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 room was a cacophony of blinking monitors, the hum of servers, and the faint, sterile scent of technology. My fingers flew across the keyboard, the glow of the screen reflecting on my face as lines of code and error messages blurred into an indecipherable mess.Behind me, Blaze paced like a caged lion, his energy taut with frustration. “What’s going on?” he asked, his voice slicing through the quiet urgency of the cyber room.I didn’t look up, my focus locked on the screen. “It’s malware,” I said, my tone clipped as I clicked through logs and protocols. “Sophisticated stuff, too. It’s embedded itself in your system and is actively copying sensitive data—employee details, financial records, client contracts. It’s all being extracted in real-time.”Blaze stopped pacing, his eyes narrowing. “Is it random, or…?”“It’s not random,” I interrupted, shaking my head. “This kind of malware doesn’t just show up out of nowhere. It’s precise, targeted. Someone placed it here on purpose
FAITHThe hallway was eerily quiet as I stepped out of the cyber room, my heart still pounding from the adrenaline of the battle we’d just fought. Blaze’s retreating figure was just ahead, his long strides eating up the distance toward the elevator. Without thinking, I followed him.“Blaze!” I called out, but he didn’t stop.When he reached the elevator, the doors slid open, and he stepped in. I quickened my pace and slid in just before the doors closed behind me. He stood with his back to me, his shoulders tense and his hands gripping the railing inside the elevator.“Blaze,” I said softly, my voice barely above a whisper. “What’s wrong?”Before I could say more, he turned suddenly, his arms wrapping around me in a crushing hug. I froze, my breath caught in my throat. The sheer force of his emotions radiated through his grip, and for a moment, I couldn’t move, couldn’t speak.His head dipped slightly, his breath warm against my shoulder as he held me close. The silence stretched
BLAZEOne moment, I was watching Faith fade before my eyes, blood pooling beneath her, and the next, I was being forced out of the operating room, my hands still stained with her blood. The cold, sterile hallway was too bright, too silent, and yet it felt like the walls were closing in on me.My shoulder throbbed with every frantic breath I took, but I barely noticed. The only thing I could hear was the sound of my own pulse roaring in my ears, the memory of Faith’s weakened voice haunting me."Blaze, I—I can’t—"My hands curled into fists as I swallowed back the suffocating terror clawing at my throat.And then I heard hurried footsteps.“Blaze!” My mother’s voice rang out before I even saw her. She rushed toward me, her expensive heels clicking sharply against the floor, her face filled with a rare look of concern. My grandfather followed close behind, his ever-imposing presence looming as he took me in. “Are the babies alright?”I nodded stiffly, my voice hoarse. “Yeah. They’re… th
BLAZEFaith was smiling as she walked toward me, her soft white dress flowing gently with the breeze, her hands cradling the small curve of her belly. The golden glow of the fairy lights strung up in the trees cast a warm halo around her, making her look almost ethereal. God, she was beautiful.I leaned against the tree, arms crossed over my chest, the corners of my lips lifting at her fond exasperation. Of course, I wouldn’t be able to stay away from her baby shower, even if I wasn’t supposed to be here. She shook her head, her eyes glimmering with amusement as she approached. “Blaze, you are so silly,” she murmured, her voice holding a teasing lilt. “You just couldn’t sit still, could you?”I opened my mouth to respond, but then—I saw it.A shadow in the distance, shifting just slightly behind the decorated hedges. The glint of metal, barely catching the light. My stomach dropped.A gun.And it was pointed directly at Faith.Everything inside me went cold.Move. Now.Instinct kick
FAITHI stood there, watching Blaze’s pouting face, his eyes narrowing in exaggerated disappointment. His lips, usually so firm, curled into a playful frown, and I couldn’t help but let out a small chuckle at the sight. He was always so dramatic when things didn’t go his way, like a child who didn’t get their favorite toy."You really aren’t going to include me in any part of today’s occasion, are you?" Blaze said, crossing his arms over his chest as he leaned against the doorframe of my bedroom. His voice was mockingly hurt, but there was a glint of humor in his eyes that softened the playful accusation.I smiled at him, shaking my head. "No, that's not the intention, Blaze. But, you know, it's just... a day where I kind of wish my mom was here."The words slipped out before I could stop them, and as soon as I said them, I felt a sudden lump in my throat. The weight of missing my mom, the one person who would’ve been here, who should’ve been here, hit me harder than I’d expected.Bla
