tastes awful"


    As they were having their meal, Lucy and Chuck sat down to eat. The table wasden with skewers and desserts. Chuck picked up an egg tart, took a bite, and immediately put it down with disdain,ining. This egg tart is horrible! The crust is so oily, and the filling Lacy rolled her eyes at him and tried a bite herself. "I think it''s fine,"


    Chuck wasn''t listening and continued toin with his mouth full, "This grilled meat is awful! The chef must''ve cked off, it''s so gamey and smelly Good grief, who made this fried pork chop it''s dripping with oilf


    He gobbled up the food whileining, so Lacy snatched all the snacks from his hand. "If you''re just going to whine, then stop-rating! These dishes were prepared by the chefs Morgan hired. If you think they aren''t tasty, why don''t you try cooking?" Chuck looked at her in shock, "Are you kidding? My dishes cost a fortune


    Lucy shoved a pork chop into his mouth and sneered, "Oh, so you know they''re expensive, yet you''re still talking nonsense! Looking displeased. she walked away to find Yasmine


    Yoselin had already called her brother multiple times. She didn''t dare make calls in front of Yasmine and had to sneak away to a corner. "Yonas, what on earth are you doing? Why aren''t you answering the phone?" she murmured


    Finally, after ten attempts without an answer, she gave up. Returning to Yasinine, she pretended to be rxed and said, "Yasmine, my brother mentioned he''s handling something important and will be here soon."


    Yasmine nodded. It was already seven o''clock, nearly an hour past the meeting time, yet he still hadn''t shown up.


    At that moment, all the garden lights went out at once. Before Lucy and Yoselin could react, Morgan rolled out a cake. It was three tiers high with candles flickering, entuating Yasmine''s dress beautifully. Morgan approached Yasmine and said. "Happy birthday, Yasmine."


    Yasmine felt a bit lighter at heart as Yoselin led a chorus of the birthday song. Tears sparkled in her eyes as she looked around at her family and friends surrounding her with warm wishes. As the final note of the song faded, the sped her hands together, made a wish, and blew out the candles. Thank you, everyone. Yasmine said, deeply moved.


    Everyone gathered around the dining table. "Yasmine, my dad wanted toe, but he thought it was all youngsters here and didn''t want to cramp your style, so he decided not to. He said toe home this weekend, and he''ll throw you another one, someone said. Morgan responded, "Alright. This made Yasmine even more touched.


    Dishes were being brought to the table one after another, and Chuck couldn''t help but make a quip. This dish looks-ow, that hurts!" He looked down to see Lucy pinching his thigh. "Why are you pinching me?" he asked. Lucy gritted her teeth and said, "Tm pinching you for your


    your own good- so you''ll eat more and talk less


    oup seemed even happier, Lucy


    A servant poured them some red wine. Although there was no big birthday bash, the lively gathering of the small group: ced a piece of cake in front of Chuck. "Chef extraordinaire, care for some cake?" she teased.


    "Thanks" Just as Chuck was about to reach for the cake, Lucy surprised him by flipping the te over onto his head. "You''re wee. Chuck was taken aback, quickly grabbing a napkin to wipe the cream off his face. He picked up a te and chased after Lucy. "Don''t run! Let me get my revenge!" Lucy dodged swiftly, rolling her eyes. Only a fool wouldn''t run.


    Watching them fool around, Yasmine couldn''t help butugh. As she chuckled, she felt something cool on her cheek-Yoselin was smirking mischievously, her hand smeared with cream.


    "Yoselin, I can''t hrve you''ve gotten naughty, Yasmine eximed as she stood up from her seat, grabbing her own te of cream to chase after


    Morgan upped his wine, smiling as he watched them. He nced toward the entrance, his brow slightly furrowed. Was Yonas really noting! Earlier, before they even got the cake, he had noticed Yasmine''s disappointed look. Even though she didn''t show it openly, having watched her grow up, he could tell us it didn''t matter-she was happy now,


    Lost in thought, Morgan suddenly felt a rush of wind behind him. Turning around, he saw Yasmine reaching for his face. Before he knew it, she hund uprated the cream all over him. "Come on, let''s y, cousin Yasmineughed joyfully.


    They chased and yed for a whole hour before finally settling down. Once everything quieted. Yasmine''s mood fell once more.


    Yosn notureel Nastrane''s disappointment, knowing it was because of her brother. Lucy walked with her to Yasune. "Anew karaoke ce jost opencil recently Wanna go check in unit togriley?" she suggested.


    12:20 PM


    Yasmine shook her head, replying. I''m a bit tired and just want to rest. Let''s go next time, okay?"


    "Alright." Lucy and Chuck left, but before Yoselin departed, she said to Yasmine, "Yasmine, I apologize on behalf of my brother. It''s his fault he couldn''t make it to your birthday party on time. He''s been looking forward to it for two days straight, so something serious must''ve happened at work, or else he would never break his promise. Yasmine nodded understandingly. "I know. You should go back now before it gets anyter."


    After seeing everyone off. Yasmine returned to the garden, where the servant was tidying up. Morgan approached Yasmine, holding a ss of red wine, and offered it to her. Have a drink," he said, Yasmine didn''t refuse. Her mind was too clear, and she felt the need to numb it with alcohol. She took a sip from the ss. Thanks. Morgan," she said gratefully.


    Yasmine''s tense expression softened a bit. In a hoarse voice, she casually spoke, "Morgan, of course I''m a little disappointed, but I''m not that fragile. After having my heart broken, I used to ask myself every night what I did wrong. Yonas tries to cheer me up and talks about our rtionship in front of Irene, as if he''s making up for everything he did before. I thought he was just trying to protect me, but now I don''t really know what he''s thinking anymore."


    "My bad," Morgan said leisurely.


    Yasmine chuckled, "What''s your mistake?"


    Morgan lowered his head and let out a softugh, his gaze turning somber. "It''s my fault. I should have firmly told you not to invite Yonas back then.


    "Why?" Yasmine raised an eyebrow.


    *If I had firmly prevented you from forcing Yonas toe, then it would only be because of me that he couldn''t, not for any other reason." Morgan''s expression grewplicated. He didn''t like seeing Yasmine like this. Ever since dinner, these thoughts had been on his


    mind.


    Yasmine scoffed, "Morgan, you don''t have to go that far." She understood that by allowing her to invite Yonas, Morgan was already looking out for her. Yasmine raised her winess and clinked it naturally with his, smiling softly, "Morgan, Im really happy today."