Chapter 424: Order Me Around

I never expected her to answer my question, but after a brief silence, she spoke calmly, “Believe it or not, your death in the last life had nothing to do with me.”

“Then who was it?”

“Chloe, the more you know, the quicker you die. Why dig into things that are already in the past?”

My mind raced. If she wasn’t lying, then this time, her attempt to kill me must have been to protect Carter and stop the life exchange.

“So, it was someone from the Carlyns?”

She didn’t respond, which was as good as an admission. Years ago, the Sanders had left the Carlyns with deep-seated hatred—a grudge so intense that the Carlyns loathed the Sanders with every fiber of their being. That’s why they took Whitney when she was just five years old, planting the seed of revenge that grew into this mess. Wisteria, her father, and other members of the Carlyns had all played a part in the revenge against the Sanders.

It was getting late, so I decided not to press further. After all, I wasn’t someone she cared for, and we weren’t exactly friends. To her, I was a thorn in her side, so there was no way she’d open her heart to me. Still, she’d made me suffer on that island, living in fear and torment. It was only fair that I retaliated.

“Amber, make sure you wake up early tomorrow morning.”

She was confused. She probably didn’t want to bother me, so she stayed silent. I continued, “For breakfast, I’d like ravioli and soy milk—not the kind made by a machine, but freshly ground with a millstone.”

Her voice came out through gritted teeth. “Would you like to eat crap instead?”

“Amber, how crude of you. Where’s your dignity as an elder? Maybe I should punish you by having you prepare stuffed dumplings as well.”

“Chloe!”

“Your cooking is amazing. I only had it once, but I’ve been dreaming about it ever since. And after losing so much blood tonight, don’t you think I deserve a proper meal to replenish myself? You’re so kind and considerate—you’ll probably start grinding beans at three in the morning for me, won’t you?”

“What time is it now?”

“Chloe, if you want to die, I can help you with that!”

“I’ve heard that older people are light sleepers. I’m sure you’ll be able to fulfill my request.”

She gritted her teeth. “Fine!”

I could practically see her imagining a hundred ways to kill me. But the truth was, she thought Carter and I were bound by a life-exchange curse, and that fate wasn’t limited to just life and death. In essence, the worse my life got, the worse things would become for Carter. Conversely, the better I lived, the better off Carter would be. It was all interconnected. She couldn’t imprison me. She had to cater to me, pamper me, and ensure I lived a life of luxury. If I thrived in wealth and comfort, Carter would live free of worry. If I suffered or died early, Carter’s life would hang by a thread. Her love for Carter forced her to care for me as well. Carter and I were stuck in this together.

Amber turned over, her back to me, but I smirked. “Amber, I can’t sleep.”

“Not my problem.”

“Tell me a story.”

“I’m not an insomniac—I just don’t need much sleep. And now you expect me to wake up at three to grind beans for you? You’ve got no right to order me around.”

“But I want to hear a story. Amber, won’t you tell me one?”

I wondered if Amber regretted everything. After I kept her up half the night, she had to sit by my bed and tell me stories. What she said didn’t matter—what mattered was that the angrier she got, the happier I became. Somewhere along the way, I fell asleep.

When I woke up the next morning, the first thing I saw was a familiar face. Bathed in sunlight, Carter leaned against the edge of the bed, dozing. His dark hair shimmered with a golden hue, and his handsome features were accentuated by the soft light. He wore a crisp white shirt, exuding an air of elegance and refinement. My heart swelled with joy, and I couldn’t help but want to throw myself into his arms. Thinking of my injured hand, I instinctively tucked it behind me.

Even though my movement was subtle, Carter still noticed. His eyes opened, and he looked at me. His voice was slightly hoarse. “Chloe.”

“Carter.”

I tugged at my sleeve to cover the scar on my wrist and threw myself into his arms. His hand tightened around my waist as he looked down at me. “Are you okay? Did anyone hurt you?”

I thought about it for a moment. Honestly, Amber seemed more distressed than I was. It had only been one night, and she couldn’t even hold out—she already called Carter for help. Amber was smarter than I gave her credit for. I’d originally planned to torment her for a few more days.

I shook my head. “No, I’m fine.”

There was a knock at the door, and Whitney’s voice came from the hallway. “Chloe, Carter, breakfast is ready. Come downstairs.”

“Okay, we’ll be right there,” I replied. Worried that Carter might notice my injured hand, I gently pushed him. “Carter, I’ll go freshen up first. You go down and start eating.”

His deep gaze lingered on my face for a moment before he asked, “You and Amber…”

“Don’t worry,” I interrupted, smiling. “She’s not going to try to kill me again. We’ve reached an understanding. I even slept in the same bed as her last night.”

Carter had more questions but didn’t press further. He raised a hand to gently ruffle my hair. “As long as you’re okay.” With that, he turned and left the room.

I looked down at my left wrist. Old scars now mingled with fresh ones. Hopefully, I could keep it hidden.

After washing up, I headed downstairs, where everyone was already seated at the dining table. Seeing this group of people together was enough to frighten even God. Whitney sat next to Taylor. Yael, ever the obedient one, was hunched over because of his injured back. Amber handed Carter a stuffed dumpling with an almost doting expression. “Carter, it’s your favorite flavor.”

The scene was absurd—a group of people with such deep grudges and tangled histories all sitting at the same table, pretending this was normal. Taylor’s expression was particularly grim, as if he’d guessed something. His usual smile was gone, replaced by a brooding silence. Still, he continued his routine of offering food to Whitney, even though she never accepted it.

It was like a standoff between sworn enemies: one persistently offering, the other steadfastly refusing. Yael’s face lit up the moment he saw me, like a puppy eager for attention. “Chloe, sit here!” He patted the seat next to him, but Carter shot him a cold glare.

I smiled at Yael. “I’ll sit with Carter.”

Yael’s face fell. “Oh.” He was disappointed that I didn’t sit beside him.

The breakfast spread was impressive. Alongside the dumplings, soy milk, and ravioli I’d requested, there were sandwiches, cereal, and an assortment of other dishes. I picked up a ravioli and placed it on Yael’s plate. “Your mom made this herself.”

His disappointment vanished instantly, his eyes lighting up like motion-sensor lights—bright and responsive. Carter noticed the change in Yael’s demeanor but didn’t say anything. He knew our dynamic wasn’t romantic but more sibling-like. Amber seemed to notice Carter’s mood shift and poured him a cup of soy milk. “This is freshly ground. Try it,” she said softly.

I coughed lightly, drawing Amber’s attention. Everyone at the table turned to look at us. Amber gritted her teeth but poured me a cup as well. “Here, have some too.”

I flashed her a sweet smile. “Thank you, Amber.”