FAITH
The 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
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
FAITHI pushed the door open, the familiar creak echoing through the small hallway of our apartment. My feet felt like lead after a long shift, and all I could think about was the stack of assignments waiting for me on my desk. But tonight wasn’t about that. It was my mom's birthday, and even though I couldn’t afford much, I had managed to bring home her favorite cake. I glanced down at the white box in my hands, hoping it would be enough to make her smile."Mom?" I called out, stepping inside. The apartment felt eerily quiet, but I figured she might be in her room, probably resting after a long day of work herself.As I made my way down the hallway, I heard something—a faint rustling sound coming from her bedroom. My heart quickened. I wasn’t expecting anyone else here. “Mom?” I called again, louder this time, but no answer came.I pushed the door open, and my breath hitched in my throat.There he was—my dad, Ezra, rummaging through my wardrobe like he had every right to be there
FAITHThe words hit me like a punch to the gut. I stared at him, disbelief and horror flooding through me all at once. “Excuse me?”Jared smiled for the first time, as if he hadn’t just said something completely vile. “Should I repeat myself?”I felt sick. “You are joking… right?” I managed to say, though the look in his eyes told me this was anything but a joke.“I assure you,” Jared said, “this is a very real offer. You do the task, get the money, and we all move on from this unfortunate incident. No lawsuits, no bills to pay.”This guy thought he could just stroll in here, make some sleazy offer, and I’d fold?Without thinking, I ripped the IV out of my arm, blood immediately dotting the bed sheets. “Who the hell do you think I am?” I shouted. “Just because I owe you some medical fees doesn’t mean you can talk down to me like this!”Jared blinked in surprise for a moment, but remained calm overall.“Sleep with your boss for 100 grand?” I continued, my fists shaking with the urge to
FAITHAustin 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
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 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
FAITHThe whole morning passed in a haze. Hillary's words lingered in my mind like a dark storm cloud that refused to dissipate. Blaze’s life still revolves around her. Every time I thought about it, my chest felt tight, like there wasn’t enough air in the room.How could I have been so blind? I had let myself get swept up in this fantasy where I thought Blaze and I had something special, something real. But maybe I’d been wrong. Maybe I was just someone he tolerated, a distraction from the pain of his past.The plans I’d made for Blaze’s birthday—the excitement, the effort—now felt like a cruel joke. Was I just forcing my way into a place where I didn’t belong? Hillary’s words gnawed at my thoughts like an echo I couldn’t silence.He still feels for his first love.No matter how hard I tried to push the thought aside, it kept creeping back, wrapping itself around my heart and squeezing. The fantasy I had built in my head—the little moments, the laughter we shared—felt fragile now
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
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