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Chapter 150
Jonathan emerged slowly from behind the hot air balloon, pushing a towering three–tiered cake and softly singing “Happy Birthday.”
His singing…
was beautiful.
Somehow, the absence of music made it even better–his unaccompanied voice tugged at her heartstrings, clear and warm. For a fleeting moment, Niamh was thirteen again.
She felt as if she were dreaming.
She blinked, struggling to believe this was real. Even during those college days when Jonathan had pursued her so ardently, he had never given her such a romantic surprise.
Jonathan approached, smiling, his eyes shining with that deep, gentle light–the way sunlight sparkled on the ocean.
Niamh felt herself being pulled in, as if she might tumble into those eyes and never find her way out.
She held her breath, unable to calm the wild rhythm of her heart.
“Happy birthday.”
Jonathan’s voice was low and resonant, like the vibration of a cello string.
They stood face to face beneath a shower of colorful balloons raining down over their heads. The grand Thomas family manor and the massive hot air balloon nearby faded into the background, mere ornaments to the moment.
Niamh’s thoughts spun; she stared at Jonathan, stunned and confused, watching as he drew a small, elegant gift box from the inside pocket of his suit.
“This is for you,” he said.
She took the box but didn’t open it right away.
Even now, everything felt surreal.
Was all this… really for her?
To celebrate her birthday?
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She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself.
Even if Jonathan had prepared all this, surely it was her grandfather’s idea.
“Thank you…” she murmured.
She tried to step around Jonathan, but he reached out and caught her gently by the
arm.
“I’m right here. Where are you off to?” His voice was deep but so gentle.
Niamh was suddenly very aware of his hand on her skin, as if her arm were burning where he touched her.
“I… I wanted to see my grandfather…”
“There’s no one else here,” Jonathan said quietly, a knowing smile on his lips. “It’s just us.”
“What?” Niamh looked up at him, startled.
His smile deepened, as if he could see right through her.
“Your grandfather wanted to throw you a birthday celebration, but I told him to leave it to me. So… all of this was my idea.”
Niamh opened her mouth, but no words came.
She wanted to ask him why.
Why would he do all of this for her?
He didn’t love her.
Jonathan was never one for gestures without some benefit. Was he really the type to do something so selfless?
“Peter mentioned you’re allergic to pollen,” Jonathan said, as if reading her thoughts. “So, I didn’t use a single flower–just balloons.”
Still dazed, Niamh let Jonathan lead her into the hot air balloon.
The basket lifted gently off the ground, floating up like an ark rising toward happiness.
Inside, Jonathan cut her a slice of cake, placing it on a plate and handing it to her.
For a moment, Niamh felt like the happiest woman in the world-
If only that spreadsheet on Jonathan’s computer didn’t exist. If only there was no
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Marina.
But life didn’t deal in ifs.
Below, the manor and the trees dwindled, the world shrinking beneath them. The sky shifted from blue to gold as sunset bathed everything in warm light. The clouds blushed pink and orange, painting Jonathan’s handsome profile in brilliant color.
Niamh said nothing.
Jonathan was silent, too.
The only sound was the clink of forks against plates as they finished their cake.
Darkness fell.
Stars appeared, glimmering brighter and brighter above them.
Niamh wanted to say, “Let me down, Jonathan.”
No matter how romantic this birthday was, she wasn’t about to lose her head. She remembered: today was the last day AOD would hold the raw gemstone for her.
She’d made up her mind. She would buy it.
Which meant she needed to leave.
Bang!
A sudden explosion shattered the silence.
Niamh’s eyes flew wide as color burst all around them–fireworks, dazzling and bright, filled the sky, encircling their balloon in a kaleidoscope of light.
Amid the crackle and thunder, Jonathan’s voice cut through, low and magnetic.
“Stay with me tonight. Don’t go back.”
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