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
FAITHIt was almost too perfect.I crouched behind a sleek black sedan in the university parking lot, peering out cautiously.Reagan had just stepped out of her convertible, her heels clicking sharply against the pavement as she strutted across the lot like she owned the place. She paused when she saw Michael—or rather, Samuel.Michael had insisted on the whole “twin brother” plan, and to my surprise, it was working like a charm.Samuel Warner, research assistant extraordinaire, had conveniently appeared just when Reagan needed someone new to sink her claws into.“Hey,” Reagan called out, her voice carrying that si
FAITHI rushed to Blaze’s office, my heart racing as I replayed his urgent tone in my mind. Whatever was going on, it was serious enough to pull me out of my day.The building was sleek and modern, all glass walls and polished floors, a far cry from the chaos of campus. I stepped into the lobby, feeling slightly out of place in my casual outfit compared to the sharply dressed professionals milling about.The receptionist, a meticulously put-together woman with a sharp bob and an even sharper gaze, looked up as I approached. Her expression turned from neutral to disdainful in record time.“Can I help you?” she asked, her tone clipped.I hesitated for a moment before answering, “I am here to see Blaze. He called me about an emergency.”Her brow arched skeptically, and she looked me over like I was some lost freshman who’d wandered in by mistake. “Do you have an appointment?”“No, but he—”“Mr. Weston,” she interrupted, emphasizing his last name like I was a child who needed reminding
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