FAITH
Sleep evaded me that night. No matter how many times I rolled over or adjusted the pillows, my mind wouldn’t quiet. Hillary’s words kept replaying, her cold voice and the unsettling weight of what she’d said: “Don’t get too attached to the child in your womb. It’s not yours, after all.”
I tossed the blanket off with a frustrated sigh and decided to head to the kitchen for some warm milk.
Maybe that would help. As I padded down the hallway, the faint glow of light spilling out from under Blaze’s study door caught my eye.
Curiosity got the better of me, and I peeked inside. There he was, seated at his desk, his shirt sleeves rol
FAITHA week later, I woke up early, buzzing with energy I hadn’t felt in a long time. The sunlight streamed through the windows, and for once, I didn’t mind. I jumped out of bed, threw on a simple outfit, and hurried downstairs.Michael, my assigned bodyguard, was waiting outside the mansion, leaning casually against the black SUV. His brown hair was slightly tousled, and as usual, he had that boyish charm that made him seem less intimidating than he probably wanted to be.“Good morning,” he greeted me as I approached.“Morning!” I said brightly, sliding into the passenger seat. “Let’s go to the best hair salon nearby.”Michael raised an eyebrow, climbing into the driver’s seat. “The best hair salon nearby?” he repeated, starting the car. “Don’t you have your classes in a couple of hours? Why are you going to a hair salon now?”I waved him off, leaning back in my seat. “It’s just… I woke up this morning, looked at my hair in the mirror, and thought ‘ew, I need a new haircut.’ New seme
FAITHAs I pushed open the heavy oak doors of the mansion, a faint echo followed me into the grand hall. The familiar scent of polished wood and roses from the sprawling arrangements greeted me. I ran my fingers through my freshly styled hair, still marveling at the change. It felt lighter, freer, and a bit like stepping into a version of myself I wasn’t used to yet.Just as I was about to head toward the staircase, Kristin’s voice, cool and slightly clipped, stopped me.“Ooh, I like your haircut,” she said, her tone neutral but with an undercurrent of approval. She was perched on one of the velvet chairs in the sitting area, her posture impeccable. “It suits you perfectly.”I turned toward her, smiling faintly. Kristin had a way of making even compliments sound like she was sizing you up. “Thanks,” I said, tucking a strand of my new wavy hair behind my ear. “I needed a change.”She tilted her head slightly, her glossy dark hair catching the sunlight filtering through the tall windo
FAITHThe lecture hall buzzed with the sound of students shuffling papers and zipping backpacks as the professor dismissed us. I stretched, feeling the tension in my shoulders from sitting through two back-to-back classes.The first day back always felt like a marathon.Grabbing my bag, I made my way out, weaving through the throng of students spilling into the hallway. My mind was already running through my schedule for the rest of the day when I heard a voice behind me.“Hey, Faith, wait up!”I turned to see a group of guys walking toward me. One of them, a tall brunette with a cocky grin, fell into step beside me. “It&rsq
FAITHFor a moment, I was speechless. Words formed in my head but refused to leave my lips. Finally, I managed, “How would you even know about those things before we… before this arrangement happened?”Blaze tilted his head, his smirk shifting into something more contemplative. “Do you think Jared isn’t meticulous enough to send me your entire biodata before I made such a life-altering decision?”I scoffed, pulling back slightly to regain some space. “Ouch. I am kind of hurt that I was evaluated so thoroughly. What’s next? Did I pass some secret test?”He chuckled softly, but his eyes glinted with something unreadable. “Well, I was also hurt this morning when you left without waiting for me, despite Kristen informing you to do so. You don’t see me bringing that up.”I raised an eyebrow, crossing my arms. “You just brought it up now.”“Of course I did,” he said, his tone exasperated yet calm. “That’s the entire reason I am standing here at the moment.”I rolled my eyes. “Well then, w
FAITHThe ride back to Blaze’s estate was quiet at first, the air between us heavy with unspoken tension. I stared out the window, my mind flitting between my classes, my growing list of assignments, and, of course, the man sitting beside me.Blaze shifted in his seat, breaking the silence. “Did you get a new haircut?”I turned to him, blinking in surprise. “Are you just noticing that now?”He leaned back, his eyes narrowing slightly in mock thoughtfulness. “I was too caught up in the moment earlier, you know, with all those flies hovering around you.”A giggle slipped out before I could stop it. “You almost sound jealous for real.”He rolled his eyes, but there was a small, almost imperceptible smile tugging at his lips. “Don’t flatter yourself.”I tilted my head, watching him. “Anyway, what do you think of it?”Blaze’s smirk softened, fading into something quieter, more thoughtful. His eyes trailed over me, lingering in a way that made my heart do a strange little flip.He didn’t a
FAITHIan’s words stung, but I wasn’t about to let him see that. Instead, I tilted my head, plastering a calm, almost amused smile on my face. “So what?”He blinked, clearly not expecting that response. “What?”“So what if I am trying to lure Blaze?” I asked, my tone light and deliberately provocative. “What exactly can you do about it?”Ian’s surprise morphed into a disbelieving laugh. “Seriously? You’re just admitting it? That’s bold, even for you.”I shrugged, taking a step closer, my smirk unwavering. “Why wouldn’t I? You’ve already made up your mind about me, haven’t you? So, let’s say I am. What’s your big plan? Run and tattle to Blaze?”His chuckle grew darker, more condescending. “Obviously. You think I wouldn’t?”“And then what?” I countered, crossing my arms. “What’s going to happen, Ian? Do you think he’s going to kick out the mother of his child just because you waltz in with your baseless accusations?”His jaw tightened, his cocky facade slipping for just a moment. “You—”
FAITHI stood outside Blaze’s study, hesitating for a moment before knocking. The sound of my knuckles on the heavy wood door echoed softly in the quiet hallway.“Come in,” his voice called, low and steady as ever.I pushed the door open, stepping inside. Blaze was seated at his desk, his sleeves rolled up to his elbows, fingers flying across the keyboard of his laptop. He didn’t look up, his focus laser-sharp on whatever work had his attention.“Did you need something?” he asked, his tone clipped but not unkind.I lingered by the door, taking him in. Over the past few days, he’d been so absorbed in his work that the only times we’d seen each other were fleeting moments over breakfast. Even then, the conversation had been minimal. I hadn’t realized until now how much I’d missed his presence.“How did you know I needed something?” I asked, leaning against the doorframe with a playful tilt of my head.Blaze’s fingers paused for a fraction of a second before resuming their rapid pace.
FAITHI’d barely finished towel-drying my hair when a knock at my door broke through the quiet. I frowned, wrapping my robe tighter around myself. Who would be knocking this late?Padding to the door, I opened it cautiously, only to find Blaze standing there. He held up a sleek glass bottle of what looked like organic juice, a small, almost disarming smile on his face.“Did you want something from me?” I asked, arching a brow, trying to mask my surprise.He shrugged casually, but his gaze flickered downward for a fleeting moment, taking in my robe-clad figure before snapping back up to meet my eyes. Something unspoken passed through his expression, his usual composure faltering just enough to send a ripple of awareness through me.“Thought I’d drink with you and talk a little,” he said, his voice smooth, though there was a slight edge that hadn’t been there before.“Why?” I asked, feeling suddenly self-conscious under his gaze, though I worked to keep my tone light.“No reason,” he
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.