The pink satin-tulle dress clung to her like it had been sewn from courage.
The silk caught the light in soft waves, tracing all her curves before spilling into a whisper of tulle that brushed her knees. A daring slit and a deep sweetheart neckline offered a soft tease.
It's showing more skin than I'd normally prefer.
It hugged her waist, framed her shoulders, and dared her to stop hiding.
The diamond earrings Isla had picked out sparkled quietly against her skin—simple, beautiful, just enough to catch the light.
Refined, not loud. The kind of beauty that didn't need to try.
Her reflection made her pause.
The makeup changed her in ways she never imagined—glittering eyeshadow that caught under the lashes, mascara that made her olive-green eyes look deeper, and glossy pink lips that seemed fuller and softer.
She looked delectable yet confident—like the version of herself she'd always wanted to meet.
Behind her, Isla gave an approving whistle.
"Perfect. You finally look like you believe you're stunning."
Elena smiled at their reflection. "You're giving me too much credit."
"Or maybe you've been giving yourself too little," Isla said, brushing an invisible thread from the shoulder of the dress.
On the dresser, her phone still showed the midnight call.
She could almost hear Adrian's voice again, laughing between the lyrics of Happy Birthday.
He'd called exactly at twelve, still half-awake and off-key.
"Eighteen, huh? You're officially an adult, Hamilton. So tell me—what's the first thing you wanna do with it?"
She had laughed into the phone.
"Live free. Make a mark on the world. Show them I've arrived. And… maybe alcohol."
"You've been patient enough not to try it," he teased. "I'll make sure you have as much as you want tonight."
The memory made her grin as Isla set a pair of rose-gold stilettos at her feet.
"Be a good girl and wear them. We need you perfect."
"They're too high. They'll kill me."
"I don't care. They complete the look," Isla said, kneeling to adjust the straps anyway.
Minutes later, the sound of her heels on the stairs made Adrian glance up from his phone.
The reaction was immediate—his eyes widened, the corners of his mouth lifting into disbelief.
He'd never seen anyone look this stunning—elegant, confident, dangerous in the best way. He was staring at her in awe.
Isla cleared her throat loudly behind Elena.
"Easy there, Dree," she teased. "I'm still in the room."
He laughed, hands raised in surrender. "Can you blame me? She's unrecognizable."
Elena shook her head, trying to hide her smile. "Good unrecognizable, I hope."
"Perfect unrecognizable," he said softly.
Adrian jingled his keys with a grin. "Alright, ladies. Your chauffeur for the evening is ready. Destination—classified."
Elena raised a brow. "Classified? How untrusting of you, Dree!"
He smirked. "No, I just like the drama of it. Adds mystery. Makes me sound interesting."
Isla rolled her eyes from the backseat. "You sound like a walking disclaimer."
As the car pulled onto the main road, Elena glanced sideways at him. "So… you, Isla and Nick, plotting together now? That's new."
Adrian kept his eyes on the road, mouth curving into a half-smile. "Nick begged for my help. Said I have better taste."
"Better taste?" she teased."In what—venues or trouble?"
He shot her a look. "Both. You should know—I've spent years managing yours."
Elena's laugh filled the car with lightness. "I don't need managing. Just occasional rescuing."
He smirked. "And yet, somehow, those two always come as a package deal with you."
They all laughed.
The drive wound through quiet evening streets until the city lights thinned and elegance took over. When the car finally stopped, Elena looked up—and froze.
The Goring Hotel stood bathed in gold, its ivy-covered façade glowing beneath soft chandeliers and a canopy of fairy lights that looked like a thousand captured stars.
Inside, a butler led them through the marble-floored lobby and down a corridor lined with fresh white lilies. When he opened the door to a private dining room, Elena gasped.
The room looked like a dream in candlelight—crystal glasses, blush roses, soft piano music, and silver ribbons curled elegantly around her name card.
Everything shimmered in warm gold and ivory, luxurious yet intimate.
"Nick did all this?" she whispered, stunned.
Adrian's voice softened beside her. "He said you deserved something beautiful."
"This is going to be perfect – small and intimate," she whispered.
"Too early to say small and intimate," Adrian said with a grin.
She blinked. "What do you mean? Aren't there going to be just us?"
"Nope," Isla chimed, already pouring herself water like she owned the place. "Apparently, Nick went all out. He's invited people. Like, actual people."
Adrian laughed at the horror on Elena's face. "You should've seen your expression. Classic."
Elena groaned. "I just wanted one quiet birthday. No business talk, no networking smiles. Mom and dad aren't here so I was hoping…"she trailed off.
"Relax," he said, patting her back. "Don't worry. I'll be right here, running interference if anyone tries to turn this into a board meeting."
His hand lingered just long enough to steady her. The warmth of it made her exhale without realizing she'd been holding her breath.
"Okay," Adrian said suddenly, glancing at Isla with a conspiratorial look. "Before anyone else gets here, I need to take you somewhere."
Elena eyed him suspiciously. "That smile is dangerous."
