Crises in Love (Zora and Jaylan)
Chapter 516

It must have been the relaxed atmosphere after a few glasses of wine that evening, but by the time I had Camilla and Fidelia settled into their rooms, I was exhausted. I barely touched the pillow before I was out like a light.

But then, in the dead of night, a frantic knocking at my door nearly gave me a heart attack. My heart was racing as I stumbled out of bed to see what was the matter.

I swung the door open to find Camilla, pale and panicked, standing before me.

"Aaliyah, I'm so sorry to wake you, but I can't find Fidelia anywhere." she stammered, her voice quivering, tears brimming in her eyes.

"What do you mean?" I asked, confused, "Fidelia's not in her room?"

She shook her head miserably, wiping her cheeks. "No, she went out and hasn't come back."

I was completely baffled, "Went out? At this hour?"

"Where did she go?" I pressed.

Glancing at Carl, who was still blissfully asleep in my bed, I quickly stepped out, guiding Camilla to the sitting area in the hallway, "Let's sit down. Take your time and tell me exactly what happened," I said softly Clutching the corner of her nightgown, she said, "We. were just lying in bed chatting, and she told me she wanted to stay here, to go to school." Her voice grew fainter as she spoke, revealing her vulnerability. "And then?" I urged her to continue.

"I told her no, that it just wasn't possible," Camilla said, glancing up at me. I understood her implication.

"Then she got angry, argued that this place felt more like home, that she could actually focus on her studies here. She said she had friends here, unlike back home," Camilla's tears fell freely now.

"She's not wrong. She mentioned the same thing to me earlier today when we were waiting for you to get out of the car. She said she didn't want to leave, that she wanted to stay. But I didn't want to make that call for you. Staying here to study is perfectly fine, but I was worried about you, especially considering your relationship with Jerome..." I hesitated, not finishing the thought, but knowing Camilla would get the gist.

I continued, "She's your world, and I couldn't just leave her here while you're all alone in Goldenvale Town. I wanted to make sure you were okay with it."

"She ran off because of this. I tried to reason with her, but she wouldn't listen. She just stormed out, asking why she couldn't make her own decision for once. I said no, and she ran off." Camilla was getting agitated.

She grabbed my hand, "I checked Monique's room, but she wasn't there. I don't know this place well. I went downstairs but couldn't find her."

Just then, Hannah appeared, rubbing her eyes, "What's going on?"

"Fidelia might have run off," I informed her.

Hannah's eyes widened in shock, "Run off? When?"

"Don't ask questions now, let's just find her. She shouldn't have gone far, probably still in the yard somewhere. You go left, I'll go right," I instructed.

"Okay," Hannah quickly set off in one direction.

I took Camilla with me as we headed down the stairs on the other side, trying to reassure her, "Don't worry, she's been here a month. She knows the place, and she'll be fine. I don't think she would've gone far."

"I'm so sorry for the trouble." Camilla apologized profusely, "She's so stubborn, quiet but determined. Sometimes I just don't know what to do with her."

I searched carefully room by room, all the while comforting Camilla. But when Hannah and I met at the front door without any sign of Fidelia, Camilla's face was ghostly pale, and she kept apologizing to me. "Camilla, this is no time for apologies. Don't worry, and this isn't your fault. Every kid has their moments," I said, though a sense of unease was growing inside me.

It was late, and if she wasn't in the yard, where could she be? I hadn't expected her to be so headstrong.