Yasmin stiffened at the sudden movement and turned to look at Blake in bewilderment. "What are you doing?""You're sleeping in my arms tonight," Blake said in a hushed tone.A humorless smile tugged at her lips. "Be reasonable, will you? I've already agreed to share your bed. What more do you want? Why must you cross the line and push my buttons?""I'm not the one doing the pushing here," he growled. "Even after you agreed to sleep in my bed, you pulled the covers over your head and sank so close to the edge you could've fallen over. Are you trying to tell me you find me repulsive through your actions?"Yasmin retorted sharply, "Are you going to argue that what you're doing to me is not repulsive and that you don't deserve my hatred?"She doubted anyone in their right mind would tolerate such brutish coercion. She couldn't understand why Blake couldn't respect her boundaries after she had made it clear that she didn't want to be with him.She even told him that they would never w
Blake leaned over and kissed Yasmin's damp hair, murmuring hoarsely, "It's almost daybreak. Get some sleep."His scent overwhelmed her senses. She looked like she had just recalled something, and in the next moment, her stomach churned. Without warning, she leaned over the side of the bed and hurled.She threw up once, twice—only for her to retch again.Blake's eyes widened at the sight of this. He looked around for his phone, and upon finding it, made a call to the doctor.Joel showed up moments later with the therapist in tow, at which point Blake was holding Yasmin's limp figure in his arms. She was quiet and seemingly lifeless, akin to that of a porcelain doll.Joel froze as Blake ordered, "Tend to her."With that, Blake left.The therapist was the one who inspected Yasmin's injuries. When she lifted Yasmin's shirt and found purplish-red marks imprinted on the latter's skin, she gasped. She immediately told Joel about this, who in turn frowned and headed out the door.Bla
Outside the window, the sky gradually darkened as night fell. Upon returning home, Blake went upstairs to find Yasmin sketching in the bedroom with her back facing the door. She seemed engrossed in her work.Blake leaned against the doorway and watched her for a while. At that moment, Mary came up with the dinner tray. Noticing her, Blake offered, "Here, I'll bring the tray in."Mary handed the tray to him. He brought it into the room and prompted gently, "Time for dinner, Yaz."Yasmin turned around and eyed him stonily. "Just leave it there."Blake said nothing as he set the tray down. He then walked over to her work table and watched her sketch with a tender look in his eyes.She felt her skin crawl under his gaze, and she couldn't work with him breathing down her neck. She turned her face to the side and snapped, "You can go now."Yasmin's mood had improved over the last few days since Blake started sleeping in his study. She appreciated the peace that came with his absence.
Yasmin sneered. She knew as well as Blake did that the bodyguards would not be protecting her so much as they would be monitoring her every move.Blake added, "You'll be working from home from now on. You're allowed to visit your father once a week, but that's about it. A life like this doesn't seem too bad to me."This was the arrangement he was happiest with. He could watch over her while she worked from home and keep her from harm. He was certain that Annalise would move on after things on Stuart's end had been resolved.Blake had ignored Yasmin's need for autonomy and freedom in favor of his proposition. She scowled and spat, "No.""Why not?" he pressed. "If you stay here, I can protect you at all times.""I already told you that you were the reason I was in any real danger in the first place! I'll be fine once we go our separate ways." She would be free, too.Blake made no reply. After a long beat of silence, he repeated, "This is for the best."Yasmin stared at him incredu
Yasmin asked, "And what way is that?""A way to save both you and your father from Blake, but I'll need your full cooperation, okay?" Ivan paused before adding, "I need you to tell me honestly, Yasmin—do you want to be with Blake?""Not anymore," she answered after a moment of thought. Reality had proven that she and Blake would never work out. They were like two broken puzzle pieces that could not be fixed or glued together by force.She had grown tired of this relationship. They were better off separated instead of being trapped in this constant tug-of-war.Upon hearing this, Ivan said, "Your birthday is in a week. If you want to leave him, that's your best chance."Yasmin figured Ivan was suggesting that she escape again. She shook her head. "Ivo, there's no use in running. Blake has his men watching me and my father like hawks. No matter where we go, he'll hunt us down and drag us back.""Under normal circumstances, your chances of getting away are slim to none," Ivan said sl
Blake wrapped an arm around Yasmin's shoulders, sounding so indulgent that it made her skin crawl. She asked warily, "What is it?""You'll see," he said with a smile as he pushed the door open.The studio he had designed and built for her was large. It was equipped with a sewing machine, a cloth-cutting machine, a work desk, dummies, and work lamps. The studio had everything a designer could ever need, and the natural light that poured through the balcony windows was a designer's dream.Yasmin's jaw dropped. She wasn't so much shocked by the fully functional studio as she was mortified that this was part of Blake's plan to imprison her. Why else would he build her a studio like this if not to trap her in this house forever?She was still dumbfounded when Blake hugged her from behind and murmured close to her ear, "Do you like it? I built this place for you. You can work here every day after this. I won't stop you from taking orders and sketching from home; at least it would kee
Yasmin was already being watched closely. If she were pregnant, she would never be able to escape."Yaz, time to wake up," Blake said as he perched on the bed and gently shook her shoulder.She stayed still, pretending to be asleep."Sleepyhead," he murmured good-naturedly, chuckling as he leaned down to kiss her.She panicked at this and slowly opened her eyes, putting on her best groggy voice as she asked, "What is it? What's with all the noise?""It's time to get up. We're going to the hospital for a check-up," Blake replied. After that, he picked her up from the bed and carried her to the bathroom, leaving no room for negotiation."Why do we have to get a check-up all of a sudden?" Yasmin asked.He answered plainly, "For our annual health examination, of course. Did you forget?"He was lying, which meant he was indeed trying to secretly get her pregnant. The thought of this sent a chill running down Yasmin's spine, but she put on a feeble act as she mumbled, "But I don't wa
That afternoon, Yasmin sat in the garden and wondered what she would do for the rest of her life. When no answer came to her, she grew despondent and decided to take a walk.She invited Eunice to join her for tea outside, and the latter agreed.After getting out of the car, Yasmin frowned at the few bodyguards who trailed her. She turned to Tyler and groused, "I'm just getting tea with my friend, Tyler. I'll take a window seat so you can get a clear view of me, but don't follow me in, okay?"She didn't want Blake's bodyguards overhearing her private conversation with her friend.Thankfully, Tyler was reasonable enough to stop the other bodyguards. "We'll wait outside for Mrs. Ford."Only then did the bodyguards return to the car.Satisfied, Yasmin entered the restaurant alone. She had only just stepped through the door when she heard someone whisper, "That's her! That's Yasmin Starr, the famous designer whose father killed James Ford, the former patriarch of the prestigious Ford