Chapter 207: Carter Knows About My Rebirth

The crash site was a few minutes from Philippa's house. It was after 10 p.m., and in the snow-covered north, few pedestrians were about. The only light came from streetlamps, casting a harsh, pale glow across the icy landscape, making the scene eerie and foreboding.

When we arrived, the police had cordoned off the area. I spotted Captain Tucker, the lead detective on my case, in the crowd. The severity of the crash was immediately clear: two long skid marks led to a broken guardrail and the wreckage of a car that had rolled down the hill. It hadn't yet been lifted.

We arrived almost simultaneously with the Sanders. A distant ambulance flashed in the dark. Paramedics waited nearby, aware the victim and the car were trapped on a cliffside. The rescue would be difficult, and multiple teams had been dispatched.

Sitting in the car, I stared at the gap in the guardrail and asked, “How can they be sure Ethan is dead?”

Carter glanced at me cautiously. “My people have been watching Anna. One saw her car crash through the guardrail. Initially, he thought the victim was Anna, but it was Ethan.”

My fingers tightened. “So, this wasn't an accident! Anna did this on purpose.”

“I’m afraid Sadie might be involved, too. She’s been hiring people from the black market. I can trace it back, so Anna likely knew all along, which means…”

“Which means she tricked Ethan into her car, making him her scapegoat!”

A cold sweat broke out on my back. I had known Anna was dangerous when she handled my body, but she was far more so than I imagined. I was glad I hadn’t impulsively tried to buy her life after my rebirth; otherwise, I would be dead. This world was more corrupt and terrifying than I'd ever imagined.

I’d always thought Anna and I clashed because of Luke, but now it seemed she came from the shadows—she wasn’t just an adopted daughter of the Boltons. Her connections were far darker than I expected.

“Why would she be so cruel? First Chloe, and now Ethan—her own brother.”

I couldn't comprehend such heartlessness.

“Have you ever considered that Anna might not even be a Sander?” Carter speculated.

“You mean she might have tampered with the DNA test?”

“She convinced the Hudsons she was newly pregnant. Falsifying the DNA report wouldn’t be impossible.”

I lowered my head, thinking. That made sense, but how could she know those details from back then? Something felt wrong. “I wonder if the DNA sample is still around.”

“Generally, DNA degrades over time. Most samples are discarded after a report. However, some places preserve them in a protective solution. I’ll have someone look into it.”

“Thank you, Carter.”

Carter squeezed my hand, displeasure in his expression. “We’re married; you don’t need to be so formal. Besides, I’m happy to help.”

At first, we were a contractual couple—he needed a marriage for the alliance, and I needed to get close to the Boltons for revenge. But at some point, our relationship changed. Not long ago, he confessed that he liked me.

We had known each other for less than two months, and he’d been extremely cold initially. When had things changed? Right after Chloe died, he started getting closer.

A thought struck me. Does Carter know about my rebirth? But how could that be? Luke recognized me because we’d spent many years together, and he knew my habits. But Carter and I hadn’t spent much time together. How could he recognize me? There was no other explanation.

Initially, I thought my rebirth gave me some advantage, but I didn’t have mind-reading skills or other special abilities. I was confused.

I bit my lip, carefully holding Carter’s hand. “Are you helping me because you like me?”

“Yes,” he answered sincerely.

My heart raced. I cautiously asked, “Do you like the current me, or the me from before?” If he knew about my rebirth, he’d understand.

In the dim car light, only the pale glow from the streetlamps illuminated his strong face, giving it a soft warmth. Carter gently touched my cheek. “I’ve always liked you.”

It was as if thunder struck. I remembered what Luke had said—that he liked someone, but never told me who. The rose on Chloe’s tombstone…all the seemingly illogical things began to make sense. Once I accepted he liked me, everything clicked into place.

I panicked and froze. Just then, I heard Kate’s heartbroken voice, “Ethan!”

I looked out the window. Kate had gotten out and was scrambling toward the police, her body shaking with desperation. She collapsed heavily into the snow, sobbing uncontrollably, and slowly crawled forward. “My son…”