Even after Her Death (Chloe and Luke) novel Chapter 391

I couldn't shake the memory of what I'd seen in the basement. The bodies under those white sheets—completely exposed—had been coated with some strange substance.

The thought churned my stomach.

Even though he hadn't done that to them, the idea of him manipulating lifeless forms was disturbing enough.

"Yael, I'm really tired today," I said, my voice trembling. "Maybe we can do this another time. I—"

He stepped closer, cutting off my retreat with deliberate ease. "Chloe, there's nothing to worry about. I won't hurt you. I just need to see your body. Silas damaged your original one, and I've regretted it ever since. This new body—it's flawless. I want to study it properly."

"Yael," I stammered, my mind racing. "It's cold. Undressing isn't a good idea right now."

"Chloe," he replied, his tone calm. "This island stays warm all year. You won't get cold."

His hand moved toward my collar, fingers grazing the buttons of the shirt Carter had dressed me in earlier.

"Yael, stop!" I cried, my heart pounding.

With a swift motion, he yanked at the fabric. Two buttons popped off, and my shoulder was left bare, the strap of my top slipping into view.

Horror washed over me as I realized what he could see. The marks Carter had left on me—bruises, kisses—spoke volumes about the night we'd shared.

Yael's expression darkened. His voice grew icy.

"Chloe, your body is ruined."

Panic gripped me. "Yael, you know I'm married. It's normal for a husband and wife to—" My words faltered.

"Marks like these destroy the beauty," he interrupted, his tone detached, almost clinical.

His focus wasn't on me as a person. It was his relentless pursuit of perfection in his art. Yet, the tension in the room made it hard to breathe.

I scrambled to calm him. "They'll fade in a few days. We can continue once they're gone, okay?"

A small smile crept across his face, but it brought no comfort. "There's no need to wait. If something's dirty, you clean it."

"Clean it?" I asked, dread creeping in. "How?"

Images flooded my mind—horrific scenes of being scrubbed raw with a stiff brush or held down in some cruel attempt at purity.

Or perhaps something even worse. An assault so cruel that only existed in stories.

Before I could react, he bent and lifted me into his arms.

He held me tighter, his voice low. "Don't move, Chloe. I can't promise what I might do if you fight. You're so beautiful, and I'm still a man."

My body froze. Fear locked every muscle in place. I didn't dare move, didn't even dare to breathe.

A quiet laugh drifted down from above me. "Chloe, you're so sweet. I feel like kissing you."

"You don't," I said sharply, meeting his gaze.

At least he wasn't consumed by desire in the way he was obsessed with his art. His words might unsettle me, but he never crossed that line.

Still, any sense of relief evaporated almost immediately. I found myself unable to smile or even cry. My body felt like it had been drained of any response.

He carried me effortlessly into another room. This one was nothing like the others. Instead of sculptures, it was filled with shelves of jars, strange devices, and stacks of vials.

The sight made my stomach churn. Carter's warnings about Bloodshade came flooding back—a group of so-called geniuses who thrived in secrecy, creating dangerous, illegal drugs that the world would never see.

Yael moved past the lab and into what looked like a washroom.

Without a word, he placed me into a large bathtub. Panic surged in me as I instinctively tried to climb out.

His voice stopped me cold. "Chloe, if you run, I'll have to cut off your legs. That way, you'll behave."

I froze, my fingers clutching the edge of the tub. I forced myself to stay calm, even as fear clawed at me. "The tub is dirty," I stammered, grasping for something—anything—to slow him down. "It needs cleaning."

He tilted his head and gave me a look that felt almost amused. Then he reached out, patting my head like I was some kind of pet. "You're right. That's my fault. Stay here, and I'll clean it properly. Don't move, Chloe."

My legs refused to obey any urge to run. For all I knew, cameras were hidden in every corner of this place. Running without understanding the layout would be foolish.

"Fine," I murmured, my voice tight. "I won't move."