***************CHAPTER 33~Blaze’s POV~The murmurs and whispers in the lobby faded as I strode to my car, my jaw clenched and my mind preoccupied. Kaia’s reaction to Summer’s apology—if it could even be called that—lingered in my thoughts.She was strong and resilient, but I could see the cracks in her armour. Summer’s antics weren’t just irritating; they were dangerous distractions.As I settled into the driver’s seat, my phone buzzed in the cup holder. The screen lit up with my father’s name.I sighed, tempted to let it ring out, but I knew better. With a resigned breath, I answered.“Blaze,” his deep, commanding voice came through the line. “Come home. We need to talk.”“Now?” I asked, irritation lacing my tone.“Yes,” he said firmly. “It’s important.”Reluctantly, I hung up and started the engine, sparing no time to inform Kaia. She would manage without me for the evening. She could handle herself just fine but now, I had some important things to do.***********The Black famil
**************CHAPTER 33Shawn’s POVThe dimly lit bar reeked of cheap whiskey and regret, the kind of place where people came to drown their failures. For me, it was the perfect setting to plot my comeback.Sipping the amber liquid in my glass, I leaned back in my seat, my mind spinning with plans. The image of Kaia standing tall during her presentation today still burned in my mind, mocking me. She had always been strong, but now, with Blaze Black at her side, she was untouchable.For now.Beside me, Derek, my longtime friend and occasional enabler, swirled his drink lazily. He had the kind of face that could charm most people, but tonight his expression mirrored my simmering frustration.“Still thinking about her?” Derek asked, his tone dripping with disapproval.I scowled. “She humiliated me, Derek. After everything I gave her. And now she’s prancing around like she’s better than me.”Derek raised an eyebrow. “She is married to Blaze Black. That’s a pretty big step up.”I glared
**************CHAPTER 35~Kaia’s POV~The city faded as I drove through the quiet suburban streets, the gentle rustle of trees lining the road soothing my frayed nerves. After the whirlwind of emotions at work, I needed a break—an escape from the intensity of Apex Global, from Blaze’s unreadable smirks, and especially from the weight of being Kaia Gold, Blaze Black’s wife.So I turned to the people who had always been my sanctuary: Tiffany and Bethany, my best friends since college.Their shared house came into view, its porch light glowing warmly in the evening dusk. Parking in the driveway, I took a moment to inhale deeply before stepping out and heading to the front door.Before I could knock, the door swung open, and Tiffany’s wide grin greeted me. “Kaia!” she exclaimed, pulling me into a tight hug. “You finally decided to show your face, huh?”“About time,” Bethany called from the living room, her voice teasing. She appeared moments later, her glasses perched on her nose and a
**************CHAPTER 35~Blaze’s POV~The door opened to reveal a petite brunette with sharp eyes and a cautious demeanour. Tiffany, if I recalled correctly. One of Kaia’s best friends.“I’m here for Kaia,” I said without preamble. “I know she’s here.”Tiffany hesitated for a beat, her eyes narrowing slightly as if weighing her options. Finally, she nodded and stepped aside, gesturing for me to enter.“She’s in the living room,” she said reluctantly.The house was cozy, with a warmth that contrasted the sharp, sterile edges of my world. I followed Tiffany until my eyes landed on Kaia.She was perched on the couch, a bowl of popcorn in her lap, her eyes glued to the television. The carefree smile on her face sent a pang of something unfamiliar through my chest—relief, perhaps, or maybe irritation at how easily she could detach herself while I’d spent the last thirty minutes looking for her.I cleared my throat. “Hello, Kaia.”Kaia froze, her head snapping toward me. The excitement on
**************CHAPTER 37~Kaia’s POV~The moment Blaze’s car rolled to a stop in the driveway, I unbuckled my seatbelt and flung the door open, not sparing Blaze a glance. As I stormed towards the house's entrance, my heels clicked angrily against the pavement, and my heart pounded with frustration.I didn’t care about his insistent gaze boring into my back or the sound of his hurried steps chasing after me. All I wanted was to slam the door in his smug, self-assured face.“Kaia,” Blaze’s voice was calm but edged with warning, but I didn’t care.He wanted to drag me home, fine. He tried to act like he could dictate every moment of my life, okay. But I wasn’t going to let him get away with it without a fight.Halfway to the doorbell, I felt a strong grip wrapped around my wrist, stopping me mid-motion.“Kaia,” Blaze’s low voice growled from behind me.I turned sharply, glaring up at him. “What?”His grip tightened, but not enough to hurt. He spun me around, pressing me back against th
**************CHAPTER 1My head throbbed, each beat matching the slow, pulsing ache behind my eyes as I squinted against the morning light pouring into the hotel room. I reached for my phone, hoping to check the time, but froze at the sight of an unread message. Blinking, I rubbed my temples, half afraid of what awaited me."Congratulations on your marriage. Here's your wedding picture. Happy married life!"My heart skipped, and I bolted upright, instantly regretting the movement as nausea washed over me. With trembling fingers, I opened the attachment. There it was—a photo of me and a tall man, his face shadowed, holding a marriage certificate. I was laughing, eyes slightly glazed, looking deliriously happy, even if I could barely recognize myself."This has to be a mistake."Panic rushed through me as the events of last night trickled back—the music, the drinks, the stranger who seemed to understand my every unspoken word, the wild thrill of something forbidden, something I sho
**************CHAPTER 2I swear I did not understand him. What did he feel like? We were both doing this for our selfish gain. Why did it seem like I had just dug my grave?I shook my head, tossing the thought to the back of my mind as I drove home. My eyes flickered to the card on my dashboard before focusing on the road. I arrived at my parents' house, ready to tell them the news, when my father's cold voice made me stop. "She did what? Kaia broke the marriage?"I inhaled. I should have expected this. Shawn would make a fuss trying to use my parents to control me. Stepping into the living room, I met my parents, both dressed for the occasion. My dad had his phone pressed to his ear, clearly in a conversation with that cheat."Dad." He froze, ending the call and turning to look at me. My eyes glanced around, taking in the sight of my mother seated opposite him, watching with a worried expression on her face, "Mum, I can't marry a jerk. I know he is well to do, but he is a cheat."
