Days turned into weeks, weeks turned into months, and months turned into years.
As time went by, Hera and Max's child grew quickly. Evander had just turned one year old. Now, the little one could walk with wobbly steps and was starting to learn to speak, uttering simple words.
The first word Evan could say was "Papa." Although baby Evan managed to call Hera "Mama" just a week later, that moment was very special for Hera and Max, as hearing their little one call them that was a proud sign of his development.
Today, Hera and Max would invite their family for a dinner gathering at their mansion to celebrate Evan's first birthday.
After taking care of their child and husband in the room earlier, they went downstairs for breakfast before starting their activities for the day.
At the dining table.....
"Sweety... I’ll come home early to help you prepare for baby Evan's party," Max said, feeling guilty for having to leave his wife to organize the event for their child while he focused on his work.
"It’s okay, honey. I’ll have the maids here to help me. You should focus while working," Hera reassured her husband.
They continued their breakfast leisurely, knowing that today Evan would be looked after by a maid who often helped Hera during her pregnancy because Hera wanted to take charge of organizing the event for their child.
After breakfast, the three of them walked toward the front door of the mansion. Max carried baby Evan while Hera walked beside him. Upon reaching the front door, Max quickly kissed his son’s entire face, making the little boy laugh and gently pat his father's face to make him stop.
After satisfying his need to kiss his son, Max wrapped his arms around his slim wife’s waist. He kissed her forehead, both cheeks, and finally, her sweet lips. Hera took their child from Max's arms, as her husband was about to leave for work.
Before Max headed to the office, Hera took a moment to squeeze his hand and said, "We’ll be waiting for you to come home, honey! Good luck at work!" Hera encouraged her handsome husband.
"Alright, sweety, I’ll come home as fast as I can. I love you both," Max replied, kissing the foreheads of his two beloved ones.
"We love you too," Hera replied, waving their child's hand as Max's car drove away.
Hera brought her child back into the mansion. She called Lisa to help watch over the baby, as she was going to make a cake for him now.
"Lisa, please take care of and play with Evan for a bit. I want to prepare for tonight’s event," Hera said to the maid who often played with her child while she was busy with other tasks.
"Of course, Miss. I’ll keep him company while you work," Lisa replied cheerfully, eagerly taking Evan from Hera.
Hera kissed her chubby-cheeked child before heading to the kitchen. "Don't be fussy, baby... Mama is going to make you a very special cake," Hera said before truly departing.
Evan, hearing his mother, nodded as if he understood what she said. He invited Lisa to play in the living room, showing her one of the new toys his father had just bought.
In the kitchen, Hera called all the kitchen maids to gather. She wanted to discuss the plans she and her husband had for tonight. The maids, excited to help Hera prepare for the event, gathered eagerly to ensure their young mistress wouldn't tire herself out.
Hera had prepared several tasks for them to expedite the preparations for the evening.
"Alright, I’m going to assign tasks to you four to make things easier. Aunt Kyla, please help decorate the living room for tonight’s event by arranging the furniture so it looks different than usual but still tidy," Hera requested Aunt Kyla.
"Of course, Miss. I will get started now."
"For you two, please hang the balloons and banners around the living room that Aunt Kyla will be decorating. Use the theme from the picture here," Hera said, handing over her iPad so the two maids could see the example.
They both nodded, understanding the theme and decorations they would be using.
"And for you, please set the table for food and cake. Prepare the tablecloth as well as plates and glasses for the guests. Oh, and one more thing, could you arrange music for the party later? Choose some cheerful songs," Hera instructed her maid.
"Yes, Miss. I’ll make sure everything is ready as you requested before the event. Is there anything else you would like us to do?" they asked before leaving.
"I think that’s all for now. Thank you for helping me. With your assistance, everything will surely run smoothly," Hera said to the maids.
"Not a problem, Miss. We are happy to help prepare for baby Evan's event," Aunt Kyla said on behalf of the other maids.
After that, they moved to the areas Hera had pointed out. They worked diligently on their tasks to meet their mistress’s expectations.
Hera’s Side...
Hera stood in the kitchen, surrounded by scattered baking ingredients. It was a special day; her child, Evan, was going to celebrate his first birthday.
With great care, Hera began mixing the ingredients. Flour, sugar, and eggs all came together in a large bowl. She recalled the birthday cakes her mother had made for her when she was young and how those moments always brought happiness to their family. Hera wanted to give Evan the same experience.
As the batter thickened, the sweet aroma began to fill the kitchen. Hera hummed little tunes, following the joyful rhythm of her heart. Each step in the cake-making process was an expression of love she wished to convey to her son.
Once the cake was baked and cooled, it was time to decorate. Hera stepped back into the kitchen, admiring the cake she had just completed. It stood tall on a large plate, layer upon layer creating an enchanting appearance. Inside, the vanilla and chocolate layers blended perfectly, releasing a sweet and tempting scent.
She picked up a spatula and began frosting the cake with blue and green buttercream, creating an effect resembling the sky and earth. Each movement of her hand was thoughtful, crafting beautiful and neat patterns. The cake was the result of her sweat and love, a symbol of the effort she had poured into celebrating Evan's special day.
As the cake grew more beautiful, Hera brought out various toppings. She chose chocolate candies, colorful sprinkles, and fresh fruit slices like strawberries and kiwis. Each was arranged neatly, making the cake even more enticing.
After finishing the decoration, Hera added the final touch—mini fondant figures of rockets and stars, creating the "outer space adventure" theme that Evan adored. She smiled, imagining her son’s delight upon seeing the cake. At the top, she carefully wrote, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY, EVAN! " with neat icing.
Stepping back for a moment, Hera admired her work. The cake was not just food; it was also an expression of love and care. With pride swelling in her heart, she decided to keep the cake in a safe place, waiting for the party moment she had meticulously planned.