Chapter 402: Why Did You Come Back?

I knew Carter was waiting for me, hoping I’d change my mind. To him, my decision to go to the White Residence was reckless. He would never willingly let me put myself in harm’s way. But Whitney was still waiting for me. Gritting my teeth, I shut the door resolutely. I didn’t dare look in the rearview mirror, afraid of seeing the disappointment in his eyes. I clenched my fists and silently chanted to myself when the car started. Don’t look back. I’m sorry, Carl.

Sensing my unease, Yael, who was seated beside me, spoke up. “Chloe, are you unhappy?”

“Is Taylor planning to keep Whitney imprisoned forever?” I asked.

“Chloe, Whitney doesn’t love Taylor. If she were free, she’d run.”

So they understood, after all. Before I could reply, Yael added, “If Taylor didn’t care about her, she would already be dead. Freedom or life—which do you think is more important?”

Though I was relieved Whitney was still alive, the thought of her suffering for the past twenty years made me question if living was truly better than dying. Death was a momentary pain, but living had brought her two decades of torment. Still, I believed her suffering would soon end. Once we rescued her, she would become a crucial witness. With more evidence, we could topple the Carlyn brothers and the powers behind them. They had to face justice. It all had to end.

As we approached the White Residence, Yael handed me a pill. “Chloe, take this to avoid suspicion.” Earlier, he’d given me an antidote to let me speak for half a day, but now he wanted to reverse it.

I didn’t take the pill. Instead, I stared at him coldly. “Is it to avoid suspicion? Or are you afraid I’ll call for help? Yael, if I wanted to escape, I could’ve screamed for help back at the night market. That was the best chance, wasn’t it?” I didn’t want to lose my voice again.

“Chloe, it’s not that I don’t care about you. There are surveillance cameras everywhere in the White Residence. If you speak, you’ll be exposed. I can’t imagine what would happen. Just bear with it. Once we…”

His face was filled with concern, but I knew he wouldn’t compromise. With a heavy sigh, I reluctantly took the pill that would render me mute.

He only relaxed after seeing me swallow it. “Chloe, if that person shows up in the next few days, avoid her at all costs. Don’t meet her eyes. She’s incredibly observant.”

“Got it,” I replied before losing my voice entirely.

When we entered the White Residence, Yael carried bags of items, including the candy apple rack. It was late, and everyone should’ve been asleep. Yet, as soon as we stepped into the courtyard, a figure emerged.

“Where have you been?”

Thankfully, I was hidden behind Yael, whose tall frame shielded my trembling body. It was Taylor, and his danger level was far higher than Yael’s. He wasn’t asleep, and it seemed like he had been waiting for us.

Yael tapped the candy apple rack. “Bought this for Whitney. And a few other little things. Taylor, you’re getting married soon, but Whitney has been sulking. I brought Mute Girl along to pick out some gifts.” Yael’s innocent expression made it impossible for Taylor to gauge his intentions.

“When did you start caring so much about Whitney?” Taylor asked, while stepping closer to me. I kept my head down to avoid his gaze. He circled me, and his icy voice sent shivers down my spine. “And, since when were you so close to Mute Girl?”

Yael scratched his head, avoiding the question. “Close? I went out with her because I was bored. Is Whitney asleep? I’ll give her the stuff.”

“Let Mute Girl take it. You shouldn’t go in.”

“Fair enough.”

Yael’s acting was flawless, leaving no room for doubt. He handed me everything. “Take these to Whitney.”

I nodded, keeping my head low as I awkwardly carried the items inside. Behind me, I heard Taylor’s voice. “What’s wrong with you?” Had he noticed something? My heart sank with worry. Yael’s warning echoed in my mind. My greatest threat wasn’t Taylor, but Amber. If Taylor could sense something, would Amber notice too?

When I opened the door, Whitney was awake. She was likely waiting for me. The moment she saw me, her face feigned calm, but the flicker of joy in her eyes betrayed her emotions. The sadness of parting with Carter melted into contentment. I was glad I’d returned. I couldn’t bear to imagine her disappointment if I had chosen to leave with Carter. Whitney’s once lifeless existence had only regained a glimmer of light because of me. If I left her now, it would extinguish that light, plunging her into an even deeper darkness.

In her room, under the watchful eye of surveillance cameras, she couldn’t show too much emotion. She masked her feelings with coldness. “What’s all this for?”

I placed everything on the window sill and handed her the candy apple. Her eyes turned red the moment she saw it. I thought memories from so long ago would’ve faded, but clearly, they hadn’t. She clutched the candy apple tightly, and tears streamed down her face nonstop.

“What did you do?” Taylor’s voice suddenly boomed behind me. He strode over, raising his foot as if to kick me. Whitney stepped in front of me.

“What are you doing to her?”

Taylor was stunned and he withdrew his foot. “She made you cry.”

“I’m happy!” Whitney clung to the candy apple. “Do you even want to take away my right to feel joy?”

Taylor seemed different from before. He was flustered. “No. If you like candy apples, why didn’t you tell me earlier?”

“I like anything that’s not from you. You disgust me. Now get out!”

Taylor glanced at me, and I kept my head down. I exhaled in relief when he finally left. Though I couldn’t speak, Whitney couldn’t say much either. Yet, standing here, watching her, filled me with happiness.

Whitney finished the candy apple under my gentle gaze. I showed her the trinkets one by one—things she used to love as a child. To me, she was still that little girl. But twenty years had passed in the blink of an eye. Tears welled up in her eyes as she ran her fingers over the tiny keepsakes. Knowing Taylor might be watching through the cameras, I didn’t dare act out of the ordinary. I simply pointed to the time and gestured for her to wash up and sleep. Whitney set down a porcelain wind chime and followed me to the washroom. For a moment, it felt like we’d traveled back in time. She used to love sweets but hated brushing her teeth. I would always have to coax or scare her into doing it. Before I could get to see her lose her baby teeth, she had disappeared from my world.

The moment the washroom door closed, she threw herself into my arms, holding me tightly. Her voice was low and trembling. “Chloe, why did you come back? Why didn’t you leave?”