FAITH
I pushed the door open, the familiar creak echoing through the small hallway of our apartment. My feet felt like lead after a long shift, and all I could think about was the stack of assignments waiting for me on my desk.
But tonight wasn’t about that.
It was my mom's birthday, and even though I couldn’t afford much, I had managed to bring home her favorite cake. I glanced down at the white box in my hands, hoping it would be enough to make her smile.
"Mom?" I called out, stepping inside.
The apartment felt eerily quiet, but I figured she might be in her room, probably resting after a long day of work herself.
As I made my way down the hallway, I heard something—a faint rustling sound coming from her bedroom.
My heart quickened. I wasn’t expecting anyone else here. “Mom?” I called again, louder this time, but no answer came.
I pushed the door open, and my breath hitched in my throat.
There he was—my dad, Ezra, rummaging through my wardrobe like he had every right to be there.
My heart dropped. What was he even doing here? He hasn't lived with us for years.
“Dad?” My voice came out sharper than I intended. He didn’t stop, didn’t even look up, just kept rifling through my things. “What are you doing here?”
Finally, he glanced up, his gaze cold. “None of your business,” he muttered, his hand now pulling out a small wad of cash I had stashed away.
No, no, no.
My chest tightened.
That money… I had been saving it for weeks, trying to put together enough to get a birthday gift for Austin, my boyfriend. His birthday was coming up, and I wanted it to be special. And now, it was in my dad’s hands.
“Dad, stop! That’s my money!” I moved toward him, panic rising in my throat. “Please, just leave it. You can’t take that.”
He let out a bitter laugh, stuffing the cash into his pocket as if it meant nothing to him, but I knew it meant everything to me.
“Why do you always have to make things so difficult, Faith?” His voice was laced with irritation. He made a move to walk past me, but I blocked his way. My hands were trembling, but I stood firm.
“I said leave it!” I reached for his arm, trying to pull the money from his grip. “You can’t just walk in here and take things that don’t belong to you!”
Before I knew it, his hand lashed out. The sharp slap cracked across my face, sending a wave of shock through my body. I stumbled back, the sting searing my skin.
“Dad!” I cried out, but he wasn’t done. His hand grabbed a fistful of my hair, yanking me toward him. Pain shot through my scalp, and I gasped, struggling against him, my hands pushing at his chest.
“Stay out of this,” he hissed, his grip tightening. I could feel the anger radiating off him in waves, the way it always did when he was cornered.
“Let go of me!” I shouted, the pain turning into raw desperation.
For a moment, I thought he might listen, that he would realize what he was doing, but his eyes stayed cold, distant.
How did it come to this… How had my own father become this… stranger who could hurt me like this?
“Let go!” I screamed again, trying to claw my way free from his grip.
“Shut up,” he growled, and before I could react, he kneed me hard in the stomach.
The pain shot through my body like a lightning bolt, knocking the wind out of me. I gasped, doubling over, clutching my abdomen as I collapsed to the floor.
“Faith!” I heard my mom’s voice from the doorway, and through the haze, I saw her rush into the room. “Ezra, stop!”
My dad backed away, but his eyes still burned with fury. Mom stepped between us, her arms outstretched as if she could shield me from him. “Just take the money and go, Ezra. Leave her alone.”
“No!” I croaked, forcing the words out through the pain. I pushed myself up, my body trembling. “No, you can’t let him take it.” I looked at her, pleading with everything I had left.
“Faith…” Mom looked at me in that way she did when she was asking me to compromise for the sake of peace. But I couldn't afford that tonight.
“That money is important to me, Mom,” I said, roughly rubbing the tears out of the corner of my eyes. “Things with Austin haven’t been good... I-I was going to use it for his birthday. This is my last chance to make things right with him. Otherwise, I will lose him.”
Mom’s face softened. She turned back to Dad, shaking her head. “Ezra, just go. You don’t need the money that badly. Leave her with what she’s worked for.”
He hesitated, his eyes flicking between us, and for a moment, I thought maybe he would listen. Maybe, just this once, he would choose not to ruin everything.
But then, he scoffed, reaching into his pocket to pull out the money again, taunting me with it.
