{CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE}

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As the sun set, the living room turned into a fun party spot. Colorful streamers hung from the ceiling, and balloons floated everywhere, making it feel super cheerful. A big 'Happy Birthday' banner was up on the wall, adding to the celebration vibe.

In the middle of the room, there was a table filled with tasty snacks and a gorgeous cake with candles on it. Twinkling fairy lights wrapped around the furniture, giving everything a cozy glow, and confetti was scattered around for some extra fun. It was the perfect place for friends and family to come together and celebrate.

The nanny and mom were bustling around in the kitchen, ensuring that every snack and meal was not just tasty but absolutely perfect for the guests.

Finally! Today is the day, and turning 25 doesn't quite feel like a merry age, but I'm ready to embrace it.

I made my way to the kitchen, wrapping my arms around Mom's neck from behind. She was so absorbed in her task that she hardly looked up to see who it was—though I think she might have sensed it was me.

"You seem so happy," the nanny interjected with a warm smile.

"Do I?" I replied, releasing my arms from Mom and making my way to the refrigerator for a drink. "I guess I do," I added, popping open the soda can and savoring a small sip.

"Why do I get the feeling you aren't so excited about today? Is something up?" Mom, who had been pretending not to notice me, paused her task and turned to ask.

"I'm fine, Mom. Just a bit nervous."

"About?" she asked. "Nervous about Jackson taking the CEO position? Sweetheart, if you're feeling unsure, let's put that aside for now and focus on only celebrating your birthday. You know I still don't think Jackson becoming CEO is a good idea."

"Mommm, come on," I shot her a disapproving look. We've had this conversation before, and I've tried to explain my reasons, but it still stings that she doubts my choices. With a sigh, my expression turned serious. "Besides, that isn't the reason."

"Then what else is making you look so nervous? You've never been this way on your birthday before."

The nanny gave me a knowing side glance, clearly aware of the reason behind my anxiety.

"It's nothing, Mom. You'll find out later today."

"Find out what?" Now Mom's face was filled with concern.

It felt completely wrong to keep such big news from them, especially from Mom. Even if there was no one else I could confide in, it shouldn't be her. I never hide anything from her; she's always the first to know everything. Plus, I'm not great at keeping secrets—she can always tell when something's off. So, managing to keep this news from her took a lot of courage. I just wanted it to be a surprise announcement for everyone.

"Something is bothering you," Mom pressed, her concern evident. I knew she only wanted to understand what was making me anxious and help ease my mind—but Mom, I'm sorry, no one needs to know about it just yet. "Sweetheart, you know you never keep secrets from me." Ugh, she was right, and I was on the verge of giving in and telling her the truth when the doorbell rang.

Perfect—just perfect. It was the perfect chance to escape her relentless questioning.

"I'll get the door," I said, rushing away from the kitchen.

To my surprise, it was Lisa!

"Lisa?!" I gasped as I swung the door open. "Oh my gosh, Lisa!" I cried out, pulling her in for a warm, enthusiastic hug.

Our hug felt like it lasted an eternity before Mom finally interrupted us. "Oh, Lisa, you're here!" she exclaimed, pulling her into a warm embrace and gently caressing her hair with that unmistakable motherly love. Before all the preparations began, I had already told Mom about Lisa's mom passing and asked her not to treat Lisa with pity when she arrived. I wanted her to treat Lisa just like she would anyone else, but my request was in vain; as soon as Mom saw her, she shot Lisa a sympathetic look that spoke volumes.

Once Mom wrapped up her little display of motherly affection, Lisa and I finally had a moment to ourselves.

"I don't see him?" Lisa asked, looking around.

"Who?"

"Jackson... I don't see him anywhere," she said, a hint of concern in her voice.

"Oh, Jackson! He was still in bed when I checked on the preparations. But don't worry, he'll be down soon, and then you'll finally get to meet him."

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"Uncle, I got the code. They're all downstairs, so I can get this done quickly."

"Ahh, that's good, my boy. Now go get the files from the safe, but be careful."

"I will." He ended the call with his uncle abruptly, taking a moment to steady his nerves with a deep breath before quietly slipping into Hanna's mom's room.

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I turned to Lisa, and while she wore a smile, I could see the pain lurking just beneath the surface, masked by a facade.

"That reminds me, I got you something, Lisa," Mom said cheerfully as she stepped in with a tray of drinks. "Nanny, could you please grab the things I got for Lisa from my room?" She called out to the nanny, her face lighting up with a warm smile.

"Ooo, Aunty, did you get something for me?"

"Mommmm, it's my birthday, not Lisa's," I said, pouting playfully.

"Don't be jealous, sweetheart. You'll get yours when all the guests arrive." She knew I was just teasing.

My gaze fell on the nanny as she made her way up the stairs, her apron perfectly draped around her neck.

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Footsteps echoed softly through the passageways as the nanny made her way toward the room, each step resonating with the weight of haunting secrets hidden in the shadows.

When she finally reached the door, she paused, taken aback—the door was slightly ajar. This was strange for her, as it was always Hanna's mom's habit to lock the door, regardless of whether she was inside or out.

Her fear intensified as she suddenly heard hurried movements coming from the room. 'A thief?' she wondered, but quickly dismissed the thought; there was no way a thief could be inside without passing through the front door in the sitting room. If it wasn't a thief, then who could it be? Her curiosity was piqued, and she realized that yelling for help wouldn't be the wisest choice. Instead, she felt an urge to confront whoever was inside, even if it meant putting her life at risk.

Quietly pushing the door wide open, a sharp gasp escaped her lips. There, on the ground, was a recognizable young man, frantically sifting through some files. His hair was pulled back into a bun, exposing his scalp.

"You?!" she exclaimed, her voice barely above a whisper, too stunned to utter anything else while she stood frozen in place.

Looking up, Jackson caught sight of the nanny standing in shock, his heartbeat pounding in his ears at the thought of his plan unraveling and what would happen to him if she revealed everything to the others.

"Y-y-y-you're m-m-m-" Just as she began to form the words, Jackson swiftly snatched the files, tucking them tightly under his arm for safekeeping. He quickly covered her mouth with his other hand, desperate to silence her as she struggled to break free.

He dragged her through the fuzzy passageway to the garage, expertly binding her mouth, hands, and legs before placing her in a small, forgotten room cluttered with discarded items.

A wave of relief washed over Jackson as he realized his plan was back on track. He knew he needed to hurry to the living room before anyone noticed the nanny was missing.

He then tucked the files away in a secure spot and quickly freshened up with a shower, washing away the sweat that could give him away and any lingering trace of the nanny's scent.

The sitting room was alive with laughter as guests and company board members mingled. As he descended the stairs, conversations came to an abrupt halt, and all eyes were drawn to him. His confident stride radiated strength, accentuated by the tailored black suit that fit his well-built frame perfectly. With his hair impeccably styled, he casually tucked one hand into his pocket, commanding the room's attention.

The entire room fell into a hush as he took his final step down the stairs, making his way toward Hanna and Lisa, who stood beside her.

"It's you..."

The stunned declaration escaped Lisa's lips, reverberating through the silence as their gaze, which had been locked on Jackson, now turned to her.