Bella was already marching toward the science building, dragging Mira behind her like a kite in a storm.

"Bella, we cannot just—"

"Watch me."

"I do not want to—"

"Too late." Bella glanced back at her, and her voice softened just a fraction. "Men like that need to be beaten. And although I am upset with you, I cannot let any girl be taken advantage of by jerks."

Karl hurried to catch up with them, falling into step beside Bella. "I am coming too."

Bella glanced at him. "Why?"

He grinned, but there was no humor in it. "Because I want to see you punch someone."

Bella’s lips twitched. "You are a good friend, Karl."

"I know."

They walked toward the science building, Bella in the lead, her brown hair flying behind her, her eyes blazing like she was marching into battle. The guard followed at a distance, phone ready, already regretting every life choice that had led him to this moment. This was going to be interesting.

Meanwhile, Leo was still staring at his phone, his gray eyes fixed on the message from his guard. Sir, your wife is threatening physical violence on a student.

He read it again. Then again.

His kind bunny? His sweet, soft, gentle bunny who cried at sad movies, fed small animals, and kissed him goodnight every evening like it was the first time? Threatening physical violence?

He wondered what this Noah had done. He had heard the name before, in passing, in reports from his campus spies. A playboy. Good looking. Popular. The kind of guy who thought rules did not apply to him.

Leo leaned back in his chair, his fingers steepled, his jaw tight. What could Noah have possibly done to anger Bella enough to make her want to punch him?

He had a meeting in ten minutes. Important clients. Contracts that needed signing. Millions of dollars on the line.

He picked up his phone and typed: Postpone the meeting.

His assistant responded immediately: Sir, the clients are already here.

Leo: Tell them there is an emergency.

Assistant: What kind of emergency?

Leo: Family emergency.

There was a pause. Then the assistant replied: Yes, sir.

Leo set his phone down, crossed his arms and waited for the video.

Meanwhile, Bella, Mira and Karl searched the campus high and low. They checked the science building, which was empty. The library had nothing. The student union showed no sign of Noah. They searched the gym, the cafeteria, and the parking lot, but found nothing.

Bella’s anger was simmering now, hot and restless, like a pot about to boil over. She wanted to find him. She wanted to confront him. She wanted to make him understand that what he had done was wrong, not romantic, not passionate, not excusable, just wrong.

As they passed the botanical garden, a guy with blonde hair and a friendly smile winked at Bella. She blinked back at him, and he gave her a thumbs up before disappearing around a corner.

Bella smiled deeply and turned back to Mira.

"Maybe he went back to the place he took me?" Mira said hesitantly. Her voice was small and uncertain, like she was not sure she wanted to say it out loud. "The storage building."

Bella studied her face. Mira’s eyes were red, her hands trembling, but there was something else in her expression now. Anger and realization.

Bella had spent the walk explaining why what Noah did was not okay. Why consent mattered. Why forcing a kiss was not passion but violation. Why Mira had nothing to be ashamed of and Noah had everything to be ashamed of. Mira had listened, cried, and nodded and now, finally, she understood.

"Alright," Bella said. "Let’s go."

They walked toward the old storage building behind the science wing, their footsteps echoing on the cracked pavement. The building looked even more abandoned up close, with grimy windows, peeling paint, and the whole structure leaning slightly to one side as if it was tired of standing.

As they approached, Bella held up her hand. "Wait."

They stopped because voices were coming from inside.

Bella crept closer, with Karl and Mira behind her. Through the gap in the door, they could see inside.

Noah was there. His shirt was off, tossed carelessly over a broken chair. His pants were unbuttoned, hanging low on his hips. His back was against the wall, his head thrown back, his eyes closed, his mouth hanging open in a way that made Bella’s skin crawl.

And in front of him, on her knees, was a girl. Her back was to the door, but her shoulders were moving in a rhythm that made Bella’s stomach turn violently.

Noah moaned. The girl panted.

Bella’s eyes widened. Her face went pale with disgust. Karl’s face flushed so dark it looked like he had a fever. Mira’s eyes filled with tears.

Bella grabbed Mira’s arm and pulled her away from the door. Karl followed, his jaw tight enough to crack teeth.

They walked in silence until they were out of earshot, past the science building, past the library until they reached a quiet corner near the art department where no one else was around.

Then Bella stopped.

"Are you okay?" she asked, her voice gentle now.

Mira wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. "I am angry."

"Good."

"I am disgusted."

"Also good."

Mira’s voice broke. "I thought he liked me. I thought if I waited long enough, he would see me, really see me. But he does not. He never did."

Bella put her hand on Mira’s shoulder. "He sees you as an option. Something to use when he is bored and toss aside when he is done. That is not your fault. That is his failure, his loss and his shame."

Mira nodded, sniffling.

Karl kicked a rock so hard it bounced off a trash can. "I am going to find him later without you two."

Bella raised an eyebrow. "And do what?"

His jaw tightened. "Talk to him."

"Violently?"

"Maybe."

Bella considered this for a moment, then nodded.

Karl gave them both a nod and walked away, his hands shoved deep in his pockets.

Mira looked at Bella, her eyes red but her chin lifted. Her posture became firmer and more determined.

"I am sorry, Bella," she said. "I know I should not have done that. I know I betrayed you. I have been feeling guilty every single day, every time I saw you, every time you walk past me without looking."

Bella was taken aback. She had not expected this.