Chapter 156 - A Torn Heart & A Hidden Secret.

Baldwin's Mansion

"I just wish... your main focus was painting," he murmured after a pause, his voice quieter this time.

There was something in his tone that sent a shiver down Savannah's spine. It wasn't just a passing remark-it held weight, as if he was implying something much deeper.

She tilted her head and put her brush down. "What do you mean?" she asked, scrunching up her forehead.

Elijah paused. A storm brewed behind his gaze, as though he was debating whether or not to say more. His eyes looked like a storm brewing, wrestling with himself. Then he let out a sigh and dug into his jacket pocket. He pulled out a tiny piece of paper, neatly folded piece of paper.

Without a word. He held it out to her.

Savannah stared at it for a second, totally surprised, but took the paper without a second thought. As she unfolded it, her eyes scanned the contents, and realization dawned upon her.

Her breath hitched.

This was exactly what she'd asked him for. What she'd been looking for forever. What she thought she'd never find again.

Her heart felt full of gratitude, and her lips curved into a radiant smile.

"Thank you so much, Eli! Thank you, thank you!" she said, practically bubbling over with joy.

Elijah just stood there, watching her, but she couldn't tell what he was thinking.

There was something about her smile that made his chest tighten. It was genuine, filled with warmth and trust-trust she had unknowingly placed in him. And yet, for the first time, he wished she hadn't.

"No need to thank me," he muttered, his voice soft as a whisper. But his eyes said more than his words, showing feelings he'd been trying to hide for months.

Savannah was still grinning with happiness when she looked up at him, her eyes bright with gratitude. Before she could say anything else, Elijah slowly reached out, his hand moving as if on its own accord.

His fingers brushed against her hair, smoothing it gently in a slow, deliberate motion. The touch was warm, tender-lingering just a second too long.

Savannah stiffened slightly.

His touch wasn't strange, but there was something different about it now. Something he wasn't saying, something that made her uneasy but in a good way.

Elijah met her gaze, his eyes dark and intense. "You deserve nothing but the best in your life, Savannah."

The weight of his words, the way he looked at her-it sent an uneasy flutter through her chest.

For the first time since she'd known him, something felt...off.

But she couldn't figure out what exactly.

Not yet.

Later that day

Later that evening, Savannah sat curled up in the balcony of their bedroom. The warm night breeze felt nice against her skin. Outside, it was quiet—just the distant sound of crickets chirping far away, leaves rustling softly, every now and then, the hum of a security patrol down below the only sounds filling the stillness of the night.

But inside her, a storm raged.

Her eyes stayed locked on the little white piece of paper sitting on the glass table in front of her. That same paper had been bugging her all day. The name, address, and phone number written on it looked back at her like a ghost from a time she wasn't sure she wanted to revisit.

She'd asked Elijah for this info. She'd spent hours and days waiting, hoping but dreading that moment when she'd actually get it. And now that she had it?

She still didn't know what to do.

Her hands shook a little as she grabbed the paper again, her fingers brushing against its edge. It was just a quick call. One tiny step, and she'd finally get some answers.

But fear froze her solid.

What if this messes everything up?

What if she uncovered something she wasn't ready for? Something that would shatter the reality she had built for herself?

Ever since that day at the market, she's felt this weird ache inside, like something's bothering her deep down. Now, holding this paper, that feeling got even stronger.

She swallowed hard, breathing deep while she thought about what to do next.

And then-

"Come faster, honey."

The sudden, deep voice behind her startled her, snapping her out of her thoughts. She spun around fast, her heart still pounding, to see Blaze inside their bedroom, watching her with a soft smile.

His arms were spread wide, practically calling her over.

Savannah sucked in a breath.

For just a second, guilt crept into her chest. Not because she'd done something bad—no, nothing like that. But keeping this big secret from him weighed on her, like a stone in her pocket.

Without thinking twice, she snatched the paper off the table. Her hands moved fast, like she'd done it a hundred times before. She folded it up small and shoved it into the inside pocket of her nightgown, pressing it close to her body, as if holding it tighter might make it vanish.

Then she gave him a smile.

Standing up, she headed straight for Blaze. Her heart was pounding like crazy. Just being near him made everything feel okay—for now, at least.

When she got to him, he wrapped his arms around her waist tightly. She could feel how tense he was, how his fingers moved slowly over her back, as if reassuring himself that she was right there with him.

Blaze let out a long sigh, pressing his lips to the top of her head. "What took you so long, Ana?" he murmured, his voice laced with longing.

Savannah closed her eyes, breathing him in, letting herself relax in his arms. "I was just... thinking," she said quietly.

Blaze made a soft sound and started drawing circles on her back with his fingers. "About what?"

She held onto his shirt a little tighter. "Nothing important," she said smoothly, even though the paper was still pressed against her chest.

Blaze moved back a bit and lifted her chin so he could see her face. He stared at her, like he was trying to figure out what she wasn't saying.

"You've been on my mind all day," he confessed, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "I hate these long meetings. Gonna have to stop going."

Savannah chuckled, tilting her head playfully. "You better."

A deep chuckle rumbled in his chest, but the humor in his eyes quickly faded into something else-something darker.

There was something raw and instinctual about it all.

His gaze flickered to her lips, and before she could process it, his mouth crashed against hers.

The kiss was deep, urgent, full of the need to make up for the hours they had spent apart. His hands gripped her waist, pulling her impossibly close, as if he wanted to merge into her, to claim every part of her.

His hands gripped her waist, pulling her so close, as if he wanted to merge into her, to claim every part of her.

Savannah's fingers tangled in his hair, losing herself in the taste of him, in the way he held her, in the safety that he always provided.

But even though her body was responding, even though her heart was pounding against his chest—

That little piece of paper tucked away in her nightgown was burning against her skin, a secret she just couldn't bring herself to share.

Not now.

Maybe not ever.

Author's Note :

Elijah deserves better:( he's so sweet!

Thankyou for reading<3

Have a good day/night <3<3