Even after Her Death by Rita Bond

Chapter 401 Chloe, Come With Me

The location I sent him was near the beach, and he must have deduced the presence of a nearby night market.

Maybe he came on a whim, hoping for a chance encounter. Even though the likelihood of running into me was slim, he still came.

I'd told him not to act recklessly, but to him, even the smallest chance was worth the risk.

Thankfully, fate reunited us. Watching Yael walk off toward a candy apple vendor, I quickly ran to Carter.

He pulled me behind a large tree and wrapped me in a tight embrace like he wanted to crush me to the

bone.

I held back my tears and clung to him just as tightly, greedily taking in his familiar scent laced with the sharp bitterness of tobacco.

He must have smoked a lot.

It was something he would never do in front of me before.

Suppressing the emotions bubbling in my chest, I whispered, "Carl, don't worry. I'm fine, really."

"Chloe, come with me," he rasped.

His bloodshot eyes made my heart ache.

Has he been sleepless since I disappeared?

I felt a pang of guilt and sorrow as I explained, "I'm sorry, but I can't leave. Whitney is still in their hands.

Carter frowned. "Chloe, I don't care about anyone else's life but yours. Not even your sister's. I won't allow it if helping her puts you in danger. You have to come with me. Do you know what these past days have been like for me?" Panic surged within me.

As much as I wanted to escape with him, I couldn't ignore the image of Whitney's haunted face and her desperate attempts to create opportunities for me to leave even before she knew who I was. Such a kind soul didn't deserve this fate. "There won't be a better chance than now, Carl. Trust me."

"Chloe, stop being stubborn!" Carter's tone grew firm as he tried to drag me away.

Standing on tiptoes, I caught him off guard with a kiss.

I was fleeting, far too brief to calm his restless heart.

If I left now, Yael would surely take his fury out on Whitney-not necessarily killing her, but tormenting her in ways I couldn't bear.to imagine.

Whitney had already suffered 20 years of agony. I couldn't let her endure any more of it.

1/4

14:29 Mon, Dec 30 u.

Chapter 401 Chloe, Come With Me

me. Help

lingered on the

into

He had given in.

me fiercely, leaving me breathless. "Don't be afraid. I'm

dagger tightly, knowing it wasn't

being a weapon, it

was his way of staying connected when I couldn't use my phone,

Stone of Duality was imminent,

he didn't know that I had already disposed of the real Stone of

was doomed

are

thoughts. He was back with a candy apple. I sighed in relief as he didn't notice anything

wondering if Whitney had eaten one in all these years. She used to love them. The night

my reddened eyes,

know why I like you so much? Because there's no one else in this world as pure and kind as you. Here, take this.

apple and gently

knew Carter hadn't gone far. He was watching

him as a cripple. They would

have

distance in the world isn't life and death. It's being so deeply in love, standing within reach,

my breath, "Carl, don't act

knuckles turned white before he finally

looked at me and mouthed, "Be

away to hide my

2/4

14:29 Mon, Dec 30

Chloe, Come With

time carrying an entire rack of

you and Whitney,"

I froze.

69%

+8 Pearls

smile was so clean and untainted that, had I not experienced death firsthand, I might have believed he was

Let me take

followed us from a

was a quiet

matter what I did, if I turned around, he was always

an overwhelming urge to run into his arms and

escape with him to a hidden paradise. I didn't want to be bothered by destiny or

those fantasies faded quickly, doused by the weight of

was right-I hated

wished I could be selfish. I wanted to care only about my own happiness and forget the