**************CHAPTER 79~Kaia’s POV~I stretched lazily on the bed, enjoying the silence of Blaze’s bedroom. Since this morning at the company, both of us have more or less minded our business. Blaze had stepped into the bathroom for a shower, leaving me to my thoughts.Everything about today had been exhausting. From David’s unexpected visit to the office to Blaze’s over-the-top jealousy, I was drained.Blaze was getting possessive, and I couldn’t understand why. Was it just his ego? Or something else entirely?A notification popped up on my phone screen, pulling me from my thoughts. I reached for it, unlocking the screen to see a message from David.David Mercer: If you ever want out of your situation with Blaze, I’m more than happy to offer you a position elsewhere. No strings attached.I frowned. Out of my situation?It wasn’t shocking that David saw through my marriage. He was smart, and he had always been perceptive. But still, what was he getting at? Did he mean business and
**************CHAPTER 80~Kaia’s POV~I had barely calmed down from my argument with Blaze when my phone vibrated again.It was David.David: "There’s a business gala tomorrow night. High-profile investors, networking opportunities—the works. If you’re interested, I’d love for you to be my plus one."I stared at the message, chewing my lip.Going out with David Mercer wasn’t exactly the best idea. He was charming, flirtatious, and, most importantly, a thorn in Blaze’s side.Which meant…A slow smirk tugged at my lips. Would it be petty? Absolutely. Would it piss Blaze off? Without a doubt.But after what happened earlier—after the way he trapped me against the wall, kissed me, then refused to answer me when I asked if he loved me—I was done playing it safe.I quickly typed my response.Kaia: Sounds like a good networking opportunity. I’ll be there.David’s reply came almost immediately.David: Excellent. I’ll send a car to pick you up at 8.I put my phone down, exhaling deeply. Was t
**************CHAPTER 81~Kaia’s POV~The moment the car door shut behind me, I knew I had made a mistake.The tension between Blaze and me was overwhelming. He sat beside me, his body taut with frustration, his jaw clenched so tightly I swore it might crack.I crossed my arms, matching his silence with my own, staring out the window as the driver pulled away from the gala.We didn’t speak.The silence stretched; it was almost suffocating.Then—Blaze exhaled sharply and when he spoke, it felt like a blade cutting through the thick silence. “What the hell were you thinking?”I turned to him, feigning innocence. “Excuse me?”His blue eyes flashed. “Going out with David Mercer? Really?”I arched a brow. “It was business.”Blaze let out a humourless laugh. “Bullshit. You knew exactly what you were doing.”My fingers tightened around my clutch. “Oh? And what was I doing, Blaze?”His gaze darkened. “You were trying to piss me off.”I scoffed. “Not everything is about you.”Blaze shifted in
**************CHAPTER 82~Shyne’s POV~I swirled the champagne in my glass, watching the golden liquid dance under the morning light filtering through the grand windows of the Silver mansion.It was early—too early to be drinking—but I didn’t care.My mind was elsewhere. It had been since last night.I closed my eyes for a brief moment, letting myself sink into the memory of the previous evening.The moment I walked into David Mercer’s party, I was looking for him. Blaze.But instead, my eyes had landed on her—Kaia Black.A bitter taste filled my mouth at the thought. That woman should have never been there. She should have never been anywhere near Blaze. She was nothing.She wasn’t a Silver heiress like me. She wasn’t raised in wealth and in power. She wasn’t born into this world—she had merely stumbled into it.And somehow, she had taken what was supposed to be mine.She wasn’t supposed to be the one sleeping in his bed. His last name shouldn’t have belonged to her eitherBut inste
**************CHAPTER 83~Blaze’s POV~~The Previous Evening~I slammed the car door shut harder than necessary.Fuck.I ran a hand through my hair, my mind still replaying the way Kaia had looked at me before she walked away.The defiance in her eyes. The frustration. The confusion.And that kiss.I exhaled sharply, my fingers brushing over my lips. I had lost control.That wasn’t part of the plan.That wasn’t supposed to happen.But the moment she had challenged me, the moment she had tested me, I couldn’t stop myself.I had kissed her, and she had kissed me back. Willingly. Desperately. And I felt it—the way her body had melted against mine, the way she had held onto me like she didn’t want to let go.She could pretend all she wanted. She felt this too.And yet… "Tell me… Do you love me?"I clenched my jaw, irritation flickering in my chest.Love? No. I didn’t do love, not after losing Iris. Love was messy. It made people weak. It clouded judgement. And I refused to be weak.So wh
**************CHAPTER 84~Kaia’s POV~The next morning, I woke up feeling like I had been hit by a freight train. My mind was still a mess from last night—Blaze’s words, his touch, the way he had held me against the wall, his lips so close but his heart so far.I hated him.No. That was a lie.I hated how he made me feel.The way his jealousy burned into me. The way he claimed he didn’t love me, yet everything he did screamed otherwise.I let out a frustrated groan, rubbing my temples. I needed distance. Space. A moment where I didn’t have to think about him or the way he had kissed me in that damn car like I was his.Tossing the covers off, I got up, took my bath and changed into a black pencil skirt and a soft lavender blouse. A power move. If I looked confident, I could fake it. I grabbed my phone and keys, avoiding Blaze entirely as I left the house.I had work to do.