Two days after Christmas was Lily’s birthday.

And the reason I knew, of course, was because she personally invited me to her birthday party.

When I drove up to the mansion in the Hollywood Hills, they were setting off party poppers.

After a few loud bangs, colorful confetti rained down from the sky, and the house was filled with the sound of laughter and celebration.

Lily was in the center of it all, surrounded by Julian’s friends, wearing a birthday hat and closing her eyes to make a wish.

Someone playfully tried to smear cake on her face, but Julian stopped them just in time.

He pulled Lily into his arms, gently brushing the confetti from her hair while warning the others off.

“Hey, leave her alone. My girl likes to look good, don't mess with her.”

As soon as he said it, the crowd erupted in teasing laughter.

“Damn, Lily, you’ve got him wrapped around your finger!”

“So, Lily, how are you gonna thank him tonight?”

…

Lily looked a little shy amidst all the teasing, stealing a quick glance at Julian.

I don’t know what Julian whispered in her ear, but I saw her bury her face in his chest, blushing.

As I watched this lively birthday party, I couldn't help but think about my own lonely birthday this year.

On that day, Julian had promised me he’d come home early to celebrate with me.

Because of that, I’d turned down the party my friends wanted to throw for me.

I waited at home alone until there was only one hour left of my birthday, and I finally couldn't take it anymore and called him.

I dialed his number several times, but there was no answer.

When he finally picked up, what I got instead was Lily's sweet voice saying she didn't want to play the nurse again next time, followed by Julian's lazy 'deal,' and the sound of a condom wrapper tearing.

In that moment, clutching my phone, my heart felt like it had been stabbed and plunged into a freezer, pierced by a thousand invisible arrows.

I saw someone nudge Julian’s arm and point in my direction.

When Julian saw me, the smile on his face froze instantly.

He shot a cold glare around the room, and everyone seemed to shrink away, quickly looking down.

But Lily seemed perfectly calm as she smiled and walked over to me.

“I’m the one who invited Chloe. I remember it was her birthday the other day, and Julian didn't get to celebrate it properly with her. Since we have such a great party going, let's celebrate Chloe's birthday again right now.”

“Lily!”

Julian usually called her “Lils” in private; he rarely used her full name.

Lily knew she had really pissed him off this time, but she didn’t panic.

She just grabbed his arm and whined playfully.

“Julian, don't be mad.”

“I invited Chloe because you missed her birthday last time. You bought her that diamond necklace later, but how is that enough? I just wanted to help give her a proper celebration.”

“I didn't mean anything by it, I just thought since it’s so lively today, we could make up for her birthday, so I called her over…”

Lily’s voice grew more and more pathetic, and Julian’s expression softened immediately.

“It was my fault. With my status… how could I… never mind. Let me toast Chloe, to apologize. I’ll try to stay out of your way from now on, Chloe. Please don't be angry.”

She had just picked up a wine glass when Julian snatched it from her hand and replaced it with a glass of juice.

“Who said you could drink? You can’t handle your liquor, so stick to juice.”

Lily lowered her head with a helpless smile, then picked up another glass of wine and offered it to me.

“He's right, I really can't drink. I've been to so many business dinners with Julian and still haven't learned. I guess that's just him taking care of me. Julian worries about me, I hope you can understand, Chloe. I'll toast you with this juice instead, as my apology.”

Every word she said was a deliberate provocation, and I could even see a look of triumph in her eyes.

She was trying to get a rise out of me, hoping I'd fly off the handle and have a huge, embarrassing fight with Julian, just like I used to.

But I wasn't that person anymore.

I didn't feel the sting of heartbreak anymore.

All I felt was a profound sense of boredom.

I didn't take the glass right away, and I could hear people around us starting to whisper.

“Is Chloe going to lose it again?”

“Well, I mean, what man doesn't have a little something on the side, especially a guy like Julian? He's got women throwing themselves at him. No way Chloe could stop them all.”

“Still, for the wife to get called out by the mistress like this… losing it would be pretty normal.”

…

Julian took the wine glass from Lily and handed it to me, his expression leaving no room for argument.

“I want you two to get along.”