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.

react, he bent and lifted

low. "Don't move, Chloe. I can't promise what

froze. Fear locked every muscle in place. I

quiet laugh drifted down from above me. "Chloe, you're so sweet. I feel like

I said sharply, meeting

obsessed with his art. His words might unsettle me, but he

relief evaporated almost immediately. I found myself unable to smile or

the others. Instead of sculptures, it was filled with shelves

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 and into what looked like a

large bathtub. Panic surged

if you run, I'll have to cut off your

edge of the tub. I forced myself to stay calm, even as fear clawed at me.

like I was

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

murmured, my voice

anxiety rose with each passing second. Though he hadn't laid a hand on me inappropriately, the idea of being so exposed

an inkling of what Whitney must have endured. A single day with

she managed to

with warm water. Then he stood and motioned for

that he hadn't

into the water

wet clothes were

than the alternative.

me to clean myself up.

moments later, holding a small, dark bottle. Its label looked unfamiliar and untraceable, the kind of thing no legitimate pharmacy would carry.

liquid inside the bottle as though it

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

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

water. As the blue substance mixed in, a wave of panic

without a trace. I

quickened. "What... what

a sharp, searing

"Ah!"

of my skin that touched the water felt like