Sweet Hatred-Chapter 457: Birthday dinner

ARIA’S POV

Evening settled over the city as we drove through streets I knew by heart.

My streets.

My neighborhood.

I frowned, watching familiar buildings pass by the window.

"Kael, where are we going?"

"You’ll see."

"This is my neighborhood."

"I’m aware."

He pulled into the parking lot of my apartment complex, and confusion bloomed into full suspicion.

"What the hell is going on?"

He just smiled... that infuriating, mysterious smile and got out of the car.

I followed, my heart starting to race with something between anxiety and anticipation.

We walked to my building, climbed the stairs to my floor, and stopped outside my door.

Kael unlocked it... when had he gotten my keys?... and gestured for me to go inside.

I stepped through cautiously.

The lights were off.

Everything was quiet.

Too quiet.

Then the lights flicked on.

"SURPRISE!"

I screamed, my hand flying to my chest as the entire room erupted with voices and laughter.

Olivia was there, beaming, with Michael beside her holding Lily. Kaleb jumped up and down excitedly. Ash stood near the kitchen with the biggest grin I’d ever seen.

Sylas leaned against the wall, smiling softly. And Niko surprisingly stood near the window with his arms crossed but his expression warm.

My apartment had been transformed.

Balloons everywhere. Streamers hanging from the ceiling. A banner that read "HAPPY BIRTHDAY ARIA" in glittering letters stretched across the living room wall.

And on the dining table, which had been extended and decorated beautifully, sat the most elaborate birthday cake I’d ever seen. Three tiers, covered in white frosting with delicate sugar flowers cascading down the sides.

"Oh my God," I breathed.

Kaleb broke free from his mother and ran toward me. "AUNT ARIA! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!"

I caught him as he launched himself at me, wrapping my arms around his small body and burying my face in his hair.

"Thank you, baby," I whispered, my voice already thick with emotion.

Olivia came next, pulling me into a tight hug while Kaleb squirmed between us.

"Happy birthday, Aria," she said softly. "We love you."

"I love you too," I managed, tears already spilling down my cheeks.

Michael nodded at me with a rare genuine smile, Lily babbling happily in his arms.

Ash was next, throwing her arms around me with characteristic enthusiasm.

"Happy birthday, bitch!" she said loudly. "Did we surprise you? We totally surprised you."

I laughed through my tears. "You surprised me."

Sylas approached more hesitantly, but his hug was just as warm. "Happy birthday, Aria."

"Thank you," I whispered.

Even Niko came over, giving me an awkward but sincere bow. "Happy birthday Ms. Thorne."

I turned to find Kael watching from near the door, his expression soft and satisfied.

"You did this?" I asked, though I already knew the answer.

"They helped," he said modestly.

I walked over to him, still crying, and threw my arms around his neck.

"Thank you," I whispered against his ear. "Thank you so much."

His arms wrapped around my waist, holding me close. "Anything for you."

"Okay, okay, enough mushy stuff!" Ash announced. "Let’s sing and cut this cake before I start crying too."

Everyone gathered around the table as Olivia lit the candles... twenty-nine of them, flickering cheerfully.

They sang, loud and off-key and perfect.

Kaleb’s voice was the loudest, enthusiastic and slightly screechy. Lily clapped her hands. Ash belted out the words like she was performing at a concert.

And Kael stood behind me, his hands on my shoulders, his voice a low rumble I could feel more than hear.

When they finished, everyone cheered.

"Make a wish!" Kaleb shouted.

I closed my eyes.

What did I wish for?

For this. For all of this to be real and lasting.

For the baby growing inside me to be healthy and safe.

For Kael to stay by my side.

For my family to be happy.

For Sarah to...

I stopped that thought before it could finish.

Not tonight.

Tonight was for joy.

I blew out the candles, and everyone applauded.

Ash cut the cake while Olivia started serving food, homemade dishes that filled the apartment with warmth and comfort.

We ate and talked and laughed, filling my small space with more life and love than it had seen in years.

