A Birthday to Plan
After parting ways with Rick, Emma tried to refocus her mind. Dominic’s birthday was the next day, and she had a party to finalize. They had agreed on a home celebration, inviting close friends and colleagues for a relaxed evening. Emma wanted everything to go perfectly. Maybe, just maybe, a well-executed party could bring them closer again and help her forget the tension she was feeling.
She returned home to continue the preparations, but before she could settle in, Dominic dropped a surprise that stopped her in her tracks. He casually mentioned that the hospital was also throwing him a birthday party—and that he planned to attend it after their gathering. Emma was stunned. The idea of him leaving their own party, even briefly, stung deeply. Something about the timing felt too convenient, and it added more fuel to the quiet fire building inside her.
