Chapter 219: Met the Person Who Killed Me

Carter reached out, his hand softly brushing my hair. He spoke in a calming tone, “Chloe, I understand your frustration and anger. If force can’t solve this, all we can do is wait for things to unfold. Anna must have planned everything carefully.”

I stared ahead, confused. “So, Ethan… died for nothing?” The memory of that dream lingered, bringing a wave of regret. He had his faults, but he didn’t deserve to die.

“Even though Anna lured him in, she had a solid reason for her actions. With Ashley as a witness, even though Nelson found her story suspicious, without proof, they had no choice but to let her go. Still, Ethan’s death wasn’t pointless.”

I glanced up at him. “What have you discovered?”

“Everything started with Sadie. She was behind the plan to kill Anna. The real question is, who tipped off the details? That’s what led me to Mr. Crow.”

“Mr. Crow?”

“He’s a dangerous figure, Chloe. These people are like roots that grow deep into the earth, tangled together. It’ll take time to pull them all out. But Sadie won’t be able to hide much longer. The police are onto her now. It won’t be long before they track her down.”

My earlier doubts were confirmed, and the realization of Anna’s cold-heartedness still left me stunned. “This woman is merciless!”

“If you’re thinking of helping Sadie, we still have time to take action.”

“Help?” He let out a bitter laugh. “Do you know how Zoey died? She was slowly driven to her end by Sadie. This body I’m in was hers, and I promised her I’d get justice.”

As my emotions flared, Carter quickly pulled me into a hug, trying to calm me down. “Alright, I won’t interfere; just don’t get upset.”

I felt a bit sheepish. “Carter, do you think I’m a child?”

“Chloe, we haven’t spent much time together over the years, but I’ve always kept an eye on you. I know life at the Sanders hasn’t been easy, and you’ve learned to bear loneliness and darkness on your own. But things are different now. You have me.”

He gently lifted my chin, forcing me to look into his deep, serious eyes. “You can be angry with me, be playful, ask for things. To me, you’ll always be that carefree little girl. As for the storms, let me protect you from them.”

“Carter…” No woman could remain unmoved by such words.

“Chloe, don’t worry, I’ll handle everything,” he said, his gaze steady and comforting, easing the worry in my heart.

The autopsy results for Ethan were released, and the Sanders held a funeral. It was only natural that we should pay our respects. Carter and I wore black coats and made our way to the funeral. The same place, the same members of the Sanders. Last time, Ethan came here to attend my funeral. Now, I was here for his. The irony was almost laughable. One by one, we fell victim to Anna. And now, there she stood before Ethan’s ashes, shedding fake tears with practiced ease. Fake tears ran down her face, devoid of sincerity. Kate sat in silence, her black attire mirroring her hollow expression. It was as though her soul had been drained away. Perhaps she had exhausted all her tears over the past few days. Her swollen, bloodshot eyes were dry, unable to shed another drop. Greg and Josh looked noticeably thinner, grief etched into their faces. Amid the mourners, my gaze landed on Jake. Since last year, he had been abroad, focusing on expanding markets. He hadn’t even come back for my funeral. But now, with Ethan passed away, he had finally returned.

The Sanders, once not among the top major families, had still been bustling with life. But now, with Grandma hospitalized and Ethan gone, it felt like the family was unraveling, piece by piece. Was this the outcome that person had been aiming for? Watching it all unfold with a detached gaze, I felt no sympathy. They had, after all, sown the seeds of their own downfall.

What worried me more was the possibility that if this person bore a grudge against the Sanders, he wouldn’t miss Ethan’s funeral. Much like how a murderer revisits the crime scene to revel in their work, they would likely come to witness the family’s anguish and feel a twisted sense of satisfaction. That meant there was a strong chance he’d appear today. Carter and I only needed to remain patient and wait for the prey to walk into the trap.

To keep suspicion at bay, I kept my distance from the Sanders. I didn’t spare Anna a second glance, blending in with the many others who came to offer their condolences, acting like a stranger in passing. Through the throng of people, a figure moved in my direction.

It was Luke, someone I hadn’t crossed paths with in a few days. According to Carter, he had been spending his time in what was supposed to be our wedding room. His face looked gaunt, his cheeks sunken, giving him a worn-out and exhausted appearance. I shot him a glance, silently warning him to stay calm and not draw attention. He quickly understood, lowered his eyes, and approached us politely. “Uncle Carter,” he greeted with composure. When his gaze shifted to me, his voice wavered noticeably, “A… Aunt Zoey.”

I gave a small nod, feigning concern. “You’re here. You look unwell. Make sure to get some rest.”

“Thank you, Aunt Zoey,” he replied quietly. When he lifted his hand, I noticed the bead bracelet on his wrist. “This bracelet…” I murmured, recognition striking me. I recalled how it had shattered when my spirit faded away. It seemed he had spent the past few days searching through the house for the missing beads. Now, with a new moonstone added to it, he gave a faint, resigned smile. “There’s still one bead missing. No matter how hard I look, I just can’t find it.” This man knew full well that my ashes were in that bracelet, yet he wore it daily? Belated affection is worth less than dirt. I felt nothing, just an overwhelming sense of revulsion.

With a composed tone, I said, “You’ve known the Sanders for some time. Go offer them your condolences.” To others, my words sounded gentle and polite, but Luke caught the hidden message beneath them. I instructed him to approach Anna, charm her, and gather any information he could. A brief flicker of pain crossed Luke’s face. “Aunt Zoey, you…”

“Go now. The Sanders are in turmoil; they need you now more than ever.”

Luke clenched his jaw, his resolve hardening. “Understood!” Observing his pitiful stance, it was clear that both he and the Sanders had brought this chaos upon themselves. I felt neither joy nor sorrow, simply turning my gaze away from him.

I was just about to speak to Carter when, without warning, I lifted my gaze and locked eyes with someone. A chill swept through me, freezing me in place, as if ice had spread from my toes to my entire body, leaving me unable to move. Those eyes… I knew them well! It was that person! He was really here. The one who had taken my life was at Ethan’s funeral. In that instant, his gaze shifted toward me.