glanced at her phone near her jewelry box and saw several message notifications from her close friends. Int
te. Juliette considered taking the bus if only her stepfather, Anthony, would allow it. Unfortunately, the reputation of
ntinued to the dining room, where everyone was already seated. Juliette cleared
tant things than her birthday. At least she still had friends who cared deeply for her. Her mother? Juliette couldn't hope for mu
ng treated as an outsider, especially by her stepbrother, Robbin. However, his treatment changed when they entered their teenage years. As the h
ould visit her room and give her surprise gifts that made Juliette happy. Sometimes, he would suddenly pick her up from school, making
although Juliette often caught Robbin glancing at her during meals. Despite this, Juliette m
tte greeted as she en
on to Anthony's immediate family, the mansion also housed several other De Lavigne family members, and out of all of them, only Daisy,
had to remember that today was her birthday, and she officially turned twenty-thr
re she worked as a designer, a plan she had discussed sin
shirt. He was busy sipping coffee from his cup and reading the news on his phone, but when he
birthda
s the once-cold man who hadn't accepted her
rned to the servant who placed a glass of orange juice on the table. Juliette lifted t
all party to celebrate your birthday." Robbin confirmed his wo
eyes and asked, "Are
cy to discuss a contract. I h
You're amazi
ne back in his blazer pocket. "Aren't
ce while shaking her head sli
his untouched breakfast. "So, what will
lans?" Meryl suddenly asked from the seat
know we haven't seen Robbin join us for a long time. Besides, you intended to tell
Jule," Daisy sa
fore acting as if she wasn't there. Without making a sound, Juliette smil
to open the messages sent by all her friends. Reading them one by one made Juliette's mood even bette
oday, let's celebrate
day tonight? Juliette replied to Amber with that thought, informing her friend about her moth
e had just been thinking about. Meryl walked into the room with her graceful and c
What
at her daughter with a difficult-to-describe expres
dded briefly and signaled to th
entered the room and handed the box to Meryl before returning to her place. Meryl
liette murmu
w steps towards Juliette and fitting t
or you, but the entire De Lavigne family wanted a masquerade party. They thought it would be more fest
kno
nd polite demeanor. "I'm proud of you, Ette. I haven't said this to you much since we moved
ntaneously hugged the woman she had called mot
hoked voice. "I'm sure your father is proud to see you grow u
u miss
to frame her pretty face. "Of course, your father was my true love.
e smiled broadly,
, "Your dress will arrive this afternoon. You
k you
fter admiring the mask's design, Juliette put it back in the box. She informed her friends about the masquerade p
t on the vanity table and left the room. Toda
.