CHAPTER 6

The plates clattered softly as the triplets moved in sync, cleaning up after the dinner they had shared with their family. Within the air remained the warmth of laughter and conversation, though Jayla couldn’t shake off the feeling gnawing at her since earlier in the evening. In gold, soft, the kitchen was aglow, faintly scented with roasted chicken and spices.

Jade wiped her hands on the dish towel and smiled to herself, her voice light. "I just love Sarah. She's such a sweet person. I don't know what we would do without her."

Jasmine, who was drying a plate, nodded in agreement with her sister. "Yeah, she's practically family.

We're so lucky to have her. 

Honestly, I can't imagine what life would be like without her now."

Jayla's hands moved mechanically; her fingers wrapped around plates and utensils as if on autopilot. Her mind, however, was far from the lighthearted chatter between her sisters. Instead, it was back in the fading light of the evening, watching Sarah walk out the door-the flash of coldness in her eyes, the short but chilling shift in her mood. What was it, which, in an instant, had darkened Sarah's face just before she left, as if a shadow crept across her features?

Jayla blinked, shaking that thought off her shoulder. *No, I'm just overthinking it. Sarah can't be like that; I have known her forever. She wouldn't-* With a short shake of her head, perhaps to clear the doubt, she hitched herself. Refocusing on the chore before her, she scrubbed the last plate with unnecessary vigor; the bristles of the sponge ground against the fine porcelain.

"Jayla?" Jasmine's voice was soft drawing her from her reverie. "You okay? You've been quiet."

Jayla forced a smile, turning to glance at her sisters. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just lost in thought, that's all."

But Jasmine lingered on her a moment longer, long enough to sense something was off, though she said nothing more. She handed Jayla another plate to dry, her attention already drifting off to Jade's musings.

The last plate placed in the drying rack, Jade opened her mouth in a wide yawn and stretched her arms over her head. "I'm going to bed" she said, her voice husky. "It's been a long day."

As she was already halfway down the stairs, Jayla's voice cut through the quiet. "Jade, wait."

Jade paused and turned back around, her hand on the banister, her expression confused. "What's up?"

Jayla hesitated, unsure of how to bring up the topic; her heart fluttering with a nervous edge. The words hung heavy in her mouth, but recalling what she had seen, the tension of Jade's posture and the way that man had grabbed her forced her ahead.

"I saw something today at the market," Jayla began, her voice softer now, cautioning. "You were talking to someone. A man. You looked upset, Jade… and then he grabbed your arm."

For one quick beat, Jade's eyes expanded her surprise at being caught off-guard. She blinked, her expression unreadable, but for a fleeting second, there was a flicker of something- something like concern, or guilt before she broke into a soft laugh.

"Oh, that?" Jade shook her head, a wave of her hand dismissing it. "That's nothing to worry about, Jayla. Really."

Jayla frowned, stepping closer. "Nothing? You looked-

"It is just some guy I met at the exhibition," Jade said,  her voice airy but firm in an attempt to ease her sister's mind. "We were talking at the gallery, and then I ran into him again. He is harmless." She shrugged, the seams of her lips chiseled into a sheepish smile. "You know how sensitive I get with touch. I am sensitive to that stuff. It wasn't anything bad. You are worrying too much."

Jasmine, watching this exchange from the side, leaning against the counter, exhaling a sigh of relief. "See? Jayla, you were making this sound like some kind of thriller novel. Leave poor Jade alone."

Jayla slowly exhaled, the tension in her chest dissipating as she listened to Jade's explanation. She laughed softly, shaking her head at herself. "I guess I overreacted." Jade smiled and leaned out to give Jayla's arm a gentle squeeze. "I appreciate that you were looking out for me, though. But really, I'm fine." She yawned again, turning back toward the stairs. "I'm going to shower and sleep. Goodnight, guys."

As Jade climbed the stairs, the smile faltered, her thoughts drifting back to the odd encounter at the market. The way Brock reacted, yet the way he'd spoken to her and how his hand had brushed her, still made her shiver. She didn't want to freak out Jayla or Jasmine, not when she wasn't even certain how she felt about it. Then, of course, there was That casual invitation to the next exhibition still clung to her mind.

*Did he mean it?* Jade wondered, biting her lip as she reached her room. *Or had it been politeness?* Te ah, she was going to check her messages after her shower, see if he'd followed up.

Downstairs in the Parlor

Jayla and Jasmine settled into the plush, oversized couches on the other side of the parlor-the room dimly lit by the soft glow of an enormous flat-screen mounted on the wall. The parlor could have easily been the cover in one of those modern design magazines: sleek, minimalistic furniture with soft textures of blankets and cushions draped across the room. 

Large windows lined the walls revealing a magnificent view of the city's twinkling lights far out in the distance. 

Jasmine returned with a bowl of popcorn and chicken wings she had grabbed from their vending machine in the corner of the room, while Jayla sat down beside her with her bowl of ice cream cradled in her hands.

