Chapter 1: The Birthday She Wasn't Wanted

When Celeste Rodriguez arrived at Andostan International Airport, the city was already covered by the soft glow of the night lights. She had spent nearly seventeen hours traveling, yet the exhaustion on her face couldn't hide the excitement in her heart.

Today was her birthday.

It had been more than two months since she had last seen her husband, Trevor Fleming, and their six-year-old daughter, Jordyn. She had deliberately postponed several important business meetings just so she could spend this special day with the two people she loved the most.

As soon as she switched on her phone, dozens of notifications flooded the screen.

"Happy Birthday!"

"Have an amazing day!"

"Wishing you happiness always!"

Messages from friends, colleagues, and business partners continued arriving one after another.

Celeste smiled politely as she replied to a few of them.

Then her thumb paused.

There wasn't a single message from Trevor.

Not even a simple 'Happy Birthday.'

She stared at his chat window for several seconds before quietly locking the screen.

Maybe he's just busy, she told herself.

Trevor had always been busy.

During their seven years of marriage, work had always come before everything else.

Still, she couldn't stop the small disappointment that settled inside her heart.

By the time she arrived at the Fleming villa, it was already after ten o'clock at night.

The familiar gates slowly opened.

Housekeeper Hannah Lynd hurried outside when she heard the car stop.

"Mrs. Fleming!" Hannah exclaimed in surprise. "You didn't tell us you were coming today."

"I wanted it to be a surprise," Celeste replied with a gentle smile.

"Where are Trevor and Jo?"

Hannah hesitated before answering.

"Mr. Fleming hasn't returned yet. Miss Jordyn is upstairs in her room."

Celeste nodded.

"I'll go see her."

She carried only a small gift bag upstairs while Hannah took care of the luggage.

Pushing open Jordyn's bedroom door, Celeste immediately saw her little daughter sitting cross-legged beside the window.

The little girl was carefully threading colorful seashells onto a string.

She looked so focused that she didn't even notice someone had entered.

"Jo," Celeste called softly.

Jordyn looked up, her eyes widening with surprise.

"Mom!"

She quickly ran over for a brief hug.

Celeste wrapped both arms around her daughter tightly.

For two whole months, she had dreamed about this moment.

She kissed Jordyn's forehead again and again, unable to hide her happiness.

"Mom missed you so much."

"I missed you too," Jordyn answered, though only for a second before pulling away.

"Mom, I have to finish this."

Celeste looked down at the colorful shells spread across the table.

"It's beautiful. Are you making a necklace?"

"Mm-hmm!" Jordyn's eyes sparkled excitedly. "It's for Aunt Wynn! Her birthday is next week. Dad helped me polish every shell."

The smile on Celeste's face froze.

"Aunt Wynn?"

"Yes! Dad said she'll definitely love it."

Jordyn happily continued arranging the beads.

"Dad also ordered a special gift for her. Tomorrow we're going shopping together."

Celeste felt something tighten painfully inside her chest.

She tried to smile.

"Jo... do you remember what day today is?"

Jordyn blinked in confusion.

"Wednesday?"

"No..."

"Oh!" Jordyn suddenly remembered. "It's your birthday! Happy Birthday, Mom!"

She smiled sweetly before immediately turning back toward the necklace.

"I have to finish this before Dad comes home."

That was all.

No present.

No hug.

No excitement.

Celeste quietly stood there for another minute before leaving the room.

Downstairs, Hannah noticed the sadness in her eyes.

"Mrs. Fleming... Mr. Fleming called earlier. He said he's busy tonight and asked you to rest first."

Celeste nodded slowly.

"I understand."

Still unwilling to give up, she took out her phone and called Trevor.

After several rings, he finally answered.

"What is it?"

His voice sounded as calm and distant as always.

"Trevor... I'm here."

"I know."

Before she could continue, a woman's cheerful voice echoed through the speaker.

"Trevor, everyone is waiting! Come over here!"

Celeste recognized the voice immediately.

Wynn.

Trevor answered gently, "Coming."

Then he returned to the call.

"I'm busy. We'll talk tomorrow."

The line went dead.

Celeste slowly lowered her phone.

The villa suddenly felt colder than before.

She walked into the dining room.

A beautiful birthday cake she had ordered herself was waiting on the table.

The candles remained unlit.

She sat alone in front of it until midnight.

No one came home.

The next morning, Celeste woke up early.

Today was officially her birthday in Andostan because of the time difference.

She decided to try once more.

She sent Trevor a message.

"Do you have time at noon? Let's have lunch together with Jo."

Several minutes later, he replied.

"Okay. Send me the address."

A smile finally appeared on Celeste's face.

Maybe today wouldn't be so bad after all.

She personally reserved a table at the restaurant where they had celebrated their first wedding anniversary.

Just as she finished getting ready, she overheard Hannah talking to Jordyn downstairs.

"Aren't you happy your mother is here?" Hannah asked.

"I am... but Dad promised to take Wynn to the beach today," Jordyn replied innocently.

"If Mom comes too, it'll be awkward."

"Jo..." Hannah sighed.

"Dad and I like Wynn more," Jordyn continued. "Can't she become my mommy instead?"

Celeste stood frozen outside the staircase.

Every word pierced her heart like a knife.

She had almost died giving birth to Jordyn.

She had devoted every waking moment to raising her.

Yet now...

Her own daughter wanted someone else to replace her.

Unable to listen any longer, Celeste quietly returned to her room.

Around noon, just as she was about to leave for the restaurant, Trevor sent another message.

"Something came up. Lunch is canceled."

Celeste stared at the screen.

She wasn't surprised anymore.

Plans with Trevor had always been canceled whenever something—or someone—became more important.

Still, she drove toward the restaurant anyway.

Perhaps she simply wanted one last chance to believe in her family.

As she stepped out of the car, she saw them through the restaurant's glass windows.

Trevor.

Jordyn.

And Wynn.

The three of them sat together like the perfect family.

Trevor smiled while serving food onto Wynn's plate.

Jordyn leaned happily against Wynn's shoulder, laughing as Wynn fed her dessert.

The gentle smile on Trevor's face was one Celeste had almost forgotten existed.

He looked at Wynn the way she had always dreamed he would one day look at her.

No one noticed Celeste standing outside.

She remained there for several long minutes.

Finally, she smiled bitterly.

"So this was the important thing," she whispered.

She turned around without entering the restaurant.

Back at the villa, she calmly unpacked the gifts she had brought for Trevor and Jordyn.

One by one, she placed them back into her suitcase.

Then she sat at the study desk.

A blank sheet of paper lay before her.

After taking a deep breath, she began typing.

"Divorce Agreement."

Seven years.

She had spent seven years believing love could change a person's heart.

Now she finally understood.

No matter how deeply she loved Trevor, she could never force him to love her back.

After signing every page, she placed the documents inside a white envelope.

She handed it to Hannah.

"Please give this to Trevor when he comes home."

"Mrs. Fleming... are you leaving?" Hannah asked anxiously.

Celeste looked around the villa one last time.

Every corner held memories she had once treasured.

Now, they felt like painful reminders of everything she had lost.

She forced a small smile.

"Yes."

"Where are you going?"

"Home."

Dragging her suitcase toward the waiting car, Celeste didn't look back again.

"To the airport," she quietly told the driver.

As the car disappeared beyond the villa gates, neither Trevor nor Jordyn knew that the woman who had loved them with all her heart had finally decided to let them go forever.