Chereads / BACCARA: It's all an Illusion / Chapter 97 - Chapter 96 - Everything Feels Right When He Is Around.

Chapter 97 - Chapter 96 - Everything Feels Right When He Is Around.

The sound of the private jet's engines was soothing, like a lullaby, but it didn't calm the knot in his stomach.

Savannah was next to Blaze, her head against on his shoulder, lost in thought looking at the clouds.

Blaze had rescheduled everything for this—pushed back meetings with the board and put off a big talk with his team—all for her.

That's how much he wanted to be there for her.

He could tell she was worried, even though she was trying hard to hide it.

Savannah usually kept her problems to herself and didn't like depending on others.

But he noticed how she stood, the little hesitations in her movements, and the lines on her forehead. She was always so independent and strong, keeping her cool all the time.

Although she had told him everything about the plans, why they were flying to somewhere. It didn't really matter, where they were going. What mattered was that she asked him to come along.

She picked him as her plus-one, and he wasn't about to let her down.

After what felt like forever, she finally spoke up. Her voice was soft but full of doubt.

"Blaze... Are you really okay with this? I know you have a lot of work waiting for you back home. I mean, you're the chairman. You've got responsibilities and stuff that can't wait."

Blaze didn't let her finish her sentence. Instead, he reached over and gently tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, letting his cool fingers linger there a bit longer than necessary.

She looked at him, studying his face like she was trying to solve a puzzle she couldn't quite figure out.

"I'm more than okay," he said, keeping his voice steady. "Actually, I'm really glad. Glad to be with you. If you go somewhere, I'll go too. It's that simple."

She blinked, clearly thinking about what he had said. He could see relief in her eyes, but there was also a hint of doubt, like she wasn't sure if she believed him.

"I just... don't want you to feel like you're stuck with me because I took you away from everything else. You've got a lot going on, Blaze." She almost whispered the last part, like she was afraid to add to his worries.

Blaze could hear the guilt in her voice, and it made him tense.

As a man of dark world and the head of a big company, he usually didn't have time for distractions or things that weren't important.

But there he was, sitting next to her on this jet, putting everything else aside because she mattered more.

He gave her a smile, leaned in close so he could look into her eyes, and kept his hand gently on her chin. "Savannah, listen. The company will be fine. It's not what defines me. You are."

She swallowed, opened her mouth like she was going to argue, but Blaze stopped her with a soft laugh.

"If I have to tell you one more time that you're the most important thing to me, I'll make you say it yourself. I'm good, we're good. I'm here for you, and that's all that counts."

He saw her take a deep breath, and her shoulders relaxed.

Finally, she leaned against him again, resting her head on his shoulder as the plane flew along.

Outside, the world was just a blur of clouds and blue skies.

For a second, it was just the two of them—the woman he love and him.

In that moment, the world could take a backseat. Everything else could too.

He was right where he was supposed to be.

Knot Mansion

Savannah froze in front of the huge house, this huge building looming over her like a fortress.

The excitement from the trip had slowly turned into an unexpected knot in her stomach.

Having Blaze next to her was comforting, but it didn't get rid of the doubts creeping in.

The last few months had been... distant, to say the least with the person inside.

She had kept her distance from this world, from this part of her life, unsure if she even belonged here anymore.

Now, sge was standing on the edge of diving back into it all. There was a big event, kind of like a reunion, and the weight of not being in touch for so long was pulling at hee.

Savannah hesitated, unable to take another step forward.

The air felt heavier now, almost suffocating, like the past was closing in on hee. She looked down at her feet, unsure whether to keep going or turn back.

Blaze must have noticed. She could feel his eyes on her before she heard his voice.

"What happened?" His voice was calm, but she could tell he was worried.

It made her feel safe and cared for, even though she wasn't sure how to explain myself.

Savannah looked up at him, her heart pounding. She opened her mouth to say something, but no words came out at first.

