Chapter 30 Chapter 30: Surprise!
Catherine’s P.O.V
I stood there, frozen, as the party poppers popped and confetti rained down around me. My eyes widened when Xavier and Caroline stepped forward holding a small cake between them. My mouth opened, then closed, then opened again.
“Wait… what… what is going on?” I finally managed to stammer, my voice barely audible over the fading popping noises.
“Oh my god! She totally freaked,” Xavier laughed, holding the cake tighter. “Caroline, you’re a genius! I didn’t think this would actually work!”
“I told you it would, didn't I?” Caroline giggled, bouncing a little on her heels before stepping closer and taking my hand in hers.
“Cathy,” she said, her eyes sparkling, “I found out from Xavier this morning that today, the 27th of December, is actually your birthday. That’s why I wanted to throw you a surprise party.”
I blinked at her, completely flabbergasted, trying to process her words. “My… birthday?” I whispered, my voice tinged with disbelief. “You… you remembered?”
“Of course, I remembered, Cathy! You’re my wife!” Xavier grinned, leaning down to kiss my forehead. “You always forget or ignore your birthday because it falls during the holidays, but this time, Caroline and I made sure your birthday didn't just disappear into the rush of holiday season. We wanted you to feel loved and appreciated.”
I felt a sudden relief wash over me, like all the weight I’d been carrying for weeks had just lifted off my shoulders. My chest, which had been tight and restless, suddenly felt open and light, as if I could finally breathe without hesitation. I looked at Xavier, my heart still fluttering from the whirlwind of emotions, and realized how foolish I had been. All those lists, all the meticulous checks and endless assumptions, it had all been nothing more than stalling tactics, distractions that kept me from seeing the truth.
“You really did all of this?” I asked, tears stinging my eyes. “All for me?”
Xavier stepped forward, holding the cake closer to me. “Yeah,” he said with a grin. “So, blow out the candle and make a wish.”
Still stunned, I looked down at the small cake, the single flickering candle in the center catching my eye. I took a deep breath, leaned forward, and blew it out in one breath.
“Done,” I said softly, turning back to them. “Okay… but… how did you even know when I would get here?”
Caroline laughed, a warm, teasing sound that was so different from what I had heard from outside, and squeezed my hand. “Oh, that? Xavier purposely stalled you by giving you that long list of things,” she said, rolling her eyes at him.
“Even though I didn’t really need anything, he knew you’d be late getting everything, so we had just enough time to plan this little party.”
I stared at them, my shock slowly giving way to a grin. “You… you planned this? All of this… while I was away?”
While I was assuming the worst of you two? I didn't add.
Xavier shrugged, pretending to be casual. “Well, it seemed like the right thing to do.”
Caroline laughed again, tugging me gently toward them. “Yes, Cathy, just for you. Happy Birthday.”
I felt my heart swell, still trying to wrap my mind around it all, and all I could do was laugh in disbelief, shaking my head at their little scheme. “I… I don’t even know what to say,” I admitted, still holding their hands.
“You don’t have to say anything,” Caroline said, leaning in closer with a grin. “Just enjoy it.”
And for the first time all day, I really did.
Xavier stepped closer, his eyes softening as he reached out to hug me. “Cathy,” he murmured, pulling me into his chest.
“I’m so sorry for last night. I shouldn’t have…” He paused, pressing his forehead against mine. “I shouldn’t have taken my anger out on you. You didn’t deserve that, not even a little.”
I stayed quiet, letting his words sink in, letting the warmth of his hug seep into the anxious corners of my heart.
“I acted like an idiot,” he continued, his voice low but steady. “I was angry at a lot of things, but none of it was your fault. I just… I didn’t know how to handle it, and you ended up paying for my mistakes.”
“I… I thought you were…” I started, my voice trembling, but he shook his head gently.
“No,” he said firmly, almost cutting me off. “You weren’t in the wrong and about the maid, I didn’t just fire her like I said I would. I made sure she retired properly, gave her a good bonus, and I even brought her some gifts. I wanted to make sure she was taken care of. Mistakes happen and I shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions. That was my responsibility, not yours.”
I blinked, the knot of tension in my stomach unraveling as I processed his words. “You… you did all that?”
