Chapter 28- The Worse Birthday Gift
FLASHBACK...… TWO YEARS AGO.
THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT (LORETTA's BIRTHDAY.
Loretta smoothed the front of her floral dress, glancing at the clock on the wall of her cozy living room.
The soft chatter of her closest friends filled the air, mingled with the scent of vanilla cake and fresh flowers.
It was her birthday, and for the first time in years, she felt a genuine spark of excitement.
Lucien had promised to come. She picked up her phone and dialed his number, her heart fluttering like it always did when she thought of her boy.
The line clicked. "Hello, Mom."
"Lucien, my boy! How are you? You sound tired. Don't tell me you're still stuck at that office of yours."
He chuckled, that deep, familiar sound that always made her smile. "I just finished, Mom. I'm fine. Don't worry about me."
She hummed skeptically, pacing a little. "Are you still coming tonight? You promised you wouldn't miss my birthday this year."