Kaleb showed me the card he’d made, proudly pointing out each crayon stroke. Lily sat in my lap, pulling at my necklace, the one Kael had given me this morning with fascinated baby fingers.

Ash told increasingly ridiculous stories about her and Sylas’s childhood, each one more embarrassing than the last, while Sylas groaned and tried to defend himself.

Niko remained quiet but present, occasionally offering dry commentary that made everyone laugh.

And Kael...

Kael watched me the entire time with an expression I couldn’t quite name.

Contentment, maybe. Pride. Love.

All of the above.

I felt full. Complete. Grateful beyond words.

This. This was what family felt like.

Not perfect. Not without complications.

But real. And mine.

Then Kael’s phone rang.

He glanced at the screen, frowned slightly, and stood. "I need to take this. I’ll be right back."

He stepped onto the small kitchen, away from the noise of the dinner.

I watched him for a moment, his posture tense, his expression serious before turning back to the celebration.

"Aria?"

I looked up to find Sylas standing beside me, his expression carefully neutral.

"Can we talk? Just for a minute?"

My stomach tightened with something like anxiety.

I knew what this was.

I’d known it was coming eventually.

"Of course."

We moved to the corner of the living room, away from the others who were occupied with cake and conversation.

Sylas ran a hand through his hair, a nervous gesture I’d come to recognize.

"I’m still in love with you," he said quietly.

My breath caught.

"Sylas—"

"I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t," he continued. "I’ve tried to accept that it’s over between us. That you chose him. That you’re happy. But I can’t."

"Sylas, please—"

"Just hear me out." His eyes met mine, raw and honest. "I don’t regret a single moment with you. Not one. Even knowing how it ended. Even knowing I was never going to be enough."

My throat tightened painfully.

"If I could go back to that night at the beach," he said, his voice dropping even lower. "When you almost drowned yourself in your grief. If I could go back, I’d still go. Just to see you. Just to be there for you."

Despite everything, I laughed softly at the memory.

"You were so rude," I said quietly.

"I was terrified." His hand came up to rub the back of his neck, and he actually blushed. "You scared the shit out of me that night."

"I’m sorry."

"Don’t be." He looked at me with such open affection that my chest ached. "That was the night I think I fell in love with you. Completely. Stupidly. Hopelessly."

"Sylas..."

"I’m going back where I came from," he said abruptly, changing the subject before I could find words. "Managing my father’s Europe branch. London, probably. Maybe Paris."

Surprise cut through the emotion. "When?"

"Next week."

"That’s so soon."

"I know." He smiled sadly. "I need distance. From this. From you. I need to figure out who the hell I am when I’m not pining after a woman who’s in love with someone else."

I reached out, taking his hand. "You’re going to be amazing. Wherever you go."

"I’m going to miss you," he said simply. "So fucking much."

Then he pulled me into a hug... tight and desperate and heartbreaking.

His face buried in my neck, and I felt him inhale deeply, like he was trying to memorize my scent.

"I still belong to you," he whispered against my skin. "Even if you don’t want me. Even if I’m halfway across the world. Part of me will always be yours."

My hand came up to stroke his hair, the gesture automatic and tender.

"Someone will change that," I said softly. "Someone will come along and make you forget all about me."

He pulled back slightly, looking down at my stomach... still flat but carrying the secret of new life.

His expression was bittersweet.

"I hope your baby grows strong and healthy," he said. "I hope they have your eyes and your stubborn streak and your ridiculous capacity for love."

Tears spilled down my cheeks again.

"I’ll try my best not to be a boring..." He paused, seeming to search for the right word. "Godfather? Family friend? Whatever the hell I am in this situation."

I laughed through my tears. "You could never be boring."

"I’ll hold you to that." He wiped a tear from my cheek with his thumb. "When I come back to visit, I expect updates. Pictures. Stories. The whole annoying proud parent routine."

"Deal."

We stood there for another moment, just looking at each other.

"Be happy, Aria," Sylas said finally. "That’s all I want. For you to be happy."

"I am," I whispered. "I really am."

"Good." He pressed a kiss to my forehead... chaste and final. "Then I can leave knowing I did at least one thing right."