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

"Don't move, Chloe. I can't promise what I might do if you fight. You're so

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

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

I said sharply,

wasn't consumed by desire in the way he was obsessed with his art. His words might unsettle

to smile

was nothing like the others. Instead of sculptures, it

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

a large bathtub. Panic

I'll have to cut off your legs. That way,

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

like I was some kind of pet. "You're right.

knew, cameras were hidden in every corner of this place. Running without understanding the layout would

murmured, my voice

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

A single day with Yael was suffocating enough.

managed

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

hadn't asked

clothes, I climbed into the water

wet clothes were

than the alternative.

wanted me to clean myself

kind of thing no

though it were precious. "It's something to help you

myself," I said quickly. "There's no

worry, Chloe. I'll make sure you're perfectly clean. Not a single blemish will

the water. As the blue substance mixed in, a

blended completely, disappearing without a trace. I

"What...

searing pain

"Ah!"

part of my skin that touched the water felt like a thousand