I stood in the doorway, clutching the cake box as my stomach twisted. The decorations told a very different story.
The banners hanging across the room screamed *”Congratulations, Jack and Lila!”* in shimmering gold letters. A giant cutout of Jack on one knee holding a ring next to Lila’s shocked face stood near the gift table. This wasn’t a birthday party—it was an engagement celebration.
My pulse quickened as realization hit. Jack hadn’t asked me for just any cake; he’d asked me to bake the centerpiece for *their engagement party*. My heart sank. He didn’t even bother to tell me. Worse, *he* would get the credit for my work.
Tom appeared at my side, his smile faltering as he noticed my expression. “What’s wrong?” he asked.
“What’s wrong?” I hissed, tilting the box slightly so he could peek at the cake inside. “That’s a *birthday cake*. Does this look like a birthday party?”
His jaw tightened as he glanced around the room. “I didn’t know,” he said quietly. “Jack didn’t mention—”
Before he could finish, Jack swaggered over, grinning ear to ear. “There she is, the star of the show!” he declared, loud enough for everyone to hear. “Let’s see that masterpiece, shall we?”
Star of the show? Was he serious? My fists clenched as I forced myself to remain composed. “This isn’t a birthday party, Jack. You told me it was your birthday.”
Jack chuckled, waving me off as if I’d made a cute mistake. “Well, technically, it *is* my birthday—next week. But I figured we could celebrate my engagement and kill two birds with one stone. Besides, Lila loves blue and silver. It worked out perfectly.”
I stared at him, my chest burning with a mix of anger and humiliation. He’d manipulated me, plain and simple. And judging by the smirk on his face, he didn’t think I’d dare to make a scene.
“Well, Jack,” I said, forcing a tight smile as I opened the box, revealing the cake. “I hope Lila also loves cakes that say, ‘Happy Birthday, Jack.’”
Gasps rippled through the crowd as they craned their necks to see the top tier—boldly decorated with “Happy Birthday, You Big Liar” in gold icing.
Jack’s face turned beet red. “What the—?”
“Oh, did I forget to mention?” I said sweetly. “I had a little last-minute inspiration. Consider it a personal touch.”
Tom struggled to stifle a laugh as Jack sputtered, looking around at the guests who were now whispering and snapping photos. Lila, standing nearby, looked mortified. “Jack, you didn’t tell her this was our engagement party?” she asked, her voice sharp.
“I, uh—” Jack stammered, but there was no saving him now.
I handed the box to Tom and dusted my hands off dramatically. “Well, my job here is done. Enjoy the party!” With that, I spun on my heel and strode out, my heart racing but my head held high.
As I reached the car, Tom caught up to me, grinning. “That was… epic,” he said.
“Think they’ll still call me the family baker?” I quipped, sliding into the driver’s seat.
Tom laughed, shaking his head. “They’ll call you unforgettable, that’s for sure.”
And for the first time in years, I didn’t care what they thought.