Chapter 417: I’m Yours Tonight
As Yael placed a flower crown on my head, I noticed Whitney quietly approaching Taylor in the distance. Taylor was smoking when Whitney slipped her arms around him from behind. I immediately understood her intention—she was trying to compromise herself to obtain the antidote from Taylor for me. That fool! I couldn’t let her humiliate herself like this.
Taylor quickly dropped his cigarette and pulled her into his arms in surprise. My view was abruptly blocked. Yael stood in front of me, his expression a mix of obsession and unsettling tenderness. “Chloe, could you not look at anyone else? Just look at me, okay?” His tone was polite, almost pleading, but I had a strong feeling that if I refused, he would chop off my head the next moment.
Reluctantly, I turned my gaze to him. He opened his palm, revealing a grasshopper woven from blades of grass. “Do you like it, Chloe?” I nodded. His hands were indeed skillful. Seeing my approval, his face lit up with happiness. “I can also make little rabbits, bears… Chloe, what do you like? Why don’t I make them all for you?”
He tugged me toward a grassy patch near the edge of a cliff, urging me to sit. Behind us loomed the steep drop, while in front, a sloping field of grass swayed like waves in the wind. The valley was empty, save for our group. It was vast, tranquil, and eerily serene. Why wasn’t Carter here to share this beautiful scenery with me?
Yael picked some fresh grass and placed it in my hand. “Chloe, let me teach you how to make a rabbit.” Glancing toward Whitney and Taylor, I saw Taylor taking selfies with her. Whitney looked reluctant, but she forced a smile, seemingly trying to please him. My heart sank. Whitney was already living such a miserable life, yet she was willing to demean herself for my sake, to curry favor with a man she despised.
“Chloe, making a rabbit is simple. Just weave it like this,” Yael said softly. I sighed. Well, since I’m here, I might as well go along with it. At least I’m safe for now.
I focused on learning the weaving technique from Yael, and before long, I had crafted a small rabbit. Delighted, I showed it to him in my palm. Yael’s eyes sparkled with joy. “Chloe, you’re amazing! Let’s move on to making a little basket.” I couldn’t help but think he would make a great kindergarten teacher. His demeanor was far from that of a grown man. Last time, he’d dragged me to build sandcastles and stroll through night markets. Now, he had me spending an entire afternoon crafting handmade trinkets. Yael always smiled at me. His bright eyes held no hint of desire. He was a strange person.
By the time the sun dipped below the horizon, I felt like I was starving. Yael, however, looked utterly satisfied, gazing at the pile of crafts we’d made.
“Chloe, it’s getting dark. Let’s stay here tonight. The stars in the valley are beautiful—you’ll love them,” he said. My stomach let out a loud grumble. He scratched his head sheepishly. “Chloe, I’m sorry—I lost track of time. Let’s go eat.”
Standing up, I carefully gathered the crafts we’d made. I wanted to send them to Carter, Whitney, and Zoey. I typed a message on my phone, asking him to arrange for someone to deliver them. Yael’s gaze darkened. “Chloe…” My heart sank. I’d pushed my luck too far. How could I expect him to run errands for me?
To my surprise, his face twisted in displeasure. “Chloe, did you not consider giving me one?” I froze. His mind worked differently from the others. Reminding myself to treat him as a child rather than a man, I picked a little duck from the crafts and placed it in his hand. His eyes immediately brightened. “Chloe, you’re giving this to me?” I nodded.
He knew all the secrets of that organization. If I could persuade him to surrender, everything would become much simpler. Yael read the message repeatedly. When he looked up, there was a faint glimmer of tears in his eyes. “As a thank-you gift, Chloe, I’ll have someone deliver these for you.”
I knew it. He didn’t have the animosity of a romantic rival toward Carter. He hadn’t grown up yet. What he sought wasn’t romance with me—it was more like a child’s obsessive yearning for warmth and acceptance. Suddenly, I had the urge to train a “puppy.”
“Chloe, let’s go.” He took my hand and led me toward a guesthouse at the foot of the mountain. The area surrounding the guesthouse was filled with blooming flowers. An Alaskan Malamute lay lazily at the entrance with a butterfly resting on its nose, which it ignored entirely.
I set aside two crafts for myself, giving the rest to Yael and asking him to send them to Carter. He didn’t mind and happily arranged for the delivery. After washing up, I carried a grasshopper and rabbit, intending to find Whitney.
As I walked around the back of the house, I saw Whitney approaching Taylor. She pressed him against the wall, stood on her tiptoes, and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him into a kiss. Taylor didn’t resist her bold move, letting out a low groan. Flustered, I turned to leave, only to hear Whitney’s voice. “Taylor…” she cooed sweetly. Taylor’s arms tightened around her immediately. “Anna,” he murmured, using her real name rather than her alias. “You’ll be the death of me…” Whitney stroked his face and smiled seductively. “Do you want me? Give me the antidote, and I’m yours…”