Anna’s POV:
I reached for it, my fingers trembling slightly. “Finally,” I said, feeling relieved.
Claire suddenly tapped her forehead, and exclaimed, “Oh no, I totally forgot to bring a pen!”
She turned toward Blake with an exaggerated pout. “Blakey, I’ll ask the security to get a pen, okay?”
Blake shook his head coldly. “That won’t be necessary.”
I quickly opened the folder and began scanning the divorce agreement. My fingers moved frantically across the pages, my frown deepening with each clause I read.
This wasn’t right. None of this was right.
Blake stood a few feet away, hands in his pockets, watching me with cold eyes. “Anna, didn’t you always want a divorce?”
A cold smile crossed his face. “Bite your finger and sign with blood. You like self–harm for sympathy, don’t you? Is that such a difficult thing to do?”
“Are you insane?” I stared at him in disbelief.
“Sign it or don’t. Make your choice.” Blake unbuttoned his suit jacket and checked his watch, his eyes
as cold as ice.
My chest tightened painfully, and I struggled to breathe normally. The room seemed to be closing in
around me.
“Don’t be so harsh, Blakey,” Claire cooed, digging through her handbag. She pulled out a small knife, its blade glinting under the fluorescent lights. “I happened to bring this. See?”
She turned to me with that sweet smile that never reached her eyes. “Anna, if biting your finger
hurts too much, you could try this instead. Better a quick pain than a long one, right?”
I took a step back, my spine hitting the wall. “Are you crazy? Put that knife down!”
“I’m only trying to help,” Claire said, her pupils dilated, her facial muscles tense despite her smile.
“I said put the knife down!” I shouted at Claire.
Claire tilted her head toward Blake. “She’s giving me orders, Blakey.”
Blake nodded to the guards. “Close the door.”
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Claire sighed dramatically. “Anna, I really didn’t want things to go this way. You’ve made Blakey and me so sad. Just sign the papers–isn’t divorce what you’ve always wanted?” She raised the knife slightly.
“This is criminal! I’ll call the police!” My voice was high with panic.
Blake laughed coldly. “You’re already at the police station, remember?”
I kept backing up until I couldn’t go any further, trapped in the corner of the detention room. Blake and Claire advanced slowly, the guards blocking the only exit.
I stared down at the agreement again, reading more carefully this time. “I will absolutely not sign this divorce agreement!”
Blake’s lips curved into a cold smile. “What’s wrong? Reluctant to give up the title of Mrs. Wright?”
I distanced myself from them, staring coldly at the siblings before me, feeling nothing but
estrangement.
The memories of the past four years–when we were as close as family–swirled in my mind like old
photographs.
All that was gone now, replaced by cutting remarks and fake innocence.
I’d foolishly believed that even with my dad gone, the Wrights could fill my void of love. God, was I
naive.
My mom probably didn’t even know I’d been detained for days, and while William and Caroline were fond of me, they never questioned my whereabouts.
Once I’d stripped away their facade of kindness, their true feelings appeared disappointingly hollow.
I glared at Blake. “That’s not it. Look at these property division clauses. My Back Bay apartment, my father’s trust fund, all my shares–these are all my premarital assets!”
Blake shrugged. “Divorce comes with a price.”
“This isn’t divorce, it’s robbery!” I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.
My eyes welled up as memories flooded back.
Blake at our wedding four years ago, promising, “I will protect you forever.” Our first night at Seaside Manor, when he’d kissed my forehead gently. It had all been a lie, a cruel deception from the
beginning.
“My premarital assets are legally notarized,” I said, fighting to keep my voice steady. “You won’t take
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a penny that doesn’t belong to you. Besides, Blake, you committed adultery during our marriage. You’re the guilty party. According to the law, you should be paying me more, not stealing from me.”
Blake’s expression hardened. “Since you want a divorce so badly, isn’t paying a price appropriate? Or do you think your freedom isn’t worth the money?”
He took a step closer. “Anna, this is the only chance I’m giving you.”
Claire placed a hand on Blake’s arm. “Blakey, I know Anna hurt me, and you’re upset and want to avenge me. But if you really can’t let go of Anna, I’m okay with it. I’m willing to let her stay as my sister–in–law if that makes you happy.”
Her words cut through me like a knife. Tears spilled down my cheeks as I watched this performance, this grotesque charade.
Blake suddenly lost patience. “Hold her down,” he commanded the guards. “Make her sign!”
“This is illegal!” I screamed as they approached. “Let go! Let go of me!”
I struggled desperately against their grip, my heart breaking with each second. In my mind, I was screaming Blake’s name, feeling the betrayal so deeply it was physical pain.
When they forced the pen into my hand, something inside me snapped. With a strength born of desperation, I yanked my hand free, grabbed the papers, and tore them in half. Before anyone could stop me, I stuffed a piece into my mouth.
“Make her sign it!” Blake shouted, his composure finally cracking.
“I won’t sign!” I screamed through tears, spitting out paper. “Blake! You’re the criminal! You’re the executioner! You killed the Anna who loved you for twenty years!”
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