No sooner had Blaze stepped through the door than his phone rang. It was Ivanka. Apparently, a student had delivered a few bottles of wine, and Ivanka wanted to spruce up Blaze's villa with some new decor. Naturally, she had Blair bring the wine over.
And, of course, take a little tour of the place while she was at it.
Blaze paused mid-step, frowning as he listened.
"You gave her the address?"
"Yes. She left an hour ago. Should be arriving any minute now. Make sure you treat her properly…"
Blaze's brow furrowed, a long sigh escaping his lips.
"I… understand."
Blair coming over wasn't the issue. The problem was if she found out about Cecilia—if that little gossip spread, it would be catastrophic.
Ivanka had always been exacting. Three years ago, when he and Cecilia were together, she might have looked down on MAPLE CO., but at least the match was tolerable. Ivanka couldn't complain.
But today was different. Cecilia's broken engagement and sudden marriage to Vincent were public knowledge. Ivanka despised her now. And if she found out Blaze was still entangled with her…
The thought made Blaze's chest tighten. He turned and called out to Cecilia, who was about to head upstairs.
"Stop."
"Uh… okay?" Cecilia's heart skipped a beat. Thoughts of last night still lingered, making it hard to meet his eyes.
Blaze stepped closer. And then, with a sudden lightness to her body, he scooped her up horizontally and carried her upstairs.
"I have a guest coming," he said, his voice calm but firm. "Stay in your room. Do not move."
"Ah… okay…" Cecilia nodded, only half understanding. Something about his behavior felt off. Was it just her imagination?
Blaze gave a few more curt instructions before leaving. But as he reached the door, he paused, turned back, and pressed a mug full of water into her hands.
Cecilia blinked, puzzled by the gesture. "Th… thank you," she stammered.
Blair had nothing to do with Cecilia, yet here Blaze was leaving her behind to see Blair. A pang of guilt flickered across his face—he couldn't help but feel a little like he was betraying Cecilia. He smirked at himself and shook his head.
By the time he went downstairs, Blair had arrived. The butler led her into the villa, and the heat from the radiators mingled with the cold outside. Before she could even speak, a loud ACHOO! escaped her lips.
Simultaneously, upstairs, Cecilia's sneeze shook the mug in her hands. Almost spilling it, she fumbled to grab her phone.
"Hello?"
"Miss Spark, Madam Samantha has returned to the country."
"What? Wasn't she in the U.S. with Fiona spark? Why return so suddenly?"
Madam Samantha—the intruder who had stolen her father's attention, leaving a shadow over Cecilia's childhood—had long since been legitimized and even had a daughter with him. Fiona Spark was studying in America. The two women had been abroad for years.
"They said they were visiting Mr. Spark. Their flight landed early this morning, and they're already at the hospital."
"Why wasn't I told earlier?" Cecilia jumped from the bed, only to wince as her injured ankle screamed in protest. She gasped, clutching the phone between her shoulder and ear. "I'll head to the hospital—tell the driver…"
As she hurriedly dressed and moved toward the door, her hand brushed the handle. Then she remembered Blaze's warning: don't leave your room.
Swallowing hard, she paused, obediently stopping at the threshold.
"Understood."
After hanging up, curiosity gnawed at her. Who was Blaze meeting? A business client? Or… an enemy? Why was she being kept inside?
Pressing herself against the door, she strained to hear outside—but the soundproofing was perfect. She couldn't catch a thing.
Carefully, she turned the knob just enough to peek, then slinked silently into the hallway, trying not to make a sound.
The corner led straight to the staircase. Cecilia pressed herself against the wall, peeking downward—and froze.
A man and a woman were embracing.
Her heart skipped a beat. That man… wasn't that Blaze?
"S-sorry!"
Blair scrambled upright from his arms, flustered beyond belief. But her twisted ankle betrayed her—she stumbled forward, nearly falling into Blaze. The scene was painfully intimate, each movement charged with tension.
"Careful." Blaze clenched his fists, steadying her with his strong arms. With anyone else, he might have pushed them apart instantly—but Blair had Ivanka watching. He had to handle this delicately. "Are you hurt? Do you need to sit over there for a moment?"
Being held in his arms, Blair's face flushed crimson. It took her a few heartbeats to recover, then she nodded, allowing Blaze to guide her gently onto the sofa.
"Sorry for causing trouble," she murmured.
Blaze's eyes flicked to her ten-centimeter stilettos. He raised an eyebrow, silently questioning why women loved torturing themselves with such footwear.
He thought of Cecilia. She had several pairs like that. Once, after a fight, Cecilia had stormed out in a pair of heels, walking a whole kilometer just to make a point. By the time she got home, her feet were swollen, and he had worried over her like crazy…
His gaze unconsciously drifted upward, toward the second floor, a flash of conflicted sadness crossing his eyes.
"The bottles of red wine—Professor ivanka said to place them in the hall's wine cabinet. Don't forget," Blair reminded him.
"I know. You should rest for a bit, then head back. I have some matters to attend to." Blaze's tone was distant, leaving no room for lingering.
"Wait!" Blair's voice was tinged with hurt, her soft cherry lips hesitating before she added, "Could you… help me get a warm towel? My foot hurts… I want to apply some heat."
Blaze paused for a fraction of a second, then kept walking, leaving her with a cool, detached back.
"I'll have a servant bring it. Wait a moment."
Cecilia huddled in the corner, straining to hear. The distance distorted their words, but the intimacy between them struck her eyes like a blade.
So that was why Blaze had sent her away… just to meet this woman?
She couldn't see exactly what they were saying, but Blaze's gentle guidance, the soft laughter and shy smiles she glimpsed on Blair's face—it all stabbed Cecilia's heart.
Were they… dating?