Chapter 63 What Birthday Present Do You Want

Henry rushed into the lobby of the Regal Retreat, clutching the custom wedding ring like it was a ticking time bomb.

Charles was sprawled on the sofa, eyes glued to his laptop, probably buried in some company data. Henry handed over the ring, "Mr. Percy, the wedding ring's here."

Charles took it, popped open the box, and a satisfied grin spread across his face. Just as Henry was about to make his exit, Charles piped up, "Get some folks to renovate the fourth floor."

"Huh?" Henry blinked, totally lost.

Charles shot him a cool look, his lips barely moving, "Is there a problem?"

Henry gulped. "Uh, no, sir. How exactly do you want it renovated?"

The thing was, Regal Retreat was a top-tier luxury villa, fresh off the construction line last year. The place was decked out like a palace. What more could they do to it?

Charles didn't leave him hanging for long. "Turn the fourth floor into an open-air garden. Make a central living area with a bed and sofa."

He added, "And remember, the roof has to be transparent. Anya loves stargazing."

Henry's brain was doing somersaults. An open-air garden? A see-through roof? Even with his sharp mind, Henry couldn't wrap his head around Charles's vision, especially within these few weeks.

He wiped the sweat off his forehead and asked cautiously, "Mr. Percy, if you want an open-air garden, why do you need a roof?"

Charles's voice was icy, "Regal Retreat has only four floors. Without a roof, do you want it to turn into a fish pond when it rains?"

Henry was stumped. "But how do you make a roof transparent?"

Charles shot back, "That's for you and the construction team to figure out!"

Henry shivered and clammed up. Charles gave him a final look and said, "The renovation can only happen during the day. And don't let Anna find out."

Henry asked, "Doesn't Mrs. Percy usually go to the fourth floor?"

Given the scale of the project, it seemed impossible to keep it under wraps.

Charles stood up, humming lightly, "Anna usually stays in the main bedroom."

'No need to flaunt their affection.' The assistant sighed inwardly.

As Charles left, he gave Henry a look that seemed to pity his single status.

That evening, when Anna got back from work, Charles had just walked into the lobby. He was cradling a snow-white cat, its fur pristine and soft, its tail lazily swaying. Its big, bright eyes were like amber jewels.

Charles gently placed the cat in Anna's arms and asked, "Anya, do you like it?"

Anna looked at the fluffy bundle and hesitated, "This..."

"Are we keeping it?" she asked.

Charles nodded, giving the cat a gentle pat on the head. "I thought it looked a lot like you, so I brought it home."

He looked at her with those deep eyes of his and said casually, "A soft little kitten, but got spikes like a hedgehog, pricking everyone."

Before Anna could respond, the cat in her arms reacted first. It wriggled out from under Charles's hand and swiped at him with its tiny white paw.

Charles pulled his hand back, glaring at the feisty little creature. He looked up at Anna and said, "See? I wasn't wrong. It turns on you just like that."

With a smirk, Charles gently tossed the cat from Anna's arms, watching it land on the floor with a look of disdain. "This cat's got quite the attitude. Let's keep it for a few days, and then I'll get you a dog."

The cat, clearly miffed, turned its back on him, its tail flicking back and forth in annoyance.

Charles added, "How can a cat be as reliable as a loyal dog?"

The cat, seemingly understanding, hesitated for a moment before rubbing against Anna's leg, trying to win her favor, as if really afraid of being a stray so soon.

Charles pulled Anna into his arms, tilting her chin up and kissing her softly. "Anya, your birthday's coming up. What do you want as a gift?"

Anna's eyes widened slightly. "How do you know my birthday?"

Charles chuckled, pinching her nose. "It's on our marriage certificate."

Anna smiled, "You have a good memory."

What she didn't know was that Charles looked at their marriage certificate every day, holding it like a precious treasure.

"So, what do you want? I'll get it for you," Charles said.

Anna leaned into his embrace, thinking for a moment. "I'm not taking the day off, so don't go to any trouble. Just order a cake."

Charles lifted her chin, their eyes locking. "You don't want a birthday gift?"

In the past, every year on her birthday, Michael would bring her gifts and keep her company abroad. Her eyes would light up like stars, full of genuine joy.

Charles always felt a mix of happiness and jealousy seeing her like that, when he was secretly watching them from afar.

What he didn't know was that Anna's joy wasn't about the gifts. It was about knowing that, no matter how busy Michael was, he would always make time for her on her birthday. He would cross any distance to be with her.

Anna blinked, her long lashes hiding her emotions. She kept her smile steady. "I have everything I need now. There's nothing I want. Besides, a birthday is just a date, no need to make a big deal out of it."