The relentless rain mirrored the storm inside her heart as Avril ran, a delicate cake box clutched in one hand, an umbrella struggling against the wind in the other. Her car had given up, but she wouldn't. Not today. It was his birthday, the man she loved, and she had to surprise him. She pushed open the heavy doors of his office building, the echoing silence a stark contrast to her pounding heart.

Inside, the building was eerily quiet, most employees out for lunch. She was tired, having just returned from a crucial assignment she'd handled for him, a success that had brought them a massive contract. She loved doing things for him, even if a tiny part of her wondered if she was doing too much. But today, it was all for him.

As she reached his office, a familiar, joyful laugh spilled out. The door was ajar, and a sliver of curiosity, then dread, made her peer inside. Her younger step-brother, Sartes, and her cousin, Brittney, were there. And then she saw him – David, the love of her life. Brittney was perched on his lap. Avril froze, the cake box suddenly feeling like a lead weight in her hand.