As my twenty-fifth birthday banquet drew near, my fiancée said indulgently, "The new male assistant is great at planning romantic surprises. Leave the party to him, he’s sure to impress you."

I had been looking forward to this unique celebration for days. But the moment I stepped into the venue, every drop of blood in my body turned cold.

Next to a standee with my portrait stood a black plaque engraved with “In Memoriam,” surrounded by an enormous funeral wreath.

The assistant, Carson Grazer, stepped out from behind my fiancée, holding a black-and-white photo of an elderly woman. His eyes were red and swollen.

“Today marks the third anniversary of my mother’s death. She never had a birthday celebration in her life. President Walton said it was a small matter, so we combined her death anniversary with your birthday banquet, to give her a little happiness too. Brother Bryce, you don’t mind, do you?”

As I looked around at the setup, my vision went black, rage and disbelief surged straight to my head.

"Jenna, today is my birthday, and you actually let someone hang a funeral wreath at my party? Are you seriously cursing me?"

She frowned, her voice calm and indifferent.

"What are you talking about? Life and death are both important. You're just celebrating a birthday, Carson is simply marking Aunt Symonne's death anniversary."

"It's just symbolic. Everyone’s here to enjoy themselves. Why get so worked up over something so minor?"

I let out a cold laugh, then swept the table over with a loud crash.

"In that case, forget the birthday. Let's call off the engagement."

——

When I flipped the table and knocked over the wreath behind me, Jenna Walton's expression instantly darkened.

"Bryce Reeves, what kind of nonsense is this?"

"Carson planned this entire birthday banquet. He’s just a young man who put in a lot of effort. Even if you didn’t like it, you should at least acknowledge his work."

With a frown, she ordered the staff to reset the table and carefully stood the wreath back up.

Blood rushed to my head again. I pointed at the wreath and sneered.

"Jenna, what did you promise me before? You said you’d fill this place with 999 roses for my birthday. Are these the flowers you had in mind?"

My chest rose and fell with anger.

"You say this isn’t a curse? Not even a dog would believe that."

Anyone walking in would’ve been stunned.

At the center of the venue stood a large standee with my portrait.

Behind it, an enormous funeral wreath. The whole place reeked of death.

To someone who didn’t know better, it looked more like a funeral than a birthday.

Jenna looked displeased.

"Isn’t a wreath made of flowers, too? Stop being so superstitious. Carson is kind and gentle. How could he possibly curse you? I think these flowers are just as meaningful as roses. It’s only a birthday. You should be thankful. Why make a fuss like some spoiled young master?"

Seeing the tense atmosphere, Carson, still holding the black-and-white photo, stepped forward, flustered. His eyes were red, his voice trembling.

"Brother Bryce, please don’t be angry. Today is the third anniversary of my mom’s death. She never celebrated a birthday in her entire life. President Walton knew I only earn 3,000 dollars a month and couldn’t afford a ceremony, so she said it was fine to combine it with your celebration, so my mom could also feel joy. I didn’t think you’d be so upset..."

As he spoke, tears streamed down his cheeks, making it seem like I had bullied him.

"If you really mind, I’ll just take my mom and leave."

But though he said he would leave, his feet never moved.

I spoke coldly, “Alright then, leave. Now.”

Carson cried even harder, his shoulders trembling like a wounded rabbit, barely holding himself together.

Just as he turned to go, Jenna reached out and grabbed his arm.

“Carson, there’s no need for you to leave. I agreed to this arrangement today. I said we’d combine Aunt Symonne’s third death anniversary with the birthday banquet, and I always keep my word.”

Then she turned to me with a look of growing impatience.

“Bryce, that’s enough. Stop making a scene.”

I glanced at the funeral wreath and memorial display behind me, and fury surged like wildfire through my chest. My voice turned sharp with disbelief.

“You said your assistant would handle the birthday preparations. This is what you call a celebration?”

“Jenna, whether it’s superstitious or not, I’m not sick enough to celebrate my birthday in a damn memorial hall. Get rid of all this, now.”

Seeing that my tone left no room for argument, her frown deepened, and her expression hardened.

“Bryce.”

She stepped forward and gently pressed down on my hand, her brows furrowed as she tried to coax me with a soft tone.

“So many guests came today, all here to celebrate your birthday. Carson is just a young man, alone in this city. He’s sensitive. Can you not make this a scene? Just give me some face.”

I sneered and shook her hand off. “Give you face? And where’s mine?”

“Jenna, you do know today’s my birthday. All the influential uncles and elders from the capital are attending.”

“Now, guess what happens if this gets out? That I, Bryce, spent my twenty-fifth birthday at a memorial alongside someone’s death anniversary. Do you think the Reeves family would still have any standing in the capital?”

As soon as the words left my mouth, Jenna’s face darkened, bit by bit.

She knew I wasn’t wrong.

Even if our family wasn’t the most powerful, we still held weight. My father’s network stretched across the entire capital, and most of the guests today were prominent figures who came here just for me.

