☆Chapter 23: A Birthday Meant Just for Her☆

Silence enveloped the De Luca mansion as the moon hung high in the night sky. The vast halls, usually bustling with guards and servants, now felt eerily quiet.

Seraphina tiptoed down the grand staircase, her bare feet barely making a sound on the cold marble floor.

"Potatoes, potatoes…" she murmured softly, her eyes scanning the dimly lit kitchen as she sneaked in.

She wore a hoodie, her long hair tucked inside, trying to avoid any detection. She had been planning this night for days.

Today wasn't just any day.

October 25th.

It was Amelia's birthday.

The birthday she had left behind when she was reborn as Seraphina De Luca.

Her heart clenched at the thought, but she pushed it aside.

"Just one small celebration," she whispered softly, her fingers rummaging through the pantry. "If I can't be Amelia anymore… I can at least keep this."

Her eyes lit up when she spotted a bag of potatoes.

"Aha!"

She grabbed it with a triumphant grin, placing it on the counter as she began peeling and mashing the potatoes by hand.

"This will do," she murmured, determined.

With the mashed potatoes ready, she looked around for something to serve as a candle.

Her gaze fell on a massive wax candle sitting on a nearby shelf—the kind used to light up the mansion during emergencies.

Seraphina's lips twitched.

"Perfect."

She placed the candle in the middle of her mashed potatoes and lit it carefully.

A tiny flame flickered, illuminating her soft tiny features.

"Happy birthday, Amelia…" she whispered, her voice barely above a breath.

Her heart ached, but for the first time in a long while, she felt… at peace.

☆☆☆

Lorenzo had been restless that night.

After hours of reviewing contracts, his mind refused to settle.

"I'll check on Seraphina," he muttered, his footsteps silent as he moved toward her room.

But as he approached…

Her bed was empty.

"What the—" His cold aura immediately darkened, eyes narrowing as his mind raced with worst-case scenarios.

"Where is she?" His tone was deadly calm as he swept through the mansion, his senses heightened.

Then…

A faint glow from the kitchen caught his attention.

Lorenzo's steps slowed.

He peeked inside and his cold heart stilled.

Seraphina sat at the kitchen counter, her back facing him.

In front of her was a bowl of mashed potatoes, with a massive candle sticking out of it, its flame flickering gently.

"Happy birthday…"

Her voice was soft, filled with a quiet sadness that pierced Lorenzo's heart.

For the first time, he saw a glimpse of something…

Something different.

Something he couldn't understand.

Birthdays.

☆☆☆

"Matteo."

"Huh?" Matteo blinked, half-asleep as he answered Lorenzo's late-night call.

"Get to the mansion. Now."

"Why? It's—"

"Just do it."

The line went dead.

Matteo groaned but dragged himself out of bed.

When he arrived, Lorenzo was pacing the living room, his expression darker than usual.

"What's going on?" Matteo yawned.

Lorenzo stopped pacing and turned to him, his eyes hard and unyielding.

"We're throwing Seraphina a birthday party."

Matteo froze.

"Wait… what?"

"A party. Small. Private."

"Why?" Matteo's brow furrowed.

"Because…" Lorenzo's jaw clenched, his stoic mask cracking for a moment.

"Because she celebrated alone tonight, and her debut birthday wasn't a happy thing either."

Matteo's eyes dropped.

"Yea, poisons..."

Lorenzo's gaze darkened.

"No one remembered her real birthday."

Matteo's heart sank.

"Shit."

"I want it done by tomorrow," Lorenzo ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"Tomorrow?" Matteo's eyes nearly bulged out. "Do you know how much work that is?!"

"I don't care. Make it happen."

"Seriously? What am I? A right hand man, a nanny, or a magician?"

☆☆☆

The next morning, Nonno's booming laughter echoed through the mansion.

"A birthday party?!"

"Quiet." Lorenzo's glare was enough to make most men crumble, but Nonno just grinned.

"You don't even celebrate your own birthday, and now you're throwing one for Seraphina?"

"She deserves it," Lorenzo muttered, his tone barely above a whisper.

Nonno's expression softened.

"You're really changing, Lorenzo."

"Just help me, Nonno."

Nonno chuckled.

"Of course, Nipotino."

☆☆☆

By evening, the small ballroom was adorned with simple decorations.

Nothing grand, nothing extravagant.

Just… perfect.

Warm lights, a small cake, and a table filled with Seraphina's favorite dishes.

"Are you sure about this?" Matteo asked as he adjusted the last ribbon.

"Yes," Lorenzo replied, his gaze sharp but his heart oddly calm.

"And if she asks why we're doing this?"

Lorenzo's lips twitched.

"We'll tell her… it's just another De Luca tradition."

☆☆☆

"Nonno?"

Seraphina blinked in surprise as Nonno guided her into the ballroom.

"What's going on?"

But as her eyes took in the sight before her, her breath hitched.

"Happy birthday, dolcezza," Nonno murmured softly.

Seraphina's eyes widened.

Lorenzo stood by the corner, arms crossed, watching her carefully.

"Papa…?"

"You celebrated alone last night," Lorenzo said, his voice gruff.

"You won't be alone again."

Seraphina's eyes watered.

"I…"

"Blow out the candles, princess," Matteo said softly, his smile genuine.

Seraphina stepped forward, her heart pounding.

"Happy birthday… to me," she whispered, her voice filled with emotion as she blew out the candles.

☆☆☆

As the flames flickered out, a new one burned brightly in her heart.

Seraphina may not have been Amelia anymore…

But with her family by her side, she was more than ready to carve her own path.

Seraphina De Luca.

A name that would echo through generations.