Unraveling Threads and Unspoken Worries

Thea sat cross-legged on her bed, staring at the message on her phone. It had come out of nowhere, from a number she didn't recognize.

Unknown:*Tell your fiancé to stay away from Clara.*

Her brows furrowed as she read it again. What was this supposed to mean? Andrew had never mentioned anything about Clara's past relationships. Thea knew they had been childhood friends, but nothing more. Why was someone suddenly warning her about them?

Her fingers hovered over the keyboard before she decided to call Silvia instead. If there was anyone who could help her untangle this, it was her.

Silvia picked up on the second ring. "Thea, hey! What's up?"

"Hey, I need to talk to you about something weird." Thea exhaled, running a hand through her hair. "I just got a message from an unknown number, telling me to keep Andrew away from Clara. Do you know anything about this?"

There was a pause before Silvia responded. "Wait, what? That's insane. Did Andrew say anything to you about it?"

"He told me not to worry about it, but that's not exactly comforting," Thea muttered. "I don't know if there's anything going on or if this is just some random troublemaker."

Silvia clicked her tongue. "Honestly? It sounds like someone trying to stir up drama. Clara isn't even dating anyone right now, from what I've heard. And Andrew? That man only has eyes for you."

Thea sighed, rubbing her temple. "Maybe you're right."

"I am right," Silvia said confidently. "Speaking of things that actually matter—your birthday is coming up, and we still haven't found you the perfect dress. We're going shopping. No arguments."

Thea groaned. "Silvia—"

"Nope. I'll see you in twenty minutes."

The boutique was bustling when Thea arrived. Silvia was already inside, flipping through a rack of dresses with a mischievous glint in her eye.

"There you are!" Silvia grinned. "Alright, let's find you something stunning."

Thea sighed but allowed Silvia to pull her toward the dressing rooms. She tried on a few dresses—an elegant black one, a soft pastel pink, even a deep blue gown—but none of them felt quite right. She wanted something special, something that made her feel like herself.

And then she saw it.

A breathtaking red dress hung on display near the counter. It was a classic design, hugging the curves in all the right places with a delicate shimmer under the lights. Thea's heart skipped a beat the moment she laid eyes on it.

"That one," she murmured, stepping forward.

The boutique attendant smiled apologetically. "Oh, I'm sorry, miss. That dress has already been purchased. It was reserved earlier today."

Thea's excitement deflated instantly. "Oh… I see."

"We do have similar styles—" the attendant started, but Thea shook her head.

"No, it's fine. I'll pass."

She turned away, suddenly losing all interest in shopping. Silvia watched her carefully. "You really wanted that dress, huh?"

"It's nothing," Thea forced a smile. "Let's just go."

Later that evening, Thea found herself in a small coffee shop, nursing a latte. She hadn't planned on stopping by, but her feet had carried her here on their own. She was still thinking about the message, about Clara, about the dress she couldn't have.

"Thea?"

She looked up to see Professor Steven Brown approaching her table, a surprised smile on his face.

"Professor Brown," she greeted. "What a coincidence."

"Mind if I join you?" he asked, gesturing to the seat across from her.

"Not at all. Actually, I was hoping to run into you," she admitted, reaching into her bag and pulling out his coat. "Here. I just picked it up from the dry clean."

Steven chuckled, taking the coat from her. "You really didn't have to go through the trouble, but I appreciate it."

She sipped her coffee before leaning slightly forward. "How's Harrison doing? Has he settled abroad?"

Steven arched a brow. "Harrison? I haven't spoken to him in a while, but last I heard, he was doing well. Work keeps him busy."

"That's good to hear," Thea said, stirring her drink absentmindedly. "I imagine he had a lot to adjust to."

"Yes, but I think the change was good for him," Steven noted. "Sometimes, distance is necessary to move forward."

Thea nodded, processing his words. "That's true."

Steven studied her for a moment before offering a small smile. "You seem to have a lot on your mind."

"Just… piecing things together," she admitted.

"Then I hope you find the answers you're looking for," he said, standing up. "Take care, Thea."

She watched him leave, her thoughts still tangled. There were too many loose threads in her life right now, and she wasn't sure which ones would lead her to the truth—or to more heartache.