Willow, turn on the house thermometer," Jayla called out. The AI assistant, responding with its robotic yet oddly soothing voice, responded, "Please choose your preferred temperature."

Jayla thought for a moment before responding, "Set it to a cool-not cold, just comfortable temperature.

A soft hum of sound enveloped the room as the air conditioner kicked on, circulating air through it softly. Jasmine kicked her feet up onto the coffee table and grinned broadly. "Perfect. Now, let's find something good to watch. I'm thinking of romance.

Jayla giggled, flipping through N*****x until they found a light-hearted romantic movie. The screen lit up the room, casting soft shadows on the walls; they huddled into quiet, belly-shaking laughter at the on-screen antics.

They were so engrossed with the movie that neither of them heard the light knock at the front door. On the other side of it stood James-first looking at his watch in great amusement. Not seeing the door open, even after knocking twice, he let out a deep sigh and pulled out his phone to check whether he had missed a message.

"They're definitely in there," he muttered to himself, his eyes rolling as he jabbed his thumb onto the little metal plate, entering the emergency code on the fingerprint scanner beside the door. It clicked, and the door swung open before him.

James slipped inside; the movie sound growing louder as he made his way toward the parlor. A snide grin spread across his face; as he tiptoed, careful to avoid light on his feet, he went closer.

At the back of the couch, he suddenly leaned in and whispered, "Boo!"

Jayla screamed, letting her spoon fall as she jumped back, and Jasmine whirled around much for instinct-her fist perfectly connected to James's face. A loud thud resonated through the room as James tumbled backward, groaning while rubbing his jaw.

"Oh my God!" Jasmine gasped, her hands flying to her mouth in horror. "James! I didn't know it was you-I'm so sorry!"

Jayla was laughing so hysterically, that she could barely catch her breath, clutching at her sides as she wiped away the tears of amusement. "I can't believe you punched him!"

James, who was still wincing from the unexpected hit, could wear a grin through it and shook his head. "I should have known better."

Jasmine hastily rushes over to him, hugging him tightly in an apologetic manner. "I'm so, so sorry. Are you okay?"

"I will live," James replied, laughing as he hugged her right back. "But remind me never to sneak up on you again." Finally, the mayhem complete, Jasmine stepped back, her face aglow with curiosity. "So, what are you doing here? Not that I'm complaining, but it is kinda late for a visit."

James leaned back into the couch, the gleam in his eyes nothing but playful. "You don't remember? It's the biggest night of the summer."

Jasmine blinked, her head cocked in confusion. "Biggest night of the summer?"

James smirked, folding his arms. "Come on, Jas, you've been looking forward to this for months."

Jayla still sat, shooting her sister a knowing look. "Oh, come on, Jasmine, think.

Jasmine's eyes widened as realization hit. "The summer gala! How could I forget?"

James burst out laughing as he pulled her into a second hug. "Yes, the biggest night gala of the year. You owe me a dance."

Jasmine shrieked with excitement. "Oh my God, how could I have forgotten? You're the best, James!

Jayla rolled her eyes from her seated position on the couch, taking a second lick of her ice cream. "Calm down, Jas. It's just a gala.

"*Just* a gala?" Jasmine shot back playfully, narrowing her eyes at Jayla. "Just a gala? You know how much I look forward to this every year! It's *the* event of the summer!"

Jayla smirked, bringing her bowl of ice cream up to her lips. "I know, I know. But you act like it is some life-changing thing every time."

Jasmine finally turned to James, still grinning at him, enjoying the exchange. "Ignore her, James. She just doesn't get it."

James burst into a laugh shaking his head. "I don't think anyone gets it the way you do, Jas. You're probably the only person in the city who circles it on their calendar in red."

Jasmine burst out laughing and shrugged, snatching a handful of popcorn. "Well, let me just remind you, Jayla-you missed last year and you were regretting it for weeks. So don't be all antisocial this time!

Jayla merely shrugged, her eyes rolling playfully. "We'll see."

A soft beep issued from the large windows as the automatic blinds began to lower. The cityscape, just that moment before visible in all its glowing beauty, faded to black behind sleek and dark panels. It made the parlor feel all the more cozy, now a private oasis away from the world outside.

James glanced at his watch and then turned back to the girls. "I would love to stay longer and continue arguing about the gala, but it is late. I have a meeting early tomorrow." He stood up, smoothing his jacket.

Jasmine's expression finally relaxed a little; she couldn't resist teasing. "You work too much, James. I'm starting to worry you'll be too tired to dance with me at the gala."

James smirked, playfully ruffling her hair. "I'll save all my energy for you, Jas. Don't worry." He finally turned to Jayla, giving her a quick wave. "And you think about coming. I don't want to hear later that you regret skipping out again."

Jayla laughed. "Noted.