**************~At the Office~The familiar click-click of my heels against the marble floors of the company stead
**************CHAPTER 85~Kaia’s POV~Blaze’s lips brushed against mine, softly. His warm breath teased my cheek, and I froze.My brain screamed at me to push him away. To remind him that this wasn’t real. That he had no right to do this to me.But my body? My traitorous body leaned into him, my heart hammering, my skin burning from just his proximity.Blaze smirked against my lips, sensing my hesitation. “What’s wrong, wifey?” he murmured, his voice dripping with amusement and something else. Something dangerous.I exhaled shakily. “Blaze…”He didn’t move away. If anything, he stepped closer, his strong arms caging me against the wall, his lips hovering near mine, his fingers brushing against my waist.His voice lowered. “Tell me to stop.”I hated him.I hated the way he knew exactly what he was doing. How he played this game so well, like he was testing me, daring me to admit that I wanted this as much as he did.I opened my mouth, ready to shove him away, ready to end this insanit
**************CHAPTER 86~Kaia’s POV~I arrived at the company as usual and decided to put in some work at the HOF office before going to Blaze’s. What I wasn’t expecting was the stupid surprise that awaited me. The moment my assistant buzzed in, I could tell something was wrong.“Ma’am, I, uh…” she hesitated. “Shawn Caldwell is here to see you. He says it’s important.”I froze.The name alone sent a shiver of irritation through me.Shawn? Here? Why?I had blocked him, ignored him, and made it crystal clear that I wanted nothing to do with him. And yet, here he was, bold as ever, daring to show up at my workplace.I exhaled sharply. My first instinct was to have security throw him out, but then…No.If Shawn wanted to play games, then fine. I needed to put an end to things with him anyway and finish whatever shenanigans he has had with me.“Send him in,” I said coolly.Moments later, the office door swung open, and Shawn Caldwell walked in looking as smug as ever.He raised his shoul
*************Kaia’s POVThe car ride home was mostly quiet.Blaze was at the wheel, one hand on the steering, the other occasionally tapping against his thigh. I didn’t press him for conversation. We were both exhausted. Meetings all day, back-to-back check-ins with the project team, Kayne Kyle hovering like a charming shadow I didn’t ask for.By the time we pulled into the estate, the sky was already turning dusky blue, the last traces of sunset melting into the city skyline behind us.As soon as we stepped through the front doors, we were greeted by the scent of something warm and cinnamon-sweet wafting through the air.Blaze raised a brow. “Smells like cake.”“It’s too quiet,” I muttered, glancing around the hallway. “Which means—”“She’s back,” he finished.Sure enough, when we turned the corner into the main sitting room, there she was.Grandma Black.Sitting upright and elegant in her floral-print blouse and pearls, legs crossed, a steaming cup of tea in her hand and a full spr
*****************CHAPTER 127~Author’s POV~The rooftop lounge of Seraphine, one of the city’s most exclusive members-only clubs, buzzed with low conversation and jazz humming through golden speakers. The skyline burned orange with the last of the sunset, and the air was thick with cigar smoke and quiet power.Kayne arrived just as David Mercer waved him over from a private corner booth.“Good timing,” David said smoothly, raising his glass as Kayne took the seat across from him.“I figured you'd pick somewhere dramatic,” Kayne replied with a chuckle, resting his blazer on the arm of the chair. “What are we drinking to?”“Progress.” David leaned forward, his tone was much cooler now. “And control.”Kayne raised a brow. “Sounds vague.”“Blaze is unravelling. Slowly. I’ve seen it. Ever since Kaia, he’s more emotional, more unpredictable. You showing up—getting close to her—it’s exactly what we need to keep him off balance.”Kayne smiled lazily, but his eyes sharpened. “You sound like
*****************CHAPTER 126~Author’s POV~The evening sun shone through the tall windows of Kayne Kyle’s penthouse suite, filling the space with warm light. From the top floor, the sprawling city unfolded—buildings like steel giants against a cotton-candy sky. But Kayne’s gaze was inward, fixed on the amber liquid swirling in his glass as his feet rested on the cool surface of the glass coffee table.The intercom’s soft buzz broke the silence. “Sir, Mr. Draven is here.”A smile touched Kayne’s lips. He stood and straightened the cuffs of his shirt. “Send him up.”Two minutes later, the door yielded, and Draven Davion entered. Dressed in a black shirt and dark jeans, his attire suggested ease, yet his presence never did. He moved with confidence into his cousin’s house while his eyes raked the surroundings. “Nice place,” Draven commented, his gaze sweeping over the penthouse a second time as though taking in anything he missed on first glance. “As expected.”Kayne chuckled, extend
*****************CHAPTER 125~Kaia’s POV~I was still sitting in the living room of my parents’ house when my phone buzzed beside me.Blaze.For a second, I considered ignoring it. My mind was still wrapped around the truth I had just uncovered. The weight of that document hadn’t left my chest since I found it.But I answered.