Wren Ashwood's fingers drummed against the polished marble table, her eyes fixed on the antique clock ticking away on the mantle. Her parents, Harrison and Lilith Ashwood, sat across from her, their expressions a mixture of concern and determination.
Wren's father, was a tall, imposing figure with a commanding presence. His dark hair was flecked with grey, and his piercing blue eyes seemed to bore into Wren's soul. He was a man who expected obedience and respect, and Wren had learned to tread carefully around him.
On the other hand, her mother was a petite, elegant woman with porcelain skin and raven-black hair. Her green eyes sparkled with a hint of mischief, but Wren knew better than to trust that glint. Her mother was a master manipulator, always playing the angles to get what she wanted.
"Wren, darling, we need to discuss something important," her mother said, her voice low and measured.
Wren's gaze narrowed. "What is it, Mother?"
Her father cleared his throat, his eyes locking onto hers. "It's about your future, Wren. Your mother and I have been considering...arrangements for you."
A shiver ran down Wren's spine. She had a feeling she knew where this conversation was headed.
Just then, the doorbell rang, and Wren's mother rose to answer it. "That must be the Kensingtons," she said, her voice dripping with excitement.
Wren's heart sank. The Kensingtons? That meant Ryder Kensington, the boy she'd known since childhood, was here. Ryder was handsome, charming, and ruthless – a true Kensington through and through.
As her mother ushered the Kensingtons into the room, Wren felt a sense of trepidation.
Ryder's eyes locked onto hers, and Wren felt a jolt of electricity run through her veins. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and impossibly handsome, with piercing blue eyes that seemed to see right through her.
"Wren," Ryder said, his voice low and smooth. "It's been a while."
Wren forced a smile onto her face. "Ryder. Welcome to our home."
As the adults began to discuss the "arrangements" that Wren's parents had mentioned, she couldn't help but feel like she was trapped in a nightmare.
As the conversation flowed around her, Wren felt like she was drowning in a sea of expectation. Her parents and the Kensingtons discussed her future as if she were a commodity, a prize to be won.
Ryder's eyes never left hers, his gaze piercing and intense. Wren felt like he could see right through her.
"So, Wren," Ryder said, his voice breaking into the conversation, "I hear you're quite the accomplished artist."
Wren's heart skipped a beat. How did he know that?
"Yes," she said, trying to sound nonchalant. "I enjoy painting."
"I'd love to see you paint sometime," he said, his voice low and smooth.
Wren felt a shiver run down her spine. There was something about Ryder that made her feel like she was walking on thin ice.
As the evening wore on, Wren's parents and the Kensingtons discussed the details of the arrangement. Wren felt like she was being pulled under, suffocated by the weight of their expectations.
She knew she had to escape, but for now, she was trapped in this nightmare.
As the night drew to a close, Wren's mother stood up, a smile plastered on her face.
"I think we've discussed everything," she said, her voice dripping with satisfaction.
"Wren, darling, why don't you walk Ryder out?"
Wren's heart sank inside. She didn't want to be alone with Ryder, not even for a moment.
But she had no choice. She stood up, her legs trembling beneath her, and followed Ryder out of the room.
As they walked down the hallway, Ryder's eyes never left hers. Wren felt like she was being pulled into his orbit, helpless to resist his charms.
They reached the front door, and Ryder turned to her, his eyes glinting in the dim light.
"I'll see you soon, Wren," he said, his voice low and husky.
Ryder's eyes locked onto hers, and Wren felt a spark of defiance ignite within her. She refused to be intimidated by this charming, ruthless boy.
"I'll see you soon, Ryder," Wren said, her voice steady and calm.
Ryder's smile faltered for a moment, and Wren detected a flicker of surprise in his eyes. He wasn't used to girls standing up to him.
"Until then, Wren," Ryder said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
As Ryder turned to leave, Wren felt a surge of relief wash over her. She was determined to resist this arrangement, no matter what it took.
But as she turned to go back inside, Wren's mother caught her arm, her grip like a vice.
"Wren, darling," her mother said, her voice low and menacing. "Don't think for a moment that you have a choice in this matter. You will marry Ryder Kensington, and you will do it with a smile on your face."
Wren's heart sank, but she refused to back down. She knew that she had to play this carefully, to bide her time until she could come up with a plan.
"I understand, Mother," Wren said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Her mother's eyes narrowed, but Wren just smiled sweetly and pulled her arm free.
"I'm going to bed, Mother," Wren said, her voice firm. "I have a lot to think about."
Wren's bedroom was a sanctuary, a place where she could escape the suffocating expectations of her family. She locked the door behind her and leaned against it, feeling a sense of relief over her.
