Against fate : rebirth of the stubborn heiress

Chapter 26 – Lights, Camera, Survival

The studio lot shimmered under a soft afternoon sun. Crew members bustled about, adjusting equipment and shouting directions, while cameras rolled in preparation.

A massive black banner stretched above the lot, gold letters spelling:

SURVIVE WITH THE STARS

Summer Bellani stepped lightly onto the staging area, wearing a pale beige jumpsuit that hugged her slender frame, her hair gathered into a soft ribbon-tied ponytail.

She looked nothing like someone about to brave a survival challenge. She looked like a porcelain doll placed in the wrong scene—perfectly delicate, entirely out of place.

"Are you sure about this?" she asked Rosa, who was busy adjusting the straps on her duffel bag.

"You already signed the contract, Young Miss," Rosa reminded gently.

Summer sighed. "Pretty sure that doesn't count, davis coerced me into it ."

A cheerful voice called out across the lot. "Summer! You're here early. That's suspicious."

Davis jogged up to them, dressed in a lightweight hoodie, his boyish grin already attracting attention from the crew. He held out a protein bar like a peace offering.

"You didn't tell me they were going to confiscate our phones," Summer said, taking the bar with a pout.

"You'll live. Think of it as a digital detox."

"That sounds like a poor person's vacation."

Davis burst out laughing. "You're going to be fine. Just be your charming, spoiled self."

She gave him a look. "If a mosquito bites me, you have to take responsibility for me ."

"Deal."

By noon, the ten contestants were gathered in a neat semi-circle. There were pop idols, a model or two, a washed-up actor, and an influencer who couldn't stop adjusting his hair. Summer stood beside Davis, drawing more than a few double-takes with her soft features and elegant demeanor.

The host—a well-dressed man with a dramatic smile—stepped forward. "Welcome to Survive With the Stars! For the next few weeks, you'll be off-grid, under pressure, and probably a little hungry. But you'll also be entertaining the entire country."

Summer tilted her head, amused.

"You okay?" Davis whispered.

"Not really. But I plan to look good doing it."

They were blindfolded before boarding a private plane. Phones and personal items collected, Summer allowed herself one last glance at Rosa, who was watching the crew finalize her registration.

"She's not going to like this," Rosa muttered to Davis.

"She'll be fine," Davis replied. "The island's going to have a bigger problem with her than she will with it."

When the blindfolds were removed, Summer found herself standing on a wide dock surrounded by crystal-clear waters and dense forest. The breeze was warm, the sun bright, and she blinked as her eyes adjusted.

"This is our survival site!" the host announced. "You'll build your own shelter using whatever you can find. Best design wins immunity!"

Summer squinted toward the trees. "Are we sure there aren't snakes?"

A girl with glittery nails and glossy lips scoffed beside her. "You don't look like you've ever touched a leaf before."

Summer smiled sweetly. "Why would I?"

Davis nudged her gently. "C'mon, princess. Time to impress the nation."

"Fine. But if I get mud on my shoes, you're replacing them."

The contestants scattered. Davis carried some driftwood while Summer walked softly among the trees, hands behind her back like she was strolling through a garden.

She tilted her head. "That tree branch looks balanced. Can you bring that one? And... maybe that thick leaf set? I like the shape."

Despite not lifting a single heavy object, she directed their structure with uncanny ease.

Davis wiped sweat from his brow. "You're terrifying."

"I'm gifted," she replied innocently.

Two hours later, their shelter was the only one that looked... cozy. It had a raised floor, shade coverage, and a leaf-woven roof.

The influencer's structure collapsed after a squirrel jumped on it.

"Team Bellani wins the challenge!" the host announced.

Summer dusted off her hands. "Naturally."

Backstage, the editors watched the footage.

"She hasn't even broken a sweat," one muttered.

"She doesn't yell. Doesn't show off. She just... floats through everything."

"She's enchanting," said another. "Like a fairy tale heiress lost in the wild."

"She's going to be the season's icon."

That evening, Summer sat on a woven mat while Davis softly strummed a tune on a travel guitar. A few of the others were still trying to tie knots or chase bugs away. The firelight flickered across her features.

She didn't say much.

But she looked like she belonged there.

Even with nothing around her.

Her system words echoed faintly in her mind:

Don't forget to live a little this time.

So she closed her eyes, leaned her head against Davis's shoulder, and whispered, "Thank you."

He looked down, surprised. "For what?"

"For dragging me into this mess."

He chuckled. "You're welcome."

The fire popped quietly.

Somewhere, a camera turned off.

And Summer Bellani, the girl who once lost everything, smiled like she had found something to hold on to again .