Chapter 376: You Really Are Lucky

I was startled by her sudden change of expression. She grabbed my collar, making me uncomfortable. Worried she might snatch my stone, I hurriedly covered it with both hands. The old lady reacted similarly last time she saw the stone. How do they both know about such a rare item? And why did she mention there were two stones?

“Amber, I don’t understand what you’re saying. I only have one stone, not two,” I said.

“You…” She stared at me for a long time, muttering, “So it’s you… no wonder…” Her gaze made my heart race, as if she recognized me. But that couldn’t be, could it? Even my own family didn’t recognize me. How could a stranger like her know I’d been reborn?

“Amber, what are you trying to say? What’s wrong with this stone?”

Her gaze turned cold, fixed on my face, then she sneered. “You’re really lucky.” She seemed about to say more, but her expression changed abruptly, and she released my collar.

“Zoey, it’s getting late. We should leave,” Carter called from outside.

I glanced at Amber. I hadn’t had a chance to ask the old lady last time, so I asked, “What exactly is this? Why did you react so strongly?”

Amber’s gaze had grown colder. “Sorry, I made a mistake.”

“A mistake? What do you mean I’m lucky?” I pressed, but she refused to elaborate. Amber quickly washed her hands and urged me, “He’s still waiting for you. You should go.”

As we left, Amber watched us, her eyes falling on Carter’s neck. But there was nothing hanging from it.

Tiffany handed Carter a small food container. “Carter, I made these pastries for you. Just eat them yourself; don’t let that woman have any.”

“Thank you, but I’m allergic and can’t eat them.”

“I didn’t use any allergy-inducing ingredients. You can eat them safely.”

Carter placed the container on the ground. “No, I’m allergic to other women.”

Tiffany was speechless.

Carter and I got into the car. My mind was still on Amber’s reaction, and I didn’t feel like arguing with Tiffany. Amber remained silent, her eyes following our car. The door closed, and Tiffany tugged at Amber’s arm, almost pleading. But Amber remained expressionless. She was undoubtedly strikingly beautiful, but I couldn’t shake the unease creeping down my spine.

On the way home, I couldn’t stop thinking about the Soul-Stabilizing Pendant. If they knew it was the Soul-Stabilizing Pendant, why did they react like that? Did Carter lie to me? Is it not really the Soul-Stabilizing Pendant? I regretted not questioning the old lady more thoroughly back then! Somehow, I had a feeling Amber wasn’t so simple. The look she gave me definitely wasn’t friendly. Why?

My mind felt overwhelmed. The previous mysteries hadn’t even been solved, and more were piling up.

“What’s wrong? You haven’t said anything since we got in the car.” Carter noticed immediately that something was amiss.

I instinctively avoided mentioning the Soul-Stabilizing Pendant. After all, I’d already asked him about it, and he hadn’t given me any answers. If the Soul-Stabilizing Pendant was really a problem, he wouldn’t tell me. He was too clever. If I asked now, I’d be alerting him that something was up.

I fully trusted he wouldn’t hurt me. After all, when I was in my soul form, I saw him searching everywhere for me and even lit 3,000 vigil lights for me on Mount Spiritus. If he wasn’t trying to hurt me, then he must be hiding something that benefits him. The Master’s unfinished words echoed in my mind.

I tried to suppress my unease, not wanting him to notice my emotions. So, I leaned into his chest and said, “It’s nothing.”

“Is it because of Tiffany? I won’t touch anything she gave me. If it bothers you, we won’t visit Dolton Residence in the future.” He would even distance himself from the Doltons, who had helped him, just to make me happy. What could I possibly question about a man like that? My only concern was that his love for me might make him do foolish things.

I reached up and gently stroked his handsome face. “Okay, how about I bake you some cookies when we get home?”

“Good girl.” He relaxed when he saw my expression was unchanged. But he didn’t know that, after lowering my head, I was feeling uneasy and buried my face in his neck.

“Carter, please don’t leave me, okay? I’ve worked so hard to have everything I do now. I’m afraid you’ll leave.”

“It’s just Tiffany, silly girl. If I liked her, I would have married her by now. What does that have to do with you?” He thought I was jealous of Tiffany, but he had no idea that my heart was growing more anxious by the second.

In fact, if I thought about it carefully, I’d realize that ever since I came back after losing my soul, Carter had been acting strangely. He used to talk about wanting me to have his children, saying that he was getting older and didn’t want to wait any longer. In fact, he even said our first child would be named Joy, making up for the child that hadn’t been formed in my past life. But after that, every time the topic of children came up, he either changed the subject or became silent. Why? Despite not knowing the answer, it had to involve the stone! What kind of deal had he made with the Master?

While my thoughts were racing, the car had already arrived at home. I quickly snapped back to attention, not wanting him to see that something was off with me.

“Carter, when you said you were allergic to women, Tiffany’s expression was priceless.” I tried to start a conversation. “Why can’t other men see through her, but you could spot her immediately?”

“I learned it online.”

“From your crash course?” I teased.

As we reached the house, he suddenly stood up and lifted me in his arms, his teeth clenched. “Chloe, tonight, I’ll show you what a real man’s etiquette is!”

I wrapped my arms around his neck, lowering my voice and whispering in his ear, “Carter, I’m in my safe period these days. Let’s skip the condom, okay?”

His pupils darkened, and he warned, “Chloe, you’re asking for it.” As soon as he spoke, he pressed his fingerprint on the door, and when it closed, he pushed me against the entryway and kissed me.

“Carter, slow down,” I staggered, grabbing his collar and accepting his fiery kiss.

“Gough.” A female voice broke through. I quickly pushed Carter away and turned toward the couch.

Zoey had her hands over her eyes, but the gap between her fingers was huge. She was shaking her head dramatically, saying, “I didn’t see anything. I saw nothing.”

I could feel Carter’s anger flare up in an instant. And then, as if things couldn’t get worse, Harlan appeared, oblivious to everything, wearing an apron and sticking his head out of the kitchen. “Carter, you’re back. Why did my eggs end up on the ceiling?”

Well, this was perfect. Straight into the line of fire. I could almost see Carter throwing him onto the ceiling too. Carter was already angry and had nowhere else to vent. Zoey was a woman and someone who had helped me, so he had to hold back. Harlan, on the other hand, didn’t get any of that consideration. With a cold, heavy voice, Carter said, “The Pearsons are bankrupt? Do you not have a pot or eggs in your house?”

Harlan looked completely confused. “It’s just a fried egg. Do you have to be so mad?”

Carter took a deep breath and chided, “Do…