Chapter 50

• Lily stood there, momentarily stunned as Lewis exclaimed, “Happy Birthday, Lily!” The words hung in the air, and it took her a moment to process what he had just said. She felt a rush of warmth wash over her, a mix of surprise and joy flooding her senses. In the whirlwind of emotions and decisions she’d been grappling with, she had completely forgotten her own birthday.
• “Wow, I can’t believe I forgot!” she said, a genuine smile breaking across her face. Without thinking, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Lewis in a warm hug. He embraced her back, the gesture feeling comforting and familiar, momentarily lifting the weight of her earlier anxieties.
• “Of course you forgot,” Lewis chuckled as they pulled apart, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “You’ve had a lot on your mind. But today is all about you, so let’s celebrate!”