Chapter 155
Realization hit Nadine like a splash of cold water. Brad had only taken Sean to the cake shop because of her. Her heart, which had been eerily quiet, suddenly erupted with a flurry of emotions upon hearing his
words.
In the bright kitchen light, Brad’s sincere expression was evident. Stray strands of hair fell across Brad’s forehead, accentuating his dark hair and red lips, making him look like an otherworldly being who stepped out of a painting.
Something began to stir in Nadine’s once dormant heart, steadily taking root and growing. Even her indifferent face bore a faint smile. “Thank you,” she said.
Since marrying Brad, she hadn’t celebrated her birthday! She had long forgotten about such things.
In the first year of marriage, she still had hopes for love. She thought it was normal for Brad to forget such trivial matters because he was so busy. As his wife, she believed she should understand his hardships instead of bothering him with such trifles.
In the second year of their marriage, Sean came into their lives, and she became consumed with being a mother, forgetting about her own birthday altogether. By their fourth year of marriage, she had even forgotten about herself entirely, with her focus solely on Brad and Sean.
Forgetting herself became her new norm.
If Tyler hadn’t brought it up today, she might have never remembered. She never expected Brad to buy her a birthday cake. Even now, it all felt so surreal.
As Nadine stared at Brad in a daze, the boiling water on the stove suddenly sizzled and bubbled up, forcing her to divert her attention. Hastily, she grabbed a handful of pasta and threw them into the pot.
With the pasta added, the strange bubbling noises subsided, and the kitchen returned to its quiet state.
Standing behind Nadine, Brad observed her delicate profile with an inscrutable gaze. Then, he left the kitchen and summoned all the maids.
With his naturally stern expression, Brad’s poker–face instilled a sense of seriousness among the maids. Consequently, when the maids saw his composed expression, they stood silently in a line.
Brad silently looked at the maids standing awkwardly in the chilly night air. Clad in a light gray cashmere sweater, layered with a down vest, and his hands casually tucked into his pockets, he regarded them with a cold, piercing gaze.
A prolonged silence filled the air as the winter night settled in, bringing with it a sharp drop in temperature. Despite wearing padded jackets, they still shivered in the cold wind.
Finally, one of the maids timidly asked, “Mr. Hamilton, is there something wrong with us being made to stand outside in this freezing weather?”
Once one brave soul voiced their concern, others followed suit. “Mr. Hamilton, if we’ve done something wrong, please let us know.”
“Mr. Hamilton, it’s difficult for us to understand what we’ve done wrong without clear communication. It’s quite uncomfortable standing out here in the cold, and we’re worried about catching a cold. How will we
work tomorrow?” another added.
“He’s right! Mr. Hamilton, if there’s anything we’ve done wrong, please tell us.”
a
Seeing the growing discontent among the maids, Brad, who had been standing in front of the gate for a long time, finally took action.