orcing My Husband Over His Stepsister’s Secret
Chapter 209
Anna’s POV:
Blake shrugged on his coat and walked out to the balcony. I could hear the repeated click of his lighter throughout the night as he chain mater
The smell of cigarettes drifted back into our bedroom, making my eyes water.
It felt like everything had changed–even the smell of his cigarettes seemed different now that we’d crossed a point of no return. I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, my mind racing.
“Blake, I whispered to myself, “if you’re not just trying to trap me, if you actually still want me, then please help Seth.
But deep down, I wasn’t confident. Would he really help? I didn’t know anymore,
The next morning, my phone rang. It was Emily.
Anna! My mom told me what happened,” she said, her voice tight with worry.
‘I’m fine,” I assured her, though my throat felt thick. “When you get back, come to Seaside Manor to see me.”
“I still can’t believe it,” Emily’s voice cracked. “Blake isn’t right for you. This is all my fault.”
“Really, I’m okay,” I said, trying to sound stronger than I felt. “When you no longer love someone, it doesn’t matter who you’re with. My agreeing to be with Seth–you don’t know how much of that was just gratitude. Now I feel both grateful and guilty, and I can’t repay either.”
“He won’t blame you,” Emily said softly.
After a pause, she continued, “Anna, could you take over EcoMarine Group for a while? I need to step back and regroup.”
“Alright, don’t make me wait too long,” I said. “During those days with Daniel, he told me a lot about my mother. I want to find a way back to Blue Wave, but I still need you at EcoMarine.”
I sighed, thinking about Scarlett and how she wielded power through Blake.
Scarlett could pretty much do whatever she wanted thanks to Blake’s influence. I didn’t want to feel helpless the next time something like that came up.
As I ended the call, I turned to find Blake still in bed, eyes closed. I’d assumed he was
The familiar scent of his skin hit me, and a dull ache spread through my chest.
His hand slipped under the hem of my pajama top–a gesture so familiar it hurt.
‘I can help you with the company,” he murmured, “but don’t ever mention Seth’s name to me
I suddenly his arm shot out, pulling me against him.
My body went rigid. I tried to pull away, feeling like his offer was just throwing scraps of his insignificant power at me.
‘I don’t need it, Blake,” I said firmly.
Meeting Daniel again had been fate. Blake had once helped me sell shares above market value, and with Daniel’s abilities, he could quietly acquire stock.
My mother had taken over Blue Wave without any experience. If I could reclaim my position as Blue Wave Technologies‘ chairwoman, the Price family might even respect me enough to cut me some slack.
No, I didn’t need Blake’s help this time.
His eyes snapped open. “For someone who claims ‘when you no longer love someone, it doesn’t matter who you’re with… you’re awfully quick to refuse my help. That’s a bit ungrateful, Anna.”
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Chapter 209
I shook my head. “We only have a transaction between us. I came back, you help Emily, your envo Seth, we get along praratully. I have notion? Hist with you.”
“At least you know your place,‘ he said coldly.
A cold sweat broke out on my back. Talking to Blake felt like walking on a tightrope one wrong move and I could fall into a pit of danger haddana Beneath. seemingly calm surface.
Despite my outward strength, I feared a sudden strike. Even lying next to him, the distance between us seemed unbridgeable.
Just as I was about to get up, our bedroom door burst open. Claire rushed in, stopping short when she saw me.
“Anna…” she gasped, then turned accusingly to Blake. “Blakey, how could you? You tricked me into visiting Dad, and when I come back, there’s another woman in the house!”
“Get out!” Blake snapped, clearly annoyed.
Claire’s eyes filled with tears. I decided to leave, giving the siblings their space.
I thought about how everything had come full circle–back to the whining sister, the doting brother, the same toxic dynamic.
Claire grabbed my arm as I passed. “Anna, I’m talking to you! Who told you to come back? You’re divorced from my brother! How shameless can you be, sleeping with him again?”
She continued, her voice shrill, “Blakey is going to be with Scarlett! You’re just a homewrecker now!”
I shoved her away. Blake quickly caught her before she could fall.
‘Assholes belong with assholes,” I said. “You two look perfect together.”
I headed for the door.
“Anna, who said you could leave? This is our bedroom!” Blake called after me.
Without turning, I replied, “Give it to Claire. She’s always liked taking my things anyway.”
“Blakey, you did say before that I could have it,” Claire whined.
“Fine. Seaside Manor is yours,” Blake conceded.
Seaside Manor–our wedding home. I couldn’t help thinking of Seth, of the little fish flopping on the wooden floor. Maybe it was better those fish hadn’t come back with me. This place might be worse than a sewer.
Later that morning in the dining room, Martha hugged me tightly when she saw me. She’d prepared an extravagant breakfast, wanting me to try everything she knew how to make.
‘Some people live in others‘ memories while forgetting those others entirely,” Blake remarked sarcastically.
Claire came downstairs carrying new clothes, dropping my clothes on the floor. “Anna, take these away. I don’t want your things.”
Claire didn’t just take a few of my clothes; she swiped a whole lot more. And now she acted all high and mighty about it.
I took the coffee from Blake’s hand and splashed
over both the clothes and Claire.
“Those are just the junk I didn’t want in the first place. Go ahead and toss them in the trash.
I turned to Blake. ‘Since you’ve given Seaside Manor, to Claire, I shouldn’t stay here.”
Inside, I wanted to burn the whole place down rather than let our wedding home become Claire’s.
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Chapter 209
Martha stood awkwardly, not knowing how to intervene in the tense atmosphere.
Blake grabbed my hand and dragged me out, shoving me into his car.
It’s just property,‘ he said. ‘I’ve prepared a house for you too.”
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