Chapter 48
Anna’s POV:
How long had she been watching us? Had she witnessed everything? My mouth went dry as our eyes met. I was completely stunned.
“Claire…” The word barely escaped my lips when Claire’s face contorted with rage.
She lunged forward with surprising speed, something flashing in her hand. I didn’t register what was happening until I felt a sharp tug at my scalp, followed by the unmistakable sound of scissors slicing through hair.
“Give me Blakey back!” Claire screamed, her voice echoing in the small room as she frantically hacked at my hair.
I watched in horror as locks of my hair floated to the ground.
Are the Wrights addicted to bullying me? I thought bitterly, a strange calm replacing my initial shock.
My eyes caught sight of the clipper that had left on the table. Without thinking, I grabbed it, seized a fistful of Claire’s hair, and yanked her to the ground.
“You like cutting people’s hair, huh?” the clipper’s mechanical buzz filling the room. “Here, I prefer shaving it!”
“No! Stop!” Claire began to struggle and scream, tears streaming down her face. “Blakey! Blake!”
Before I could continue, a powerful force slammed into me. Blake’s palm connected with my shoulder, sending me flying backward.
My back hit the wall with excruciating pain, like my internal organs had shifted position. I slid down, struggling to catch my breath.
“You dare hurt her!” Blake roared, immediately kneeling beside Claire, gathering her sobbing form. into his arms. The look he shot me was venomous.
I watched them, his arms protectively around her, her face buried in his chest. The familiar ache in my heart had dulled to a numb acceptance. I’m not hurt anymore, I told myself. This doesn’t hurt anymore.
I’ll deal with you later, Blake spat at me before turning back to Claire. Let’s get you out of here
He lifted her, his broad back turning toward me as he headed for the door
Chapter 48
Just as they were about to exit, they suddenly backed up into the room. Seth burst in, followed by Michael and several officers. They effectively blocked Blake’s escape route.
“Going somewhere, Wright?” Seth’s voice was cold.
The atmosphere in the room shifted instantly. Some of the officers stunned at the scene before them a woman on the floor with scattered hair all around, another half–sobbing in a man’s arms with patches of her scalp visible.
Seth, however, showed no embarrassment, his gaze landing directly on me.
“What the hell?” Seth’s eyes widened with shock as what happened?”
he took in my newly shortened hair. “What…
He crouched down, reaching for a lock of hair on the floor. I slapped his hand away.
“Don’t touch it. It’s disgusting,” I said flatly. “It’s not mine, It’s Claire’s.”
Seth’s eyes were clouded with concern. “Shit, Anna…” He exhaled slowly. “Never mind.”
Michael stepped forward, document in hand. “Put her down, Mr. Wright,” he ordered, his voice steady and authoritative. “Now.”
Blake’s arms tightened around Claire. “I can put her down, but nobody takes a Wright away in front
of me.”
“Claire Wright,” Michael continued, ignoring Blake’s posturing, “Is wanted for questioning regarding conspiracy to commit fraud, subornation of perjury, and falsification of evidence. We have witnesses and physical evidence.”
Claire clutched at Blake’s suit jacket, her knuckles white. “Blakey, don’t let them take me.”
Blake stroked her hair and murmured reassuringly, “It’s okay, Claire. They’ve made a mistake.”
“Hand her over, Blake Wright,” Michael repeated firmly. “Don’t make this worse than it already is.”
With obvious reluctance, Blake lowered Claire to her feet. She immediately began to panic.
“No! I didn’t do anything! Blake, save me!” Her voice rose hysterically as two officers approached.
“Claire, don’t be afraid,” Blake said calmly, “Go with them for now. I’ll have our lawyers get you out Immediately.”
The officers led Claire away, her resistance making it a struggle. Her cries echoed down the hallway long after she’d disappeared from view
Chapter 48
Seth turned to me, his expression softening. “Anna, you’re free.”
“Th–thank…” The word caught in my throat. After everything that had happened, gratitude seemed inadequate.
“You don’t need to thank me,” Seth continued. “Your analysis was spot on. The only detail you missed was that Claire wasn’t stupid enough to do the dirty work herself–she hired someone. This is
all thanks to you reclaiming your innocence.”
He crouched beside me, voice lowering. “They found Claire on security footage at an ATM near the
Infinity Theatre. She was making a cash withdrawal that matches what was paid to the hacker who
accessed your account. All the fake transfer confirmations given to Tyler trace back to her. Plus, they
thoroughly interrogated Tyler Hodges–he admitted he received payments from Claire to provide
false testimony. The whole case has taken a serious turn.”
I felt moisture gathering in my eyes.
Seth reached out and touched my messy, uneven hair.
“Don’t try to comfort me,” I said with a bitter laugh. “I know I look terrible.”
Seth knelt down on one knee, picked up the clipper I’d dropped, and without hesitation, began running them over his own head. Those gorgeous brown curls began falling to the floor in thick
clumps.
“Seth! What are you doing?” I gasped.
“I’ve been wanting to shave my head for ages,” he said casually, continuing to run the clippers across his scalp. “These curls are such a pain in the ass. Do you know how much time I waste styling them every morning?”
I stared at him in disbelief. “Seth, my hair… I cut it because of Blake…” I reached for the clipper, but
he dodged my attempt.
“I know!” he replied simply, a strange intensity in his eyes that made me freeze.
From behind us came slow, deliberate applause. Blake approached, his eyes a dangerous shade of
red.
His voice dripped with contempt as he looked between Seth and me. “Playing the knight in shining armor again?”
Divorcing My Husband Over His Stepsister’s Secret
Chapter 49