t know you would be here.”


    Caroline jumps in quickly. “Hunter owns the cabin. He was kind enough to let us <b>use </b>it for your birthday.”


    I blush, embarrassed that my boss is seeing me dressed like this. “I’m sorry if I’m crossing any boundaries. Caroline never told me where she was taking us<b>.</b>”


    Hunter’s expression remains unreadable, “It’s fine,” he says, his <b>voice </b>cool and detached. “The cabin is avable for family and staff


    <b>use</b>.


    Before turning away, he pauses. “Happy birthday, Celine


    With that, he disappears back into the room, leaving me staring after him, my heart racing for reasons I don’t want to examine too


    closely.


    Caroline ps her hands. “Okay! Let’s get this party started. We have dinner warming in the oven, sweet wine chilling, and games nned.”


    The next few hours pass in a blur ofughter and food.


    Caroline has arranged everything perfectly–thesagna is delicious, the wine sweet and light, and the games get all of usughing, even Caesar who doesn’t understand the rules but enjoys the attention..


    Throughout the evening, Hunter emerges asionally, pretending to get water or grabbing something <b>from </b>the kitchen. Each time, his eyes find mine across the room, lingering for a moment before he looks away.


    I try not to stare, but I <b>can’t </b>help noticing how different he seems here, away from the mansion–slightly more rxed, his shoulders <b>less </b>rigid.


    He lurks in the background, pretending disinterest. But I catch him watching Caesar with <b>an </b>odd expression–something between longing and fear.


    When Caesar runs over to show him a drawing, Hunter freezes momentarily before awkwardlyplimenting the colorful


    scribbles.


    Caroline shoots Hunter knowing nces every time he appears, as if they’re sharing some private joke.


    “Time for cake!” Caroline announces after dinner.


    The chocte cake is perfect–rich and moist with dark chocte frosting. Caesar helps me blow out the candles, his little face glowing with excitement.


    “Make a wish, Mummy!” he insists.


    I close my eyes, but instead of wishing, I find myself thinking of Hunter–wondering why he’s here, why he keeps watching me, why my skin feels warm every time our eyes meet.


    After cake, ke checks her watch. “I should get going, I have an early shift tomorrow.”


    “I’ll drive you back,” Caroline offers. “Hunter, you don’t mind if Celine and Caesar stay a bit longer, do you? I’lle back for them.”


    Hunter nods stiffly. “Of course not.”


    Before leaving, I pull Caroline aside. “Thank you for this. It’s been amazing.”


    She smiles, her eyes twinkling. “You should be thanking someone else.”


    I frown, confused. “What do you mean?”


    She just winks and heads for the door, ke following after giving me a tight hug


    By the time they leave<b>, </b>Caesar has crashed on the couch, his small body curled around his favorite toy car, exhausted excitement. I tuck a nket around him, kissing his <b>forehead</b><b>. </b>


    from the


    Left alone with Hunter and my sleeping son, I feel suddenly awkward. I begin clearing the dishes, needing something to do with my


    hands.


    4:58 Fri, Aug


    “You don’t have to clean up,” Hunter says, appearing beside me <ol><li>me. “Caroline arranged for someone </li></ol>


    neone toe tomorrow”


    “I don’t mind,” I reply, gathering paper tes and cups “It’s the least can do after all this”


    We work in silence for a few minutes, the only sound the soft clink of dishes. I’m hyper–aware of his presence the subtle scent of his cologne, the warmth radiating from his body when he passes close to me.


    When the kitchen is reasonably tidy, I step outside onto the deck for some fresh air. The night is clear, stars reflected in the st surface of theke. I lean against the wooden railing, breathing deeply.


    Through the open window, Thear voices. Hunter and Caroline–she must have returned. They’re standing around theer of the deck, just out of sight.


    “Did she like the cake?” Hunter asks, his voice softer than I’ve ever heard it.


    “She loved it,” Caroline replies. “Just like you said she would. Chocte was the perfect choice


    My eyes widen in realization. It wasn’t Caroline who arranged all this–it was Hunter. The cake, the decorations, maybe even the presents. But why? And why hide behind Caroline?


    I step back quietly, my mind racing with questions. Why would my cold, distant boss go to such lengths for my birthday? And why not take credit for it?


    The stars shimmer above, offering no answers. But as I look back at the cabin where my son sleeps peacefully, one thing bes clear: Hunter Reid is <b>not </b>who I thought he was.


    And I’m not sure what to do with that knowledge.


    ?