Just the other day, the Sanders gave me gifts and even spoke wonderfully to me. I had thought they wanted to make peace, but I had no idea that Anna was plotting something huge. She’s really something else. If she had used all her energy for good instead, she’d be able to achieve almost anything with this kind of perseverance and intelligence.

I was about to take some napkins when Luke handed them to me. I wanted to decline, but at the same time, I didn’t want Alisa’s imagination to run wild if I was too firm. As such, I thanked him lightly. “Thanks.”

I looked up at Luke, realizing that he was not interested in Anna’s matters at all, even though Anna was pregnant with his child. Furthermore, this child would grow up with Ashley as his or her father. Instead of worrying about this, Luke was watching me with concern in his eyes. “Are you alright?”

I wanted to roll my eyes, thinking he must be crazy—I wasn’t the one who was pregnant. I just spat out some lemon water; of course, I’m alright. “I’m fine,” I answered.

Alisa’s eyes swept past the two of us. Afraid she might become suspicious, I quickly found an excuse to invite her to the greenhouse to look at the flowers together. On one hand, I could get away from Luke. On the other hand, I also wanted to find out more information about this entire situation.

“Alisa, how did Anna get pregnant so soon?”

“She said she missed her period this month, so she went to the hospital to check her HCG levels and did an ultrasound. Based on the results, it’s been about two weeks,” Alisa answered.

“Congratulations. What a stroke of luck.”

I remained composed on the surface. However, I knew Anna was up to her old tricks again and had probably paid someone for a fake medical report. Anna is really audacious, even stooping to such ways to deceive everyone.

Previously, I had wondered how Anna was going to handle things now that I had driven her into a corner. However, she was indeed resourceful. I cut off any available paths she had, and she just built a new one.

“Yes, we have had much to celebrate lately. Although my parents aren’t too happy about this daughter-in-law, since she is pregnant, of course, we will treat her well. Even my grandfather is overjoyed to hear the news and he will come to officiate their wedding once her pregnancy has stabilized.”

With this move, Anna had indeed turned the tables. However, it was all fake, and the moment the truth was exposed, she would be revealed for who she truly is.

Chapter 196: Luke Knows

“So, they’ll be getting married soon, right?”

Alisa glanced at me cautiously before she continued, “After the New Year. If we wait too long, her belly will start to show. Zoey, I know Ashley let you down, you…”

I shot her a smile and said, “It’s all in the past. I’m married now. As for that relationship, I’ve put it all behind me. Sadie is probably the one who is upset. On that day, I could tell she really had feelings for Ashley. If she knows they are getting married, she’ll be really upset.”

This was the result of taking something that didn’t belong to you.

“Zoey, you look great now. You and Mr. Bolton are very much in love, right?”

Alisa’s gaze lingered on the mark on my neck. In that instant, the thought crossed my mind that someone as calm as Carter would not have done something so frivolous. He must have done it on purpose for others to see.

My thoughts wandered to Luke’s recent attentiveness to me. I wondered if he had seen my journal and had found out how much I had gone through in my past life. Maybe that was the reason he was being excessively nice to me. He was just making amends to someone who resembled the Chloe he knew.

I didn’t cover up the mark on my neck and reminded myself to stay away from such things, as they would bring me bad luck.

“Yes, Carter treats me well, and I really like him too.”

I smiled and turned, noticing Luke who had just plucked a rose. The thorns dug into his palm, and bright red blood dripped down his fingers. However, Luke seemed to feel no pain. Instead, he stared straight at me.

In the past, whenever he was injured, I would have been more worried than he was, running straight to his side. However, now, it was Alisa who ran over to him. “Luke, you’re hurt.”

Luke spoke, his voice hoarse, “I’m fine.”

“You’re bleeding so much, how could you be fine? Let me dress your wound.”

Luke was still staring at me as if he was trying to analyze my reaction. However, I merely glanced at him indifferently before saying, “I’ll leave you two alone.”

The moment I finished speaking, Luke seemed to tense up. I saw the way the veins on the back of his hand bulged as if he was holding something back. I didn’t like this atmosphere. It just made me feel uneasy. Even the way he looked at me seemed as if he had already guessed that I had been reborn. He only turned away as I left the greenhouse.

Chapter 196: Luke Knows

My phone rang, and it was my mother. I immediately smiled and called out happily, “Mom!”

“Are you free today? I got some groceries and wanted to make some of your favorite food. Are you and Carter free to come over?”

“Sure!” I answered. Technically, we should have gone to see her a few days after the wedding. However, too many things happened recently, so we weren’t able to.

I knew that Carter was busy, so I sent him a message and headed over first. As I left the Bolton Residence, I packed some gifts into the car. I knew the Gardners didn’t need these, and Mom herself was from a rich family, so she had never lacked such things since she was young. However, I still wanted to give her something to show her I cared. I picked a few dresses that suit her, as well as some jewelry and shoes. After all, any woman would love things like this.

I closed the car door and called my mother, “I’ll be there in half an hour.”

“Okay, the weather is cold and the roads are wet. Ask the driver to drive carefully. There’s no rush.”

“Okay,” I answered. I hung up the phone with a smile. Feeling the driver’s gaze on me, I glanced up at the mirror. I felt he was being rude and didn’t like it, so I looked up directly at him. However, it was a pair of familiar eyes that stared back at me. Luke Bolton? Why is he here?

Thinking about his actions in the car the previous time, my expression changed, and I spoke, “Luke, stop the car!”

He held the steering wheel as he answered, “Chloe, don’t be afraid. I just want to talk.”

My eyes widened. “What did you call me?”