Laila paused, her brow furrowing as she glanced at Yasmin. "You're right. Let's get some food. Orion, come with us. You can't just stand here arguing."
Orion opened his mouth to protest, but Laila grabbed his arm, pulling him toward the exit. "Come on, we'll grab something from the cafeteria. I need to eat too."
As they walked away, Yasmin felt a strange mix of relief and anxiety. Alone with Lucian, the air between them shifted, charged with unspoken words. She glanced at him, her heart racing. "So… that was intense."
Lucian chuckled softly, though his eyes were still troubled. "You could say that. I didn't expect to be caught in the middle of a family feud."
Yasmin smiled faintly, her fingers brushing against the bandage on her arm. "I guess we both have our share of drama."
Lucian stepped closer, his gaze softening. "You really jumped in to protect me. That was… brave."
"Or reckless," Yasmin replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "I didn't think. I just acted."
He nodded, a hint of admiration in his eyes. "Sometimes that's all you can do. But you need to be careful. I don't want you getting hurt again."
Yasmin felt a warmth spread through her at his concern. "I'll be okay. Just a scratch, remember?"
Lucian's expression turned serious. "It's more than just a scratch. You put yourself in danger for me. I can't just ignore that, Don't Ever do that"
Before she could respond, their fingers accidentally brushed against each other. Yasmin felt a jolt of electricity at the contact, and she quickly pulled her hand back, her cheeks flushing. "Sorry!"
Lucian's eyes widened slightly, and he hesitated before speaking. "No, it's… it's fine." He looked down, a faint blush creeping onto his cheeks as well. "I just—"
"Elara!" Laila's voice interrupted as she returned with Orion, two trays of food in hand. "We got you some sandwiches. I hope you I got you chicken."
"Thanks, Laila," Yasmin said, grateful for the distraction. She took a sandwich and bit into it, trying to mask her embarrassment.
Orion leaned against the wall, arms crossed, his expression still tense. "I don't understand why you're so concerned about him, Yasmin. He's part of the Ignatius family."
Yasmin shot him a glare. "And I'm not allowed to care about people? Lucian isn't just a name; he's a person." and he's the man Elara likes him.
Lucian looked between them, his brow furrowing. "I'm not asking for anyone's sympathy. I can handle myself."
"Clearly," Laila said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "You were just attacked, remember?"
Orion stepped forward, his voice low and dangerous. "You need to stop acting like a hero, Lucian. You're not invincible."
Yasmin felt the tension rising again. "Can we not do this right now? We're all on the same side, aren't we?"
Lucian sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I didn't ask for any of this. I just wanted to take a walk and clear my head."
"Clear your head?" Orion scoffed. "Sure, say whatever you want."
"I was just thinking I needed some air!" Lucian snapped back, frustration evident in his voice. "I didn't expect to be ambushed!"
Yasmin watched the two men argue, her heart racing. "Guys, please! This isn't helping. We need to focus on what's important—finding out who sent those men after you."
Laila nodded, her expression softening. "Yasmin's right. But you guys need to solve it. We will not be involved with our enemies. Elara, I'll wait for you in the parking lot. Let's go."
Orion crossed his arms, still glaring at Lucian. "Fine. But if you're going to be reckless, I can't protect you."
Lucian smirked, knowing Orion was acting tough but had a soft spot he would never admit. He nodded. "I get it. I'll be more careful."
As the tension began to ease, Yasmin felt a flicker of hope. Maybe they could find a way to work together, despite their differences. She glanced at Lucian, who was now looking at her with a mix of gratitude and something deeper.
"Thank you for standing up for me," he said quietly, his voice
Yasmin felt her heart flutter. "I just… I couldn't let them hurt you. You're not as bad as I thought."
Lucian smiled, a genuine warmth in his eyes. "And you're not as reckless as I thought."
As Laila and Yasmin left the healer, Laila nudged Yasmin playfully. "See? You two are getting along. Maybe there's hope for you both yet."
As they reached the car, Yasmin glanced back at the healer's building, her heart racing. She couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning of something complicated. "Let's get out of here," she said, sliding into the passenger seat.
Laila started the engine, but before they pulled away, she turned to Yasmin with a teasing smile. "So, are you going to text Lucian later? Maybe ask him if he needs a sandwich?"
Yasmin rolled her eyes, but a smile tugged at her lips. "Very funny. I'm not texting him."
"Sure you're not," Laila said, pulling out of the parking lot. "But just remember, if you two end up in a love story, I want to be the first to know."
Yasmin laughed, but her heart raced at the thought. "Let's just focus on the task at hand."
As they drove away, Yasmin couldn't help but glance back one last time, hoping to catch a glimpse of Lucian. The way he had looked at her earlier lingered in her mind, and she felt a mix of excitement and apprehension about what lay ahead.
When they arrived home, the atmosphere shifted. Orion was waiting in the living room, arms crossed, his expression dark. "Where have you been?" he demanded, his voice sharp.
"Out," Laila replied, her tone cool. "Not that it's any of your business."
Orion's eyes narrowed. "You think it's okay to just run off without telling anyone? What if something happened?"
"Maybe if you weren't so busy being a jerk, you'd realize I can take care of myself," Laila shot back, stepping closer, her fists clenched.
"Enough!" Yasmin interjected, stepping between them. "Can we not do this right now? We just got back."
Orion's gaze flicked to Yasmin, and for a moment, his expression softened. "I just don't want you getting involved in all this," he said, his voice lowering. "It's dangerous."
"Lucian is not the enemy," Yasmin insisted, her heart racing. "He's been through enough already. We need to help him."
"Help him?" Orion scoffed. "You mean get tangled up in whatever mess his family has created? That's a great idea."
Laila crossed her arms, her eyes blazing. "At least Yasmin is trying to do something good. Unlike you, who just wants to fight everyone."
"Maybe if you weren't so busy playing nice with him, you'd see the bigger picture," Orion shot back, his frustration boiling over.
"Enough!" Yasmin shouted, her voice echoing in the room. "This isn't helping anyone. We need to work together, not tear each other apart."
The room fell silent, the tension palpable. Yasmin took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. "We can't let our families' feuds dictate our choices. We have to be better than that."
Orion and Laila exchanged glances, the anger still simmering between them, but Yasmin could see the flicker of understanding in their eyes. "Let's just figure this out together," she said softly, hoping to bridge the gap.
As they stood there, Yasmin felt a surge of determination. They had to find a way to navigate the chaos ahead, not just for themselves, but for Lucian too.