Chapter 4

The person who opened the door was a woman: Andrea Tanner.

I'd seen her before at one of their office gatherings—a very tall, flashy woman with real presence.

The moment our eyes met, her expression went from delight to visible shock.

I smiled and said gently, "Ms. Tanner, were you still thinking I was the surprise gift about to arrive?"

Andrea gave an awkward smile. "No, you've got it wrong, ma'am."

She called me the boss's wife easily enough.

I opened my phone and read a few of the replies aloud, right in front of her.

Honey, stay safe. I'll be waiting for you to come home.

Honey, have a good business trip. Love, your husband.

Honey, I miss you. I want to see you soon.

Andrea's face went from embarrassed to deathly pale, and she stood frozen in front of me.

I lowered my phone and looked at the woman, who was about my height.

I let out a soft laugh. "May I come in?"

Andrea didn't step aside for me; she stayed on full guard, blocking my way.

"Today is my birthday. You can't come in. I have nothing to do with you."

I said, in a joking tone, "But I think I hear my husband's voice. He's inside too."

Andrea snapped, "You're talking nonsense. It's not true."

I wasn't leaving until I saw Samuel with my own eyes.

I tried to slip past her, and Andrea suddenly shoved me hard.

My body, still reeling from the electric shock, couldn't take her force. I slammed against the doorframe, pain shooting through my whole body, and I winced.

When I looked at Andrea again, Samuel was already standing in front of her, glaring at me in a protective stance.

"Cara Swanson, if you have a problem, take it up with me."

"Giving her a hard time—what's that supposed to prove? I own what I've done."

The man who wouldn't admit anything a moment ago was suddenly so brave.

He wasn't flustered, wasn't embarrassed—the very picture of a real man.

I held back my weakness and spoke to them politely. "May I come in and sit for a bit? Just a moment, I won't keep you long."

Andrea lowered her head in embarrassment.

Samuel was quiet for a moment, then stepped aside to let me in.

The other people on the balcony said nothing. The whole place was dead silent.

I found a comfortable spot and sat down, my politeness completely out of place there.

"Everyone, carry on doing whatever you were doing. After all, it's someone's birthday today."

"Don't think that just because I'm here, it's going to affect anything for you."

That was the honest truth, without the slightest pretense.

I'd made myself perfectly clear, so why was Samuel unhappy?

He sat across from me with a frown, his face grim, his voice cold too.

"Cara Swanson, don't be so snide."

"If you hadn't held that favor over me back then, I never would have dated you or married you."

"You said you were framed when you met me, that it left you insecure and anxious, and it put a lot of pressure on me."

I nodded and picked up his line without hesitation.

"So, the one you've always liked was your coworker, Andrea Tanner?"

So they wouldn't think I'd come here on purpose to start something.

My eyes were sincere, my voice soft, without a trace of breaking down.

After all, I'd already broken down back when the shock hit me.

No hurt is worse than the pain in your own body.

Samuel was stunned for a long moment. He didn't answer me directly, and Andrea flashed a toothy smile.

"Stop joking. Today is my birthday."

Birthdays mean gifts, and I'd prepared mine long ago. I opened the delivery app to check the courier's location.

The courier had already reached the hotel entrance.

"I've got a gift here that all of you are going to love."

I stood up and opened the hotel room door, and the "surprise" I had for them had arrived too...