As she looked around her room, Wren's eyes landed on a photo of her and her best friend, Ember. They had grown up together, exploring the woods and sharing secrets. Ember was the one person who truly understood Wren.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock at the door. She hesitated for a moment before opening it to find her maid, Alice, standing in the hallway.
"Wren, I need to talk to you," Alice said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Wren's curiosity was piqued. Alice had been her maid since she was a child, and Wren trusted her implicitly.
"What is it, Alice?" Wren asked, stepping aside to let Alice into the room.
Alice glanced around the room nervously before leaning in close. "I overheard your parents talking, Wren. They're not telling you everything."
Wren's heart skipped a beat. "What do you mean?"
Alice hesitated, glancing around the room again. "I don't know if I should be telling you this, but...I think your family is in danger, Wren."
Wren's mind was racing. What could Alice possibly mean?
Before she could ask any questions, Alice turned and hurried out of the room, leaving Wren feeling confused and more than a little scared.
Wren's mind was reeling as she tried to process Alice's words. What kind of danger could her family be in?
She decided to do some digging on her own.
Wren walked over to her desk and opened her laptop, typing in a few keywords to see if she could find any information about her family's business dealings.
As she scrolled through the search results, Wren's eyes landed on an article about her family's company, Ashwood Industries. The article mentioned a potential merger with a rival company, Kensington Corp.
Wren's heart skipped. Kensington Corp was Ryder's family company. What did this merger have to do with her arranged marriage?
Just as Wren was about to read more, she heard a knock at the door. It was her mother.
"Darling, I need to talk to you about something," her mother said, her voice dripping with sweetness.
Wren's instincts told her to be cautious. What was her mother hiding?
"What is it, Mother?" Wren asked, trying to sound nonchalant.
Her mother smiled, but Wren detected a hint of nervousness behind her eyes.
"I just wanted to remind you that Ryder will be taking you out for dinner tomorrow night. Be sure to dress nicely, dear."
Wren's heart sank. She had forgotten about the dinner date.
"Mother, I don't think—"
Her mother cut her off, her voice firm.
"Wren, you will do as you're told. This is important for our family's future."
She felt a surge of anger, but knew better than to argue with her mother. Not now, at least.
Wren's mother turned to leave, but not before casting a warning glance in her direction.
Wren felt a familiar knot of frustration in her stomach. Why did her mother always have to control every aspect of her life?
As the door closed behind her mother, Wren let out a deep sigh. She couldn't shake the feeling that her life was spiraling out of control. The arranged marriage, the merger, her family's secrets...it was all starting to feel like too much to handle.
Just then, Wren's phone buzzed on her nightstand. She picked it up, hoping for a distraction from her thoughts. The text was from Ember, her best friend.
"Hey girl, what's up?" Ember asked. "I feel like I haven't seen you in ages."
Wren smiled, feeling a wave of relief wash over her. Ember was the one person who truly understood her.
"Not much, just dealing with the usual family drama," Wren replied, trying to keep her tone light.
"I'm so sorry, Wren," Ember said. "I know how tough it can be. But I'm here for you, no matter what."
Wren felt a lump form in her throat. Ember's words meant more to her than she could ever express.
"Thanks, Em," Wren said, her voice barely above a whisper. "That means everything to me."
As Wren and Ember continued to text, Wren felt a sense of calm wash over her. She knew that she could face whatever challenges lay ahead, as long as she had Ember by her side.
As Wren and Ember continued to text, Wren's mind kept wandering back to the arranged marriage and the merger. She couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't quite right.
"Ember, can I ask you something?" Wren typed, her fingers flying across the screen.
"Of course, what's up?" Ember replied.
"Do you know anything about Ryder Kensington?" Wren asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.
There was a pause before Ember responded. "Not much, but I've heard rumors that he's not as perfect as everyone thinks he is."
Wren's eyes narrowed. What kind of rumors?
"What kind of rumors?" Wren pressed, her curiosity piqued.
But before Ember could respond, Wren's phone buzzed with an incoming call from an unknown number.
Wren hesitated for a moment before answering. "Hello?"
"Wren, it's Ryder," the smooth voice on the other end said.
Wren's heart skipped a beat. What did Ryder want?
"I hope I'm not interrupting anything," Ryder said, his voice dripping with charm.
Wren rolled her eyes, despite herself. "No, you're not interrupting anything," she said, trying to sound nonchalant.
"Good," Ryder said. "I was thinking, since we're going to be spending a lot of time together, we should get to know each other better."
"I suppose that's a good idea," Wren said, trying to sound agreeable.
"Great," Ryder said. "I'll pick you up at 7 pm tomorrow night."
"Sounds good," Wren said, trying to sound enthusiastic.
