Chapter 184: The Birthday Party
The Williamsburg Diner.
Sophie pushed open the front door and stepped inside. After scanning the restaurant, she quickly found her target.
Caroline was sitting with the web designer, Edwin. The two of them leaned in close, seemingly engrossed in discussing the website.
Judging by the smiles on their faces, though...
...it definitely didn't look like they were talking about code.
Sophie hurried over to Max, clapped her hands together, and said excitedly,
"I can't wait for tonight's party!"
Lowering her voice conspiratorially, she added,
"I even wore loose-fitting clothes so I can dance all night."
Max looked visibly stressed.
"Oh my God!" She grabbed the edge of the counter and took a deep breath. "The pressure of throwing this party is driving me insane."
She inhaled again dramatically.
"I'm going into the kitchen to slit my wrists with the can opener."
"Max, you've got this," Sophie said in the soothing tone of someone comforting a woman about to give birth. "A party just needs a DJ, champagne... and maybe a psychic."
"No DJ. No psychic." Max began counting everything off on her fingers. "The champagne's on its way. We've got a birthday cake, Earl's pie, Han bought the ingredients, Oleg's cooking..."
She rubbed her face in frustration.
"This is the first time in my life I've realized a birthday party could be this much work."
"Oh! Is that handsome doctor from yesterday bringing the drinks?"
Sophie's eyes sparkled.
"I'm looking forward to seeing him."
She glanced at Caroline again and whispered,
"Caroline is so lucky. Not only does she get a birthday, she also got herself a cute new boy toy. Double celebration."
Max's head snapped up.
"What did you just say?"
"I saw them kissing outside the diner last night." Sophie leaned in until she was practically whispering into Max's ear.
"That's right. I sat there and watched them for an entire hour."
"It was like lightning striking dry tinder. Once it started, there was no stopping it."
Max wore an expression that was impossible to describe.
"Fantastic," she muttered gloomily.
"Now I have to invite another person to the party."
"I only had time to bake a medium-sized cake yesterday. I don't even know if there'll be enough to go around."
Just then, Caroline finally left her new "boy toy" behind and skipped over with an irrepressible smile.
"Max!" she announced happily.
"Congratulations to us! Our website is officially live!"
"And congratulations to you too, Caroline," Max replied dryly.
"You've officially become a shameless flirt."
"...What?"
Caroline blinked in confusion.
"Quit pretending." Max shrugged.
"I know you and the web designer are together now."
Before Caroline could respond, the kitchen service bell rang sharply.
Oleg poked his head out.
"Order up!"
Caroline immediately turned toward him.
"Oleg! Was it you who told Max?"
"Told her what?" Oleg asked innocently.
"Fine!" Caroline sneered.
"If you're going to start something, I'll finish it."
She spun around and loudly announced to the entire diner,
"Last night, Oleg slept with Sophie!"
"I did not!" Sophie immediately raised her hand.
"We only got hands-on."
"Everything stayed above the waist."
"I'm a lady."
"Besides," she added with a grin, "after seeing you and your handsome web designer making sparks fly, I just couldn't help myself."
Edwin looked thoroughly embarrassed.
"...Okay... but I think that's supposed to be a private matter between Caroline and me."
"You mean you, Caroline..." Han said slowly from the side.
"...and that stripper you were with?"
"Stripper?"
Caroline's eyes widened.
"I've seen him at a strip club," Han explained earnestly.
"You've been to a strip club?" Max asked in disbelief.
Only then did Han realize he'd slipped up.
He immediately pointed at Earl.
"Earl took me."
"Damn it, Han!"
Earl stared at him in disbelief.
"I never told anyone about you pretending to be rich, and this is how you repay me?"
Still standing in the kitchen doorway, Oleg spread his hands.
"You guys actually went to a strip club without inviting me?"
"Earl," Caroline said in complete disbelief, "why would you take Han to a strip club?"
"Yeah," Max chimed in with a grin.
"With those tiny little legs of his, who's even supposed to give him a lap dance?"
"Earl..."
Caroline sighed dramatically.
"I'm so disappointed in you."
"Fine!"
Earl stood up.
"Then I just won't come to your party."
"...What party?"
Caroline froze.
Earl immediately clamped both hands over his mouth.
Unfortunately...
...it was already too late.
"Damn it, Earl!"
Max exploded.
"It was supposed to be a surprise birthday party!"
Caroline slowly turned toward Max.
"Who told you it was my birthday?"
Without a second's hesitation, Max pointed straight at Han.
"Han."
"Damn it, Han..."
Caroline took a deep breath.
"I don't want a birthday party."
"I wasn't planning to celebrate my birthday this year at all."
Han nodded.
"Then you're in trouble. Your best friend has planned you a super birthday party."
Just then, Ethan walked into the diner carrying two bottles of wine, catching only the last sentence.
