Chapter 245
Chapter 245:
The messages kept coming. Kyson didn’t reply. His eyes stayed on the screen as he weighed every word in silence.
Then Kailey’s clear voice broke through his thoughts. “Kyson, I ordered a cake for you. Do you want it now, or should we wait p>
Warm yellow light filled the private room, casting a soft glow over Kailey’s face. Beneath that light, her eyes looked especially bright. Kyson’s throat tightened as he held her gaze. After a brief pause, he asked quietly, “What about you? Do you want cake first, or should we have dinner p>
Kailey’s eyes curved into a smile. “It’s your birthday. I’ll go with whatever you prefer p>
His fingers brushed lightly against each other as he lowered his gaze. “I’d rather hear what you want p>
The way he said it made her heart skip. They were talking about cake — yet it didn’t feel like they were only talking about cake.
Kailey hesitated, then answered, “Let’s have dinner first p>
𝘋іsс𝗈𝗏е𝗋 𝗇𝖾𝘸 𝘀𝘁𝗼r𝗂еs 𝗈𝗇
The moment the words left her mouth, a knock sounded at the door. A waiter entered and began placing dishes on the table one by one. Each plate looked carefully prepared — the colors rich, the aroma inviting, the presentation elegant. It was exactly the kind of cuisine she enjoyed.
She swallowed lightly but kept her focus. “Are any of your friends coming later?” she asked, lifting her eyes.
“No p>
“Then I’ll start,” she said simply.
Kyson leaned back in his chair and watched her. She picked up her fork and began eating without hesitation, completely at ease, as though this were any ordinary meal.
He knew she had asked Karol about his birthday. So this was all? Not even a simple birthday greeting?
What he didn’t know was that she was using the food to steady herself. The more she thought about what she planned to do later, the tighter her nerves wound. The silence between them thickened. Finally, unable to endure it any longer, he set his phone aside and spoke in a tone that sounded casual, though it wasn’t. “Kailey p>
“What?” she asked, looking up. A faint smear of oil still lingered at the corner of her mouth.
The sight made his lips curve. His voice softened without him noticing. “Did you forget something p>
Her eyes shifted for a split second. “Forget what?” She dropped her gaze back to her plate and kept eating. “I didn’t forget anything p>
His eyelid twitched slightly. For a moment, he didn’t know how to respond. He let out a quiet breath, almost laughing at himself.
For more than twenty years, his birthday had never meant much to him. It was usually just an excuse for his family to gather — something his mother enjoyed organizing. Kyson picked up his glass and took a slow sip of water.
His phone kept vibrating with new messages from the group chat. When he unlocked it, the screen was already filled with chaotic suggestions. Lambert had tagged him several times.
“What are you doing? We gave you all our secret moves. If you mess this up, don’t blame us p>