August 8th — Morrison’s Birthday
For weeks, Lilian had been secretly making plans.
She had gone to a small cake shop after work, seeking out a pastry chef her friend had recomnded. She couldn’t cook to save her life—but she could learn. Just enough to bake a cake. Just enough to give Morrison a surprise on his birthday.
She wasn’t the type of girl who only took without giving back. Most days, Morrison was the one who looked after her—cooking for her, caring for her in little ways. This ti, she wanted to be the one to give sothing in return.
The first few attempts had been... disastrous. She was clumsy, awkward, and completely unfamiliar with the process. The cakes she made at the beginning were so ugly that she almost couldn’t bear to look at them. Almost. She still took pictures of each one, dusted head-to-toe in flour, because even those misshapen disasters carried her feelings for him.
When Lilian loved, she loved with her whole heart—giving everything she could.
After several days of practice, her skills finally started to take shape. On the day of Morrison’s birthday, she left work early with the manager’s permission. She needed the extra ti—not just to make the cake, but to make sure it was perfect. If she failed, she would still have a chance to start over.
That evening, she also ordered from Morrison’s favorite restaurant, arranging for the food to be delivered to her apartnt. She wanted the celebration to be quiet, just the two of them.
Morrison had agreed to dinner, unaware of the surprises waiting for him—least of all the cake she had made with her own hands.
But just as Lilian was about to leave the office, her phone rang.
It was Bert.
"I’m downstairs at MOS Corp. Co down, I have sothing for you."
She was leaving anyway, so she agreed to et him.
When she saw him, she realized what it was. A while back, Bert had designed several outfits for her—dresses and handbags. Now, all of them had been made and delivered, each neatly packed in an elegant box.
Her eyes lit up. She pulled one out for a quick look.
"It’s beautiful... How did it get done so fast? I thought it would take ages."
She rembered one in particular—a white tulle dress, almost like an evening gown. She’d chosen it thinking she might wear it to so formal event one day. But now... maybe tonight would be the perfect night. His birthday. A beautiful dress, a homade cake, his favorite al. That would be her way of showing him her heart.
Bert explained,
"I’ll be going back to the States in a few days. My mother’s not doing well, so I pushed the factory to finish early."
He wasn’t lying. His mother had called, saying she might need to be hospitalized for a minor surgery. Even with the distance between them, she was still his mother—and as her only son, he had to be there.
Still, he’d made sure Lilian’s order was completed first, personally delivering it as a gesture of the care and affection he had for his half-sister.
Bert had actually been hoping to see her try on every single dress he’d made for her. He could already picture it—each one would suit her perfectly. But for now, he’d have to wait. Maybe when he ca back.
When Lilian heard that his mother was unwell, she asked politely,
"What’s wrong with her?"
"Nothing serious," Bert replied.
He didn’t elaborate. His mother’s presence had always been... a complicated subject in the Burg Eltz family.
Lilian tilted her head.
"So, if you’re gone, will my brother be taking over Washington Co. again for a while?"
Bert nodded.
"Yeah."
Truth was, he’d long grown tired of managing Washington Co. Dave had asked him to handle it for another year, and he’d agreed—but then news about his mother ca. Maybe this was the perfect chance to hand the company back to Dave once and for all.
From this mont on, Bert would part ways with his past.
With the Dave who had been filled with resentnt, obsession, and a touch of madness.
Lilian didn’t press further. Washington Co.’s affairs had nothing to do with her anyway. Instead, she smiled brightly and thanked him.
"Thank you, Bert, for all these beautiful clothes—"
Honestly, she’d never expected Bert to treat her so well. Not after the tension he’d had with Dave.
It was... surprising. And touching.
Maybe this was the strange pull of blood ties.
Seeing her so radiant, Bert couldn’t help but feel lighter himself. Almost without thinking, he reached out and ruffled her hair.
"Why are you off work so early today?" he asked warmly.
The sudden gesture caught her off guard. Her cheeks ward, and she hesitated over the answer.
"I... um... it’s a friend’s birthday today. I’m going to make him a cake... as a gift."
Bert chuckled.
"I was actually going to ask you to have dinner with , but I guess that’s not happening tonight."
"Another day, then. My treat," Lilian said cheerfully. He’d designed so many lovely outfits for her—it was only right to return the favor. And if he was leaving for the States soon, it could be a little farewell dinner too.
"Another day it is," Bert agreed. "Now go, before you’re late for whatever you’re planning."
Bert opened his car door and moved the boxes of clothes and shoes into Lilian’s trunk. She smiled brightly at him, waved, and drove off.
He stayed where he was, watching her car disappear down the street, a faint frown tugging at his brow.
What kind of "friend’s birthday" would make her bake a cake as a gift? She wasn’t the type to do such things—certainly not for just anyone.
If a girl went out of her way to do sothing she wasn’t good at... and even enjoyed it? There was only one explanation. That person was her boyfriend.
Most of what he knew about her love life ca from Daniel. He’d heard she’d broken up with Karl because of "irreconcilable differences," and that she now had a new boyfriend. But who exactly? No one knew.
She’d once said she’d bring him ho to et everyone "in a few days." But with Bert leaving for the States soon, he was more eager than most to find out. He wanted to know who this man was—so he could size him up before he left.
And if this mysterious boyfriend’s birthday was today...
Suddenly, a na ca to mind.
Morrison.
Just two days ago, Bert had run into him at a business gala. He’d overheard another company’s CEO congratulating him—sothing about it being his birthday soon. Soone had even remarked, "August 8th—what a lucky date! No wonder the boss is so successful in both business and romance."
Bert hadn’t ant to rember, but the date was so distinctive, and the crowd had repeated it so many tis that it stuck.
Then he recalled the way Morrison had reacted the last ti Bert tried to invite Lilian to dinner—how tense he’d looked.
A sharp breath escaped Bert.
Could it be? Could Lilian’s new boyfriend really be Morrison—the notorious playboy?
The thought made his expression turn dark.
He knew exactly what kind of man Morrison was. Even though he’d only been in Burg Eltz for a short ti, Bert had already heard the stories. The endless string of ex-girlfriends. The reputation for leaving hearts behind like discarded shoes.
And his Lilian—pure, bright, and good—if she had really been taken in by a man like that...
Bert’s hands clenched. The urge to punch sothing rose sharp and fast.
If her boyfriend had been anyone else, he might have kept his cool. He’d even liked Karl well enough. But Morrison? That, he could never accept.
Still, he forced himself to calm down. For now, it was just a guess. There was no need to get worked up over sothing unconfird.
Once his breathing evened out, Bert got in his car and started the engine.
He would follow her.
By the end of tonight, he’d know exactly who her boyfriend was.
Lilian, of course, had no idea she was being tailed. She drove to the cake shop in high spirits, heading straight into the kitchen at the back. Today was special—this cake ant sothing to her.
And it seed even the heavens were on her side. Everything went perfectly, her hands moving with ease.
One try, and the cake ca out beautifully. No mistakes. No need for a do-over.
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