FAITH
Austin 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 that I was trying. That I was fighting for us.
But instead of understanding, there was a long, heavy pause. And then came the words that crushed me.
“See, Faith. This is what I’m talking about. It’s always this and that with you. Your problems never end. I’m tired of it. I can’t do this anymore.”
The cold finality of his tone made my legs go weak. “Austin, please,” I begged, my voice barely a whisper now. “I can fix this. We can fix this.”
But he had already checked out. He was done with me. “Bye, Faith.”
And with that, the line went dead.
I stared at my phone, the screen darkening as the call ended. It felt like the ground had just been pulled out from under me. The tears that hadn't been spilling earlier came gushing out.
Everything was gone—my money, my hope, and now the one person I thought I could count on.
I was completely shattered.
And just when I thought that life probably couldn't get any worse for me, little did I know it was just the beginning of my downfall.
My phone rang again.
I desperately checked it, hoping it was Austin—maybe he regretted it. However, I was disappointed to see it was my neighbor.
“Faith? It’s Mrs. Thompson. I have been trying you for hours, but you weren't picking up,” her voice was scared on the other end. “You need to come home right away. It’s your mom. She… she fell down the stairs.”
My heart dropped. “What? Is she okay? Where is she?”
“She is at the hospital near home. You need to hurry,” Mrs. Thompson urged before hanging up.
I didn’t waste a second. I started running. I had no idea that I had jinxed myself by thinking I had nobody to count on. At least, I still had my mother, however she was.
When I burst into the hospital, the sterile smell hit me like a slap in the face for the second time today.
“Where is Iris Adelaide?” I asked the receptionist breathlessly.
“Room 204,” she replied, glancing up briefly before returning to her paperwork.
I rushed down the corridor, my heart pounding in my ears. I pushed the door open, and the sight that met me froze me in place.
My mom lay on the hospital bed, pale and fragile, connected to a maze of machines. I rushed to her side, gripping her hand tightly.
“What happened to her?” I asked the doctor who was standing on the other side of the bed. It didn't seem like she had a simple slip down the stairs.
“I am sorry to break this to you, Ms. Adelaide, but we have found out that your mother has acute liver failure.”
My breath caught in my throat. “What do you mean? How could this happen?”
The doctor continued, “She has probably known for a while but decided against getting any treatment. And now the only way for her to survive is to get a liver transplant.”
“A liver transplant?” I echoed, fear creeping into my voice. “How much will that cost? Will the insurance cover it?”
“You have to talk at the reception for that.”
I nodded, urgency propelling myself forward as I bolted down the hallway.
I burst into the reception area, my breath coming in frantic bursts. “Please,” I gasped, leaning over the counter, “I need to know what’s going on with my mom’s treatment. How much will it cost for the liver transplant?”
The receptionist’s fingers taped over the keyboard as she pulled up the information. “It’s a complicated situation, Ms. Adelaide,” she began, and my anxiety skyrocketed as I prepared for the worst. “It's going to cost more than $350,000,” she said softly.
My heart plummeted, as if it had fallen into a dark abyss. “What?” I gasped, the room spinning around me like a whirlwind. “That’s impossible! We can’t afford that!”
The receptionist reached out, her hand brushing against mine as if to offer comfort. “I’m so sorry, but that’s the estimated cost for the procedure and associated care. The insurance might cover some of it, but you should prepare for a significant out-of-pocket expense.”
I felt like the walls were closing in on me. My mind raced, grasping for any solution, any possibility. “Is there any way to lower the cost? Can’t we negotiate with the hospital? Can we take a loan?”
“I understand how difficult this is,” she said gently, but her eyes told me she had heard this story far too often. “Unfortunately, transplant costs are pretty standard. The only thing I can suggest is to look into financial assistance programs.”
“Financial assistance? What does that involve?”
The receptionist sighed, her expression sympathetic yet resigned. “It’s a lengthy process. You’d need to fill out forms, provide proof of income, and possibly go through an interview. But every little bit helps.”