“Last chance, huh?” His voice dripped with sarcasm. “You really think some expensive gift is gonna fix your pathetic relationship? That boy’s probably already moved on.”
His words hit me like another punch, all the warnings from my friends echoing along with it, everyone who said the same thing about Austin, but I still held my ground.
“Please, Dad,” I whispered, hating how small my voice sounded, how powerless I felt. It was like I was back to being that little ten year old girl who was watching her dad abuse her mom and could do nothing against him. “Just… don’t do this.”
It was a futile attempt. I could see it in his eyes—he was never going to change. He was always going to take whatever he wanted, no matter how much it hurt us.
“Faith,” Mom said softly, placing a hand on my shoulder. “Just let him have the money. It’s not worth this fight. I’ll figure something out. We always do.”
Her words snapped something inside me. The pain, the exhaustion, the constant struggle to keep everything from falling apart—it all bubbled to the surface at once. My eyes stung, but this time it wasn’t from tears. It was from pure, unrelenting anger.
I refused to be that helpless little girl who stood in the corner and was unable to even raise her voice.
“Figure something out?” I spat, shrugging her hand off my shoulder. “That’s your solution? To just let him walk all over us like he always does?” My voice was rising, shaking with every word. I felt like I was about to explode. “Do whatever you want, Mom! Just give him everything you want! Give him this house, my money, your money, everything!”
She stepped back, her face falling. “Faith, please—”
“No!” I cut her off, the anger burning hotter, my chest tightening with every breath. “I don’t want anything here! I’m so tired of this—of him, of you giving in, of pretending like we can fix this when we can’t!”
I stormed out of the room, my heart racing as I grabbed my jacket, ignoring her calls for me to stop.
I didn’t care anymore. I didn’t care about the money, or the house, or anything. I just needed to get out.
The front door slammed behind me as I burst onto the street, the cool evening air hitting my face, but it did nothing to cool the fire inside me.
I could hear the distant hum of cars, the faint sound of footsteps, but it all felt like noise in the background. I was shaking, my hands trembling as I shoved them into my pockets, my mind spiraling with everything I couldn’t say.
How could she let him win? How could she just give in like that—again? It was because of her weak will that their divorce wasn't still finalized.
I didn’t know where I was going, I just kept walking, the streets blurring past me as I moved faster.
I barely noticed the traffic ahead, the street lights flickering above. I stepped off the curb, too lost in my thoughts to even look—
The blare of a car horn split the air, and I froze, my heart leaping into my throat. I turned my head just in time to see the headlights, bright and blinding, coming straight at me.
And then—everything went black.
###
I woke up to the smell of antiseptic, the sterile scent pulling me out of the fog in my head. My eyes blinked open slowly, taking in the pristine white room around me.
Where am I?
I sat up too quickly, wincing as a sharp pain shot through my side. My heart raced, panic rising in my chest. This wasn’t a regular hospital. The room was far too luxurious—elegant furnishings, fresh flowers on the bedside table, and soft classical music playing in the background.
I couldn’t afford this.
“Oh no, no, no…” I whispered, gripping the blanket tightly. How was I going to pay for this? I barely had enough money to get through school, let alone a private clinic like this.
Just as the panic began to overwhelm me, the door opened.
A man walked in, dressed in what appeared to be a suit almost as expensive as my whole month's utilities and bills. His hair was slicked back, his eyes unreadable.
“You’re awake,” he said, his voice calm, almost too calm. “I’m Jared Williams.”
“Where am I?” I asked, my voice barely steady. “How did I get here? I don’t—I don’t have the money to pay for this.”
“You’re at a private clinic,” he said, stepping closer but keeping his distance. “You were in an accident.”
My heart skipped a beat. Memories of the street, the headlights, and the car crashing into me flooded back. I swallowed hard. “An accident?”
“Yes,” Jared nodded. “You walked in front of my boss’s car. He tried his best to stop, but it was too late. He’s injured as well.”
Fresh wave of guilt washed over me. “Oh, my God… Is he okay? I—I don’t have any money right now, but I’ll figure something out. I can pay for his medical bills. Just please don't file a lawsuit. I’ll—” I was rambling, the words spilling out before I could stop them.
