From Forgotten Wife To Fierce Queen - Chapter 365: Chapter 365

The seafood restaurant Gary booked was near the film base. Inside, Gary, Paisley, and the other key members of the crew were going from table to table toasting. That was when Emery's call came in.
That woman had fled abroad before Christmas just to avoid Teddy's proposal. She was supposed to come back after the holiday, but she still hadn't returned.
Instead, she had started a business there, opening a boutique gown store in an upscale community. She only did haute couture, no ready-to-wear retail. According to Emery herself, business was booming.
As soon as Paisley answered the call, she heard Emery's familiar, dramatic voice. "My darling, I miss you so much!"
Paisley held the phone away from her ear, waiting for Emery's exaggerated tone to fade before bringing it back. "If you miss me, then come back."
"I want to!" Emery whined through the receiver. "But my business here is too good to leave. Plus, the master tailors I hired haven't arrived yet. Their visas are such a hassle to process, so I have to wait a bit longer before I can leave."
"Oh? Then that kid Teddy must be losing his mind." Paisley walked out onto the terrace, where it was quieter, before teasing Emery again. "When I was back in Harrowfell for the holidays, that kid called me every day crying, asking why you didn't want him anymore.
"Ugh, even I felt bad for him. Honestly, if you don't want to get married, just tell him. Why run away?"
Emery knew she was in the wrong. "Ugh, I didn't dump him! I already called him. Once his visa is sorted, he'll come over with the tailors."
"Oh, so that's why," said Paisley. No wonder that kid hadn't been bothering her lately—he must have been going all out trying to get his visa approved.
"And when he gets there, he'll still want to marry you. What then?" Paisley asked. She knew Emery had a deep-seated fear of marriage because of her upbringing.
"I told him—if he insists on marriage, then he shouldn't come. Since he's choosing to come, that means he's accepted it." Emery's tone became noticeably lighter, no longer carrying the weight it once did whenever Teddy was mentioned.
"Well, since you two have it all figured out, I have nothing more to say. I can only wish you a thriving business, Ms. Collins," Paisley chuckled. Inside the restaurant, the crew members were starting to look for her. "Anything else? If not, I'll call you later."
"Wait, wait!" Emery quickly stopped her. "I almost forgot the most important thing!"
"Huh? What's the most important thing?" Paisley was puzzled.
"Of course—happy birthday!" Emery said with a playful grin in her voice.
Paisley froze. "Is it my birthday today?" Paisley had long stopped celebrating her own birthday.
"It is! How could you forget your own birthday? Listen, I can't be there for you, but I just want you to know that I really care about you, Paisy," said Emery.
Paisley was touched by her words. In the past, her grandfather had been the only one remembering her birthday—even when she forgot, he never did.
After she returned to the Sullivan family, Gregory and Christina only celebrated Brittany's birthday. They never even knew when hers was.
Later, when she married Dominick, he initially remembered. But as time passed, he forgot. He stopped paying attention. If his assistant or secretary didn't remind him, he wouldn't bother with it. He even complained that adults shouldn't care about their birthdays.
Now, birthdays no longer mattered much to her. She even forgot about her birthday as well unless someone came to congratulate her. But Emery was an exception. Every year, on her birthday, Emery would wish her a happy birthday again.
"Emery, you know I don't celebrate my birthday," she said.
"Whether you celebrate it or not is your choice, but I still have to say it. After all, we are family. Remembering every one of your birthdays is my duty and responsibility," Emery said proudly.
"Alright, alright, thank you. Since you can't come back, I'll go visit you abroad once I'm done with this busy period," said Paisley.
After chatting with Emery about random things for a while, she finally ended the call.
Once the conversation was over, Paisley let out a deep breath. Then it suddenly hit her: this was why Dominick insisted on having dinner with her. This time, he didn't need an assistant to remind him. He had remembered. But she no longer celebrated it.