Chapter 468
Chapter 468
9: 9
Finished
Third Person’s POV
Isaiah shrugged, scanning the crowd of guests who looked impeccably dressed but clearly uneasy. “My guess? They smell a winner. Now that you’ve got the heavy hitters backing you, they’re crawling out of the woodwork to play nice p>
Trista stayed silent.
In a world that worshiped the strong, survival meant knowing which way the wind was blowing.
These people weren’t here for her; they were here because Alistair and Elias were standing next to her. If she were still that broken, discarded she–wolf, these same people would be trampling her into the dirt without a second thought.
By nearly 8:00 PM, the party had reached its peak.
Her parents came over to remind her that everyone was here and it was time to cut the cake.
But Trista didn’t seem to hear them. Her gaze cut through the crowd, fixed intensely on the heavy, revolving glass doors at the entrance.
Outside the glass, the night was pitch black, broken only by the cold flicker of neon lights.
“Mom… just a few more minutes,” she whispered. There was a desperate hesitation in her eyes that she didn’t even recognize herself.
Just as the words left her lips, the doors swirled open. Fred and Wynn stepped into view.
Seeing Wynn still in her sharp professional suit, Trista knew she’d raced here straight from the office without a second to spare.
Fred looked pained. He handed a gift to Wynn, gesturing for her to give it to Trista herself.
Wynn didn’t look as timid as she used to; she took a deep breath, stepped up to Trista, and spoke with a slight tremor in her voice. “Trista… happy birthday p>
Trista felt a lump in her throat. Her eyes immediately welled up with heat.
She stepped forward and pulled the younger girl into a firm, warm hug. “I knew you’d make it p>
Attwater stood nearby, watching his sister. “Is there anyone else we’re waiting for?” he asked quietly.
Trista scanned the room one last time. All the faces that had been part of her past–the ones who had hurt her, loved her, or owed her – seemed to be there. And yet, they all felt so far away.
She gave a small, resolute shake of her head. Her voice returned to its usual calm. “Everyone who matters is here. Let’s start p>
On the edge of the crowd, Wynn and Fred shared a look.
1/3
0:01
1:06 pm
Chapter 468
Finished
Wynn looked down, hiding the bitterness in her eyes. In Trista’s story, Cassian was officially out of the picture.
Fred didn’t say a word; he just pulled Wynn close, giving her the silent support she needed to keep it together.
Before the cake–cutting, Elias’s smooth, steady voice cut through the cheering. “Before Trista kicks off her new year, I think it’s only right we hear a few words from her p>
Trista looked at the usually reserved Mr. Manwaring in surprise. She hadn’t pegged him for the sentimental type.
Meeting the expectant gaze of the room, she cleared her throat and offered a smile of pure relief.
At the very back of the hall, Fred hesitated one last time. Finally, he dialed Cassian on a video call.
Cassian picked up almost instantly.
The screen on the other end was pitch black. Fred couldn’t see a thing. “Cassian? Where are you, man p>
Cassian didn’t show his face. His voice came through the speaker raspy and suppressed. He said he was changing and couldn’t be on camera.
The party was loud, so Fred didn’t overthink it–he assumed Cassian just wanted to watch this celebration from the dark, a silent ghost at a party he wasn’t invited to.
Standing in a circle of flowers and light, Trista spoke with a voice that was both sincere and powerful. “Thank you all for being here to celebrate with me p>
‘Today is my twenty–seventh birthday. To me, this year… is the year of my rebirth p>
As her soft, steady voice filled the room, the noise died down. Even the aggressive pheromones in the air seemed to soften.
“I’m happy today because the people I love–and the people who love me–are all right here. I feel lucky p>
Trista looked around the room, her eyes clear. “Today, I’m wiping the slate clean on everything that happened before twenty–seven. From this moment on, I’m restarting my life. And every day moving forward, I am going to choose to love myself p>
“I wish the same for all of you. May you always have sun in your windows and stars on your path. I hope everyone here finds the kindest light in their life p>
The pain that had almost shredded her, the darkness that had nearly drowned her–it had all been forged into a badge of honor she wore with pride.
At the back of the room, Wynn stared at the dark, flickering video on the phone screen. She let out a heart–wrenching sob. “Cassian… wait for me. I’m going to buy a cake right now. I’m coming home to finish celebrating your birthday with you p>
She remembered it so clearly.
Cassian’s birthday was less than two weeks away from Trista’s.
1:06 pm
Chapter 468
Finished
In the past, Cassian always insisted on pushing his birthday back so they could celebrate together.
But on his birthday last month, she and her mother had prepared a full feast and a cake, only for Cassian to vanish for twenty–four hours. He hadn’t returned until the next day, smelling of the cold, desolate wilderness.
On the other end of the call, Cassian never showed his face. He never answered.
Seeing the state Wynn was in and not wanting to cause a scene, Fred hung up.
He didn’t want to ruin the mood, so he didn’t even say goodbye to Trista. He just quietly led the sobbing Wynn out of the gala.
“Come on. We’ll go get that cake,” Fred whispered, holding the shaking girl. “I’ll go with you. We’ll give Cassian the birthday he missed p>
Sara Lili
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.