Bella's palm burned from the force of her slap, the sharp crack echoing across the room. Her chest heaved, eyes shining with unshed tears and molten anger.
"How dare you?" her voice trembled but held razor-sharp fury. "Who gave you the right to kiss me? You ruined my first kiss, Sebastian. My first kiss! How dare you—" her voice broke with emotion, "—you disgust me. Just get lost from my sight!"
For a moment, silence fell heavy in the room.
And then, to her horror, Sebastian smiled. Not a sheepish smile, not regret—an arrogant, satisfied smirk that made her want to slap him again.
"Bella," he said in that husky, dangerous tone, stepping closer until she could smell his cologne mixed with the faint metallic tang of blood from her lips, "I'm glad to know I'm the one who stole your first kiss. And trust me, I'll be the last one too."
Her lips parted in disbelief, fury sparking hotter.
"You're mine," he said firmly, as if it were law, as if the universe itself bowed to his command. "You'll love me—only me. And it's only my right to kiss you."
Before she could react, he leaned in and pressed a slow kiss to her flushed cheek. Bella froze, disgust and unwanted heat colliding in her veins.
At her ear, his whisper slithered in, low and hungry.
"I love your feisty side. It turns me on. But I'm leaving before I lose my control. You're looking so hot tonight, Bella… and your anger only makes you more beautiful."
Her breath hitched in fury, but before she could scream again, he straightened, gave her one last smirk, and walked out, leaving the door clicking softly behind him.
The silence that followed was deafening.
Her knees buckled, and she slid down the wall until she was sitting on the floor, her trembling hands pressed to her lips.
How dare he? Her first kiss—something she had dreamed of since she was a little girl—something she imagined would be sweet, tender, with someone she loved… gone. Stolen. Shattered.
She pressed her fingers harder to her lips, her chest burning. He disgusts me. I hate him. How dare he insult Jack, my friend, my— her cheeks flushed scarlet, —my crush?
Tears pricked her eyes, but anger burned them away. No one touches Jack. No one insults him. And no one—no one—claims me like I'm some object. Who the hell does Sebastian Whitmore think he is?
Her heart pounded painfully against her ribs, the memory of his kiss still scorching her skin. Her whole body felt invaded, violated. She shook her head furiously. I'll go even closer to Jack. He's my safe place. He makes me smile. He's kind. Unlike Sebastian, who's just… a monster.
She pulled her knees to her chest, hugging them tightly. Why did he ask me if I remembered him? What nonsense is that? I've never met him before tonight. I would remember someone like him. I would remember those stormy grey eyes.
Her nails dug into her palms. I'm not his. I'll never be his. Not in this lifetime. He can smirk, he can threaten, he can kiss me without my consent—but he'll never own me. Never.
Her mind swirled. Should I tell the gang?
Her stomach knotted. Julian and Mia were his siblings. Abby was his best friend. They would never see Sebastian's ugly side. They idolized him.
Her jaw tightened. But Navya… yes. Navya will understand. She'll listen. She'll help me figure out what to do. I'll tell her everything.
Bella wiped her cheeks roughly, forcing herself to stand, forcing her trembling legs to move. Her lips still stung, her heart still raced, but her anger gave her strength.
Stay far, far away from Sebastian Whitmore.
Her eyes softened as she thought of Jack. But not from Jack. Never from Jack.
she changed into her nightwear—a soft satin pajama set in blush pink. The top was a loose camisole with delicate lace at the neckline, the shorts just the right length to look playful yet elegant. She pulled her hair into a messy bun, a few strands falling loose against her flushed face,. She stared at herself in the mirror, the faint mark on her lips screaming at her. She quickly dabbed concealer and a touch of lipstick to hide the evidence of what had just happened.and slipped into white fuzzy slippers.
When she walked toward the pool, laughter and chatter already filled the night air. The Harrison–Whitmore gang was waiting—her comfort zone, her family beyond blood.
Mia Whitmore was curled up on a lounge chair in a sky-blue oversized tee that almost swallowed her, paired with checkered pajama shorts. She looked like she could doze off any second.
Navya, in contrast, had gone for a stylish silk pajama set in emerald green with golden buttons, her hair flowing in soft waves.
