Chapter 214
Anna’s POV:
1 bit my lip, still numb from his kiss, and said sarcastically, “What else is left between us anyway?‘
Blake’s brow furrowed as he changed the subject. “Want to guess why I went to see Maxwell today?‘
My heart skipped a beat. I clutched his shirt collar tightly, my nails digging into his shoulder. “Tell me exactly what happened!”
“Seth will be sent abroad soon. He’ll be free once he’s there,” Blake said evenly, watching my face carefully. “He’ll follow the path his father has laid out for him–marriage, children, the whole package.”
Blake’s eyes narrowed as he added, “But there won’t be any ‘Anna‘ in his future. I’ve always known you two would never work out.”
He pinched my cheek and tilted my face from side to side, as if trying to savor my pain. He was testing me, trying to gauge what Seth meant to me.
But my reaction wasn’t what he expected.
I’m glad Seth will have a stable future,” I said honestly. Without hesitation, I removed my extra layers of clothing and wrapped my arms around Blake’s waist. “Come on, then.”
I closed my eyes, prepared to let him do whatever he wanted. I wouldn’t fight anymore.
But nothing happened. Blake didn’t move. His breathing barely registered.
“Blake?” I whispered. “If you don’t want to do this with me, then just go.”
Still nothing.
Then suddenly–BOOM!
Blake’s fist slammed into the headboard with shocking force. The solid wood cracked under the impact.
Without a word, he rolled off the bed, his face expressionless, and walked out, leaving behind only a contemptuous glance and the blood–stained, fractured headboard.
I got up and dressed, feeling strangely relieved. I wondered about this new “home“-when had Blake started preparing all this? When had he decided he wanted me to stay with him?
I pushed those thoughts aside. I needed to go to EcoMarine Group to handle some matters while Emily was away.
As I came downstairs, I spotted Blake sitting on the living room sofa.
He was trying to bandage his injured hand, awkwardly holding the gauze between his teeth.
There was something beautifully broken about him in that moment.
Blake noticed me but continued focusing on his bandaging efforts. Considering how he’d helped me before, I couldn’t just ignore him. I walked over and began wrapping his wound.
Surprisingly, he cooperated immediately, resting his hand on my thigh.
So rational, I thought. Even when angry, he still takes care of himself.
I tied the bandage into a little bow before realizing I’d forgotten something. “Did you disinfect it?”
He shook his head.
1/3
For God’s sake! I unwrapped the bandage, irritated. If you know you’re going to get hurt, don’t do stupid things!
“I can’t always be rational,” he said quietly.
As I disinfected and rewrapped his wound, I realized I had no right to lecture him. Hadn’t I once ‘given everything without considering the consequenc
I’d liked Blake for years, had my own moments of emotional breakdown, and whatever might have happened with Seth had ended before it began,
In the moment of every decision, people always have reasons they feel they must act on. We just have to bear the conséquences.
“Hmm, you’re right,” I replied absently, focusing on his hand.
“Only you make me impulsive, Blake suddenly confessed.
His wound isn’t deep enough, I thought. Otherwise he wouldn’t say such things. My own heart wound was beyond healing; I’d missed the treatment window
“Blake, don’t do meaningless things,” I said, my voice catching. I cleared my throat. “There, all done. Try not to get it wet. You should bring your housekeeping staff here to look after you. I’ll be busy the next few days–I won’t be here for lunch or dinner.”
I walked to the door, ready to leave.
‘Anna, Blake called out. “I want you.”
I turned to look at him, still sitting on the sofa, not understanding his meaning. Hadn’t he just rejected me upstairs?
“You can have me anytime. I’m yours,” I replied. After all, now that Blake had handled Maxwell’s situation, our deal was in effect.
Even though we were technically divorced, I wasn’t sure what role I was playing here–mistress, perhaps? Something else?
“Would tonight work? I’ve just gotten ready to go out,” I added, glancing down at the small handbag on my shoulder.
Blake shook his head.
I started to remove my bag, feeling defeated. Would I need to shower again?
Blake looked annoyed seeing me so compliant. He took a deep breath and explained, “I want you to genuinely want to be with me. Like before.”
Before? I wondered. When I had genuinely wanted to be with him, he hadn’t wanted me either.
I understood now–he didn’t want me physically at this moment. I turned and opened the door. “That’s not likely to happen.”
Blake followed me out, taking my hand, intertwining our fingers. “I’ll take you.”
I remained silent.
Unable to drive with his injured hand, Blake waited for his driver to arrive, then guided me into the car. He pulled me close as he sat beside me and raised
the privacy partition.
He pressed his forehead against my face, sighing heavily.
Blake looked up, politely asking, “May I kiss you?*
I suddenly understood: Blake was playing a game of conquest.