I clenched my fists, trying to hold back the wave of despair threatening to swallow me whole. If only I had noticed my mom’s suffering from the beginning… I could have applied for this. But now, there was no time like that.
“Thank you,” I managed to say, though my voice felt hollow. I turned away, feeling lost, a sinking feeling settling in my stomach.
My mom was all I had left. She had always done her best to provide for me, working long hours and sacrificing so much. She was even trying to get a divorce from Dad to escape his grasp.
But no matter how hard she tried, Ezra was a leech with shady connections, and I hated that I was even considering him now, but I was desperate.
With my hands shaking, I pulled out my phone. The thought of calling him sent a chill down my spine, but I didn’t have a choice. My mom needed me to be strong, and I was running out of options.
“Hello?” Ezra’s voice was indifferent as always.
“Dad…” I said, trying to keep my voice steady despite the tremor that betrayed me. “I need your help. It’s about Mom.”
There was a pause on the other end before he asked, “What about her?”
“She’s in the hospital. She fell down the stairs, and now they discovered that she has acute liver failure. She needs a transplant, but it’s over $350,000, and I don’t know what to do!”
I was expecting to hear something, anything hopeful for a change, but his laughter rang out. “Are you crazy? Where on earth are we supposed to get $350,000? You’d have to sell yourself for that.”
His words hit me like a punch to the gut. I couldn’t believe he was laughing at my mom’s life, at my desperation.
But then a thought crept in, a flicker of something dark—something that I had scoffed at a few hours ago. What if I could sell myself? My body?
As he hung up on me, I didn’t have time to dwell on the morality of my thoughts; I needed to act fast. Without thinking, I turned on my heel and dashed back to the private clinic.
My mind was a whirlwind as I headed straight for the trash bin in the corridor where I had discarded the card Jared had given me.
Kneeling down, I frantically sifted through the contents. “Please be here, please be here,” I muttered to myself, feeling the cold sweat trickle down my back.
Just as my fingers grazed the edge of the card, a voice called out, pulling me from my frantic search.
“Looking for something like this?”
I looked over my shoulder to see a handsome man standing behind me with a replica of the black card that I was searching for. He had a bandage on his head, which made me realize this had to be Jared’s boss whose car I had come in front of.
“Uh… yeah,” I said and stood up, trying to regain some composure. I had to look strong, not too desperate. “I was looking for this. I actually needed to talk to you.”
He raised an eyebrow, curiosity flickering in his eyes. “And what exactly do you want to talk about? The accident?”
“No.” My heart was pounding, yet I kept my eyes on his green ones steady. “I want to take you up on that offer you sent me through Jared.”
“Are we talking about the same offer?” His lips curled into a smirk, clearly intrigued.
“Yes.” I took a deep breath and looked him directly into the eyes. “I will sleep with you.” I held up my hand, showing him the number of fingers as I added, “Four times.”
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.
