Yasmin couldn't help the blood that rushed to her face. After Blake was done assessing her, he looked up and said in a softer tone, "I'll have someone deliver medication for you later."]She pouted and groused, "Now do you see what you put me through?"Blake hadn't seen her look so wounded for a while, and her girlish voice sent him into a daze. He remained in a stupor for a while before he teased, "You're the one who provoked me when you don't even have what it takes to bear the consequences. You overestimated yourself."Yasmin did not want to blush, but her face warmed when she heard his playful words. Her hair cascaded past her shoulders, accentuating her delicate silhouette.She looked so enticing that Blake couldn't help kissing her again. He said in a hoarse voice, "Be good next time."True to his word, someone delivered medication to Yasmin later in the morning. Her face was crimson as she took the tub of ointment. When the bodyguard assigned to bring her meals showed up, s
Blake was only going to offer her two more days of recuperation. Yasmin's lips tightened at this as frustration seized her. She dared to ask, "Isn't anyone looking for me? I've been missing for days."She surmised that at least five or six days had passed since Blake brought her here.Blake replied, "Yes, Ivan is going berserk looking for you. But he ran into a few problems, and he has no resources to continue his search for you.""How did you stall him?""I gave him hell, of course. His company is plagued with several crises, and he's risking getting blown up or assassinated just by being out on the street..." There was a dark look in Blake's eyes as he trailed off. These were the things Ivan had ordered be done to him, and he was simply returning the favor."Did you come to Merania to kill him?" Yasmin pressed."What, are you worried that I'm going to end your precious fiancé's life?" Blake grabbed her jaw and grinned at her fiendishly, though the amusement did not reach his ey
Blake was saying this because he did not believe Yasmin, still thinking she was lying. He had been lied to before with devastating outcomes. Once bitten, twice shy; it was only natural that he had his guard up against her.Yasmin took a deep breath and said, "My grandmother has yet to escape Ivan's evil clutches. I was at the hospital the other day to scope things out. He's hired a lot of people to keep an eye on her.""So what are your plans? Are you trying to get me to rescue your grandmother?" Blake asked, staring at her evenly.She took a sip of water and said, "No, I don't want to trouble you. I just want you to give me some time to work out a plan to save my grandmother."In truth, she planned on bringing Stuart and Imogen out of the country with her, along with Sander International's trade secrets. But she had no idea what those trade secrets were, and she needed time to uncover them.She didn't want Blake helping her with such endeavors, either. The last thing she wanted w
Blake froze at the sight of this. He hurried over to the bed and pulled Yasmin into his arms. Her skin was burning to the touch, and she had gone delirious with the fever."Yasmin," he called her name, urging her to respond.Her head lolled to the side and thumped against his chest. She was so out of it that she could not even answer him.Blake's heart sank. He quickly had Malcolm call for help. "Malcolm, get a female doctor over here."A doctor showed up moments later. After examining Yasmin, she informed Blake that the fever was a result of over-exertion. In other words, he had been so rough on her that whatever injuries she sustained took a toll on her system.The doctor prescribed medication and warned Blake to pace himself.Blake scowled as he took the prescription and returned to the room. Yasmin was curled up on the bed, and the chill had her wrapping her arms around herself. "Blake…" she mumbled, her lips trembling.He stiffened when he heard this. He walked over and gin
Blake sat on the edge of the bed and said softly, "I told you I wouldn't kill you and that I'd give you a second chance if you just stayed with me forever.""I don't want that, either!" Yasmin turned to look at him, her body curled into a fetal position. "My grandmother is in mortal danger, and you expect me to go back to Stanton City with you? "I just need a little more time to work things out, but you refuse to give it to me. Why are you in such a hurry to go back anyway?"Her large eyes were filled with tears, and her face was streaked with them too.Blake pursed his lips and explained, "I just don't want any more problems to crop up.""And what problems would I cause by saving my grandmother?" Sensing that he might relent, Yasmin sat up in bed and climbed onto his lap, pouting. "I'm begging you to give me some time, Blake. I'm not asking for your help or anything, just more time."If you're busy, you can go back to Stanton City without me. Once I've sorted things out here in
Blake took slow, deep breaths as he wrapped his arms around Yasmin's frame through the blanket. Resting his chin atop her head, he murmured, "Stop fooling around. You've been sick for two days. I can't promise I won't hurt you if you keep teasing the beast out of me."Yasmin blushed as he cocooned her in his arms. She cupped the sides of his neck as she asked, "So you'll give me the time I need to work things out?""If you betray me, I won't show you any mercy in bed," Blake warned. He wasn't sure what he was thinking or why he agreed to her request. Perhaps he didn't want things to grow tense between them. He would rather they spent their days in love than with hatred for one another.His lips brushed against hers as he added, "Also, you agreed that I get to monitor your movements."Yasmin didn't expect him to demand this, but she could not take back her words. As such, she nodded grimly and said, "Very well."They slept together that night. While he stayed true to his word and
Tristan was quiet for a moment before he said, "I miss you, Mommy."Yasmin's heart cracked open at that. "I miss you too, Trist. How's Cladset? Are you having fun?""I'm having a blast! It's awesome, but it'd be even greater if you were here, Mommy.""I'm so sorry I can't be there because of work. Besides, Grandma had only just gone through surgery, so I'll need to take care of her. Look after yourself while you're in Cladset. Be sure to eat your meals on time, okay?" Yasmin reminded."I know, Mommy. I'm not a kid anymore. I can take care of myself," Tristan said with boyish pride. "The art here is amazing. Pearl and I visited a few art museums. They're all so pretty!"Tristan's appreciation for art was beyond his years. Yasmin couldn't help being impressed by Blake's superior genes. She spoke to Tristan for a bit more before ending the call. She dared not carry on the conversation for too long, lest someone walked into the room and caught her.She called Vanessa next and told
Blake recalled that his study had a lock, and only by scanning his fingerprint could one unlock the door. As such, he never suspected Yasmin to be the one who stole the trade secrets.Yasmin looked somewhat uncomfortable as she admitted, "When I saw the biometric scan on your study door, I told Ivan that the job couldn't be done. But he told me he could help me if I got your fingerprints. "So while you were sleeping, I got your fingerprint on a piece of special tape and handed it to someone else to process for the biometric scan…"After the fingerprint had been processed and replicated, Yasmin used it to unlock the door to Blake's study. There were a ton of bodyguards milling about the estate at the time, but they were outside. Blake had always valued their privacy and did not like anyone interrupting their time alone. Save for the lock on his study door, he did not guard against her at all.Just like that, Yasmin snapped pictures of a few documents and placed them back into the