Chapter 4 - THE WOMAN BLAKE THREW AWAY
Blake Fenwick arrived that afternoon.
Without calling.
Without knocking.
He walked into Bellamy Clockworks wearing a tailored navy suit and the expression of a man who expected every room to belong to him.
“Nora.”
I looked up from my workbench.
“Blake.”
He glanced around.
“Still here?”
I smiled.
“It's my shop.”
He sighed.
“We need to talk.”
I returned to the clock.
“Then talk.”
His jaw tightened.
“Delaney and I are getting married.”
My hands stopped.
For a moment, I couldn't breathe.
Then I looked up.
“Congratulations.”
He frowned.
“That's it?”
“What did you expect?”
He looked uncomfortable.
“I thought you'd be upset.”
I smiled faintly.
“Would that make you feel better?”
His expression hardened.
“Nora.”
I set down my screwdriver.
“What do you want?”
He glanced toward the front windows.
Then lowered his voice.
“Her father's company is moving forward with the redevelopment.”
My stomach tightened.
“What redevelopment?”
Blake hesitated.
“The block.”
I stared.
“What block?”
He looked away.
“The buildings around your shop.”
Silence.
Then I whispered:
“You're trying to buy Bellamy Clockworks.”
Blake sighed.
“Nora, it's business.”
I looked at him.
Then laughed.
Not because anything was funny.
Because suddenly, everything made sense.
The pressure to sell.
The insults.
The engagement.
The cancellation.
Blake hadn't simply chosen a wealthier woman.
He had chosen a woman whose father could help him acquire the land I refused to surrender.
I stood.
“Get out.”
Blake froze.
“Nora.”
“Get out of my shop.”
He stared.
Then his expression changed.
“You're making a mistake.”
I smiled.
“No, Blake.”
May you like
I pointed toward the door.
“I already made one.”
