Chapter 303: THE SUPRISE
A YEAR AFTER
"Julian... where are we going? I am tired..." Astrid cried out for the umpteenth ti but Julain just ignored and kept driving down the road without a word.
It was ti already, Astrid felt like she should be at ho but her husband had other plans for her:
"Julian..." she grumbled again.
"Love, I promise you are going to adore it, you have been stressed out lately about your coming result," He finally responds, seeing he wouldn’t keep her mouth shut.
"Well, at least I get to be at ho wrapped around on the bed, after a long damn day at work... Give
a break please." Astrid argued, her voice laced with frustration.
"I just want to worry about my results. Why did you have to drag
out in the middle of the night?"
Julian’s hands tightened on the steering wheel as he glanced at her.
"Calm down, Astrid. We will be there soon. Just relax."
Astrid rolled her eyes, leaning her chair back as she wrapped her blanket tighter around her. "When we get there, you can wake
up," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I’m going to sleep."
Julian clicked his tongue, he couldn’t believe after hours he spent dressing her up, she was trying to ruin it with the blanket, which she decided was the best to bring.
It was the only reason she agreed to co with him so he couldn’t force her to drop it.
"Maybe driving was a bad idea. I should have just taken an airplane." he taunted.
Astrid’s eyes snapped open at the ntion of the airplane. She sat up straight, her voice tinged with excitent.
"Speaking of that, you haven’t taken
on vacation, Julian! The only place you have ever taken
is Paris."
Julian shook his head, a sly smile spreading across his face. "Says the one who never has ti to spend at ho, always stuck in the office. Tell
where I could see the ti to take you there?
Astrid rolled her eyes, resting her head on the reclined chair. "You have never ntioned it before... Whatever."
The drive seed to drag on forever, but eventually, Julian pulled up to their destination.
Astrid was already fast asleep, the blanket still wrapped tightly around her. Julian smiled, getting out of the car to walk around to her side.
He opened the door, gently kissing her forehead. Astrid stirred, covering her face with her hand. "I want to sleep more," she mumbled.
Julian chuckled, pulling down the blanket. "We are there already,"
Astrid grumbled, still feeling sleepy. Julian helped her sit up, raising her chair and gently arranging her hair.
"Hey, stop, please. You are ruining the makeup I spent hours doing," he pleaded.
Astrid’s eyes fluttered open, her gaze locking onto Julian’s. He had dressed her up, done her makeup, and packed her hair, all in the na that he wanted to bring her here. She looked stunning, and Julian couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride.
"Hey, love, please. Trust . You’ll love it. Do this for ," Julian coaxed, his voice low and husky.
Astrid’s eyes narrowed, then she pouted, spreading her arms. "Carry ."
"As..."
"You no longer carry
ever since I started walking!" she argued again and Julian chuckled, kissing her lips. "Fine."
He pulled off the blanket, revealing Astrid’s stunning black gown and heels. She looked breathtakingly beautiful.
As he lifted her out of the car, Astrid felt a rush of excitent. Julian shut the door, locking it behind him. He dropped Astrid onto the floor, making her gasp in surprise.
"Hey!" Astrid whined, Julian, rolled his eyes.
"Well, guess you’re wide awake now," he teased, Astrid grumbled again as she leaned on his shoulder.
Astrid groaned, her exhaustion evident in her voice. "I’m so tired... I can’t walk."
Julian smiled, his hands on her shoulders as he gently pushed her forward. "We will be there soon, love."
Astrid mumbled, her eyes half-closed. "Where are we even going?"
Julian didn’t respond, instead guiding her forward with a gentle pressure on her shoulders.
They walked in silence, Astrid’s mumbling growing softer as she leaned into Julian’s touch.
Suddenly, a familiar voice cut through the darkness. "Welco, boss!"
Astrid’s eyes snapped open, her head jerking up in surprise. "Larry!" she scread, her voice filled with excitent. There he stood in an elegant suit.
She rushed forward, embracing Larry tightly. "What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice muffled against his shoulder.
Larry chuckled, hugging her back. "Mr Logan invited ."
Astrid pulled back, her eyes narrowing as she turned to Julian. "Why is Larry here? And why is this place so dark?"
