FAITHI stormed back through the hallways, my heart pounding, my grip tightening around my phone as if it were the only thing keeping me steady.Austin.I had to shut him up.Blaze had been clear—nobody could know about the surrogacy. And if Austin had even the slightest thought of running his mouth, I had to make sure he knew exactly what kind of mistake that would be.I found him near the courtyard, leaning against a pillar with his arms crossed, his eyes already on me like he’d been expecting this.Good. Because I had a few things to say.I didn’t slow down as I approached, stopping right in front of him, my voice low and
FAITHThe night had settled in, a comforting blanket of darkness wrapping around the city as I sat on my bed, phone in hand, casually texting Austin.Austin: So, what’s your plan now? You know… for everything?I stared at the message for a moment, my fingers hovering over the screen. What was my plan? I hadn’t exactly thought that far ahead. Between dealing with the fallout of my pregnancy being outed and keeping Blaze from finding out that Austin knew too much, I barely had the energy to think beyond surviving the next day.I sighed, typing back.Me: What do you mean?His reply was almost instant.Austin: I me
FAITHThe breakfast table was filled with the usual clinking of silverware and casual morning chatter. But today, there was an undercurrent of something else—anticipation, expectation, something hanging in the air just waiting to be spoken.I shifted in my seat, my hands resting on my lap as I glanced at Blaze, who sat beside me, his expression unreadable as he sipped his coffee. He hadn’t said much this morning, hadn’t even acknowledged me with his usual remarks.Not that I cared.Not that it bothered me.I swallowed, pushing away the strange tension curling in my chest.Jessica, as usual, was the first to speak. &ldquo
FAITHAustin walked toward me, his signature cocky smirk in place, hands tucked into his jacket pockets. And damn it—he kinda looked handsome.It wasn’t fair. The way he carried himself with that effortless confidence, like nothing in the world could shake him. The way his hair fell slightly over his forehead, just like it used to when we were younger.The way his eyes still held that spark—that dangerous, playful glint that made me feel like I was about to step into something I couldn’t control.“Long time no see,” he mused, stopping in front of me.I crossed my arms, raising an eyebrow. “You saw me yesterday.”Austin chuckled. &ldquo
FAITHThe moment our eyes met, my breath caught.Blaze’s presence was suffocating—dark, heavy, charged with an intensity that made my stomach twist. His broad frame was rigid, his jaw clenched so tight I thought it might shatter. His fists were curled at his sides, his dark eyes burning with something I couldn’t quite name.I barely had time to blink before he moved.Before I could react, Blaze strode forward with terrifying speed, closing the distance between him and Austin in an instant.Then, without warning—CRACK.His fist collided with Austin’s face so h
BLAZEI was still fuming.Still burning from the inside out.The moment I had turned that corner and seen her—seen them—everything inside me had snapped. I had gone back to get her. I wasn’t going to leave her there with him. That was never an option.She was supposed to come home with me.But when I got there, when I saw the way she was in his arms, leaning into him like he was her safe place—Like he was the one she trusted—Like I wasn’t even in the damn picture—I lost it.I saw red.The fury was a wildfire spreading in my chest, a heat so intense I could barely breathe around it. My pulse drummed against my skull, my vision blurred at the edges. My body thrummed with an uncontrollable rage, one that had no outlet except through destruction.And fuck, I needed to destroy something.I could still see it.Still fucking feel it.My breathing was heavy, sharp exhales pushing through my nose as I walked with long, furious strides.That fucking bastard.That smug prick.I saw red just
BLAZEFaith stood in the doorway, arms crossed, expression unreadable as she stared directly at me through the jagged pieces of broken glass.I looked up.Our eyes met.No fear.No hesitation.Just her. Standing tall, holding my gaze like she wasn’t intimidated in the slightest, like she wasn’t fazed by the wreckage surrounding me.She marched forward without hesitation, stopping a few feet away from me, her eyes flicking around the disaster of a room before settling back on me.Her voice was steady, borderline unimpressed. "What have you done to this room?"I scoffed, shaking my head. "It’s none of your business," I muttered, my voice cold, detached. "It’s my room. I can do whatever the hell I want with it."Faith’s brow twitched ever so slightly.For the first time, I saw something different in her expression—not anger, not fear, but understanding. Like she was looking at a side of me she hadn’t seen before, one she hadn’t expected, but one she wasn’t surprised by either.Her lips p
FAITHI stared at the contract in Blaze’s hand, my pulse pounding in my ears.Ten million dollars.The number blurred before my eyes, sharp and suffocating, pressing against my chest like a weight I couldn’t lift.I had no idea.I had signed this contract, bound myself to this agreement, but I hadn’t even read it properly. I hadn’t read it. I had been so desperate—so completely shattered—that the details had barely registered. The moment I saw a way out, I took it without thinking, without questioning, without knowing what I was really giving away.My throat went dry, my fingers curling into fists at my sides.Blaze tilted his head slightly, his dark eyes watching me like a predator that had cornered its prey. Then, slowly, that signature smirk crept onto his lips."Oh?" he mused, his tone mocking. "Now you’re quiet?"I swallowed hard, trying to ignore the suffocating heat radiating from his gaze."Can’t afford the penalty, can you?"His voice was silk and steel, wrapping around me li
BLAZEI strode through the hallways of the estate, my mind still burning with the conversation I had just left behind. The tension in my body hadn't eased, and every step I took only fueled the frustration simmering in my chest.But right now, none of that mattered.I needed to see Faith.I stopped in front of her room, my fingers curling into a fist as I knocked against the wooden door. “Faith?” My voice was firm but not demanding.Silence.I frowned, waiting a few more seconds before knocking again, this time a little louder. “Faith, are you awake?”
