**************CHAPTER 94~Kaia’s POV~The first thing I noticed when I woke up was the empty space beside me. Blaze was gone.I frowned, shifting slightly in bed, my body still warm from where he had been. The sheets were slightly wrinkled, the faint scent of him lingering in the air. Damn him. Why did he have to smell so good?Sitting up, I ran a hand through my hair, preparing myself to start the day when something caught my eye—a small folded note on the pillow next to me.I blinked.Slowly, I reached for it, my heartbeat picking up."Good morning, wifey. Since I wasn’t there to see your face when you woke up, I figured I’d leave you with something almost as charming as me. Sleep well? Try not to miss me too much. I’ll be back soon. - Blaze"My lips parted.A warmth spread through my chest, and before I could stop myself, I was blushing.God, what was wrong with me?I tossed the note onto the bedside table, shaking my head. It was just Blaze being a smug jerk, playing his role. No
**************CHAPTER 94~Kaia’s POV~L’Étoile – An Hour LaterI stepped into the upscale restaurant, my heels clicking against the polished marble floors as I glanced around. L’Étoile was known for its exclusivity—the type of place where only the city’s elite dined.Fitting, considering Shyne was nothing if not a pretentious, spoiled brat.I spotted her immediately. She was seated near the floor-to-ceiling windows, sipping delicately on a glass of red wine, dressed in a sleek, overpriced designer outfit that screamed money.She looked up as I approached, a slow, calculating smile spreading across her face.“Kaia.” She gestured to the seat across from her. “I was beginning to think you wouldn’t come.”I slid into the seat, crossing my legs smoothly. “And miss this little performance of yours? Not a chance.”Her lips twitched in amusement. “Always so feisty.”I arched a brow. “Cut to the chase, Shyne. I have better things to do.”She took another slow sip of her wine, as if savoring t
**************CHAPTER 96~Shyne's POV~I walked into the Elysian Foundation Gala, my heels clicking against the pristine marble floor as I gracefully made my way through the crowd.The event was nothing short of extravagant—gold chandeliers hung low, the sound of classical music drifted through the air, and the city’s most powerful figures mingled with champagne glasses in hand.And at the centre of it all was Blaze Black.I had used all my connections to ensure I was part of the foundation’s sponsor, anything to be close to Blaze. He stood near the stage, tall, commanding, and effortlessly captivating. Dressed in a sleek black suit, his presence alone commanded attention, and every conversation in his vicinity orbited around him.Soon, he’ll be orbiting around me again.I made my way toward him, past women who lingered too long in his presence, past businessmen trying too hard to impress him.Mine. My Blaze Black.Blaze noticed me before I even reached him. His sharp blue eyes flick
**************CHAPTER 97~Kaia’s POV~The next morning, like always, Blaze left for work, leaving me to relax just to keep his grandmother at bay and for our excuse to pass.But I was getting bored doing nothing. Thankfully, I called my assistant the night before, asking her to forward any important work to my email.I stretched lazily in bed, my body unusually warm and relaxed. I blinked drowsily, my mind still foggy with sleep. “Aaawh!”I moved my mouth like I was chewing until my gaze landed on my phone. And then I saw it. A notification.I reached for my phone, rubbing the sleep from my eyes as I unlocked the screen.And then—I saw it.It was a picture and not just any picture; it was one where Blaze was kissing Shyne.My stomach dropped.I sat up abruptly, my heartbeat hammering against my ribs as I zoomed in on the image, my fingers tightening around the phone.The angle was perfect. Shyne’s hands were on Blaze’s shoulders, her lips pressed against his. It looked… intimate and
*****************CHAPTER 98~Blaze’s POV~The moment I saw the picture, my blood boiled. Kaia was with Shawn. And not just anywhere—at a fucking restaurant.The image was clear. Shawn was kneeling, his expression desperate, while Kaia stood in front of him, looking down with an unreadable expression.Crystal’s message followed right after.Crystal: Looks like wifey’s been busy. I thought you should see this, cousin.I clenched my jaw, my grip tightening around the phone as irritation curled in my chest.What the hell was she doing meeting with him?After everything, after all the shit we had been through—why the fuck was she entertaining that bastard?The worst part? I shouldn’t have cared. I shouldn’t have felt this tight pressure in my chest, this irrational need to grab my keys, track her down, and drag her back where she belonged.But I did. And I hated it. I tossed my phone onto the table, pacing the living room.Kaia would have to explain herself. And God help her if she lied to
*****************CHAPTER 99~Shyne’s POV~A slow, satisfied smile spread across my lips as I swirled the wine in my glass. Sherry sat across from me, her manicured fingers drumming against the table impatiently."Do you see now?" I mused, taking a sip of my drink. "Blaze is playing right into our hands."Sherry smirked. "It was obvious he’d react this way. Men like him are possessive, and territorial—they can’t stand the idea of another man even looking at what they think belongs to them."I sighed dramatically. "It’s almost too easy."Sherry leaned forward, her expression gleeful. "So? What’s the next move?"I smirked, tilting my head. "We don’t need to do