Her thoughts felt slow, like molasses. Finally, sge managed to speak, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I don't know... I'm a bit unsure," she said, feeling like she was admitting something quietly.

Blaze frowned as he studied her face, then his expression softened, like he was trying to understand.

He stepped closer and gently turned her to face him, his hand resting on her shoulder to steady her.

"Honey, what's going on?" he asked again, his voice warm and calming.

She hesitated again, trying to find the words to explain the mess in her head.

"Well, we haven't talked in ages, and now I'm suddenly here, about to go to this event. It just feels weird."

Before she could finish, Blaze interrupted gently but firmly, squeezing her shoulder gently than she expected.

"She invited you here, Savannah," he said. His eyes locked onto her, steady and serious.

"She invited you because you're still her best friend. She still adores you, even if you haven't talked in a while. If she didn't care, do you think she'd have gone through all that trouble just to talk to you one-on-one?"

She blinked, letting his words sink in. They were like a soothing balm for her nerves. She hadn't thought about it that way. Of course, she cared. That bond doesn't just disappear, even if they haven't stayed in touch like they used to.

Blaze's face got softer when he spoke again, his voice calm and comforting. "Don't stress about it. She wanted you here, so you're important to her. If you weren't, she wouldn't have bothered."

Savannah took a big breath and felt a bit lighter. He was right. She'd been worrying too much, scared of how things would turn out and what had changed. But maybe some things stayed the same.

She let out a small, relieved breath and gave him a gentle, thankful smile. "You're right," she said, feeling better. "I was just stressing out."

Blaze patted her head playfully, was one of his favorite things, and she smiled even wider. "I'm always here to sort things out," he said, his voice still calm but with a hint of fun.

Savannah nodded, feeling a warm sensation spread through her. Having him beside herself meant she didn't have to bear this weight alone.

Not now, not ever. It was like she could finally breathe again.

They both headed towards the mansion's entrance.

Savannah let him guide her inside, even though some doubt still lingered in her chest.

But his words and his presence had made it all better. Blaze was right; some things never change. And maybe that's exactly what she needed.

Inside the Venue

Blaze and Savannah walked into the mansion, side by side.

The cool air inside was a big change from the humid heat outside. The place was simple but fancy, with soft yellow lights that made everything look warm and cozy.

The shiny floors reflected the light, making the whole area feel calm and almost magical but not like the one in Blaze's mansion.

As they went deeper into the mansion, they heard people talking all around them. It was clear this was a place where family and friends hung out.

People who were there for the event wandered around. Some were chatting, others laughing.

It felt almost dreamlike to her, like something out of a movie. Sge was lost in the crowd until she saw a familiar face.

It wasn't like she didn't know anyone, but she wasn't that close to just everyone there.

Savannah's heart jumped.

It was Simon, her old friend.

"Simon!" Savannah blurted out, the name slipping out before sge could stop herself.

Her eyes met Savannah's, getting wider as she recognized her. Before she knew it, Simon was running over, arms wide open.

"Oh my God, is it really you?" she asked, sounding pretty surprised as she gave Savannah a big hug.

Savannah laughed and hugged her back.

"Long time no see," Savannah said, stepping back a bit to get a good look at her. She hadn't changed much, but she looked a bit more put together, a bit more grown-up since the last time Savannah saw her.

Blaze, who was standing next to Savannah, was watching everything, his face hard to read.

Simon stepped back, smiling brightly. "How have you been, girl?" she asked, her eyes shining with excitement about their surprise meeting.

"I'm all good," Savannah said, giving her a smile. "How about you?"

Simon's smile wavered a bit, and she let out a sigh, her eyes darting around. "I'm okay, but I'm having some trouble with my husband."

Those words hit Savannah hard. "Husband?" she repeated, feeling her mouth go dry. "You're married?"

Simon laughed nervously. "Yeah… been married for two years now," she said, shrugging with a mix of pride and something else Savannah couldn't quite figure out.

