Rejected: A love story-Chapter 72: Fiona is safe

Nathan held Fiona firmly against his chest as he climbed the basement stairs, each step echoing in the hollow building. Her hands clutched weakly at his shirt, her fingers barely curling, trembling uncontrollably.

He adjusted his hold, keeping one hand pressed protectively to the back of her head so she wouldn’t bump into the walls as he moved through the narrow corridor.

"Stay with me," he whispered into her hair. His voice was steady. "I know you’re tired. I know, cupcake. Just a little longer."

She didn’t respond with words—she couldn’t. Instead, a small sound escaped her, something between a whimper and a breath. Her face stayed hidden in his neck.

Nathan’s heart broke all over again.

When he pushed the building’s main door open with his shoulder, Caleb immediately jumped from where he was crouched near the office car with two guards.

His eyes widened.

"Nathan..." Caleb whispered as he rushed toward them. "Is she—did you—?"

Nathan didn’t stop walking. "She’s alive."

Caleb was instantly relieved. His shoulders dropped, as he exhale loud.

Then he really saw her—Fiona’s limp arms around Nathan’s neck, her face buried in him, her legs dangling weakly. The way she clung to Nathan like a terrified child afraid of the dark.

Caleb froze.

"Oh my God," he muttered, stepping aside instinctively as Nathan came closer. "She’s... she’s terrified."

Nathan didn’t look at him. His focus was entirely on the shaking girl in his arms.

"Fiona," Caleb said softly, hoping she’d look up, react, something.

She didn’t. She curled deeper into Nathan’s neck instead, as if the world outside his arms was unbearable.

Nathan swallowed tightly. "She’s not fully conscious."

Caleb nodded once, lips pressed into a thin line. Hurt flashed across his face—hurt for her.

Nathan reached his car and opened the passenger door with his elbow. He lowered Fiona inside carefully, like she was an egg that might crack at the slightest mishandling.

The moment her back touched the seat, her fingers shot out, grabbing his sleeve with sudden panic.

"No—no—no, don’t—don’t leave—" she whispered, her voice breaking horribly.

"I’m not leaving," Nathan said immediately, leaning in so their foreheads touched. "I’m right here. Look at me. Right here."

She blinked— a slow, unfocused, terrified—one as her breath trembled.

"Home," she whispered. "Please... I want...to go home."

"You’re going home," Nathan said, brushing a tear from her cheek with his thumb. "I’m taking you myself."

He pulled back enough to tuck the seatbelt around her, moving carefully so he didn’t startle her. She still flinched when the belt clicked in place.

Caleb watched, he felt pained.

"What do you need me to do?" he finally asked.

Nathan shut the door gently and turned to him. His voice was firm, controlled, but the fury underneath was unmistakable.

"Take my office car," he said. "Get the driver to the hospital. Stay with him until he wakes up. And call Alex—let him take over."

Caleb nodded immediately. "Got it."

Nathan slid into the driver’s seat of his own car and immediately turned toward Fiona.

She was slumped slightly, her head tilted toward him, the moment he shut his door, her fingers twitched weakly in his direction.

He leaned over instantly. "I’m here."

Her lips parted, a broken sound escaping. "Don’t... leave..."

"I’m not leaving," he whispered, brushing her hair from her face. "I’m right here. I swear."

Her eyes fluttered. She tried to lift her hand again but her arm trembled too hard. Nathan caught it, holding it tightly.

"Home?" she whispered.

"Home," he promised. "You’re not spending another second in this place."

He lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed her knuckles—carefully, so he didn’t hurt the rope-burned skin.

She inhaled shakily at the touch, tears leaking again—not out of fear now, but from sheer exhaustion.

Nathan started the car, but before he pulled away, he reached over and touched her cheek lightly.

"You’re safe, Fiona," he whispered. "I’ve got you. No one’s touching you again."

She let out a weak sob and leaned toward him, even in her half-conscious state.

Nathan kept one hand on the wheel and the other resting protectively on her thigh as he drove—anchoring her, grounding her, keeping her with him.

Every couple of seconds, he glanced at her. Every couple of seconds, she whispered something barely audible—his name, a plea, a breath.

And every time, Nathan answered softly, "I’m here. I’m right here."

The night swallowed the road ahead as he sped home and now that he had her back—nothing would stop him from finding the people who touched her.

Caleb jogged to the office car, where the driver was still unconscious in the back. Two security men helped him move the man into the passenger seat.

As Caleb slid into the driver’s seat, he pulled out his phone and dialed Ella immediately.

It rang twice and she picked .

"Caleb?" Ella answered quickly. "Did you find anything? Any news? Did they locate her? Caleb, talk to me—"

"Ella, breathe," Caleb said, gripping the wheel. "Slow down."

"Don’t tell me to slow down!" her voice cracked. "Caleb, where is she? Is she alive?"

Caleb exhaled, his voice gentler. "She’s alive."

Ella gasped—a loud, broken sound.

"Oh my God—oh my God, Caleb—"

"She’s alive," he repeated. "Nathan found her in an abandoned building. She’s... shaken. Badly. She’s barely conscious. But Nathan’s taking her home."

Ella’s breath hitched. Then it turned into a quiet sob. "Is she hurt? Did they—did something—"

"I don’t know all the details yet," Caleb said honestly. "But she’s safe now. Nathan’s with her."

Ella sniffed hard. "I’m coming there. Caleb, can I come to the house? I need to see her."

"No," Caleb said quickly. "Ella, don’t. Not tonight."

"Why?"

"Because she’s barely functioning," Caleb said. "She needs space at the moment. She needs Nathan. And I’m not risking anything happening to you too."

There was silence for a while before she spoke. "Caleb... are you okay?"

He huffed a broken laugh. "Not really."

Ella’s voice softened instantly. "You were scared too, weren’t you?"

He stared at the unconscious driver beside him. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

"Yeah," he said quietly. "More than I want to admit."

Ella breathed shakily. "...Thank you for helping. For looking for her. For not giving up."

"I’d never give up on Fiona," Caleb said. "Or on you."

Ella froze on the line. "Caleb..."

He immediately felt the shift—the space between them that he had pushed open himself weeks ago at the fair.

"I know what I said," Caleb continued, his throat tightening. "About us not... being good. About staying apart. That was me trying to protect you though, I don’t what happened to Fiona to happen with you"

Ella was silent, but he heard the faint tremble in her breath.

"I just need you safe," Caleb whispered. "If anything happened to you—Ella, I couldn’t—"

"You don’t get to say things like that after telling me we can’t work," she whispered.

"I know," he said. "But I’m saying them anyway."

She exhaled shakily. "Just... just update me when she wakes up tomorrow."

"I will."

"Okay..."

He didn’t want to hang up, but she said softly, "Alright, Caleb. Stay safe."

He nodded even though she couldn’t see it. "You too."

They ended the call.

He gripped the steering wheel tighter, forcing himself to focus, then drove out of the building.