My fiancée told me she had a surprise planned for my birthday party. So, I showed up full of anticipation—only to feel like the floor dropped out from under me the moment I walked in.

“Eliane… this is your idea of a surprise?”

Right next to a giant cardboard standee of me—my birthday portrait, no less—stood a massive funeral wreath. And in the middle of it all, a bold black cross stared me dead in the face.

Then her assistant, Olivier, stepped forward holding a small casket in both hands, his eyes red and puffy.

“My dog, Luffy, passed away yesterday,” he said tearfully. “He was with me for years—like family. Director Langford said it’d be no trouble, so she offered to held the funeral along with your birthday celebration. Mr. Carrington… I hope you don’t mind?”

I felt the room spin. My blood rushed to my head. “Eliane, it’s my birthday. And you’re seriously letting someone hold a dog’s funeral… at my party?”

“Was this ever about celebrating me? Or are you trying to curse me?”

Eliane frowned like I was the one being unreasonable. “Oh, come on, it’s not that serious. Birthdays happen every year. But Ollie lost his only dog. Grief doesn’t wait for a convenient time—especially not for cake and champagne.”

“It’s just a symbolic gesture,” she went on. “A birthday or a funeral—it’s still just a gathering. No one got hurt, so why are you being so dramatic?”

I laughed coldly—and flipped the entire table over. “Well then, since it’s all the same to you… let’s cancel the birthday and our engagement while we’re at it.”

——

When I flipped the table, it knocked over the massive funeral wreath behind it. Instantly, Eliane’s expression turned cold.

“Jerome, what the hell is wrong with you?” she snapped. “Ollie had planned this entire celebration! He poured his heart into it. Sure, maybe this isn't perfect, but the least you could do is show a little appreciation!”

She waved someone over to set the table upright, then crouched to straighten the fallen wreath, frowning in annoyance.

My blood boiled. I pointed at the wreath and laughed bitterly.

“Eliane, do you even remember what you promised me? You said you’d fill this place with dozens roses for my birthday. And this, is what you came up with?” I gestured toward the funeral flowers.

My chest heaved with frustration. Even my voice cracked from it. “You say this isn’t some kind of curse? Honestly, even a dog wouldn’t believe that.”

Anyone walking in would’ve raised their eyebrows.

Right in the center of the room, just before the big cross, stood a life-size cutout of me, surrounded by white lilies and mourning wreaths. The entire place looked like a funeral parlor.

Any guest who didn't know the whole context would definitely think that they were attending my memorial!

Eliane rolled her eyes. “A wreath is still made of flowers, isn’t it? Stop being so superstitious. Ollie’s a sweet guy—he’d never wish you harm. And honestly, these flowers are just as nice as roses. It's a birthday, not your coronation. You should be grateful I even threw you something. Can you drop the spoiled-rich-boy attitude for once?”

As the room grew awkwardly tense, Olivier stood as he was about to place a black-and-white photo of his dog, completely at a loss. His eyes were red and he looked like he didn’t know where to hide. Then he stepped forward nervously.

“Mr. Carrington… please don’t be mad,” he said, voice trembling. “My dog Luffy passed away yesterday. He meant everything to me—he was family. Director Langford knew I only earn 450 crowns a month. There’s no way I could afford a proper send-off, so she offered to… include it with your party. I swear, I didn’t think you’d be so upset…”

Tears streamed down his face, like I’d just kicked him out into the cold. “If it really bothers you… I—I can take Luffy’s casket and leave,” he said.

While he said all that, I could see his feet stayed firmly planted. He didn’t plan on leaving.

I narrowed my eyes and said flatly, “Great. Then go.”

Olivier burst into heavier sobs. His shoulders shook violently—like a scolded kindergarten kid.

Soon as he began leaving, Eliane quickly grabbed his arm and pulled him back.

“You don’t have to leave, Ollie. I’m the one who approved this anyway. I told you we’d hold a little memorial for Luffy during the party—and I meant it.”

Then Eliane turned to me, clearly losing her patience. “Jerome, enough is enough.”

I stared at the funeral setup behind me and could feel my jaw tightened. “Eliane, you told me you were letting your assistant handle the decorations. This is what I got out of that arrangement?”

“I don’t care if it’s ‘bad luck’ or what not. What I care about is that I’m not the kind of person who wants to celebrate his birthday in the middle of a damn funeral. Take it all down. Now.”

I didn't give a compromise to this madness. At that, Eliane’s frown deepened. She stepped forward and gently grabbed my wrist, trying to soothe me in a hushed voice.

“Jerry, please,” she said. “We’ve got so many guests here tonight. They all came to celebrate your birthday. Ollie’s just a young guy—he’s got no family in this city, no one to turn to. He’s sensitive. Do we really need to make a scene over this? Can’t you just let it go… for me?”

I pulled my hand away and let out a bitter laugh. “For you? And what about me, Eliane? Where’s my dignity in all this?”

“You do realize who’s attending tonight, don’t you? Practically every major figure in the Capital’s Elite Circle!”

“Now imagine word gets out that Jerome Carrington celebrated his 25th birthday in a shrine, next to a dog’s casket. You think the Carringtons are going to be taken seriously after that?”

