Chapter 317: Bill Knew That Zoey Had Died

Philippa and Bill had just arrived at the hospital. As Philippa gazed at Zoey lying still on the bed, her eyes immediately filled with tears. "Zoey, what's happening to you?" she whispered. Philippa knew the truth, but Bill remained unaware. Seeing Zoey's calm face, which seemed as if she were merely asleep, Bill wasn't concerned.

He spoke softly to Philippa, "Don't worry, Damian said Zoey is only in a coma. She'll be okay."

At his nonchalant tone, Philippa spun around, her eyes flashing with anger. "Be quiet! Who are you to say such things!"

Bill assumed her outburst was just a result of pregnancy emotions, so he remained calm. "Okay, okay, I'm sorry. It's all my fault, don't be upset."

Philippa's frustration grew as she saw how oblivious Bill was. "It's because of you that Zoey is in this condition now! Leave, I don't want to see you!" she shouted.

Bill couldn't understand the depth of her fear. She had already lost Zoey, but at least her body was still there—there was still a chance. If she lost that too, it would truly be the end of her daughter.

Just then, Carter entered, pushed inside by someone. He said urgently, "Philippa, please calm down. I need Bill's help."

Bill finally sensed that something was amiss. "Are you all keeping something from me?" he asked, his voice filled with suspicion. The doctor had clearly stated that Zoey had only fainted, but Philippa's frantic expression and Carter calling them to the hospital before dawn made Bill increasingly suspicious. His eyes shifted between Carter and Philippa, wondering what secrets were hidden about Zoey.

Carter briefly looked at Damian, who nodded and stepped aside, signaling the bodyguards to stand watch around the room. Philippa clutched Carter's arm, her voice urgent. "Carter, tell me the truth. What's wrong with Zoey? I can handle it."

Carter reassured her. "Philippa, don't worry. She's fine. She just needs a small favor from you and Bill."

"What kind of favor? Tell me," Philippa demanded.

"Your blood," Carter replied bluntly.

Bill frowned in confusion. "Why does she need my blood?"

"Just do it and stop asking questions," Philippa said, her tone firm. She turned back to Carter, desperation in her voice. "If we give her our blood, will she wake up? Is that what you're saying?"

Bill's suspicion only deepened as he listened. "What's with all the cryptic answers?" he snapped. The more he thought about it, the less it made sense. "If you're not being honest, I'm not giving my blood," he declared firmly.

Philippa was about to speak again when Carter reached into his pocket, pulled out a pendant, and set it on the table. He said calmly, "Chloe, come out."

"Chloe?" Bill murmured, confused.

At that moment, Chloe appeared before them. Philippa froze, utterly shocked. Her mind flashed back to Chloe's funeral, the memory of the large portrait that had dominated the hall. Though Zoey and Chloe shared similar features, there was no mistaking they were not the same person. Slowly, she approached Chloe, disbelief etched on her face. "You… you're Chloe Sander?" she whispered, her voice trembling.

"What do you mean, Chloe Sander? Chloe is dead…" Bill's voice faltered as he stared at Chloe, his eyes wide with disbelief. Chloe stood apart from the humans. Draped in a white dress, barefoot on the spotless floor, she cast no shadow beneath her. "Are you a ghost?" he asked, his voice steady despite the absurdity of the situation. Bill had seen many strange things in his life, and though this was unsettling, he maintained his composure. Turning to Carter, his tone sharpened. "What is this nonsense? What does my daughter have to do with this dead Chloe?"

Philippa, however, couldn't hold back her tears any longer. They streamed down her face as she cried, "Bill, can't you feel it? Our daughter has been dead for a long time."

Bill was taken aback. His expression shifted dramatically. It was as if fragmented memories surfaced, connecting the dots. Zoey and Chloe had always been completely different—their personalities, their demeanor. They were clearly not the same person. The realization seemed tied to the time Zoey had cut her wrist. Yet, he refused to accept the truth. "My daughter is right here. She's just asleep! Stop saying such ominous things. Death is not something to talk about lightly!" he said, his voice rising in denial.

Chloe met his reddened eyes with a steady gaze and said calmly, "Bill, Zoey has been gone for a long time. She died because you ignored her over and over again. I'm only here because I borrowed her body to continue living." My words tore through his denial like shattering glass. Chloe continued coldly, "Do you want to know why I pushed Mom to divorce you? It's because you, the arrogant father, drove your own daughter to her death. You don't deserve to be her father, and you certainly don't deserve to be a husband."

"From the time she was little to the moment she grew up, all Zoey longed for was your affection and attention. A few kind words from you could have filled her life with meaning. Instead, Sadie and Monica's relentless plots, Ashley's betrayal, and your indifferent stares dragged her into despair at such a tender age. In the end, she couldn't bear the weight anymore and chose to leave this world."

Bill's hands trembled; his voice cracked. "No, that's not true. I… I cared for her, I loved her! How could I not? I just… I didn't know how to show it. Everything I did was for Philippa to return to me. I never meant to hurt Zoey. How could it come to this?"

His face turned ghostly white as he rushed to the bed and scooped up Zoey's lifeless form in his arms. "Zoey, please open your eyes. Look at me. I was wrong, so wrong. I shouldn't have treated you like that. Wake up, Zoey. Please… just wake up." He gripped Zoey's hand tightly, then struck himself across the face with all his strength. "If you just wake up… I'll do anything, even if it means taking my life. Zoey, please, open your eyes. I promised to take you to the amusement park on your birthday. And your mom… Oh, right, Mom is expecting your little brother and sister. Zoey, please, just wake up!"

Years of being absent had turned into overwhelming guilt. Bill's emotions boiled over as he tried to lift Zoey's lifeless body. Without warning, Philippa slapped him hard. "You never loved her when she was alive, so what are you pretending for now that she's gone?"

Bill's tears slowly began to fall, his voice thick with despair. "You knew all along?"

"I'm not as naive as you, treating someone else's daughter like a precious gem. Zoey is my own daughter. How could a mother not recognize her own child?"

"So, you're just letting other wandering souls take over our daughter's body?" Bill's mind was in turmoil, the weight of the situation pressing down on him.

"Bill, if it weren't for Chloe, our daughter's body would have decayed long ago. Chloe is keeping Zoey alive, and our daughter will stay with us forever! Chloe is like a daughter to me; I've treated her as my own. Now that Chloe has left Zoey's body, if we don't do something, both of them will vanish. Keeping Chloe is the same as keeping Zoey."

Bill seemed struck by a terrible blow, his strength fading away in an instant. His gaze became distant, his eyes empty as he stared at Chloe and asked, "If Chloe is awake, then where is my daughter Zoey?"