Revenge of the billionaire daughter

Warm rays of sunlight slipped through the bedroom window, landing directly on Mia's face She groaned and buried herself deeper under the blanket. "Five more minutes..." Ava pulled the blanket away in one swift motion. "Nope. Birthday girls don't sleep all day." "My birthday. My rules," Mia mumbled, refusing to open her eyes. "Our birthday," Aria corrected as she sat up, stretching. Mia cracked one eye open. "Must you always correct me?" "Yes." Ava laughed. "I love when you two start fighting before brushing your teeth." "We're not fighting," Aria said. "We're having a healthy discussion." "Oh..." Mia nodded dramatically. "Healthy discussions involve stealing my blanket?" Before another word could be said, their mother's voice echoed from downstairs. "If my birthday girls don't come down in the next two minutes, your father will finish breakfast by himself!" The three sisters froze "Dad!" they shouted together. They rushed downstairs only to find Victor sitting at the table with a spoon already in his hand. "What?" he asked innocently. "I was only making sure the food wasn't poisoned." Their mother folded her arms. "By eating half of it?" she asked. Victor smiled sheepishly. "You can never be too careful." The girls burst into laughter. Breakfast was simple—fried yam, eggs, and hot tea. Nothing expensive, Nothing fancy. But somehow, it tasted better because everyone was together. "So..." Victor began, looking at his daughters. "Eighteen."? He asked. "Eighteen," Ava repeated proudly "I'm officially an adult." Her father nodded thoughtfully "Wonderful." he said. He reached into his pocket and placed a folded piece of paper in front of her. "What's this?" "The electricity bill."he said The table fell silent. Ava blinked. "Dad..." "You said you're an adult now." Laughter exploded around the table. "I take it back!" Ava cried. "I'm still a child." "I knew it," Aria teased. Even Mia was laughing so hard she nearly spilled her tea. Their mother shook her head. "I have three children." "four," Victor corrected. She looked at him. "The four one is sitting right there pretending he wasn't caught eating breakfast before everyone arrived." Victor slowly looked away. "I refuse to answer that accusation." Another round of laughter filled the tiny house. For a moment. Life felt perfect. After breakfast, the sisters hurried upstairs to get ready. "So..." Mia said, standing in front of the mirror "What are we wearing?" "The blue dress," Ava answered immediately. "No."mia said "The yellow one." Ava shouted. "No. The pink one. No. both girls started quarreling Aria sighed. "Why did I even ask?" TWENTY minutes later... The bedroom looked as though a storm had passed through it .Clothes covered the bed,Shoes were scattered across the floor. Mia held up two earrings. "Which one?""The silver." "No, the gold." "I like the pearls." mia said all at ones. "You've changed your mind six times," Ava groaned. "Beauty requires sacrifice." mia said "No," Aria laughed. "Patience requires sacrifice."mia said. By the time they finally walked downstairs, Victor glanced at the clock. "I've grown a beard waiting for you." "Dad!" "What? I'm old now." "You've always been old," Mia teased. Victor gasped dramatically. "I've been insulted in my own house." Their mother smiled "Enough. Let's go before it gets too late." The family spent the afternoon walking through the neighborhood market. Music drifted through the busy streets Children laughed as they chased one another vendors called out to customers. The smell of roasted corn and grilled meat filled the air. Everyone seemed happier than usual Neighbors smiled as they passed. "Happy birthday, girls!" "Thank you!" the triplets answered together. An elderly woman who had known them since childhood stopped them. "My goodness," she smiled. "I remember when your mother carried all three of you on her back one after another." Victor laughed. "And I nearly fainted every time they cried together." "They still cry together," Ava whispered. "I heard that," Mia replied. Aria simply laughed. The old woman blessed them before continuing on her way .Victor suddenly stopped beside a roadside ice cream cart. "Three vanilla cones, please." "And one for my wife," he added quickly after receiving a sharp look. "What about you?" Aria asked. He smiled. "I'm happier watching all of you." The sisters exchanged glances before buying him one with the little money they had saved.Victor accepted it with watery eyes. "I thought I was the one treating you today." "You are," Aria smiled. "This one is from your daughters." For a brief second Neither parent said a word they simply smiled. Then Mia broke the silence. "Enough crying. Eat the ice cream before it melts." Everyone laughed again as they continued walking, Mia suddenly pointed toward a tiny photo studio. "We have to take birthday pictures! Victor hesitated. "I'm not sure we can afford—" "Dad," Aria interrupted gently. "Just one picture." The studio owner overheard them. "You know what?" he smiled. "I'll give you a birthday discount." The girls squealed excitedly. Moments later, the family stood together in front of a simple white background. "Closer," the photographer instructed. Victor wrapped one arm around his wife while the girls squeezed together. "Smile!" *Click.* Click.* Click.* The camera captured more than a picture. It captured a family that had no idea they were standing at the edge of a life-changing storm. As they stepped back onto the street, Aria noticed her mother staring into the distance. "Mom?" Her mother quickly forced a smile. "I'm fine." But she didn't look fine She looked... Worried Aria frowned but decided not to press further. Dark clouds slowly gathered overhead. "We should head home," Victor said. "It looks like rain." The family turned toward the road A few meters away A sleek black SUV rolled to a slow stop Its windows were heavily tinted. The engine remained running.No one stepped out.No one spoke. It simply waited. Aria felt an uneasy knot form in her stomach. "Dad..." Victor looked toward the vehicle The smile on his face vanished instantly. His eyes widened with something Aria had never seen before. Fear. He grabbed his wife's hand tightly Then he looked at his daughters. "Girls..." His voice was barely above a whisper."Stay behind us." The sisters exchanged confused glances None of them understood what was happening. But one thing was certain. Their father recognized that car. And whatever—or whoever—was inside it.. Had just turned the happiest day of their lives into the beginning of a nightmare.