After breakfast, Renee Jennings and her two companions went to a beauty salon.
While getting her facial, she was hesitant to invite Henry Stark and the others, afraid they would spend too much on gifts.
The moment she stepped out of the salon, she got a message from Sawyer.
"Renee, happy birthday! Hope you’re always happy!"
[You have received a transfer of 8,888 from Sawyer.]
Renee stopped in her tracks, a flicker of surprise in her eyes. It was quickly replaced by a wave of warmth. Her gaze softened, and her lips curved into a gentle smile.
She replied with a voice message, her tone light and cheerful. "Thank you, Sawyer. How did you know?"
Sawyer’s reply came back quickly. "I saw your ID once and just remembered."
Renee replied, "That’s so thoughtful of you. I don’t even know when your birthday is. Would you mind telling me?"
Sawyer replied, "Mine is in January. Go ahead and accept the money, Renee."
Renee wrote back, "Thanks, Sawyer. I appreciate the thought. What time do you get off work tonight? If you’re free, I’d love for you to come have dinner with my family and friends."
Sawyer replied, "Okay! I get off at five-thirty. Just send me the address!"
Renee sent her the address for the evening’s dinner. After a moment’s hesitation, she also sent messages to Henry Stark, Levi Hollis, Zachary Conway, and Kyle Morgan.
Unfortunately, Henry Stark and Levi Hollis were out on a mission. They both sent her birthday wishes along with money transfers—one for 28,888 and the other for 888.
Renee hadn’t expected them to be so generous, especially Henry Stark.
She rejected the transfers and replied, "You two focus on your work for now. We can all get dinner some other time."
’She’d invited them to liven things up, not to get money from them.’
Faye Wyatt had somehow found out it was Renee’s birthday and gave her a call.
"Renee, happy birthday! What are your plans today? Any chance I’ll get to have some of your birthday cake?"
"Faye, you found me out," Renee laughed. "I was just about to call you."
"Really? Then great minds think alike!" Faye Wyatt said, sounding delighted.
"So does that mean you’re free tonight, Faye? I’ll send you the address. Come have some birthday cake."
"Of course! Even if I weren’t free, I’d make time. I am definitely having a piece of that cake."
"Sending it to you now." Renee hung up and sent the address for dinner.
Seeing her put her phone down, Rhea Dempsey asked, "Is Faye coming over?"
"Yes." Renee nodded.
"Then I should go buy her something," Rhea Dempsey said. "I felt so bad accepting so many gifts from her last time."
Diana Jennings chimed in, "Yes, we should all get her a little something."
Renee thought for a moment, then chuckled. "Then I’ll get something, too."
’Everyone coming for her birthday cake today would be getting a gift.’
After they finished shopping, the mother and her two daughters all paid separately.
Just as Renee was paying, a system notification chimed in her mind.
[System 009: Limited-Time Birthday Gift Pack has been issued: Mustelidae Dictionary, 888 points, 8.88 million in Cash. Rewards distributed~]
[System 009: Level 4 Mission Triggered: Reveal the Truth. Mission Reward: Caviidae Dictionary, 300 points, 3 million in Cash. Mission Penalty: Random Deployment. Time Limit: 96 hours.]
’The system gives out birthday gifts, too?’
That was something Renee had never expected.
’Happiness had come so suddenly.’
Renee checked her balance. It was already close to forty million.
An uncontrollable smile spread across her face. She reached out, grabbing Rhea Dempsey and Diana Jennings, who were walking ahead of her. "Mom, Sis, let’s go check out a jewelry store."
"Okay," Diana Jennings said with a smile. "See if there’s anything you like. I’ll buy it for you."
Rhea Dempsey added, "Pick out a couple of things."
Renee shook her head, a wide grin on her face. "You’re not buying for me. I’m buying for you."
"But it’s your birthday. We should be the ones getting you a gift," Diana Jennings said earnestly.
Rhea Dempsey agreed, "Your sister is right."
"I’m the birthday girl today, so I get the final say," Renee said, her tone firm. "You’ll listen to me."
She bought gold bracelets for Rhea Dempsey and Diana Jennings, rings for Michelle Fuller and Sylvia Brooks, and stud earrings for Faye Wyatt and Sawyer.
Walking out of the jewelry store, Renee sighed to herself. ’It feels so good to spend money. It’s great to be rich.’
**
At six-thirty that evening, guests began to trickle into the restaurant.
The table Renee had booked could seat eighteen people.