Chapter 287: Birthday Party
Owen stood next to Oscar, listening to Yunice’s movements. He feared Yunice might agree to Oscar’s suggestion, so he interrupted. “Why spend that money? Can’t the Millennium Hotel banquet hall accommodate Yunice?”
Oscar responded, “It can fit one Yunice, but can it fit two?”
Owen shot back, “You’re just trying to push Elsie out. It’s the same birthday party, the same process. What difference does it make if there’s one more?”
Before Oscar could reply, Yunice sneered. “The same process…”
Both Oscar and Owen turned to her phone when they heard the mocking tone in her voice.
Yunice’s voice continued, “Whose birthday should be the main event?”
Owen immediately answered, “Yours! Think about it, when have I not taken care of your birthday?”
Yunice replied, “The main event you’re referring to is when you introduce guests, push me aside, and proudly introduce Elsie? Is it choosing a flashier princess dress for Elsie, letting her show off at my birthday party, or handing the cake knife to Elsie while I’m left as mere decoration?”
For every question Yunice asked, Owen was momentarily stunned. He had never noticed those details before and had never taken them seriously.
He countered, “Are you really going to make a big deal out of such small things? Everyone in the family knows you, so why do I need to introduce you? Letting Elsie dress nicely and perform is so the Saunders family can warm up to her. And as for the cake knife, who cares who cuts it? Elsie did it, and you didn’t have to do it yourself.”
Before Yunice could respond, Oscar angrily stood up and shoved Owen aside. “Do you think you’re right? Don’t you know that people’s attitudes depend on how the family treats them? The Saunders family’s attitude toward Yunice is shaped by how the family treats her. If even you’ve been sidelining her at her own birthday event, who will take her seriously if you keep doing that? And the cake… Have you never learned proper banquet etiquette? Do you really not get it? If you went to Paul’s birthday, would you dare cut his cake for him?”
“Why are you bringing up Paul again? Elsie and Yunice are both family. Why does it matter?”
Oscar scolded, “We’re still brothers. Why didn’t you let me take the CEO position at Saunders Hospital?”
Owen paused, looking displeased. “You’re changing the subject. A cake and the Saunders family, really?”
Oscar sneered. “See, you understand what’s important. You’re just using Yunice’s interests to flatter Elsie.”
Oscar, seeing this, took matters into his own hands. “Yunny, I can’t let this go. You’ve suffered a lot because I wasn’t there for you. Now I’m here, and I will make things right! Give me a chance. Come to the birthday party, and you’ll see how the Saunders family compensates you. Okay?”
Yunice didn’t answer. Owen, looking uneasy, waited for her response. Deep down, he still wanted Yunice as his sister. Now that he knew what had been bothering her, he hoped to repair their relationship.
“Yunny…” Owen’s voice almost sounded pleading.
Yunice finally relented. “Fine.”
Oscar immediately felt a weight lift off his shoulders. He didn’t notice that Owen, standing behind him, had a hopeful expression on his face.
Upstairs, in Elsie’s room, Paul paced back and forth, dialing a virtual number on his phone. He had tried several times, but the other party always ignored him. Paul had suspected it was a marketing strategy, but he was too eager to make money.
Elsie sat on the bed. “Paul, really? You can’t come to my birthday party? You’ve always come before, but now that you’re married, you won’t come? My friends and family will talk behind my back. I’m not afraid of them laughing at me, but I’m worried they’ll secretly call you fickle, like those playboys…”
She spoke for a long time, but Paul seemed lost in his own thoughts and didn’t even hear her. His phone remained pressed to his ear as he dialed a number that kept ringing busy. Finally, the call went through! Paul’s face lit up with excitement!
A middle-aged man’s voice came from the other end. “Mr. Paul, haven’t you already joined other projects? Why are you calling me again?”
Paul walked to the balcony, shut the door, and immediately adjusted his posture. “What’s it to you? I have money and want to invest in more projects, so what?”