Chapter 568
Chapter 568:
That last pose from Maia and Chris’ dance hung in the photo like time had hit pause.
Maia’s expression still carried a trace of wonder. When she looked back, she caught Chris smiling softly — there was something steady and inviting about it, like he was quietly pulling her into his orbit. The whole moment felt like a dream, or something out of a painting.
Chris bent down to pick up the photo that was still warm from earlier and walked back to Maia. Handing it to her, he said, “I thought we should have a keepsake to mark your birthday. It’s the first time I’ve celebrated one with you — but it won’t be the only time p>
Maia tilted her head down and let her eyes rest on the picture.
In the snapshot, golden stars caught the light and sparkled, like stardust captured in a still frame. It looked so delicate, almost like it belonged to another world.
Maia was suddenly hit by a rush of feeling that rose up from deep inside. Everything from before — the mixed signals, the letdowns, the hurt — seemed to dissolve in the tenderness of now.
“This is what I’m giving you for your birthday,” Chris said softly, his voice as gentle as a spring breeze brushing through willow branches. “It may not be as extravagant as fireworks, light shows, or jewelry, but this represents the true feelings from the bottom of my heart p>
Maia felt unsteady for a beat, like the ground had shifted slightly. Her heart fluttered.
So, Chris had picked up on it all. He hadn’t missed a thing.
When he’d casually asked earlier what time she’d be back tonight — he’d already been planning this little surprise, hadn’t he?
Before she even noticed, Maia’s eyes welled up with tears.
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She had been showered with amazing presents at her birthday banquet, but none of them had touched her heart the way this one did. What Maia had yet to realize was that Chris had also arranged the dazzling fireworks, the glowing light display, and even the most precious jewelry, Angel’s Tear.
He wasn’t just trying to give her beauty. He was offering something deeper — love, honest and pure.
“These stars made of paper…” Chris looked around at the sea of golden shapes floating nearby. “I folded every single one myself. Each one carries a wish I made for you. I stopped at 999 p>
The soft gold glow spilled over his face, lighting up his eyes. They sparkled, as if they held their own light.
For a moment, Maia couldn’t get a single word out. Her voice had completely failed her.
When she was little, she used to picture moments like this in her daydreams. Back then, even getting a single paper star would’ve meant the world to her.
But no one had ever made even one for her — never mind hundreds upon hundreds.
Her chest tightened, yet at the same time, it felt like her heart was melting.
She stretched out her hand and gently took one star down, opening it with delicate fingers. The writing on the paper stood out — firm and clear. “May you be surrounded by love and happiness every single day,” it read.
Maia chose a second star and opened it. “If you’re feeling down, just eat something tasty. Chef Cooper is always on standby to cook up something comforting for you,” it read.
She unfolded a third. “One dream, two hearts, three meals a day, four seasons together — life will overflow with joy and never-ending smiles,” it said.
Maia kept opening more, one by one. Every single star held a message that was different from the last.
The way she felt now went beyond anything the brilliant fireworks or glowing lights could have stirred in her.