Chapter 13: Belated happy birthday.

Words : 1123 Updated : Sep 12th, 2025

Chapter 13: Belated happy birthday. "Don’t cry." He wiped the tears that rolled down her cheeks. "He doesn’t deserve your tears." Anne trembled, her chest rising and falling with quiet sobs. "It hurts," she whispered, wrapping her arms around his waist. Augustine stiffened for a moment, caught off guard by the sudden closeness. But as he felt her trembling in his embrace, he relaxed, his hand caressing her hair. He didn’t speak, didn’t try to offer empty words of comfort—he simply held her, allowing her to pour out the sorrow she had kept buried. But beneath his calm exterior, a storm raged. ’Denis,’ his jaw tightened, ’I’ll make you pay for every single tear she sheds.’ A long moment passed. Eventually, Anne’s sobs quieted, her breathing steadying. Realizing how tightly she had been clinging to him, she quickly pulled back, embarrassment flooding her expression. A deep flush spread across her cheeks. "I-I’ll go freshen up." Jumping to her feet, she dashed into the bathroom. The door clicked shut behind her, and she leaned against it, pressing a hand to her chest as she tried to steady her racing pulse. "What am I doing?" Her mind spun, her thoughts a chaotic mess. Anne had always been reserved, careful about who she let in. And yet, with him, her walls had crumbled so easily. Anne had always been reserved, but something about Augustine had made her open up her heart to him without hesitation. She barely knew Augustine. He was a man with a powerful background, someone who came from a world far different from hers – a world where she didn’t belong. ’You already experienced heartbreak once. You can’t let yourself fall again,’ her mind cautioned her. And above all—He was Denis’s cousin. That single fact grounded her like a slap. No matter how kind, how protective Augustine seemed, she couldn’t forget that he was tied to the very man who had shattered her heart. "I can’t trust anyone so easily," she whispered, "not after what Denis did to me." She shrugged and went to take a shower. When Anne stepped out of the bathroom, she froze mid-step. Augustine was waiting for her. He sat on the edge of the bed, a first aid box beside him. His heart thumped loudly as his gaze locked onto her. Damp hair clung to her shoulders, stray droplets trailing down the delicate curve of her neck. The soft bathrobe wrapped snugly around her frame, cinched at the waist, accentuating her silhouette. His eyes moved down to the swell of her chest. His throat ran dry. The thought of her not wearing anything beneath that robe sent a sudden heat coursing through his veins. A flicker of something dangerous crossed his mind, but he quickly shut it down. Clearing his throat, he snapped his gaze away. "I brought the first aid kit. Sit down. Let me check your wounds." "I can do it myself," she said. "Sit down, Anne." It wasn’t a request—it was a command. Something about the way he said it made her move on instinct. She sat down without another word. As Augustine opened the box, his eyes drifted down to the angry red scratch marks on her knees. A fresh wave of fury surged through him as the image of that bastard pinning her down resurfaced in his mind. If Gustave hadn’t stopped him, he would have killed that man. His fingers clenched around the antiseptic bottle. "The man will be handed over to the cops," he said as he dipped a cotton swab into the antiseptic liquid. "He’ll be punished for what he did." Anne remained quiet as he gently dabbed the swab over her wounds. The sting made her flinch slightly, but he was careful, his touch light. After a moment, she spoke. "He said he wanted to make Denis pay." Augustine’s hand stilled. "He came after me because I was Denis’s girlfriend," she continued. "I don’t know what grudge he had against Denis, but that’s why he targeted me." Augustine’s gaze flickered to her face, unreadable emotions swirling in his eyes. He would look into it. Whatever business Denis had gotten himself into, it had put Anne in danger. And that was unacceptable. He resumed tending to her wounds. "It’s his issue, but it shouldn’t bother you. We’ll go and register our marriage tomorrow. I won’t let such incidents happen again. As my wife, no one will dare touch you." "Change into something comfortable," he said over his shoulder. "Then come down to the hall. I have a surprise for you." And with that, he left, leaving Anne sitting there, trying to grasp what had just happened. Anne sat frozen on the edge of the bed, her mind reeling, his words echoing in her ears. "What surprise is he talking about?" she wondered. She exhaled sharply. "What is the point of overthinking. I don’t have the energy." She would just go out and check what he had prepared for her. Slipping into the fresh clothes Augustine had arranged for her, she stepped out of the bedroom and made her way toward the hall. As she descended the stairs, a warm glow flickered through the dimly lit space. Her breath hitched. In the living room, Augustine stood by the coffee table, carefully lighting candles. A small yet elegantly decorated cake sat in the middle of the table. Anne stopped in her tracks, her heart lurching. Augustine lifted his head, his deep gaze meeting hers. A slow, gentle smile spread across his lips. "Come and cut the cake." Anne blinked, caught off guard. "A... cake?" She stepped closer, her eyes wide with disbelief. "You brought a cake for me?" Augustine walked over to her and took her hand in his. "It’s late," he murmured, his thumb brushing lightly against her skin. "But I still wanted to celebrate your birthday." He looked straight into her eyes, sincerity radiating from him. "Belated happy birthday, Anne." A lump formed in Anne’s throat. No one had wished her a birthday. Not Denis. Not anyone. But he did. Anne’s emotions swirled uncontrollably. She was happy—yet profoundly sad. The people she had once considered her family hadn’t even bothered to acknowledge her birthday. Yet, this man she had only truly known for a single day—had gone out of his way to celebrate it for her. It unsettled her. Her past experiences had taught her to be cautious, to never trust so easily. Her mind screamed at her to keep her walls up, to remember that kindness often came with hidden motives. But...His warmth, his care—it felt real – too real to ignore. Before she even realized it, words slipped from her lips. "Thank you."

Chapter 13: Belated happy birthday.

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