Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Just when she thought she had finally breathed her last, her eyes fluttered open. Slowly, she sat up and looked around. She was back in her own familiar bedroom, resting safely on her bed.

Instinctively, Arden reached under her pillow and pulled out her phone to check the date. Then, her hand drifted down to her stomach, gently rubbing her flat abdomen in a protective motion.

The bathroom door clicked open, and Luke walked out. A towel was wrapped loosely around his lower body, and his dark hair was damp from the shower.

“You are up already?” Luke said, flashing a warm, familiar smile.

“Why is he smiling? Did he not just murder me? Wait... is my life repeating itself?” Arden's heart pulsed with fear as the thoughts flitted through her mind.

Memories came rushing back. She remembered today—yes, today was the exact day she was supposed to go pick up her wedding dress.

"Babe?" Luke called out, walking over to sit beside her on the bed. Arden stared at him, wide-eyed and paralyzed by shock.

"Why are you not saying anything?" Luke asked, his brow furrowing with concern.

"Are we... are we picking up our wedding dress today?" Arden asked, her voice trembling slightly.

"Yes, did you forget?" Luke asked, chuckling softly.

What is happening to me? Arden thought, her heart hammering against her ribs. Was all of that a brutal, hyper-realistic dream, or are they actually planning to kill me? Stephanie and Luke? Is this even possible? They want my company.

“Arden! What's wrong? Did something happen?" Luke asked, leaning closer.

“I'm fine. I just had a really bad dream,” Arden replied, forcing her breathing to steady.

“It must have been awful. Do you want to share?” Luke asked gently. He reached across the mattress, covering her trembling hand with his own.

“It's nothing serious,” Arden replied, slowly pulling her hand away from his touch.

“Are you sure?” Luke asked.

Arden gave a stiff nod.

“Okay, if you say so,” Luke replied. He leaned in to press a kiss on her lips, but Arden instinctively turned her face away, causing him to pause mid-movement.

“I haven't brushed my teeth yet,” Arden murmured.

“It has never been an issue before,” Luke replied, his smile faltering for a fraction of a second.

"It's okay if you don't want to," Luke said smoothly, pulling back. He stood up from the bed. “I'll go put my clothes on.”

Without waiting for a reply, he turned and headed toward the walk-in closet.

Arden sat frozen, her gaze fixed entirely on one spot.

She had first crossed paths with Luke at the parking lot of a restaurant, where he had heroically saved her from being harassed by a thief. He had politely advised her to be more careful and waited until she safely drove away. They bumped into each other again at a high-society event, spending the entire night talking and getting to know one another. By the time he asked her out for lunch the next day, she was already captivated.

As time passed, she had grown deeply fond of him. He remembered every trivial detail about her life, showered her with thoughtful gifts, and two months later, when he asked her to be his girlfriend, she had readily agreed. She had eagerly introduced him to Stephanie and Kate, both of whom warmly approved following how happy he made her. Four months after that, Luke—with Stephanie's enthusiastic help—had orchestrated an elaborate surprise proposal. She had accepted without a second thought. She had even taken him out to her parents' gravesite to introduce him alongside Stephanie, believing he was the man meant to walk beside her forever.

Two weeks before the wedding, she had discovered she was pregnant. Stephanie had been the most ecstatic person in the world, rushing over the very next day with bags of baby clothes and showering kisses all over Arden's stomach. Meanwhile, Luke had played the role of the devoted, doting fiancé to absolute perfection.

Sitting on the bed now, Arden felt entirely untethered. Were they only just pretending, or had she lost her mind from the wedding stress?

Turning her head, she watched Luke as he stepped out of the closet, meticulously buckling his belt. When their eyes met in the mirror, he smiled sweetly at her. A strange, involuntary ache pierced her heart, and she found herself managing a weak return smile.

“Do you need anything?” Luke asked gently.

She shook her head. "I'm fine. I'll just brush my teeth and get ready."

Standing up, she suddenly felt a phantom echo of pain rippling through her body, throwing her off balance. She caught herself on reflex before she could hit the floor.

Luke bolted across the room and caught her by the arms.

"Be careful, honey," he said, his voice dripping with worry as he steadied her. Making Arden wonder if it was a practiced act of worry.

"Thank you," she muttered, pulling away as quickly as possible. Luke released her, and she hurried into the bathroom, slamming the heavy door shut behind her.

This is not a dream. There is much more to this. Could this be a warning? Arden thought frantically, pacing back and forth across the tiled floor.

"Babe, I'm going to check if breakfast is ready down in the kitchen, do you need anything?" Luke called out from the bedroom.

"No, I'm fine," Arden replied, forcing her voice to remain steady.

She picked up her toothbrush, and stared at her reflection in the mirror. I need to figure out what is happening. Kate is the only person I can possibly trust right now.

Her thoughts were cut short by the shrill, sudden ringing of her phone from the bedroom.

Still holding the toothbrush in her hand, she rushed back out to the nightstand, snatching up the device and answering immediately on the second ring.

“Kate, I was actually just about to call you—” Arden started.

“Oh, my goodness, Arden... you're alive!” Kate gasped from the other end.

Arden felt a knot on her stomach as the brush slipped from her hand onto the floor.