Even after Her Death (Chloe and Luke) novel Chapter 414

When had he gotten here? It was too late to hide now.

I stood up casually, holding the Stone of Duality in my hand. "What's this?" I mouthed.

When confronted, the best defense isn't to explain yourself but to seize the initiative and throw the question back.

As expected, Carter's eyes flickered with a trace of panic when he met my questioning gaze.

Using the chance, I pulled out the piece hanging around my neck and fitted it together with the one in my hand. In black and white, the positive and negative teardrop-shaped pieces formed a perfect circle.

I grabbed his hand and demanded an explanation.

I wondered if he would tell me the truth.

After all, in his mind, we had already swapped fates successfully.

The eighty-one days of the ritual weren't up until midnight tonight, so he hadn't had time to deal with this stone before I confronted him.

My gaze grew more suspicious by the second, and finally, he sighed in resignation. "Chloe, I lied to you."

Was he going to admit it now?

"The Soul-Stabilizing Pendant I gave you wasn't just one piece," he said.

Feigning confusion, I looked at him, and he continued, "The pendant has two parts."

The moment he mentioned the Soul-Stabilizing Pendant, I knew he wasn't being honest. He had no intention of telling me the full truth.

"At the time, I didn't want you to worry, so I didn't tell you. Besides needing Zoey's parents' blood, my own blood was also required. I've been hiding this piece of the stone to keep you from finding out. But don't worry—its purpose was only for the ritual, which lasts for eighty-one days. Now that your soul is stabilized, you don't need to wear it anymore."

Liar!

Carter, since when were you so skilled at lying?

If I hadn't uncovered your secret, were you planning to keep it from me until the day you died?

He had shifted all my misfortunes onto himself in the shadows.

Even if fate changed and his death seemed like an accident, no one would ever suspect it was due to these two stones.

He intended to keep me in the dark forever, so I could live on without burden.

One day, I would move on from the pain of losing him.

This body was only 20 years old. I have a long life ahead of me—someday, I'll fall in love with someone else, get married, and have children.

I'll grow old with my family surrounding me and live a long, carefree life until the end of my days.

Meanwhile, his mission would be complete, leaving behind only a lonely grave before he reincarnated.

Carter, what a meticulous plan you've crafted!

I threw myself into his arms, my sorrow was misinterpreted as believing his lie about the Soul-Stabilizing Pendant.

He gently stroked the back of my head. "It's okay. It's just a few drops of blood every few days—it's not painful."

Thinking of everything he had silently done for me while still trying to comfort me, my chest tightened with an unbearable ache, as though tiny silver needles were pricking my heart.

Gripping the fabric of his shirt tightly, I let my tears soak into his collar.

Carter wiped them away tenderly. "Don't cry. I'm your husband—it's my duty to protect you."

Just then, the sound of the iron gate opening broke the moment. He smiled at me. "That must be the doctor. If they see you like this, they'll think I bullied you."

Sniffling, I used my sleeve to wipe my tears.

No matter which lifetime it was, he always treated me with such gentleness.

I was such a fool! How could I forget about him and date Luke?

I had wasted 20 years for good!

The doctor who entered was a stranger to me.

He was a tall man in a white coat, with a quality black shirt peeking out beneath it. He had a high nose bridge and wore silver-framed glasses.