Julian carefully took out the cake, revealing a lifelike blue rose. Its petals were edged with shimmering sugar powder, making it truly stunning.
Aurora had cradled the cake tenderly in her hands the entire way, afraid it might collapse in the car.
“What a beautiful blue rose. This must have taken a lot of time to make, right?” Julian asked, his heart aching for Little Bunny, worried she had overexerted herself.
“It didn’t take that much time. As long as you like it, it’s worth it.” Aurora smiled. Every designer loved seeing their work appreciated, and the genuine admiration in Julian’s eyes lifted her spirits.
“I love it. But Miss Montgomery, do you know the meaning of the blue rose?” Julian suddenly looked up at her. If she knew, she might not have chosen it.
“What does it mean?” Aurora looked puzzled-clearly, she had no idea.
Julian smiled mysteriously. “Why don’t you check when you get home? You even brought candles?”
“Mm-hmm.”
“How thoughtful.” Julian had never been one for cakes or birthday wishes. Irene had always forced them on him in the past.
But this birthday was different. For the first time, he wanted to embrace the ritual.
“I almost don’t want to put candles on it. It’s such a beautiful cake.” Julian hesitated. This was the first cake Little Bunny had ever made for him. He couldn’t bear to ruin it.
He even entertained the absurd idea of preserving the cake, turning it into a display piece, and placing it somewhere prominent for everyone to see.
If Aurora knew his thoughts, she would’ve laughed at him. Sometimes, Julian was just like a big boy.
“We’re going to eat it anyway. Let me help you with the candles.” Aurora gently inserted the candles into the cake, ignoring his distressed expression. Twenty-eight candles-the best years of his life-spent with the woman he loved and their baby on the way. Julian had never dared to dream of such a moment.
“Do you have a lighter? Light the candles and make a wish,” Aurora suggested.
“Alright.” To her surprise, Julian didn’t dismiss the idea as silly. He lit the candles, clasped his hands together, and made a solemn wish, as if in prayer.
Aurora watched him, mesmerized by the way the candlelight softened his face. He looked so gentle, so handsome, that she couldn’t help but lose herself in the sight.
Julian silently wished for Aurora to have a safe delivery and for their little family to be reunited soon.
“Shall I cut the cake now?” Julian picked up the knife but hesitated for a long time. He still couldn’t bring himself to cut the cake Little Bunny had made for him.
“Let me do it.” Aurora smiled at his reluctance. It’s just a cake, she thought. What’s there to hesitate about?
She cut the cake and reminded him, “The fondant shell isn’t very tasty. Just eat the filling. The strawberry jam was made fresh by our chef, with no additives. The strawberries were picked from the estate this morning.”
“Mm.” Julian was already hungry, staring at the delicious-looking cake.
“Does it taste good?” Aurora asked nervously. She hadn’t had time to taste it herself and worried it might disappoint him.
“It’s perfect. The best strawberry cake I’ve ever had,” Julian said without hesitation, giving her the highest praise. “You should try some too.”
Without thinking, Aurora opened her mouth and ate the bite he offered her. The strawberries, untreated with pesticides, had a slight tartness, balanced perfectly by the sweetness of the jam.
The creamy flavor of the cake melted in her mouth. She was surprised-even she hadn’t expected it to taste so good.
As she savored the cake, she suddenly realized she had eaten from his spoon. Embarrassed, she said, “Sorry, I wasn’t paying attention.”
This kind of thing was usually reserved for people who were very close. Aurora had always maintained a certain distance from others, especially men.
But there was something about Julian, some kind of magnetism, that drew her in. If she were a moth, he was the flame-irresistible.
“It’s fine. I don’t mind.” Julian smiled gently. “It’s really good. Have some more.”
“Okay. I haven’t had dinner yet, and I’m a bit hungry.” She admitted sheepishly. She’d been so focused on making the cake that she hadn’t had time to eat.
Julian’s heart ached for her. She probably skipped dinner just to make the cake for him. “Then eat as much as you want. There’s plenty for the two of us.”
“Don’t mind if I do.” Aurora picked up a spoon and began eating happily. Julian was so easy to get along with.
Except for the occasional moments when his gaze made her heart race, she loved being around him. He was like sunlight-warm and comforting.
“Slow down, there’s plenty,” Julian said, watching her eat with amusement.
“Okay.” Aurora didn’t know if it was because she had made the cake herself, but she found it especially delicious and couldn’t stop eating.
Ever since becoming pregnant, Aurora’s appetite had grown. Julian didn’t mind at all. In fact, he was delighted. He wanted nothing more than to spoil and pamper her, to make sure she was happy and healthy.
After finishing the cake, the two began chatting about recent movies.
“I heard Monster X has a sequel out. The reviews online are great,” Aurora said.
“Yeah, I saw the ratings. They’re impressive.” Julian couldn’t help but find her taste in movies amusing. For such a delicate woman, she had an unusual fondness for monster films-especially the bloodier and more violent ones.
“My friends don’t really like that genre. Miss Montgomery, if you don’t mind, would you like to watch it with me?” Julian asked casually, but his tone was warm and inviting.
Aurora’s eyes lit up. “Yes, yes! I’d love to. At home, my assistant won’t let me watch those kinds of movies. She says they’re bad for the baby.”
Aurora sighed. Every time she tried to relax with a movie, if she picked anything remotely violent, Carmine would appear out of nowhere to stop her.
With a straight face, Carmine would insist such films were bad for prenatal education. Instead, she’d put on comedies or cartoons and even limit how much TV Aurora could watch each day.
Though Aurora’s material life was luxurious, it sometimes felt like a gilded cage. Still, she couldn’t blame Carmine-she knew it was all for her own good.
Seeing her excitement, Julian affectionately ruffled her hair. “Your baby will definitely be as adorable as you.”