Chapter 421: I Won’t Dodge

She grabbed my collar and hissed, “Why aren’t you wearing it anymore?” Her concern for Carter far outweighed any affection for her own son. The ravioli she once made for Yael had left a lasting impression, but over the years, she had prepared countless meals for Carter herself. When Carter struggled with mobility, she sent Damian to care for him. And Carter’s smooth rise in a foreign country? It was clear she’d been pulling strings.

I had gambled—and I had won. Smiling, I said, “Amber, I should thank you. If it weren’t for you telling me about the Stone of Duality, I would never have known Carter was willing to risk his life for me.”

Her expression darkened. “What are you getting at?”

“Well,” I said, letting the suspense linger, “since you know about the Stone of Duality, you should also know that the stones remain effective for eighty-one days. Care to guess why I’m no longer wearing mine?”

Her pupils dilated, and I delivered the revelation slowly, savoring each word. “Obviously, the time is up. I don’t need to wear it anymore because Carter and I have already swapped fates.”

“Damn it!” Amber exploded. Her fury propelled her forward, and she raised her hand to strike me. I caught her wrist mid-air and turned the knife she held toward my chest.

“Amber, isn’t this what you’ve wanted all along? To kill me? Well, here’s your chance. Let me help you.” I spoke without a shred of fear. “But just so you know, Carter and I have exchanged fates. If you stab me, I might only suffer a severe injury, while Carter… well, who knows what might happen to him?”

Her hand trembled violently. She clearly understood the consequences. Amber was more familiar with the Stone of Duality than anyone.

I stood up, and this time it was her turn to retreat, step by step. She was scared—terrified—because hurting me meant Carter would pay the price. I advanced toward her, slowly and deliberately. “Amber, isn’t this what you wanted? What are you hesitating for? Show me what you’ve got.”

Amber was frozen, clearly unprepared for me to seize the upper hand so thoroughly. Her dark eyes burned with icy hatred, sharp enough to cut a person to pieces. But it was laced with helplessness, and that was what gave me joy.

So this was what it felt like to be the villain. I liked it. I loved how she desperately wanted to get rid of me but couldn’t.

“Amber,” I taunted, “your hands are shaking. Are you low on calcium? Want me to help? I’ve already died once—I’ve got experience.”

I easily pried the knife from her hand and pressed the blade against my side, just above my kidney. “This spot here? That’s where Silas stabbed me clean through the other night. But your knife? It probably couldn’t even pierce me.”

Amber’s expression hardened. She finally realized I had come to Carlyn Residence with a purpose.

“What do you want?” she demanded.

I had her backed against the couch, and she fell into it with a thud. Looking down at her, I let my smile widen. “I want a lot of things, Amber. Do you think you can give them to me?”

“Don’t call me that!” she snapped.

“But I’m Carter’s wife, and we’re one unit. As his aunt, it’s only polite for me to address you by name.”

Amber’s eyes widened in shock. “You both know?”

“Of course,” I replied lightly. “And I should thank you. If it weren’t for your care over the years, Carter wouldn’t have achieved what he has.”

I reached out and gently touched her face. Her features were nothing like Peter’s. It was clear she had gone to great lengths to conceal her true identity.

While she was lost in thought, I took advantage of the moment and tore away her human-skin mask.

“Ah! Chloe!” I might have used too much force, causing her some discomfort. “Sorry, Amber, I didn’t mean to be rough.”

Despite my apology, there wasn’t a shred of remorse in my voice. I bent closer, lowering my voice. “Amber, what are you so afraid of? You have such a stunning face—why hide it?”

Beneath the mask was a face with exotic features: a high nose bridge, deep-set eyes, and strikingly dark eyebrows. But what stood out most were her jet-black pupils, unlike the usual brown. A thought flashed through my mind. Could she be Carter’s mother’s twin sister?

“Chloe, don’t get too full of yourself,” she hissed.

Grabbing my wrist, she threw me onto the couch. Her hand clamped around my jaw, her expression twisted with malice. “Even if I don’t kill you, I have a hundred ways to make your life hell. Who do you think you’re messing with?”

“You and Carter swapped fates, didn’t you? As long as I leave you barely alive, he’ll be fine. Do you know what it’s like to be imprisoned? Locked in a tiny, dark room with no way out? I could keep you like a dog, breaking you bit by bit.”

I stared directly into her eyes. She was unraveling, trying to mask her emotions with threats.

“Why don’t you try and see how that ends?”

Amber scrutinized me. “What are you implying?”

“I should thank you for your arrangement,” I replied with a faint smile. “They gave me the inspiration I needed after Silas and Sheila’s deaths. Want to guess how I’d choose to go out?”

At my words, she abruptly let go of me, as if afraid I might be rigged with explosives.

“You’ve only just clawed your way back to life. You wouldn’t throw it away so easily.”

“Why not? In this second chance, I’ve found warmth through Carter and even reunited with my long-lost sister. I have no regrets. Besides, if I die, Carter will go down with me. Isn’t that perfect? In life, we couldn’t be a loving couple, but in the afterlife, we can finally be together.”

I toyed with the blood-stained dagger in my hand, adopting a wistful expression. “Living is exhausting. Constantly watching out for your schemes and assassination attempts—it’s not worth it. Amber, if you want me dead so badly, why don’t you be the one to do it? Just aim for my heart and make it quick.”

Amber’s fury flared, her eyes practically spitting fire. “Do you think I don’t have the guts to kill you?”

“Then go ahead. I won’t dodge. I’ve already died once; what’s there to fear? Just make sure Carter and I are buried together. And when you visit his grave, don’t forget to pay your respects to me too…”

“Shut up! Who would visit you?!” she snapped, even angrier now.

“Sorry, my bad. It’s just that Carter and I don’t have any children, and I don’t have any other family. You’re his aunt, so I thought I’d treat you as one of my own. If I die and things go wrong, I might even haunt you. Amber, I’ll cling to you forever.”

“Don’t you dare!” Her anger boiled over. “What the hell do you want? Just spit it out already!”

Since her cards were on the table, there was no need to beat around the bush anymore. I gave her a faint smile. “First, remove the chip from Whitney’s body. Second, I want to take Whitney away. And third, tell me the whole truth.”

She glared at me coldly. “You’ve got quite the imagination, don’t you?”

Feigning innocence, I replied, “Amber, we’re family. You can’t even grant me these small requests? Then what’s the point of living? I might as well just die.”

Spinning the dagger in my hand, I lightly pointed it at my chest. “How about I aim here?”