Chapter 375: The Soul-Stabilizing Pendant

Amber withdrew her gaze and smiled. “Ms. Gardner, I didn’t know you were coming, and I didn’t know what you liked to eat. I hope you can forgive me.”

“I heard from Carter that after Peter saved him all those years ago, he’s been visiting often. He’s come to think of you all as family. A family wouldn’t be so formal, would they?”

Tiffany rolled her eyes. “Hypocrite.”

“Tiffany, you can’t be rude. Ms. Gardner, please take a seat and rest. Why don’t you come help me in the kitchen?”

“Aunt Amber!”

“Come on.” Amber placed the fruit platter down and shot a malicious look at Tiffany as she left. The look sent a chill down my spine. If Taylor’s gaze reminded me of a venomous snake lurking in a cave, then Amber felt like a snow spirit from a chilling legend. Her beauty was unmatched, but when it came to taking lives, she was merciless and cold. She possessed an unfathomable depth, and my instincts urged caution. Tiffany clearly feared her aunt more than she revealed, unwilling to defy her.

I had many conversations with Peter and quickly realized he was incredibly knowledgeable and kind, like the friendly neighbor uncle everyone wished for. While Carter played chess with him, I stood beside them, feeding him fruit. The Doltons were nothing like I imagined. I initially thought the trip would be uncomfortable, but as long as Tiffany wasn’t around, Carter seemed to get along well with them. Several times, when they were deeply focused on the chessboard, I felt they were truly a family, far more harmonious than when he was with the Boltons.

Amber had arranged a grand dinner, with about 80 percent of the dishes being Carter’s favorites. If it wasn’t a coincidence, it was clear she had made them specifically for him. The villa was huge, and they obviously had servants, yet Amber insisted on cooking herself. I could excuse Tiffany—she was trying to win Carter over, after all. The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. But Amber didn’t have such an agenda. Was she truly just being kind?

“Carter, try this soup; I made it myself,” Tiffany said, pressing the bowl toward him, completely indifferent to his rejection. She acted as though persistence alone would guarantee success. Carter ignored her and turned to me. “Zoey, I’d like some fish soup.”

“Sure, I’ll serve it for you.” I added some of Carter’s favorite dishes to his plate. From start to finish, he never touched Tiffany’s soup. Peter and Carter were deep in conversation, clearly getting along well. I quietly watched Amber, but to my surprise, she was looking at me too. Our eyes met, and it was a bit awkward, especially with Tiffany sulking in the corner. The dinner felt strangely tense and eerie.

After the meal, since no servant was around, I stood up to clear the dishes for Amber. She smiled. “Thank you, Zoey.”

“It’s no trouble.”

Tiffany muttered sarcastically, “What are you pretending for?”

I ignored her and carried the dishes into the kitchen.

“Amber, let me wash the dishes,” I offered.

“Alright, you wash; I’ll clean the counters.” She had been elusive earlier, but now she seemed remarkably easygoing.

“Ms. Gardner and Carter have only been married a few months, but it seems like you two are getting along really well,” she remarked, her tone probing.

Unsure what she meant, I played along. “Yes, at first, when I heard about the arranged marriage, I resisted it. I even tried to take my own life. But after marrying Carter, I realized he may be older, but he’s kind and gentle. He’s been really good to me, so I’ve started to like him.” I even gave her a shy look, pretending not to know about the substitute situation.

“Amber, I know Tiffany really likes Carter. Do you hate me?”

She gave a soft laugh. “You think too much. I’m not like that naive girl. Why would I hate you?”

I sighed in relief. “That’s good to hear. Your family has done so much for Carter. I don’t want to make things difficult for him because of me.” I placed a stack of clean dishes in the cabinet. “Here, right?”

“Yes, Ms. Gardner, feel free to come by anytime. We’d love to have you.”

“That sounds great. Amber, you’re so beautiful; I’d love to learn your skincare secrets. I kept wondering during dinner, how old are you? You don’t look much older than me.” Talking about beauty was always a good way to get closer to a woman.

“How old do you think I look?” She looked at me, her eyes deep and dark, like two black holes pulling me in.

“I’d guess about 30. But Tiffany calls you Aunt Amber, so I guess you’re in your 40s?”

She didn’t seem pleased by the compliment. Instead, the corner of her lips curved slightly. “A woman’s age is a secret.” Amber was so mysterious.

“What do you like about Carter?” she asked suddenly.

I thought for a moment before answering seriously. “He’s gentle, a true gentleman, attentive, and he’s a great partner.”

“If you found out that his kindness to you was just an attempt to make up for something, would you still love him?”

I was taken aback and didn’t quite understand her question. Suddenly, her gaze dropped to the Soul-Stabilizing Pendant hanging around my neck. It must have fallen out when I bent down to place the dishes earlier. When she saw the stone, her pupils shrank, and her voice turned cold. “Who gave you this?” Her face, though beautiful, became terrifying, sending a chill down my spine.

“I… well, Amber, what is the origin of this stone?” I asked, pretending not to know.

“And where is the other one?” she asked sharply, grabbing my collar, her eyes narrowing dangerously. “Where is it?”