FAITH
The mansion stretched endlessly, a labyrinth of wealth and grandeur that I should have been amazed by. At first, I had been, marveling at the towering ceilings, the glint of sunlight on marble floors, and the luxurious drapes that framed windows overlooking sprawling gardens. But as Jessica led me further through the maze of opulence, that sense of awe quickly faded.
There was something about Jessica. Her warmth and effusive energy had seemed genuine at first, almost comforting in a world where I was a stranger. But now, there was a sharp edge beneath her smile, a calculation in the way she watched me as if I were some prized possession she’d won at an auction.
“Isn’t it just divine?” Jessica exclaimed, gesturing to
FAITHI looked at Blaze, trying to keep my expression neutral. “Oh… I see,” I said, my voice soft but steady.He arched an eyebrow, his gaze sharp and unyielding. “Any more questions?”I hesitated. The truth was, I did have questions—ones that danced dangerously close to crossing professional boundaries. Questions about the tone in his voice earlier, the brief flicker of something in his eyes that seemed... personal. But I swallowed them down, biting the inside of my cheek to stop myself from speaking.“I do,” I admitted after a pause, “but I don’t think they’d be appropriate to ask.” I tried to infuse a hint of lightness into my tone, hoping it would deflect attention from the awkwardness I suddenly felt.His lips twitched, the ghost of a smirk tugging at the corners. “I’m glad you have that common sense.”And just like that, he turned and walked away, his footsteps echoing faintly as the distance between us grew.For a moment, I just stood there, staring after him, a mix of emotions
FAITHI walked into the dining room, the soft murmur of voices instantly drawing my attention. The table was grand and stretched far, with elegant place settings and an array of delicious-smelling dishes. My stomach churned, not from hunger, but from the nervousness bubbling inside me.As I stepped further into the room, I noticed faces I hadn’t seen before. Blaze, who had been seated at the head of the table, noticed me immediately. A warm, reassuring smile spread across his face as he rose from his chair and walked toward me. My heart, already unsteady from anxiety, skipped a beat.“Hey, Faith,” Blaze said softly, his voice carrying a hint of warmth that calmed my frayed nerves. He reached for my hand, his touch firm yet gentle. “Come, let me introduce you to everyone.”I nodded, gripping his hand like a lifeline as he led me to the table. All eyes turned toward us, and I felt a rush of heat rise to my cheeks. Blaze’s presence beside me, though reassuring, didn’t entirely erase th
FAITHI blinked at Blaze, caught off guard by the mix of humor and sincerity in his tone.He continued, his voice gentle but firm. “Therefore, you don’t have to stay put and listen to everything my mom says. She can be a bit… overbearing sometimes. But, while I have to bear with her because I am her son, you have no such obligation. You are free to live as you want for these nine months.”I tilted my head, studying him for a moment before speaking. “Why are you so nice to me?” I asked, my voice softer than I intended. “I ghosted you for a month after we… you know, after I…” I trailed off, the memory of that night still an awkward weight between us.Blaze shrugged, a fain
FAITHKristin’s sharp poke to my side jolted me out of my daze. “Hey,” she said grumpily, her voice low but laced with irritation. “What’s with the deer-in-headlights look? You know those people or something?”I blinked rapidly, trying to regain my composure. “No,” I lied, my voice shaky. “I just… zoned out.”Kristin’s eyes narrowed as she studied me, clearly unconvinced. “Yeah, sure,” she muttered before grabbing my wrist. “Come on. Let’s go before you turn into a statue right here in the middle of the store.”She didn’t wait for my response, tugging me away from the display window and deeper into the boutique. My feet moved automatically, but my mind stayed firmly rooted outside, where Reagan and Austin stood.Seeing them together after a month felt like a punch to the gut. I’d convinced myself I was over it—or at least on my way to being over it—but clearly, I’d been lying to myself.The sight of Reagan laughing with Austin, her hand casually brushing his arm, brought back a flood
FAITHThe question hit me like a bolt, and I instinctively looked away. “What? No, of course not,” I said quickly, hoping my voice sounded more convincing than it felt.Blaze stepped closer, his gaze unwavering as he reached out and cupped my face with one hand. The warmth of his touch startled me, and my breath caught as his thumb brushed the corner of my eye.“No,” he said softly but firmly, his eyes narrowing. “Your eyes are swollen. You definitely cried.”My throat tightened, and I tried to pull back, but his hand remained steady. His gaze hardened, calm but laced with anger. “Who made you cry?”I shook my head, opening my mouth to
FAITHBefore I could even register what was happening, Blaze’s arm shot out, steadying me against the seat. His grip was firm, protective, and his other hand tightened on the steering wheel as he muttered a string of curses under his breath.“Are you okay?” he asked sharply, his voice cutting through the ringing in my ears.I nodded quickly, though my heart was pounding so loudly it drowned out my words.Blaze didn’t wait for a response. He rolled down the window, leaning halfway out as he glared at the car in front of us.“Hey! Watch where the hell you are going!” he barked, his voice sharp enough to make me wince.
