Chapter 189: Off Balance

Anna had long sensed Carter was investigating her, and even the police had suspected her, though they never found sufficient evidence. That’s why I wasn’t surprised when I connected her to Chloe’s death. Her biggest question must be why I wouldn’t let go of Chloe’s case. This was the first time since my rebirth that Anna openly confronted me, laying everything on the table.

“Did you have anything to do with Chloe’s death?” I asked, pretending to tremble in fear. Her gaze locked on mine as she pressed the blade closer to my skin. “I’ve told you—stay out of this! Zoey, curiosity can get you killed. Chloe’s death has nothing to do with you. The police are already on it, so stop acting like it’s your problem!”

I knew she wouldn’t dare harm me here; her actions were meant to scare me. Still, I kept my frightened expression, playing the part. But Chloe died so horribly. Someone has to bring her justice…

“That someone isn’t you!” Anna snapped viciously. “Zoey, keep out of my business. Remember my words—I’m not joking.” Seeing my pale face and trembling body, Anna finally pulled back.

After she left, the corners of my lips curled into a smirk. Anna had shown her cards faster than I expected. I glanced at my phone; the most recent text was from Carter.

“Be careful. Anna just left. Call me if anything happens—I’m close by.”

I slipped on my clothes and walked to the lounge area, spinning once in front of him. “This one. What do you think?”

His brows furrowed. “What’s wrong? You look pale.”

“It’s nothing. I’m just a little tired. Let’s go home,” I replied softly.

“Alright.” He noticed I wasn’t in the mood to change outfits, so he draped a coat over my shoulders without asking. As we were leaving, I caught sight of Damian, his wrist weighed down with shopping bags. I raised an eyebrow. “Didn’t you say we’d pick just one of my favorites?” He flashed me a grin. “These are all my favorites.”

Carter’s attentiveness felt different—perhaps it was his maturity. Unlike Luke’s boyish antics, Carter was thoughtful and reliable, the kind of man you could depend on. Once we were in the car, my expression darkened. Carter, too, dropped his casual demeanor. “What did she do to you?”

“Nothing much. She warned me to stop meddling in her affairs and to just focus on being your wife.” I thought back to her quick reflexes. “Maybe we’ve underestimated Anna all this time. She’s far more capable than we thought. That whole heart condition of hers? A lie.”

“Did she hurt you?” Carter asked, his voice low and tense.

I felt fine and had no intention of bringing up what had just happened. Carter pulled me onto his lap, his movements swift and decisive. He yanked open my coat, brushed aside my hair, and immediately spotted the faint marks on my neck. This body’s skin was too delicate. Anna hadn’t even used much force, yet she’d left evidence behind.

“Are you hurt anywhere else?” Carter’s brows knit together as he stared at me with concern. He looked ready to strip me down for a full examination right then and there.

“No. There were too many people in the fitting room—she wouldn’t dare do anything to me there. She was just trying to scare me. I pretended to be terrified, and she left. But Carter, this confirms it for me: Chloe’s death has everything to do with her! Otherwise, she wouldn’t have panicked and gone out of her way to warn me off.”

“She’s so brazen because she knows we don’t have any evidence against her. Even the police can’t touch her. It’s infuriating, knowing the culprit is right in front of us but being unable to act!”

“Zoey, don’t worry. Catching fish takes bait and patience. But next time, you can’t put yourself in harm’s way like this again,” he said firmly.

I mumbled, “The only reason I dared to do it was because I knew you were waiting outside. There was no way she’d risk making a move in a public place like that. Besides, today wasn’t without results—she’s a martial artist. I need to start training too.”

“Alright, I’ll arrange for someone to teach you self-defense,” Carter replied without hesitation. His immediate agreement surprised me, but I nodded. “Thanks. Anna’s already starting to lose her composure. That’s good. When she gets anxious, she’ll leave behind more clues.” I’d assumed someone as cunning as her would keep up the act for longer. But disrupting her plans had thrown her off balance. I couldn’t help but wonder what her next move would be now that her plan was in disarray. And if I upset her again, would she resort to trying to eliminate me in secret? Would the person who killed me back then finally reveal themselves?

As night fell, I slipped into soft pajamas and smoothed scented lotion over my skin, letting the fragrance fill my bed. The thought that I was in the shadows while Anna was in the light made me smile. She probably wouldn’t get a wink of sleep tonight. The scariest thing isn’t the execution—it’s the blade hovering, never falling. She was pregnant, yet instead of gaining weight, she’d grown thinner. Clearly, things hadn’t been easy for her lately. And the harder things were for her, the better it was for me… I closed my eyes and quickly drifted off.

In the dead of night, a slender, elegant hand slipped under my blanket and began unbuttoning my pajamas, one button at a time.