...What's going on?
Everyone turned to look at him at once.
His recent training had sharpened his instincts, and the moment he scanned the room, he sensed it.
The atmosphere wasn't safe.
Making the only rational decision, he quietly turned around, intending to retreat the way he'd come.
"Hey, handsome doctor."
Sophie stopped him.
"Don't leave yet. At least drop off the wine."
"I've been looking forward to it all day."
Fair enough.
Ethan turned back, placed the bottles beside the bar, and quietly took his place next to Max.
Caroline looked at Max, her voice softening.
"Max... thank you."
"Don't thank me yet." Max flashed a mischievous grin.
"Once the party starts, you'll realize just how huge a favor you owe."
---
After the Williamsburg Diner closed for the night...
Several tables had been pushed together.
The floor had been mopped until even the stubborn grease stains that never seemed to disappear were finally gone.
A handful of colorful balloons decorated the walls.
The colors didn't exactly match...
...but they certainly helped set the mood.
Behind the counter stood a bottle of champagne and a bottle of red wine.
Under the lights, they gleamed like two noble ladies who had somehow wandered into the wrong neighborhood.
Sophie stood behind the bar, carefully inspecting the labels.
Meanwhile, Oleg was still busy in the kitchen.
The prep counter was covered with fresh, expensive-looking ingredients.
"Han," Max narrowed her eyes, "did you rob somebody?"
Han shook his head.
"No. The supplier said they were close to expiring, so they gave me a discount."
Not long afterward, Oleg emerged carrying several dishes.
His tone was unusually serious.
"Today's food is different."
"I cooked these with all my heart."
"...And I didn't add any 'special ingredients.'"
Ethan: "..."
Max nodded calmly.
"I honestly can't decide whether the regular customers should be happy... or deeply disturbed."
---
Earl made the final entrance, carrying out a chocolate pie from the kitchen.
"My mother's recipe," he announced proudly.
"It's the best chocolate pie in the world."
Everything was finally ready.
Max immediately slipped into host mode.
"Caroline's birthday!"
"Woohoo! Woohoo!"
Caroline stared at her expressionlessly.
"Thank you."
"But if you'd stop yelling, the party would instantly become much more enjoyable."
Sophie chimed in.
"Max, I know you're broke..."
"...but music is free."
"I know," Max shrugged.
"I just don't feel like playing any."
The moment she finished speaking, upbeat music suddenly filled the diner.
Standing awkwardly beside the stereo was Ethan.
He looked at Max apologetically.
"I thought your 'Woohoo!' was the official signal that the party had started."
"Speech! Speech!"
Han was already leading the chants.
"Hold on!" Sophie raised a hand.
"Shouldn't we cut the cake first?"
"Cake?" Max frowned skeptically.
"Do people still eat cake these days?"
Caroline stared at her.
"...We literally make our living selling cake."
The two women locked eyes for a second.
Without another word, Max turned and disappeared into the kitchen.
A moment later, she returned carrying a birthday cake.
It wasn't large, but it was obviously homemade.
The edges weren't perfect.
The frosting wasn't flawless.
But the cream had been spread with care, and in the center, "Caroline" was written in neat, carefully piped lettering.
Caroline froze.
"You..."
"You actually made me a cake?"
"Don't get emotional."
Max deliberately looked away.
"I just didn't want you looking back on your childhood someday and realizing you ended up like me..."
"...without ever having a birthday cake."
Oleg had already picked up the champagne.
Pop!
"Wait! Wait!"
Sophie's face changed instantly.
She rushed over and snatched the bottle from him.
"Careful!"
"This is Étoile Éternelle Prestige Champagne."
"It's made from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir harvested from century-old vineyards."
"Every bottle is individually numbered and comes with a handwritten dedication."
She paused dramatically.
"It's worth twenty-five thousand dollars."
Everyone stood there in stunned silence.
Including Ethan.
"...Then what about the red wine?" someone asked quietly.
"That's Crimson Treasure Reserve, a custom Cabernet Sauvignon."
Sophie answered without expression.
"A little cheaper."
"Twenty-two thousand."
"My God..."
Caroline stared at Ethan.
"I've only ever had this once."
Only once?
Everyone first looked at Caroline...
...then slowly turned in perfect unison toward Ethan.
Ethan spread his hands.
"My patient gave them to me."
"I figured..."
"...they were probably counterfeit."
After a thoughtful pause, he nodded with complete confidence.
"Yes."
"They're definitely fake."
Everyone carefully poured themselves a glass.
The way they held their wine glasses...
...looked like they were handling live explosives.
After everyone toasted Caroline with a heartfelt "Happy Birthday," they eagerly took their first sip.
...
It really was delicious.
But beyond "really good"...
...none of them could think of anything else to say.
