The next morning, Carrie jolted upright, her chest rising and falling rapidly as her heart pounded against her ribs. A loud sound had echoed through the house, ripping her from the fragile threads of sleep. She blinked against the faint glow of her phone screen—6:00 a.m.
"Who the hell plays music this early?" she mumbled, voice laced with grogginess. Stretching her limbs, she dragged herself out of bed, padding downstairs barefoot.
As she reached the final step, her breath hitched. The dim golden fairy lights, elegantly draped across the ceiling, cast a soft glow over the living room. The scent of fresh roses filled the air, their petals scattered across the polished wooden floor, creating a breathtaking path leading to the center of the room. And there, amidst it all, Leo knelt on one knee, holding up a bouquet of roses, the flickering candlelight reflecting in his gentle brown eyes.
Carrie's brows furrowed in confusion, but before she could question it, a voice whispered near her ear.
"it gets worse every year, you'll get used to it," Jae-wook said mysteriously, appearing out of nowhere before vanishing just as quickly.
Still stunned, her gaze flickered back to Leo.
"What's going on here?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
A warm smile spread across Leo's lips as his eyes softened. "Today is our anniversary."
The moment the words left his lips, Ava appeared at the top of the staircase. As she descended, her hands flew to her mouth, eyes brimming with unshed tears. The sight before her was overwhelming—the love, the devotion, the effort poured into every little detail.
"Oh my God," Ava gasped, her voice trembling as emotion overtook her.
Carrie, ever the observer, leaned against the counter, watching with a knowing smirk. She reached for a bottle of water and took a sip. "Well, this just got interesting," she mused.
Leo held up a velvet box, his fingers steady but his heartbeat anything but. With a slow, deliberate motion, he flipped it open, revealing a delicate, dazzling ring that caught the light like a thousand stars.
"A proposal? I see" Carrie hummed still watching.
"Happy fourth anniversary, babe." His voice was rich with affection, eyes searching hers with quiet adoration as he slid the ring onto her trembling finger.
Ava let out a soft sob, clutching her hand to her chest as if to steady herself. "It's beautiful… I love it," she whispered, her words barely escaping between the lump in her throat.
Leo exhaled in relief before pulling her into his arms. "And I love you," he murmured against her hair, pressing a tender kiss to her temple. His embrace was firm yet gentle, as if holding her too tightly might shatter the fragile beauty of the moment.
Carrie rolled her eyes playfully, though a small smile tugged at her lips. "how cute." With a flick of her wrist, she disappeared.
Ava sniffled, pulling away slightly, just enough to meet Leo's gaze. "Leo, this is so romantic, but… it's six in the morning. The music is so loud. You're going to get reported for disturbing the peace!"
A knowing grin stretched across his lips. He reached up, gently wiping away the tears on her cheeks with his thumb. "Don't worry, the walls are soundproof."
Relief and amusement flickered in her eyes as she let out a breathy laugh.
Leo cupped her face, his thumbs brushing over her skin with reverence. "For now, let's just stay like this… just you and me."
He pulled her close again, arms wrapping around her as if she was the most precious thing in the world. And in that moment, she was. Ava melted into his embrace, burying her face in his chest as the music swelled around them, sealing the memory in the warmth of their love.
It was perfect.
Later that morning the crisp scent of autumn leaves lingered in the air as Carrie strolled into the sitting room, casually dressed in an oversized knit sweater and high-waisted jeans. A tote bag hung lazily from her shoulder.
"I'm heading out," she called over her shoulder.
At the kitchen island, Leo and Ava stood side by side, effortlessly moving in sync as they made breakfast—like a couple straight out of a rom-com.
"Where to this early?" Leo asked, raising an eyebrow as he buttered a piece of toast.
"The library," Carrie responded simply.
"Oh? Studying?" Ava asked, her eyes glinting with curiosity.
Carrie smirked. "Nope. Just grabbing a few old novels. It's autumn, remember?"
Ava leaned against the counter, stirring her coffee with a knowing look. "Ah, our Autumn Queen. You know, you'd enjoy the season more with a boyfriend. Maybe someone like Ryan?" She shot Carrie a playful wink.
