Cecilia froze. For a long moment she didn't move, then slowly raised her arms to return the embrace—only for Blaze to shove her away as if sobering up in an instant.
Even in that brief second, she caught it. The faint trace of perfume clinging to his body.
He'd been drinking… with another woman?
"I must be drunk." His low, husky voice echoed in the darkness, rich and intoxicating like aged liquor. He left her with only those words before retreating to his room, never sparing her another glance.
Left alone in the quiet night, Cecilia stood by the wall, her arm still suspended awkwardly where he had pushed it away. For the first time, she didn't know what to do with herself.
She wanted to ask him—who had he been with tonight, what exactly had he done? But she knew she had no right to demand answers.
Sleep never came. At dawn, Cecilia personally asked the servants to prepare hangover soup for Blaze, adding dishes gentle on the stomach. Yet none of it earned a word from him.
Days passed, and the distance between them only grew colder. Even when they crossed paths in the villa, they didn't speak. Blaze acted as if she were invisible. Cecilia could feel his anger, but she had no idea what she had done wrong this time.
On the weekend, she visited her father as usual. Perhaps it was the good news that Maple Holdings had safely weathered its crisis, but his spirits seemed brighter, his condition showing slight improvement. They chatted about the company until dusk fell, and only then did Cecilia reluctantly leave.
On her way home, Bruno's shadow suddenly flashed across her mind—the memory of him standing at that street corner. Her steps faltered, her brows knitting tight.
Maple Holdings had begun cooperating with smaller companies, operations finally finding stability. Life was inching back to normal. But Bruno remained a ticking time bomb. With his vengeful nature, she knew he would strike again sooner or later. Cecilia only prayed no innocent lives would be dragged into it.
By the time she returned to the villa, Blaze wasn't back yet. Feeling drained, she decided to nap. She filled the bathtub with warm water, intending to soak away her exhaustion.
Snap!
The bubbles had barely risen when the chandelier above her flickered and went dark. Cecilia froze. A blackout?
"What's going on?"
Her voice echoed faintly in the bathroom, but no one answered. Maybe the servants hadn't heard her.
She wrapped a towel around herself, walked carefully toward the door, and called again, "Did the power go out?"
Still no response. The thick darkness clawed at her nerves. She turned the handle and stepped out—only to stumble over something unseen.
"Ah—!"
But instead of crashing to the ground, she was caught. Strong arms wrapped around her, pulling her against a familiar chest, then lifting her effortlessly before tossing her onto the bed.
She couldn't see anything, but the faint scent of tobacco told her exactly who it was. Her wrists were pinned tightly. Tentatively, she whispered, "Blaze?"
"You've forgotten already—this is my hand."
Relief washed over her at the sound of his voice, but it was short-lived. The moment she remembered she was only wrapped in a bath towel, her heart hammered violently in her chest.
"You—mmph!"
Her protest was swallowed by his kiss. Hard, unrestrained, merciless. His hand gripped her chin, forcing her lips open, his tongue invading, plundering, leaving no room to breathe. Her muffled whimpers echoed like a helpless creature being toyed with, soft and trembling.
She didn't know how long it lasted. By the time he let her go, her pale cheeks were flushed crimson, breath uneven, her lips raw and swollen. But before pulling away completely, Blaze bit down on her lower lip—a sharp, punishing nip that made her cry out.
"What are you doing?!"
Her chest heaved violently as she gasped for breath, body sinking weakly into the mattress. The pain glazed her clear eyes with a misty sheen, her defenseless appearance unbearably tempting. The charged silence between them thickened, turning into something dangerously intimate.
Yet Blaze's anger still burned.
Just what did Cecilia take him for?
Cecilia had never once thought of seeking Bruno's help. To her, he was an outsider—his so-called "heroic rescue" nothing more than meddling in matters that had nothing to do with him.
She never cared. No matter how Blaze raged, vented, or tried to retaliate these past days, Cecilia remained indifferent, as though his storm had nothing to do with her.
Was that truly all that was left between them? Nothing but emptiness? Had it always been his selfishness, chaining her by his side? Was he wrong from the very beginning?
"What do you see me as?"
His movements halted, and his icy voice sliced through the silence. Cecilia's heart skipped a beat.
"A friend? A stranger? A wallet you can summon and dismiss whenever you please?"
His sharp gaze pinned her, cutting straight into her soul, leaving her no place to hide.
Her pupils tightened. In a sudden burst, Cecilia shoved him away, her voice cold as steel. "And what about you? What do you see me as?"
They should have ended three years ago. Yet he still refused to let her go—threatening her, cornering her, trying to claim her as though she were his possession.
She would never allow herself to become this man's outlet for desire.
Click—
The lights blazed back on.
Warm golden light poured from the ceiling, illuminating Blaze's storm-darkened face. Cecilia had no time to catch her breath before he shoved her down onto the bed.
"You want to know?" His voice was a low snarl. "Then I'll show you."
His weight pressed her into the mattress, his scent overwhelming her senses—heady, suffocating, undeniably male. Rough hands tore away her towel, calloused palms sliding up her waist with deliberate slowness.
"Let me go!"
Cecilia fought desperately, her body twisting, knees striking wildly against his legs. But instead of pushing him back, her defiance only ignited his fury.
Blaze's eyes darkened, a dangerous glint flickering within. Conflicting emotions swirled in their depths, unreadable and consuming. He stared down at her for a long, charged heartbeat… then crushed his lips against hers in a brutal kiss.
"Mm—!"
Her muffled protest dissolved against his mouth. She forced herself to resist, yet her body betrayed her—shaking, trembling uncontrollably beneath him. Fear tangled with rage until her eyes burned hot with tears.
This wasn't what they were supposed to be.
This… was never supposed to be them.