The Tower Reversed: Back to 18 (Venus) novel Chapter 41

**One Step Changes Everything**
**By Ruby Parker**
**Chapter 41: The Year He Dies**

The manager suppressed a deep, internal sigh, rolling his eyes in the sanctuary of his mind while maintaining a veneer of professionalism. He plastered a polite smile across his face, the kind that had become second nature after years of dealing with difficult patrons. “The menu was curated by Ms. Lumi and received your approval, sir,” he stated, his tone even.

This debacle was a direct result of your own choices. Why should we bear the brunt of it?

How could they have known that the birthday girl had a seafood allergy?

Neil was overwhelmed with rage, his breath coming in sharp, ragged gasps as he fought to rein in his emotions. The tightness in his chest felt suffocating, but he knew he had to compose himself. After a moment of internal struggle, he managed to swallow his anger and, with a forced calmness, offered an apology to the manager.

Perhaps Lumi, much like himself, had overlooked the fact that Venus was allergic to seafood.

Regardless of the reasons, this birthday celebration was now irrevocably tainted.

With a heavy heart, Neil sent a text to both Axel and Lumi, informing them that the party was off.

He kept the explanation straightforward—Venus simply didn’t want to attend.

Back at the office, Axel’s expression darkened like a storm cloud the moment he read the message. His frustration boiled over, and he turned sharply, flinging the elegant women’s watch he had placed on his desk directly into the trash can with a loud clatter.

“We’ve already lowered ourselves to be cordial to her, and she still chooses not to show up? Does she honestly consider herself some kind of princess?” he exclaimed, his voice laced with disbelief.

Meanwhile, Lumi, filled with concern, sent a message of her own. “Neil, is Venus still upset with me? Perhaps I should buy her something extravagant as an apology—do you think that might win her forgiveness?”

Neil replied with a heavy sigh, his sympathy evident in every word. “Venus is being utterly stubborn right now. Lumi, you’ve always been the kindest soul. If you approach her now, she’ll likely take her frustrations out on you. Just give her some space. Some people are simply born under a bad star; they never seem to catch a break.”

After sending his message, Neil surveyed the chaos of the restaurant around him and regretted taking time off to organize Venus’s birthday celebration. It had turned into a thankless endeavor, leaving him feeling wounded and disheartened.

He vowed silently to himself that the next time he crossed paths with Venus, he would completely ignore her presence.

On the 16th floor of the hotel, Florian unlocked the door to the luxury suite and ushered her inside.

The space was expansive, yet it resembled a chaotic battlefield; clothes were strewn across the floor, the bed, and the tables, creating a disarray that was hard to overlook.

Venus stepped inside, nearly stumbling as she tried to navigate through the mess. “You appear put together on the outside, but how can you be this disorganized in private?” she quipped, raising an eyebrow at the disarray.

Florian shot back, his expression serious but a hint of humor in his voice, “Hey, hey, don’t throw around the term ‘messy’ so lightly! I’m messy in terms of my lifestyle choices, not my morals. There’s a significant difference, you know?”

Venus took a quick survey of the room, letting out a weary sigh as she rubbed her temples. “You mentioned you returned Thursday night to pack. But judging by this chaos, it’s clear you didn’t touch a single thing. Think harder—did you even come back at all?”

Florian crouched beside her, a look of confusion crossing his face as he tried to piece together the timeline.

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