much. The cracks are already forming. Kaia won’t tolerate Blaze’s jealousy, and Blaze won’t tolerate Kaia entertaining Shawn. It’s only a matter of time before he snaps and files for a divorce."Sherry let out a short laugh. "And then what? You think Blaze will come running back to you?"I narrowed my eyes. "He will. He has no choi
*****************CHAPTER 100~Blaze’s POV~I knew this breakfast was a setup the moment Grandma called for us to eat together.She had that look—that knowing, mischievous sparkle in her eyes, the one she got when she thought she was pulling some strings from the shadows.Kaia sat across from me, her posture stiff, her focus entirely on her plate as she cut through her toast with unnecessary precision. She had barely looked at me since she sat down.Not that I blamed her.Last night—after the argument and the kiss—we were both trying to figure out what the hell was happening between us.But Grandma? She had other plans.“So,” she said, delicately sipping her tea before setting it down with an elegant clink. “I assume, by now, Kaia’s cycle has ended?”Kaia choked on her food. I coughed into my fist, fighting back a groan. “Grandma.”Kaia reached for her water, her face turning a light shade of pink as she swallowed hard. “Excuse me?” she sputtered.Grandma smiled, completely unfazed. “W
*****************CHAPTER 101~Kaia’s POV~Blaze’s grip on my waist was firm—possessive. His body radiated heat, but more than that, it radiated danger.David stood in front of us, hands in his pockets, looking entirely too amused. He knew exactly what he was doing, and he enjoyed watching Blaze’s reaction.I needed to defuse this situation—fast.I forced my sweetest smile and leaned into Blaze’s side like a loving wife would. "Oh, darling, I didn’t want to bother you at work," I said, my voice dripping with affection. "But I’m so glad you’re here now."Blaze’s jaw ticked, but his lips curved into a slow, dark smirk. "Hmm. You should’ve known better than to leave without me, wifey. I take care of you, don’t I?"Oh, he was playing along."Of course you do, sweetheart," I purred, deliberately placing my hand on his chest. "Now, shall we go? I still have a few things I want to try on, and I’d love your… input."Blaze’s smirk widened, but his grip on my waist tightened. He didn’t even spar
*****************CHAPTER 131~Kaia’s POV~The moment I stepped off the rooftop garden, something inside me clicked into place.I couldn’t run anymore.I couldn’t keep pretending that the walls weren't closing in around me.If I was going to have any future with Blaze—or even just peace with myself—I needed answers. The real ones. No half-truths. No more silence.By the time I reached my office, I was already pulling out my phone.My hands trembled slightly as I scrolled through my contacts and pressed the call button.It rang twice before my mother’s voice answered, warm but cautious. "Kaia, darling! This is a surprise."I inhaled, steadying my voice. "Hi, Mum. Are you home later this afternoon?"There was a small pause before she answered, "Yes, of course. Is everything alright?"I forced a smile she couldn’t see. "I just… I want to come by. I’d like to see you and Dad."Another slight hesitation on her end.But she recovered quickly, her tone chipper again. "We’d love that, sweethe
Kaia’s POVThe next morning came too soon.I barely slept. Every time I closed my eyes, flashes of the party replayed behind my eyelids—the whispers, the lingering glances, the half-hidden stares of strangers I didn’t know but who somehow seemed to know me.I dragged myself out of bed, forcing my body into motion even though my mind was still stuck somewhere between fear and denial.By the time I got to Apex Global, the familiar buzz of the office barely cut through the cloud in my head.Blaze was already there when I arrived. He stood by the windows of his office, phone pressed to his ear, speaking in low, clipped tones that I couldn’t quite catch. His tie was loose, the sleeves of his white shirt rolled up, and there was a tension in his shoulders I hadn’t seen in a while.I hesitated for a moment outside his door, then knocked softly.He glanced up, his expression softening immediately. He gestured for me to come in.I stepped inside, trying to push my swirling thoughts to the back
*****************CHAPTER 129~Kaia’s POV~The week passed in a blur of meetings, phone calls, and whispered conversations about the project with Kayne Kyle. I barely had time to breathe, much less think about anything else.It was Friday afternoon when Blaze knocked on my office door, stepped inside without waiting for a full reply, and leaned casually against the frame."You’re coming with me to an event tonight," he said, like it wasn’t up for debate.I blinked up from my laptop. "Event?"He smirked. "Gala. Big business celebration. One of my oldest associates is throwing it. I need you to be my date."I set my pen down slowly. "You need me?"He shrugged, unbothered. "You’re beautiful, smart, and far less annoying than most women who’d kill to be on my arm. Plus, I like looking at you."I rolled my eyes, but my cheeks warmed at his words. "You could have just said you wanted company."He chuckled. "Maybe. But then you’d have thought you had a choice."That evening, I found myself s
*************Kaia’s POVThe car ride home was mostly quiet.Blaze was at the wheel, one hand on the steering, the other occasionally tapping against his thigh. I didn’t press him for conversation. We were both exhausted. Meetings all day, back-to-back check-ins with the project team, Kayne Kyle hovering like a charming shadow I didn’t ask for.By the time we pulled into the estate, the sky was already turning dusky blue, the last traces of sunset melting into the city skyline behind us.As soon as we stepped through the front doors, we were greeted by the scent of something warm and cinnamon-sweet wafting through the air.Blaze raised a brow. “Smells like cake.”