As she hung up the phone, Wren felt a chill run down her spine. Ryder's voice had been smooth as silk, but she detected a hint of steel beneath the surface.
She looked at her phone and saw that Ember had sent her a text.
"Hey, what's going on?" Ember asked. "You just disappeared on me."
Wren sighed and rubbed her temples. She had a feeling that this was going to be a long night.
"Ryder just called," Wren typed, filling Ember in on the details. "He's picking me up at 7 pm tomorrow night."
Ember's response was immediate. "Be careful, Wren. I don't trust him."
Wren nodded, even though Ember couldn't see her. She didn't trust Ryder either.
Just then, Wren's phone buzzed again. This time, it was another unknown number.
"Wren, it's about Ryder," a low, gravelly voice said. "Meet me at the old oak tree in the park at midnight if you want to know the truth."
"Who's this?" She asked, but the line went dead.
She looked around her room, feeling a sense of unease. Was she being watched?
Wren's phone buzzed again, and she groaned, rolling over to silence it. Ember's name flashed on the screen, and Wren's curiosity got the better of her.
"Meet me at the coffee shop at 10 am,"
Ember's text read. "Come alone. And don't be late, or I'll send a search party."
Wren chuckled, despite herself. Only Ember could make a mysterious summons sound like a joke.
But as she tossed her phone aside, Wren's smile faltered. What was Ember up to? And why the secrecy?
With a growing sense of fear, Wren settled back into bed, her mind whirling with possibilities.
As Wren lay in bed, she couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching her. She glanced around the room, but the shadows seemed to swallow everything whole. It was as if someone had crawled inside her skin and was waiting for her to make a move.
Wren threw off the covers and got out of bed, padding softly over to the window. She pushed aside the curtains and peered out into the night.
The street was deserted, the only sound the distant hum of a car driving by. But as Wren scanned the shadows, she could have sworn she saw a figure lurking just out of sight.
As she stepped back from the window, her heart skipped a beat. She tried to shake off the feeling, telling herself she was just being paranoid. But the sensation lingered, her skin prickling with goosebumps as she dressed her bed.
She climbed into bed and tried to focus on her book, but her eyes kept drifting back to the window. The darkness outside seemed to press in around her, making her feel so trapped.
Just as she was starting to drift off to sleep, Wren's phone buzzed again. This time, it was a text from an unknown number.
"We're watching you, Wren," the message read.
A chill ran down Wren's spine as she stared at the screen. Who was sending her these creepy messages? And why?
She tried to steel herself, telling herself it was just a prank. But as she lay in bed, the silence seemed to vibrate with tension.
Suddenly, she heard a creaking sound coming from outside her room. It sounded like someone was trying to sneak in without being heard.
Wren's heart skipped as she threw off the covers and crept out of bed. She approached the door slowly, her ears straining to hear any other sounds.
She reached out to grab the doorknob, slowly turned the handle and pushed the door open, her eyes scanning the dark hallway.
She moved stealthily, her eyes adjusting to the darkness. As she approached the top of the stairs, she saw a faint light flickering from downstairs.
Wren's heart was racing as she crept down the stairs, her eyes fixed on the light. She reached the bottom step and saw that the light was coming from the kitchen.
The kitchen was dimly lit, someone had been there. A chair was pushed back from the table, and a cup of coffee was still steaming on the counter.
Suddenly, she heard a faint noise coming from outside. It sounded like footsteps, crunching through the gravel in the driveway.
Wren's heart was racing as she moved to the window. She pulled back the curtain and peered out into the darkness.
Shadows coalesced into a figure, and Wren's breath hitched as Ryder stepped into the faint light.
What was he doing here? And why was he sneaking around in the middle of the night?
Wren's mind was racing with questions as she watched Ryder approach her.
Wren's eyes narrowed as she stared at Ryder. "What are you doing here?" she demanded, her voice firm.
"I didn't mean to scare you," he said, his voice low and even. "I'm just trying to help."
But Wren wasn't buying it. She took a step back, her eyes darting to the door. She was alone in the house with a stranger, and she didn't like it one bit.
"I don't want your help," she spat, trying to keep her voice steady. "I want you to leave."
Then, without a word, he turned and disappeared into the night, leaving Wren shaken and confused.
As she stood there, trying to process what had just happened, her eyes fell on the map that Ryder had left behind. It was crumpled on the floor, but as she picked it up, she saw that it was a map of the woods, with a path marked in blue.
Wren's eyes scanned the map, and then her gaze froze on a name in the corner: "Emily"
But that wasn't what made Wren's heart stop. It was the words, scribbled beneath her sister's name.
"I'm so sorry. I killed her."