Chapter 541
Chapter 541:
The crowd followed suit, their voices lifting in harmony with hers, filling the room with a cheerful atmosphere. Even Ashton, who had been tense and on edge recently, found himself quietly humming along, the warmth of the moment slowly melting his guardedness.
As the last note of the song faded into the air, Rayden, smiling from ear to ear, took a deep breath and blew out all the candles in one smooth exhale. A round of applause followed, with guests clapping and cheering, sending their heartfelt wishes his way.
With the candles extinguished, it was time to cut the cake. Rayden’s gaze lingered on the massive cake towering before him, and with a dramatic pause, he feigned hesitation.
“This cake is much bigger than what I ordered,” he said with mock difficulty, “and I’m not sure I can handle cutting it all by myself. Would someone be kind enough to lend me a hand for the first cut?”
As Rayden spoke, his eyes subtly drifted toward Ashton, as if waiting for the young man to step forward. Having the youngest heir to the Baldwin family assist him would certainly be a feather in Rayden’s cap—something he could boast about long after the evening had ended.
Unaware of Rayden’s quiet scheme, many of the guests stepped forward, eager to make a favorable impression. But before anyone could make a move, a wealthy businessman in the crowd spoke up.
“Why not let the younger generation handle it? A fresh start for Rayden, a new chapter…”
“In life, if you will,” the businessman suggested with a hearty laugh. The suggestion hung in the air for a moment, and Ashton instinctively glanced at the man.
His sharp memory instantly recalled the face—this was one of the very men who had mocked him earlier alongside Egan.
𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁: ⳑ𝗮𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝗍𝖊𝗅𝘀⸱𝖼𝗈𝗆
While everyone else was eager to seize the opportunity, why would this businessman now propose someone else take it?
Ashton’s mind spun, suspicion creeping in like a shadow. If it weren’t for that earlier exchange with Egan, he might have accepted the suggestion without a second thought.
But now, he couldn’t shake the feeling that more was at play than met the eye.
Despite the nagging sense that something wasn’t quite right, Ashton kept his concerns to himself, watching silently.
The businessman’s suggestion, however, suited Rayden’s own hidden desires perfectly. With a smile, Rayden followed up, “An excellent idea! Though, I don’t see many young faces here. Anyone interested in helping me out?”
Once again, Rayden’s gaze drifted expectantly toward Ashton. He was clearly waiting for Ashton to step forward, though few noticed the subtle cues.
Understanding the situation and already suspicious of the businessman’s intentions, Ashton was just about to agree when, out of nowhere, Luther jumped in.
“Rayden! Let me do it! I’d be honored to help!” Luther exclaimed, his voice filled with enthusiasm.
Having recently lost ground to Ashton in another matter, Luther wasn’t about to let this opportunity slip through his fingers.
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