Chapter 23: Between Two Fires

Bella thought this was the end.

She regretted coming to the camp. What was meant to be a break had turned into the worst days of her life far too quickly.

The noise of screaming students still filled the air.

“Someone please save Bella! Don’t just stand there!” Clara cried, panicking. The drug’s effect was already fading the moment she saw Bella disappear beneath the water. “She’s going to die!”

She looked around desperately at the boys who looked strong and capable, but none of them moved. Some were frozen in fear. Others glanced at Catherine…who silenced them with a single sharp glare.

Then there was another splash.

A body cut through the water.

Moments later, a man emerged, carrying Bella in his arms.

He laid her gently on the ground, pressed down on her chest, then sealed his lips over hers, forcing air into her lungs.

“Come on, Bella. Wake up,” he urged.

Again, he breathed into her mouth, rubbing her palm between his hands.

Suddenly, Bella coughed, water spilling from her lips.

Clara rushed to her side, tears streaming down her face.

Bella’s eyes fluttered open slowly, unfocused at first… then she looked at the two figures hovering over her.

“Thank you, Prof C.D.,” Clara said.

“I’ll carry her up to the room,” he replied, lifting Bella carefully.

Suddenly, whispers spread through the crowd.

“Lucian Rodriguez is here.”

“But what’s he doing here?”

“Maybe he is part of the special guest.”

Lucian stood watching. He had seen another man holding Bella, kissing her, lifting her bridal-style. Rage boiled inside him, but he forced himself to stay grounded. He stepped forward, eyes locking on the man holding her… and recognition hit him.

“Caspien Dante,” he muttered

The man looked up, frowning.

“Lucian Rodriguez,” he replied, equally tense.

A surge of dread coursed through her vein. Do they know each other? She wiggled slightly, trying to free herself, but Caspien held her tightly, every movement witnessed by Lucian.

“I’ll take her home,” Lucian said smoothly, pretending to be calm. “This must have exhausted her. There’s no need to keep her here. I came as invited by the principal and was not expecting such chaos.”

He stepped forward, lifting her from Caspien’s hold. Bella rested in his arms as he carried her, and without another word, Caspien turned and left.

“Continue the fun. One person shouldn’t stop everyone else,” Lucian said

Murmurs of agreement spread through the crowd.

Bella knew what was coming, so she kept quiet and closed her eyes, pretending to have lost consciousness again.

He turned to leave, but Clara stopped him, touching his shoulder.

“Here’s her phone,” she said, handing it to Lucian. “And… I wanted to ask if you could let me go with you too. I want to make sure she’s okay.”

Irritation filled his chest.

“No need. She’s very much okay,” he said simply, turning to leave.

Clara watched them go and sighed.

She looked around for Naya. Once she spotted her, she strode over, anger written across her face.

Everyone knew Clara usually smiled a lot, but seeing her like this proved she was beyond the edge.

“You put something in those drinks, right? How could you be so wicked? What if she had died today?”

Naya rolled her eyes.

“But she didn’t die.”

“Really?” Clara muttered. She grabbed a bottle of alcohol from the table and poured some into her eye.

“Fuck, it burns!” she screamed in pain.

Catherine rushed over, feeling guilty for having made Naya do it.

Without hesitation, Clara pushed Catherine into the water. Catherine hadn’t anticipated it, and the fall was humiliating.

Naya kept rubbing her eyes from the sting.

“I may be a super nice girl, but don’t mess with me or Bella ever again,” Clara warned, walking away.

She was done with the stupid camp. A car pulled up, and she got in, zooming off.

******

In the car, Adrian was driving while Lucian sat with Bella in the passenger seat.

She kept her eyes shut, unwilling to speak.

Lucian picked up her phone and opened it easily because she hadn’t set a password.

Bella’s eyes snapped open, and she snatched the phone from him.

“Oh, look at that. Suddenly awake when I touch your phone. What are you hiding? Give me that phone,” he said calmly.

Adrian glanced at him in the rearview mirror and sighed in disappointment.

Bella handed the phone over reluctantly, her hands trembling slightly. Lucian’s fingers brushed hers as he took it, and he began scrolling through her call logs.

Her calls from C.D., were frequent and recent.

Lucian’s eyes narrowed. He looked at her like a predator sizing up its prey, and the air in the car became suffocating.

Bella’s chest tightened. Panic clawed at her throat. She pressed herself against the seat, wishing she could disappear.

At that moment, Lucian’s own phone rang. It was Margaret calling him.

Lucian picked up the phone and switched it to speaker.

“It’s Zara… she isn’t getting any better. The doctor has been trying to get her to eat for treatment, but she isn’t responding. Bring Bella already!” the older woman cried.

Bella’s heart clenched at the sound of her baby’s suffering.

“Zara… she’s sick?”

“While you were busy partying and kissing other men, the child you claim to love is suffering,” Lucian said coldly.

Tears ran down Bella’s cheeks. “I didn’t know… it wasn’t like that. I—I fell into the pool.”

“Are you a child? What kind of excuse is that, you fell into the pool?” he fired back.

“You can ask Clara! I’m telling the truth,” Bella pleaded, desperation in her voice.

Lucian’s grip tightened on her arms, making her wince. “Your call logs already told me who you are Rosabella , a cunning and pretensive slut, soaking yourself in deception?”

“I’m not pretending. And you shouldn’t even be talking about this, Zara…”

“If the heavens love her more, we can’t stop it,” he said sharply, shoving her arms away.

Bella stared at him in disbelief but held her tongue. Her mind was spinning, her patience wearing thin.

Soon, they arrived at the house.

Margaret was outside, tears streaming down her face, and Bella’s heart stopped. For a moment, she feared Lucian’s harsh words had come true. She dashed inside.

The doctor was still there, trying to feed Zara, but the little girl cried, refusing to eat.

Bella knelt on the floor beside her. “You look so thin, my baby,” she whispered. “I promise… I will never leave you again.” She kissed her gently, letting her warmth soothe the girl.

Only Bella’s voice seemed to calm Zara.

Lucian watched them with complete disinterest.

To him, it was all just a show, but tiny part of him felt relieved that the child was okay.

The doctor offered a small, approving smile. “She clearly loves her nanny. Here, feed her.” She handed over a plate of baby food. “Once she’s done, I’ll give her medication.”

Bella wished she could have carried Zara, but her own wet clothes and the urgency of the situation left no time. Carefully, she fed the girl, who ate everything, and then the doctor administered the medicine.

“She’ll be alright… as long as you’re with her,” the doctor said reassuringly.

“Goodnight. Call me if anything else happens,” she added, leaving the room.

Margaret carried Zara to Bella’s room while Bella followed, eager to change and care for the girl properly.

Lucian still held Bella’s phone. It rang. The screen showed an unsaved number.

In a flash of anger, he yanked out the SIM card and flung the phone onto the couch.

“I’ll deal with her tomorrow,” he muttered.

*******

Caspien sat on his bed, eyes blazing with jealousy and anger as he downed his drink.

“So the nanny Lucian was fucking is my Rosabella,” he muttered.

“Why is it always him?” he roared, fists clenching.

“Everything I’ve ever wanted always ends up in his hands.”

“High school, university, business…every damn time, I lose to Lucian.”

He slammed the glass down, wiping his mouth.

“But I will never lose Bella to him. That’s where I draw the fucking line”