The boys, Abby, Julian, and Jake, had ditched formality entirely—wearing loose shorts and plain vests, looking ready for some wild fun.
Bella's eyes scanned instinctively, but Sebastian wasn't there. Little did she know, he was upstairs by his window, leaning against the frame, watching her every move with a glass of whiskey in his hand. His jaw clenched each time Jake laughed a little too close to Bella.
Bella plopped down beside her friends, hiding the flicker of tension inside her chest.
Julian clapped his hands, energy buzzing through him.
Julian: "Alright! Enough sitting around. Let's dance, what do you say?"
Mia: (groaning, hugging a pillow) "You guys are insane."
Abby: "Come on, Mia. Group dance. We'll swap partners, keep it fun."
Navya squealed in excitement and ran to plug her phone into the portable speaker. Music burst alive—"Downtown" pulsed through the night.
At first, Abby held Navya, Julian twirled Bella dramatically, and Jake spun Mia around until she burst into giggles. Their laughter filled the poolside air. The rhythm, the carefree energy—it was contagious.
Then partners swapped: Julian with Mia, Abby with Bella, Jake with Navya. The boys exaggerated every step, making the girls laugh so hard they nearly fell over.
Finally, Jake pulled Bella in for the last twirl, their hands lingering just a second longer. She smiled widely, throwing her head back in laughter. For a moment, she forgot everything—forgot Sebastian's harsh words, his forceful kiss, his claim over her. Surrounded by her friends, she was simply Bella—their Senorita.
Upstairs, Sebastian's smile flickered as he watched. Her laughter reached him even through the glass. His heart twisted—half in jealousy, half in longing.
"Maybe I misunderstood… maybe she said she loved Jake just to keep me away," he thought, his chest tight. "But why does it burn every time he touches her? Why can't I stand it?"
He took a deep breath, finishing his drink, and turned from the window.
"Let her laugh tonight… I'll deal with her tomorrow."
While the gang clapped and hugged each other, Bella's heart felt light, as though her friends had wrapped her in a cocoon of joy. For now, she had forgotten the storm that waited upstairs.
The laughter from the poolside still echoed across the sprawling Harrison farmhouse lawn. Warm night air carried the faint scent of blooming jasmine.Breathless from the dance , one of the girls raised her arms, grinning widely. "I think we need a break… let's watch a movie!"
Mia, brushing strands of hair from her face, gasped with exaggerated enthusiasm. "Yes! Let's use the projector in Julian's room—it's huge there, and we can make it feel like a real movie theater!"
Bella laughed "Wait, weren't you the one who claimed you were about to fall asleep ?"
Mia gave a cheeky wink, while start picking up things. "Sleep is overrated when the gang is this fun!"
Abby chuckled, helping her gather her things. "I'll carry the snacks. And Mia, you better promise not to hog the blanket this time."
Julian rolled his eyes, playful smirk in place. "My room's big enough for all of you. And yes, we're doing this right—projector, comfy blankets, pillows everywhere. No excuses."
The Harrison farmhouse was magnificent even at night. Wide corridors led to rooms with high ceilings, the soft glow of antique chandeliers casting warm light on the polished wooden floors. Outside, the manicured lawns reflected the moonlight, while inside, the vast living areas promised space enough for their chaotic energy.
By the time they reached Julian's room, everyone was buzzing with excitement. The projector cast a large, clear image on the wall opposite the bed, blankets and pillows scattered across the floor. Navya curled up in a corner, tucking a pillow against her chest. Bella, in silky pajama set catching the light with every movement, stretched luxuriously beside her. Mia flopped dramatically onto the blanket heap, nudging Abby to scoot closer, and within moments, he had wrapped a protective arm around her shoulder.
Julian and Jake claimed the edge of the bed, feet dangling off the side, grinning at the organized chaos. Blankets tangled, pillows everywhere, and the gentle hum of the projector blended with muffled laughter and playful nudges.
One by one, their exhaustion caught up with them. Soft giggles faded into quiet sighs. Bella rested her head against the pile of pillows, Mia leaned into Abby, her breathing evening out. Julian sprawled back, hands behind his head, while Jake slowly drifted to sleep beside him.