"Oh my God, I'm so happy for you!" Savannah congratulated Simon, suddenly feeling really warm towards her.

It felt so strange—so much had changed since they last met.

Simon's eyes moved over to Blaze. She glanced at him quickly, raising an eyebrow like she was checking him out.

Then her eyes darted back to Savannah, and she had this curious look, like she was wondering, Who is he?

Savannah opened her mouth to answer, but Blaze jumped in smooth like, his voice low and confident. "I'm her fiancé, Blaze."

Those words hit Savannah hard. Fiancé. Fiancé.

Savannah stared at him, surprised, feeling her heart do a funny little dance.

Did he just say that?

Fiancé?

Simon's eyes got big, and she grinned at Savannah, her voice going up like she was shocked.

"Oh my God, you're engaged?" She looked at Blaze again, clearly impressed.

"Well, damn, Savannah, you really scored yourself a total Greek god."

Savannah's face turned red, and she couldn't help but laugh at Simon's straightforwardness.

Her eyes were practically stuck on Blaze, like she couldn't believe how lucky she was to meet him too.

Savannah cleared her throat, feeling a bit protective, though she wasn't sure why.

"Enough staring already, knock it off," Savannah firmed, trying to snap her out of her obvious admiration for Blaze's build.

Simon blinked, like she was caught red-handed. "Oops, sorry." She gave a sheepish grin. "You're right, I shouldn't be staring."

But before she could say more, someone called her name from behind.

"Gotta go!" The voice was sharp, pulling her attention away. With a big sigh, Simon turned to leave.

"Talk to you later, okay?"

Savannah waved as Simon walked away, quickly blending into the crowd.

The moment she was out of earshot, Savannah turned to Blaze, her hand still intervined with his arm.

His touch was comforting, and she appreciated it, even though she was still trying to process the whole fiancé situation.

Blaze bent down and gave me a gentle kiss on top of her head

"You're adorable,"

He said softly, his voice warm and loving.

Savannah eyed him, feeling a bit surprised, as her heart fluttered just like it does whenever he's near.

"You're too soft."

She teased, snuggling closer to him.

Blaze smiled.

"Only for you."

He whispered, then kissed her forehead again, holding it for a moment longer this time.

Savannah felt a light, fluttery sensation in her stomach.

It was like all the tension she'd been carrying around for the past few hours melted away in his warmth.

Across the room, a person was standing there, watching them. Their gaze was intense, eyes bulging outside.

There was this prickly feeling of unease. They were standing stiffly with their fists clenched at their sides.

Blaze, always quick to notice things, saw how that person was eyeing them.

He glanced over at the person, but didn't say anything.

Instead, he put his arm around Savannah's waist, pulling her closer to himself as they kept walking deeper into the mansion.

Pool Side

The cool night air surrounded her as Savannah sat by the shimmering pool, with the moonlight sparkling on the water.

Stars up above twinkled like scattered diamonds, and the peaceful silence was broken only by the gentle ripple of the water and the occasional chirp of a distant night bird.

Blaze had gone off to get something, though he didn't say what exactly, but he promised to be right back. So there she was, alone for a bit, letting her mind wander.

It had been a while since she felt this calm, this free.

Hospital visits, pain, all those years that passed—so much had changed.

But the stars? They stayed the same. Constant, like a memory she could count on. As she gazed at the sky, her fingers lightly touched the back of the lounge chair, waiting for Blaze to come back.

Suddenly, she felt a hand land on her shoulder. It wasn't Blaze, she knows for sure.

Her heart skipped, and she jerked her head back.

There she was, Anastasia.

The familiar face, someone she hadn't seen in ages, until just a few days ago.

Savannah's heart skipped a beat, partly from shock but also from an unexpected happiness.

She had met her here for the first time since she had arrived here.

They hadn't talked in years, back when they were practically glued together.

Life took them in different directions, and honestly, Savannah wasn't great at staying in touch after everything that had happened.