**************CHAPTER 3While my mind played around my new surname, Blaze's estate came into view. It was breathtaking. Every inch of it was grand and meticulously designed. A butler led me through the vast, silent halls until I found myself in a lustrous living room, and there he was, standing with his usual stoic expression. My heart skipped, but I forced myself to act calm. He did not say anything more than a welcome after I greeted him before leading me into a private study.I sank into the leather chair across from him, feeling the pressure in the air. He slid a thick stack of papers across the desk. "This is the contract," he explained calmly. "The essentials are straightforward. For now, we'll present ourselves as a couple to our immediate families and a few close friends. No one else needs to know."I frowned, staring at the words in front of me. "Then why even bother with the marriage? Wasn't the whole point to keep people off our backs in the first place?"I know I sounde
**************CHAPTER 37~Kaia’s POV~The moment Blaze’s car rolled to a stop in the driveway, I unbuckled my seatbelt and flung the door open, not sparing Blaze a glance. As I stormed towards the house's entrance, my heels clicked angrily against the pavement, and my heart pounded with frustration.I didn’t care about his insistent gaze boring into my back or the sound of his hurried steps chasing after me. All I wanted was to slam the door in his smug, self-assured face.“Kaia,” Blaze’s voice was calm but edged with warning, but I didn’t care.He wanted to drag me home, fine. He tried to act like he could dictate every moment of my life, okay. But I wasn’t going to let him get away with it without a fight.Halfway to the doorbell, I felt a strong grip wrapped around my wrist, stopping me mid-motion.“Kaia,” Blaze’s low voice growled from behind me.I turned sharply, glaring up at him. “What?”His grip tightened, but not enough to hurt. He spun me around, pressing me back against th
**************CHAPTER 35~Blaze’s POV~The door opened to reveal a petite brunette with sharp eyes and a cautious demeanour. Tiffany, if I recalled correctly. One of Kaia’s best friends.“I’m here for Kaia,” I said without preamble. “I know she’s here.”Tiffany hesitated for a beat, her eyes narrowing slightly as if weighing her options. Finally, she nodded and stepped aside, gesturing for me to enter.“She’s in the living room,” she said reluctantly.The house was cozy, with a warmth that contrasted the sharp, sterile edges of my world. I followed Tiffany until my eyes landed on Kaia.She was perched on the couch, a bowl of popcorn in her lap, her eyes glued to the television. The carefree smile on her face sent a pang of something unfamiliar through my chest—relief, perhaps, or maybe irritation at how easily she could detach herself while I’d spent the last thirty minutes looking for her.I cleared my throat. “Hello, Kaia.”Kaia froze, her head snapping toward me. The excitement on
**************CHAPTER 35~Kaia’s POV~The city faded as I drove through the quiet suburban streets, the gentle rustle of trees lining the road soothing my frayed nerves. After the whirlwind of emotions at work, I needed a break—an escape from the intensity of Apex Global, from Blaze’s unreadable smirks, and especially from the weight of being Kaia Gold, Blaze Black’s wife.So I turned to the people who had always been my sanctuary: Tiffany and Bethany, my best friends since college.Their shared house came into view, its porch light glowing warmly in the evening dusk. Parking in the driveway, I took a moment to inhale deeply before stepping out and heading to the front door.Before I could knock, the door swung open, and Tiffany’s wide grin greeted me. “Kaia!” she exclaimed, pulling me into a tight hug. “You finally decided to show your face, huh?”“About time,” Bethany called from the living room, her voice teasing. She appeared moments later, her glasses perched on her nose and a
**************CHAPTER 33Shawn’s POVThe dimly lit bar reeked of cheap whiskey and regret, the kind of place where people came to drown their failures. For me, it was the perfect setting to plot my comeback.Sipping the amber liquid in my glass, I leaned back in my seat, my mind spinning with plans. The image of Kaia standing tall during her presentation today still burned in my mind, mocking me. She had always been strong, but now, with Blaze Black at her side, she was untouchable.For now.Beside me, Derek, my longtime friend and occasional enabler, swirled his drink lazily. He had the kind of face that could charm most people, but tonight his expression mirrored my simmering frustration.