Chapter Four

Kiara’s POV

Aurora rushed to me immediately, her eyes landed on me, guilt written all over her face. “I’m so sorry, Kiara,” she said solemnly as she grabbed onto my hand. “I should have known, but I didn’t think Cassie would go that far. Are you alright?”

“Yeah, I am,” I said, forcing a smile. 

She let out a relieved sigh before she squeezed my hand and pulled me towards Xavie, who was seated at the table. 

“You really should thank Xavier,” she said. “He made sure to put Cassie in her place.”

Hesitantly, I turned to Xavier, whose gray eyes were locked on mine with an unreadable expression.

“Th-thank you,” I said awkwardly. 

He didn’t say anything, but I watched as his eyes slowly trailed over my body before stopping on Kai’s shirt. His lips curled into a small firm, but he still didn’t say anything. 

Then, I felt a shift in the air. I could feel someone watching me, and when I turned, the weight of his stare weighed heavy on me. 

He was sitting at the far end of his table with his arms crossed and his dark eyes staring directly at me.

My blood turned into ice. 

He looked exactly like Xavier and Kai, his features just as sharp and striking as theirs. But there was something different about him.  

He was silent and didn’t need to move before his powerful presence was felt. 

Aurora followed the direction of my eyes and smiled. “Oh, that’s Zade,” she mumbled. “He’s the third brother.”

That hird brother? He was just as hot as Kai and Xavier. A brooding kind of hot.

His expression didn’t change, and I could see him staring at me. He just… looked at me. 

I quickly turned away, unable to bear the intensity of his stare. 

Aurora clapped her hands together, unaware of the tension. “You should join the at club, Kira,” she said with a bright smile. “It’s one of the extracurricular activities, and it’ll be so fun with you there.”

I blinked. “Art club? Me? Fun?”

“Yes, and this semester, we’re having a play!” She squealed excitedly.  “You’ll be perfect as the female lead, Kiara!”

I really did like theatre, but at such a big school? Would i be let on the stage, since i wasnt the preferred size?

Before I could find the right words to say, Xavier leaned into me too, and his fingers brushed against mine, making my body tingle. 

“You know,” he drawled, his voice sexy and soft, “the three of us are plating the male lead which means I also get to kiss you…” he paused, his eyes falling on my lips and lingering longer than it should, “ but I don’t plan on just following the script and I promise that you’ll remember every bit of it.” 

My breath hitched. 

Kai let out a low laugh, and Xavier tilted his head as his eyes locked with mine, but Zade remained silent. I couldnt tell what he was thinking, and it scared me.

My face turned red, and I almost forgot how to breathe. 

Beside me, Aurora let out an excited gasp as if she didn’t notice how red my face probably was. “And that’s even better!” She added. 

Kai’s smirk turned into a big smile. “Now you have no other choice than to say yes.”

“I don’t have to do anything,” I said, glaring at him. 

“You will.” Xavier chuckled. 

I wanted to argue, but I knew it would be a losing game. 

The tryouts had barely ended, going better than I expected. Theatre was one of my passions, and despite what everyone thought, when I stood on that stage, I felt free.

Despite the triplet’s eyes on me and Cassandra’s snide insults, I had a good performance, and a part of me hopes I got the lead, something I never had a chance to be in my former school.

We stepped out of the hall, and  Aurora's energy was already pulling me away from the chaos. "Come on, Kiara," she had urged, practically dragging me out the door. "You can't miss the party!"

“What party?” I asked. 

“The biggest welcome back party of the year that the triplets plan! You absolutely have to go, its going to be amazing!”

 Aurora pulled me away, her excitement rubbing off on me. I felt a strange flutter in my chest. The attention from the three brothers felt a little heavier than usual, but I tried to ignore it. Maybe it was just everything happening so fast.

A day with Aurora and the brothers has pushed me out of my comfort zone in ways I didnt expect. But i wasnt sure i was ready for a party. 

But Aurora wasn’t taking no for an answer.