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.

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Chapter 401 Chloe, Come With Me

me. Help

as his gaze lingered on the

placed a dagger into my hand. "Protect

He had given in.

time we had, he kissed me fiercely, leaving me breathless. "Don't be afraid. I'm

the dagger tightly, knowing it wasn't

being a weapon, it likely had

staying connected when I couldn't use my phone, giving him

with the Stone of Duality was imminent, and he feared any disruption to his

I had already disposed

was doomed to

what are you

me out of my thoughts. He was back with a candy apple. I sighed

wondering if Whitney had eaten one in all these years. She used to love them. The night we were separated, she had one in her hand,

my reddened eyes,

why I like you so much? Because there's no one else

a candy apple and gently pinched my

knew Carter hadn't gone far. He was watching us from the

They would never associate

have taken all his strength to

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

breath,

white before he finally

looked at me and mouthed, "Be

and turned away

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14:29 Mon, Dec 30

Chloe, Come

time carrying an entire

and Whitney,"

I froze.

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I not experienced death firsthand, I might have believed he was just

you must be hungry. Let me take you somewhere nice to

us from

was a

I turned around, he was

an overwhelming urge to run into

everything aside and escape with him to a hidden paradise. I didn't want to

faded quickly, doused by

hated my

wanted to care only about my own happiness and