FAITHIt had been a month since I left that town behind. A month since I set fire to everything I knew—every tie, every memory.Now, I was in Iowa. The place where no one knew me, where the ghosts of my past didn’t haunt the streets. It was quiet. Too quiet. But it was better than the alternative.I was working at a small diner. The kind of place you didn’t remember unless you needed to. It wasn’t anything special—just a bunch of grease, some old men chatting about nothing important, and a few tired faces behind the counter.A monotonous rhythm I’d quickly grown accustomed to.Wake up, clock in, work through the day, c
FAITHThis had to be a joke.The air in the room felt too thick, too heavy. My chest was tightening, my heart hammering like it was trying to break free of its cage.Pregnant.I kept replaying the doctor’s words in my head, trying to make sense of them, but it was like a puzzle with a thousand pieces scattered across the floor. Nothing fits together. I had no idea how this had happened.I tried to think. I tried to run through every moment, every possible slip-up. My mind kept racing back to that time, the chaotic mess that was my life when my mom died. The funeral, the confusion, the numbness. And in the middle of all of that, I had stopped thinking about anything else.I didn’t take birth control pills the first few days after having sex with Blaze.The realization hit me like a slap to the face, and I cursed myself under my breath. How could I have been so careless? How could I have let this happen? I felt sick, not just from the shock of the news, but from the weight of my own
FAITHI lifted my chin, crossing my arms over my chest. “Lobster Thermidor. I want to eat Lobster Thermidor.”Blaze’s mouth fell open, his face twisting with shock. “I… I have no fucking clue how to make that.”I narrowed my eyes, my nose scrunching up. “Well, you better figure it out.”Blaze blinked, his body stiffening, his mouth opening and closing like a fish. “But… how? I don’t even know where to start.”I lifted an eyebrow, my arms tightening around my chest. “Google it. Look it up on YouTube. Call one of your fancy chefs and ask them how to make it. I don’t care. Just make it. I’m hungry.&r
FAITHI threw the door open, my face set in a deep frown, my arms crossed tightly over my chest. Blaze stood on the other side, his hand frozen mid-knock, his eyes widening slightly at my sudden appearance.He blinked, his gaze sweeping over my face, his expression softening. “Faith? What’s wrong?”I narrowed my eyes at him, my lips pressing into a pout. “I’m hungry.”Blaze’s eyebrows shot up, his mouth opening slightly. “Oh. Okay. What do you want to eat?”I didn’t answer. I simply shoved him to the side, pushing past him and marching down the hallway, my feet stomping against the floor.Blaze let out a surprised sound, his body turning as he watched me go. “Uh… Faith?”I didn’t look back, my shoulders squared, my head held high as I made my way to the kitchen. I could hear his footsteps behind me, his pace quickening as he hurried to catch up.I stormed into the kitchen, my eyes scanning the room before I walked straight to the counter, my hands gripping the edge as I tried to hoist
FAITHBlaze’s eyes narrowed, his expression hardening. “No. We will go to my study.”Savannah pouted, her lips forming a perfect, practiced pout. “Oh, am I not allowed to go into your bedroom anymore?” She stepped closer, her fingers brushing his arm. “Are we really that distant now?”Blaze’s face turned to stone, his eyes cold, unyielding. “Yes. Exactly. You are not my girlfriend anymore.”Savannah’s pout faded, her lips curving into a teasing smile. “Yet,” she said, her voice light, playful. “You never know. The old spark might be rekindled.”I felt something sharp twist in my chest, my body freezing, my heart pounding. Was she… serious? Was that why she was here?Blaze’s eyes darkened, his jaw clenching. “No, it won’t. That’s not happening.” His voice was cold, firm, leaving no room for argument. “Let’s just hear what you have to say and get this over with.”Savannah’s smile wavered, her eyes flicking to his face, searching for something. But then, she let out a light laugh, her sh
FAITHI stood frozen, my body stiff, my heart sinking as I watched her throw her arms around him. Her red hair flowed like a waterfall over his shoulder, her slim figure pressing against him, her face lighting up with a bright, beautiful smile.Savannah.She looked exactly like the pictures I had seen—stunning, elegant, perfect. And she was here, in his arms, looking at him like he was the only man in the world.Blaze’s body was tense, his arms hovering awkwardly around her, his face blank with shock. I could see his shoulders stiffen, his jaw tighten, his eyes widening as he tried to process what was happening.“Blaze!” Savannah’s voice was bright, cheerful, bubbling with excitement. She pulle