"Come on, Leena," Isla said, tugging her arm, her own grin giving her away. "You'll thank us later."
They led her through a side hallway into the hotel's bar—a quiet, amber-lit space filled with velvet chairs and low jazz.
Adrian leaned on the counter, catching the bartender's eye.
"A bottle of Macallan 18, please," he said easily. "Three glasses."
Elena raised a brow. "That sounds… serious."
He smiled. "It's smoother than it sounds. One of the few things in life that actually gets better with age. Trust me—you'll like it."
She laughed softly. "You've been planning this since midnight, haven't you?"
"Maybe," he said, pouring a modest measure into her glass. "Consider it a promise kept."
The liquid glowed like honey under the dim lights, calm and rich, just like the man who'd chosen it.
Adrian slid her glass toward her, the amber swirl catching the bar's soft light. "To the first day of adulthood," he said, lifting his own.
Elena raised hers with a grin. "You make it sound like I've just been promoted."
"In a way, you have," he said, clinking his glass against hers. "Promotion to chaos, freedom, and bad decisions."
She laughed and took a small sip. The warmth spread slowly, rich and deep, but smoother than she'd expected.
Her eyes widened. "Oh… that's actually good."
"See?" he said, pleased. "That's class. Not the stuff college kids drink to forget their exams."
"Remind me to let you order for me from now on," she said, swirling what was left in her glass.
Adrian leaned closer, lowering his voice. "Careful, Leena. I might hold you to that."
She rolled her eyes. "You already hold me to too many things."
"I only hold you up," he countered smoothly. "Big difference."
She laughed, shaking her head. "And there it is—the Adrian Knight confidence special."
"Hey," he said, mock offended. "I call it honesty."
Before she could reply, his phone buzzed sharply on the counter. He glanced at the screen — Nick — and answered, his tone shifting instantly.
"Yeah?"
A pause. His eyes met Elena's briefly as he listened.
Then, a small nod. "On it. I'll bring her."
He ended the call and stood, sliding his phone into his pocket. "So, Elena Hamilton," he said with a grin, "ready for your party princess?"
She blinked. "Already?"
"Everyone's here," he said, offering his hand to help her up.
Elena groaned but couldn't hide her smile. "You all really didn't trust me to plan my own birthday, did you?"
"Not even a little," he said, leading her back toward the hall. "Now come on — let's go show them what eighteen looks like."
Adrian offered his arm with exaggerated formality. "Milady," he said, lowering it in front of her.
Elena laughed, slipping her hand into the crook of his elbow. "Don't make me regret trusting you."
"Have I ever?" he said, his tone softer now. "Just remember to breathe when everyone looks at you."
"I'll try," she whispered.
The closer they walked to the private dining hall, the louder the hum of voices grew — laughter, the clink of glasses, soft music drifting faintly through the corridor. The golden light spilling from the open door caught the shimmer of her dress.
And then they stepped inside.
A burst of applause and cheerful voices filled the air.
"Happy Birthday, Elena!"
She froze for a heartbeat, eyes widening as faces turned toward her — familiar, warm, smiling.
There were Nick's university friends, a few of her cousins she hadn't seen in months, and standing near the far end of the table — Nathan and Claire Brown.
Claire looked stunning as ever, her sleek hair framing her flawless face, a glass of champagne already in hand. When her eyes met Elena's, she smiled — polite, measured, but genuine.
And beside her, Nathan.
He was watching Elena quietly — not clapping, not moving, just watching. The faintest hint of a smile curved his lips, polite enough for the crowd, private enough that she felt it was meant only for her.
Claire said something beside him, but he didn't seem to hear it.
Adrian leaned closer, his voice a low comfort only she could hear. "See? You survived the entrance."
She exhaled, smiling despite herself. "Barely."
From across the room, Nick raised his glass, his grin wide and proud. "There she is! The star of the night. My beautiful clumsy sister."
Everyone clapped again, laughter echoing through the room.
Elena's cheeks warmed, but she couldn't help smiling. The anxiety melted a little as she spotted familiar faces waving her over.
Adrian released her hand, his voice light. "Go on, birthday girl. Time to collect your compliments."
She gave him a look. "You make it sound like work."
"Only because it is," he teased, but his eyes softened as she walked away.
---
The guests began trickling out sooner than she expected. The music softened, and the room that had been full of chatter and laughter now glowed in a calm hush.
"It's only been an hour," Elena said, glancing at Nick with a mock frown. "Did you scare them away?"
Nick leaned back in his chair, utterly unbothered. "Mom ordered me to invite people," he said, a devilish smile playing on his lips, "but she forgot to mention how long they should stay."
Elena gasped, narrowed her eyes. "Nick…"
"So," he continued, grinning wider, "I invited them for exactly one hour. You're welcome."
Adrian burst out laughing. "I'll wait for the update when your mom finds out what you did."
Nick shrugged, raising his glass. "Haha, nothing new there, Dree. She's the same old, and I'm the same old."
