FAITH
Before I could even register what was happening, Blaze’s arm shot out, steadying me against the seat. His grip was firm, protective, and his other hand tightened on the steering wheel as he muttered a string of curses under his breath.
“Are you okay?” he asked sharply, his voice cutting through the ringing in my ears.
I nodded quickly, though my heart was pounding so loudly it drowned out my words.
Blaze didn’t wait for a response. He rolled down the window, leaning halfway out as he glared at the car in front of us.
“Hey! Watch where the hell you are going!” he barked, his voice sharp enough to make me wince.
FAITHI was sprawled across the bed, surrounded by a fortress of thick books, my frustration mounting with every page. Jessica’s voice echoed in my head—“I want you to finish reading them all!”—and I groaned, burying my face in my hands.The door knocked softly, snapping me out of my misery. “Come in,” I mumbled, flipping a page halfheartedly.Blaze stepped in, looking effortlessly put together in a crisp white shirt and tailored pants. He raised an eyebrow when he saw me buried under the books. “Are you ready for your appointment?”I looked up, confused and annoyed. “What appointment?”Blaze crossed his arms, glancing at the books piled around me. “Uh, your doctor’s appointment?” he said slowly, as if I’d forgotten something obvious. “The one I told you about this morning?”I groaned dramatically, rolling onto my back and flailing my arms. “Ugh. Fine. I will go. I just need to throw a tantrum first.”Blaze chuckled, his laugh warm and amused. “Alright,” he said with a grin. “Have you
Chapter 23: That Painful?FAITHAs we pulled up to the doctor’s office, Hillary’s car stopped behind ours. She stepped out, her expression impassive as she adjusted her coat and walked toward us. Blaze’s grip on my hand tightened slightly as we headed inside.When we reached the reception desk, Blaze turned to Hillary, his tone clipped. “Wait here. We will handle this on our own.”Hillary raised an eyebrow, her lips curving into a faint, sarcastic smile. “Whatever you say, Blaze,” she replied coolly, stepping back.Without another glance in her direction, Blaze led me into the clinic, his hand still steady on mine. The interior was warm and welcoming, nothing like the sterile environment I’d expected. We were greeted by a nurse who guided us to Dr. Clarissa’s cabin.Dr. Clarissa stood as we entered, her kind smile immediately putting me at ease. She was in her early 40s, with neatly styled hair and an air of calm professionalism.“Faith,” she said warmly, extending a hand. “It’s lov
FAITHSleep evaded me that night. No matter how many times I rolled over or adjusted the pillows, my mind wouldn’t quiet. Hillary’s words kept replaying, her cold voice and the unsettling weight of what she’d said: “Don’t get too attached to the child in your womb. It’s not yours, after all.”I tossed the blanket off with a frustrated sigh and decided to head to the kitchen for some warm milk.Maybe that would help. As I padded down the hallway, the faint glow of light spilling out from under Blaze’s study door caught my eye.Curiosity got the better of me, and I peeked inside. There he was, seated at his desk, his shirt sleeves rol
FAITHA week later, I woke up early, buzzing with energy I hadn’t felt in a long time. The sunlight streamed through the windows, and for once, I didn’t mind. I jumped out of bed, threw on a simple outfit, and hurried downstairs.Michael, my assigned bodyguard, was waiting outside the mansion, leaning casually against the black SUV. His brown hair was slightly tousled, and as usual, he had that boyish charm that made him seem less intimidating than he probably wanted to be.“Good morning,” he greeted me as I approached.“Morning!” I said brightly, sliding into the passenger seat. “Let’s go to the best hair salon nearby.”Michael raised an eyebrow, climbing into the driver’s seat. “The best hair salon nearby?” he repeated, starting the car. “Don’t you have your classes in a couple of hours? Why are you going to a hair salon now?”I waved him off, leaning back in my seat. “It’s just… I woke up this morning, looked at my hair in the mirror, and thought ‘ew, I need a new haircut.’ New seme
FAITHAs I pushed open the heavy oak doors of the mansion, a faint echo followed me into the grand hall. The familiar scent of polished wood and roses from the sprawling arrangements greeted me. I ran my fingers through my freshly styled hair, still marveling at the change. It felt lighter, freer, and a bit like stepping into a version of myself I wasn’t used to yet.Just as I was about to head toward the staircase, Kristin’s voice, cool and slightly clipped, stopped me.“Ooh, I like your haircut,” she said, her tone neutral but with an undercurrent of approval. She was perched on one of the velvet chairs in the sitting area, her posture impeccable. “It suits you perfectly.”I turned toward her, smiling faintly. Kristin had a way of making even compliments sound like she was sizing you up. “Thanks,” I said, tucking a strand of my new wavy hair behind my ear. “I needed a change.”She tilted her head slightly, her glossy dark hair catching the sunlight filtering through the tall windo
FAITHThe lecture hall buzzed with the sound of students shuffling papers and zipping backpacks as the professor dismissed us. I stretched, feeling the tension in my shoulders from sitting through two back-to-back classes.The first day back always felt like a marathon.Grabbing my bag, I made my way out, weaving through the throng of students spilling into the hallway. My mind was already running through my schedule for the rest of the day when I heard a voice behind me.“Hey, Faith, wait up!”I turned to see a group of guys walking toward me. One of them, a tall brunette with a cocky grin, fell into step beside me. “It&rsq
