Chapter 343
Anna’s POV:
The apartment building loomed ahead, its weathered brick facade hinting at years of history. Blake led the way up the stairwell with familiar ease. “Third floor,” he murmured, his voice echoing.
I followed in silence, my mind racing with the weight of what we were about to do. The hallway was dim, paint peeling, yet clean. Blake stopped at apartment 3C and knocked gently.
The door creaked open, revealing a small boy with tousled brown hair and cautious eyes. But he stood tall. “Hello, ma’am,” he whispered.
I crouched to his level. “Oliver, are you hungry? Want to get something to eat?”
Oliver lowered his gaze to the worn carpet, shaking his head. “Is my daddy back yet?” he asked, his
voice trembling with hope.
I swallowed hard, choosing my words carefully. “Your daddy had to go away for a while. He asked us
to take care of you.”
The boy’s head snapped up, eyes brightening. “That’s okay. I’m supposed to have dinner with Jane
next door anyway.”
Blake knelt beside me, his voice uncharacteristically gentle. “The neighbor across the hall. I gave her some money to look after him for a few days.”
Blake’s voice was so soft, so weightless, it made my heart ache in ways I couldn’t articulate. Looking at this well–mannered child, I couldn’t help but think his father must have been an exceptional man.
Blake reached out and carefully lifted Oliver into his arms. I noticed how the child seemed almost weightless in his strong hold.
“Come with us,” Blake said, his smile surprisingly gentle. “We can let Jane know. What would you like
to eat, Oliver?”
I took Oliver’s small hand, forcing brightness into my voice. “Yes, what would you like? Anything you
want tonight!”
Oliver’s eyes lit up briefly before doubt returned. “I want daddy’s mac and cheese,” he said, his voice barely audible.
The simple request hit me hard, tightening my chest. I couldn’t speak.
Blake noticed, shifting Oliver to one arm and resting a steadying hand on my shoulder. “I can make
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Chapter 343
that too, he told Oliver gently. “Anna loves it when I cook for her,”
I blinked back tears, grateful for his intervention.
Outside, I stood frozen on the sidewalk, watching Blake walk ahead with Oliver on his shoulders. My
flashed on the screen.
phone buzzed–Claire’s nam
Against my better judgment, I
answered.
“Anna,” Claire’s voice was thick with
begging you. We were family fears. “I’m in so much pain. Stop targeting Secret Space. I’m
four years–can’t you spare me?”
“Frank is torturing me because business is failing,” she sobbed. “I could die.”
“Claire,” I replied evenly, “you chose Frank. Nobody forced you. His… preferences aren’t my
concern.”
“Blakey abandoned me,” she cried. “My legs are damaged. My life is over.”
I sighed, exhausted. “Your problems aren’t mine anymore. Don’t call again.”
Her tone shifted, sharp and threatening. “You’re forcing my hand, Anna! If I can’t survive, I won’t let you either. You tampered with my mother’s testimony, didn’t you?” She laughed hysterically. “Let’s die together!”
I hung up, irritated by her desperate threats.
Blake’s POV:
I saw Anna standing alone by the curb, her expression troubled. I set Oliver down in the backseat and hurried over to her.
“Everything okay?” I asked, brow furrowed with concern.
She nodded unconvincingly, and we got into the car.
Throughout the drive, Oliver kept twisting in his seat to look back at the apartment building, his eyes following it until it disappeared from view.
Only then did he settle into his corner of the backseat, making himself as small as possible.
I caught his eye in the rearview mirror. “Oliver, there’s something I should tell you about our home. We have a little girl there–Nora. She’s very shy and gets scared easily, so we need to be gentle around her, okay? Don’t get too close until she’s comfortable.”