As Stefan stared at the candle, an unreadable emotion flickered in his eyes. He pressed his hands together, closed his eyes, and made a wish.
After a moment, he opened his eyes and blew out the candle. “Thank you, Veevee.”
“No need to thank me. But I’m curious–what did you wish for?” Valarie asked.
Stefan smiled. “If I tell you, it won’t come true, right?”
“Fair enough. Here, this is your birthday present,” Valarie said.
When Stefan saw the black box she handed him, he looked surprised. “Isn’t the present all those clothes?
“Those were just extras. This is the real gift,” Valarie replied.
Stefan hesitated, taking the box. “Can I open it now?”
Valarie nodded. “Of course.”
He carefully untied the ribbon and lifted the lid. As soon as he saw what was inside, shock flashed across his face.
“This is…” he murmured.
Inside the box was a key.
“I bought you an apartment near the university. That way, you won’t have to stay in the dorms anymore,” Valarie explained. 1
Stefan immediately shut the box and handed it back. “This is too much. I can’t accept it.”
The clothes were already more than generous. If he accepted the apartment too, he would feel even
more guilty.
“Our company has a partnership with the developer of that complex. The apartment was a gift from them, so I didn’t actually pay for it. You don’t need to feel burdened,” Valarie clarified.
Stefan shook his head. “I really can’t accept it. The clothes alone are more than enough. Please take this
back.”
Even if the apartment was a gift, its market value was still in the millions. He couldn’t accept it in good
conscience.
Besides, the reason he had approached Valarie in the first place wasn’t exactly pure.
Seeing how firm Stefan was, Valarie had no choice but to take the box back. “Alright then.”
As she put the key away, Stefan felt a sense of relief. “Veevee, I really appreciate you celebrating my
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birthday today. I won’t forget it.”
“It’s nothing. It’s getting late. Head back inside,” Valarie replied.
She packed up the cake and handed him the shopping bags filled with clothes from the trunk.
“Can you carry everything?” she asked.
“Yeah. Thank you,” Stefan said again.
Valarie waved him off. “Enough with the thank–yous. Go on, now.”
She watched as Stefan walked back into campus before driving away.
+25 Bonus
The moment Stefan returned to his dorm, his phone rang.
It was Michelle.
“How’s it going with Valarie?” she asked.
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