Chapter 232: Preparations

Martina had already made up her mind about what to give as a gift. Now, the next step was to make the necessary preparations. As mentioned before, she was quite skilled in art, whether on a computer or by hand. The results were consistently impressive, and there was no reason to think that wouldn't be the case this time, perhaps even exceeding expectations. In order to create something truly special for Jack, she planned to handcraft a painting specifically for him. To achieve this, she decided to buy some high-quality, elegant paper that would make her work easier and improve the final product. Ready to act on her plans, she arrived at a store that had a selection of traditional writing supplies. Although it was the 21st century, there was still a market for such items, and she was able to find several suitable options. Although Martina didn't directly reveal what kind of gift she was planning, Elena quickly deduced it from her actions. She couldn't resist making a playful comment, saying, "It looks like our resident artist is preparing a big surprise." Martina, with an amused look, cast an exasperated glance at Elena, saying, "You're a real gossip queen. You seem to have an innate talent for that. I can't keep anything from you." Elena, in a proud manner, puffed up her chest and said, "Sure! You should know who I am. I'm your confidant. If I can't handle even these minor matters, it would be a disgrace, and it might make others laugh at us." Martina went along with the banter, not taking it to heart. She smiled and said, "So, let's choose the paper carefully. It's a gift, after all. I can't pick something of low quality. If I'm too stingy even to invest in this, it would be unfair to Jack." They spent more than an hour choosing the paper they were satisfied with. Afterward, they left the store, and Martina immersed herself in the world of paper, eager to start her painting. The whole night went by quickly. Martina woke up early, and since Benjamin seemed to have been busy with work all night, he hadn't come back yet. However, she found herself more relaxed in such situations. Staying in the same room with Benjamin made her feel awkward, even though she had been trying to force herself not to dwell on these messy thoughts. At times, some things and thoughts were not easy to change. Perhaps this was the most significant gap between Martina and Benjamin. Their personalities were inherently different, and Benjamin, consciously or not, tried to improve their relationship and living conditions. Even if it wasn't overly obvious, it was easy to sense, which was why Martina often felt uneasy. With Benjamin absent the previous night, Martina could focus more on her artwork. She worked diligently until the late hours of the night, finally preparing the gift. Today was Jack's birthday, and the celebration had been arranged to be held at their home. It was a rare occasion when people outside the household would visit. However, each guest needed a pre-arranged invitation to enter. One invitation could admit only one person, ensuring security and minimizing any unnecessary trouble. Many people came to the event, hoping to make their presence felt in front of him. They wanted to be satisfied with the notion that they had attended the celebration. However, turning this idea into reality was not as simple as it seemed. Jack was not the type to enjoy a large crowd, and he preferred not to interact with too many people. If it weren't for social status, age, and tradition, Jack might not have chosen to organize his birthday this way. But it had become an unwritten rule. Although he might not have been particularly eager for this, he couldn't refuse, partly because it was good for business. Jack had prepared early in the morning, as there were many guests expected. He understood that he couldn't be too casual about it, and he needed to tidy up a bit. For the occasion, he even had stylists come home. People said that as one got older, maintaining one's image became more important. This saying held true, and Jack wanted to look his best. Today, he was the center of attention, so he couldn't afford to be too casual, lest he become the subject of ridicule. The more prominent a person is, the more they tend to care about their reputation. Jack understood this when he was young, and now, it was even more important. He had prepared himself promptly for the event. However, he realized that Martina was still at home and hadn't finished getting ready. He had even asked the stylists to stay and help her prepare because they both needed to look their best for the day. When Martina woke up and headed downstairs, she was surprised to see several unfamiliar people in the living room. It seemed like they were waiting for someone. She hesitated for a moment, even her steps downstairs came to a halt. She had woken up quite early, thinking that the event would be held at noon or in the evening. Why had so many people arrived so early? She felt a bit uneasy but tried to maintain her composure and looked at them. Jack, hearing her, looked over and seemed to understand her thoughts. He immediately explained, "Martina, the stylists will help you get ready for the occasion. Don't worry." Martina finally understood – these were the stylists left behind by Jack. It was the only explanation, as other guests wouldn't arrive this early, and the boxes they carried indicated they were stylists.