FAITHI was sprawled across the bed, surrounded by a fortress of thick books, my frustration mounting with every page. Jessica’s voice echoed in my head—“I want you to finish reading them all!”—and I groaned, burying my face in my hands.The door knocked softly, snapping me out of my misery. “Come in,” I mumbled, flipping a page halfheartedly.Blaze stepped in, looking effortlessly put together in a crisp white shirt and tailored pants. He raised an eyebrow when he saw me buried under the books. “Are you ready for your appointment?”I looked up, confused and annoyed. “What appointment?”Blaze crossed his arms, glancing at the books piled around me. “Uh, your doctor’s appointment?” he said slowly, as if I’d forgotten something obvious. “The one I told you about this morning?”I groaned dramatically, rolling onto my back and flailing my arms. “Ugh. Fine. I will go. I just need to throw a tantrum first.”Blaze chuckled, his laugh warm and amused. “Alright,” he said with a grin. “Have you
Chapter 23: That Painful?FAITHAs we pulled up to the doctor’s office, Hillary’s car stopped behind ours. She stepped out, her expression impassive as she adjusted her coat and walked toward us. Blaze’s grip on my hand tightened slightly as we headed inside.When we reached the reception desk, Blaze turned to Hillary, his tone clipped. “Wait here. We will handle this on our own.”Hillary raised an eyebrow, her lips curving into a faint, sarcastic smile. “Whatever you say, Blaze,” she replied coolly, stepping back.Without another glance in her direction, Blaze led me into the clinic, his hand still steady on mine. The interior was warm and welcoming, nothing like the sterile environment I’d expected. We were greeted by a nurse who guided us to Dr. Clarissa’s cabin.Dr. Clarissa stood as we entered, her kind smile immediately putting me at ease. She was in her early 40s, with neatly styled hair and an air of calm professionalism.“Faith,” she said warmly, extending a hand. “It’s lov
FAITHThe moment the words left my lips, I felt the air in the hallway shift.Austin stiffened beside me, his brows pulling together in sharp confusion. His expression flickered between shock, disbelief, and something I couldn't quite place.I sucked in a breath, my mind racing, scrambling to fix what I'd just said. Shit. Shit. Shit.Austin stared at me. “What did you just say?”“N-nothing,” I blurted, shaking my head. “Forget I said anything.”His eyes narrowed. “No. No way.” He stepped closer, lowering his voice. “You just said you’re a surrogate. What the hell does that mean, Faith?”I forced a laugh, waving him off like it was nothing. “Oh, you—you heard wrong. I was just saying that, you know, pregnancy is just a temporary thing, and I’m just… carrying a baby, but it’s not—”Austin’s eyes darkened. “Faith.” His voice was sharper this time. “Don’t even try to lie your way out of this.”I swallowed, looking away. My fingers clenched into my sleeves as I tried to come up with some e
FAITHBlaze Weston—the man who prided himself on being indifferent, the man who acted like nothing could touch him—had just admitted, even in the smallest way, that he might actually be jealous?I didn’t even know how to react.A slow smirk tugged at the corner of his lips as he watched me, clearly enjoying my stunned silence.Then, just as I was about to say something—anything—he let out a low chuckle and shook his head.“I am joking,” he said, amusement lacing his voice. “Relax, Faith.”And just like that, the moment was gone.M
FAITHAustin’s gaze flickered between the two of us, confusion etched across his face as he took in the situation—the clinic, the ultrasound photo still in Blaze’s hand, the way I instinctively moved half a step back, caught completely off guard."Um…" Austin’s brows furrowed. "Why are you coming out of here?"My throat went dry.I forced a tight smile. "Austin. What are you doing here?"His eyes lingered on me for a moment before he crossed his arms, his stance slightly wary. "I’m here for my sister. My older sister—she’s pregnant. Just had a check-up, so I came with her."He studied me ca
