Even Preston himself had forgotten that today was his birthday.
Last year at this time, he and Nina had still been squeezed together inside her tiny apartment. Nina had spent the entire afternoon in the kitchen preparing an elaborate birthday dinner for him.
Back then, she had nervously handed him a beautifully wrapped gift box. Inside was a brooch. It was from Preston's favorite luxury brand.
Just that single brooch probably cost Nina nearly a year's worth of part-time earnings, yet she had still bought it for him without hesitation.
Preston still remembered how his chest tightened painfully the moment he realized it. "I didn't see any transaction record from your card," he had asked softly at the time. "Did you buy this with money you earned yourself?"
Nina had smiled awkwardly, alm