As the words left my mouth, I watched her face slowly fall. She knew I wasn’t wrong.

My family, the Carringtons weren’t the most powerful family in the capital, but we weren’t nobodies either.

My father’s network ran deep across the capital’s elite. The people in this room tonight? Many of them owed him favors. And this party was meant to reflect that standing.

But then Eliane’s tone turned cold, “Jerome, don’t be so cruel.”

“That dog was Ollie’s only companion—practically his family. Life is life. Just because you're from a privileged family doesn’t make your feelings more important than his. What gives you the right to act so entitled?”

Her words hit me like ice water, but not in the way she expected.

So all that hesitation earlier, it wasn’t because she felt bad for me. It was because she thought I was being unfair to her assistant’s dead dog.

“Well then, Fine. I apologize—for saying the wrong thing.” I turned to my security team. “Now get this crap out of this hall.”

The guards stepped forward without hesitation. Eliane immediately rushed in to stop them, throwing herself between the wreaths and the men.

“Jerome, no. Ollie spent all night putting this together. I’m not letting you trash it.”

“It’s just symbolic, for God’s sake. What’s the harm in leaving it up for a few hours? Can’t you show some empathy for once?”

“And what about Ollie? If you tear all this down, everyone will blame him. You’ll ruin his reputation at the office—he’ll have no place left there. Is that really what you want? You’re too heartless!”

I almost laughed. She was really spinning all this like I was the villain. Every ounce of excitement I’d felt about this birthday—and the woman I was supposed to marry—vanished completely.

“Oh! You remember that you’re Ollie’s boss, but did you forget you’re also my fiancée?”

Just then, Ollie dropped to his knees, tears streaming down his face.

“Mr. Carrington, I’m so sorry. I didn’t think it through. I just… the party’s already happening and Luffy’s casket is already here. Please—just let us hold the memorial. It won’t take more than thirty minutes. I swear, it won’t interfere with anything.”

“No.” I pushed him away with icy calm. “This place, is my home. Today is my birthday. And you had the audacity to turn it into a funeral?”

All I did was give Olivier a light push, but heck he stumbled dramatically backward and straight into Eliane’s arms.

“Jerome, will you stop already?” she scolded me.

“Can't you see Ollie’s devastated? He’s not asking for much—just to hold a small memorial for his dog here, in the corner of your party. You seriously can’t bring yourself to allow that?”

“You’re usually more empathetic. What’s wrong with you today? Why are you being so bitter and mean?”

As she said it, she shoved me hard, as if she poured her anger into it. I staggered back and slammed into the corner of the table. A sharp pain exploded through my arm and I instinctively clutched it as I felt the bruising rise.

Despite all that, I couldn't fully keep the creeping laughter. She said I was being mean?

So what? Was I suppose to keep smiling while someone tramples all over my boundaries?

I met her glare with a cold laugh. “Eliane, don’t play the saint when it’s not your sacrifice to make.”

“You want to help your assistant throw a funeral for his dog? Fine. But do it on your dime and your property. Why the hell does it have to hijack my birthday party?”

I didn’t mean any disrespect to Olivier, but respect goes both ways. He crossed a line and I wasn’t going to let anyone guilt-trip me for pushing back.

Eliane’s face twisted. “Do you think I have time to organize another venue? You’re just being difficult.”

I shot back, “If you’re that committed to Luffy’s memorial, why not host it at your place? I hear your living room’s a decent size.”

She looked like she was about to argue again when Olivier suddenly dropped to a crouch on the floor, shoulders trembling, tears hitting the framed photo of his dog.

“Luffy, I’m sorry… this is all my fault,” he murmured through sobs. “You were my only family and I swore I’d give you a better life. But before I could… you were hit by a car and taken away from me.”

“I just wanted to say goodbye. That’s all. I thought borrowing Mr. Carrington’s space for half an hour wouldn’t hurt anyone.”

“But clearly, I was wrong. We’re not welcome here.” He wiped his eyes, picked up the photo and staggered toward the door. As he reached it, he paused and looked back at me with tearful eyes.

“Mr. Carrington… I’m sorry. I hope I didn’t ruin your big moment. Please, go ahead and enjoy your birthday.”

Before I could say a word, Eliane rushed forward, grabbed his hand and pulled him into her arms.

“Ollie, you’re not going anywhere. I promised you a proper farewell for Luffy and I meant it. We’re going to honor him right here.”

The tenderness in her eyes hit me like a punch to the chest. That unguarded affection used to be reserved for me.

Suddenly, I remembered what my best friend warned me more than once...

“Watch that new assistant of hers. He plays innocent, but I’ve got a feeling he’s not just there to fetch coffee. He’s way too close to Eliane.”

I laughed it off back then.

“Eliane and I have been together for eight years,” I told him. “She’s not interested in other men.”

But now… watching her clutch Olivier like she’d rather lose me than let go of him—I felt something in me break.

When Eliane turned to face me again, her eyes were icy. She actually ordered the guards to take me out and send me away.

“Elijah, since you’re too petty to let Luffy’s memorial happen here, I’ll have security escort you to a hotel where we can rearrange your birthday party.”

“I’ll stay here with Ollie and help him say goodbye. Once it’s done, then I’ll join you.”