---
After the cake had been cut and everyone had enjoyed a round of drinks, Edwin finally gathered the courage to stand.
His speech wasn't polished.
It wasn't particularly smooth.
If anything, it was clumsy.
But every single word came straight from the heart.
As Caroline listened, her eyes slowly began to glisten.
The moment Edwin turned away to get some food, she immediately grabbed Max by the arm.
"Help me get rid of him."
"...What?"
"It was just a one-night stand," Caroline whispered.
"I don't want a relationship."
"I thought you always said you never did one-night stands."
"I hadn't..."
She lowered her voice even further.
"...been with a man for almost a year."
"One night of fun is better than dying of frustration."
"I get it."
Max nodded knowingly.
"Purely physical needs."
"Leave it to the professional."
Just then, Oleg stood up.
"I'd like everyone to raise their glasses."
Everyone obliged.
"To a truly extraordinary lady."
He spoke solemnly.
"I believe that, in the years to come..."
"...I'll come to know her much more deeply."
Everyone instinctively turned toward Caroline.
She froze.
Then Oleg walked straight past her...
...and gently clinked glasses with Sophie.
Silence.
One full second.
Then the room erupted.
Sophie whipped around toward Max.
"Help me dump him!"
"It was just a one-night stand!"
Max and Caroline exchanged a glance...
...and burst into laughter.
A moment later, Caroline turned toward Ethan with a teasing smile.
"Shouldn't you say something to Max?"
"No."
Both Ethan and Max shook their heads in perfect sync.
"This is your birthday."
"Come on," Caroline urged.
"I don't mind."
Ethan glanced at Max.
Max answered with a look that clearly said:
If you get me killed, I'm burying you myself.
At last, Ethan stood.
"Max is a treasure—"
Max immediately cut him off.
"Sweetheart."
"This really isn't the right occasion for that."
Ignoring her interruption, Ethan continued.
"Caroline..."
"...is someone life knocked flat more than once."
"And Max..."
He smiled toward her.
"...is the kind of person life kicks one more time every single day just for good measure."
"Thanks for summarizing my entire existence so accurately," Max muttered, rolling her eyes.
Ethan raised his glass.
"But after these two met..."
"...things didn't get worse."
"They got better."
Caroline blinked.
"One had everything..."
"...but never learned how to live."
"The other had almost nothing..."
"...yet never stopped trying to."
He gently swirled the wine in his glass.
"They became the missing piece in each other's lives."
"Together..."
"...they made each other whole."
"Caroline learned how to hold on."
"Max learned how to care."
Max cleared her throat awkwardly.
"If you keep talking, I'm going to start charging by the minute."
Ethan laughed softly.
"So today isn't just about celebrating Caroline's birthday."
"It's about celebrating the fact that..."
"...this world happened to bring the two of you together."
He raised his glass.
"Happy Birthday, Caroline."
"And thank you both..."
"...for becoming the best surprise life ever gave each other."
A brief silence followed.
Then Sophie was the first to applaud.
"All right," she admitted with a nod.
"I'll say it."
"That man is incredibly attractive when he gives a speech."
Max muttered under her breath,
"He'd better shut up soon..."
"...because I'm about to lose it."
Caroline didn't say anything.
She simply raised her glass and gently clinked it against Ethan's.
After setting it down, Ethan reached into the inside pocket of his jacket and pulled out an envelope.
"This is the birthday gift Max asked me to prepare."
"I wasn't sure what you'd want..."
"...but I thought this might mean something to you."
Caroline accepted it with a smile.
"Thank you, Ethan."
Before she could open it, Max snatched it from her hands.
"Let me see what he got you."
"You don't know?" Caroline asked in surprise.
"He said he'd handle the gift."
"So I outsourced it."
Max opened the envelope, unfolded the document, and began reading aloud.
"Special Visitation Authorization."
"One private visit."
"No expiration date."
"No time limit."
She paused.
"...With Martin Channing."
The room fell completely silent.
Caroline lunged forward, grabbed the document, and read every word herself.
The next instant...
She threw her arms around Ethan.
It was sudden.
Tight.
Powerful enough to make him stumble back half a step.
"Thank you..."
"Thank you so much, Ethan."
Her voice was muffled against his shoulder, but every word reached him clearly.
Then...
Before anyone else could react—
She lifted her head...
...and kissed him gently on the cheek.
It was only the lightest of kisses.
But it was unmistakably sincere.
The room fell silent for half a second.
Sophie gasped.
Earl's jaw dropped.
Han immediately began applauding.
Ethan blinked in surprise before smiling warmly.
"You're welcome."
Max stepped forward, pointed first at the document...
...then at Ethan.
"Just to clarify."
"That was my gift."
She paused for dramatic effect.
"The kiss..."
"...was Ethan's gift."
Caroline sniffled once, then laughed through her embarrassment.
"Oh, shut up."
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