Chapter 47:
Taking a close look at the second envelope, the servant studied the name before finally saying, “The other is for Miss Kirk.”
Paola’s features went rigid. “Who did you say it’s for?”
Disbelief flickered in Percy’s eyes as he lunged for the letter. “What are you saying? How could that be for Rylie? She’s only just arrived today. There’s no way she even knows Brad.”
His eyes caught the name. It was impossible to deny — it was for Rylie. “How could this be?”
Rylie had come from the countryside, returning to the Owen family for the first time today. The thought of her somehow knowing Brad made no sense at all. Confusion clouded not only the Garretts, but also the Owens. No one could figure out why Brad would send Rylie a cake out of nowhere.
Disappointment crept across Paola’s face as she read the name herself. All her earlier excitement now felt ridiculous. She forced a thin smile and looked straight at Rylie. “So, you and Brad already knew each other? Seems I made a mistake.”
Laurel’s usual calm was starting to crumble, leaving her with only an uneasy grin.
From the moment Rylie had seen the oversized cake, she suspected what was happening. Percy, though reluctant, surrendered the envelope to her.
With careful hands, Kendrick broke the seal and scanned the letter. The note explained how Rylie had spent her birthday with the Kirk family and Stacey. A frown darkened his brow as he tried to mask the pain, then he passed the letter to Felix. “To be honest, if it weren’t for Brad, we never would have found Rylie. He wrote to congratulate me for reuniting with my granddaughter and clearly said the cake is meant for her.”
Felix, after reading, handed the note to his brothers. His expression grew even grimmer. “Today isn’t Rylie’s real birthday. Her actual birthday falls on Christmas. There’s no mistaking it.”
Deandre, always the careful one, spoke up. “I’ve known Brad a long time, and he’s never sent a birthday present to any girl before. Why is Rylie special the moment she walks back into our lives?”
A laugh slipped out of Marcus as he gave Deandre’s shoulder a reassuring pat. “No sense worrying. Maybe Brad just wanted to be thoughtful.”
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Deandre’s tone grew unyielding. “He’s never gone out of his way for anyone else, not once.”
That remark struck Paola hard, making her squirm inwardly.
Brad’s message to Rylie was nothing more than a brief, heartfelt wish: “Happy Birthday, Rylie.”
Back when they had that dinner high above the city, he’d paid attention to her every word.
Aside from a handful of colleagues and her own patients, Rylie had never encountered someone who listened to her so closely — and acted on it. A faint, wistful smile touched Rylie’s mouth. “The Kirks picked the day they adopted me to be my birthday. For years, I marked the occasion, not realizing it wasn’t the real one.”
As Brad’s letter crumpled in his grip, Deandre spoke with quiet resolve. “From now on, every single birthday, we’ll celebrate in style. Count on it.”
Gratitude filled Rylie’s voice. “Let’s slice the cake. Everyone should have a piece.”
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