Chapter 4

The next few days passed with me pretending nothing had changed, dutifully playing the perfect companion.

Today was Klein's birthday.

He had a refined palate and would only eat the custom cakes from the Crown Hotel.

Months ago, I'd secretly taken lessons from the hotel's private kitchen to learn how to bake his favorite cake, hoping to surprise him.

That morning, I headed to the Crown Hotel to make the cake myself.

But fate seemed determined to toy with me.

Before I even started, I ran into Christie Anderson, Klein's first love.

I instinctively turned to leave, but she spotted me immediately.

"Labia, isn't it?" she said, her tone carrying a hint of superiority.

Since she knew who I was, hiding would be pointless. Someone of her status could uncover my identity with ease.

"I didn't think you'd know me," I replied casually, picking up the baking tools and ingredients as if unfazed.

"Are you making a cake for Klein?" she asked, her tone tightening when I didn't give her the attention she wanted.

"Mm-hmm," I answered indifferently.

"I've already ordered his birthday cake. There's no need for you to make another. It'll just go to waste," she said with an air of authority.

Her words lit a fire in me.

"How do you know it'll go to waste? He can eat yours during the day and mine at night. After all, he spends every night at my place. I'd say our relationship is far more intimate than yours."

Her face turned pale, then red. "How rude! How could Klein have anything to do with someone like you?"

"And yet, here we are," I shot back with a smirk. "If you have a problem, take it up with him."

Ignoring her, I returned to my baking, leaving her fuming as she stomped off.

For the past three years, I'd been the one celebrating Klein's birthday. Now that his first love was back, I was clearly no longer needed.

But that was fine. If he didn't eat the cake, I would. I'd been craving sweets anyway.

Baking wasn't easy. It took me over a dozen tries to get the decorations right, but I found the process oddly satisfying.

The chefs were also patient, teaching me repeatedly.

When I finally finished and brought the cake home, it was already late afternoon.

Exhausted from the morning's effort and my pregnancy, I collapsed onto the bed and fell asleep immediately.

When I woke, the sky outside was dark.

A wave of loneliness swept over me as I lay in the quiet, empty house.

Klein hadn't come home.

Of course, Christie was more important to him now. He was probably with her, celebrating his birthday, blowing out candles together.

I closed my eyes, trying to will myself back to sleep.

But then the mattress dipped beside me, and the familiar scent of pinewood filled the air.

I opened my eyes to find Klein's face inches from mine. "Awake?" His deep, magnetic voice carried a surprising warmth. "Were you planning to skip my birthday entirely?"

His familiar yet distant face blurred as my chest tightened. My nose stung, and tears welled up in my eyes.

I asked, my voice thick with emotion, "Why did you come back so late?"

Klein raised an eyebrow. "I left work at 4:30 and came straight home. I've been waiting for you to wake up. It's already past six."

"I thought... you weren't coming back," I murmured.

"Why wouldn't I? You mentioned you had a surprise for me. Don't tell me you didn't prepare anything."

"Of course I did!" I exclaimed, quickly getting up.

I went to the living room, opened the fridge, and pulled out the cake I'd worked so hard on.

"Ta-da! I made this just for you. Isn't it a nice surprise?" I asked with a bright smile.

Klein's gaze softened as he looked at the cake. "You put in a lot of effort, didn't you?"

"Of course! So, where's my reward?" I teased, leaning closer playfully.

"Later, I'll have Mars transfer a million to your account," he said casually, "and the title to this property as well."

My heart leaped at the unexpected bonus, but I kept my excitement hidden behind a facade of sorrow.

"Klein, I don't care about things like that," I said, pretending to be emotional.

He cupped my face gently and kissed me. "But I care. I want to make it up to you."

We ate the cake together, laughing and chatting, and ended up curled up on the couch watching a show.

Klein, who usually only had a small piece of cake on his birthdays, surprised me by eating more than half this time.

I lay with my head on his lap, gazing up at his perfect jawline. He might not be a good man, but he was undeniably the epitome of male beauty.

As I thought about it, my hand instinctively moved to my flat stomach. If my baby inherited his looks, they'd surely be stunning.

Klein had said he came straight home after work. Did that mean he didn't spend his birthday with Christie?

Could it be... I still had a place in his heart?

The thought made my heart stir, and I couldn't help but call his name. He was engrossed in the movie but still responded with a soft, indulgent grunt.

"If I got pregnant... would you want the baby?" I asked tentatively.

His focus finally shifted, and he looked down at me, placing a warm hand on my stomach. "You're pregnant?"

My heart raced at the sensation of his hand against me. "No... I mean, what if?"

Klein thought for a few moments before answering. "I don't want kids, and I don't like them. But if..."

I hung on to his every word, waiting for the rest of his answer.

But just then, his phone rang, cutting through the moment.

He glanced at the caller ID, hesitated briefly, then picked up.

From the faint sound on the other end, I recognized Christie's voice. My heart sank.

Klein kept his tone neutral, speaking only a few words before hanging up. I couldn't help but wonder. Had they argued? Was that why he came back to me?

As if confirming my suspicion, Klein turned to me after the call and said, "Labia, I need to stop by the family estate. Don't wait up."

I forced a lighthearted "Okay" as he left, the sound of the door closing echoing in the silent apartment.

He was probably going to be with Christie now.