LOGINBlake's POVI closed the laptop and rubbed my eyes. Fawn Jones's face was burned into my retinas now, soft features, genuine smile, eyes that looked like they'd seen too much pain but chose kindness anyway.Nothing like Cassie.And yet... the kindness and care for others were a match for the woman Cassie was now.I checked my watch. Seven forty-five. I had a meeting at eight thirty that I couldn't miss, and I still needed to get moving if I was going to make it on time.Standing, I grabbed my briefcase and headed toward the kitchen, where Ana was already setting out coffee and what looked like a fresh fruit platter."You off to work then, Mr. Huntington?" she asked with her warm smile.I set my briefcase on the benchtop. "Just about to leave, Ana." I looked toward the stairs. "Mrs. Huntington still isn't down?""No, sir. I still haven't seen her."I nodded. She was either still sleeping or avoiding me. I was going to guess avoiding me."When she comes down, let her know I'll be home b
Blake's POV"I need you to dig deeper," I said. "Into Cassie's past. Education, everything you can find. I want to know if she ever studied languages, Japanese and German or if anyone knew she spoke other languages. And cross-reference it with what you can find on Fawn Jones. I want to know if there's any connection between them before their deaths. Did they cross paths… Same University?""Deaths?" Nathan's voice sharpened. "Cassie didn't die.""No. But she was supposed to. She was brain dead. The hospital said there was no hope. But then she woke up." I rubbed my face, exhaustion and confusion. I needed answers. "Just... look into it and Nathan? I need this kept quiet. No one else knows about this. I just need to understand what's going on because there has to be an explanation.""Got it, Boss. I'll have an update at least by tomorrow. But it could take longer.""I need you to check into the background of..." I leaned back in my chair. "Fawn Jones not just her connection to Cassie. D
Blake's POVThe silence in the car was starting to get to me. Cassie wasn't saying anything; she just sat beside me, her hands folded in her lap, staring out the window at the city sliding past. She looked calm, composed, like she hadn't just spoken fluent Japanese like it was a second language. She was acting like she hadn't just saved my business from ruin. I could have been okay without Takeshi's backing, but I would need nothing to go wrong. In my line of work things go wrong and projects get delayed. No one could control the weather.If Richard Jones was behind it, and I was one hundred percent sure that was the case, then he would have found a way to hurt production of the projects in some way. Maybe the supply chain. I could think of hundreds of ways to affect any given project. I think it was time I started looking into Richard Jones's businesses. I'd heard things in the past, but I hadn't involved myself. That was about to change. I had my own contacts there."What other lang
Fawn's POV"Your wife is already sick," I continued, switching to English so Blake could follow. "She's already suffering. But if these photographs come out, and they will come out, Mr. Nakamura, because men like this don't stop, she won't just be dealing with the betrayal. She'll be dealing with the public humiliation of finding out the same time the rest of the world does."Ren looked at me like I'd just said something unforgivable. "You want him to confess? To hurt her deliberately?""I want him to give her the truth before someone else takes that choice away from both of them." I met Takeshi's eyes, holding his gaze. "Tell her yourself. First. On your terms. Tell her you were lonely, that you made a mistake, that you're sorry. Tell her before the blackmailer can.""And if she leaves him?" Ren demanded. "If it destroys his marriage anyway? My aunt has been sick for a very long time. I worry as well...""Then at least she'll have been able to make that decision with all the informat
Fawn's POVRen's eyes went wide, his mouth opening slightly before he caught himself. Takeshi stared at me like I'd just pulled a loaded gun out of my purse and set it on the table between us.The silence stretched, thick and suffocating, until Takeshi finally spoke, his voice barely held together."Anata wa... Nihongo ga hanasemasu ka?" You... speak Japanese?I nodded once. "Hai. Soshite, anata ga nani ka ni nayonde iru koto mo wakatte imasu." Yes. And I understand that you're troubled by something. I was giving them the chance to come clean.Blake hadn't moved. Hadn't spoken. I could feel his gaze burning into the side of my face, could practically hear the questions piling up behind his silence.But I didn't look at him.I kept my eyes on Takeshi, kept my voice gentle, and waited. He knew now that I was aware something was wrong, and I had him backed into a corner, but I had a feeling he would want to share anyway. I could see the respect he had for Blake.I knew Blake felt the sam
Blake's POVWe followed him through the main dining area; eyes turned our way before the whispers started. I felt Cassie's posture straighten slightly, her shoulders squaring. Like she was preparing for battle, or at least an award-winning performance."Just be yourself," I murmured near her ear."Which self?" she whispered back.I gave her a side look. "You know which one I want."She glanced up at me, something soft and surprised in her expression, something that looked like delight. The look puzzled me. Before I could say anything, we were at the door of the private dining room, and the maître d' was sliding it open.Takeshi Nakamura stood immediately, his nephew Ren following suit."Mr. Huntington," Ren said, bowing slightly. "Thank you for joining us this evening."I returned the bow, matching the angle precisely. "The honor is mine. Thank you for the invitation." I turned slightly. "May I introduce my wife, Cassandra."I felt her shift beside me, and then she did something that m
Fawn’s POVI watched three pairs of eyes turn on Blake. What they didn’t think—“Mrs. Huntington,” the older doctor said carefully, drawing my attention back to him. “You were in a car accident six months ago. You’ve been in a coma. Do you… remember anything? Anything at all?”Everything inside me w
Fawn’s POVAir ripped into my lungs like I’d swallowed knives.I jerked upright, hands flying to my chest, half-expecting water to gush out of my mouth as I gulped in air. For one panicked, blinding second, I was back in the bath, drowning. No, not drowning… being murdered as I fought to stay alive.
Blake’s POVTuesday 9:24 AMThe machine near the bed beeped too loudly for a room that was supposed to be quiet. Mainly because she was so still and silent.I sat in the hard plastic chair by the bed, elbows on my knees, my suit jacket off and folded over the back of the chair. I had only planned to
Monday 5pmI should have known the quiet was just too quiet. That stillness before something bad always carries its own stench, one your body can’t help but recognize even if your brain refuses to admit it. You know the feeling… the one like how animals go quiet just before they scurry away as a dis







