After singing a song to their mommy, Jaden and Scarlet walked out and let her dress. Nate also chuckled while apanying them out, and he convinced the kids to wait for their mommy at the table.


    Somehow, Lara was awake already, not sleepy like usual.


    ?Isn''t my mommy so pretty on her birthday?? Jaden pointed out, still clenching his papers and walking behind Nate and Scarlet.


    When they reached the stairs, the girl pulled Nate''s sleeve until he bent down to pick her up.


    He turned to Jaden and waited for the boy to stroll to him, and he carried him down as well. He was too busy looking at the present he had prepared for his mommy to walk down the stairs.


    ?Your mother is more than pretty,? Nate pointed out. ?And not just at her birthday.?


    ?But today she''s especially happy. And she''s more beautiful than usual.?


    ?Is she?? Nate muttered. Too bad that he couldn''t feel the difference.


    He liked her in any version, even with a tired face andfortable clothes, dragging her feelings with her as if they were a weight.


    ?Is it because she slept more??


    Scarlet tried to understand the situation, but she couldn''t. What could make her mommy so pretty, so happy, and so rxed? She would usually wake up before them and hurry to finish everything in time.


    ?She didn''t sleep any more than usual, Scarlet. We got up earlier than her.?


    Even if Nate had postponed the rm, Lara went to sleepte the night before. She wasn''t happy because she got enough sleep; maybe it was the opposite.


    ?But she is so beautiful,? Jaden insisted.


    ?She always is. At least, to me. And to you??


    ?Yes,? Scarlet nodded, followed by Jaden. The three discussed Lara''s qualities for the whole time on the way to the kitchen.


    ?The cake,? Jaden whispered.


    ?Not now, Jaden. It''s early.?


    ?But my mommy should blow out the candles. We can eat it this evening, but I want mommy to see it now!?


    After keeping the family party a secret from his mommy, Jaden was itching to tell her everything. Waiting a few more hours would have been torture.


    ?Okay,? Nate epted.


    There was no point in keeping the kids anxious for the whole day just because of some cake. Lara could blow the candles and express her wish in the morning, and they would eat it once back from thepany.


    Lara was already expecting something when she finally sat at the table, and her family didn''t disappoint. Nate''s nning didn''t stop at the song in ce of the rm.


    ?We made you a cake, mommy!? Jaden eximed.


    ?You made it??


    ?Grandma helped a little.?


    ?Ah, I see... I shall thank Mnie when I see her. She must have sweated hard to bake it while I was too far away to notice.?


    ?It''s nothing,? Nate intervened. ?She likes making sweets, and we all like eating them.?


    The woman chuckled, following the fire of the candles with her eyes. There were only two because the twins couldn''t agree on how old their mommy was. One of them wanted to fill the cake with candles, but the other didn''t like that option. Moreover, their mommy was young! She didn''t need many, many candlelights.


    In the end, Nate had put two and ced the cake on the table. He had fired the candles and turned to Lara in expectation.


    ?You should express a wish,? he reminded her.


    ?Yes, sure,? she said, closing her eyes and keeping her desire absolutely secret.


    Not Nate nor the kids could guess what she was thinking about, and she opened her eyes only when she was done. She blew on the two candles, extinguishing them at the first attempt.


    The kids pped their hands, amazed, and Nate got ready for the second part of that game.


    ?I want to try too!? Scarlet said.


    ?Me too! I also want to!? added Jaden.


    He lit the candlelights and positioned the cake so that both pups could blow. He repeated a couple of times until getting tired and retreating with the cake, and he nced at Lara a few times.


    She was observing her kids, sometimes turning to him with that same expression. She was happy, rxed, and she was looking at him almost as much as at the twins.


    ?Thank you,? she said. ?It''s been so long sincest time.?


    ?It''s not over,? he chuckled. ?I hope you didn''t think you could get out of it with just a cake. We''ve prepared presents.?


    ?Yes, presents!? Scarlet eximed. ?We prepared them for you especially, mommy!?


    She turned to Nate, realising that she didn''t know where her present was.


    ?Daddy, where?? she pouted. How could she forget after all the emotions of choosing it together with her daddy?


    ?Here,? Nate said, delivering a small package.


    ?Daddy and I went shopping, and we looked for a present for you, mommy. This is the one I liked the most,? she exined, delivering the box.


    Lara opened it, finding a shining diamond inside.


    ?Scarlet, you liked this one more?? she chuckled, a little nervous.


    It was just a diamond, not even a jewel! Her daughter sure knew how to choose presents. That one was just a precious gem, maybe one of those people buy for investments.


    Oh, she was going to be a CEO one day, Lara was sure. She had an eye for expensive things. And for shiny gems...


    ?Th-thank you,? Lara stuttered. How was one supposed to react after receiving a diamond?


    She could give it back to Nate once everything was done so that he could bring it back. Or, since Nate was most likely going to get offended and refuse, she could keep it for the kids'' education. College could be expensive, and that diamond could cover part of the costs...


    ?You don''t like it,? Scarlet noticed, grimacing and walking back to her father. ?Daddy, she doesn''t like it,? she whined.


    ?She does,? Nateforted her, and he nced at Lara in hope she would understand and smile a little more brightly.


    ?Yes, I do. Mommy was just so surprised by the first present her girl prepared... It''s so special; I will keep it forever,? she surrendered.


    She hoped Jaden didn''t have the same idea, by the way. One diamond was enough for the year.