Chapter 273 6 Years Later

Chapter 273 6 Years Later
The crisp bite of New Hampshire’s November air couldn’t dull the riot of color and noise spilling across Evan and Millie’s backyard. The lawn, usually quiet and sprawling, had transformed into a storybook dream, bursting with inflatable castles, swirling capes, and the shrieks of over-sugared children racing across the grass.
Princess dresses and knight costumes fluttered past tables groaning under mountains of donuts, candy towers, and cupcakes so brightly frosted they looked almost too pretty to eat. Balloons tugged and bobbed against their tethers, splashing every color of the rainbow above the heads of chattering parents sipping wine from crystal glasses.
At the heart of it all stood a cake fit for a fairy tale—a towering castle with turrets dusted in glittering sugar, nearly as tall as the five-year-old birthday boy himself. Overhead, a shimmering banner danced in the breeze, proudly declaring:
Happy 5th Birthday, Julian Gabriel Moretti.
Servers in cartoon character costumes wove through the crowd, balancing trays of tiny finger foods and laughing as little hands snatched treats from their plates. Somewhere in the distance, a kid let out a triumphant howl from the top of the inflatable slide, ice cream melting down his arm in a sticky, glorious mess.
Millie moved through it all, her two-year-old daughter nestled in her arms, the toddler’s princess dress sparkling with tiny sequins. She paused to speak with Ophelia and Rose, who stood near a table piled with party favors.
Rose gestured toward the driveway. “The entertainers for the kids’ rides are on their way,” she said, her eyes scanning the bustling lawn. “They should be here soon.”
Millie smiled, shifting her daughter’s weight on her hip. “You’re a miracle worker, Rose,” she said, her tone grateful. “Thank you. Now go enjoy the party, please.”
Rose chuckled, waving her off, and slipped into the crowd. Millie turned to Ophelia, who was admiring her daughter’s tiny crown. “She’s stealing the show,” Ophelia said, tickling the toddler’s chin, earning a giggle.
Before Millie could reply, a familiar voice called out. She turned to see Clara, her parents, and Aidan approaching. Clara’s eyes, once clouded by injury, now sparkled with restored vision. She leaned in and kissed the toddler’s cheek, followed by her parents, who took turns showering the little one with affection.
“You’re all here!” Millie beamed, then her gaze landed on Aidan. “You showed up. Finally.”
Aidan shrugged, glancing around before meeting her eyes. “Couldn’t miss this for the world.”
“Well, you did a few birthdays ago,” Millie teased.
Aidan sighed, hands lifting in surrender. “And I’m sorry. I was—okay, there’s no excuse.”
“Exactly,” Millie said with a smirk. “No excuse.”
“Hello there, Miss Gretel Lia Moretti,” Clara cooed, playfully brushing a curl from the toddler’s forehead. She reached out to take her, but Aidan was quicker—swooping in and lifting Gretel from Millie’s arms with a wide grin.
“Come to Uncle, Princess Gretel,” he said, cradling her lovingly, his eyes soft with adoration. “Nice to meet you at last.”
Clara shook her head. “Wow,” she said, taking in the vibrant setup—the bouncing castles, the balloon arches, and the kids darting in their costumes. “You’ve got quite a fairy tale going here.”
Millie’s smile widened, her gaze sweeping the lawn. “You have Rose to thank for all this.”
Aidan, still holding Gretel, glanced around, his brow lifting. “Where’s Evan?” he asked, bouncing the toddler gently.
“In the kitchen,” Millie said, a fond lilt in her voice. “Probably wrangling some last-minute snacks.”
Clara’s eyes scanned the crowd, searching. “And the birthday boy.”
Millie chuckled. “Probably with his dad in the kitchen. Those two are inseparable.”
Aidan grinned, pressing a kiss to Gretel’s forehead, and wandered off toward a cluster of family members, Gretel babbling happily in his arms. Clara’s parents excused themselves, weaving through the colorful chaos of the party toward the kitchen to find Evan and the birthday boy.
Millie and Clara stood together, their gazes drifting to Aidan, who moved through the crowd with Gretel in his arms, his smile wide as he chatted with aunts, uncles, and cousins. Gretel’s tiny crown glinted as she babbled, her chubby hands waving at the relatives who cooed over her.
Millie tilted her head. “I thought he left for Australia?” she said, watching Aidan’s easy laughter.
Clara shrugged. “He moved the date,” she said. “Said he wouldn’t want to miss Julian’s birthday.”
“Well, it’s about time he showed up.”
“He’s seeing someone, you know.”
Millie’s eyebrows lifted, genuine excitement sparking in her chest. “Really?” she said, turning to Clara. “He told you?”
“Yeah,” Clara said. “And he told me it’s not anything serious, though.”
Millie’s smile widened, a quiet peace settling over her. After everything—the heartbreak and the years of rebuilding—she felt genuinely happy for Aidan. The passage of time had softened old wounds, weaving healing into their lives.
“Who’s the lucky girl?” she asked.