Chapter 314
Anna’s POV:
The blue glow from Blake’s phone–screen illuminated his face in the darkness of my bedroom. He held it toward me, revealing that nude photo I’d hoped never to see again.
“Anna, I swear I’m not lying. I’ve been dreaming about you for three years… His voice was almost pleading.
Pain shot through me until my entire body went numb. “Blake, didn’t you say you deleted this photo? Why do you still have it?
He shifted uncomfortably. “Anna, I missed you so much. I truly haven’t lied to you-
“So my private photo circulating online was partly your doing.”
“No! Anna, listen. Except for this one in my possession, there won’t be any other copies… I’ve destroyed them all. He hesitated. “I promise I’ll give you an explanation.”
I extended my hand. “Delete it. Now.”
Blake pulled the phone back. “I will delete it, but not until you come back to me.”
“Are you serious right now?”
‘Anna-
“Do you think you’re being deeply romantic? Using my private photo as leverage?”
Blake’s expression hardened. “You don’t understand what these three years have been like for me.”
*Get out. Just get out.”
After a long moment, Blake finally left.
The moment I heard his footsteps fade, I sprang into action. I stripped the bed, gathering every piece of bedding he’d touched. I collected towels, glasses anything he’d made contact with stuffing it all into garbage bags.
–
In the bathroom, I sprayed my expensive perfume around the room, trying to erase his lingering scent.
My phone’s ring yanked me from fitful sleep. Emily’s name flashed on the screen.
“Your ex–husband is trending!” Emily’s voice blasted through. “He’s gone totally avant–garde!
“What are you talking about?”
“Nude photoshoot! Well, almost nude – strategically covered! Nine–grid post on his Instagram, and every photo is jaw–dropping!“”
‘Blake did a… nude photoshoot?”
“Yes! And listen to what he wrote: ‘We’re born naked. The dirty thoughts are yours. The internet is losing its mind!”
My thoughts flashed to Blake’s promise: I’ll give you an explanation.
‘Anna? You still there?”
“Yeah. Blake came to my place last night.”
“What?! And you’re just telling me now?”
Chapter 314
I sighed. “He showed me that he still had my private photo. The one that leaked.”
Emily gasped. “So he was responsible for the leak?”
‘He denied. He claims he destroyed all other copies, but kept one for himself.”
“And now he’s posted his own nudes… It’s like… self–sacrificing clarification. Putting himself in the same vulnerable position.”
‘It’s all in the past now,” I said flatly.
I sat waiting for Daniel to drive me to work, scrolling through social media to see the fallout from Blake’s photoshoot.
The comments were overwhelmingly positive: “All these thirst–trap influencers need to take notes from Mr. Wright on how to do it with class.
As notifications flooded my own account, I quickly closed the app and headed downstairs. When I opened the front door, I froze.
Blake was standing by Daniel’s car, speaking through the driver’s window.
“Tell her your tire blew out. I’ll drive her to work.”
‘Blake,‘ I called out sharply. “What the hell are you doing?”
He turned, his face lighting up. In his hands was a paper bag that smelled like Martha’s/cooking.
I brought breakfast,” he said. “Your favorite – Martha’s blueberry pancakes.”
I stared at him, incredulous. “If I remember correctly, we were very clear last night. This is my home, Blake. You can’t just show up whenever you want.”
I walked past him to Daniel’s car. “Take that away. I’m not hungry.”
When we arrived at EcoMarine Group, a crowd of reporters was gathered outside. Claire stood at the center, tears streaming down her face.
*It’s all because Anna is jealous of me,” she was saying. “She’s never given me a single kind word. She took back Seaside Manor and kicked me out…*
I stepped out of the car, stunned by her audacity.
Claire continued, “Blake posted those photos to stand in solidarity with me. He’s always protected me. His only flaw in life is that Anna was once his wife…”
A reporter spotted me and all cameras swiveled in my direction. “Ms. Anderson! Is it true that you’ve been bullying Claire Wright?”
I walked forward slowly. How ironic that my title as Blue Wave Technologies CEO means less to these vultures than Claire Wright’s counterfeit family drama.
The reporters parted as I approached Claire. She
looked
up
with those big, tear–filled eyes – the same act she’d been perfecting for years.
Without hesitation, I took the microphone from the nearest reporter and slapped Claire hard across the face.
The crowd gasped. Claire’s hand flew to her cheek in shock.
I slapped her again.
“Claire,” I said calmly, ‘when you were in the theatre and I came to visit, you had someone slap me. That first slap was what you deserved. The second one? That’s interest.”
The crowd erupted with questions. I held up my hand for silence.
“I don’t think many of you know who I am. Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Anna Anderson, CEO of Blue Wave Technologies
I nodded to Daniel, who appeared with security personnel. They began confiscating cameras and phones, promising compensation for the equipment
Chapter 314
As the chaos subsided, I crouched to Claire’s level, grabbing her collar.
“When did you start handling things yourself? Doesn’t crying usually get Blake to solve all your problems? Not working anymore?”
Claire’s eyes flashed with defiance. “Blakey still loves me. He stripped for the cameras for me! You may think you’ve won, Anna, but you’ve actually lost to
me!”
“Blakey loves me most!” she insisted. “What are you to him, anyway?”
I felt a wave of pity wash over me. Her world was so narrowly focused on Blake. It was pathetic.
‘Claire,” I said softly, but with certainty, “you’re wrong. Blake didn’t strip for you.”
Chapter Comments