Julian shrugged, a sly smile spreading across his face. "He’s like family, so I thought he should be here. And the darkness... Well, that’s just part of the surprise."
Astrid raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. "Surprise?" she repeated her voice barely above a whisper.
Julian nodded, "This will only take a few seconds. Just trust ."
Astrid’s eyes locked onto Julian’s, but Julain pulled her, turning her back against his chest.
Julian smiled, his hands covering her eyes, and then he nodded his head at Larry"Countdown from three," he whispered.
Astrid hesitated for a mont before starting the countdown. "Three... two... one..."
As she finished, Julian peeled his hands off her eyes. Astrid’s eyes fluttered open, and she was t with a sight that left her breathless.
The entire area was transford, the darkness replaced by a dazzling display of lights.
Astrid’s eyes widened as she took in the sight of the massive house behind Larry.
She turned to Julian, her voice barely above a whisper. "Who is this for?"
Julian smiled, pulling out a key card from his pocket. "Is," he said, handing her the key card.
Astrid’s eyes widened as she took the key card, her mind reeling with shock. "Pinch ," she whispered, "maybe I am dreaming."
Julian chuckled, gently pinching her arm. Astrid winced, slapping his hand away.
"Biggest liar! This is the sa house you had designed for your client!" she scread, staring at Julain who shrugged his shoulders.
"I wanted to make our ho special... you dislike my mansion, because of the pain you went through... And also your was given by you granddad." he pulled her hands closer.
"I wanted to build a ho, not just a mansion, but a ho which will give you sweet mories." Tears pickled Astrid’s eyes.
The joy in her that she had designed the ho she would be living in with the love of her life.
She snatched her hands from him, startling him. "Yay! It’s my ho!" she scread as she began running towards the house.
Julian’s eyes widened in shock as he chased after her. "Hey, careful! Your legs please" he yelled, he couldn’t help but wonder where the hell she got the whole strength for a person seriously complaining of exhaustion a few minutes ago.
Astrid didn’t stop, bursting through the front door as Julian and Larry followed close behind.
As they entered, Astrid stopped dead in her tracks, her eyes scanning the room. The interior was stunning, and every detail was ticulously designed.
Suddenly, the lights flickered on, and Astrid was t with a sea of familiar faces. Her family, friends, and even so of her work colleagues were all standing there, wearing big smiles.
"Surprise!" they all yelled in unison.
Astrid stood there, shock etched on her face, as Maren walked out with a birthday cake, singing a birthday song.
Astrid’s eyes darted to Julian, her mind still reeling with shock. "Happy birthday, love," he whispered, his eyes shining with love.
Astrid’s eyes sparkled with delight as she recalled, "Oh, it’s my birthday..."
Julian placed a small kiss on the side of her lips. "Yup, I knew you forgot that."
Astrid grinned, her voice filled with gratitude. "Thanks, love."
Maren scoffed, feigning offense. "I can’t imagine how only he gets the thanks... What about ? We spent months planning this."
Astrid stared at Maren, still in shock. "Months... wow."
Maren placed the cake in front of her. "You still have so cake to blow, after that, we have a long conversation."
Astrid smiled and was about to blow out the candles, but Maren pulled the cake away, making Astrid speechless. "You need to make a wish," Maren reminded her.
Astrid nodded, closing her eyes. She made a wish, then blew out the candles.
The room erupted in applause as Astrid cut the first bite of cake. She handed it to Julian, followed by Maren and Miles.
As everyone clapped, Astrid turned to them, her voice filled with emotion.
"Thank you so much... I was too occupied to recall... I appreciate you all coming here."
She moved to Zach, embracing him tightly, then followed by Becky and Desmond.
When she reached her grandfather, she swung her arms around him, holding him tightly.
As she disengaged her grandfather, Astrid turned to the rest of the guests.
The room filled with the sound of rustling paper and murmurs of excitent. Astrid collected the gifts, trying to hold back tears. "This is beautiful... Thank you all so much."
As she finished opening the gifts, the lights suddenly went out, and the room fell silent.
Then Maren’s voice whispered in her ear, "Get ready for the final surprise."
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