Jared raised a hand, silencing me. “It’s alright. You don’t have to pay us anything.”
I blinked, confused. “What? But—”
“In fact,” Jared continued smoothly, “we’re willing to pay you. One hundred thousand dollars.”
My breath caught in my throat. “W-What?” I stammered. “Why would you pay me? I’m the one who caused the accident.”
Jared’s eyes darkened slightly, but his expression didn’t change. “The task is simple. All you have to do is sleep with my boss.”
FAITHThe words hit me like a punch to the gut. I stared at him, disbelief and horror flooding through me all at once. “Excuse me?”Jared smiled for the first time, as if he hadn’t just said something completely vile. “Should I repeat myself?”I felt sick. “You are joking… right?” I managed to say, though the look in his eyes told me this was anything but a joke.“I assure you,” Jared said, “this is a very real offer. You do the task, get the money, and we all move on from this unfortunate incident. No lawsuits, no bills to pay.”This guy thought he could just stroll in here, make some sleazy offer, and I’d fold?Without thinking, I ripped the IV out of my arm, blood immediately dotting the bed sheets. “Who the hell do you think I am?” I shouted. “Just because I owe you some medical fees doesn’t mean you can talk down to me like this!”Jared blinked in surprise for a moment, but remained calm overall.“Sleep with your boss for 100 grand?” I continued, my fists shaking with the urge to
FAITHAustin words hit me like a brick. I stopped walking, the world around me suddenly feeling colder. “W-What?” I stammered. “Austin, why? Why are you doing this?”He sighed, and it wasn’t the kind of sigh that held any pain or hesitation. It was the kind of sigh you let out when crossing something off a checklist, like breaking up with me was just another errand he had to run. “I don’t know, Faith. I just don’t feel the sparks anymore. And I feel like we’re not putting in equal efforts. I mean, you are always busy with work and studies.”“But I am trying, Austin. I really am. I even saved up a lot of money for your birthday.”There was a brief silence on his end, and I clung to it, hoping that maybe—just maybe—he’d reconsider. “Really?” he finally said, sounding more surprised than anything else.“Yes!” I responded, my voice trembling. “But… but then Ezra took it all away.” I felt a lump form in my throat as I mentioned my dad, but I was willing to bear all of it, hoping he’d see
FAITHI stared into his green eyes, my expression dead serious. I don't know what I was expecting, but it surely wasn't a chuckle from him. He literally laughed, and I swear to God, it was the most attractive sound I had to have ever heard.Even in this situation, when my world had turned upside down, my heart reacted to the sound of his deep laugh.“What?” he asked once he stopped laughing, amusement dancing in his eyes.“What what?” I shot back, reverting back to my seriousness. He tilted his head, confusion etched on his amused features. “I don’t get it. What are you saying?”“Wait,” I paused, doubt flickering within me. “Are you not Jared’s boss?”“Yes, I am. But I am not sure I know what you are talking about.”“Jared said you would pay me $100,000 for sleeping with you,” I clarified. “So for personal reasons, I’m willing to sleep with you four times for $100,000 each time. No negotiations.”His expression shifted from confusion to surprise as the implications of my words sank i
FAITH“Still doubting me?” Blaze asked, a teasing smile dancing on his lips.My eyes widened in shock. I couldn’t believe it. I was about to make a deal with someone so powerful. The sudden realization hit me hard, and I felt a wave of embarrassment wash over me. I grabbed the wine glass and gulped down the entire content, desperate to calm my nerves. Suddenly, I was overwhelmed with performance anxiety. A little glad at the same time as well.If a man like that filed a lawsuit against me, I would have been doomed for life. What luck of mine to have bumped in front of his car of all the people in the world!“Can I please have more?” I requested, my voice slightly unsteady and panicked.Blaze smirked, clearly entertained by my reaction. He moved to pour me another glass but paused. He twitched his lips, as if thinking about something else. “It might not be a good idea to get you too drunk.”He stepped closer, his hand finding its way to my waist. The warmth of his touch sent a jolt t
