Because I Was an and He Threw Away 163

Chapter 163 You Always Deserve the Best 

Emily jolted upright, but Aaron steadied her with a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Easy there,” he murmured. “Move 

too fast, and the dizziness will hit harder.” 

She eased back against the seat, turning to look at him. “Aaron, what time is it?” 

He glanced at his watch. “Two in the morning.” 

A flush of embarrassment crept up her cheeks. “I’m so sorry for all the trouble.” 

She knew she’d gotten wasted, and worse–she’d said far too many things she normally would never have voiced. 

Aaron gazed at her, his smile soft and reassuring, the kind that could calm a storm. 

Instead of brushing off her apology, he leaned in a little and said quietly, “Emily… happy birthday.” 

The words hit her like a soft punch to the heart. She turned 

away, biting her lip to hide the sudden swell of 5:03 

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sorrow, unsure what to say. 

Aaron reached into the front seat and carefully brought back a bouquet and a small gift bag. 

He held the flowers out to her, a touch sheepish. “These were meant for tomorrow, but I picked them up yesterday. I wanted to be the first to wish you happy birthday… though they’ve been sitting in the car too long and wilted a bit.” 

Emily lowered her gaze. It was a bouquet of sunflowers. 

She took them with trembling fingers, eyes glistening. “Thank you, Aaron.” 

Seeing her accept them brought a quiet relief to his face. “About the divorce–let me help you find a good lawyer.” 

She shook her head gently. “I’ll talk to Ethan face–to–face when he gets back from his trip. If we can’t sort it out, then I’ll bring in a lawyer.” 

He didn’t push; he just looked at her earnestly. “No 

matter what, never shortchange yourself. You deserve the best–always.” 

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The next day marked Emily’s twenty–seventh birthday. 

That morning, Linda whipped up her favorite pancakes. 

After breakfast, Chloe presented her gift–a luxurious scarf from a designer brand. 

Aaron’s present still sat unopened on the table. The sunflowers had drooped further overnight. 

She placed the sunflowers into a vase and set them on her 

bedside table. 

Molly had the day off and bounded into Emily’s room as soon as she woke, clutching a string of delicately folded origami cranes and a little paper boat. “Happy birthday!” she chirped, then insisted on braiding Emily’s hair. 

It was a rare moment of warmth, and Emily naturally 

didn’t refuse. 

She spent the whole day with Molly–playing, laughing, just being. 

As evening approached, Ryan announced he’d booked a . 

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restaurant for a family dinner. 

He didn’t spell it out, but everyone knew this was for Emily’s birthday. 

The place he chose specialized in barbecue–smoky, bustling, and alive with the sizzle of grills and the chatter of happy diners. 

He handed Emily the menu with his usual understated calm. “Order whatever you like.” 

The simple gesture tightened her throat. 

It had been years since she’d celebrated her birthday with her family. 

After marrying Ethan, she’d lost pieces of herself bit by bit–always orbiting Sophia, her own milestones fading into the background, forgotten even by her. 

Looking back, she felt a quiet ache at how much she’d given up. 

With the orders placed, the family settled into easy Conversation, savoring the rare togetherness. 

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Mid–meal, a voice behind her sent an involuntary shiver down her spine. “Emily?” 

It was Alexander. But tonight, his voice sounded different -no lazy drawl, no playful “babe,” the way he usually called her. 

She turned, brow furrowing. “Alexander?” 

He scanned the table first, nodding politely. “Mr. Carter. Mrs. Carter.” 

Then he looked at Ryan, his tone cool. “Hello, Ryan.” 

After that, he turned to Chloe. “Hello, Chloe.” 

He even spared a small wave for Molly. “Hey there, Molly.” 

Emily had no idea what game he was playing; her frown deepened. 

Finally, his gaze settled on her, a sly smile curving his lips. “Running into you all feels like fate. You wouldn’t mind if I joined your family for dinner, would you?” 

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Before Emily could respond, Ryan turned slowly, fixing Alexander with an icy stare. “Mr. Lessing, you are 

accustomed to finer dining. I’m afraid this kind of simple food wouldn’t suit your palate.” 

The rejection was crystal clear, wrapped in polished 

sarcasm. 

Alexander acted as if he hadn’t heard the barb at all. He slid smoothly into the empty seat beside Emily and flashed a disarming grin. “Come on, Ryan, you’re joking, right? We’re all just people. Nothing here I can’t enjoy.” 

Emily shot a quick, worried glance at Ryan, remembering his earlier warning to steer clear of Alexander. 

But the man was like gum on her shoe–impossible to shake. 

Ryan didn’t raise his voice, but the chill in his tone 

deepened. “We’re a humble family, Mr. Lessing. I’m afraid we might not be in your league.” 

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