Chapter 319

"Abigail, you don't have to beat yourself up over this," I said calmly, watching her carefully. "If you've got projects to handle at work, then focus on that. Don't worry about me so much." I offered her a small smile, trying to ease the tension. "It's just a birthday. It's really not a big deal. I was just messing with you." At first, she seemed a little uneasy, her expression stiff. But hearing me brush it off so casually, her face relaxed, and she even smiled. "Thank you, Samuel," she said, her tone soft. "This time, it really was my fault," she added with a note of regret. "Tell me how I can make it up to you. Anything you want—just say the word, and if it's within my power, I'll do it." Maybe she felt a little guilty, though it wasn't enough to truly matter. She looked at me, her smile warm but fleeting, like she was trying to gloss over her mistakes. "Don't hold back," she said. "Just let me know." Her words hung in the air for a moment, and in my mind, the f