Chapter 247 Anna Is Targeting Me
Hearing that voice, my first instinct was to turn around, but a realization struck me, and I kept walking, unfazed. I had figured out who it was—the so-called “kind” middle-aged woman. She was like a demon cloaked in human skin, masquerading as a benevolent soul to ensnare unsuspecting passersby.
Carter was already waiting for me in the car. Damian stood by the car door, and seeing them both, a wave of relief washed over me. It felt as if I was fleeing a demon in the dark night, and they were the light piercing through the darkness.
It was not until I settled into the car and Damian was about to shut the door that the woman called out, “Mrs. Bolton.” I looked at her through the car window, puzzled. “Were you calling out to me just now? I thought I heard someone calling Chloe. I assumed it was meant for someone else.”
“My apologies, I mistook you for someone else, Mrs. Bolton. I must have misheard; I’m sorry. By the way, is this brooch yours?” She opened her hand, revealing my brooch.
“Yes, it’s mine. I’ve been wondering where I lost it. Thank you.” I gave her a grateful smile. “It’s rare to encounter someone as honest as you these days.” To her, I probably appeared as a remarkably naive young woman.
“You’re welcome; I’m merely returning what belongs to you,” she responded with a chuckle. And had I not witnessed how adeptly she cleaned blood off her hands, I might have been deceived by her facade. How many monsters in human guise roam among us? Even I am donning a mask now.
As the car started to pull away, I glanced in the rearview mirror and saw that woman still standing by the roadside, her smile chillingly reminiscent of a malevolent spirit.
Carter started to speak, but I quickly placed my hand over his mouth. I examined the brooch closely, giving Carter a significant look. I was not sure if the brooch had been tampered with; it could have a bug hidden inside! Since she knew this brooch was mine, why did she not return it immediately? Why wait until I was leaving? I grew suspicious of her during those few hours.
Carter seemed to understand that something was amiss during my visit to the Hudsons, though he never pressed me for details. I put the brooch back in my bag and handed it to him. He accepted it naturally and asked, “Shaken by what?”
“That chicken, its neck twisted and bleeding… That day, I nearly died in the bathtub. If you hadn’t rescued me in time, I might not have made it.”
Carter reassured me, “Don’t worry, I’ll protect you from now on.”
“Carter, I’m grateful to have you. Back then, Bill never cared for me, and Sadie just bullied me. I saw no hope and thought you’d be the same, but you’ve been so kind. Perhaps I see a bit of myself in you; you’re so young, I just want to take a little better care of you. Let the past be the past; every new day is a fresh start. I won’t live in fear anymore. From now on, I’m going to be a brand new Zoey.”
We rode the rest of the way in silence. When we arrived, he handed the brooch to Damian. Soon after, Damian got a message.
“Madam, you were right. The brooch has been tampered with; there’s a mini bug inside.”
My expression darkened. “Carter, Anna is targeting me. This banquet at the Hudsons was a setup. She used it to trap me.”
From my interaction with Silas to the woman’s machinations, I recalled how the woman had distracted me as I was leaving, and I nearly fell. She caught me. That must have been when she took the brooch. During the hours the brooch was missing, they managed to implant a bug in it, and then the middle-aged woman returned it as if nothing happened. This was no accident—it was all meticulously planned! If I had not been vigilant, Anna would have discovered my true identity by now. The thought sent shivers down my spine. Such cunning and malevolence! Dealing with her felt like navigating a razor-thin tightrope beside a cliff, where a single misstep could be disastrous.
Noticing the sweat on my forehead, Carter drew me into his arms and tenderly wiped my brow.
“It’s okay.” Damian handed me a cup of warm water, which I accepted with a quiet “Thank you.”
“Madam, rest assured, you’re safe here. Mr. Bolton has eliminated all potential threats at the residence.”
My gaze hardened. “No! There’s still one possibility we haven’t considered.”
Carter looked at me intently. “Who?”
A sudden realization hit me. “Luke met with Anna this afternoon!” Could it be possible that if I was using Luke, she might also manipulate him to her advantage? That woman is a true fiend!
“It’s highly likely that Luke has inadvertently brought a threat back to the Bolton residence.”