Billionaire Villainess (Unedited)

Official

Note: I am not very good with writing romance, so I hope this chapter is good.

As they approached the group now sitting around the fire, the firelight flickered across the sand, casting shadows that danced in the soft glow. Judith and Zayden were still holding hands, but as they drew nearer, they slowly let go, not quite ready to reveal what had just happened. Their fingers brushed as they separated.

Liam was the first to notice their return. "Took you two long enough," he teased, wiggling his eyebrows. "Get lost or something?"

Judith rolled her eyes and playfully nudged Liam as she sat down near the fire. "Yeah, we got caught up in a philosophical debate about sunsets."

Zayden smirked, sitting down beside her. "Very deep stuff. You wouldn't understand."

The others chuckled, but there was an undercurrent of curiosity. Judith could feel the weight of their gazes, especially Hillary's, who glanced between her and Zayden with a knowing smile. Judith avoided eye contact, not ready to explain the shift between them.

The conversation quickly resumed, drifting away from teasing as the group settled into a relaxed rhythm. Stories were exchanged, and laughter rippled through the circle of friends, the crackling fire offering a cozy contrast to the cool night breeze. Yet Judith found her thoughts wandering. She could still feel the echo of Zayden's kiss, the warmth of his hand in hers. Every now and then, she'd steal a glance at him, only to find him doing the same. Their shared smiles were small, but full of meaning.

As the night wore on, the group began packing up, preparing to head back to campus. Xavier and Liam debated whether to stop for ice cream, while Jennifer and Miranda joked about who would shower first since they shared a dorm.

"Judith," Hillary said quietly, stepping closer as the others gathered their towels and bags. "Can we talk?"

Judith felt her stomach tighten with nerves. She nodded, glancing at Zayden, who was busy helping Charles gather supplies they had bought at the beach store. "Sure."

They walked a little farther from the group, the sounds of the ocean and laughter fading as they reached a quieter part of the beach. Hillary stopped and turned to face Judith, crossing her arms with a gentle but curious expression.

"So," Hillary began in a low voice, "what happened between you and Zayden during your walk?"

Judith hesitated, unsure how much to share. The kiss had felt so personal, something she wasn't sure she was ready to explain. But Hillary had been the original Judith's best friend, and she seemed to genuinely care.

"We kissed," Judith admitted, her cheeks flushing. "It... just kind of happened."

Hillary's eyes widened with excitement, a grin spreading across her face. "I knew it! I could tell something was going on between you two all day. So... how do you feel about him?"

Judith sighed softly, looking out at the waves crashing in the distance. "I don't know. I mean, I realized I like him—more than I thought I would. Maybe I've been bottling it up for a while. But it's scary. I don't want to ruin our friendship, and things could get... complicated."

Hillary nodded, her expression softening. "Yeah, I get that. But honestly, if today's any sign, it seems like he likes you just as much. He was giving you a lot of looks all day."

Judith let out a small laugh, nodding in agreement. "Yeah, maybe. I just... I need time to think."

"Take your time," Hillary said with a reassuring smile. "But don't overthink it, okay? Sometimes the best things happen when you just go with the flow."

They started walking back toward the group, and Judith felt a little lighter. Hillary's support eased some of her worries, though the weight of the situation still lingered. As they reached the others, Zayden caught her eye again, his gaze soft and questioning. She gave him a small smile, which he returned immediately, and for now, that was enough.

The ride back to campus was filled with the usual chatter, but Judith couldn't shake the growing sense of anticipation. When they arrived and everyone began saying their goodnights, Zayden lingered by her side. Hillary, Miranda, and Jennifer lived in separate buildings from Judith, so they couldn't walk her to her dorm.

"Want me to walk you to your dorm again?" Zayden asked, his voice low so the others wouldn't hear.

Judith hesitated only for a second before nodding. Together, they made their way to her dorm, the silence between them comfortable but charged with the weight of the night's events. When they reached her door, Judith paused, turning to face him.

Zayden shifted his weight slightly, rubbing the back of his neck as if searching for the right words. "So... tonight was fun," he started, his voice quieter than usual.

"Yeah," Judith replied, her heart racing a little faster. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, not sure what else to say but feeling like she should. Her fingers tingled, still remembering the warmth of his hand in hers earlier. She looked up at him, catching his eye before they both glanced away.

There was a beat of silence, and then they both spoke at the same time:

"Do you want to—"
"Would you like to—"

They stopped, eyes widening before they burst into laughter, the tension between them suddenly lightened by the awkwardness of the moment. Zayden let out a soft chuckle, shaking his head, while Judith covered her mouth to suppress her giggles.

"You go first," Zayden said, his smile easy but nervous.

Judith's cheeks flushed, but she took a breath and nodded. "I was just going to ask if you'd want to hang out again... sometime? Like... maybe as a date?"

Zayden's grin widened, his eyes softening. "Funny. I was about to ask you the same thing." He stepped a little closer, the space between them narrowing, but his voice was still gentle. "So, I guess that's a yes from both of us?"

Judith felt her pulse quicken, a warmth spreading through her chest as she nodded. "Yeah. Definitely yes."

For a moment, they just stood there, smiling at each other, the laughter still lingering in the air but replaced now by something deeper. Judith could feel the weight of everything that had been unsaid all night, the unspoken feelings that had finally surfaced.

Zayden hesitated again, then reached out, gently brushing his fingers against her cheek. "So... I guess I'll see you soon? Maybe tomorrow?"

Judith felt the spark of his touch, and she smiled, her voice soft. "Tomorrow sounds perfect."

But neither of them was willing to part just yet.

"Can I?" Zayden suddenly asked, his gaze intense as he looked into her eyes.

Judith knew exactly what he was asking and nodded, her heart racing.

They kissed again, as slow as before, savoring the moment. It was soft and tentative, yet filled with the promise of something more.

They remained outside the door for just a second longer, their smiles still mirroring each other, before Judith finally unlocked her door. She gave him one last glance, her heart still fluttering.

"Goodnight, Zayden," she whispered, her voice warm and sincere.

"Goodnight, Judith," he replied softly, his eyes lingering on her before she stepped inside.

Zayden stood there for a moment, his smile not fading, before he turned and walked back down the hallway.

And with that, the door clicked shut behind her.