CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY – HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BECKY

One week before Becky's first birthday, Karina was a whirlwind of meticulous planning and preparation. She may have gone slightly overboard for her daughter's initial milestone celebration, but could anyone really blame her? This was Becky's official debut into the world after being nestled in the cozy cocoon of their home for the last year. John had offered to hire an elite party planner to handle all the details, but Karina politely declined. This was her first foray into birthday parties as a mother, and she was determined to put her personal stamp on every aspect to make it perfect for her little girl. The private gardens of their sprawling estate had been thoroughly manicured and festooned with delicate decorations of pink and white streamers, flower garlands, and oversized balloons forming a canopy overhead. A dessert table groaned under the weight of a three-tiered funfetti cake bedecked with fondant bunnies and chicks, along with an assortment of artisanal cookies, macaro