Chapter 58
I threw my phone onto the couch.
If he found me so unbearable, why not just end things between us? Why continue this charade of a marriage when all that remained was bitterness and blame? Blake said I never understood him. In that moment, staring at the silent phone, I had to agree.
Sleep eluded me completely. I paced my apartment all night, wearing a path in the plush carpet between the living room and kitchen.
I wanted – needed to see Kate. She was the linchpin in all this, the one person who could confirm or deny Claire’s involvement in the hacking.
Since that wasn’t possible through official channels, I tried calling Michael for help, but call after call went unanswered, each one increasing my anxiety.
Around dawn, as the sky shifted from black to deep blue, bad news came – Michael had been suspended pending an investigation for disciplinary violations.
I knew exactly where to find Claire’s hospital room without asking the top floor with the premium suites. When I pushed open the door, she was alone, sleeping. The sound woke her.
“Anna?” she said groggily.
“Claire,” I approached her bed.
She struggled to sit up, her porcelain face completely drained of color, looking fragile enough to shatter at the slightest touch. I smirked to myself – no wonder Blake was so protective.
Suddenly, she shifted to the edge of the bed, curling up in apparent pain, adopting a pitiful posture as she apologized.
“Anna, I’m so sorry!” Her voice trembled, hands clasped in prayer. “I just complained to Kate because I was upset that Blakey wasn’t being nice to me. You know I’ve always been with Blakey, never apart. When he was cold to me, I didn’t know how to make it better.. I had no idea Kate would hire a hacker to do those things.”
“Then why would Kate hack into my accounts? That’s not something just anyone can do. And why target me specifically unless she
had direction?”
“I really didn’t know she would do that, Anna.” Claire’s lower lip quivered convincingly. “Maybe she just wanted to help me, seeing how upset I was. I’m sorry I complained to her. I never thought it would lead to this.”
I smiled coldly, not bothering to hide my disbelief. “Claire, you know this explanation makes no sense, right? Kate may be your friend, but hacking isn’t exactly a standard reaction to a friend’s relationship problems.”
Claire suddenly grabbed my wrist, her grip surprisingly strong for someone who looked so frail. She leaned forward, her eyes intense despite her supposed weakness. “Anna, can’t we just let this go? I don’t want our relationship ruined because of someone else’s
mistake.”
She continued, “Besides, Blakey is furious. I overheard him on the phone saying he’s only targeting your friends now, but if you keep pursuing this, he might come after you too.”
I silently studied her face as her words sank in. How could she deliver such a thinly veiled threat while wearing an apologetic expression? The disconnect between her words and her demeanor was jarring.
What could Blake possibly use against me?” I asked dismissively, pulling my hand away from her grasp.
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Chapter 58
“Blakey says he has leverage over you…” Claire’s voice turned secretive, almost childlike in its affected innocence. I can tell you secretly, but you can’t tell Blakey I told you, okay?” She weakly squeezed my hand, playing the role of the concerned sister–in–law to perfection.
“Fine. Tell me.” I kept my voice neutral, unwilling to show how much her performance bothered me.
Claire glanced toward the door, as if checking we were truly alone, before leaning closer. “He’s got a nude of you on his phone…”
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