Chapter 138
Anna POV
rewrite this passage into natural English that follows the style guide, using the character and setting information from the background documents.
It had been almost a week since I’d seen Blake. Not a single message nothing. After he had threatened me last week, leaving me on edge for days, he’d simply vanished. Our lives no longer intersected just like always, if I didn’t make the effort to chase after him, we wouldn’t meet at all. At least I was grateful he hadn’t actually gone after the people I cared about. When people separate, they should accept they might never see each other again.
But he wasn’t surprised to see me here. When he spotted me, his expression darkened. I’m sure mine didn’t look any better. This was definitely one of those encounters where neither person wanted to see the other.
Since that was the case, I had no reason to stop and greet him. His till frame blocked the overhead light, casting a large shadow across the floor. I pretended not to notice him. As my feet stepped into his shadow, I felt like all the warmth was being sucked out of my body. I shivered and quickened my pace, trying to walk through the darkness.
But as I passed him, he grabbed my wrist in one swift motion! His grip was so tight that my wrist was surely turning red already. He pushed my back firmly against the wall, his body pressing close. His scent aggressively invaded my space–not the usual tea fragrance, but a faint smell of cigarettes. He lowered his head, and I could smell it more clearly. He’d been smoking.
“Blake!” I snapped. I put my hand against my abdomen, subtly creating some distance between us. Both the cigarette smell and the physical contact were dangerous for me right now.
“I made a bet with my father,” Blake said, his voice low.
“Let go of me!” I snapped, not bothering to hide my hostility.
“Aren’t you curious what the bet was about?” He tilted my chin up, forcing me to look at him. His icy blue eyes held no warmth, only cold, distant emotions despite our intimate posture.
“What was the bet?” I finally asked.
“If you agreed to his offer, I would…” he started.
We finished together: “Go through with IVF with Scarlett.”
I hadn’t known the exact terms of the bet, but I’d guessed William’s thinking.
I laughed sarcastically. “So even your father doesn’t believe in you!”
“Would you honor the bet?” I challenged.
Blake stepped back in shock. “Are you saying you don’t care if I have a child with another woman?”
He retreated two more steps, his voice laced with hurt. “It seems you really do want a divorce…”
The unfairness of it all hit me like a wave. His family had been the ones constantly demanding a child.
Scarlett–a woman who had never even been part of my life–had suddenly appeared as an option. No one had given me a sec choice. No one had given me the courage to tell them I was already carrying Blake’s child.
I was exhausted. I couldn’t compete anymore. One Claire had already caused me enough grief with her little “accidents” and the way
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Chapter 138
Blake rushed to her side at the slightest hint of distress.
I will have a child with her, Blake declared, and I’ll do everything my power to protect Clairer
wire a nonchalant expression and nodded resignedly. “Well then, ish Mr. Wright all the best in having a previous childr
1 kept my expression neutral despite the pain tearing through me. I wasn’t about missing out on William’s promised fortune–it was about everything else. I needed to leave this place of conflict immediately.
As I turned to go, Blake grabbed my shoulder.
“Is there anything else, Mr. Wright? I asked coldly.
“Mr. Wright?” he repeated, his voice hoarse with a hint of mockery. Miss Anderson.”
His hand felt like burning coal against my skin, searing a gash in my heart that couldn’t be mended, I forced a smile despite the pain. Hearing him call me “Miss Anderson” nearly broke me.
I suddenly remembered our first arranged date at that upscale restaurant. Blake had stood up, gentleman–like, and pulled out my chair for me.
“I’ve reached the age where I should marry and start a family,” he’d told me directly. “That’s why I’m here. What do you think?”
Back then, I’d thought his voice was so attractive. I’d found his straightforwardness cool. Marrying him would be perfect, I’d thought.
“Miss Anderson,” Blake said, bringing me back to the present, “we’ll go to court tomorrow for the divorce.”
He smiled briefly–a smile so beautiful I couldn’t look away–before his lips flattened into a hard line, his coldness returning. My eyes burned inexplicably as I realized our marriage had reached its end.
This was the Blake I knew–gentle then brutal, gentlemanly then crude, caring then distant. A kaleidoscope of contradictions I’d spent four years trying to understand. I told myself there was nothing to regret. The lie tasted bitter.
I pushed his hand away and walked quickly toward the stairs. I’d barely reached the first step when Blake caught up and forcefully lifted me into his arms.
“What are you doing? Put me down!” I demanded, my hand instinctively going to my stomach again.
“You’re coming home with me!” he said firmly.
Finally, we’d laid our cards on the table. The divorce was agreed upon. So why was he suddenly grabbing me like this? Had he changed his mind?
Before I could struggle, he scooped me up in his arms. “You’re coming home with me!” he commanded.
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