Chapter 413: Found His Stone of Duality

I knew I shouldn’t be so pessimistic, always imagining worst-case scenarios, but Zoey would be fine. She had to be. But no matter how much I tried to comfort myself, the image of that snowy night when Silas stabbed me replayed in my mind. Back then, I never imagined something like that could happen.

The door creaked open, and Harlan stepped out, glancing around. “Where’s Janice?” he asked.

“She went back,” Carter replied.

“Back? That woman left me again!” Harlan stamped his foot in anger. Perhaps he sensed Zoey’s change and was growing uneasy. Without saying more, he rushed off, and Carter followed him.

Left alone, I stared at the leftover takeout from last night. Zoey’s words replayed in my mind: “May you guys live long and happy lives.” She had already prepared herself to face death, knowing full well the danger ahead. She chose to walk into the lion’s den, wanting to eliminate all threats for me. My fists clenched, my nails digging into my palms until I felt a sharp pain. A storm of hatred brewed in my heart. Why was the world so unfair? The wicked roamed free, living comfortably, while the good suffered and died young. Whitney was still trapped in her nightmare, and I had narrowly escaped death at Amber’s hands. It wasn’t supposed to be this way!

Carter wanted to rewrite fate. Zoey was willing to take the hit for me to survive. But the ones who deserved death were Amber and the Carlyn brothers. A surge of resentment engulfed me, spreading through every corner of my soul. I had to do something. I couldn’t just let others shield me while I stood idly by.

I began reviewing every detail from the moment of my death until now. My first step was to relocate the Sanders and question Grandma about the truth behind the Carlyns’ claims. Second, I needed to uncover the true story of Carter’s biological mother. Who was she, and was she dead? Why did Yael refuse to call Amber “Mom,” yet Amber showed such kindness to her nephew? What kind of entanglement did Carter’s mother have with his father? Most importantly, I needed to find out where Whitney’s chip was hidden and remove it safely before Taylor had a chance to detonate it. As I cleared the table, these thoughts raced through my mind. I couldn’t allow myself to be a burden to them.

“I’ll take care of this. You should rest. I’ve already arranged for a doctor to check your throat later,” Carter said as he returned after seeing Harlan off. His demeanor had steadied significantly. The wild, forlorn look from the night before was gone. Noticing my concern for Zoey, he added, “I’ll make sure Zoey stays safe. Don’t worry too much. Everyone knows Mrs. Pearson adores Whitney. If anything happens to her at the Carlyns’ place, suspicion will fall on them immediately. Their base is likely in Jaford, and they’re more afraid of drawing unwanted attention than we are. Zoey’s identity makes her the least likely to raise suspicion—she might actually pull off something extraordinary.”

He quickly tidied the table, then gently patted my head. “Don’t be afraid, Chloe. I’ll always stand by you. No matter whose blood runs through my veins, I’ll never acknowledge them as my family.”

I gestured to him, “You’re not dirty. You’re purer than anyone.”

“I’ll make you some breakfast,” he said, picking up the trash bag and heading to the kitchen.

The house fell into a serene calm, but I knew it was the quiet before the storm. One way or another, we would face off against the Carlyns eventually. Feeling stifled, I stepped outside for some fresh air. The garden was in full bloom, vibrant and colorful. Jaford’s perpetual springtime made the plants here flourish. A gentle breeze carried the fragrance of flowers, soothing my mood. My gaze fell on a small potted plant. It was the Bodhi tree, and it was still in the same pot. I remembered when Carter brought this plant home. I had watered it a few times myself. It was just a plant—why had he brought it all the way to Jaford?

A thought crossed my mind, and suddenly, everything clicked. I rushed over to the Bodhi tree. Jaford’s climate had been kind to it, and tiny fruits had started to grow, their green skins tinged with a faint blush of pink. Squatting down, I carefully sifted through the soil. Beneath the dirt, nestled in the pot, was a pitch-black Stone of Duality. No wonder I hadn’t found it in any of the places I had searched. He had hidden it right under my nose. I recalled the small wounds on his hands that he always brushed off as accidents. He had been nurturing this plant with his blood! Fortunately, Amber’s interference led me to discover his secret before his plan could succeed.

I was about to bury the stone when I felt someone standing behind me. Carter’s cold voice sounded above me, “Chloe, what are you doing?” My heart skipped a beat.