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
FAITHI sighed, letting the tension slip from my shoulders as I settled into the chair opposite Blaze. His gaze, calm, met mine. The glass bottle of juice stood between us like a silent witness to whatever confession I was about to make.“If I’m going to tell you why I’m so hell-bent on revenge,” I began, the words tasting heavier than I expected, “I should probably start from the beginning—of how Austin and I started dating.”Blaze tilted his head slightly, his expression unreadable but attentive. “Go ahead. I am listening.”I took a deep breath. “It was Austin who pursued me first. For months. Eight of them, to be exact. He was relentless—flowers, notes, even showing up to my classes with coffee.” A faint smile tugged at my lips, but it was bittersweet. “At first, I thought he was just messing around, you know? Guys like him don’t go after girls like me. I mean, Reagan’s type is more his speed—flashy, confident, perfectly polished.”Blaze’s jaw tightened almost imperceptibly, and h
FAITHI sank into the comfort of Blaze’s warmth, my head resting against his shoulder as tears continued to fall.“Even if it hurts so much now,” Blaze murmured, his voice low and soothing, “the pain will dull eventually. Trust me, it will. Time heals everything.”I took a few shaky breaths, letting his words wash over me. The ache in my chest didn’t disappear, but it felt a little less suffocating with him there.“I guess,” I said after a moment, my voice steadier now, “I haven’t had the chance to vent about my breakup until now.”Blaze smirked faintly, his tone teasing but kind. “Well, I am all ears if you want to vent more. Pretty sure that douchebag has done more stuff to piss you off than you’ve told me so far.”I let out a dry laugh, shaking my head. “Oh, there’s so much. There are so many things I ignored while dating him, but looking back now? Hell no.”“Pray tell,” he said, settling deeper into the couch and looking at me expectantly.“Okay,” I began, warming up to the invita
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
FAITHThe first thing I noticed was the heaviness in my head.My thoughts felt sluggish, like they were wading through molasses. My eyes fluttered open, but the room was blurry and dim. Voices echoed faintly around me, muffled as though I were underwater.I forced myself to focus, straining to catch the conversation. Someone—maybe a man—was speaking in a calm, clinical tone.“…the chloroform intake was too high. Combined with the pregnancy, it’s no surprise she hasn’t woken up until now. But her vitals are stable. She needs rest.”I blinked again, my vis
BLAZE“Faith!” I shouted, my voice breaking with panic.My feet pounded against the pavement as I bolted toward the van. Faith’s body was limp, the man shoving her inside with a disturbing lack of effort. Every muscle in my body screamed to move faster, to stop them before they could get away.But just as I closed in, someone appeared in front of me.“Watch it!” they snapped as I collided with them, the force sending me sprawling onto the ground.“Get out of my way!” I barked, scrambling to my feet.By the time I regained my balance, the van’s doors slammed shut, and the engine roared to life. My chest ti
BLAZEJared rolled his eyes so dramatically that I was tempted to grab the nearest object and throw it at him.“You know,” he began, dragging out his words like a know-it-all, “for someone who claims to have everything under control, you really have no idea how to handle this situation.”I rolled my eyes. “What’s your point, Jared?”“My point,” he said, leaning against the desk, “is that you’re dancing around your feelings. Stop playing games with Faith. You either make an effort or let her go.”“Stop with that attitude,” I said, my voice laced with irritation. “I just don’t want to mislead her or make her fall for me when I can’t promise her a future together.”
BLAZEThe rhythmic tapping of my pen against the desk was the only sound in the room.My gaze was fixed on the skyline outside my office window, but my thoughts were far away.Faith.Lately, she’d occupied my mind more than I cared to admit. There was something about her—her energy, her stubbornness, her unshakable resolve—that managed to cut through the monotony of my days.She was unpredictable, and maybe that’s what I liked most.A knock on the door snapped me out of my thoughts.Jared strolled in, his usual air of casual arrogance intact. “You are doing that thing again,” he sai