“It’s too quiet,” I muttered, glancing around the hallway. “Which means—”“She’s back,” he finished.Sure enough, when we turned the corner into the main sitting room, there she was.Grandma Black.Sitting upright and elegant in her floral-print blouse and pearls, legs crossed, a steaming cup of tea in her hand and a full spr
*****************CHAPTER 127~Author’s POV~The rooftop lounge of Seraphine, one of the city’s most exclusive members-only clubs, buzzed with low conversation and jazz humming through golden speakers. The skyline burned orange with the last of the sunset, and the air was thick with cigar smoke and quiet power.Kayne arrived just as David Mercer waved him over from a private corner booth.“Good timing,” David said smoothly, raising his glass as Kayne took the seat across from him.“I figured you'd pick somewhere dramatic,” Kayne replied with a chuckle, resting his blazer on the arm of the chair. “What are we drinking to?”“Progress.” David leaned forward, his tone was much cooler now. “And control.”Kayne raised a brow. “Sounds vague.”“Blaze is unravelling. Slowly. I’ve seen it. Ever since Kaia, he’s more emotional, more unpredictable. You showing up—getting close to her—it’s exactly what we need to keep him off balance.”Kayne smiled lazily, but his eyes sharpened. “You sound like
*****************CHAPTER 126~Author’s POV~The evening sun shone through the tall windows of Kayne Kyle’s penthouse suite, filling the space with warm light. From the top floor, the sprawling city unfolded—buildings like steel giants against a cotton-candy sky. But Kayne’s gaze was inward, fixed on the amber liquid swirling in his glass as his feet rested on the cool surface of the glass coffee table.The intercom’s soft buzz broke the silence. “Sir, Mr. Draven is here.”A smile touched Kayne’s lips. He stood and straightened the cuffs of his shirt. “Send him up.”Two minutes later, the door yielded, and Draven Davion entered. Dressed in a black shirt and dark jeans, his attire suggested ease, yet his presence never did. He moved with confidence into his cousin’s house while his eyes raked the surroundings. “Nice place,” Draven commented, his gaze sweeping over the penthouse a second time as though taking in anything he missed on first glance. “As expected.”Kayne chuckled, extend
*****************CHAPTER 125~Kaia’s POV~I was still sitting in the living room of my parents’ house when my phone buzzed beside me.Blaze.For a second, I considered ignoring it. My mind was still wrapped around the truth I had just uncovered. The weight of that document hadn’t left my chest since I found it.But I answered.“Kaia,” Blaze’s voice came through, warm and deep. “I was thinking… dinner tonight? Just the two of us.”I hesitated, shifting on the couch. “I don’t think—”“It doesn’t have to be anything serious,” he cut in, gently. “Just you and me. Good food. Maybe some dessert we don’t finish because I can’t keep my hands off you.”I should’ve laughed. I almost did.But something in me wasn’t ready. Not tonight. Not after everything.Still, I couldn’t bring myself to say no to him. Not when he sounded so hopeful.“I’ll meet you there,” I said quietly.Later that evening, I arrived at the restaurant he had chosen—Maison Lune, a softly lit, elegant space tucked into a quiet
*****************CHAPTER 124~Author’s POV~Eriel Black was sitting in his cozy study, gently swirling the last bit of his aged whiskey in a crystal glass. The late morning sun poured in through the tall windows, filling the room with a warm golden light, but his mind was anything but calm.Not today.He had barely finished reading through his messages when one of the housekeepers knocked softly and entered with a bow.“Sir… Miss Crystal is here. She’s waiting for you in the living room.”Eriel’s brows lifted slightly. That was fast.He stood up without a word, set his glass down on the desk, and walked down the long hallway. The housekeeper disappeared behind him as he stepped into the big living room.And there she was.Crystal sat elegantly on one of the couches like she had all the time in the world, her legs crossed, one hand casually resting on the armrest as though she hadn’t been at the centre of a brewing storm. Her smile was faint, polite… and empty.“Uncle,” she greeted s
*****************CHAPTER 123~Kaia’s POV~The soft rays of sunlight filtered into the room through the sheer curtains, casting faint golden stripes across the bed. I stirred slowly, my limbs sore and heavy, my skin still tingling from the night before.The space beside me was empty.Blaze was gone.I blinked slowly, adjusting to the light. The room still smelled like him—warm skin, spice, and something undeniably masculine. I shifted slightly, my body humming in the places he had touched, kissed, and worshipped.As the memories returned, my face heated.I remembered how his mouth felt between my legs, how he growled my name like he needed it to breathe. And when we’d both passed out, exhausted and bare, I remembered waking up sometime in the middle of the night with his face nuzzled between my breasts, his soft breath warming my skin, his lips pressing lazy kisses there as if he never wanted to leave.I smiled to myself, biting my bottom lip.But just as I reached for the covers to r