Baldwin's Mansion
The next evening, the mansion was thick with unspoken words and a palpable tension. But the kitchen was alive with the unfamiliar sight of Blaze standing over the stove, meticulously preparing dishes. The entire kitchen staff, huddled in the corner, watched in a mixture of anxiety and awe. The head chef, normally the one in command, was no better off than his subordinates. He rarely saw Blaze enter the kitchen, let alone cook, but he knew how turbulent the past days had been for him. And now, seeing him so absorbed in his task, they were uncertain whether to be relieved or more uneasy.
Blaze, however, was lost in his own world. His hands moved with precision, his mind drifting back to memories of Savannah. He was preparing all her favorite dishes, each one carrying a fragment of the past. He still remembered the first time he cooked for her-back when she was here taking care of his father. She hadn't known it then, but he had watched as she took her first bite, silently hoping she would like it. That memory brought him a strange sense of comfort now as he worked.
After sometime
Savannah, completely unaware of the activities that had happened, made her way down the stairs in search of a glass of water. As always, her gaze instinctively found Blaze in the hall, where he sat with Arthur, deep in conversation. Her heart tightened, but she quickly averted her eyes, planning to walk past them without a word.
"Ana," Blaze called out, halting her in her tracks.
She froze. It had been ages since he had used that name. Turning around, she saw him approaching, his familiar gentle smile lighting up his face.
"Dinner's ready. Let's eat," Blaze said softly, his voice warm and inviting.
Savannah fixed her gaze on him, her face a mask of emotions. It was infuriating how he acted as if nothing was wrong, as if everything was perfectly fine. A mix of anger and sorrow churned within her.
"You must be loving this," she said, her voice laced with pain.
Blaze's grin vanished, replaced by a look of confusion. "What?"
"You must be relishing the sight of me trapped in your cage, living under your rules," she shot back, her voice trembling with the weight of her feelings.
Blaze's fists clenched at his sides,but his face remained neutral. Her words cut deeper than he wanted to admit. He took a deep breath, closing his eyes for a brief moment before opening them again.
"Don't you want to know about your child?" he asked, his voice quieter now, controlled. "Don't you want to know what happened? How it happened? And why?"
Savannah's breath hitched. For the first time, a glimmer of hope sparked in her eyes. The only reason she had endured all of this was for answers.
"Please, tell me where he is?" she whispered, tears welling up.
Blaze let out a slow breath. "Let's get you something to eat, first." He reached out his hand, motioning for her to lead the way.
For a moment, she hesitated, studying him, looking for any hint of deceit. But deep down, she knew that if she turned him down, he wouldn't share anything. She had no choice.
Without saying a word, she turned and headed toward the dining area. Blaze followed closely behind, while Arthur, still seated, watched the scene unfold. He let out a small sigh of relief. Maybe, just maybe, his boss was starting to regain control. Perhaps this was the beginning of something new.
Dinning Area
Savannah and Blaze stepped into the dining area, the very spot where they had shared countless meals filled with laughter and lively conversations. Those memories came rushing back—jokes that once filled the room with warmth now felt like a heavy blanket, suffocating her, wrapping around her like an invisible noose.
Blaze pulled out a chair for her. "Sit, Ana." he said softly.
For a moment, she stood there, as if her feet were glued to the floor, unsure about taking a seat. But eventually, she lowered herself into the chair. Blaze took his place across from her. The large dining table loomed between them, a stark reminder of the distance that had grown in their relationship.
Without hesitation, Blaze picked up his fork and knife, cutting into the tender steak on his plate. He placed a small cloth napkin on his lap, his movements composed and deliberate. Savannah, on the other hand, simply stared at the plate in front of her. It was filled with all her favorite dishes-every single one. Yet, she couldn't bring herself to eat. Her appetite had vanished, swallowed by the weight of her thoughts.
Her eyes drifted to Blaze as he continued to cut his steak into neat, small pieces.
"Where's Theo?" she asked, her voice quiet but firm.
Blaze finally looked up to meet her gaze, a faint smile flickering on his lips. "Let's eat first," he replied, brushing her question aside.
"You tell me, or I'm leaving," she shot back, pushing her chair back slightly.
As she was about to rise, Blaze called out, "Ana, wait!" His voice was urgent, almost desperate.
She froze.
"Sit. I'll tell you." His tone softened, coaxing her back into her seat. Reluctantly, she settled down again.
Blaze resumed cutting his steak. "He must have grown big by now," he murmured, his voice carrying a wistful note. "He must be missing you."
Savannah's fingers curled into fists, her patience wearing thin. "Just tell me where he is," she demanded.
Blaze looked at her, his face a complete mystery. "What if I choose not to tell you?"
Her brows knitted together in confusion. "What do you mean?"
He set his utensils down carefully, as if choosing his words with the same precision. "What if I don't tell you where Theodore is?"
There was something in his voice that sent a shiver down Savannah's spine. Savannah's breath hitched.
"I'll find him myself." she asserted, pushing her chair back once more.
"You really believe that?" Blaze's tone was unnervingly calm, but there was a hint of menace that made her hesitate.
She looked at him, searching for any sign of deception, but his focus remained on his plate as he meticulously cut another piece of steak.
"He's under my watch, Ana. How do you plan to find him?" His question sent another wave of fear rushing through her.
Savannah's heart pounded against her ribcage.
""If you try anything that hurts my feelings, don't you think Theodore will be in danger?" His voice was low, controlled, yet laced with warning.
For the first time, she saw a side of Blaze she had never witnessed before. He wasn't just manipulating-he was threatening her.
"I'm not saying I'll hurt him, Ana," Blaze went on, his voice carrying an eerie softness. "But you acting cold toward me, saying you hate me-it really hurts. It fucking hurts to the core."
His words were filled with raw emotion, but Savannah was too overwhelmed by fear to feel any sympathy.
"If you try to be a little like your old self, like how we used to be, he will be in great care. You might even get the chance to see him," he offered, the promise wrapped in underlying coercion. "But if you can't..."
His voice trailed off, leaving the unspoken words hanging in the air like a dark cloud.
Savannah's eyes widened in horror. "No-please, don't. Don't hurt him. Don't hurt Theo!" Her voice cracked as she pleaded, clasping her hands together in front of him.
Blaze lifted his gaze, and for a brief moment, his tough exterior cracked. Seeing her like this—her tear-stained cheeks, her shaking body—stirred something deep within him. He pushed back his chair and walked toward her, carrying a plate of steak neatly cut into bite-sized pieces.
He knelt beside her and placed the plate before her. "Please, Ana. Don't do this." His voice was thick with emotion.
Taking both of her trembling hands in his, he ran his thumbs gently over her skin, savoring the warmth he had been denied for so long. A deep, aching sense of peace washed over him.
With his fingers, he wiped away the tears streaming down her cheeks. "Don't cry, honey. Please don't," he whispered.
Then, he wrapped his arms around her fragile frame, holding her close as she wept against his chest. He stroked her back in slow, comforting motions, whispering words meant to comfort her. "You're a good girl, Ana."
For the first time in ages, he felt complete. Having her in his arms again was like taking a deep breath after being underwater for ages.
But deep down, he knew the method he had used to keep her here was unforgivable.
He had no choice but to be selfish.
Author's Note :
Thankyou for reading<3
Have a good day/night<3<3