“Kaia,” Blaze’s voice came through, warm and deep. “I was thinking… dinner tonight? Just the two of us.”I hesitated, shifting on the couch. “I don’t think—”“It doesn’t have to be anything serious,” he cut in, gently. “Just you and me. Good food. Maybe some dessert we don’t finish because I can’t keep my hands off you.”I should’ve laughed. I almost did.But something in me wasn’t ready. Not tonight. Not after everything.Still, I couldn’t bring myself to say no to him. Not when he sounded so hopeful.“I’ll meet you there,” I said quietly.Later that evening, I arrived at the restaurant he had chosen—Maison Lune, a softly lit, elegant space tucked into a quiet
*****************CHAPTER 124~Author’s POV~Eriel Black was sitting in his cozy study, gently swirling the last bit of his aged whiskey in a crystal glass. The late morning sun poured in through the tall windows, filling the room with a warm golden light, but his mind was anything but calm.Not today.He had barely finished reading through his messages when one of the housekeepers knocked softly and entered with a bow.“Sir… Miss Crystal is here. She’s waiting for you in the living room.”Eriel’s brows lifted slightly. That was fast.He stood up without a word, set his glass down on the desk, and walked down the long hallway. The housekeeper disappeared behind him as he stepped into the big living room.And there she was.Crystal sat elegantly on one of the couches like she had all the time in the world, her legs crossed, one hand casually resting on the armrest as though she hadn’t been at the centre of a brewing storm. Her smile was faint, polite… and empty.“Uncle,” she greeted s
*****************CHAPTER 123~Kaia’s POV~The soft rays of sunlight filtered into the room through the sheer curtains, casting faint golden stripes across the bed. I stirred slowly, my limbs sore and heavy, my skin still tingling from the night before.The space beside me was empty.Blaze was gone.I blinked slowly, adjusting to the light. The room still smelled like him—warm skin, spice, and something undeniably masculine. I shifted slightly, my body humming in the places he had touched, kissed, and worshipped.As the memories returned, my face heated.I remembered how his mouth felt between my legs, how he growled my name like he needed it to breathe. And when we’d both passed out, exhausted and bare, I remembered waking up sometime in the middle of the night with his face nuzzled between my breasts, his soft breath warming my skin, his lips pressing lazy kisses there as if he never wanted to leave.I smiled to myself, biting my bottom lip.But just as I reached for the covers to r
*****************CHAPTER 122~Kaia’s POV~"I... I—""Cum," Blaze ordered.His teeth sank into my clit, and his fingers curled, and that was it.The dam burst, and my entire body convulsed.My voice cracked, and my limbs went numb."Fuck!"My body convulsed, and I was shaking, twitching, and shuddering.It was never-ending, and I couldn't breathe.His mouth stayed locked, sucking, and his fingers didn't stop moving.It was too much."BLAZE!!"But, Blaze kept his mouth where it was, and his fingers were relentless, and all I could do was cry his name, over and over, until I thought I might pass out.Finally, just when I was about to lose consciousness, Blaze's mouth slowed. He kissed and sucked lightly, his fingers drawing circles on the outside of my core."Are you okay?" he whispered, his mouth leaving my clit and returning to mine.I couldn't answer. It took about two minutes for me to fully recover all the while I smiled at him."Yes. Yes, I am," I replied."Good. Now, can I have y
*****************CHAPTER 121~Kaia’s POV~Blaze's tongue pushed deeper into my mouth, and I moaned. His steps faltered, and his grip around me, tightened.My mind was racing, trying to keep up with what was happening around me. But I knew where this was going, and I didn't want to stop it.We got to my room, and he kicked the door shut, and the next second, he was on me. His lips trailed down my neck, and his hands found the front of my robe.I gasped, but Blaze just continued his trail of kisses down my chest, tugging the thin fabric open as his lips explored the curve of my breasts."Fuck," I gasped.Blaze kissed lower, down my stomach and his hands slid beneath me, squeezing my ass, kneading, pulling me up, and then he dropped me gently on the bed.I landed on the sheets and sat up, but Blaze was already kneeling in front of me, his mouth inches from mine, his eyes wild."Kaia," he whispered. "Last chance. Tell me to stop."I shook my head. "No. I don't want you to stop. Ever."He
*****************CHAPTER 120~Kaia’s POV~Dinner ended with the same polished charm it started with. I tried not to stay too late. Once we were done discussing business, I finished my meal before announcing that I wanted to take my leave. Thankfully, he wasn’t much trouble and allowed me to leave. Kayne accompanied me out of the restaurant like he had all the time in the world. The valet handed over my keys, and I walked ahead, mentally reviewing everything we had discussed. Every word. Every pause. Every calculated compliment.I stopped beside my car, turning to say a brief goodbye.“Thank you for dinner,” I said politely but guardedly.Kayne didn’t move right away. He simply stepped closer, not into my space, just near enough that I noticed. Then, with the same smooth confidence he wore like a second skin, he leaned in and kissed my cheek once, then the other.It was light, professional or formal and nothing out of control but I was still tense.He straightened and extended his h