FAITHI quickly scrambled to gather my clothes, my heart racing as I tried to process what had just happened. The reality of the situation settled heavily on my shoulders, and panic gripped me. I fumbled with the fabric, my hands trembling. “I had no fucking idea you were trying to get me pregnant! Isn’t this against the fucking law?!” My voice was a mix of outrage and fear, and I could feel my face flushing with a rush of emotions.Blaze’s expression shifted. “Surrogacy is well within the law. I thought you knew.” His voice was sharper than I expected, but I could see the frustration etched on his features.“How would I know if nobody told me?!” I shot back, finally pulling my shirt over my head, feeling the fabric stick to my clammy skin. My mind raced with the implications of what he had just said. I felt completely blindsided.The weight of Blaze’s words hung in the air, and the realization crashed down on me like a tidal wave. I couldn’t believe this was happening. “Oh my Go
FAITHThe day of my mom’s funeral arrived, yet it felt more like I was watching someone else’s life unfold. I stood in black, the weight of loss pressing down on me, but all I could feel was a hollow numbness. People approached me with sympathetic looks, murmuring words that barely registered, as if I were surrounded by a wall of fog.One after another, family friends and neighbors I barely knew came to pay their respects. I shook hands, nodded, accepted gentle pats on the shoulder, but my mind was elsewhere. It was lost in the life my mother and I had shared, in the small but precious moments, now gone forever.I turned, noticing a familiar face coming through the doors. Mia. She walked toward me, her face full of worry and sympathy, and gently pulled me into a hug. “I am so sorry, Faith,” she whispered, her voice breaking slightly. She pulled back, studying my face. “Have you… have you been able to cry?”I looked away, swallowing hard. The truth was, I hadn’t shed a tear ever si
FAITHI felt Reagan’s push, sudden and forceful, sending me tumbling forward. The cold, hard ground stung against my hands, and a sharp jolt of humiliation flared in my chest. My instincts screamed to fight back, but I swallowed them down, taking a slow breath as I pushed myself up.“Who do you think you are?” Reagan’s voice cut through the air, dripping with disdain. “How dare you ignore me, Faith? How arrogant can you be?”I took a deep breath, brushing off the dirt, meeting her gaze with all the strength I could summon. “I am not arrogant,” I said, keeping my tone steady, but I could feel the anger rising within me. “You are the one who is insecure, Reagan. You had to go after a taken man and win him over just to feel better about yourself. That’s not confidence; it’s pathetic insecurity.”Her face twisted in shock, and her mouth opened in a silent gasp. She shot a pleading look at Austin, who was just standing there, silent. “Are you seriously going to let her talk to me like tha
FAITHI could feel my heart sink as I stared at the "On Sale" placard swinging in the wind. The words seemed to blur in front of my eyes, the finality of it all hitting me in waves.I had barely even processed the dread creeping up my spine when I heard the front door creak open.I ran towards the house, my breath sharp, my mind racing. The world around me felt suspended, like I was caught in a storm and the only thing I could do was hold on and wait for it to pass.But the storm had already arrived.When I walked in, I froze in the doorway, my heart skipping a beat when I saw an unfamiliar figure inside.
BLAZEI strode through the hallways of the estate, my mind still burning with the conversation I had just left behind. The tension in my body hadn't eased, and every step I took only fueled the frustration simmering in my chest.But right now, none of that mattered.I needed to see Faith.I stopped in front of her room, my fingers curling into a fist as I knocked against the wooden door. “Faith?” My voice was firm but not demanding.Silence.I frowned, waiting a few more seconds before knocking again, this time a little louder. “Faith, are you awake?”