BLAZEI was pouting.Not just pouting—full-on sulking.Elbows propped on my desk, fingers tapping rhythmically against the polished wood, I let out an exasperated sigh and leaned back against my chair, glaring at the laptop screen like it had personally offended me.The numbers on the project proposal meant nothing to me right now. The reports waiting for my review? Useless. The dozens of unread emails? Ignored.Because all I could think about was her.Faith.And the baby shower.And the absurd, utterly ridiculous fact that I wasn’t allowed to be there.It was my children. My girlfriend. And yet, I was supposed to just sit back and let everyone else celebrate without me? Where was the fairness in that?!I scowled and ran a hand through my hair in frustration, just as the door to my office swung open.Jared walked in, as casual as ever, holding a file under one arm and a cup of coffee in the other. His sharp eyes flicked toward me, immediately narrowing in suspicion. He knew me too wel
FAITHAs I lay back on my bed, still on the call with Mia and Reagan, a gentle knock came from my door."Come in," I called out and sat up, expecting one of the housemaids.Instead, it was Blaze.He stepped inside, shutting the door behind him, his sharp, assessing eyes landing on me before softening just slightly. Without a word, he walked over, slipping his arms around my waist from behind. His chin rested against my shoulder as he buried his face in my neck, his warm breath sending shivers down my spine.I tried to focus on the call, clearing my throat. "Listen, you guys can't come," I said, my voice firm. "They won’t allow it."Blaze hummed, pressing a slow, deliberate kiss against my neck. "What are you talking about?" he murmured against my skin.I bit my lip, trying to ignore the way his lips were brushing dangerously close to a sensitive spot. "My friends… they want to come over to plan my baby shower.""So invite them," he said casually.I scoffed. "Are you kidding? Your mom,
FAITHFour months had passed, and yet, it still felt surreal—the life growing inside me, the late-night whispers, the stolen moments behind closed doors. But here we were, sitting at the long dining table, surrounded by family, acting like nothing had changed.The clinking of utensils and the occasional rustle of newspapers were the only sounds filling the silence. Breakfasts at the Weston estate were always like this—structured, quiet, disciplined. No unnecessary chatter. Everyone ate with precision, absorbed in their own thoughts.I sipped my juice, eyes darting toward Blaze, who sat across from me, seemingly unbothered, but I knew better. His fingers tapped rhythmically against his coffee cup, a habit I had come to recognize whenever he was deep in thought.Then, Grandfather cleared his throat. A simple gesture, yet it was enough to command everyone’s attention.“I’ve heard something about you two,” he started, his deep voice measured. He placed his utensils down with a quiet clink
FAITHThe city at night was different. The same streets I walked every day, the same buildings, the same sky—but they all looked softer now, bathed in golden lamplight and the occasional neon glow. I never realized how beautiful our city was, never took the time to simply breathe it in. Life had always been a rush, a never-ending list of tasks. But tonight? Tonight, I was finally just here.Blaze walked beside me, his hands tucked into the pocket of his hoodie, his expression thoughtful as he took in our surroundings. "Strange," he murmured."What is?" I asked, glancing up at him."I’ve only ever seen these streets from my car window. Never like this." He exhaled, almost amused. "It felt like a different world. A distant one."I smiled. "Isn’t it weird? We’ve lived here our whole lives, yet we’re seeing it properly for the first time. It’s funny how different we are... and yet, still the same."Blaze hummed in agreement before sighing dramatically. "Even so, I stand by the fact that s
FAITHThe sun was setting as we pulled up to the DIY Jewelry Making shop. I could already feel the excitement bubbling up inside me. I’d always wanted to try my hand at making jewelry, and now that I was finally here, I was practically bouncing in my seat. Blaze, on the other hand, looked calm as ever, but I could see the slight curiosity in his eyes.“So,” I said, turning to him with a grin, “we’re really doing this. Jewelry making. How do you feel about getting creative with some shiny things?”He glanced at me, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “I’m just here to keep you company, Faith. But I have to admit, I’m curious to see how this goes.”I beamed at him, feeling giddy. "I’m so excited! I’ve always wanted to do this. Imagine, I could make us matching necklaces, or better yet, something with a personal touch. It’ll be fun, I promise."We got out of the car and made our way inside. The moment we entered the store, I was greeted by the sweet scent of lavender and van
FAITHThe lunch was nothing short of delightful—surprisingly so, considering I had dragged Blaze out of his busy schedule for an impromptu date. But there we were, sitting across from each other at a cozy little bistro, the dim lighting setting the perfect mood for some easy conversation.Blaze leaned back in his chair, watching me with an amused glint in his eyes. “You know, you look incredibly beautiful when you’re eating.”I raised an eyebrow, a playful smile tugging at my lips. “Is that so?” I teased. “Do you always compliment people while they’re stuffing their faces?”He shrugged, the corner of his mouth lifting in that way that made me melt. “Only when I’m looking at someone as stunning as you.”I felt a warm flush creep up my neck, but I wasn’t about to let him have the upper hand. “Well, I guess I’m just lucky, huh? Getting compliments while eating? That must be some kind of record.”Blaze’s grin widened, and I swear I saw a hint of mischief in his eyes. “Oh, trust me, you’ve