AUTHOR’S POV"Alright, that'll be all," the cameraman straightened. Blaze felt like he should have said that long ago; he had taken like a hundred pictures by now. It was almost like he wanted to make sure this day would be imprinted in their memories, which it would be anyway, especially since neither of his parents was in any of the pictures.That hurt. He could easily picture his mother wrapping her arm around him, a gentle smile that reached her eyes on her face as they posed for the camera. Then, throw a Maverick on Lily's side, and the wedding would be complete.Hunter ran up to him, breathing heavily. His first two buttons were already undone, and Blaze frowned slightly. That was not the typical groomsman look. He was supposed to maintain an unruffled appearance throughout the day. Or maybe he was just annoyed because he couldn't undo a few buttons of his suit."Lily's family wants to have a word with you. I think they want to give a toast," he said."I already met them," Blaze
AUTHOR’S POV"Tell me, why are you the only one getting all these messages?" Bill asked, staring at the message again. They were both seated now and had been for a while. Blaze had even called for a glass of wine. Blaze shrugged; he had wondered that same thing. "I may not be, though; perhaps my brother's got this too." There was no way for him to know that. Just like he didn't show or tell them about it, they could also decide to do the same if they had gotten any messages. He made a mental note to ask Axel about it. It would help to know if these messages were directed to them lnor only him specifically.Bill stood up. He had already agreed to track the number for him, and he didn't think that would be difficult, just like he had been able to track Blaze's caller. "Wait," Blaze said. It looked like Bill was preparing to leave. "when are you going to do this?""I don't think there's a rush. How about tomorrow?"Blaze shook his head. He had waited till the end of the wedding to ta
AUTHOR’S POVHe had just opened his car door when the driveway was flooded with light. He turned to see Axel standing in the doorway. "Off so soon?" He called, leaning against the balcony. Blaze's movement suddenly seemed unusual. First, he stayed back to talk to that strange man, and now he was running off at the start of his dinner. "I'll be back," Blaze called back. "Did Lily tell you to get me I'm there again?"Axel chuckled. "She didn't need to, and it's plain on her face that she was troubled. It's your wedding night, Blaze, and you should be with your bride.""if anyone tells me that again, I'll punch him in the face," Blaze muttered. He opened the door again, ready to drive off, when he remembered wanting to ask Axel something."Axel, did you get a message?""It's kinda hard to hear you from that distance," Axel said. He had a wicked grin as Blaze groaned and walked closer to him. It felt good to look down at Blaze from the balcony and have Blaze look up at him, too. "I got
KATIE’S POVAfter the weird call from Dorris saying something about the will, I headed back inside to find a Blue cake on the counter. It was out of the box so that I could see the pretty designs on it. We didn't sell cakes here, so this was definitely for someone. But who? I made my way in, noticing that the waiters and waitresses were putting up a few decorations on the windows. "Hey Katie, where have you been?" Olivia asked, rushing towards me. Before I could reply, she shoved the bottle of wine into my open hands. "Could you help me place that on the centre table?""What's going on?" I asked, but she was off already. My eyes darted towards the centre of the room, and there was a table decorated with a flowery print tablecloth, not the usual plain white with a blue diamond in between that we used. It felt like I just walked into a party."There is the birthday girl", someone squealed. I recognised her voice, it was Tasha. But I paid her no attention, turning to the door to see
KATIE’S POVI stared at her for a while, dumbfounded, as her words sank in repeatedly. Her eyes remained glued to mine, and I could tell she wanted an answer.But how?Zuhra was always a shoulder to lean on, but I never saw her more than a friend and a sister. Love wasn't something I was willing to try. Ever again."Are you serious?" I asked, my voice rising a little."Look, I know it sounds.. unusual, but I like you, Tessa. It feels so wonderful to be around you, and I never want that to end. Hell, I'd even like to be the mother of your child...""Okay, hold it up" I raised a hand to cut her short. I felt like the world was slipping from under my feet. "You're freaking out,” Zuhra sounded deflated. Well, who wouldn't?A woman with scars like mine would run a million miles away from anything with the letter L."Is that why you've been so nice to me? So that when you show your true intentions, I wouldn't be able to say no?" I asked, my voice breaking as my heart skipped a beat as I
AUTHOR’S POVBlaze stared at the device in his hands, a blue-cased disposable phone. In his other hand was the sim card that contained the number used to send him that message."You may leave," he told the servant who had brought it."Call me the head of staff," he added as the servant left the parlor where he was seated. He had expected to find the phone in someone's possession; perhaps he would have if he had come down here immediately after he saw where the tracking device led. But he had been too busy, attending to his company and trying to give Lily attention when his mind was preoccupied.It served him right that the servant had found the phone in the garden, spoilt by last night's rain. He was surprised he was still able to trace the sim card. Bill's friend knew his job."You called?" A soft voice spoke, and he looked up. Doris stood before him, hands clasped behind her as though waiting for an order."Who owns this?" He asked, waving the phone.Doris tried to keep the wince o