Carrie rolled her eyes, returning the wink just as sarcastically. "I prefer solitude, thank you, Miss Scott."
Leo chimed in. "Won't you have breakfast before leaving?"
"I'll grab coffee and biscuits at the café." Carrie waved them off, heading toward the door.
Ava called after her, "Think about it, Carrie! Autumn with Ryan!.
Carrie laughed, shaking her head as she disappeared into the bustling streets.
---
11PM THAT SAME DAY
The world had quieted. The once vibrant streets now held an eerie stillness, broken only by the distant hum of cars and the occasional flicker of a streetlamp.
Carrie sat on a weathered bench outside the library, the dim glow from a nearby light casting long shadows around her. She let out a deep sigh, her breath curling into the cold night air.
"I don't even know how to feel right now," she murmured. "And that's even more frustrating."
A voice came from behind, smooth yet teasing.
"You might just end up dying out here."
Carrie looked up slowly, meeting the dark, sharp eyes of Jae-wook.
Her shoulders slumped. "Why are you here?" she asked, her tone laced with exhaustion.
"Leo sent me. He was worried when you didn't answer his calls."
She scoffed. "And he couldn't come himself?"
Jae-wook's lips curled slightly. "He had plans with Ava."
Carrie rolled her eyes, grabbing her bag. "Well, you wasted your time. I can get home by myself."
Jae-wook stepped forward. "Do you know what time it is"
"11pm. I said I'm fine," she cut him off, already walking toward an alley shortcut she often took home.
But the moment she stepped into the narrow passage, an unsettling feeling crept up her spine. The dimly lit alley stretched ahead, shadows shifting with the flickering streetlights.
Then, voices.
A group of high school boys loitered near the alley's exit, their uniforms rumpled, cigarettes dangling from their fingers. Their eyes gleamed with mischief as they noticed her.
One of them, a lanky boy with dyed red hair, stepped into her path, a smirk playing on his lips.
"What do we have here?"
Carrie stopped in her tracks, eyes sharp.
"She's pretty," another boy murmured, moving closer.
"What do you want?" Carrie questioned, her voice firm.
The red-haired boy rubbed his chin as if deep in thought, then grinned. "Hmm… what do we want? Oh, I know—how about you?"
His words made her stomach twist, but she refused to show fear. Instead, she arched a brow, crossing her arms.
"Are you out of your damn minds?" she snapped. "I can tell you're high, but do you even have an ounce of self-respect? Who the hell lets little boys like you smoke anyway?" She scoffed, tilting her head mockingly. "Should I call the cops? Or your babysitters?"
The smirk on the leader's face twitched.
"You've got a sharp tongue," he growled, stepping forward.
Another boy cracked his knuckles. "I like girls with attitude. They're better in bed."
That was it.
Carrie's hand moved before her mind could process—SMACK!
The leader staggered back, holding his cheek where Carrie's slap had landed.
She adjusted her bag strap. "Learn to speak to your elders, kid."
But before she could turn, a rough hand grabbed her arm, yanking her back.
"let me go" Carrie ordered.
"You're gonna regret that," he hissed.
A voice, calm but deadly, sliced through the air.
"She said let go."
Jae-wook.
He stood at the alley entrance, hands in his pockets, but his gaze was lethal.
The red-haired leader sneered. "And who the hell are you?"
Jae-wook tilted his head, unimpressed. "Lay a finger on her again, and I'll make sure none of you can walk straight for a month."
The leader scoffed. "Tough talk for a guy outnumbered."
Jae-wook smirked. "Who said I was alone?"
As if on cue, shadows moved behind him.
A group of towering men in black suits stepped forward, their expressions unreadable, their presence suffocating. Bodyguards.
Jae-wook turned to them, voice casual. "Make sure they can still move an arm when you're done. I wouldn't want them to be completely useless."
The leader paled. "W-Wait—"
But Jae-wook ignored him, stepping past with Carrie's hand in his grip. He paused just long enough to pat the boy's shoulder.
"They're well-trained. Try not to die."
Then, without sparing a glance back, he led Carrie out.