Chapter 19
Vernon wasn’t ‘taking chances this time. After the last incident, security was airtight–guards at every entrance, no way Andrew was crashing Lena’s birthday party.
Except… he never showed.
When the butler reported it, Vernon’s eyes flickered, but that uneasy feeling? Still there. Just in case, he kept security on high
alert.
Lena’s birthday was straight–up legendary.
Vernon went all out–her name lit up on every billboard in Engloria, fireworks blasting the second she blew out her candles. The
castle? Drenched in her favorite flowers, sparkling like a dream.
Gifts piled up like a mini mountain, almost as tall as the custom castle cake Vernon had designed. But the real showstopper? Lena
wearing the Cœur d’Amour Éternel, a $10 million auction piece Vernon had locked down just for her.
They stood together, blowing out the candles. The second the flames vanished, fireworks exploded outside, lighting up the sky.
The display lasted until the banquet wrapped up.
As guests trickled out, Lena and Vernon stood by the grand doors, seeing them off.
Just as Lena was about to speak-
A swarm of drones shot into the night sky, glowing as they twisted into intricate patterns.
Lena instinctively glanced at Vernon. Another surprise?
He shook his head. He had planned a drone show for her–just not now.
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
“Oh my God, that’s gorgeous!”
“The patterns look like a love confession!”
“What a romantic idea!”
Lena’s and Vernon’s faces darkened as they stared up.
The more she looked, the more familiar those images became.
And the worse she felt.
At first, the drones formed her image.
Then–midway through–the solo portrait morphed into a couple.
1/3
Chapter 19
The guests murmured, trying to place the man.
Lena knew instantly.
Andrew.
A dull buzzing filled her head. ‘Is he trying to ruin me?‘
The birthday broadcast had ended, but people were still watching from their balconies.
And now, Andrew had turned her birthday into a public confession.
