Semua Bab Guilty By Appearance: Bab 31 - Bab 40

As the sun began to go down, the sky turned into a breathtaking canvas of deep orange, soft pink, and bruised purple.Blake had set up a small bonfire on the dark sand just below the villa's wooden deck. The dry coconut husks and pieces of driftwood crackled loudly, casting a warm, flickering orange light across our faces. The air had turned cool, and the heavy sound of the incoming tide pushed against the shore.We sat together on a thick wool blanket, wrapped in a large, dark grey throw. I sat between his legs, my back resting against his solid, warm chest, his strong arms wrapped securely around my middle. We drank warm ginger tea from simple ceramic mugs, watching the sparks of the fire rise up toward the dark sky like tiny, orange stars. The physical release was absolute. In this quiet place, wrapped in his warmth and his smell, I felt my bones finally learn to rest. The heavy, invisible armor I had worn for years was completely gone."Blake?" I said softly, looking out at the e

The warm, peaceful magic of Batangas faded the moment we drove back into the chaotic avenues of Metro Manila.For two short days, I felt like I was living in a beautiful dream. Sitting on the quiet beach in Nasugbu, surrounded by the ocean breeze and Blake’s comforting presence, my heavy heart finally felt lighter. I had signed the papers for the Lotus Sanctuary Trust, truly believing Blake was placing an unbreakable shield between me and my parents, Damien and Calista. In his strong arms, I genuinely believed my long, painful nightmare was over. By six o'clock on Monday morning, reality returned. I was back in my crisp blue medical scrubs inside the bustling pediatric department at the medical center in Bonifacio Global City.

The room was completely quiet. The only sound was the soft, slow breathing of Snow sleeping under the white sheets of her bed.Blake stood in the dark near the wardrobe closet, his long fingers wrapped in thin black surgical gloves. In his hand, the small silver key glinted under the narrow blue beam of his penlight.The metal tag attached to the key read: Pediatric Charity Locker #14.Blake stared at the silver key for a long time. His dark eyes were cold, sharp, and narrow. His mind worked like a machine, analyzing every single detail.Why would Snow keep a separate locker key hidden inside the pocket of an old winter coat?A charity locker at the hospital, Blake thought, his jaw clenching. That is where she keeps the things she doesn't want anyone to see.In Blake's mind, everything connected back to his primary belief: Dr. Snow Ford was a cold, calculating woman who had killed his fiancée, Ana Del Rico, six months ago. He believed Snow was the driver who had sped through the dark

Blake stood in the dim moonlight, holding the woman he was actively trying to destroy.Inside his chest, a complex, dark storm was raging. Her gentle words fell on him like heavy weights. He hated how soft her body felt against his. He hated how genuinely she trusted him. It made his task complicated, but it did not stop him.He reminded himself of Ana. He pictured Ana’s sweet, smiling face in his mind. He remembered the cold floor of the emergency room where Ana’s life had been stolen away six months ago.Snow is a Ford, he reminded himself brutally, his jaw tightening in the dark. She is using her gentle, innocent act to make me drop my guard. She is a master at hiding her true nature. I cannot let her fool me.Blake slowly pulled back, looking down at Snow’s soft, tired face. He reached out with one finger, gently tracing the line of her cheekbone."You shouldn't trust people so easily, my doctor," Blake said softly.His voice carried a subtle, sharp edge—a quiet warning hidden ben

Snow stood frozen in the quiet garden, her hands trembling slightly inside his warm grip.She looked up into his dark eyes, searching his handsome face. He looked completely normal now. His smile was sweet, his eyes were soft with affection, and his hands were holding hers with gentle care.Did I imagine it? Snow thought frantically, her mind spinning in total confusion. Was I just so tired from yesterday that my eyes played tricks on me?"Blake..." Snow whispered, her voice shaking slightly despite her best efforts. "When I walked out here just now... you were looking at me."Blake kept his eyes steady on hers, his expression unchanging. "Of course I was looking at you, my doctor. I was waiting for you to finish your rounds.""No," Snow said quietly, pulling her hands back a little bit. "It wasn't just looking. The way you were staring at me... Blake, you looked... terrified of me. Or angry. It looked like you hated me."The words hung in the quiet garden air.Inside Blake's mind, a