Ch-122. Return to Ethan Johnson

Ashley's POV:

I’m ready, and for once, I think I look beautiful, even by my own standards. My hair is pulled up in a messy bun, with loose tendrils framing my face. My makeup is light, just enough to enhance my features, with a soft pink on my lips. I can’t help but smile as I check myself out in the mirror one last time. This dress, the way it hugs my figure and the drama of the sleeves, it’s everything I could have hoped for.

Stepping out of the bedroom, I expect to find Ethan waiting, but the house is empty. The only light is coming from the dining area, so I head there, my heels clicking softly on the floor. As I approach the table, I see an envelope with Ethan’s handwriting on it. My curiosity piques as I pick it up.

"Your first gift for this evening," it reads. I open it, and I quickly open the envelope, my curiosity getting the better of me.

Turning it upside down, and out falls a thin, golden bracelet in the middle of my palm. It is a delicate chain, with small stars studded