Chapter 173

Adrian Klein chuckled along.

Dylan Lowell squinted through his cigarette smoke. "Ethan, your birthday's next month, right? Any big plans this year?"

Julian Roscente lounged on the sofa with lazy grace. "Last year's racetrack party was wild. Time for something different?"

Ethan Winston's slender fingers tapped rhythmically against his crystal glass.

The refracted light danced across his sharp features.

"Just a small gathering this year."

Dylan choked on his smoke. "What?"

Julian nearly slid off the couch. "You're serious?"

Ethan arched an eyebrow. "Problem?"

"Since when do you do low-key?" Dylan leaned in for closer inspection. "Wait—did you meet some girl and suddenly decide to play nice?"

Julian perked up. "Unless you mean one of those... private pool parties?"

Ethan set down his glass. "My estate on Fifth Avenue. Invitations coming soon."

As he walked away, Dylan and Julian exchanged bewildered glances.

Sunlight streamed through the windows.

Both men instinctively looked up at the cloudless sky.

......

Evelyn Langley was organizing design drafts when the call came.

"A birthday party?" Her brow furrowed slightly.

Ethan's voice carried through the receiver. "Just a few friends."

Her fingers absently traced the edges of her sketches.

She didn't want to see Nathan Evans.

"Dylan will be there." Ethan paused deliberately. "Unless... you're avoiding someone?"

Evelyn's hand stilled.

"That's over."

Ethan's quiet laugh vibrated through the line. "All the more reason to come. Address sent."

The call ended with decisive finality.

......

The estate blazed with light on the evening of the party.

Nathan entered arm-in-arm with Chloe Valentine.

She helped remove his coat, her fingers brushing his shoulder with practiced casualness.

"Happy birthday."

Nathan tossed Ethan a set of keys.

Ethan caught them with a smirk. "Thanks."

As Nathan started to speak, movement at the periphery of his vision froze the words in his throat.