AUTHOR’S POV"What's this I hear about the truth of Dad's death?" Axel asked, stepping into the dining room. Blaze grunted over the phone. He sounded tired."Have they found the person who sent the message?" He asked "I knew it was you who put up this search. Everyone here is talking about the murder case bigger than they thought. Even the house is speaking."In every corridor where he found servants, they talked in hushed tones about how Katie was supposedly framed. It was annoying that Blaze believed that, all because of a message sent to him from an anonymous number. "Well, that's because this is bigger than any of us thought," Blaze countered."How?" Axel asked. It was pretty simple to him, even with how complex it was when the police were still investigating. He thought they had left that case behind them, and here Blaze was bringing it up again."It's not something I can explain over the phone," Blaze said. "Are you in the house?""Yes," Axel replied.Blaze was there earlier,
AUTHOR’S POV"I can't find him," the young servant said with his head slightly bowed.All three brothers raised their eyebrows. What was that supposed to mean? Had the butler just disappeared into thin air?"Well, did you look for him?" Axel asked, speaking slowly."We have searched the whole house. He's not here."Blaze gave Axel a knowing look. "Looks like someone tipped him off, and he made the run for it."If he was doubtful that he knew something, now he was sure. Blaze considered what Hunter said about him being the killer. That, too, was highly possible.It was amusing, though, that Sebastian thought he could run away that easily. "He wants to play a Katie on us now, does he?" Blaze muttered. Katie had gotten away, but Sebastian was going nowhere. Hunter let out a surprised laugh. Surprises sprung on every side these days. "How could he know we want to question him?"At that, Axel turned to Blaze. "well, thanks to your brother who let the news of Katie's supposed innocence get
Axel followed the man who came to take him out of the cell. He wasn't sure how long he spent here, but long enough to be really glad to be out. The smell of soap lingered on his skin, a bit too strong, but he welcomed it. It had been a long time since he used soap."There's your ride," the man said, pointing at the sleek red Camry parked in the parking lot of the station. In front of it stood Katie, arms crossed around her protruding middle.Axel felt a sad smile tug at the corners of his lips. Even in jail, he heard of the marriage between Katie and Blaze when Cicely came to visit.His smile disappeared as he remembered her expression when she spoke. The wistfulness in her eyes... It was obvious that she wished for her wedding, and she couldn't even have it soon.He had long made up his mind to marry her immediately after he got out of jail. He was able to beg her forgiveness, and she must really love him for actually letting all he did go. She assured him she'd wait; that was the onl
Author's pov Axel sat on Cicely's bed after several minutes of pacing the area and waiting for her to show up. Where the hell has she gone? He was considering going out to search for her when the door opened.But it was not Cicely who stepped through; and it was Lily with a painted expression on her face. "Axel," she began.He already knew what she wanted. Now that their plans had flopped, she probably wanted them to come up with a bigger plan."Save it, Lily, we're through." He shook his head in regret. "I was so foolish ever to think that this would actually work.""What do you mean by we're through?" Lily asked. "We're in this together, right?"Axel sighed. "Let it go, Lily. Find a way to get a new life...""A new life?" She looked devastated. "But I'm pregnant... I have nowhere to go, and you can't just leave me alone.""I have to," Axel replied. "I have to make things up with Blaze, and I know I'll be able to do that if I try.""And what about me, Axel?" Lily said, raising her v
Author's pov Blaze grinned as Tristan made his way to the dining room, where he and Katie were seated. It was a miracle how he could track his location with his phone number and then check all the buildings around for them. He never would have asked for a better friend; Tristan had already proven himself in more ways than he could count.Katie looked up from her phone. "Is that the man going to give us updates?" she asked.Blaze nodded. He was surprised Katie wasn't running from him by now. She even let him stay in her house without him asking. It made him wonder if the past few days' events had softened her towards him instead of making her hate him. He tried not to get his hopes up, though; her niceness didn't mean she'd like to end up with him, as he started to hope for. He couldn't help hoping, no matter how ridiculous it sounded.He wanted Katie back in his life despite all that had happened. As far as he was concerned, he was done with Lily. Katie should have been the one fro