BLAZEThe drive home was long, and my mind never settled. My fingers tapped against my thigh, my thoughts shifting between the past hour and what lay ahead.Faith.I needed to see her. To check on her. To remind myself that she was okay, that she was safe.But as soon as I stepped inside the house, a servant approached me, bowing his head slightly before speaking. “Sir, your grandfather has requested to see you.”I exhaled slowly, my jaw tightening.Of course.I wanted to go to Faith first. I wanted to see her face, to hear her voice, to know that she was doin
BLAZEI stopped in my tracks, my jaw tightening. Slowly, I turned to look at Jared, my frown deepening.“Of course, it was him,” I said, my voice clipped, cold. “Who else would it be?”Jared raised an eyebrow, tilting his head slightly. “Well… you have a long list of enemies, so you never know. It could be anyone.”I exhaled sharply, running a hand through my hair. He wasn’t wrong. Over the years, I had built up a solid list of people who would love nothing more than to see me suffer. Competitors in business, people I
BLAZEThe hallway was dark, the dim glow of the overhead lights barely casting enough illumination to cut through the shadows.My footsteps echoed against the cold, tiled floor, steady and unhurried. The air was thick, heavy, humming with tension, each step pulling me deeper into the darkness.I didn’t rush.I wanted to savor this moment.Jared was already waiting for me at the end of the corridor, his expression blank, his stance rigid. His hands were clasped behind his back, his jaw set, but I knew him well enough to catch the slight stiffness in his shoulders—the barely perceptible sign that he was on edge.Good.He should
FAITHJessica’s heels clicked sharply against the hospital floor as she marched toward me, her arms crossed, her face set in a deep scowl. Her usual pristine elegance was overshadowed by anger, her piercing gaze burning into me.I barely had time to process her words before she continued, her tone sharp, cutting.“You put yourself in danger—worse, you put the baby in danger! What kind of reckless, thoughtless behavior is that?” she snapped, her eyes blazing.I blinked, still dizzy, my mind struggling to keep up. “I… I didn’t—”“And for what?” she cut me off. “To go to some unknown restaurant? Without security? Without even
FAITHI woke up to the steady beeping of a monitor and the feeling of something cool pressed against my face. My body felt heavy, my limbs weak, my head pounding as though a thousand hammers were striking against it.I blinked against the harsh fluorescent light, my vision blurry, my throat raw and burning.Where was I?I tried to move, but something was strapped to my face—an oxygen mask. Panic stirred in my chest as I took a shallow, raspy breath, the memory of thick smoke and unbearable heat flashing in my mind.The fire.I inhaled too fast, coughing violently, my ribs aching with each sharp motion. A sharp pain shot through my chest, making me wince.A soft, familiar voice broke through the haze.“Take it easy, Miss. You’re in the hospital.”I turned my head slightly to see a doctor standing beside my bed, his expression calm but serious. He was flipping through a chart, his glasses slightly askew.Hospital.I was alive.I tried to speak, but my throat was too dry, too raw.The do
BLAZEThis was a setup. A fucking trap.For her.My chair scraped against the marble floors as I shot up, my heartbeat slamming against my ribs.Jared, who was still standing nearby, frowned. “Blaze? What’s wrong?”I didn’t answer. I was already moving.Jared cursed under his breath and followed. “Damn it, what’s going on?”I stormed out of the office, my mind spinning, panic clawing up my throat. “Faith—she’s in danger. Someone tricked her into going to La Vigna.”Jared’s face paled. &l
BLAZEI walked through the office halls, my shoes tapping against the polished marble floors. The buzz of employees surrounded me—keyboards clacking, hushed conversations, phones ringing.Everything was running as it should be. Efficient. Smooth. Controlled. Just the way I liked it.I nodded in acknowledgment as I passed by different departments, checking in on progress reports, offering a few words of encouragement where needed. It was a routine I had done countless times before, yet today, my mind was elsewhere.Faith.I had plans for tonight. Something simple, nothing extravagant—just something to make her happy. She had been through too much, and if I could bring he
FAITHI stood by the kitchen counter, absentmindedly stirring my tea as my mind replayed last night’s events. My chest felt warm, my heart fluttering, my lips still tingling from his kiss.Blaze.Just the thought of his name sent my pulse racing, my cheeks heating up. I closed my eyes, my fingers curling around the mug, the memory of his touch, his lips, his voice echoing in my mind. I could still feel his warmth, his strength, his presence…“Good morning!”I jolted, nearly spilling my tea as Kristen’s voice echoed through the kitchen. I looked up, my heart pounding, my face flushing as I met her curious gaze.