FAITHFor a moment, I was speechless. Words formed in my head but refused to leave my lips. Finally, I managed, “How would you even know about those things before we… before this arrangement happened?”Blaze tilted his head, his smirk shifting into something more contemplative. “Do you think Jared isn’t meticulous enough to send me your entire biodata before I made such a life-altering decision?”I scoffed, pulling back slightly to regain some space. “Ouch. I am kind of hurt that I was evaluated so thoroughly. What’s next? Did I pass some secret test?”He chuckled softly, but his eyes glinted with something unreadable. “Well, I was also hurt this morning when you left without waiting for me, despite Kristen informing you to do so. You don’t see me bringing that up.”I raised an eyebrow, crossing my arms. “You just brought it up now.”“Of course I did,” he said, his tone exasperated yet calm. “That’s the entire reason I am standing here at the moment.”I rolled my eyes. “Well then, w
FAITHThe ride back to Blaze’s estate was quiet at first, the air between us heavy with unspoken tension. I stared out the window, my mind flitting between my classes, my growing list of assignments, and, of course, the man sitting beside me.Blaze shifted in his seat, breaking the silence. “Did you get a new haircut?”I turned to him, blinking in surprise. “Are you just noticing that now?”He leaned back, his eyes narrowing slightly in mock thoughtfulness. “I was too caught up in the moment earlier, you know, with all those flies hovering around you.”A giggle slipped out before I could stop it. “You almost sound jealous for real.”He rolled his eyes, but there was a small, almost imperceptible smile tugging at his lips. “Don’t flatter yourself.”I tilted my head, watching him. “Anyway, what do you think of it?”Blaze’s smirk softened, fading into something quieter, more thoughtful. His eyes trailed over me, lingering in a way that made my heart do a strange little flip.He didn’t a
FAITHThe moment the words left my lips, I felt the air in the hallway shift.Austin stiffened beside me, his brows pulling together in sharp confusion. His expression flickered between shock, disbelief, and something I couldn't quite place.I sucked in a breath, my mind racing, scrambling to fix what I'd just said. Shit. Shit. Shit.Austin stared at me. “What did you just say?”“N-nothing,” I blurted, shaking my head. “Forget I said anything.”His eyes narrowed. “No. No way.” He stepped closer, lowering his voice. “You just said you’re a surrogate. What the hell does that mean, Faith?”I forced a laugh, waving him off like it was nothing. “Oh, you—you heard wrong. I was just saying that, you know, pregnancy is just a temporary thing, and I’m just… carrying a baby, but it’s not—”Austin’s eyes darkened. “Faith.” His voice was sharper this time. “Don’t even try to lie your way out of this.”I swallowed, looking away. My fingers clenched into my sleeves as I tried to come up with some e
FAITHBlaze Weston—the man who prided himself on being indifferent, the man who acted like nothing could touch him—had just admitted, even in the smallest way, that he might actually be jealous?I didn’t even know how to react.A slow smirk tugged at the corner of his lips as he watched me, clearly enjoying my stunned silence.Then, just as I was about to say something—anything—he let out a low chuckle and shook his head.“I am joking,” he said, amusement lacing his voice. “Relax, Faith.”And just like that, the moment was gone.M
FAITHAustin’s gaze flickered between the two of us, confusion etched across his face as he took in the situation—the clinic, the ultrasound photo still in Blaze’s hand, the way I instinctively moved half a step back, caught completely off guard."Um…" Austin’s brows furrowed. "Why are you coming out of here?"My throat went dry.I forced a tight smile. "Austin. What are you doing here?"His eyes lingered on me for a moment before he crossed his arms, his stance slightly wary. "I’m here for my sister. My older sister—she’s pregnant. Just had a check-up, so I came with her."He studied me ca
FAITHA moment of silence settled between us before Blaze suddenly shifted beside me. His fingers tapped against his knee, a small, restless movement.“There was something else I wanted to ask,” he said, his voice steady but firm.The doctor tilted her head. “Of course.”Blaze inhaled, his fingers now laced together as he leaned slightly forward. “Yesterday… something happened. Faith was exposed to chloroform.”I turned to him sharply, caught off guard by how bluntly he said it.The doctor’s entire demeanor changed. She straightened immediately, her expression turning serious. “Chloro
FAITHI held my breath, bracing myself as the doctor studied the ultrasound images with a careful gaze. The room felt too still, too charged with anticipation.My fingers curled tightly over the thin sheet covering my stomach, my heart pounding so loud I could barely hear anything else.Blaze sat beside me, unnervingly silent, his piercing gaze fixed on the monitor as if willing it to reveal the answer he wanted.The doctor finally turned to us, offering a small smile. “Well, from what we can see at this stage… it looks like you’re expecting a boy and a girl.”I exhaled sharply, a rush of relief crashing over me like a tidal wave.
FAITHThe car ride was quiet at first, the soft hum of the engine filling the silence between us. I stared out the window, watching the buildings blur past, but my thoughts were too loud to focus on anything outside.I bit my lip, hesitating, but finally, I turned to Blaze. “What if the baby is a girl?”He looked at me, slightly confused. “What do you mean?”I shifted in my seat, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. “I mean… I’d love to have a daughter,” I admitted. “But… I don’t want the baby to be a girl at this point.”Blaze frowned. “Why?”I sighe
FAITHThe dining room was grand, but somehow, the atmosphere around the breakfast table felt tense.Maybe it was Marcus’s looming presence, his strict posture as he sat at the head of the table like a king overseeing his kingdom. Or maybe it was the fact that Blaze, still unusually quiet, was eating his food with the composure of a soldier in a disciplinary camp.I tried to focus on my own plate, but my stomach was still a little unsettled from earlier.Jessica, Blaze’s mother, sat gracefully across from us, sipping her tea. Elegant and poised as always, she placed her cup down and looked at both of us with an expression that m
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