I hesitated for a brief moment, knowing this would be my last birthday in the country before leaving. Eventually, I nodded. His earlier worries melted away instantly, replaced by an almost childlike excitement.
In the days that followed, Ruslan threw himself into organizing the party with unrestrained enthusiasm. He booked the city’s grandest hotel, procured the finest wine, and extended invitations to half of the elite upper class.
Unlike Ruslan’s uncontainable excitement, Thea’s sour mood was unmistakable, her displeasure simmering just below the surface.
When the day of the party arrived, the venue was a whirlwind of activity and opulence. A six-meter banner stretched across the hall’s entrance, its bold letters proclaiming:
“Celebrating Ruslan’s beloved wife’s 25th birthday!”
As one of the city’s most prominent figures, Ruslan’s reputation drew a steady stream of guests, each eager to raise their glass in a toast.
Smiling, they offered their well-rehearsed compliments.
“Mrs. Wyatt, you’re truly enviable! A husband like Ruslan is one in a million.”
“Did you know this event cost tens of millions? Every detail, every decoration, was personally overseen by him.”
I returned their toasts with a polite smile, neither confirming nor denying their words, letting their admiration float unanswered in the air.
However, as soon as they turned their backs, their expressions shifted. They began whispering among themselves, their voices dripping with disdain.
"She truly believes she’s adored, doesn’t she? Look at her, actually nodding at that."
"Just a useless cripple, clueless about her place in all this."
"Is she really this oblivious, or is she just pretending? Doesn’t she know who this party is really for?"
Strangely enough, their words didn’t pierce through me. There was no anger, no sting. It was as if their venomous whispers had no power over me.
As the party reached its peak, someone suddenly shouted, "A shooting star!"
In an instant, everyone rushed toward the balcony, their excitement palpable.
Sitting in my wheelchair, I was jostled by the sudden rush of the crowd. In the chaos, my wheelchair tipped, and I crashed to the ground.
As I fell, my foot caught the ribbon that held the banner in place.
With a sudden, sharp pull, the banner came tumbling down, revealing another layer beneath it.
I stared at the banner that had just been uncovered, my body frozen in place.