By the time Lucas arrived at the villa that evening, the entire place had been transformed. Warm golden lights illuminated the driveway, while elegant flower arrangements lined the entrance.

The gardens had been decorated with ribbons, lanterns, and strings of fairy lights that gave the entire property a dreamlike atmosphere.

Round tables covered with white cloth were arranged neatly across the lawn.

AA professional stage had been set up near the pool, complete with speakers, lighting equipment, and a large LED screen displaying: Happy Birthday, Sofia.

Lucas slowly walked through the venue, inspecting every detail. Mason had truly outdone himself. Nothing felt cheap or rushed. Everything looked perfect.

Then his eyes landed on the centerpiece. A massive three tier birthday cake stood proudly in the center of the lawn.

No. Calling it a cake almost felt insulting. It was practically a work of art. Decorated with edible flowers, gold accents, and intricate frosting designs, it stood nearly as tall as Sofia herself.

Lucas had never seen a birthday cake this large in his entire life. He circled it once before shaking his head with a smile.

Satisfied with the preparations, Lucas headed inside the villa.

Tomorrow would be a long day. After taking a shower, he lay down on the soft bed and quickly drifted off to sleep.

The next morning, Lucas woke earlier than usual. Sunlight filtered through the curtains as he sat up and checked the time. Today was Sofia’s birthday.

After getting ready, he glanced at himself in the mirror before heading downstairs. He had no intention of telling everyone that the villa belonged to him. There was no need. At least not yet.

Sometimes, keeping things low key made life much easier. Lucas stepped outside and waited near the entrance.

Around eight o’clock, the first guests began arriving. Soon, the quiet street outside the villa became crowded with taxis, ride share vehicles, and even a few rented buses carrying students from campus.

One by one, groups of excited students stepped out, their expressions changing instantly when they saw the villa. Shock. Disbelief. Excitement.

None of them had expected Sofia’s birthday party to be this extravagant.

As Lucas watched the growing crowd, his eyes suddenly landed on a familiar figure.

Sofia had arrived. She wore a simple but elegant white dress that perfectly highlighted her natural beauty. Lucas narrowed his eyes slightly.

Her face immediately lit up. Without caring about the crowd around them, she ran straight toward him.

"Lucas!"

She threw her arms around him in a tight embrace.

The soft scent of her perfume drifted into his nose as she held him for several seconds. Then she pulled back slightly and kissed his cheek.

"Thank you so much," she said excitedly. "This is incredible!"

Her bright smile was even more beautiful than the decorations surrounding them.

Before Lucas could respond, Sofia had already pulled out her phone. The students around them quickly did the same.

The villa. The decorations. The cake. Everything was worthy of social media. Within minutes, countless photos and videos flooded campus group chats.

As Lucas stood near the entrance, a relaxed smile rested on his face while more guests continued to arrive.

The atmosphere was lively. Music played softly through the garden speakers as groups of students wandered around the villa grounds, taking pictures beside the fountain and admiring the luxurious decorations.

Everything was going exactly as planned. Then his smile faded slightly.

Two familiar figures had just stepped out of a taxi.

Zack Moss. Jessica Lynn.

Lucas narrowed his eyes. The two of them walked side by side, but something felt different. They were not acting like a couple anymore.

There was an awkward distance between them, and neither seemed particularly interested in talking to the other. Even so, seeing them together again was enough to sour his mood.

Jessica’s eyes swept across the villa grounds, unable to hide the shock on her face. The extravagant decorations. The expensive catering. The endless stream of guests. And the enormous mansion behind it all.

Confusion and jealousy flashed across her eyes. How could Lucas possibly afford something like this?

Beside her, Zack’s expression was not much better. He had heard of this villa before. It belonged to a famous celebrity and was not available for public rental.

Money alone was not enough to book a place like this. Connections mattered. Yet somehow, Lucas had managed it.

Something about the situation did not make sense. Lucas frowned slightly. Why would Sofia invite Jessica? She knew exactly what had happened between them.

Still, today was Sofia’s birthday. He was not about to cause a scene over two people who no longer mattered. Not today. He exhaled slowly and looked away.

But in his mind, he made himself a silent promise. If either of them tried anything funny, he would make sure they regretted it. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

Just then, Sofia stepped onto the small stage set up near the center of the garden. Dressed in a beautiful white dress, she immediately became the center of attention. The crowd gradually quieted.

Holding the microphone with both hands, she smiled brightly.

"Thank you, everyone, for coming today."

Applause erupted around the garden.

Sofia laughed softly before continuing. "This birthday means a lot to me, and I’m really happy to celebrate it with all of you."

Her eyes scanned the crowd briefly. Then she smiled mysteriously.

"Actually, I have a surprise for everyone."

Curious whispers spread through the guests. Sofia raised the microphone again.

"I’d like everyone to welcome someone very special."

Lucas instinctively straightened his posture. A small smile formed on his face. He could already guess who she was talking about.

Honestly, there was no need for such a grand introduction. This was her birthday after all. He even thought about shaking his head and telling her not to make such a big deal out of it.

Then Sofia spoke the name.

"Please welcome our student council president..."

"Maya Laurent!"

For a brief moment, Lucas froze. The smile on his face stiffened.

Surprise.

Confusion.

And a tiny bit of embarrassment. All at once.

It was not him.

The crowd immediately erupted into excited cheers.

And Lucas could only stand there, blinking in disbelief.