Chapter 282
Anna’s POV:
My fingers trembled so badly I could barely press the answer button. It took several attempts before the call connected.
I could feel the blood draining from my fingertips, leaving them ice cold against the phone screen.
“Blake… Blake…” My voice caught in my throat. Tears streamed down my face as I summoned every ounce of strength to shout, “Blake, the baby is still here, I’m still here, come down! Did you hear me? Did you hear me?”
Only the howling wind answered me from the other end. I couldn’t tell if Blake had heard anything I’d said. Then Claire’s voice came through.
‘Anna, Blakey wants to know if he dies, could you forgive me and my mother?”
“No! How could I possibly?” I slammed my fist against the window, hating that Blake would even think such a thing. “Just tell him: a dead person can’t protect the living! I’d fight you and Caroline to the death even if it cost me my life!”
Blake probably had no idea what Claire and Caroline had done. Otherwise, he wouldn’t keep taking their side.
Fighting back sobs and fear, I spoke with determination, “Blake, you only have a chance to protect them if you stay alive! If you come down from that roof right now, I promise we’ll talk. I’ll tell you everything that happened. If you want to see me, I’ll wait for you at the place where we promised to start over!”
I was willing to throw away all my plans from the past two months. Not because I loved him. No.
It was because I couldn’t bear the guilt and regret of being so cold that I let him die. I just wanted him to stay alive! That’s all I wanted. That single thought -Blake–consumed my mind completely. I couldn’t control it.
I’d make the biggest concession possible if it meant he’d come down from that roof.
I didn’t realize that when I said “fight them to the death,‘ Claire had already hung up the phone. My compromise, my plea for him to stay alive… Blake might never have heard it.
Blake’s POV:
Claire’s tears streaming down her face. Her hands, bound by handcuffs, trembled as she spoke.
*Blakey, I never had any family warmth growing up. Until I met you, I thought things would finally get better. I finally had someone to rely on, a place I could call home. But now, am I going to lose everything?”
That word-“home“-struck a chord within me.
I remembered when Claire first arrived at the Wright household as a child. So timid, yet trying so hard to please everyone. She reminded me of myself at that age, desperately seeking approval from my grandmother.
I didn’t want another child to grow up like I had, which is why I embraced her as my sister.
“Blakey, I can’t believe how unfair this is,” Claire continued, her voice breaking. “Anna knows you’re sick, but she doesn’t care. Even seeing you on this rooftop, she just wants to get as far away as possible. She doesn’t want to witness anything unpleasant. I feel so angry for you. You were so good to her, and this is how she repays you. I hate that I can’t do anything to her. I want to kill her to avenge you!”
My heart pounded when I heard Anna might have left. Despite everything, the thought of her walking away still affected me.
“Blakey, if you’re gone, I’ll avenge you!” Claire declared.
“Avenge… what?” I asked, confused.
“Avenge you! I’ll do whatever it takes to make Anna pay in blood!”
I was shocked by the hatred in Claire’s eyes. She had changed completely. Could hating someone transform a person so thoroughly?
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Chapter 282
Then it hit me Anna must hate me deeply. She must hate me to the bone to be so cold toward me. And suddenly, I understood. I owed her I ownd Anna se
much.
I smiled bitterly, the pain in my chest almost unbearable.
Anna had left marks on my life deeper than even my father William had. Her words echoed in my mind: A dead person can’t protect the living! She was right.
I was willing to endure more pain for the person I wanted to protect. I fought to stay alive for the person I wanted to protect. I didn’t want Anna to get hurt.
I would endure the pain and continue living.
1 forced my stiff legs to move away from the edge. Claire immediately threw herself into my arms.
‘Blakey! I knew you wouldn’t leave me!”
I pushed her away coldly. “Don’t ever do anything illegal.”
Claire closed her eyes in delighted relief. I know, Blakey. As long as you’re alive, I’ll always be your lovely sister. You need to show Anna that you’re better off without her. Focus on getting well, and we’ll see how long she can keep acting so high and mighty!”
Anna’s POV:
When I saw Blake walking away from the edge, I cheered with relief. My phone had disconnected, but I was certain he’d heard my pleas.
Michael patted my shoulder. “Let’s go. Where do you want me to take you?”
He’d obviously heard my promise to meet Blake “at the place where we promised to start over. Michael respected my choice and wished me well. I didn’t want him to take me in a police car, but he insisted.
Blake’s POV:
From the rooftop, I watched a police car slowly backing away. My brow furrowed in pain. She really left. She left without hesitation.
I called Anna, my voice dry and hoarse. “Anna, I really can’t die. I have people I want to protect. I’ll try to stay alive. Don’t…”
Don’t leave so quickly. Wait for me to find you…
Before I could finish, Claire threw herself into my arms, interrupting. “Blakey, I knew you’d always protect me! Can you get someone to remove these
handcuffs? My wrists hurt!”
Anna’s POV:
In the police car, it felt like someone had sliced through my chest. I wanted to say something encouraging, but the words wouldn’t come. Every cell in my body felt raw and sensitive. Even breathing hurt.
All I could manage was a soft ‘OK‘ before hanging up. All I could hear was Claire’s coaxing voice. Blake’s voice had disappeared.
I reassured myself: I just wanted him to live, right? Regardless of who he wanted to protect, as long as he hadn’t lost hope and could continue living–wasn’t that enough?
Blake’s POV:
Claire stared down at the street below, pointing. “Blakey, look, Anna left. She doesn’t care about you at all…”
I gazed at the disconnected phone, lost in thought. “Yes, she doesn’t care.