But Jenna’s next words turned everything on its head.

“Bryce, don’t go too far.”

“That’s Carson’s mother. Aunt Symonne raised him all on her own. She’s a respected elder, not some ‘dead person’ like you called her. Show a little respect.”

My eyes turned red in an instant, brimming with cold ridicule.

So that was it. I thought her silence earlier meant she was seeing things from my side. Turns out, after all that hesitation, she was simply offended I didn’t show enough respect to Carson’s mother.

“Fine. I misspoke. I apologize. But now, please leave. Bodyguards, get rid of all this.”

The moment I gave the command, the bodyguards behind me stepped forward. But Jenna frowned and rushed to block them.

“Bryce, Carson spent the entire night preparing this. I won’t let you destroy it.”

“I told you already, it’s just symbolic. It’s not like I’m cutting off anyone’s limb. Can’t you show a little empathy?”

“And if you tear this down now, what do you think people will say? The entire company will talk. They’ll think Carson messed up badly. Are you really going to sit back and watch him lose everything?”

“Bryce, you’re being unbelievably cruel.”

I almost laughed, furious beyond words. To her, even black could be twisted into white.

Whatever surprise or fondness I once held for Jenna had long evaporated.

“You remember you’re his boss, but did you forget, you’re also my fiancée?”

Carson dropped to his knees, his shoulders shaking, tears falling one by one.

“Brother Bryce, I know I didn’t think this through. But the banquet’s already set, and my mom’s portrait is already here.”

“It won’t take long. Please, just let her memorial last for half an hour. That’s all I’m asking.”

I pushed him away coldly.

“No.”

“This is my home. Today is my birthday. What right do you have to hang a funeral wreath here and bring bad luck to me?”

It was just a light shove, but Carson lost his footing and staggered back, falling straight into Jenna’s arms.

“Bryce, haven’t you made enough of a scene?”

Jenna finally snapped. She shoved me hard, her voice low but seething with anger.

“Carson’s already been through so much. He’s only asking for a little, for Aunt Symonne’s memorial to last just half an hour. Can’t you even grant that?”

“You’re usually the understanding one. What’s with the pettiness today?”

I slammed into the sharp edge of the table behind me. Pain shot through my body, and a dark bruise bloomed instantly on my arm.

I almost laughed. Me? Petty?

So what, was I supposed to smile and bow while someone trampled all over me? Only then would I be seen as understanding.

"Jenna, stop being generous at my expense."

"If you’re so thoughtful toward your male assistant and want to hold a grand third death anniversary for his mother, find another venue. Why drag it into my birthday just to make me sick?"

I hadn’t meant to disrespect anyone. But respect should go both ways.

If others stepped over my boundaries first, I had every right to defend myself. I refused to be shackled by their moral blackmail.

I shot back with a cold smile, "If you’re so desperate to hold Carson’s third death anniversary, why not use your place? Your living room sounds just about right."

Jenna’s face twisted, her expression turning sour.

Before she could speak, Carson slumped to the floor in despair.

His shoulders trembled violently, tears dripping onto the black-and-white portrait in his hands.

“Mom, I’m sorry. It’s all my fault for being so useless.”

“My mom raised me alone since I was a kid. I once swore that when I made enough money, I’d throw her a grand birthday party. But before I could do that, she was gone. I just wanted to share Brother Bryce’s joy, and maybe bring a little happiness to my mom in the afterlife.”

“If Brother Bryce finds this inappropriate, then we’re the ones who disturbed him. I’ll take my mom and leave right away…”

Carson wiped his tears, lifted the portrait with both hands, and stumbled toward the door.

At the threshold, he paused and looked back, his eyes red and wet with sorrow.

“Brother Bryce, I’m sorry. I hope I didn’t ruin your lucky hour. Please, go ahead and continue your birthday banquet.”

Before I could utter a word, Jenna rushed over, grabbed his hand, and pulled him tightly into her arms.

“Carson, you and Aunt Symonne don’t need to leave.”

“I already promised you. I will give Aunt Symonne a dignified, grand third death anniversary. I’ll keep my word.”

The tenderness in her eyes pierced through me like a blade. That gaze, it used to belong only to me, back when her love was still pure.

I remembered how my friends warned me over and over.

“You better watch that new male assistant at your fiancée’s office. Total bastard type, definitely not simple. He’s getting way too close to Jenna.”

I had laughed. “No chance. Jenna and I have been together for eight years. She’s not interested in other men.”

But now, watching her shield Carson without hesitation, completely turning her back on me, it felt like a piece of my heart had been ripped clean out.

When Jenna finally looked at me, her eyes were nothing but ice.

She actually gave the order for the bodyguards to escort me out.

“Bryce, since you’re being so petty and won’t share your birthday with Aunt Symonne, I’ll have someone take you to a hotel and redecorate for your party.”

“Once I’m done helping Carson with the memorial, I’ll head over and celebrate your birthday there.”