Chapter 3 Ten minutes early

Lumi's POV

The road stretched endlessly ahead of me, but I barely saw it. All I could see was Wren in my dress.

The image kept replaying in my head like something I couldn't shut off. The way her fingers moved over the fabric. The way she looked at herself. That look.

I tightened my grip on the steering wheel.

"Stop it," I muttered under my breath. "You're reading too much into it."

But even as I said it, I didn't believe it. My phone sat beside me, silent. Caius hadn't called back.

I exhaled slowly and reached for it, dialing Clover. She picked up on the second ring.

"Bride-to-be!" she sang immediately. "On your way yet?"

A small smile tugged at my lips despite everything.

"I need your help."

There was a pause.

"With what?" Clover asked, her tone shifting slightly, more alert now.

"The dress."

"The white one?"

"Yeah."

She let out a small, satisfied hum. "I knew it was the one."

I huffed lightly. "Yeah."

"So," she said. "What's the ish?"

My eyes are fixed on the road. "Can you come over? I want to wear it tonight."

"Of course I can," she said immediately. "You should've said that earlier."

A quiet breath left me. "Thank you."

"Always," she replied, softer now. "Wait... are you okay?"

My fingers tightened slightly.

"Yeah," I said quickly. "I just...changed my mind."

Clover didn't respond immediately.

"You sure that's all?" she asked carefully.

I swallowed. For a second, the image flashed again. My chest tightened.

"I'm sure."

Another pause, then Clover exhaled lightly. "Alright. I'll head over now."

"Okay. I'm on my way."

The call ended, silence filled the car again. But this time, It didn't feel empty. I drove.

..

The closer I got to the house, the heavier everything felt. My chest, my thoughts. Even my breathing felt... forced. Like I had to remind myself to do it. I tried to focus on the road and push everything else aside. But my mind wouldn't stop.

Wren's voice echoed faintly. 'You could've at least lost some weight' Then, the way the dress fit her.

My jaw tightened.

"That doesn't mean anything," I whispered.

It didn't. But then, another memory surfaced.

Wren asking too many questions about the engagement, about Caius. About details she didn't need to know. I had brushed it off, because t was Wren, she was family.

My fingers curled slightly against the wheel. I slowed at a traffic light. The car came to a stop.

I exhaled slowly, resting my head briefly against the seat.

"Just go home," I muttered. "Check your things. Get ready. That's it."

Nothing more. The light stayed red, I glanced to the side. A car pulled up next to mine. I barely paid attention at first, then something pulled my gaze back.

The driver, he sat still, one hand resting lazily on the wheel. Tattoos, they stretched along his arm, disappearing under the sleeve of his shirt.

My eyes lingered for a second longer than necessary. When he turned his head, the light had turned green. I drove off first.

...

By the time I pulled into the driveway, my chest felt tight again. The house stood exactly the same, quiet. I turned off the engine but didn't move immediately.

My hands rested on the wheel. My thoughts are racing faster now.

"Just go inside."

I opened the door and stepped out. The air felt colder. I walked toward the house, each step heavier than the last.

The door unlocked easily, I pushed it open. Silence greeted me again.

"Wren?" I called.

No answer. My heart picked up slightly.

"She's probably upstairs," I muttered.

I stepped inside, moving slowly now. I walked past the living room. I climbed the stairs, two at a time. By the time I reached the top, my pulse had picked up.

The hallway stretched in front of me, still. Wren's door was slightly open. My gaze lingered on it, then moved to my room. I walked toward it slowly.

I pushed it open, the room was dark, empty, no sign of Caius.

My brows pulled together. "That's weird..."

I stepped inside, and turned slowly. That's when a sound, faint, from down the hall. My heart skipped.

I stepped out of the room. A muffled movement from Wren's room. My pulse quickened. I walked toward the door, each step slower now, more careful.

My fingers brushed against it. Then, I pushed it open.