He turned to Elena, lifting his champagne flute toward her. "To being an adult—and finally savoring the perks."
Elena clinked her glass gently against his, laughing. "You mean you're letting me have alcohol legally now?"
Nick grinned. "I'm letting you have fun. There's a difference."
The smile on her face was a proof enough that she's truly happy. He sighed.
Nick got up and walked around the table to her side. Without a word, he pulled her into a long, cozy bear hug — the kind only an older brother could give, full of warmth and love.
Elena froze for a second, then melted into it, her arms circling him tightly. They stood there for a long moment — too long for a casual embrace, but just right for what it meant.
These two men make my life livable… and maybe now Nathan too?
Adrian fake-coughed from behind his glass. "Not your style, dude. Pull it together."
Nick chuckled, but his voice carried a softness that hadn't been there a minute ago.
He let out a long sigh and smiled at her — proud, a little sad.
"Elena," he said quietly, "finally… you're not my responsibility anymore."
"You're your own person now. Understand that, okay? You're an adult. Do what pleases you — not Mom, not Dad. Make your own mistakes, and learn from them. Just promise me one thing — do what makes you happy, my sweet lil' sister."
Tears stung her eyes, her throat tightening around a smile.
Adrian leaned back in his chair with a smirk. "And they say men in love are clingy. I'd second that opinion right now."
Nick laughed through the emotion, ruffling her hair affectionately. "Hey, man, I just got retired from my lifelong job supervising my clumsy lil' sister."
He raised his glass again. "Now that she's officially an adult… let's party."
Nathan sat a little apart from the others, his glass half-full, the golden light glinting off its rim.
He watched the scene unfold. Nick still teasing Adrian, Isla laughing too loudly, Elena trying to keep up with both — and a soft, almost emotional smile curved his lips.
He didn't speak, didn't interrupt. Just watched.
He's quiet tonight…
There was something unreadable in his eyes — a flicker of warmth, maybe pride, maybe something deeper that he'd never say out loud.
What's up with him today?
Elena hadn't had the chance to talk to him properly, not beyond the polite "Happy birthday", "thankyou" and the short smile they'd exchanged when she arrived.
Claire sat beside him, graceful as ever, keeping the conversation light, a buffer between his silence and Elena's glances that never lingered long enough.
Every time she thought about walking over, something stopped her.
Adrian and Nick hadn't left her side all night, both too protective in their own ways.
And she couldn't afford to draw attention — not here, not now, not with Claire watching.
Still, when her laughter faded and she looked up for just a second, Nathan's eyes were already on her.
And that soft smile… didn't feel so formal anymore.
His smile sent shivers down her stomach.
As the laughter settled and the last guests drifted out, Elena gathered the small mountain of gifts on the table — ribbons, cards, glittering boxes.
Nathan's phone buzzed sharply on the table. He glanced at the screen, his expression changing for just a moment. "Excuse me," he said quietly, slipping out toward the hallway.
A few minutes later, Claire turned toward Nick, her usual calm dimmed. "I'm not feeling great. Do you mind dropping me off? I'm not sure how long Nathan's call will take—it looked important."
Nick was on his feet instantly. "Of course. I'll drive you."
He turned to Elena with a grin. "You want a ride home too, birthday girl?"
She shook her head, smiling softly. "I think I'll stay a little longer. I'm not ready for the day to end yet."
Nick squeezed her shoulder. "Alright, but don't party too much, okay?."
After they left, Isla's phone buzzed next. Her expression flickered between guilt and apology. "Leena, I'm so sorry—I have to run. Something came up. I'll call you first thing in the morning, okay?"
"It's fine," Elena said gently. "Go."
Isla hugged her tightly before turning to Adrian. "Can you drop me?"
"Yeah, sure." He turned to Elena. "You wanna come too?"
"Nathan's still around somewhere. I'll wait until he's back. I don't want my guest to be stuck here alone."
Adrian studied her face for a moment but didn't argue. "Okay. Lock the grown-ups out if they try to boss you around."
She smiled faintly. "I'll manage."
When they were gone, the silence settled—soft and golden, the kind that only comes after too much laughter.
Elena sank into one of the chairs, tracing the gift tags with her fingers, separating them into little piles: Nick's thoughtful chaos, Isla's sparkle, Adrian's sentiment.
And then she realized—there was nothing from Nathan.
Her fingers paused on the edge of the table.
"Didn't find mine?"
The voice came from behind her—quiet, low, familiar. She turned, startled. Nathan was standing by the doorway, one hand still in his pocket, the faintest hint of a smile playing on his lips.
"I—uh…" She looked back at the table. "I was just separating the gifts that meant more to me."
His gaze softened. "Then I guess mine's not here."
She met his eyes, unsure what to say. "You didn't…"
He stepped closer, the smile deepening just enough to make her heart skip.
"If you want to see my gift," he said with suspense edging in his tone, "you'll have to come to my place."
"It's there,waiting for you."
The air stilled between them, the last candles flickering in the quiet room.
Should I go with him?