Chapter 13: A Birthday Too Late
A Message That Meant Nothing
Valerie’s breath hitched.
Her vision blurred.
For the first time in years, Terrence had sent her a message on her birthday.
“Happy birthday.”
Her fingers hovered over the keyboard.
She wanted to type:
“Thank you.”
Simple. Short.
But before she could send it—
Another message popped up.
Margaret’s Cruelty
A photo.
From Margaret.
Valerie clicked on it.
A plate of pasta.
The message read:
“Terry made this for me.
I heard today is your birthday, so I specifically asked him to cook for me.
Well, I get to enjoy his homemade cooking while you can’t.
What a pitiful woman!”
Valerie’s heart hardened.
The warmth she had felt moments ago—vanished.
Her fingers tightened around her phone.
Then, she opened her chat with Terrence.
Her message was calm, but her chest burned.
“I want you to make a plate of pasta for me.”
A Bitter Realization
She waited.
Minutes turned into hours.
Finally, at midnight, a reply came.
“I know nothing about cooking.
What do you want to eat?
I’ll ask Theodore to buy it for you.”
Valerie let out a small, bitter laugh.
“Know nothing about cooking… or just don’t want to cook for me?”
She looked down at the faded scar on her wrist.
A reminder.
A stupid, painful reminder.
She had once tried so hard for him.
She never did housework before.
But for him, she learned.
She cooked the dishes he liked.
Even when she burned her hands or cut her fingers—she smiled through the pain.
And yet—
When she asked him for something so small, he wouldn’t even try.
“No need.”
That was the last message she sent him.
The last thing she’d ever ask from him.
Because Terrence Crawford didn’t need to do anything for her anymore.
The Next Morning
Valerie woke up with a sense of freedom.
Today was the last day.
Tomorrow, she would be gone.
But as she descended the stairs—
She froze.
Terrence was standing there.
She panicked.
He wasn’t supposed to be here.
“Why are you here?”
Her voice was steady, but her heart pounded.
Terrence looked at her, his dark eyes unreadable.
“Yesterday was your birthday.
But I had something very important to do and couldn’t spend the night with you.
I will make it up to you today.”
Valerie let out a soft, bitter laugh.
“Yeah.
Accompanying Margaret was, of course, more important.”
She lifted her chin, masking her emotions.
“No need. I have something else to do today.”
She turned, ready to walk away.
But then—
He stood up.
Tall. Overbearing.
His presence alone was enough to command the room.
His voice was sharp.
“Are you hiding something from me?”
Valerie’s breath caught.
For a moment, she saw a flicker of something in his gaze.
Something like—fear.
But it was too late.
She had already decided.
Tomorrow, she’d be gone.
