09:20 Wed, Dec 11

Chapter 256 Threads of Deception and Revenge

I instinctively stood up, but Carter quickly warned me in a low voice, afraid I might step out.

Maybe it was because I felt a connection with her, a kind of empathy as one woman to another. I saw a glimpse of myself in her, and that sudden rush of emotion made me lose control and stand up. But that was all I did—stand up. I couldn’t risk exposing myself to save someone else.

The man was getting closer now. His steps were unhurried, almost casual, and even a faint smile was on his lips. But despite the barrier of the car window, I could feel a chilling sense of dread creeping over me. Tears slowly trickled down the woman’s face. She opened her mouth, her voice soft and trembling. “Please, let me go. I’m begging you.”

The man leaned down, tilting her chin up with his slender hand. His voice was deep and magnetic, laced with mockery. “I prefer it when you beg me in bed, Whitney. Come back with me.” There were faint marks on her neck—kisses, no doubt, left by this man. I could see her body trembling violently. She was terrified of him.

“Come with me now, and I’ll forget everything that happened today,” he said, his tone cold and threatening. “Otherwise…” He trailed off, letting the unspoken warning linger. The woman bit her lip, and even as another woman watched, I couldn’t help but feel my heart ache for her.

The man stretched out his hand toward her. “Whitney, come here.”

“No, I won’t go back!” With a sudden burst of courage, she slapped his hand away and bolted, running with everything she had. Even her retreating figure radiated determination. I silently cheered her on in my heart, hoping she could escape his clutches.

But the next moment, two men in black suits appeared right before her, blocking her path. She froze, her steps faltering, and started retreating step by step. Her back pressed against the man’s chest, and she shuddered violently. She tried to pull away, but he wrapped an arm around her slender waist, holding her tightly against him, leaving no room for escape.

“Whitney,” he said, his voice low and chilling, “welcome home.”

“No.” Her struggles were futile. I watched as the man removed his black wool coat and draped it effortlessly over her shoulders. In the next moment, he picked her up. She looked so small and fragile in his arms, trembling uncontrollably, her face streaked with tears and terror.

A black SUV pulled up, and one of the bodyguards opened the door for him. Holding her tightly, the man got into the car with her. As the vehicle drove away, I realized I had gripped Carter’s arm so tightly that my fingers were cramping. I slowly let go.

“Carter, I can’t imagine what’s waiting for that woman once she’s back with him. But judging by the man’s attire and demeanor, he’s likely someone from a wealthy family. He doesn’t seem familiar.” I’d been part of this circle for over two decades and had at least some impression of most of the upper-class elites in town. Someone with his bearing should stand out, yet I couldn’t place him.

“If you’re worried about her, I can look into it,” Carter offered calmly.

“Yeah. I just hope she doesn’t get hurt.” I didn’t even know why, but for someone I’d just met, I couldn’t help but feel a pang of anxiety for her.

Just then, a familiar figure appeared in the crowd. It was Anna! She wore a fox mask on her face and carried a little rabbit lantern in one hand. Beside her stood a tall man I immediately recognized—it was Silas, the Hudsons’ servant, and the one who had killed me. His sharp, ruthless eyes softened noticeably when he looked at Anna, and her gaze toward him was different, too—there was something there. Silas held a few trinkets, probably things he’d bought from the night market.

I was taken aback. Both Carter and I had expected Anna to be plotting her next move. But here she was, simply out on a date with a man. On such a cold night, neither of them got into a car. Even after leaving the night market, they walked longer, Silas trailing behind Anna like her shadow. Then, Anna took the initiative to hold his hand. Silas seemed a little surprised, maybe even shy. She guided him up a flight of steps, holding his hand for support. Following her instructions, Silas removed the mask from his face. The moment the mask came off, Anna leaned in and kissed him. Silas’s hands tightened slightly around her waist as he pulled her closer. If it weren’t for knowing how much blood these two had on their hands, anyone watching would’ve found the scene breathtakingly romantic. But knowing their past and their true nature, all I felt was disgust. I took out my phone and captured the scene.

“I never would’ve guessed Anna’s feelings were for him,” I said bitterly.

Suddenly, it all made sense. For all his irresponsibility, Luke wasn’t the real reason Anna had been so desperate to cling to him. It had never been about love. From the beginning, it was about aligning the Sanders with the Boltons. Carter’s fingers tapped rhythmically on the armrest as he said, “If that’s true, then we can’t even be sure whose child she’s carrying.”

“You’re saying it might not even be Luke’s?”

“It’s a possibility,” he replied calmly.

I clenched my fists. “Anna really has everyone dancing in the palm of her hand. She’s using a child as bait to drag everyone into her web.”

“It’s not just her,” Carter mused. “This elaborate scheme can’t be pulled off by one person. She has a team working behind her. If you think about it, your so-called accident at sea might not have been an accident at all. Someone tampered with the ship to get rid of you.”

A chill ran down my spine. The more I thought about it, the more horrifying it became. Without us even realizing it, a hidden force had infiltrated our lives—killing me, drugging Luke, and systematically trying to take control of both the Sanders and the Boltons.

“Carter, could my sister’s disappearance all those years ago have been part of this?” I felt cold all over as I recalled the past. “She was only five years old at the time. The bodyguards were supposed to stay with us, but somehow, we got separated. What if she wasn’t accidentally pushed into the river but deliberately thrown in?”

“It’s possible,” Carter said. “The plan to replace her may have been set in motion from the start. A child her age would’ve been an easy target.”

“If that’s the case, they must have done more during the years she was missing. It can’t just end with her disappearance!”

Carter placed his hand gently over mine. “What’s done is done. But it’s not too late yet. There’s still a chance to fix everything.”

“I may have been reborn,” I said, trembling, “but my sister’s fate is still unknown. She’s so pitiful. Why did she have to be sacrificed like this?”

“Chloe, don’t lose hope,” he said softly. “There’s a chance she’s still alive.”

“Alive?” I whispered bitterly. “In the hands of monsters like that, even living would feel worse than death.” I leaned into Carter’s chest, closing my eyes. “Apart from you, who else can I trust?”

“Then trust me,” he said firmly. “Close your eyes, cover your ears. Don’t look. Don’t listen. Leave everything to me.”

“Alright.”

“Don’t let it consume you. You’ve already planned to expose Anna at her wedding, right? Her wedding is just a few days away.”

“Yes,” I said, my voice cold and determined. “Evil will always face its retribution. That day will be her reckoning. She’ll pay for everything she’s done. Trust me, the truth always comes out in the end. The net of justice may be vast, but it never lets anyone…”