Anna’s POV:
I’d barely taken three steps when strong arms wrapped around my waist, lifting me off the ground.
“Put me down, Blake!” I hissed, struggling against his grip.
He ignored me, striding toward the black Bentley parked at the curb, rain soaking through his suit.
A blur of movement caught my eye. Seth appeared from nowhere, baseball bat in hand, slamming it into the pavement between Blake and the car. The crack echoed like thunder.
“What the fuck!” Blake jerked back, dropping me. As he dodged, the bat’s edge caught his palm, opening a clean slash. Blood mingled with rainwater, dripping onto the sidewalk.
“What exactly are you doing, Mr. Price?” Blake’s voice was deadly calm. “The police station is right
across the street. Fancy spending the night there?”
Seth twirled the bat lazily. “No idea what you’re talking about, Mr. Wright. Just lost my grip on this
thing. Rainy day, slippery hands, you know how it is.”
“Let’s go,” I said, moving toward Seth.
“Anna.” Blake’s voice cut through the rain. “Do you dare make a bet with me?”
I turned slowly, rain trickling down my neck. “What kind of bet?”
His blue eyes gleamed with something dangerous. “If you can clear your name on your own, I’ll not only let you return to EcoMarine, but I’ll also forgive everything. We can go back to how things
were.”
I stared at him, finding his words amusing. “What exactly does ‘go back to how things were‘ mean? A two–person marriage with three people in it? I could nod and pretend it doesn’t matter, but we both know that’s bullshit.” I stepped closer, rain plastering my hair to my face. “I won’t lose because I’m innocent. But if you lose, do you dare to give me a divorce?”
The corner of his mouth twitched. “I won’t lose. I’ll be waiting for you to come begging.”
I turned away without another word, walking to Henry’s car where Emily was frantically waving me
over.
Emily squeezed my arm, her nails digging through my sleeve.
“Anna, why the hell did you agree to his conditions? He’s just trying to keep Seth and Henry from helping you! You fell for it!” She threw her hands up. “And he never actually agreed to the divorce
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Chapter 40
thing! He’s too slick!”
I shrugged and glanced around the car, suddenly noticing someone was missing. “Where’s Matthew? Did he leave already?”
Henry nodded, adjusting his glasses. “He drove separately. Said he had an urgent matter to attend
to.”
I leaned back against the leather seat, suddenly exhausted. “Alright, I haven’t thanked him yet. Henry, Emily, thank you for everything today. I owe you all a steak dinner, including Matthew.”
“Oh my God!” Emily stared at me. “How can you think about food at a time like this? Do you think everyone’s like you, craving steak during a crisis? Right, Henry?”
Henry adjusted his gold–rimmed glasses, his expression neutral. “Don’t worry. Matthew said agreements made under these circumstances are legally invalid. Regardless of what he says, we
will help you.”
“That’s right.” Emily nodded vigorously.
Seth snorted from the front passenger seat. “Not even a ‘thank you‘ for me, Anna? After I heroically
came to your rescue?”
I ignored him, watching through the rain–streaked window as Blake stood motionless in the
downpour.
“You don’t need to worry so much,” I said quietly. “I can handle this myself. What’s between Blake and me… I need to end it with my own hands.”
The rain seemed to intensify, as if determined to wash away the four years of our marriage. Maybe it
already had.
The coffee shop near the university buzzed with students. I chose a corner table, ordered a black coffee, and waited.
Michael Garcia arrived precisely at two, same as always. He hadn’t changed much–still serious, with intelligent eyes that noticed everything and judged nothing.
My dad and his dad were high school classmates and had been good friends ever since.
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Divorcing My Husband Over His Stepsister’s Secret