When the cake was unveiled, revealing a shocking secret, the room fell into stunned silence as Tom’s betrayal was laid bare for friends and family to see.

I was rushing around the house, making sure everything looked perfect for Tom’s birthday party.

Balloons floated in corners, and streamers hung from the ceiling, adding pops of color everywhere.

The living room buzzed with laughter and chatter as early guests started to arrive, bringing with them the warm, comforting smell of home-cooked dishes and the sound of cheerful greetings.

In the midst of setting up the snack table, the doorbell rang. I wiped my hands on my apron and hurried to answer it. A delivery man stood there, holding a large box with a cheerful “Happy Birthday!” sticker plastered on the side. “For you,” he said, handing me the box that was surprisingly heavy. “Oh, I didn’t order this,” I murmured, more to myself than to him, as I signed for the package. I assumed it was a surprise from one of Tom’s friends or his family. Busy as I was, I thanked him quickly and placed the cake box on the kitchen counter to deal with later. As the party filled up, Tom was the center of attention,

laughing and clapping his friends on the back. He always had this easy charm that made everyone feel welcome. His parents, Jane and Michael, brought in a homemade pie, smiling broadly.They hugged me, praising the decorations and the cozy atmosphere. My best friend Lisa was right behind them, her arms laden with gifts and her kids in tow, adding to the joyful chaos. In the kitchen, I finally had a moment to slide the mysterious cake into the fridge. Curiosity got the better of me, and I lifted the lid just enough to sneak a peek. There was a picture on the cake, but it wasn’t the happy birthday message I expected. It looked like a screenshot of a text conversation, but I couldn’t make out the details. “Need any help in here?” Lisa’s voice snapped me back to reality. I quickly closed the cake box, plastering a smile on my

face. “Just trying to make room for everything,” I replied, pushing the box into the fridge. As we walked back to the living room, I shook off the uneasy feeling. It was probably just a quirky joke from Tom’s work friends, I thought. They always tried to outdo each other with humorous gifts. The party buzzed with energy, everyone enjoying the food and music. Tom’s laughter mingled with the happy chatter of our friends and family. I moved through the crowd, refilling drinks and sharing laughs, my mind occasionally drifting back to the odd cake in the fridge.I decided to wait until we were ready to cut it. After all, it was just a cake, and it wouldn’t spoil the night I had spent weeks planning. But deep down, I couldn’t shake the nagging thought that something was off. The room was lively, filled with the warmth

of close friends and family, all gathered to celebrate Tom’s birthday. As the clock ticked closer to cake time, I felt a surge of energy. I excused myself, heading back to the kitchen to retrieve the cake. My hands were steady but my heart wasn’t. The earlier unease had settled in my stomach, a constant reminder that something might be amiss. As I rolled the cake out on the cart, the guests gathered around, their voices rising in a chorus of “Happy Birthday.” Tom’s face lit up with a broad smile, his eyes twinkling in the glow of the candles. Everyone cheered, clapping him on the back, waiting for the grand reveal of the cake.