Chapter 4 A Birthday Cake

The next morning, Vivian was awakened by the sound of the doorbell.

Exhausted, she opened the door and saw Cassie standing there with a crutch.

"Good morning, Vivian!" Cassie beamed brightly, holding a box with a cake in it in her hand. "Archie told me yesterday that today is your birthday. So I made a cake for you!"

Vivian was taken aback.

Vivian had almost forgotten about her own birthday if Cassie hadn't reminded Vivian.

But Vivian wondered why Archie would actually remember her birthday.

No, he didn't. He just casually mentioned it to Cassie, and Cassie happened to remember it.

Vivian found that hilarious.

"Thank you." Vivian took the cake, feeling a mix of emotions.

"Make a wish!" Cassie limped into the living room, urging excitedly.

Vivian looked at the flickering candlelight on the cake, unsure what wish to make.

She considered wishing for him to love her for a fleeting moment, but then found the idea utterly ridiculous.

Then she thought about wishing she could leave him.

Suddenly, she felt like that was the wish she should make.

She closed her eyes and silently blew out the candles.

"What did you wish for, Vivian?" Cassie asked curiously.

"Nothing." Vivian cut a piece of cake for Cassie, but found that Vivian had no appetite.

Cassie took a bite and enjoyed the cake happily with her eyes closed, "Tasty! I added lots of nuts, and it tastes very good!"

But suddenly, before Vivian could say anything, Cassie's expression changed.

Cassie clutched her throat, her breathing growing rapid, as patches of red rash spread swiftly across her face.

"I can't breathe..." Cassie's voice was filled with panic.

Vivian's expression changed. She immediately realized it was a severe allergic reaction.

"Don't move, I'll get the medicine!" She rushed into the room, retrieved adrenaline and anti-allergy medication from the first aid kit. When she was about to administer the medication to Cassie by injection, the door of the mansion was kicked open.

Archie stormed in with fury.

When he saw Cassie struggling to breathe on the sofa and Vivian holding a syringe, his eyes turned red instantly.

"Vivian!" He roared like an enraged beast, lunging forward to snatch the syringe from Vivian's hand and smashing it to the floor, then pushing Vivian away forcefully.

Vivian stumbled back, her lower back slamming hard into the sharp corner of the coffee table. Struck by a wave of overwhelming pain, she could barely stand.

"Archie..." Cassie reached out to Archie weakly.

Archie immediately held Cassie in his arms, anxiously checking her over. He said, his voice filled with unprecedented panic, "Don't be afraid, Cassie. I'll take you to the hospital right away!"

He scooped Cassie up in his arms and hurried out.

As he passed Vivian, he stopped and looked back at her, his eyes filled with overwhelming hatred. "Do you really hate her that much? If anything happens to her, I'll make you pay with your life."

His harsh words were like a dagger to her heart, leaving it bleeding profusely.

He had convicted her without even asking for an explanation.

Watching their retreating figures, Vivian, clutching her aching back, slowly crouched down.

She looked at the cake on the floor. The very thing that was supposed to celebrate her rebirth now became the evidence of her guilt.

She felt it was really ironic.