Page 135 of The Bittersweet Bond

"Typical you," Milka said with a smirk in her voice. "But remember—if this all blows up in your face, I’ll be the first one to say, ‘I told you so.’"

"Deal." Evin smiled. "Thanks for always having my back."

"Always," Milka replied, her voice carrying a rare hint of seriousness. "But for now, you should sleep. You sound exhausted."

"I will," Evin said, closing her eyes. "Good night, Milka."

"Good night, Ev—oh, wait!" Milka let out a dramatic sigh. "By the way, Ev, your birthday’s coming up soon. Should we plan something small? Nothing big, I promise."

She glanced at the calendar on the wall—January was almost over. Just a few more days until her birthday.

Evin shook her head, even though Milka couldn't see it. "Mil, honestly, I really don’t feel like doing anything this year. At all."

"Oh, come on," Milka pressed gently. "Just us, Bell, Bas… maybe some food and Netflix?"

"Not this year, Mil," Evin said quietly but firmly. "Please, I don’t want to do anything. No party, no pizza nights, no surprises."

Milka hesitated briefly before giving in. "Alright. No birthday, no drama. But if you change your mind—"

"I won't," Evin interrupted firmly. "But thanks for understanding."

"Of course," Milka said gently. "Your birthday, your rules."

There weren't going to be any grand celebrations this year. In fact, there would be no celebration at all.

No lavish party, no intimate dinner, and no cake. Evin had made her wishes clear from the beginning. Milka had tried to persuade her otherwise, as had her mom. Even Bas had offered to organize something—perhaps bring a gift or plan an activity. But Evin had firmly declined all of it. No party, no presents—nothing this year. And, for a change, everyone respected her decision.

She appreciated that.

The idea of turning seventeen felt more burdensome than she had anticipated, like a milestone she preferred to ignore. Nearly a month into the new year, and she still felt stuck, as if she hadn't progressed at all. Perhaps that's precisely why she didn't want the fanfare of candles, smiles, and probing questions.

This year, the quiet felt like a blessing.

For the first time in a while, she was content with that. Maybe even relieved.

Chapter 39

Between Legacy & Love

Sebastian

The last two weeks had felt almost surreal for Bas. Since that party where he had first seen Evin in a different light, they had spent more and more time together. He gave her space, let things happen at her pace, and even though they hadn’t put clear words to whatever was growing between them, he was content. Happy, even. School and sports were going well, and his mother was so immersed in her charitable planning that she barely burdened him with obligations. But sometimes, in the quiet moments, a thought crept in that unsettled him.

Evin had always been athletic and naturally slim, but lately, she seemed even more delicate. A fleeting thought he pushed away every time he looked into her eyes and saw the spark she ignited in him.

The heavy oak door to the Montgomerys’ living room was slightly ajar, and the muffled voices inside seemed to echo through the otherwise silent villa. His mother, an elegant woman with impeccable posture, sat with a glass of champagne on the couch, while Bas sat across from her. His expression was relaxed, but his fingers idly played with the gold chain around his wrist.

“So, Sebastian,” his mother began with a warm look, “I’ve heard you’ve been spending time with Evin Hayes.”

Bas, who had been lazily twirling his bracelet between his fingers, stiffened at the mention of her name and his eyes widened for a brief second before he quickly regained his composure. “Where did you hear that?” he asked, masking his surprise.

“A good friend from the tennis club mentioned it. She saw you together in town,” she said, slightly amused.

Bas scoffed under his breath and rubbed a hand down his face. Of course. Nothing in this city stayed private for long. He had no illusions about that, but it still annoyed him that he and Evin had already become a topic of conversation among the country club women.

“Great,” he muttered. “Nice to know my social life is a part of your guys' warm-up routine.”

His mother merely smiled, unfazed by his sarcasm. “Evin seems like a charming girl. Her family is cultured, grounded, and full of values. The kind of people I’ve always appreciated.”

---