Loved You Once But He's My Forever

Chapter 391 My Precious

I couldn't shake the memory of what I'd seen in the basement. The bodies under those white sheets-completely exposed-had been coated with some strange substance. The thought churned my stomach.

Even though he hadn't done that to them, the idea of him manipulating lifeless forms was disturbing enough.

"Yael, I'm really tired today," I said, my voice trembling. "Maybe we can do this another time. I—"

He stepped closer, cutting off my retreat with deliberate ease. "Chloe, there's nothing to worry about. I won't hurt you. I just need to see your body. Silas damaged your original one, and I've regretted it ever since. This new body-it's flawless. I want to study it properly." "Yael," I stammered, my mind racing. "It's cold. Undressing isn't a good idea right now."

"Chloe," he replied, his tone calm. "This island stays warm all year. You won't get cold."

His hand moved toward my collar, fingers grazing the buttons of the shirt Carter had dressed me in earlier.

"Yael, stop!" I cried, my heart pounding.

With a swift motion, he yanked at the fabric. Two buttons popped off, and my shoulder was left bare, the strap of my top slipping into view.

Horror washed over me as I realized what he could see. The marks Carter had left on me bruises, kisses-spoke volumes about the night we'd shared.

Yael's expression darkened. His voice grew icy.

"Chloe, your body is ruined."

Panic gripped me. "Yael, you know I'm married. It's normal for a husband and wife to-" My words faltered.

"Marks like these destroy the beauty," he interrupted, his tone detached, almost clinical.

His focus wasn't on me as a person. It was his relentless pursuit of perfection in his art. Yet, the tension in the room made it hard to breathe.

I scrambled to calm him. "They'll fade in a few days. We can continue once they're gone, okay?"

A small smile crept across his face, but it brought no comfort. "There's no need to wait. If something's dirty, you clean it."

"Clean it?" I asked, dread creeping in. "How?"

Images flooded my mind-horrific scenes of being scrubbed raw with a stiff brush or held down in some cruel attempt at purity.

Or perhaps something even worse. An assault so cruel that only existed in stories.

could react, he bent and

me tighter, his voice low. "Don't move, Chloe. I can't promise what

muscle in place. I didn't dare move, didn't even dare

drifted down from above me. "Chloe, you're

don't," I said sharply,

consumed by desire in the way he was obsessed with his

found myself unable to smile or

into another room. This one was nothing like the others. Instead of sculptures, it was filled with shelves of jars, strange devices,

my stomach churn. Carter's warnings about Bloodshade came flooding back-a group of so-called geniuses who thrived in secrecy, creating dangerous, illegal drugs that the world would never see. Yael moved past the lab

a word, he placed me into a large bathtub. Panic surged in

me cold. "Chloe, if you run, I'll have to

I forced myself to stay calm, even as fear clawed at me. "The tub is dirty," I stammered, grasping for something-anything-to slow him down.

out, patting my head like I was some kind of pet. "You're right. That's my fault. Stay here, and

obey any urge to run. For all I knew, cameras were hidden in every corner

I murmured, my voice tight. "I won't

it with meticulous care. His dedication was unnerving. My anxiety rose with each passing second. Though he hadn't laid a hand on me

first time, I felt an inkling of what Whitney must have endured. A single day with Yael was suffocating enough. She had survived years under

had she managed

tub gleamed, Yael filled it with warm water. Then he stood and motioned

he hadn't

my clothes, I climbed into the water fully

but wet clothes

than the alternative.

the ordeal was over. That he'd simply wanted me to

returned moments later, holding a small, dark bottle. Its label looked unfamiliar and untraceable, the kind of thing

the bottle as though it were precious. "It's something to

wash myself," I said quickly. "There's no need to

voice that chilled me. "Don't worry, Chloe. I'll make sure you're perfectly clean. Not a single

the bottle and poured the liquid into the water. As the blue substance mixed in, a wave

a trace. I couldn't even tell where it

pulse quickened. "What... what

finish, a sharp, searing pain shot up from my

"Ah!"

was fully clothed, every part of my skin that