Alex.
I was stunned.
Ella actually wanted to make an announcement.
The moment she accepted the microphone from my hand, that strange feeling that had been gnawing at me since the ceremony began suddenly intensified.
My chest tightened, because something wasn't right and I was sure something terrible was about to happen.
Yet I couldn't figure out what it was.
I forced myself to smile, hoping I was simply overthinking.
Then she looked straight at me, and a faint smile rested on her lips.
"Happy birthday, Alex..." she said calmly.
For the briefest moment, I almost smiled back.
"...and goodbye forever."
My entire body went rigid.
The smile on my face vanished instantly.
Goodbye?
What did she mean by goodbye?
Before I could ask, she calmly reached into her clothes and pulled out a document.
She extended it toward me.
Without thinking, I accepted it.
The moment my eyes landed on the first page, my heart skipped violently.
No...
That couldn't be...