But seeing her now, standing there, made her feel a bit lighter. It was like a part of her old self had come back.

"Can I join?" she asked, her voice as light and easy as it used to be.

Savannah couldn't help but smile. The warmth of their old friendship filled the air between them.

"Of course!" she said with a playful tone "it would be my pleasure."

Anastasia laughed and plopped down on the chair next to Savannah. That laugh of hers always made things seem a bit lighter.

"Thanks for coming." Anastasia told her. "I didn't think you'd show up here."

"Of course, I'm here," Savannah said, her eyes twinkling. "I'm your bridesmaid, after all."

Anastasia rolled her eyes but couldn't help smiling. "Yeah, yeah, my top bridesmaid."

Anastasia winked at Savannah. "Get ready for tomorrow; we're hitting the stores for my wedding dress."

Savannah stared at her, taken aback. "Wedding dress? But I thought you already had one..."

She nodded but winced a bit. "There's a snag with the one I chose. Can you help me out, please?"

Her big, sad eyes were hard to resist. Savannah chuckled, but it was all in fun. "Okay, okay. I'll be there." she said with a bit of drama, and they both laughed.

For a second, things felt normal—like old times—and Savannah really liked it.

"Don't be late," Anastasia teased.

Savannah narrowed her eyes at Anastasia. "When have I ever been late?"

Anastasia's smile got wider, then she paused, like she remembered something. "Well... remember when we were shopping for my wedding dress last time..." Her words trailed off, stuck in her throat.

The atmosphere changed right away. She looked like she wished she hadn't said anything, and Savannah knew why.

That memory still hurt. Not just for Savannah, but for both of them.

"I'm so sorry, Sav!" Anastasia said quickly, her voice soft and apologetic.

Savannah shook her head, smiling to show it was fine.

"No need to apologize. It's all in the past."

Anastasia bit her lip, looking guilty, but didn't want to make a big deal out of it.

"I really am sorry," she said, even quieter this time.

"Come on," Savannah waved her off. "I've already moved on. I'm tougher now."

Just then, a voice interrupted them.

"Don't pretend to be tough."

They both turned around, surprised, to find Blaze standing there with a plate full of food.

His calm presence made Savannah feel better right away. He gave her a soft smile, his eyes warm and friendly. He put the plate down and sat next to Savannah, taking her hands in his.

Anastasia watched everything silently, her expression hard to read.

"If you're feeling upset, honey,"

Blaze said, gently pushing her hair back.

"Don't keep it inside. Let it out."

It felt nice how he touched her, knowing exactly what she needed without her saying a word.

The way he talked, his gestures, making sure Savannah was always okay—those small things meant a lot.

Anastasia looked at them, Blaze and Savannah, her face showing something that couldn't be quite figured out.

"I'm here to take care of everyone. Everything."

Blaze said with a smile, holding both her hands in his keeping them warm, although he himself was all cold.

Savannah smiled back at him, feeling a warmth inside her that wasn't from the cool night air.

She squeezed his hands, grateful in a way she couldn't put into words.

"You really make me feel good, inside and out."

Blaze leaned over and picked up the plate he had put down earlier, offering it to Savannah.

"You must be hungry,"

He said softly.

"Here, eat something."

Savannah looked at the plate, surprised. "So, you were gone just to get this?"

Blaze gave her a wink.

"I know you haven't eaten in hours, honey. Go on, dig in."

He scooped up a spoonful and put it into her mouth.

Savannah opened her mouth without a second thought.

Blaze knows her inside out.

Whenever she forget to take care of herself, he makes sure she do.

Even when she don't want to, he always makes hee feel it's okay to slow down, eat, and look after herself.

Savannah smiled while eating, looking at Blaze with so much love.

What would she do without him?

Well, she'll never have to find out.

As long as Blaze's around, everything's taken care of.

Author's Note :

Happy reading<3

Lot's of lovey moments between Blaze and Savannah<3

Lovin them already 💗

Have a good day/night <3<3