She walked into Elliot Sheridan's room.
The moment she stepped inside, she found a clean, bright room—not at all like Selena Sheridan's style.
The sound of running water came from the bathroom, so she waited patiently.
But the person who emerged from the bathroom wasn't Selena Sheridan—it was Elliot Sheridan.
Elliot Sheridan had just finished showering and was bare from the waist up. Caught completely off guard, Georgia Thorne nearly jumped out of her skin. She let out a shriek and scrambled out of the room.
That one glance was all it took. Even now, the image was seared into her mind: Elliot Sheridan's taut muscles, with water droplets tracing their contours before disappearing beneath his towel.
Whenever she thought about it, her face would still burn.
Selena Sheridan knew nothing of Georgia Thorne's complicated history with Elliot Sheridan; she was simply thrilled that her friend could make it to her birthday party.
Like an excited child, Selena Sheridan received her birthday gifts and couldn't wait to tear them open.
When Georgia Thorne saw the extravagant gifts the Sheridan family elders had given Selena, she couldn't help but clench her fists.
'She didn't have much money; her gift was so shabby in comparison. It was just a keychain.'
When Selena got to Elliot Sheridan's present, she pouted. "Uncle Elliot, you're so stingy! The box is tiny."
"Open it and see."
Selena unwrapped it. Sure enough, the small box held an even more extravagant gift: a diamond Patek Philippe watch.
"Thank you, everyone!" The watch from Elliot was Selena's favorite gift. She bowed to the room with a playful smile. "I hope you'll all be just as generous next year!"
"You cheeky girl!" Caleb Sheridan chided his daughter, drawing a round of laughter from everyone.
After cutting the cake, the Sheridans all shared a piece.
Suddenly, the phone in her pocket rang. Georgia saw it was a call from Amanda Thorne. With an apologetic smile to the others, she stepped out of the room.
Back inside, a delighted Selena turned to her grandfather. "Grandpa, what do you think? Isn't Georgia just as wonderful as I said she was?"
Earlier that day, before Georgia had even arrived, Selena had been singing her praises to the high heavens.
Georgia was a girl who gave off a very well-behaved impression. Unlike most modern girls who loved to party and cause a scene, she was quiet.
"She does seem like a fine young woman," James Sheridan remarked. He rarely gave out compliments. Selena's eyes twinkled. "Of course she is! She's my friend, after all."
Selena's mother, Hillary, chimed in. "She really is a sweet girl. If not for an unfortunate accident back then, she might have actually become Selena's sister."
Sharon Ennis's interest was piqued. "Oh? What's the story there?"
Hillary smiled and explained, "The girl lived in an orphanage for a time. For some reason, Selena took a real liking to her and insisted I adopt her. But on the day we were supposed to finalize things, she disappeared. When she came back, she was gravely ill. I was still planning to go through with the adoption, but then her biological father showed up and took her away."
"So those are the 'bad parents' Selena was talking about?" Sharon Ennis asked.
"That's right."
When Amanda Thorne learned that Georgia was going to Selena Sheridan's birthday party, she figured she'd be at the Sheridan residence.
And that meant she would definitely see Elliot Sheridan.
"When you see Elliot Sheridan, remember to send him my regards. Understand?" Amanda Thorne's tone was imperious. Even when she was asking for a favor, it sounded like a command.