BLAZEThe drive home was long, and my mind never settled. My fingers tapped against my thigh, my thoughts shifting between the past hour and what lay ahead.Faith.I needed to see her. To check on her. To remind myself that she was okay, that she was safe.But as soon as I stepped inside the house, a servant approached me, bowing his head slightly before speaking. “Sir, your grandfather has requested to see you.”I exhaled slowly, my jaw tightening.Of course.I wanted to go to Faith first. I wanted to see her face, to hear her voice, to know that she was doin
BLAZEI stopped in my tracks, my jaw tightening. Slowly, I turned to look at Jared, my frown deepening.“Of course, it was him,” I said, my voice clipped, cold. “Who else would it be?”Jared raised an eyebrow, tilting his head slightly. “Well… you have a long list of enemies, so you never know. It could be anyone.”I exhaled sharply, running a hand through my hair. He wasn’t wrong. Over the years, I had built up a solid list of people who would love nothing more than to see me suffer. Competitors in business, people I
BLAZEThe hallway was dark, the dim glow of the overhead lights barely casting enough illumination to cut through the shadows.My footsteps echoed against the cold, tiled floor, steady and unhurried. The air was thick, heavy, humming with tension, each step pulling me deeper into the darkness.I didn’t rush.I wanted to savor this moment.Jared was already waiting for me at the end of the corridor, his expression blank, his stance rigid. His hands were clasped behind his back, his jaw set, but I knew him well enough to catch the slight stiffness in his shoulders—the barely perceptible sign that he was on edge.Good.He should
FAITHJessica’s heels clicked sharply against the hospital floor as she marched toward me, her arms crossed, her face set in a deep scowl. Her usual pristine elegance was overshadowed by anger, her piercing gaze burning into me.I barely had time to process her words before she continued, her tone sharp, cutting.“You put yourself in danger—worse, you put the baby in danger! What kind of reckless, thoughtless behavior is that?” she snapped, her eyes blazing.I blinked, still dizzy, my mind struggling to keep up. “I… I didn’t—”“And for what?” she cut me off. “To go to some unknown restaurant? Without security? Without even
FAITHI woke up to the steady beeping of a monitor and the feeling of something cool pressed against my face. My body felt heavy, my limbs weak, my head pounding as though a thousand hammers were striking against it.I blinked against the harsh fluorescent light, my vision blurry, my throat raw and burning.Where was I?I tried to move, but something was strapped to my face—an oxygen mask. Panic stirred in my chest as I took a shallow, raspy breath, the memory of thick smoke and unbearable heat flashing in my mind.The fire.I inhaled too fast, coughing violently, my ribs aching with each sharp motion. A sharp pain shot through my chest, making me wince.A soft, familiar voice broke through the haze.“Take it easy, Miss. You’re in the hospital.”I turned my head slightly to see a doctor standing beside my bed, his expression calm but serious. He was flipping through a chart, his glasses slightly askew.Hospital.I was alive.I tried to speak, but my throat was too dry, too raw.The do
BLAZEThis was a setup. A fucking trap.For her.My chair scraped against the marble floors as I shot up, my heartbeat slamming against my ribs.Jared, who was still standing nearby, frowned. “Blaze? What’s wrong?”I didn’t answer. I was already moving.Jared cursed under his breath and followed. “Damn it, what’s going on?”I stormed out of the office, my mind spinning, panic clawing up my throat. “Faith—she’s in danger. Someone tricked her into going to La Vigna.”Jared’s face paled. &l
BLAZEI walked through the office halls, my shoes tapping against the polished marble floors. The buzz of employees surrounded me—keyboards clacking, hushed conversations, phones ringing.Everything was running as it should be. Efficient. Smooth. Controlled. Just the way I liked it.I nodded in acknowledgment as I passed by different departments, checking in on progress reports, offering a few words of encouragement where needed. It was a routine I had done countless times before, yet today, my mind was elsewhere.Faith.I had plans for tonight. Something simple, nothing extravagant—just something to make her happy. She had been through too much, and if I could bring he
FAITHI stood by the kitchen counter, absentmindedly stirring my tea as my mind replayed last night’s events. My chest felt warm, my heart fluttering, my lips still tingling from his kiss.Blaze.Just the thought of his name sent my pulse racing, my cheeks heating up. I closed my eyes, my fingers curling around the mug, the memory of his touch, his lips, his voice echoing in my mind. I could still feel his warmth, his strength, his presence…“Good morning!”I jolted, nearly spilling my tea as Kristen’s voice echoed through the kitchen. I looked up, my heart pounding, my face flushing as I met her curious gaze.