“Yes,” he said, smiling softly. “I didn’t want her to feel abandoned, and I definitely didn’t want you to feel burdened by it. I was trying to handle things the best way I knew how. I just… didn’t explain any of it, and I let my frustration cloud everything.”
I felt a pang of guilt for how I had reacted, for all the suspicion and anger I had carried toward him and Caroline. All the conversations I had with Hunter just hours earlier…all my pain and insecurities…it was all just in my head.
“I… I think I really overreacted,” I admitted quietly, my voice barely above a whisper. “I misunderstood you. And… Caroline… I think I judged you for nothing.”
Xavier cupped my face in his hands, looking at me with so much sincerity that I felt tears prick my eyes.
“Cathy, it’s okay. You didn’t know. None of this was easy to see from the outside. But I promise, you never had to carry any of that weight. I should have been clearer, should have communicated instead of letting my anger take over. I’m sorry you had to go through all that.”
I nodded slowly, letting the realization settle over me. I had been so quick to assume the worst, so ready to see malice where there was none but standing here, in his arms, hearing his words, I felt a clarity I hadn’t felt in months. Everything that had weighed me down, all the suspicions and hurt, it all seemed to dissolve.
“I… I really misjudged you,” I admitted again, more firmly this time. “I let my imagination run wild. And I… I’m sorry for thinking the worst.”
He shook his head, pulling me even closer, his voice gentle. “No, Cathy. Don’t apologize for that. You were protecting yourself in the only way you knew how. What matters is that we understand each other now and I promise, from here on out, I’ll make sure you never have to doubt me like that again.”
I felt my heart ease, the relief so profound it made me shiver. I realized I could finally let go, finally trust again, and maybe, just maybe, stop carrying all the unnecessary burdens I had placed on myself.
I sank into the chair, rubbing my temples, and finally let out a long, shaky breath. Maybe Hunter really managed to get into my head. He planted ideas when there was nothing there, and now… I don’t even know what’s real anymore. My hands twisted in my lap.
“I’m so sorry Xavier, my emotions have been a mess too… I didn’t mean to lash out or…” I stopped, my voice catching. “I just… I can’t explain it. I feel all over the place.”
Xavier leaned back slightly, resting an elbow on the table, his expression calm but gentle.
“Cathy,” he said, his voice steady, “it’s okay. We can talk about all of that later. What matters is that you’re here, and that you know we’re not mad. We’re not going anywhere.” He smiled faintly, the kind of smile that somehow made the tightness in my chest loosen a little. “For now… we’ve prepared a feast for you and there’s a mountain of gifts waiting too and I was thinking maybe we can open them together?”
I blinked, surprised by the shift in his tone, by the warmth that suddenly wrapped around me. Relief surged through me so suddenly I almost laughed.
“A mountain of gifts?” I said, trying to keep the tremor out of my voice. “You didn’t have to…”
Caroline nudged me gently, a teasing smile playing on her lips. “Oh, Cathy, you have to. You deserve all that and so much more,” she said, though her eyes twinkled with mischief. “You get to tear into them before we can even breathe.”
I exhaled, letting a small smile creep onto my face despite myself. “Alright… okay,” I said.
“Let’s do it. I… I really appreciate this. I don’t even know what I did to deserve it right now.” I reached for the first gift, my fingers brushing the neatly wrapped box, and for a moment, I let myself forget everything else…the confusion, the mess Hunter had left me in, the chaos in my own head. I focused on this small, tangible thing in my hands.
Xavier watched me, his eyes soft, and Caroline hovered a little to the side, her grin unmistakable.
“Go on,” Xavier encouraged. “Open it.”
I tore into the wrapping, paper scattering across the table, and as I lifted the lid, a genuine laugh escaped me. The sight inside made my chest lift with a little bit of unfiltered joy, a rare thing these days. A small puppy shaped charm bracelet. It was absolutely gorgeous.
But as I reached for my next gift, what I didn’t notice, was the way Xavier and Caroline exchanged a quiet, knowing smile behind me, a private acknowledgment of the small victory of this moment…a moment that was completely hidden beneath the pile of flashy gifts and false reassurances.