Chapter 357

Belinda stared at him, utterly speechless. Her anger surged, fueled by his unrepentant smirk. “You jerk! Is this your idea of a lesson? I’m done! I’m getting out of here right now, and believe me, Harold will hear about your ‘teaching methods’!” she snapped, her voice trembling with fury.

“Calm down, Belinda,” Lucas said, his voice firm as he maintained his hold on her.

“Let me go! I want to leave!” she insisted, struggling to pull away from him.

Lucas’ expression darkened, his gaze intensifying. “If you keep moving like that in deep water, you’re only going to sink again. Stop fighting me and listen.”

Belinda looked at him with defiance, but as he shifted his grip, she felt the water pulling at her once more. Instinctively, she reached out and grabbed his shoulders, pulling herself closer to stay afloat. The sudden proximity made the air between them feel heavy and still.

Lucas’ breath hitched for a second, caught off guard by her sudden closeness. His voice turned low, a strange tension lining his words. “Belinda, just hold steady.”

“I’m not letting go until we’re back where I can reach the floor,” she declared with stubborn determination, her hands clutching his shoulders tightly.

Lucas looked away for a moment, clearing his throat as if trying to regain his composure. The playful banter had vanished, replaced by a sudden, awkward silence that neither of them seemed to know how to break. The cool water rippled around them, but the atmosphere felt anything but cold.

“Get ready,” Lucas said, his voice gruff as he began to lead her back toward the shallower end of the pool.

But as they moved, Belinda’s foot slipped on the smooth surface below. A flash of panic crossed her face, and before she could even gasp, Lucas’ hand was there again, firmly supporting her waist and drawing her back toward him.

Their eyes met, and for a long moment, the rest of the world seemed to fade away. The splashing sounds of the pool became a distant hum. Lucas’ gaze darkened, his emotions swirling with a depth she hadn't seen before. He couldn't seem to look away from her, and Belinda found herself unable to move, her heart racing wildly against her ribs.

Slowly, as if drawn by an invisible thread, Lucas began to lean in. The distance between them closed until she could feel the warmth of his breath against her skin. Belinda’s eyes fluttered closed, her initial anger completely forgotten, replaced by a sense of anticipation that left her breathless.

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