Chapter 400: Chloe, Come Here
His raspy voice reached my ears, and just hearing it made my eyes well up with tears. I swiftly changed the call to video, confident that even with makeup masking my features, Carter would recognize me without hesitation. At last, his face appeared on the screen.
Gone was his usual commanding presence. Carter, who always made sure to look impeccable around me and often rose before I did to maintain his polished image, now appeared bare-faced and freshly shaven. What appeared before me was a man with unkempt stubble lining his jaw, a stark contrast to the clean-shaven look I had always known. In just a few days, he seemed to have withered. His hollowed cheeks, the heavy shadows under his eyes, and the alarming redness in his gaze told a story of sleepless nights and relentless worry.
For a brief moment, I struggled to connect this gaunt figure with the Carter I loved so deeply. The face in the video was unfamiliar, completely unrecognizable. The moment he saw me, he was clearly stunned, his expression tinged with a trace of astonishment. As our eyes locked, his lips moved. “Chloe?” Even with the sound muted, I could clearly read it. I nodded vigorously, silently mouthing, “It’s me, Carter!”
Every second was precious, and I quickly gestured to my throat and then around me. He caught on instantly, saying, “You’ve lost your voice, and it’s dangerous where you are, isn’t it?” I nodded once more, pointing urgently to the phone screen. He didn’t hesitate, understanding the urgency. All feelings of love and yearning were pushed aside; the priority now was finding a way to rescue me.
He nodded and said, “Send me your location right now!” Once he confirmed who I was, Carter didn’t hesitate. Before ending the call, I saw his lips move. “Chloe, I miss you.”
Carter, so am I. But right now, I can’t express it.
Zoey was truly dependable. She not only downloaded all the essential apps beforehand but also logged into WhatsApp for me. I wasn’t sure whose number she had used to register, but it was much better than being unable to log into my account once I got the phone. Carter saved my number immediately, and I quickly shared my location with him. My fingers moved swiftly across the screen, almost as if they were sparking.
Time was running out, and any delay would surely raise suspicion. I quickly explained the situation, knowing that if Carter rushed to rescue me without careful planning, the consequences could be disastrous. If he angered the two brothers, Whitney and I could be in even greater danger. My main goal right now was to reassure him, to let him know that I was still alive and well. The best chance for a successful escape would be during Whitney’s wedding, when the chaos could provide the perfect cover. Since everyone outside believes I’m dead, it’s actually the most advantageous situation for us.
“Chloe, be cautious. I don’t want you to take any unnecessary risks!”
“Carter, I understand. Be careful of Damian; he’s the one who had me taken away.”
As I was typing, another message from Carter appeared: “I already know.” I let out a sigh of relief, knowing he was clever enough not to let Damian deceive him.
“Amber wants to kill me. Look into her background. I’m going to turn off my phone now. I’ll contact you again. Carter, take care. I love you.”
I powered off my phone. My body continued to tremble uncontrollably. It felt no different from the anxiety of cheating during the college entrance exams. At least, I had managed to send the message that I was still alive. I washed my hands, took a deep breath to steady myself, and then stepped out.
Yael had just extinguished his cigarette, and I pointed to my face, silently indicating that my makeup had smudged a little. He furrowed his brows, saying, “This special effects makeup isn’t good for your skin and shouldn’t be worn for too long. Come with me.” I gestured toward Whitney, who was still posing for pictures nearby. “Don’t worry, she’s in a safer position than you are right now.” He guided me into the car and told me to take off my makeup, my cheeks burning with embarrassment.
“Your skin is too sensitive, what should we do? How about we stay outside where we won’t be interrupted?” The idea of being alone with him, especially with the thought of him marking me, made me quickly shake my head. I told him I wanted to stay with Whitney and watch her wedding.
He let out a sigh. “Alright, we’ll head back later.”
I’m glad I didn’t tell Carter to come over; if I had, he wouldn’t have been able to find me and would’ve just alerted the enemy. He led me to a quiet spot by the sea and insisted we spend the afternoon building sandcastles on the beach. It felt like I was babysitting him. He was so passionate about sculpture, and when we finished building a castle and a mermaid tail by the shore, his smile lit up like the sun.
Grinning, he said, “Chloe, stand in front.” I had no choice but to lie behind the mermaid he had made, and he snapped a photo of me with his phone. “If you were a mermaid, you’d definitely be the most beautiful!” I gazed at his genuine smile, wishing things were different—if only he weren’t a demon. It was hard to grasp how someone like him could have such an innocent, pure smile. He looked like a child who had never grown up, with a touch of innocence in his expression.
As the sky began to darken, I noticed the coastline gradually disappearing and gently reminded him, “Let’s go.” It was mostly because I was starving—hungry enough to devour an entire cow. He remained still, watching as the waves slowly swallowed the sandcastles and mermaid tail we had worked on all afternoon.
“What a shame.”
“Beautiful things shouldn’t exist in the first place,” he chuckled softly, pulling me into his arms. “But it’s alright. You will always be with me, won’t you?” I didn’t dare to push him away, so I simply nodded and replied, “Yes.”
“Chloe, you’re truly amazing. I’m starting to like you more and more.”
“How much do you like me?” I asked, my voice hesitant. His fingers lightly traced my shape. “I care about you so much, I’d even give my life for you.” I let out a bitter laugh. “That seems impossible.” He didn’t elaborate. “Let’s go home.” Taking my hand, he guided me back to the car.
After a long day of recovery, my face had finally returned to normal, and he touched up my makeup. As he cupped my face, we were inches apart, yet he didn’t seem tempted to kiss me. It felt as if I were a water lily in the water to him, something to be admired from a distance. That was fine; at least I didn’t have to worry about him having any improper thoughts about me.
“It’s such a waste to hide your beautiful face,” he grumbled, clearly upset that he had made me look like someone else. My stomach let out a loud growl.
“Sorry, Chloe, I’ve made you hungry again. What would you like to eat? I’ll take you there.”
“Can I choose?”
He smiled, clearly in a good mood. “Of course, there’s a night market nearby. I’ll take you there.”
“Alright.”
The night market was lively and full of energy. He held my hand, buying me a bunch of accessories that girls usually like. He even made me wear a rabbit mask. “You’re as cute as a rabbit.” He picked out a fierce ghost fang mask for himself. “Roar, do I look scary?”
“How childish.” I played along, glancing around.
He leaned down and whispered gently in my ear, “Chloe, do you want to run away? I don’t want to put you in chains, but if you try, I won’t hesitate to harm Whitney.” My heart tightened. “What are you saying? She’s your sister-in-law!”
“As long as she’s alive, Taylor won’t care, so Chloe, don’t even think about running away, understand?” His eyes were full of suspicion. “If you try, I have plenty of ways to handle her.”
“I’m not escaping, I just want some candied fruit over there.” He grinned at me. “I’ll get it for you. Stay here and wait for me.” He gently tapped my head.
As I turned, I noticed a tall man standing by a tree nearby, his face hidden behind a white cat mask. Through the dark openings, I locked eyes with someone I knew all too well. Carter. I could tell it was him. He removed the mask, revealing his thin lips.
I heard him say, “Chloe, come here.”