Liza furrowed her brow. “I have a friend whose birthday is coming up, and I’m not sure what to get him. So, I decided to make him something myself.” A friend’s birthday? George’s thoughts immediately spiraled. What kind of “friend” warranted such secrecy? Then, it dawned on him—Gavin’s birthday was approaching. Could it be that Madam had found out and was planning a surprise for him? Feeling like he’d uncovered a grand secret, George lowered his voice conspiratorially. “Understood, Madam. I’ll get everything you need delivered tomorrow. Don’t worry, the president won’t know a thing.” After hanging up, Liza replayed the conversation in her head. The way George spoke at the end left her feeling slightly awkward. She hadn’t wanted Gavin to know about her plans because she assumed he might misunderstand or, worse, get angry that she was making something for another man. But now, George’s tone made her feel as if she were sneaking around deliberately. Shaking off the odd feeling, she focused on the task at hand. Taking out her paintbrush, she started sketching a rough outline of the gift, her mind set on her project. Meanwhile, George, feeling relieved after the call, patted his chest as if he’d just dodged a bullet. Gavin, sitting nearby, caught his suspicious expression and narrowed his eyes. “Who was on the phone?” “No one important!” George replied hastily, waving his hands in dismissal. Before long, Gavin’s birthday arrived. From the moment he woke up, Gavin had been sitting on the living room sofa, his posture relaxed but his gaze frequently drifting toward the staircase leading to the third floor. Upstairs, Liza stretched and let out a yawn as she climbed out of bed. She had stayed up late the previous night to finish crafting the gift she had been working on. After freshening up, she slipped into a cozy oversized sweater, packed the completed present into her backpack, and grabbed her phone. Without hesitation, she sent a message to Westbrook: [Send me your address. I need to deliver your gift.] As soon as her message was sent, a soft beep echoed from Gavin’s phone downstairs. The sound coincided with the faint creak of floorboards. Gavin looked up sharply. “Morning,” Liza greeted casually as she descended the stairs, yawning once again. “Aren’t you heading to work today?” Gavin wasn’t wearing his usual tailored suit, and his neatly styled hair had been replaced with a softer, more natural look. Dressed in casual black and gray loungewear, he appeared unexpectedly approachable, almost gentle. Liza blinked, slightly dazed as she studied him for a moment.“I’m taking the day off,” Gavin replied evenly, his gaze subtly drifting to the backpack slung over her shoulder. “Are you going somewhere?” “Yeah,” she said with a quick nod. “I have something to take care of, so I won’t be home for lunch.” She gave a casual wave before heading toward the door. The moment the door closed behind her, Gavin’s expression turned cold. Three minutes passed in silence. Then, a faint smirk appeared on his lips. Just then, a message arrived from Black Tide—a familiar alias. After a moment of thought, Gavin responded with the address of his city-center apartment. [Got it. I’ll send it through same-day delivery. It should arrive this afternoon. Happy birthday.] …When George received a call from Gavin, he was deep in sleep, comfortably sprawled in bed. The abrupt ring jolted him awake, and the moment he answered, the icy tone of Gavin's voice sent shivers down his spine. “George, I hope you’re not too comfortable,” Gavin sneered. Instantly alert, George shot up, rubbing his face to wake himself further. “President, what happened? Is there a problem with the data I sent you yesterday? I’ll head over right away!” “The data is fine,” Gavin replied with chilling calmness, “but you’re about to have a problem.” George froze, clutching his phone. “What happened?” he asked cautiously. “Liza,” Gavin began, his tone laced with irritation, “slept until noon. She didn’t eat and just left the house.” “Uh… what?” George blinked in confusion, his mind racing to decipher the true meaning behind Gavin’s words. Finally, it clicked. “Wait… are you saying Madam left you alone at home on your birthday?”Gavin let out a cold hum of agreement. George tried to piece everything together quickly. “That doesn’t make sense, President. I bought all the tools and materials Madam requested. She asked for those things specifically because of you, didn’t she?” There was silence on the line before Gavin’s sharp voice cut through. “What tools? What materials?” Realizing his slip, George broke into a cold sweat. “…Uh, I might’ve said too much.” The line went dead as Gavin hung up abruptly. With a storm brewing inside him, Gavin headed to the third floor of the villa. Since Liza had moved in, he had never once stepped foot into the master bedroom. But now, he stood there, his eyes scanning the room. In the corner, a pile of tools and materials caught his attention. His gaze darkened as his suppressed anger finally reached its boiling point.Three minutes later, the roar of an engine broke the silence as a sleek sports car sped out of the villa. Meanwhile, George, now thoroughly panicked, grabbed his phone and dialed Liza. The moment she picked up, he didn’t give her a chance to speak, words tumbling out in a frantic rush. “Madam, today is the president’s birthday! This is the first birthday you two are spending together since getting married. It’s a huge deal!” Liza had just finished sending out a package when she heard George’s breathless rant. Blinking in surprise, she asked, “Wait, Gavin’s birthday is today?” A heavy silence followed on the other end. George nearly dropped his phone in despair. Oh no. The gift isn’t for the president. At the Apartment, Gavin drove aimlessly through the area, trying to quell his frustration. Then, remembering the message from Black Tide about a birthday gift, he headed toward his city-center apartment.When he arrived at the entrance of the apartment, his eyes fell on a package neatly placed at the door. Without hesitation, he picked it up and opened it.