Chapter 9
Anna’s POV:
I sat in the back seat, fingers trembling as I clutched the velvet box in my hand. My knuckles had turned white from gripping it so hard. The diamond necklace inside sparkled every time I opened the lid to peek at it–brilliant, flawless, and absolutely breathtaking.
God, I wanted to throw this damn box at the back of his head. Tell him it was too late for gifts. But I didn’t.
I liked the necklace. I really did. But no diamond, no matter how expensive, could mend the cracks in our marriage.
Blake drove in silence, occasionally glancing at me through the rearview mirror.
“Thank you for the necklace,” I said finally, breaking the silence.
Blake nodded without turning around. “It suits you.”
As we pulled into the driveway of Seaside Manor, Blake parked but didn’t turn off the engine. I stepped out, expecting him to follow, but he remained seated.
“Aren’t you coming in?” I asked, leaning down to look through the open window.
“I need to pick up Claire for her ballet rehearsal at Dawnlight Theatre,” he replied, checking his watch. “She has an important performance tonight.”
I clutched the jewelry box tighter. “Thanks for the necklace, Blake. But it doesn’t change anything. I’m still going to get that divorce agreement ready.”
His expression hardened. “We’ll talk later. Claire can’t be late.”
He didn’t even spare me a second glance before driving away, as if his stepsister’s ballet rehearsal was more urgent than salvaging our crumbling marriage.
I gripped the box so hard that my nails dug into the velvet surface.
Upstairs in our bedroom, I placed the diamond necklace on the nightstand, its reflections stinging my eyes. I picked up my phone and called Emily.
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Emily’s voice came through immediately. “Anna! How have you been? Aren’t you having a great time with your CEO husband? Why the sudden call?”
I sighed. “I think Blake is cheating on me, Em.”
“What? With who?” The shock in Emily’s voice was palpable.
“With Claire. His stepsister.”
“His stepsister? Are you serious? What makes you think that?”
“They’re always together, and the way they look at each other… Plus, Claire was hospitalized recently with a ruptured ovarian cyst. Blake barely left her side the entire time. The doctor asked about her sexual activity, and you should have seen how they both
reacted.”
“Oh my God, Anna. That’s… that’s twisted. Have you confronted him?”
“I’ve tried. When I mentioned how much time they spend together, he just gave me a
diamond necklace and then ran off to take her to ballet rehearsal.”
“Wow, what a thoughtful husband! Giving a gift and then dashing off to be with his little
sister?” The sarcasm in Emily’s voice was thick.”
“Forget about that. Can I ask you something? Would you help me find your lawyer friend
Layla draft divorce papers for me?”
There was a pause on the other end. “Of course, she’s always so helpful! Anna, you did the right thing. That betrayer isn’t worth your effort.”
“Yeah, I’ve made up my mind.” I sank onto the bed, staring at the ceiling. “It gets exhausting always being the one who gives, Em.”
“By the way, Em, since I’m planning for divorce, I need to find a job to support myself. You know I studied marine biology – aren’t you working at EcoMarine Group? Do you know of
any positions that might suit me?”
Emily and I had met in our university’s marine conservation club.
We both developed a deep passion for the ocean, especially marine animals. We shared the common goal of protecting these adorable creatures and were eager to explore the
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Chapter 9
mysteries of the ocean.
When I married Blake after graduation, he opposed me working outside the home, especially anything involving travel. I had no choice but to become a housewife.
Emily now worked as an environmental engineer at EcoMarine Group, designing
environmental protection technologies and solutions. I’ve always thought she had such a cool job and envied how she could pursue her dreams.
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