Chapter 440: The Evil Devil, You Finally Showed Up!
I was terrified to wake up. I was afraid that, regaining consciousness, I would once again become a spirit, watching my body being torn apart. I also feared I might have no consciousness at all, unable to even take one last look at Carter, still not having had the chance to say goodbye.
Before regaining full awareness, searing pain overwhelmed me. The moment I felt the pain, I was strangely relieved; if I could still feel pain, it meant I was alive, not just a wandering soul. As long as I was alive, I still had a chance. My head and body ached from the impacts, each part of me throbbing.
The images from before I lost consciousness resurfacedโthe sight of Zoey being discarded to the green belt, Harlan crawling toward her. She should be okay, right? What about Whitney? Was her heart okay?
I suddenly opened my eyes, realizing my current situation only then. Whitney was not far from me, still unconscious. I scanned the surroundings. We were locked in a water prison, but fortunately, the water level wasnโt too highโjust a shallow layer that hadnโt even covered my feet. The ground was damp. The room was dark and musty, with only a small, square iron window. Outside, it was pitch black; it had already turned night. I listened carefully, hearing the sound of waves from afar.
I had a suspicionโwas this the island that Yael once brought me to? If the Carlyns were seeking revenge, they would definitely bring us to their burial ground. Whitneyโs huge fish-tail wedding dress spread out on the ground, with diamonds scattered all over, glinting coldly in the darkness. She was already slender and pale, resembling a stranded mermaid. Her entire form exuded a sense of fragilityโbeautiful, yet heartbreaking. The dagger was scattered in the car. I looked down and saw that the silver necklace around my neck was still there. As long as the island didnโt block signals, Carter would be able to detect my presence!
I propped myself up on the damp ground and struggled to stand up. Thankfully, all my limbs were intact; I hadnโt lost any arms or legs. It seemed like only superficial injuriesโsome cuts from the broken glass, which explained the pain. My head was spinning, and I felt a slight urge to vomit, likely from a mild concussion. I staggered, taking slow, unsteady steps through the water, heading toward Whitney.
Whitney, you must survive. As I got closer, I used the dim light outside to examine Whitney carefully. She didnโt have any obvious injuries, except for some cuts on the back of her hand from the glass. Thankfully, they were just small wounds. Although things had reached their worst, the current situation was the best possible outcome in the worst-case scenario.
I gently touched her face and hoarsely whispered, โWhitney, are you okay?โ
โChloeโฆโ
I finally breathed a sigh of relief as I heard her faint voice. โHow are you? Does your heart hurt?โ
She slowly opened her eyes. โChloe, Iโm fine. Youโve been protecting me all this time.โ
Some things are hard to explain. Whitney had once undergone a heart transplant. The heart had a strong rejection reaction after surgery, but since she started using my heart, the compatibility between her body and the heart had gradually improved over the past six months, with no rejection symptoms at all. In fact, her health had gotten better. This was probably the most valuable thing I did before I diedโat least I protected my sister.
โWhitney, have you been here before?โ
She had spent many years with Taylor, knowing the Carlyns better than I did. โI have,โ she said, her expression suddenly changing. โMom and Dad!โ
Whitney grabbed my hand. โChloe, somethingโs wrong. Mom and Dad are in danger.โ
Even without her saying it, I had already suspected this. The enemy had gone to such great lengths to gather all of the Sanders together through Taylor, clearly intending to exact revenge. The reason Whitney and I hadnโt died was that I had already died once, and Whitney had suffered for 201 years. But the Sanders were different. Even though Josh and some of the sons were not very capable, they had lived a comfortable life under Grandmaโs protection for half their lives. They lived a life of ease and privilege, as if it were their natural right.
Chapter 440: The Evil Devil, You Finally Showed Up!
The enemyโs hatred toward them was undoubtedly deeper than the one they held for Whitney and me. And while they hadnโt harmed Whitney and me yet, it wasnโt just because of our family ties, like Taylorโs deep love for Whitney. After all, he was still part of the Carlyns and might care about his feelings. The Sander family members had become the focal point of all their fury.
In contrast to Whitneyโs worry and anxiety, my response was starkly different. โSorry, I canโt empathize with you on this. As for the fate of the Sanders, what matters more to me is you.โ I tried to lift her up. โHowโs your body? Can you move?โ
โChloe, Iโm fine, but Mom and Dadโฆ Theyโre going to die.โ
From a dark corner came a deep, male voice, its age unclear. โShouldnโt they die?โ His voice was soft, devoid of any emotionโneither joy, anger, nor sorrow. I turned to look and only then saw the man in the corner. He was dressed in all black, and I couldnโt tell how long he had been standing there. He had no presence, like a living corpse.
Instinctively, I stepped in front of Whitney, shielding her. โOf course, they should die. I have no ties to the Sanders anymore. But what do you want with me? Dominic?โ
The man let out a soft laugh, and his voice was surprisingly pleasant, sounding nothing like that of a man in his 50s. โChloe, youโre truly clever.โ
โI should have guessed it. Youโre not dead. Not only are you not dead, but youโre also playing cosplay, switching from a paranoid husband to a humble bodyguard. Are you enjoying yourself?โ
From Yaelโs words, I learned that their father deeply loved Amber, but Amber was a stubborn woman. Her domineering nature didnโt work on him, and no matter how many years Dominic tried, he couldnโt win her heart. In an attempt to draw a clear line with him, she even grew distant from her son, unwilling to let herself be morally bound by him. So, Dominic orchestrated his โdeathโ as an accident, even adopting a new identity to stay by her side, slowly making her fall in love with him.
What a freak! He had never given up on targeting the Sandersโhe was the true mastermind behind everything! For revenge, for love, he remained unwavering until the end!
After hearing my words, he chuckled softly, stepping out of the darkness.
He took off his face mask and the hood of his jacket, letting his soft, slightly curly hair fall behind his ears. His face was pale, but handsome enough to make him seem much younger than his 50s. Perhaps it was due to the drugs from their organization, but Amber also looked much younger. If judged solely by appearances, he could be mistaken for an elegant, handsome prince. His face was gentle and non-threatening, and his aura was warm and refined. Who would have imagined that this seemingly gentle man had orchestrated such a grand scheme?
He didnโt kill Whitney for his son. He didnโt kill me for Amber. He was the truly evil devil, stepping slowly toward us.
Dominicโs lips curled into an elegant smile. โChloe, have you ever heard the saying, โToo clever a woman doesnโt live longโ? Want to experience death again?โ