Chapter 329: The Carlyns Appear

After a grueling winter, the snow finally melted, revealing a new wave of shady dealings at a local car repair shop. The story gained traction online, with self-media platforms amplifying it while authorities seized the opportunity to raise awareness about fraud. Yet, I knew this was just scratching the surface. Countless individuals still languished in hardship, and while we managed to rescue the victims tied to one repair shop, thousands more remained beyond our reach. Where greed thrived, malevolence inevitably followed. Some people were willing to abandon their humanity, transforming into monsters for the sake of profit.

Fireworks suddenly burst outside, reminding me it was the fifteenth day of the New Year. Many incidents had unfolded in just two weeks, and I had nearly lost track of time.

Carter embraced me from behind, his voice warm and soothing. “Zoey’s school transfer is finalized. The semester starts soon. Will you attend?” He always sought my input before making decisions, a trait I cherished.

“Sure, I should at least familiarize myself with the campus,” I replied. It was a rare moment of peace, with the opposing side yet to regroup. I decided to take advantage of it and enjoy quality time with Carter. After going through the unsettling experience of my soul separating from my body, I held this relationship even closer to my heart.

“Alright, I’ll take care of everything,” he said.

On my first day of school, I stood in front of the mirror, trying on five different outfits. Carter stepped out of the bathroom and noticed my dilemma. “What’s wrong?” he asked, amused. I gestured toward the growing pile of clothes. “I haven’t been to school in years. What do college students wear these days?” I didn’t want to look too old and stand out, but I also didn’t want to seem like I was trying too hard and come across as childish.

To my surprise, Carter chuckled. “You’re beautiful no matter what you wear.” Playfully, I gave him a light punch in the chest. “Come on, tell me what I should wear.”

“Chloe,” he said with a grin, “I haven’t exactly been keeping up with trends. But it’s still late winter, and it’s pretty chilly, so I’d say warmth comes first.”

Following his advice, I settled on a fluffy down jacket, and Carter thoughtfully wrapped a soft cashmere scarf around my neck, covering half of my face. “You look perfect,” he said.

I smiled at him. “As long as you like it, I’m happy.” Having spent years in the professional world, I was used to dressing to impress and wearing makeup for every outing. It had been ages since I stepped out barefaced. But now, I was no longer the Chloe who had to be polished all the time. It felt like a return to my student days—a surprisingly refreshing feeling.

“Let’s go. I’ll walk you to campus,” Carter said, tousling my hair gently.

“I’ve always wanted to be by your side as you grow and experience life,” he admitted. “It’s a blessing that I’ve been given the chance to do that.” I wrapped my arms around his waist, feeling grateful. “Carter, I’m so lucky to have you with me now and in the future.”

He dropped me off at the school gates. “I’ll be here to pick you up this afternoon.” “Alright.” I smiled warmly and kissed his cheek before stepping out of the car.

Standing in front of the familiar gates, I found myself lost in thought. It was the place I had graduated from years ago. I never imagined that I would return, now under a completely different identity. In the past, my entire focus had been on Luke. Even before graduation, we were already juggling multiple projects, leaving little room for moments like this. Leisure was a luxury I hadn’t known back then. Now, under the gentle warmth of the sun, even the breeze felt softer, as though the world itself had slowed down.

Zoey studied music; I needed to meet with Alec Walsh, the dean of her department, so I went to report to him first. Thanks to Carter’s careful preparations, Alec greeted me warmly. “Mrs. Bolton, welcome here. Please have a seat. I’ve been informed of your situation by Mr. Bolton, so there’s no need to worry about academic credits.” “Thank you, Mr. Walsh,” I replied.

Alec rubbed his hands. “Not at all. We’re grateful to Mr. Bolton for his generous donation to the new building.” Carter’s quiet efforts to smooth things over for me were just another reminder of how much he cared. “You don’t have to be so formal,” I told Alec. “Just call me Zoey while we’re at school.”

“You’re quite modest, Zoey,” he said with a nod. “Oh, by the way, another transfer student is starting this semester. I’ll introduce you both to the class shortly.”

“Thank you again, Mr. Walsh,” I said.

“It’s no trouble—it’s my job. Ah, there she is now,” Alec added, glancing toward the door.

I turned to see who had entered, and I showed a faint smile. What a coincidence—it was Sadie. It seemed the world was smaller than I thought. I hadn’t been keeping track of what Bill had done to her and Monica, but it was clear that Sadie’s true identity had been exposed. She couldn’t return to her home country now, as everyone would know she wasn’t the real heiress; Snowville was her only refuge. Sadie’s surprise at seeing me was evident in her expression. She clearly hadn’t expected to run into me here.

“Do you two know each other?” Alec asked, puzzled. He only saw me as the Boltons’ daughter-in-law and wasn’t aware of my relationship with Sadie. Bill wasn’t foolish enough to broadcast that he’d been cheated on, so Sadie continued flaunting her status as the Gardners’ heiress.

Alec seemed to piece something together and asked, “Now that I think about it, both of you have the last name Gardner and attended the same university. Are you sisters?”

I gave a faint smile. “You must be joking, Mr. Walsh, I don’t have a sister like Sadie.” Fearful I might reveal her secrets, Sadie was more restrained than usual. Her only ally now was Ashley. If he ever found out she wasn’t Bill’s biological daughter, her world would crumble.

When we reached our new class, we introduced ourselves. Sadie kept her distance, only approaching me privately when no one else was around.

“Zoey, are you doing this on purpose? You’ve already stolen everything that’s mine, and now you’ve followed me to university. Don’t you have any shame?”

“Stolen?” I scoffed. “You’ve lived off the Gardners for years, and now you’re just back where you started. But even now, you’re still benefiting from their name. You’d better tread carefully, or I’ll expose the truth, and you won’t even get your graduation certificate.”

Crossing my arms, I stared her down coldly. “I heard Dad is pressuring the Harrison Group. Your biological father isn’t doing so well either—he’s going through a divorce, and his company’s on the verge of bankruptcy. If I were you, I’d go home now. With five siblings, you won’t want to end up with nothing but debt.”

Her face turned red with rage. “Zoey, this is all your fault! I—”

Before she could finish, I slapped her. “Watch your tone, Sadie. If you push me, I’ll tell Ashley everything about the Gardners. When even he turns his back on you, you’ll have nothing left!” Her glare was sharp, but she didn’t dare respond. Without another word, she stormed off.

Watching her leave, I called out, “Sadie, you still owe me an apology.” “Team on!” she snapped, quickening her pace.

I watched her retreat with a cold expression. She owed me more than an apology—she owed Zoey a life.

It was getting late, so I decided to grab a meal at the cafeteria. But suddenly, a sharp pain pierced through my abdomen, leaving me pale and doubled over. As I crouched down and reached for my phone to call for help, an unfamiliar male voice spoke nearby, “Are you alright?”

“I… I’m fine…” I stammered.

“You’re clearly in pain. Let me take you to the infirmary.”

“There’s no need. I can handle it…”

Before I could finish, a tall figure scooped me up effortlessly and started running toward the infirmary.

“You’re the new transfer student, right?” he said. “I’m the class monitor. I was at rehearsal earlier, so I didn’t get a chance to introduce myself. Don’t worry. The infirmary is nearby.”

Finally, I got a good look at him. His face stirred a strange familiarity. “Thank you. What’s your name?” I asked.

He flashed a bright grin. “I’m Yael Carlyn.” In an instant, a name popped into my mind—Taylor Carlyn. No wonder he looked familiar. Taylor had delicate features, while Yael’s were rugged, but their eyes and smiles were almost identical. He was from the Carlyns.