With one round of goodbyes, James moved towards the door, and in an instant, the house sounded quieter again-the soft humming of the air conditioning was the only sound as the cool breeze from the vents flowed gently into the room.

Jayla sat back and stirred the last bits of her ice cream as the cold sweetness melted into the coldness of the night. She and Jasmine exchanged a glance; still, both were smiling from the interaction with James, but for Jayla, in an instant, the comfort of the evening began to fade as her mind began to wander. Something else weighed upon her mind heavier yet.

She excused herself and went upstairs once she had finished her bowl of ice cream. As soon as her bedroom door shut behind her, the silence wrapped her up like a blanket. It was quiet in here; the laughter turned into the soft humming of her ceiling fan.

She flung her phone onto the bed, only to stare at it a few seconds later as she picked it up once more. Immediately, Axel's name flashed in her mind that they hadn't spoken in days, gnawing at her. There had been something unresolved the last time they'd talked, some sort of underlying tension that she was unable to put her finger on. And now the curiosity was eating at her.

Without overthinking, she tapped his name and hit call. The phone rang, and Jayla sat on the edge of her bed, listening to the soft ringing on the other end. When Axel finally picked up, his voice was smooth and warm, familiar.

"Hey, Jayla."

Jayla felt a small smile tug at her lips. "Hey, Axel. What's up? It's been a while."

With the soft clatter that seemed unmistakably to hint at the clinking of pans in the background, he said, "Yeah, I know, sorry about that-I've been swamped with work. Just trying to unwind now. Cooking dinner. How about you?"

Jayla raised an eyebrow, surprised, and her tone took on an amused color. "Cooking dinner? You? What are you making?

Axel laughed lightly, the sound of something sizzling a background hum on the call. "Yeah believe it or not, I'm pretty decent in the kitchen. I'm making pasta-garlic, roasted veggies, the works."

Jayla leaned back against her pillows, an easy smile spreading across her face. "I never would've guessed. A guy who can cook-color me impressed.

Axel snorted, stirring something on the stove. "You'd be surprised. Maybe I'll cook for you sometime. If you're lucky."

Jayla's heart fluttered at the thought and for a moment, she let herself enjoy the comfort of the conversation with Axel. "Maybe I'll take you up on that. Just tell me when and where.

There was a beat of silence, just the crackling of the food cooking in the background, and then Axel spoke again, his tone casual. “How about Seabreeze Cove? It’s this little beach spot a couple of hours from the city. We could go out there one weekend, have a picnic or something.”

Jayla’s smile widened, her thoughts drifting to the idea of spending a day at the beach with Axel, the sun, the waves, the relaxed conversations they’d share. “Seabreeze Cove sounds amazing. I’d love that.”

Just as the words left her lips, there was a rustle on Axel’s end, followed by a new voice. It was soft but sharp and sent a chill down Jayla’s spine.

“Baby,” the voice cut through the phone like a blade. “Who are you talking to like that? And what’s this about taking someone to the beach?”

Jayla froze.

The voice—the woman’s voice—was unmistakably close. She wasn’t just in the background. She was right there, with Axel. 

Air seemed to thin out in Jayla's room as her pulse quickened and her mind whirled for a way to make sense of what she had just heard. Her hand went tight around her phone, while in her head her heart sank into the pit of her stomach.

"Who? Who is that?" she whispered low her voice barely audible.

There was a profoundly long uncomfortable pause on the other end of the line. Jayla could hear the soft sound of Axel breathing, the clink of the pan as if he'd set it down. The air around her felt thick with something unsaid, something heavy.

Axel finally spoke, his voice strained to keep control of the situation. "Jayla… I can explain.

But before he could say more, there came the woman's voice, closer this time, and oozing with suspicion. "Who are you talking to, Axel? And why are you planning trips to the beach without me?"

Jayla's heart had fluttered and started to pound erratically. It wasn't just the words she spoke but the tone-entities of familiarity and intimacy in this woman's voice. She felt her mind spiral as it took this turn.

Fiancée? Girlfriend? Is someone… close enough to question him like that? Jayla's chest grew tight with confusion and pain while the coldness of the conversation rid the air of any trace of warmth.

"Axel," Jayla tried again, her voice this time firm in demanding an answer. "Who is she?"

There was utter silence, only the suffocating stillness between them, the weight of every second longer than the one before.

And in that silence, Jayla knew.

All that she had thought she knew about Axel, every word spoken, every second shared, now seemed to have been a lie, shattering under the weight of this revelation.

The tension in her chest snapped, and before she even realized it, she had tightened her grip on the phone and hung up.

The silence in her room seemed to grow deafening at this point and still. Jayla stared down at her phone, her thoughts jumbled up in hurt, anger, and disbelief. How could she have missed all this? How had she been so blind?

It was her heart pounding in her chest, keeping her frozen in place. And ringing in the back of her mind was one question that seemed to repeat over and over:

*Who's she?