Chapter 154
Anna’s POV:
Dana Uver His Stepsister’s Secret
Do you voluntarily agree to this divorce?” the court clerk asked looking directly at me,
“Yes, voluntarily.” My voice came out barely audible as I answered.
Blake remained silent beside me, his eyes fixed on some distant point. The clerk lonked at him expectantly. “Mr. Wright, what about you?”
Instead of answering, Blake turned to look at me. I felt the weight of his gaze but refused to meet his eyes. The silence stretched between us until I noticed his eyes reddening. Finally, he turned away.
“Voluntarily,” he said, his voice hoarse.
The clerk looked between us, confusion evident on his face. “To be honest, you two don’t seem like your relationship has broken down. Are you sure about this…”
“There are no feelings between us,” Blake and I said simultaneously, cutting him off.
How ironic. The only thing we could agree on was that we had no feelings for each other. My nose stung gathering at the corners of my eyes.
stung and I felt
I felt tears
I tried to replace no feelings” with “it’s over” in my mind, hoping it would make this reality easier to accept. I was determined to maintain my composure I wouldn’t show sadness over a divorce I had initiated.
“Your divorce petition has been filed,” the clerk said, snapping me back to reality. “According to the law, you’ll need to walt the mandatory waiting period before the divorce becomes final
“Thank you,” I replied, gathering my things.
Blake stood up without a word and walked out ahead of me.
Outside the courthouse, we stood facing opposite directions to the left, me to the right. I was about to leave when his voice stopped me.
“I’ll come see you tomorrow to draft the divorce agreement,” he said, then added, “I’ll give you more assets as compensation. If it’s not enough, we can add more. I’ll prepare everything tonight.”
“Blake, can we do this in a few days?” I replied, still not looking at him. “I’m still recovering from my miscarriage,
remember? I need to rest.”
“Of course,” he said. “Martha will stay with you from now on to take care of you.”
“Don’t bother coming over. Just
at have your lawyer draft something and send it to me. As for assets, give whatever you want. Or nothing. I don’t care.”
“Alright. But you can always reach out if you need anything.”
He continued, “I’ll help clear things up on social media. And about EcoMarine- though the money I’m planning to give you should be enough for a comfortable life, I’m guessing you want to keep working. Are you planning to stay at
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EcoMarine or start your own–
“Blake?” I interrupted, my eyes fixed on a point beyond his shoulder. “My life is none of your business anymore.”
I colldn’t look directly at him, my vision already blurring. “From now on, I’m me and you’re Blake Wright. Our paths won’t ‘cross again.”
He stared at me for a long moment, his hand reaching for a cigrette before stopping halfway. His fist clenched inside his pocket.
“Anna, how can you be so heartless?” he finally asked.
Llooked at Blake, seeing unmistakable sadness in his eyes.
I could see the struggle in his gaze–a struggle centered on the family he’d always craved falling apart. He called me heartless because I hadn’t considered his feelings, hadn’t accommodated him.
I took a deep breath, forcing down the ache rising in my nose. Whatever you say,” I said.
I tried to walk away, but Blake blocked my path with one long stride.
I lowered my gaze to the tips of his shoes and laughed, turning my body to slip past him. I just wanted to escape this relationship, or at least get away from him!
But he blocked me again.
His arms became chains, locking onto my shoulders, shaking me twice.
“Anna!” he said. “Why am I so devastated by this?”
I froze, looking at him in confusion before forcing a smile.
My voice dropped to a whisper, unintentionally tinged with pleading. “Let me go. I can’t take this anymore. As a gentleman, you wouldn’t make me stand out here in the cold, would you?”
At my words, Blake suddenly opened his coat and pulled me tightly against him. His chin rested on the top of my head, painfully digging in. “Anna, why aren’t you devastated too?”
“Blake, did you ever see me when I was devastated?”
I sniffed hard, but tears still fell in front of Blake, “Blake, I gave you my best, swallowing all the pain–and effu myself. I’m so devastated I don’t know how to feel any worse.”
I lifted my head from his embrace and gently pushed him away. His eyes were wet too.
“I hope my devastation makes you feel your marriage wasn’t a complete failure. Wanting a family is completely normal. 1 wish you luck finding a better wife.”
I waved goodbye and turned away.
An hour later, I returned to my apartment and stared emptily at the ceiling, my limbs heavy against the mattress. I bouldn’t stop replaying our courthouse scene in my mind. Blakes question had shattered something inside me.
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I didn’t have the courage look out the window, knowing he probably still down there. My heart remained suspended, unable to move on.
A knock at the door interrupted my thoughts. I heard Martha calling my name and dragged myself to answer.
When I opened the door, Martha stood there with grocery bags ll of fresh ingredients. But my eyes locked on the unexpected figure behind het – Blake.
I hadn’t expected to see him again so soon. The hatred must have been obvious in my eyes.
“Mr. Wright, excessive persistence is undignified,” I said coldly.
Blake pressed his lips together, saying nothing.
“Mrs. Wright, please let him in.” Martha pleaded. “He was worried you wouldn’t eat properly or take care of yourself, so he brought me here. He still cares about you.
“Not convenient. We’re divorced, I stated flatly.
“Martha, I thought you were on my side!”
Martha sighed. “I alone forever?”
am on your side. That’s why I want you to reconsider. With your parents gone, are you planning t
live
not divorced yet,” Blake said, his voice raspy. “Not yet…”
We’re no
His blue eyes had lost their usual luster, and he looked somewhat disheveled standing outside my door.
“We’re not divorced, so why isn’t it convenient?” he pressed, a desperate hope in his voice.
I found myself speechless.
Martha seized the moment, grabbing my waist and pulling me away from the doorway. “Come inside to talk. Don’t leave the door open – you’ll catch cold, Mrs. Wright.”
Blake quickly closed the door behind us while Martha headed straight for the kitchen with her groceries.
“If you’re staying, I’m leaving,” I said flatly.
I tried to walk past him, but Blake caught my hand and pulled me into his embrace.
He looked up at me, his voice choked with emotion, “Anna, I don’t want a divorce anymore!
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