FAITHThe clock on the wall ticked steadily, its sound echoing in the stillness of my room.I lay flat on my back, staring at the ceiling as though the answers to my inner turmoil might magically appear there. They didn’t.Instead, my mind was consumed by two equally irritating things: my maddening craving for something utterly bizarre and my growing feelings for Blaze.It had been days since I’d last listened to his nightly summaries from the pregnancy book. My excuse was always the same—“I’m too tired, I just need to sleep.” But the truth was much messier. Spending those moments with him, watching his face soften as he explained things with surprising patience, fe
FAITHThe mix of embarrassment, exhaustion, and this insatiable craving just boiled over.“Oh no, no, no,” Blaze said quickly, his voice rising in alarm. He stepped closer, his hands hovering awkwardly like he didn’t know whether to pat my shoulder or… do something else entirely. “Don’t cry! Faith, come on, it’s just—okay, wait, I’ll figure it out. Just—just don’t cry, alright?”I sniffled, covering my face with my hands. “I’m sorry,” I mumbled through my fingers. “I don’t even know why I’m crying! It’s so stupid.”“It’s not stupid,” he said hastily. “I mean, maybe the craving is a
FAITHBlaze froze for a moment, his eyes widening slightly before his lips curved into a slow, dangerous smile. He stepped closer, the warmth of his presence pulling me in. “Then I’d say, thank God,” he said, his voice low and rich. “It’d be much easier to offer myself to you than go find this odd dish.”I couldn’t help but grin, leaning back slightly and crossing my arms. “Then I definitely want the dish,” I shot back, the playful edge in my voice masking the way my heart was pounding.Blaze laughed, shaking his head. “You really like it the hard way, don’t you?”“Oh yeah,” I said with a wink. “Definitely.”He sighed dramatically, running a hand through his messy hair, the wayward strands catching the light. “Alright, alright,” he muttered. “I’m going to find it. See you in a bit.”I stretched out my legs on his bed, feigning nonchalance. “I’ll just lounge here for a bit,” I said, giving my calf a small rub. “My leg is cramping up.”Blaze glanced at me, his expression softening for
FAITH“You… you were putting the blanket on me?” I managed to say, my voice shaky.Blaze nodded, his brows furrowed. “Yeah. You fell asleep, and I didn’t want you to get cold.”I exhaled shakily, pressing a hand to my forehead. “God, I thought…” My voice broke, and a sob threatened to escape.Blaze reached out, his hand resting lightly on my shoulder. “It’s okay,” he murmured. “You are safe. I’m here.”I looked at him, his steady presence grounding me. He didn’t push me to explain or rush me to calm down. He just stayed there, solid and unshakable, until the tremors in my body began to fade.“It felt so real,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. “I could feel his hand…”Blaze’s jaw tightened, and for a moment, something dark flickered in his eyes. But he kept his tone gentle as he said, “Dreams can feel that way, but that’s all they are—dreams. He’s not here. He can’t hurt you.”I nodded slowly, clutching the comforter he had draped over me. “I hate that my brain still goes there,”
FAITHThe clink of silverware and the soft murmur of voices filled the room as I sat at the breakfast table, nibbling on my toast. I had gotten used to these family meals now. At first, I was nervous, unsure of how I would fit in with Blaze's family, but they had welcomed me without hesitation.Jessica's enthusiasm was infectious, and even though she sometimes hovered over her son a little too much, I could tell it was all out of love."So, Faith, how's your project going?" Jessica asked, her voice bubbly as usual. She leaned over the table, practically bouncing in her seat as she awaited my answer.I smiled, wiping a crumb off the edge of my lip. "It's going well, actually. It's been a lot of work, but I'm almost done with it.""That's wonderful!" she said, practically glowing. "But don’t stress much, it’s not good for the baby." I nodded. I could feel the warmth in the room, and it made me feel more at ease. Their family dynamic was different, but it was comforting in its own way.
FAITHShe was standing a few feet away, glaring at me with so much intensity it felt like a physical force. Her eyes were sharp with fury, her lips twisted into a snarl."You!" she spat, taking a few steps forward, her hands balling into fists. “Because of you, I lost everything! Everything!”My stomach sank. I tried to stay calm, but the way she was looking at me made something cold and heavy settle in my chest.“What are you talking about?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady, though I could feel a knot of anxiety tightening in my throat.Reagan didn’t answer me, though. She was practically vibrating with rage. “You set me up, Faith! You took everything I had and threw it in my face. You don’t deserve to be with him.”I opened my mouth, but before I could say anything, she lunged toward me, her hand reaching for my hair. I flinched, but before she could make contact, Austin stepped in between us, grabbing her wrist with surprising force.“Reagan, enough,” Austin growled, his vo
FAITHI couldn't stop thinking about Blaze’s birthday. The idea of making it special for him lingered in my mind, like a quiet buzz that wouldn’t let me focus on anything else. What would he even like? He didn’t seem the type to appreciate a grand gesture or a surprise party, not like the way Jessica always tried to push him into celebrating.I needed to know more about him. I needed to figure out what would make him happy, even if he didn’t admit it. And that meant getting closer to him, observing him—without raising his suspicions.It was tricky, though. Blaze wasn't the type of person you could just casually observe without him noticing. But then again, who said I couldn’t have a little fun with this? Maybe I could sneak a peek into his world, into the things he liked, by simply sticking around more.And so, later that night, I found myself walking down the corridor toward his study. It was quiet, the house mostly asleep, the only sound being the soft tapping of my footsteps ag
FAITHBlaze paused for a moment, clearly thinking it through before responding with a softness I hadn’t quite expected. “Soft music. Jazz. Or something mellow.”I nodded, feeling pleased with myself. Soft music. That was another piece of the puzzle.“Okay, next question,” Blaze said, now sounding a little more into the game than before. “What’s the one food you can’t stand?”I didn’t hesitate. “Seafood. I can’t even look at it without feeling grossed out.”Blaze’s eyes widened in surprise. “Really? That’s a shame. I thought you might like it. ”“Nope, definitely not,” I said with a shudder. “I mean, I’m okay with Italian seafood dishes, but that’s pushing it. Fish? No thanks.”“Fun fact: I dislike it too.” Blaze chuckled softly, and for a second, it felt like we were just two people having a normal conversation, no corporate walls or icy barriers between us.“Your turn,” he said, the game starting to feel more natural now.I leaned back, considering my next question. “Alright, if you
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