Chapter 9: The Truth Jordyn Could No Longer Ignore

The following weekend, Wynn Harper's birthday finally arrived.

Just a week earlier, Jordyn had eagerly counted down the days.

She had carefully polished every seashell and proudly made a necklace together with Trevor.

But now, as she stared at the finished gift on her desk, she couldn't bring herself to smile.

"Ms. Fleming," Hannah called from downstairs, "Mr. Fleming is waiting. You'll be late for the party."

"I'm coming..."

Jordyn slowly picked up the gift box and walked downstairs.

Trevor noticed immediately that she wasn't as excited as before.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"Nothing."

"Are you feeling sick?"

She simply shook her head.

During the drive to Wynn's birthday party, neither father nor daughter spoke much.

Trevor kept glancing at Jordyn through the rearview mirror.

Ever since Celeste had left, the cheerful little girl had become unusually quiet.

She smiled less.

She laughed less.

She asked about her mother almost every day.

Soon, they arrived at Wynn's villa.

The garden had been beautifully decorated with balloons and flowers.

Many guests had already gathered to celebrate.

"Jo!" Wynn greeted warmly as soon as she saw her.

"Happy Birthday," Jordyn replied politely before handing over the gift.

"Thank you!"

Wynn immediately opened the box.

"It's beautiful! You and your dad made this together?"

Jordyn nodded.

But instead of feeling proud like she had imagined a week ago, she suddenly remembered another birthday.

Her mother's.

The birthday she had completely forgotten.

Her eyes slowly reddened.

Wynn noticed the change.

"Jo? What's wrong?"

"Nothing..."

She forced a smile.

Throughout the party, Trevor remained by Wynn's side, helping greet guests and cutting the birthday cake.

Many people naturally assumed they were a couple.

"Mr. Fleming and Ms. Harper really look perfect together."

"Even little Jo gets along with Ms. Harper so well."

"They look like a real family."

Those comments reached Jordyn's ears.

Just days earlier, hearing them would've made her happy.

Today...

They only made her uncomfortable.

She quietly walked away from the crowd and sat alone beside the swimming pool.

Looking at the water, memories began flooding back.

Every birthday she had ever celebrated...

Her mother had always been the first person to wish her.

Every school performance...

Her mother had never missed one.

Every time she caught a fever...

Her mother stayed awake all night beside her bed.

Then she remembered the words she had spoken.

"Dad and I like Wynn more."

"Can't Wynn be my mom instead?"

Tears suddenly rolled down her cheeks.

"Mom..."

Inside the banquet hall, Trevor was speaking with several business partners when Hannah called him.

"Mr. Fleming."

"What is it?"

"Ms. Fleming is crying outside."

Trevor immediately excused himself and hurried toward the garden.

He found Jordyn sitting alone with tears streaming down her face.

"Jo."

He crouched beside her.

"Why are you crying?"

"Dad..."

"Did I make Mom leave?"

Trevor froze.

"Why would you ask that?"

"Because... because I said terrible things..."

"I forgot Mom's birthday."

"I wanted someone else to replace her."

"Mom must hate me now."

Trevor's chest tightened painfully.

He gently hugged his daughter.

"No."

"Your mom could never hate you."

"Then... why won't she answer my calls?"

Trevor had no answer.

Because he himself couldn't reach Celeste anymore.

At that same moment, thousands of miles away, Celeste was attending the opening ceremony of Rodriguez Group's newest research center.

Reporters surrounded her.

"Ms. Rodriguez, what inspired you to return to full-time management?"

Celeste smiled calmly.

"Sometimes people spend years chasing something that was never meant for them."

"Eventually... they learn to return to themselves."

The reporters applauded her answer.

After the ceremony, Adrian walked beside her.

"You seem happier these days."

"Do I?"

"Very much."

Celeste looked toward the clear blue sky.

"For the first time in years... I finally sleep peacefully."

Back in Andostan, Trevor drove Jordyn home early.

Neither of them spoke during the journey.

After putting Jordyn to bed, Trevor entered the master bedroom.

His eyes landed on the empty side of the wardrobe once again.

He slowly opened the drawer beside the bed.

Inside was a small notebook.

It belonged to Celeste.

Curious, he opened the first page.

Written neatly across the top was a single sentence.

"Things Trevor Likes."

Page after page contained careful notes.

"No onions in breakfast."

"Remember his allergy medicine every Tuesday."

"He works late before quarterly meetings—prepare coffee."

"His favorite tie is the navy blue one."

"He forgets to eat whenever he's stressed."

Every page was about him.

Not a single page mentioned herself.

Trevor slowly closed the notebook.

For seven years...

Celeste had memorized every detail of his life.

Yet he couldn't even remember her birthday.

Holding that notebook tightly in his hands, Trevor finally realized the painful truth.

He had never lost Celeste in a single day.

He had been losing her...

Little by little...

For the past seven years.