Because I Was an and He Threw Away 166

Birthday Gifts 

Molly, fork dangling from her mouth, pondered deeply before declaring, “Sir, you’re really handsome, but handsome guys can be risky.” 

Alexander chuckled, eyes twinkling, “Ah, but I’m not like the others.” 

Molly nodded solemnly. “Okay then. Good luck.” 

Emily listened to their exchange, feeling the air around Ryan grow dangerously heavy, like a storm brewing. 

After a moment, she leaned toward Molly and said gently, “Sweetie, he and I are just friends.” 

Molly let out a disappointed “Oh,” her little shoulders slumping. “Alright…” 

Alexander turned to Emily, lowering his voice to a conspiratorial whisper near her ear. “But that might not always be true.” 

Only she heard it. With her whole family there, ne lett05 

+34 Bonus 

< Chapter 166 Twenty–Seven Birthd… 

slide without a word. 

Once the cake was finished, the evening wrapped up. 

Molly, utterly spent, had dozed off against Ryan’s chest. 

As the family filed out of the barbecue place, Alexander lingered to see them off. 

Only Emily and Chloe hadn’t drunk, so they took the 

wheels home. 

Chloe pulled away first. Just as Emily reached for her car door, Alexander caught her arm and yanked her into a sudden, firm embrace. 

She pushed against his chest. “Alexander, what are you doing now?” 

He pinned her gently against the car, caging her between his body and the cool metal. Leaning in, his breath warm with wine and husky against her ear. “Happy birthday, babe.” 

Emily shoved harder. “Alexander, that’s enough. Stop messing around.” 

15:05 

+34 Bonus 

< Chapter 166 Twenty–Seven Birthd… 

His shadow enveloped her, and the alcohol made his breath hot against her skin, sending an unwelcome flush through her. 

He murmured, “I left a little surprise for you in your room. Hope you like it.” 

Emily was the last to arrive back at Carter Manor. 

When she stepped inside, Ryan and Chloe were on the sofa, clearly waiting up. 

She hesitated in the doorway. “Ryan… Chloe…” 

Ryan turned, fixing her with a stern glare. “Come here. We need to talk.” 

His tone promised nothing good. 

Emily had feared her big brother since childhood, 

She knew he loved her fiercely, but that didn’t make his disapproval any less intimidating. 

She approached the coffee table and stood there. Chloe 

3/8 

15:05 

< Chapter 166 Twenty–Seven Birthd… 

(+34 

+34 Bonus 

gestured for her to sit, but Ryan cut straight to it. “The divorce–is it finalized yet?” 

“I’m still waiting for Ethan to sign,” she answered quietly. 

Ryan’s brow furrowed deeper. “Is he refusing, or is it about the settlement?” 

The truth was, Emily had no idea why Ethan was stalling. 

She shook her head. “I don’t know. We haven’t really discussed it.” 

Ryan’s expression darkened further. “If you’ve decided to end it, don’t drag your feet.” 

་་ 

Emily could tell his anger stemmed from Ethan’s uninvited appearance earlier. Softly, she said, “Ryan, I’ll call him right now and sort it out properly. I promise.” 

He nodded and added, “Fine. Go upstairs.” 

She glanced at him, then at Chloe. “Goodnight, Ryan. Goodnight, Chloe.” 

With that, she headed up the stairs. 4g 

15:05 

+34 Bohus 

< Chapter 166 Twenty–Seven Birthd… 

Ryan’s push about the divorce momentarily drove Alexander’s “surprise” from her mind. 

She pushed open her bedroom door, flicked on the light- and froze, hand over her mouth to stifle a gasp, terrified of waking the house. 

Quickly, she shut the door behind her. 

Her once–tidy, cozy room was now a sea of crimson rose petals scattered across the floor. In the center of her bed sat an enormous bouquet of champagne–colored roses, flanked by a large gift box. 

Stepping carefully over the petals, she reached the bed and spotted a birthday card. 

In bold, flamboyant script, it wrote: [To my babe–happy birthday.] 

The words were bold and unapologetic–unmistakably Alexander’s style. 

Inside the big box were dozens of smaller gifts, one for each year of her life. 

5/8 

15:05 

+34 Bonus 

< Chapter 166 Twenty–Seven Birthd… 

The gift prepared for one–year–old Emily was a lollipop. 

The gift for the two–year–old was a colorful picture book. 

The gift for the three–year–old was an exquisite little hair clip. 

The gift for the four–year–old was a children’s puzzle set. 

The gifts kept going on like this. 

The gift for the eighteen–year–old was a pair of crystal high heels–they were exquisitely crafted and clearly expensive. 

The gift for the twenty–two–year–old was a lustrous pearl bracelet. 

The gift for the twenty–six–year–old was a sultry red strapless gown. 

And for twenty–seven–this year’s gift–it was a single card. In Alexander’s distinctive handwriting, it read: [Write “I do” and unlock your real birthday present.] 

6/8 

15:05 

+34 Bonus 

F 

24 

< Chapter 166 Twenty–Seven Birthd… 

Emily wasn’t falling for that trap. She left it blank. 

With a man like Alexander, every gesture came laced with 

intent. 

Still, gazing around the transformed room, she couldn’t deny the effort he’d poured in. 

She’d been home all day, so he must have slipped in while they were at dinner, arranged everything, and then “happened” to show up at the restaurant. 

Whatever his true motives, Emily had to admit that Alexander knew exactly how to sweep a woman off her 

feet. 

But how much of it was genuine? 

She sank onto the edge of the bed, fingers brushing the velvety roses, and suddenly thought of Ethan. 

Five years married, and he’d never once given her a birthday gift–not a single one. 

This was the first time someone had gone to such lengths.. 

to celebrate her day. 

15:05 

+34 Bonus 

< Chapter 166 Twenty–Seven Birthd… 

Even if Alexander had his own agenda, what he’d done tonight still warmed her heart. 

B 

Write your comment 

ir Gifts 

www