“Still thinking about her?” Derek asked, his tone dripping with disapproval.I scowled. “She humiliated me, Derek. After everything I gave her. And now she’s prancing around like she’s better than me.”Derek raised an eyebrow. “She is married to Blaze Black. That’s a pretty big step up.”I glared
***************CHAPTER 33~Blaze’s POV~The murmurs and whispers in the lobby faded as I strode to my car, my jaw clenched and my mind preoccupied. Kaia’s reaction to Summer’s apology—if it could even be called that—lingered in my thoughts.She was strong and resilient, but I could see the cracks in her armour. Summer’s antics weren’t just irritating; they were dangerous distractions.As I settled into the driver’s seat, my phone buzzed in the cup holder. The screen lit up with my father’s name.I sighed, tempted to let it ring out, but I knew better. With a resigned breath, I answered.“Blaze,” his deep, commanding voice came through the line. “Come home. We need to talk.”“Now?” I asked, irritation lacing my tone.“Yes,” he said firmly. “It’s important.”Reluctantly, I hung up and started the engine, sparing no time to inform Kaia. She would manage without me for the evening. She could handle herself just fine but now, I had some important things to do.***********The Black famil
***************CHAPTER 32~Kaia’s POV~The ride back to the office had been relatively quiet, Blaze’s confident smirk barely leaving his face as I sat beside him, my mind racing with thoughts about the day.When we arrived, I stepped out of the car, expecting the usual hum of activity at Apex Global. Instead, the lobby was filled with whispers, and the reason became clear the moment I heard her voice.“Kaia Gold,” Summer’s shrill tone rang out, amplified by the megaphone she held. “I owe you an apology.”I froze, my stomach dropping. A crowd had gathered in the open atrium, employees pausing their tasks to watch the spectacle unfold.“I deeply regret my actions,” Summer continued, her voice dripping with false sincerity. “I was wrong to tamper with your work, and I hope you’ll find it in your heart to forgive me.”She paused, and for a moment, I thought she might end it there. But then she added with an exaggerated pout, “Though I suppose not everyone has the grace to accept an apolo
***************CHAPTER 32~Kaia’s POV~The parking lot was quieter than usual. I scanned around searching for Blaze’s car when I spotted him at a corner. As I approached the sleek black car waiting for me, the door swung open, and Blaze’s familiar, confident smile greeted me from inside.“You’re late,” he teased lightly.I rolled my eyes but couldn’t help the small smile tugging at my lips. "Not everyone can summon cars instantly."Sliding into the seat, I smoothed my skirt and glanced at him. “So, where exactly are we going, Mr. Black? And what’s this about a surprise?”Blaze’s smile deepened a hint of mischief in his eyes. “You’ll see,” he said cryptically. “Just wait.”The drive to City Hall was uneventful, but my mind raced with curiosity. By the time we arrived, I was more anxious than I cared to admit. Blaze led the way into the impressive marble-floored building; his stride was confident.We were ushered into a conference room where several top executives, both men and women
***************CHAPTER 31~Summer’s POV~The room was empty now, save for Blaze and me. His icy gaze bore into me, and for the first time, I felt a flicker of unease in his presence.Thanks to that bitch Kaia, I was in this deep shit. I thought I had messed up her work to allow Blaze see her incompetence and question the motive for her joining his company but all that backfired.“Summer,” he began, his voice cold, “do you think I’m a fool?”I forced a laugh, though it sounded hollow even to my own ears. “Blaze, I was…”“Mr. Black to you,” he corrected fiercely as he interjected. I swallowed, nodding and correcting myself. “Mr. Black, I was only trying to help. That data was obviously incorrect—”“Incorrect because you tampered with it,” Blaze cut in, his tone sharp enough to slice through steel.I blinked, feigning shock. “Me? That’s ridiculous! Why would I—”“Stop,” Blaze snapped, his hand lifting to silence me. “I have no patience for lies, Summer.”I bit my inner cheek, trying to
***************CHAPTER 29~Kaia’s POV~The boardroom looked very professional with a long glass table, shiny metal details, and walls decorated with Apex Global’s recent successes. There was a bit of tension in the air as executives from various departments took their seats, ready with their laptops and notepads.Blaze sat at the head of the table and I sat to his right, my laptop open and ready. My heart raced, but outwardly, I maintained a calm, confident demeanour.This presentation was critical—not just for the company, but for me.As I rose to begin, the conversation died down, and all eyes turned toward me. The projector screen lit up with the first slide of my carefully prepared presentation.“Good morning, everyone,” I began, despite the nerves swirling in my chest. “Today, I’ll be walking you through the financial strategy and projections for our upcoming expansion into the European market.”The room was silent as I delved into the details, my words accompanied by crisp, pr