FAITHBlaze’s eyes softened, his gaze locking onto mine, his face filled with something I couldn’t quite understand. “Because you deserve it.”My heart skipped a beat, my chest tightening. “Blaze…”He let out a slow breath, his shoulders relaxing. “Come on. Let’s get out of here. This place… it’s not good for you.”I nodded, my body feeling heavy, tired, worn out. “Yeah… let’s go.”He stood up first, his body solid and steady as he reached out his hand, his eyes gentle. I took his hand, his fingers warm around mine, his grip firm as he pulled me to my feet, keeping me steady when my knees wobbled.He didn’t let go. Not even when we walked down the narrow alley, not even when we passed by the same group of men who were now giving us wary glances, not even when we reached the car.He held my hand the whole time, his fingers laced with mine, his presence warm, solid, grounding.He opened the car door for me, his hand lingering on mine for a moment before he pulled away, his eyes soft,
FAITHWarm, strong, steady arms wrapping around me, pulling me close, holding me tight. Blaze’s chest was solid, his heart beating steady and strong against mine.I sank into him, my body going limp, my hands clutching at his shirt, my face buried in his shoulder as the sobs wracked through me, violent and raw.He didn’t say anything. Didn’t try to stop me. Didn’t tell me to calm down or pull myself together.He just held me. His arms firm, his body warm, his presence grounding me, anchoring me, holding me together when I felt like I was falling apart.His hand came up, his fingers brushing through my hair, gentle and soothing, his touch warm, soft, comforting.“It’s okay,” he whispered, his voice low and steady. “I’m here. I’ve got you.”I felt my chest tighten, my heart shattering. The tears came faster, my body shaking, my breaths coming out in broken gasps.I had been so alone. For so long.No one had been there for me. No one had held me like this. No one had told me it was okay
FAITHTime slowed down.The bottle came hurtling toward me, the jagged glass glinting in the dim light, my father’s face twisted with rage, his eyes wild, unfocused. I stood frozen, my body locked in place, my heart pounding, my breath caught in my throat.I couldn’t move. I couldn’t breathe. All I could do was watch as the bottle swung toward me, the room spinning around me.And then, suddenly—A shadow moved in front of me, fast and strong, blocking the blow, shielding me from the attack. I heard the sickening crunch of glass shattering, the sharp sound echoing through the room.Blaze.His back was to me, his body solid and unyielding, his shoulders squared, his arms wrapping around me, pulling me into his chest. He held me close, his heart pounding against mine, his grip firm, protective.I felt his body tense, his muscles coiled like steel, his breathing hard and fast. His head turned slightly, his eyes blazing with fury as he looked at my father. “You touch her again,” he growl
FAITHMy heart skipped a beat, my body tensing. I opened my mouth to respond, but Blaze was already in front of me, his body blocking mine, his shoulders squared, his eyes blazing. “Back off,” he growled, his voice low, cold, and dangerous.The man’s smirk faltered, his eyes flicking to Blaze, taking in his rigid posture, his clenched fists, the fire burning in his gaze. He held up his hands in mock surrender, his lips curving into a taunting smile. “Easy, man. Just making conversation.”Blaze took a step forward, his body radiating anger. “She’s not interested. Get lost.”The man’s eyes narrowed, his shoulders tensing, but after a moment, he scoffed, turning away, his friends following. “Whatever, man. Not worth the trouble.”Blaze didn’t move until they were out of sight, his body rigid, his fists clenched at his sides. I could see the tension in his shoulders, the way his jaw was set, his eyes still blazing with anger.I touched his arm gently, my voice soft. “Blaze… it’s fine. I
FAITHThe alley was dark and narrow, shadows dancing along the cracked brick walls. Trash littered the ground—crumpled newspapers, empty bottles, and cigarette butts scattered like forgotten memories.A damp, musty scent hung in the air, mixed with the faint, nauseating stench of rotting garbage.The buildings on either side were old and crumbling, their facades smeared with graffiti, their windows shattered and boarded up. I could hear faint whispers echoing from somewhere, voices muffled by the thick walls, fading in and out like ghosts haunting the ruins.The air was cold, biting, swirling around me as I walked, my shoulders tensing involuntarily. It was dark, the kind of darkness that swallowed you whole, where shadows blurred into each other, hiding whatever lurked within. My heart raced, my pulse echoing in my ears, my feet moving quickly, carefully, over the cracked pavement.I could feel Blaze behind me, his presence solid and reassuring, his footsteps steady, his body close