Arias’s POV
The week after the wedding had been… strange.
I threw myself into work at the vet clinic, keeping my hands busy so my mind wouldn’t wander. But no matter how many dogs 1 bathed or how many cats I cuddled, my thoughts kept drifting back to one thing–the card.
That stupid, taunting card.
It still sat on my coffee table, its black surface smooth and crisp, like it had just been printed. I’d read it a hundred times already, memorizing the time written in gold lettering. 8:00 PM. Today.
I let out a long breath, curling up on my couch with a warm mug of coffee, the scent of hazelnut filling the air. I was supposed to be having a lazy day. Sweatpants, oversized hoodie, and no responsibilities. But how was I supposed to relax when this card was practically screaming at me?
I had so many questions. The triplets hadn’t reached out to me once since the wedding. Did they even remember this? Maybe it was just a joke. Or maybe they were expecting me to come, and I’d look dumb if I didn’t. Ugh.
I ran a hand through my messy ponytail and groaned. This was ridiculous. I wasn’t even sure I wanted to see them again. They were intense. Too intense. And something about the way they looked at me made me feel… different. Like I was something they wanted to own.
Before I could sink too deep into overthinking, a sharp knock echoed through my small apartment.
I nearly spilled my coffee. My heart leaped in my chest as I set the mug down and slowly got up. Peeking out the window, I saw nothing. No shadows, no cars outside–just the quiet afternoon sun casting long rays across the parking lot.
Weird.
When I opened the door, I was met with something unexpected.
A sleek black box with a perfect red bow sat on my doorstep.
My stomach flipped.
I quickly stepped out, looking around for whoever had left it. But there was no one. Just the faint rustling of trees in the distance. The air smelled fresh, like rain was coming.
Swallowing hard, I bent down and picked up the box. It was heavier than I expected. Closing the door behind me with my foot, I carried it to my living room, setting it carefully on the center table.
For a second, I just stared at it.
Then, with shaky fingers, I pulled the red bow loose. The silky ribbon slid off effortlessly, falling onto the table. Beneath it was black wrapping paper, smooth to the touch. I unwrapped it slowly, my breath catching when I saw what was inside.
The first thing I noticed was the black envelope.
My heart pounded as I picked it up, tearing it open. The same elegant gold lettering greeted me:
1/3
Chapter 12
“Hope you didn’t forget about our engagement, little star. Wear this for us. We’ll pick you up by **
My breath hitched, Little star? I barely knew them. How did they already have a nickname for me?
My hands trembled as I set the card aside and turned my attention back to the box.
Lifting the last layer of tissue paper, I gasped.
A dress. But not just any dress.
A deep, silky red one, the kind that clung to the body in all the right places. I reached out to touch it, and the fabric felt like pure luxury, cool and smooth under my fingertips.
Beside it, a pair of matching red heels. Elegant. Daring.
My stomach twisted. This was bold. Too bold. I would never wear something like this. The color alone screamed confidence, something I definitely did not have. And yet… I didn’t hate it.
I carefully picked up the dress, holding it against my body as I walked over to the mirror.-
It was beautiful.
Too beautiful.
I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. What was I supposed to do? I wanted to ignore it, pretend I never got the package. But the idea of disappointing them made me feel weirdly guilty.
And how did they even get my address?
My fingers tightened around the dress. This felt like a date. But not just with one guy. With three.
My face heated at the thought.
No. This was insane. I needed backup.
Grabbing my phone, I quickly dialed my best friend, Gloria.
“Glo, you will NOT believe what just happened.”
I barely had time to explain before Gloria shrieked through the phone.
“ARE YOU SERIOUS?! You HAVE to go! No arguments! I’m coming over.”
Before I could protest, Gloria had already hung up.
I sighed, staring at the dress again.
