Chapter 40
Avery felt a warm sensation in her heart. It was so nice to feel cared for. She looked at Joshua with gratitude. “Thank you”
Joshua burrowed his brows slightly but didn’t comment. He turned to Vera, who was standing nearby. “Serve the dishes.”
As her favorite dishes were brought to the table, Avery couldn’t help but notice something strange. Joshua seemed to know her preferences well. He even remembered what kinds of food she liked and the colors she preferred.
After Vera left, Joshua watched Avery as she stared at the food, seemingly lost in thought, and asked, “Aren’t these to your taste?
“No, they’re perfect.” Avery shook her head.
“Then why are you zoning out?”
“Because I like all of this,” she said softly.
Joshua chuckled. “That’s funny. These are all my favorites, too.
Avery blinked, surprised. She never expected him to say that, Could it really be this coincidental?
She hesitated, unsure. It seemed too perfect to be a coincidence, but she couldn’t come up with a better explanation. There were only a few people who knew her preferences. Cassandra was probably still on a plane, and James would have told her if Joshua asked him
But he couldn’t have asked Clyde, could he? She immediately dismissed the idea. There was no way Joshua would go to Clyde for something like this just to make sure her meal was perfect.
As for Howard and Molly they were never part of her consideration. They only remembered Abigail’s preferences. Anything she didn’t like would never make it to the table, and even if it did, it would be thrown away immediately.
Meanwhile, Avery’s food allergies were often dismissed as her being difficult
“Make a wish” Joshua’s voice brought her back to the present. He had already lit the candles, and the soft glow illuminated his handsome face, adding a warm, almost magical feeling to the moment.
“How about we make a wish together? Avery suggested quietly Worried that he might think it childish, she quickly added, “But if you don’t want to, that’s okay”
“Why wouldn’t I want to? Joshua replied “I’m lucky get to make a wish on your birthday. If I make one with you, I get to make an extra wish.”
She couldn’t help but laugh at his words. Together, they made their wishes and blew out the candles,
She asked curiously, “What did you wish for?”
She was genuinely curious. Someone like Joshua probably didn’t have many wishes left to make anything, might just be for good health.
Joshua smiled softly as he sliced the cake. “I can’t say. If I do, it won’t come true.”
His serious tone made her laugh again. For someone as mature as him to say something sochildish seemed oddly out of place.
“So, of all the wishes you’ve made before, have any of them not come true?” she asked.
“What was it?” she asked with genuine curiosity.
His eyes darkened slighth. He handed her a piece of cake and said softly, “On my 18th birthday, I wished for my older brother to get better, but he still passed away.” Avery fell silent as the mood suddenly became somber. She looked at him with an apologetic expression, “I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to……. ”
“I know,” he said gently. “Eat your cake.”
She didn’t know what else to say and just quietly took a bite of the cake.
