Chapter 308: Set My 311 - Set My

Chapter 311

Blake sat up, a small smile playing on his lips. ‘Sorry, I couldn’t help myself.” His eyes held both apology and mischief.

“Where’s Nora?” I asked, straightening my blouse. “I’m here to take her home.”

Blake rose to his feet, his voice softening. “I put her to bed already. Could she stay with me a few more days? His eyes held a hopeful look I rarely saw

“She’s asleep this early?” I asked, surprised.

“Martha’s watching over her. I promise she’s safe,” he assured me.

Seeing the longing in his eyes, my resolve weakened slightly. “We could work out a regular schedule for Nora to spend time with you.”

Blake stepped closer. “Couldn’t you both stay here?”

I backed away, my refusal immediate. “Ex–husbands and ex–wives don’t live together, Blake. I don’t want that.”

I began outlining a plan. ‘She can stay with me Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. With you on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Sundays, if you’re free, we could arrange two hours of family time…”

“Nora has autistic tendencies, doesn’t she?” Blake interrupted suddenly,

his

tone grave

and certain.

The words hit me like a physical blow. I swayed, nearly losing my balance.

Blake quickly moved to steady me, his hand gripping my arm. “I ordered your favorite takeout for lunch. Let’s sit down in the dining room.”

Once seated at the table, Blake explained, “I noticed it the moment I met her. During your coma, I had her evaluated. I’m her father–I had the right to know. He paused briefly. “I’ve already been contacting the best medical resources both here and abroad.”

His eyes locked with mine, his voice dropping to a sincere murmur. “Anna, I swear I didn’t know you were pregnant with our child. I thought we lost the baby at the hospital… If I had known, even at my lowest, even when I wanted to die, I would have found you. I would have been there, even if just to die by your side.”

Blake leaned closer, his eyes searching mine. “Anna, did you think about me at all during these years?”

I remembered the desperation I felt on that delivery table, my voice trembling slightly. “Did you really not know?”

Blake slowly rolled up his sleeve, revealing a patchwork of scars across his forearm. “If I had known, I wouldn’t have these scars. His tone was matter–of- fact, but his eyes reflected years of pain.

My emotions churned. I looked away from him. ‘I’ll think about the arrangements for Nora. I should go now.” I stood to leave.

Blake caught my wrist, a flash of anger crossing his face. “I just shared all of that with you, and you didn’t hear a word, did you?”

I met his gaze directly. ‘I heard everything. I just don’t want to be with you.”

The color drained from Blake’s face. His voice dropped to a near–whisper. “Anna, what terrible sin did I commit that you can’t forgive me, even with Nora’s condition? I’m trying to change–can’t you see that?”

“See what?” I asked sarcastically. “See you pulling and tugging with another woman at your doorstep?”

Blake suddenly pulled me into his arms. “I sent her away. I only want to pull and tug and hold you.” He buried his face in the crook of my neck, his voice almost pleading. ‘Anna, I’ve only ever loved you. I haven’t touched another woman in all these years.”

My heart constricted painfully, but I forced myself to respond. “Blake, don’t say these things to me.” But my voice had lost its conviction.

Blake lifted his head, his eyes searching mine with confusion and hurt. “You clearly still care about me. Why won’t you let me close to you?”