Chapter 399: Reaching Out to Carter
Whitney’s face drained of color as she read the words, her eyes wide with shock, unable to comprehend what she had just seen. “How can this be? I distinctly saw Chloe…”
I motioned to my throat to show that I couldn’t speak, then wrote a few words on the foggy glass: “I have been reborn.”
It seemed like a light bulb went off in Whitney’s mind. “Are you Zoey?” She now understood the reason behind my approach. I gave a slight nod and gestured to confirm it was indeed me.
Whitney suddenly embraced me tightly. “Chloe, I’m so sorry, I couldn’t protect you. I had to watch those monsters… they did horrible things to your body…” Her voice broke, and she couldn’t finish her sentence.
I had been correct all along – Taylor’s vengeance wasn’t just aimed at me, but also at Whitney. He made her witness the horrific destruction of her beloved sister. No, it wasn’t just about me; it was the collapse of the entire Sander family, and Whitney was forced to watch it all. That was why she had been tormented by nightmares, trapped in a life worse than death, unable to escape.
Tears streamed down her face, and I felt just as helpless. The sting wasn’t just in my nose; my eyes burned as well. But with my makeup in place, I was afraid the tears would ruin it, so I held them back, forcing myself not to cry.
I softly patted Whitney’s back, trying to reassure her that Sadie had returned, that I was truly here to save her. Whitney cried for what felt like an eternity before finally calming down. I gently wiped away the tears from the corner of her eyes, my heart aching for her.
“What’s happened to your voice?” she asked in a strained voice. I wrote down a name on the paper, Yael. “Those devilish brothers! Chloe, I dream of killing them to avenge you, these monsters!”
I continued to ask about what had happened, and Whitney gave a rough explanation, which wasn’t too different from what I had suspected. At first, Taylor had sought revenge on her, tormenting her, but somehow, he ended up falling in love with her. He even wanted to marry her and have children. “I despise this madman with every fiber of my being. How could I ever bear his child?” Every time Whitney uttered his name, her voice dripped with venom.
I scribbled another name, Amber. Are you familiar with her? By now, I was already aware of the deep enmity between the Carlyns and the Sanders. Amber was simply the missing piece of the puzzle.
Whitney nodded, just about to say something. “She—” A knock interrupted her from outside. It was Taylor. “Whitney, are you finished with your shower? The car’s here, and the weather’s great – ideal for taking wedding photos.”
Ah, that’s right; today was the day they were going to shoot their wedding pictures. I shot Whitney a glance, silently urging her to keep playing along. She responded icily, “Give me five more minutes.” “Alright, I’ll wait for you outside,” he replied without hesitation.
Whitney hurriedly finished rinsing, worried that Taylor might still be lingering outside the door. Neither of us dared to speak further. I jotted down a question: Janice gave you a phone – where is it?
Opening a cabinet, Whitney retrieved a box of skincare products, revealing the phone cleverly concealed within it. Handing it to me, she whispered softly, “Don’t use it here; the signal will give it away.”
No wonder she hadn’t heard from Whitney until now. Thankfully, I hadn’t done anything out of the ordinary, or I would’ve been caught on the spot. It was perfect timing – they were heading out for an on-location wedding photoshoot. This gave me the chance to reach Carter!
I concealed the phone carefully, silently marveling at how Zoey had once again come to my rescue. We didn’t dare linger. I helped Whitney get ready in a hurry and sent her on her way. Taylor stood at the doorway, cigarette in hand. When he noticed Whitney’s tear-streaked face, his brows knit together in concern. Extinguishing the cigarette, he wrapped an arm around her and softly stroked her cheek. “Why are you crying again?” he asked gently.
Whitney didn’t respond – neither rejecting his touch nor uttering a word. I trailed silently behind them, keeping my gaze fixed on the ground.
Just as they were about to step into the car, Taylor cast a glance my way and curtly instructed, “You’re staying here.” Whitney interjected, “I want Mute Girl to come with me.”
Though I wasn’t sure what had changed between them, it was clear that Taylor had grown far more patient with her. To my surprise, he actually relented. “Alright, but she rides in a different car,” he said.
At last, I had the opportunity to leave the house. Yael, however, decided to tag along, likely worried I might try to escape. “Get in my car,” he commanded, his tone leaving no room for argument. Taylor shot him a puzzled look, clearly suspicious. “Why are you tagging along to my wedding photoshoot?”
“Obviously, I’m here to observe and pick up some tips. I’ll need them when it’s my turn,” Yael replied smoothly, his tone light and casual. Taylor’s eyes flicked between the two of us, as though trying to decipher what was really going on. I kept my gaze fixed downward, ensuring he couldn’t read anything on my face.
“Let’s move, Mute Girl,” Yael said as he slid into the driver’s seat. When I reached for the back seat, he smirked and quipped, “What, do I look like your chauffeur?” Left with no other choice, I climbed into the front passenger seat, keeping my head bowed once more.
As I clicked the seatbelt into place and glanced sideways, my eyes accidentally locked with Taylor’s. To my shock, he hadn’t looked away – he had been watching me the entire time. The moment our gazes connected, Yael casually rolled up the car window and said, “Let’s go.”
Inside, I was a mess. My palms were slick with sweat, and a chill ran down my spine. In this house, Yael was the only one who wouldn’t strike me down immediately if my true identity were exposed. Everyone else in the Carlyn family? They’d kill me without a second thought.
“Chloe, you’re anxious,” he said. Before I could respond, he noticed the troubled expression on my face and reached over to ruffle my hair. “Sorry, I forgot you can’t speak.” I tapped on the car window and pointed behind him, drawing his attention to the person.
“Do you think my brother has figured you out? It’s possible. He’s always been sharp, and I can’t just ignore you. It’s only a matter of time before he catches on.” Noticing how serious I looked, he added, “Relax. As long as it’s not her, even if my brother realizes who you are, he won’t kill you.” He was referring to Amber. Regrettably, Whitney hadn’t managed to share more about this subject earlier.
Today’s shoot took place by the sea, and I stayed busy assisting Whitney. Taylor, meanwhile, was preoccupied with his own preparations, getting his makeup done and changing outfits, leaving him little opportunity to keep an eye on me. After some time, Yael walked over and handed me a bottle of mineral water.
I motioned toward him, signaling my question about the restroom’s location. “I’ll escort you,” he offered. I gave a slight nod, but just before I stepped inside, he leaned closer and whispered, “Chloe, don’t even think about running. Everyone here answers to me.” As if I wasn’t already well aware of that fact.
This venue, where one would expect to see numerous couples posing for their shoots, was conspicuously empty. Other than our group, there wasn’t a single stranger in sight. Without a way to reach Carter, I knew I couldn’t afford to make any rash moves. For now, my focus was on staying close to Whitney and figuring out a way to help her escape.
I stepped into the stall, relieved that Yael wasn’t depraved enough to trail me into the women’s restroom. The space lacked doors and windows, likely why he didn’t hesitate to let me go in alone. As I pulled out my phone, my heart thudded loudly in my chest, and my palms were clammy with nervous sweat.
With a mix of excitement and anxiety, I powered on the phone. Thankfully, Whitney had never used it, so the battery was fully charged. Every passing second felt like an eternity as I waited for the device to boot up. The moment the screen lit up, my trembling fingers hurriedly punched in a series of numbers.
Fortunately, my memory served me well – I had memorized the sequence after only two glances. If I had to rely on today’s nerves, I might not have managed to key in Carter’s number, even with a fresh phone. Carter, pick up, you have to pick up! As if the heavens heard my plea, the call connected, and a response came almost instantly. “Hello?”