Chapter 298
The fans at the venue were incredibly enthusiastic. The birthday party stretched into the early hours of the morning, and even after the celebration had officially ended, the crowd remained electrified, chanting in unison, promising to always support Rowena.
Rowena smiled warmly, bowing deeply in gratitude to her fans and friends before she and Stellan made their way out of the venue.
“Your fans are really passionate,” Stellan remarked as they walked together.
“They are,” Rowena agreed, her voice softening with affection. “The leader of my fan club has been supporting me since before I became famous. It feels like she’s watched me grow. Over the years, I’ve become friends with many of them. Having them around is so heartwarming.”
Stellan nodded, a knowing smile on her face. “Yes, being loved by so many people really does bring a sense of happiness. Keep creating amazing songs, and keep giving back to them.”
Rowena returned the smile. “And you? Your hard work contributes to medical science, which is even more remarkable.”
Stellan chuckled. “Alright, it’s getting late. I should head home. Happy birthday again, Rowena.”
“Thank you, Stellan.” Rowena pulled her into a warm hug. As Stellan turned to leave, Rowena stood at the door, watching her drive away.
Once the fans had all left, and Stellan had driven off, the venue felt eerily quiet. Rowena lingered for a moment, reflecting on how warm and joyful this birthday had been. The only slight regret was Richard’s apparent indifference. He had wished her a happy birthday on Facebook, but there had been no private message, no phone call.
Even though she and Richard often disagreed, they were still together, and Rowena genuinely wanted to make their relationship work. But lately, Richard’s behavior was unpredictable—more difficult to understand than ever.
It was already past midnight. The day had officially ended, and Rowena had come to terms with the fact that Richard probably wouldn’t reach out. With a sigh, she turned off her phone and got into her car.
Meanwhile, Stellan was driving home at a fast pace. Though she had been physically present at Rowena’s birthday celebration all day, her thoughts were occupied with Alaric.
At 12:40 AM, Stellan arrived home.
“Thank you, Cormac. You should rest now,” Stellan said as she walked through the door.
Cormac nodded. “Alright. Don’t worry about the company. Focus on Alaric’s recovery. I’ll come check in on him in a couple of days.”
“Okay,” Alaric responded from the living room.
After Cormac left, Stellan immediately headed to the bedroom. She kicked off her shoes and climbed into bed, her hand reaching for Alaric’s forehead. She sighed in relief when she confirmed he wasn’t running a fever.
“How are you feeling today? Did you throw up again? Did you eat? What did you eat? How much?” she fired off her questions in rapid succession.
Alaric smiled wryly, amused by her concern. “You’ve asked so many questions at once. Which one do you want me to answer first?”
Before Stellan could respond, Alaric flashed her a quick smile and continued, “It’s okay. I took a nap after you left, had some lunch, and then slept the whole afternoon. I feel much better now.”
“Good,” Stellan said, exhaling in relief. She snuggled into his arms, letting herself relax for the first time that day. “You have no idea how hard it was for me today. I couldn’t tell Rowena about your condition. It was her birthday, and I couldn’t just leave early and ruin her mood.”
Alaric laughed softly. “I’m not a three-year-old, you know. Why do you worry so much?”
Stellan smirked, shaking her head. “Don’t compare me to our kids. When Harry and Elisa were three, I didn’t worry this much.”
Hearing this, Alaric chuckled, and Stellan couldn’t help but laugh too.
“How was the birthday party? Did you have fun?” Alaric asked, his voice soft.
Stellan looked up at him, her eyes sparkling with a hint of excitement. “Yes, it was great. I got to enjoy a free concert! Rowena sings really well.” She paused, then added, “When you get better, let’s take Caspian, Harry, and Elisa to see one of her real concerts. It’ll be so exciting!”
Alaric smiled, already imagining the joy of the kids attending such an event. “Okay, I’m all in. But it’s late. Let’s go to sleep.”
“Goodnight,” Stellan whispered, pressing a soft kiss to Alaric’s lips before settling into his arms and closing her eyes.
At Cormac’s apartment, it was already past 1 AM when he returned. Aurora had long since gone to bed, but Cormac found himself wide awake.
He sat on the couch, pulled out his phone, and opened Facebook. Rowena’s birthday news was still trending, her fanbase pouring in their birthday wishes. Scrolling through the hundreds of comments, he spotted Richard’s—timed perfectly to her birthday post. His was the only message amid the overwhelming flood of fans’ greetings.
Cormac turned off his phone, his expression unreadable. He lay back on the couch, where he had grown accustomed to sleeping.
The next morning, Cormac woke up to daylight streaming through the window. A thin blanket was draped over him, though he had no memory of falling asleep.
“Uncle Cormac, you didn’t drink last night. Why are you sleeping on the couch?” Aurora asked, already dressed and ready for the day. She had prepared breakfast for him.
Cormac stretched and rubbed his eyes. He didn’t even remember how he had fallen asleep. “Maybe I’m just so used to the couch that I forgot to sleep in the bed.”
Aurora raised an eyebrow, clearly concerned. “You’re so absent-minded. You need to find a very attentive woman to marry.”
Cormac stared at her, surprised by the sudden topic. “Why are you talking about this? You’re too young to worry about that.”
Aurora, however, was serious. “I’m young, but you’re not. You’re already thirty, Uncle Cormac. Normally, by the time people are thirty, they have kids running around. But you don’t even have a girlfriend. I’m worried about you.”
Cormac couldn’t help but smile at the concern in her voice. “You should focus on your studies, Aurora. Stop worrying about me.”
Aurora sighed but didn’t give up. “I don’t need to worry about my studies. Your happiness is more important. Someone as amazing as you deserves a very special girl, Uncle Cormac. You can’t settle for just anyone.”
Her tone was so earnest that Cormac nearly burst out laughing. “Alright, enough worrying about me. Eat your breakfast and get to class. Are you doing art today?”
Aurora nodded. “Yes, we’re going outdoors for sketching today.”
“Be careful,” Cormac reminded her as she grabbed her bag and left.
Though it was Sunday, Cormac didn’t have the luxury of rest. He went into his office, opened his files, and began working.
As he went through the papers, his phone buzzed with a news notification. It was entertainment news, and though Cormac generally didn’t care much for it, the headline caught his eye: Rowena’s Birthday Celebration Highlights.