“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.”

I actually laughed, out of pure disbelief! My own bodyguards stood there, blocking me, while I tried to get off them.

“Eliane, are you serious right now? This is my house. If anyone should be leaving, it’s you! Not me!”

My voice rose with every word. I could care less about the coming guests. I didn’t care how I looked anymore, any pretense of grace or composure was gone.

I regretted this, deeply. I never should’ve let Eliane’s assistant plan my birthday party. Because of that, I didn’t even have my usual security team on-site today.

All these years growing up, every birthday had been carefully handled by my parents. Every public appearance had layers of security. But now I got being manhandled out of my own property by strangers.

I’d had enough.

“Eliane Langford, I’m calling off the engagement,” I snapped.

“You’re no longer my fiancée. You don’t have any right to be here, so get out of my birthday party. And take your entourage with you.”

This villa where I was hosting the party wasn’t just any venue. It was a pre-wedding gift from my parents, part of my premarital assets. I’d planned to move in after we got married.

Now, it was about to become the place where our engagement ended.

Eliane’s froze. “What did you say? You want to call off the engagement? All because of this? This minor thing?”

“Jerome, don’t forget—our marriage was arranged by both of our families.”

Her voice faltered and something shifted behind her eyes—hesitation. She was finally thinking this through.

The truth was, she had been the one pushing for this marriage from the beginning. She’d spent years trying to get into my father’s good graces—waking up at 5 a.m. every day to bring me breakfast, driving me to and from work like clockwork, rain or shine. She wore her devotion like armor.

Eventually, my father caved—not entirely convinced, but willing to entertain her effort. She wasn’t about to throw all that away over a dog’s memorial.

Suddenly, Olivier stepped forward. His voice was hoarse but firm as he wiped the tears off his face.

“Director Langford, this is my fault. Please… don’t let this affect your engagement. I’m just your assistant—I don’t want to be the reason Mr. Carrington walks away.”

“I’m nobody. Just a kid from the countryside. No connections, no background. I can’t even afford a proper funeral for my dog…”

He took a few steps toward the door, but tripped over a corner rug. The casket in his hands flew from his grip, crashing to the floor and slightly broke open.

The smell soon filled the room.

“No! Luffy—” he gasped.

He dove to repair what he could for the casket. Suddenly, a jagged edge of the box sliced deep into his finger. He bled instantly.

“Ollie!” Eliane’s voice rang out in panic. She rushed to his side, grabbing him by the shoulders and holding him upright.

Olivier sobbed uncontrollably in her arms, ignoring his bleeding hand. “I’m so sorry, Director Langford… I failed. I couldn’t even protect Luffy’s remains. I promised him he’d live a better life and now I’ve lost even this last chance to honor him.”

“He was all I had. And now—now he’s just… gone. And it’s my fault.”

Eliane glared up at me, her eyes cold and sharp. “Well? Are you happy now, Jerome?”

“I told you—Ollie’s been through enough. His only companion is gone. He didn’t ask you for anything. Just a few minutes to say goodbye.”

“And now the casket's broken. Is this what you wanted? Do you feel powerful now?”

Then she stood and turned to the security guards. “Wreck this party. If Ollie can’t have his funeral, then Jerome doesn’t get to have his birthday either.”

The guards didn’t hesitate. They picked up batons and started smashing everything in sight.

I watched in horror as one of them struck the porcelain vase my mother had gifted me—a one-of-a-kind artisan piece worth 30 million crowns.

“No! Stop!” I lunged forward.

Too late. The vase shattered on the floor, splintered into dozens of worthless pieces.

I spun around to search for Eliane, but she was already walking away. Without even glancing back, she left the house with Olivier.