Chapter 7

Quill couldn't refuse Aspen's demands and had no choice but to go out and search. After all the commotion, the trash bins outside the villa were already empty. When he asked the cleaning staff, he learned that the garbage had been taken to the landfill. He then helplessly rushed there without delay. Ignoring the filth, he searched through the landfill for an entire day and night but still found no trace of the pearl necklace. In the end, he returned empty-handed. Everyone was already asleep by the time he dragged his exhausted body back to the village, except for Aspen, who was sitting in the living room reviewing reports. Quill approached her and tried to explain again. "I looked everywhere. I couldn't find it. I really didn't throw away your pearl necklace." "Oh, it accidentally fell behind the bookshelf. I forgot to tell you. Why didn't you just come back if you didn't find it?" she replied nonchalantly, clearly not taking the matter seriously. By the end of her statement, she even criticized him for not being flexible enough. His breath caught, and he closed his eyes for a moment before speaking. "You told me to find it. If you tell me to do something, I have to do it." Quill's words reflected his reality—he was bound by the system and unable to refuse any demands from the targets. But to Aspen, they carried a different meaning. She misunderstood his words. A flicker of emotion crossed her face, and her gaze toward him shifted. Reflecting on the past, Aspen suddenly realized that over the years, Quill had never refused any of her requests. She had never met someone who loved her this much. Even when they married, he had only nodded obediently and agreed when she made it clear she would never have another child besides Nora. Thinking back on everything, it was impossible for her not to feel a hint of emotion. For the first time, her heart softened slightly, and there was an unfamiliar tenderness in her eyes when she looked at him. "Go take a shower and get some rest," she said softly. Quill noticed her misunderstanding but was too drained to explain further. He turned and went upstairs to wash up and sleep without another word. Perhaps it was because the day and night had been so exhausting, but he fell into a deep sleep as soon as his head hit the pillow. The next morning, Quill was woken up by his pre-set alarm. When he glanced at his inbox which was filled with birthday wishes from various platforms, he realized that today was his birthday. The house was empty, and Quill didn't bother to ask where everyone had gone. Instead, he bought himself a cake. This was his last birthday in this world, and he intended to celebrate it properly even if he was alone. He lit the candles and was about to make a wish when the doorbell suddenly rang. Standing outside was Aspen's assistant, who handed him a box without much explanation. "Ms. Sanders asked me to deliver this suit and told me to tell you to meet her on the fifth floor of the Night Banquet." With the message and package delivered, the assistant left without delay. Unable to refuse, Quill returned to his room to change into the suit and hurried to the address. When he arrived, he realized it was a birthday party. For a brief moment, he thought Aspen and Nora had finally remembered his birthday. He just stood there, feeling momentarily stunned. But the next second, Corey approached him with a beaming smile on his face. "Mr. Milton, you're finally here!" Following closely behind Corey were Aspen and Nora. Their expressions shifted the moment they saw him. Aspen's gaze darkened, and Nora tugged at her mother's sleeve with a pout. "Daddy, why did you invite him?" "I heard today is also Mr. Milton's birthday. It's the same day as mine. Spending it alone at home seemed so pitiful, so I thought I'd bring him here to liven things up," Corey replied with a laugh, yet his glance at Quill was laced with subtle smugness. He gestured toward the long table in the center of the banquet hall, which was piled high with gift boxes. "These are all the presents Aspen and Nora prepared for me. There are so many that I can't even manage them all. Mr. Milton, why don't you take a look? "If there's anything you like, you can have it. It'd be sad not to get a gift on your birthday, wouldn't it?" Quill could hear the taunting in Corey's words but shook his head slightly, refusing to engage. "No need. Since they're gifts for you, it's only right for you to keep them." Corey didn't seem bothered by Quill's lack of reaction. Instead, he walked over to the multi-tiered cake and turned to Quill with a cheerful smile. "If you don't want a gift, then at least make a wish." Thinking of the wish he had been interrupted earlier, Quill didn't refuse this time. Clasping his hands together, he closed his eyes and silently made his wish, one no one else would ever know. "I wish to never see Aspen and Nora again for the rest of my life."