"How can I forget your birthday? This is my gift for you."Norah handed the thing in her hand to Gloria.
"I'm happy that you are coming.Why did you spend money again?"
Gloria took Norah’s hand and sat her down in front of her.
The arrival of Norah instantly shattered the jovial atmosphere of the family.
Norah's keen eye spotted the necklace around Gloria's neck.
"This necklace is so beautiful ," Norah exclaimed.
"It is a birthday present from Nicole." Gloria smiled with delight.
"Nicole has such good taste in necklaces."
Norah praised Nicole, surprisingly.
"It looks like you have got many presents for your birthday."
"How are you doing lately, Norah?"
Gloria had not seen her in a long time.
"Everything is great.Just that things in the student union are a little busy.That was why I didn't have
time to come see you," Norah said.
The next second, she asked Nicole, "How is the training for your class?"
"Pretty good." Nicole did not want to talk to her at all.
"I heard that many students in your class have hamstrings in training.You're the new class monitor.It
must be hard for you."
Norah's words had an undertone of satirizing the incompetence of Nicole as the new class monitor.
"My classmates are self-disciplined, so I often have time to come home."
Nicole knew that if she did not hit back at her, Norah would push her luck and spit in her face.
"Really? But I've heard..."
Without waiting for Norah to finish speaking, Samuel interjected.
"It's been half a day since we were here; it's time to cut the cake."
"I will go get the cake."
Nicole took this opportunity to leave, freeing her from the hassle of dealing with Norah's questioning as
if Norah really cared about her.
So Samuel and Nicole went to get the cake together.
"Please don't mind what Norah says.Just treat her as if she is not there.If she picks a fight, I will help
you fix her, "Samuel said.Nicole had not taken what Norah said to heart.So, upon hearing what Samuel
said, she burst out laughing.
After a while, the two pushed the cake cart out and in front of Gloria.
"Mom, make a wish."
Gloria closed her eyes and clapped her hands together in front of her chest.After a while, she opened
her eyes again and blew out the candle in front of her.
"What wish did you make, Mom?" Samuel asked curiously.
"I can't tell you, or it will not come true."
"Mom, eat the first cut of the cake."
Norah took the initiative to cut the cake for everyone.
While everyone was enjoying the cake, Norah suddenly asked Nicole, "Where is Jared?"
What seemed to be a casual question was actually a provocation.Nicole had almost forgotten about
Jared while everyone was happily chatting just now.If it were not for Norah, she would have forgotten
about it completely.
"He heard about your birthday and asked me to bring you this gift. He said he had work to do there, so
he couldn't come." Nicole took a box from her bag.
"My birthday is not a big deal, yet a busy man like Jared still remembers it.Please thank him for me."
Gloria took the box without opening it.
"Mom, why don't you open it? I was still curious about what gift Jared has given you." Norah stared
curiously at the box.
"It is a gift for Mom. Why are you so excited?"
Samuel did not like how rude Norah was.
"It's all right.Since Norah is curious, I will open it," Gloria said and opened the box.
A stunning ruby carving appeared in front of everyone's eyes.
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