Chapter 338
Anna’s POV:
I was drowning in photographs, a suffocating wave of glossy paper piling over me, crushing my chest. Shadowry, facefers figures toomest in earth mar tried to push them away, but my arms were pinned. “Help!‘ I screamed, but no sound came: The photos burled me alive
A man’s face flickered through the images–sometimes Frank, sometimes the man who died saving me. I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t move, disappearing beneath the weight…
I jolted awake, gasping, heart hammering. Sweat soaked my hospital gown as I scanned the unfamiliar room, the sharp scent of disinfectant stinging my nose. My fingers clutched the thin blanket, trembling uncontrollably.
Where am I?
My throat felt like sandpaper. I tried to speak, but only a rasp escaped. My body felt heavy, disconnected, as if I were floating above myself.
A movement to my right caught my eye.
Blake sat beside the bed, his usually immaculate appearance in disarray–dark circles under his eyes, stubble on his jaw, suit wrinkled. When our eyes met, relief transformed his exhausted face.
“Anna?” His voice was hoarse with fatigue. “You’re awake? Can you hear me?”
I tried to focus on his face, his familiar blue eyes now bright with concern. How long had he been sitting there watching me sleep? He looked like he hadn’t rested in days.
I reached out, grabbing his arm with surprising force, my knuckles turning white from the effort. Tears spilled down my cheeks unbidden
Blake immediately leaned forward, alarm replacing relief. “Are you in pain? What’s wrong? I’ll call the doctor right away!” The words tumbled out rapidly as he half–rose from his chair.
“The… people who… saved me,” I managed to croak out. “Are they… okay?”
Blake took my hand, gently rubbing his thumb across my knuckles. “Everyone’s fine, Anna. You’re the only one who’s not well. Let me get the doctor to check on you.” He bent down and pressed a soft kiss to the back of my hand before quickly leaving the room.
He’s lying. I could feel it in the slight hesitation before he answered, see it in the way his eyes briefly darted away from mine. I only passed out. I didn’t lose my memory. How could he think I wouldn’t remember? He must be afraid that I’ll worry and blame myself, so he doesn’t want to tell me.
The bedside table’s phone suddenly vibrated, its buzzing unnervingly loud in the quiet room. A sense of dread washed over me as I reached for it, recognizing the number despite there being no contact name.
I hesitated, then took a deep breath and answered.
“Anna!” Claire’s voice was shrill, bordering on hysterical. “Stop targeting me! What the hell are you trying to do?!”
I frowned, confused by her accusations. “Claire, compared to what you’ve done in the past, I’ve been incredibly generous to you. Don’t waste my time with your drama. You don’t deserve it.”
“Generous?” Her voice rose even higher. “You’re really good at twisting things, Anna! Who destroyed my dance career? Who’s been sabotaging Secret Space? And now my mother might face the death penalty because of you! Her life sentence is being appealed for a retrial!”
I felt my heart skip a beat at this news, but kept my expression neutral.
Claire continued her tirade: “You’re trying to destroy us, and you have the nerve to call yourself generous! Who else know hout our past except you? Everything is because of you!”
I remained silent, processing the information about Caroline’s case being reopened. Blake must be behind this, I thought. And honestly, they deserve whatever’s coming to them.
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