Chapter 54

Valerie’s p.o.v
“hey babe” Kellan greeted me immediately I opened the door. “happy birthday” he said, kissing my cheeks.
He looked me up, head to toe. “You look beautiful” he said, making me feel all the more bad.
“I prepared a surprise for you.”
The smell of roasted vegetables and garlic filled the air as I stepped deeper into the apartment. Soft candlelight flickered on the dining table, and a bouquet of flowers—roses, lilies, and baby’s breath—sat in a vase at the center, perfectly arranged.

“Happy birthday once again babe, i am so lucky to have you. ” he called from behind me, his voice warm and full of affection. “I hope you’re hungry. I made all your favorites.”

My heart squeezed with guilt as I tried to return his smile, but it didn’t quite reach my eyes. Kellan was always so thoughtful, so considerate. He remembered every little detail, always making me feel special, loved. And yet, all I could think about was Hades.

The encounter with him earlier that day had left me shaken in a way I hadn’t expected. I could still feel the intensity of his gaze, the way it seemed to burn through me, as if he could see every secret I held, every fear, every desire.

I tried to shake the thoughts away, to focus on Kellan and the effort he’d put into making this evening perfect. He deserved my full attention, my full heart. But no matter how much I tried, the memory of Hades lingered, a shadow in the back of my mind.

Kellan moved toward me, his arms outstretched, ready to pull me into a hug. I hesitated for just a fraction of a second—barely noticeable, but enough that it made my stomach twist with shame. His embrace was warm, comforting, but it didn’t set my skin on fire the way Hades’ mere presence had. I hated myself for even making the comparison.

“You okay?” Kellan asked, pulling back slightly to look at me, concern knitting his brows together. “You seem… distracted.”
His gaze did not seem as warm as Hades’. I bit my inner cheeks as I forced myself to not think about it.

I forced a smile, shaking my head as I gently disentangled myself from his arms. “I’m fine, really. Just a long day at work.”

It was a lie, and I could tell he wasn’t entirely convinced. But he didn’t push. He never did. That was the thing about Kellan—he always respected my space, always trusted that I would tell him if something was wrong. But tonight, that trust felt like a burden.

We sat down to dinner, and I tried to focus on the meal, on the thoughtful details Kellan had put into everything. The food was delicious, as always, and he kept the conversation light, talking about his day, telling me about a funny thing that happened at work. I laughed at all the right moments, nodded along, but inside, I was struggling to keep my thoughts in check.

“Valerie?” Kellan’s voice broke through my thoughts, and I realized I hadn’t heard a word he’d said in the last few minutes.

“Sorry,” I mumbled, trying to refocus. “What did you say?”

“I asked if you wanted to open your present now,” he said, his smile faltering slightly, the concern back in his eyes.

“Oh, right. Yes, of course,” I said, trying to sound enthusiastic, but even I could hear the strain in my voice.

Kellan got up to retrieve the gift, leaving me alone with my thoughts for a brief moment. I stared at the flickering candle in front of me, the flame dancing in the slight breeze from the window. The warmth from the candle didn’t reach me, didn’t penetrate the cold knot of guilt and confusion that had settled in my chest.


Kellan returned with a small box, beautifully wrapped, and handed it to me with a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes now. He was trying so hard, and I hated that I was the reason for the shadow that had crept into this evening.
“did something bad happen at work? You know you can talk to me right? No one has the right to ruin your day. If you are not up to opening your gift now, we can...” I closed my eyes.

I really was a mess.’ I sighed internally.
“hey” I said touching his cheeks lightly. “I am just stressed out, and you’ve put in a lot of effort into this” I leaned in kissing him for a moment.
I pulled away from him, facing the present infront of me.

I opened the box slowly, revealing a delicate silver necklace with a small pendant shaped like a star. It was beautiful, thoughtful—exactly the kind of thing Kellan would choose, knowing how much I loved the stars. I should have been overwhelmed with gratitude, with love for this man who knew me so well. But all I felt was the weight of my own guilt crushing down on me.

“Thank you, Kellan,” I said softly, my voice thick with emotion. “It’s beautiful.”

He smiled again, “I’m glad you like it, a beautiful gift for the love of my life.”

I reached across the table to take his hand, trying to convey with that touch all the things I couldn’t put into words. How much I appreciated him, how much I wanted to be fully present with him. But as our hands intertwined, I couldn’t help but remember how different it had felt when Hades had looked at me, how his gaze had seared into me like a brand.

Kellan squeezed my hand gently, and I forced myself to meet his eyes. “I love you,” he said quietly, his voice full of sincerity, of a depth of feeling that should have been enough to chase away any doubts, any distractions.

“I love you too,” I replied, and I meant it. But even as I said the words, all I could picture was Hades and how tightly his suit fit.