FAITHA moment of silence settled between us before Blaze suddenly shifted beside me. His fingers tapped against his knee, a small, restless movement.“There was something else I wanted to ask,” he said, his voice steady but firm.The doctor tilted her head. “Of course.”Blaze inhaled, his fingers now laced together as he leaned slightly forward. “Yesterday… something happened. Faith was exposed to chloroform.”I turned to him sharply, caught off guard by how bluntly he said it.The doctor’s entire demeanor changed. She straightened immediately, her expression turning serious. “Chloro
FAITHI held my breath, bracing myself as the doctor studied the ultrasound images with a careful gaze. The room felt too still, too charged with anticipation.My fingers curled tightly over the thin sheet covering my stomach, my heart pounding so loud I could barely hear anything else.Blaze sat beside me, unnervingly silent, his piercing gaze fixed on the monitor as if willing it to reveal the answer he wanted.The doctor finally turned to us, offering a small smile. “Well, from what we can see at this stage… it looks like you’re expecting a boy and a girl.”I exhaled sharply, a rush of relief crashing over me like a tidal wave.
FAITHThe car ride was quiet at first, the soft hum of the engine filling the silence between us. I stared out the window, watching the buildings blur past, but my thoughts were too loud to focus on anything outside.I bit my lip, hesitating, but finally, I turned to Blaze. “What if the baby is a girl?”He looked at me, slightly confused. “What do you mean?”I shifted in my seat, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. “I mean… I’d love to have a daughter,” I admitted. “But… I don’t want the baby to be a girl at this point.”Blaze frowned. “Why?”I sighe
FAITHThe dining room was grand, but somehow, the atmosphere around the breakfast table felt tense.Maybe it was Marcus’s looming presence, his strict posture as he sat at the head of the table like a king overseeing his kingdom. Or maybe it was the fact that Blaze, still unusually quiet, was eating his food with the composure of a soldier in a disciplinary camp.I tried to focus on my own plate, but my stomach was still a little unsettled from earlier.Jessica, Blaze’s mother, sat gracefully across from us, sipping her tea. Elegant and poised as always, she placed her cup down and looked at both of us with an expression that m
FAITHI felt my stomach drop the moment recognition dawned on me.Marcus Weston.Blaze’s grandfather.The Weston patriarch. The man who practically built the empire Blaze now ruled.The man I had heard so much about—powerful, ruthless, and impossible to impress.I instinctively glanced back toward the bed where Blaze was still sleeping, his face relaxed, unaware of the storm brewing just outside his door. Then, forcing myself to breathe, I turned back to Marcus.His expression hadn’t changed—sharp and displeased."Wh
FAITHThe sound of the closet door clicking open made my head turn, and suddenly, all the exhaustion I felt evaporated.Blaze walked out, toweling his damp hair, his movements casual, effortless—completely unaware of the effect he had on me. But that wasn’t what caught my attention.It was the fact that he was shirtless.My breath hitched.I had seen him in crisp suits, in casual button-downs, in gym wear that hinted at the strength underneath—but this? This was different.The way the soft bedroom lighting cast shadows over every sharp plane of his body, the way droplets of water clung to his skin, sliding down the ridges of his mus