Chapter 205: Carter’s Confession

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The unexpected question left me stunned. My mind, preoccupied with thoughts of revenge, hadn't anticipated Carter asking something like this. I realized I hadn't really thought about him. These past few days, I'd been focused on my mom, constantly watching her emotions. I didn't have the energy to think about anything else.

“Alright, I know the answer now. I’ll have someone keep an eye on Sadie and Anna,” Carter said.

“Hmm, thanks for handling that. Oh, and by the way, I suddenly remembered something.”

“What is it? You can tell me.” His voice held a hint of excitement and expectation.

I spoke seriously. “I’m really happy with the maid you found. She works quickly and is very efficient. I’m impressed.”

Carter’s voice dropped a little. “Good.”

After hanging up, I couldn’t help but wonder if I had said something wrong. Thinking it over, I realized my tone might have been too cold. After all, Carter had been helping me unconditionally the whole time. I had simply taken and accepted his kindness without giving anything back. I hadn’t even said thank you, so it was only natural that he might be upset.

I sighed, realizing my mistake. After everything that had happened since my rebirth, I had been so focused on revenge that I hadn’t done anything for Carter.

I picked up my phone and typed a message: “Are you free after work tonight? Want to come over for dinner?”

“Sure. When are you coming home?”

I thought for a moment. “Not sure. It might take a while. Mom’s mood is still unstable.”

He didn’t reply right away, and I wondered if he was angry. After getting married, most husbands probably wouldn’t like their wives constantly going back to their parents’ house, right?

I added, “Actually, I’m really happy with you as my husband.”

Thinking he would be coming over tonight, I knew he didn’t lack anything material, but the one thing I could do for him was cook a nice meal.

In the afternoon, I was busy in the kitchen with our new maid, Rosa Carline. Whether my mom decided to keep the baby or not, she needed to rest and regain her strength for the time being. Since Carter was coming over, we had prepared a feast. We spent the entire afternoon cooking, and when the doorbell rang, I figured it must be him.

“I’ll get it,” I said, wiping my wet hands on my apron as I walked toward the door. The moment I opened it, a gust of cold wind and snowflakes swept inside. Carter was sitting in a wheelchair, and behind him were two bodyguards, in addition to Damian, all carrying suitcases.

I stepped aside to let him in, my face filled with surprise. “W-what’s going on?”

Carter calmly answered, “For those who didn’t know better, they might think I’m bullying you. Just a few days into our marriage, and here you are back at your parents’ house.”

I felt a pang of guilt. “Sorry, I didn’t think about it.”

“It’s fine. I understand,” he said. “So, to avoid gossip, I’ll stay with you. You can stay as long as you want.”

He turned to look at my mom and asked, “Philippa won’t mind, right?”

My mom glanced at us, a faint smile on her lips. “Of course not. It’s nice to have some company at—”

Just then, Bill’s voice came from the doorway. “Are we having guests?”

My mom shot him an annoyed glance, clearly uninterested in answering him. He seemed surprised to see both Carter and me. Bill was holding a beautifully wrapped cake and a bag from a jewelry shop. Knowing my mom’s nature, he probably realized that if things went on like this, he’d be waiting forever for any kind of reconciliation. They wouldn’t have had a strained relationship for over 20 years if that was the case.

Carter quickly broke the awkward silence and asked, “Where’s your room?”

“It’s on the first floor; that one over there.” I led him to the room. After the bodyguards placed the luggage inside, they left. Carter shut the door behind him, leaving the living room to my parents.

His voice was warm as he said, “I’m not very mobile, so I’ll need your help with organizing my clothes.”

“It’s no trouble, that’s my duty,” I said, opening his suitcase. He was well-prepared; the clothes inside weren’t just for a couple of days. It seemed like he was hell-bent on staying with me long-term.

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It was just the two of us in the room. I crouched down to organize his clothes while Carter stood nearby, giving me an update on his work.

“Did you say something to Luke? He’s been locking himself in his house these past few days. He won’t accept treatment or eat anything.”

If Luke hadn’t already guessed, I wouldn’t have told him about my rebirth. So, I didn’t answer truthfully. Instead, I replied casually, “Who knows? He was already unwell.”

Carter studied me intently, his voice laden with meaning. “Is that so…”

As I hung the clothes in the closet, I noticed they were all mixed in with mine. Even when I had been with Luke, we hadn’t shared a closet. It felt strange, like the presence of a man had invaded my personal space, and I wasn’t used to this.

I tried to change the subject. “How’s Jeffrey doing these days?”

“Him? Same as always.”

“What about Snowflake?”

“It’s got a bit of a cold. The cat is weak after wandering outside on the street for a long time. It’s still getting shots at the pet store. We’ll pick it up in a few days.”

I bent down to grab his pants to hang up, but before I could, he suddenly grabbed my wrist. In a whirl, my body was pulled into his arms. He wrapped his arm around my waist and tilted my chin up.

“You asked about Snowflake, but you didn’t ask about me.”

I looked into his dark eyes, feeling as though I was being drawn into a deep, ancient well. My heart raced.

I nervously licked my lips and stammered, “So, how are you doing?”

“Not well.”

I felt a tightening in my chest. “Are you sick? The weather’s been bad lately, and it’s always cloudy. It’s easy to catch a cold. Didn’t you tell Damian to close the windows at night?”

His thumb suddenly pressed against my lips and roughly caressed them, silencing me.

“My sickness comes from you, Zoey. When I can’t see you, nothing feels right.”

I froze, not fully understanding his direct confession.

My Zoey, he murmured, “When will you realize that I like you very much?”

I stared at him in shock, at a loss and stammering, “Y-you like me? I thought you liked…”

I didn’t say it out loud, because it was just my guess.

Carter’s face softened, his jawline becoming less sharp, his expression turning gentle. He smiled and asked, “Want me to prove how much I like you?”

Before I could process, his lips were on mine, his hands clasped behind my head and pulled me closer. His kiss was like a storm—fierce, urgent, as if he were trying to devour me.

“Zoey, do you feel that?”

Sitting on his firm lap, I could feel the heat from certain parts of his body, and my face turned bright red.

“C-Carter, why are you—?”

He pulled me tighter against him and demanded, “Tonight, let me prove how much I like you, okay?”