KATIE’S POVNo way, I thought, staring at him and searching for any resemblance to Maverick. I could see none, but then again, I could barely see Maverick's face clearly in my mind. It had been so long ago, like another lifetime."You're lying," Blaze accused. With how he looked at Dylan, I was almost glad he was restricted from doing anything to him. Almost, though, in truth, I wished Blaze was free."Am I now?" Dylan said quietly, coming closer to Blaze. "When my mother got pregnant for your father, he left her, all because he saw a richer woman. You see, Maverick was a coward. His only way to survive was to milk off others' profits, and that's really who you're defending," he asked, turning to me.I stared at him, taking each word with a pinch of salt. I didn't want to believe him since he was the reason I was trapped here, and he even tried to kill me at the end of all this.But then, there was no other explanation for the absolute hate in his eyes as he spoke of Maverick. And why
Katie's povI gasped, staring at the limp bodies of Lily and Axel. "Oh my gosh, are they dead?" I exclaimed."Not dead, darling," the woman said. "These are stun guns," she waved the gun in her hand for emphasis."What kind of stun gun allows the victims to talk to?" Lily muttered against the floor. It was a comical sight seeing her lying there helpless when a moment ago she was gloating over us."The type we use, obviously," the woman replied. I squinted at her, unable to bear my curiosity anymore."Who are you?" I was trying to decide if she was a hero or a villain. She teetered on the edge of both, and I wouldn't say I liked that.She turned to me with a sigh and took off her mask. I gasped, eyes widening as I stared into the face of my former savior. The one person who believed me when I said I didn't kill Maverick and who helped me escape.Right on time again to get me out of this situation. "Doris?" I asked."Not just her." The man beside her said, taking off his mask too. I gas
Chapter 133Author's pov Blaze raised an eyebrow. "I'm surprised." The answer was clear: if their places were switched, he would eliminate Axel before he could ruin the big plan."Surprised?" Axel asked. "You didn't think I'd be able to kill you if necessary?""No, I'm surprised we might think the same way," Blaze clarified. He saw the twitch in Axel's jaw, showing that he was irritated by that statement, which made him smile."Not the same way, brother. I'm way ahead of you.""Correct me if I'm wrong, but are both of you arguing about who thinks better right now?" Katie asked, turning to Blaze.Blaze nodded. "I'm trying to make sure there isn't a bigger brain behind this plot of his. Hard to believe it's just you, Axel."And not only that, he was stalling for time. Anything to keep Axel from rounding off his plan soon because if that happened, he would kill both of them so quickly.He wasn't afraid for himself, but Katie concerned him. She was already broken, and having no hope of s
Author's pov Katie gasped, staring at Axel. Of all the people she would have suspected, he wasn't even near her suspect list. Tears blurred her vision as she remembered what he said about her daughter."You beast!" she screamed, lunging forward. Curse these ropes; she would have been able to do something terrible to him. She wanted to hurt him just as he hurt her."How could you? All this while, after how close I was to your family, this is how you treat me? Why?" It was pointless straining to reach him; she slumped against the wall in defeat."I'm sorry about the child. That was not my intention. But it is what it is," Axel began, shrugging as he spoke. He had been shocked to hear."Fuck you, Axel!" Blaze thundered. How could he say he was sorry now? For killing his child, someone he hadn't even met in person.Blaze took a deep breath to calm himself down. The level of anger he was feeling was overwhelming, and the fact that he had no means to channel it out was the worst thing abou
Author's pov No, Katie gasped as Blaze fell to the ground. All that came out, though, was a frantic intake of breath, as she could not speak through the gag she hated so much. After all she had tried to tell Blaze, this stupid piece of cloth prevented her from saying anything.She wished she could rip it off, but her hands were bound, too. They had been since the first day. She glared at the man who knocked Blaze out, wishing she could wipe that smug grin off his face.He turned to her. "Don't look at me that way; he was foolish to come alone."He crouched to her level. "And if he did alert the police, then I'm afraid we'll have to kill you immediately. Either way, our mission will be accomplished."If looks could kill, he would be burned to smithereens by now. First, he wouldn't tell her anything about her child, and now he was threatening to kill her. After keeping her here for days, he did not even have a clue what to do to get him to free her."Just tell me what you want. Why do
Katie's povI blinked, confused. I could have sworn that my eyes were open, but surely, if they were, I would be able to see something. As it was, there was just nothing—pitch-black darkness, the oppressive kind that seemed to close in on you.I shut my eyes again and opened the—same thing. Now I was getting worried. In a rush, it all came back. I was in the car, just discharged from the hospital. There was music, and there was my baby in my arms.A baby that was no longer there since my hands were bound in front of me. I could barely feel my hands, and they were bound so tightly. I shifted, noting that there was a wall behind me, which I was leaning on.My feet were bound, too, most likely with the same material. I hated being tied up. It reminded me of the time when I was sold to the Griffins, a time I never wish to remember anymore.But at the moment, that was the least of my problems. Where was my child? Whoever had taken me couldn't have taken her away, too.It only became hard t