Chapter 318: Return to Zoey’s Body

Philippa shielded her face, tears streaming down her cheeks. In a broken voice, she whispered, “She’s gone. She has long left this world.”

Bill stood motionless, his expression vacant. He struck himself painfully. “This is my fault, not hers. I failed both you and your daughter.”

Carter, appearing restless, spoke with concern. “Philippa, I understand Ms. Gardner’s pain, but right now, the only thing we can do is keep her body here. We can’t let her body be separated from Chloe for too long, or it might lead to further problems.”

At his words, Philippa wiped her tears, her voice trembling. “What do you want me to do? How can Chloe’s soul just leave her body like this?”

“In essence, this body still belongs to Ms. Gardner, but Chloe’s soul and her body are not fully connected. For reasons beyond their control, Chloe’s soul is at risk of separating. Right now, we need to secure her soul and ensure it stays within Ms. Gardner’s body.”

“Since you both are Ms. Gardner’s parents, you must make a blood oath to recognize her.”

Philippa nodded in understanding. Over the past few days, we had formed a bond—she pitied me for being abandoned by my real parents, and I sympathized with her for the neglect she suffered from her husband. We no longer felt like strangers. She readily agreed, “Alright, let’s get started.”

Turning to Bill, who seemed lost in thought, she nudged him. “What are you still doing there? I don’t care what you think. Whether it’s Zoey or Chloe, they’re both my daughters. You’ll help, whether you like it or not. If you refuse, I’ll tie you up and make you bleed for her.”

Bill met my gaze, his eyes red. “Did Zoey say anything before she left?”

I replied calmly, “She asked me to look after Philippa for her.”

He asked again, “Did she say anything about me?”

“No.” Noticing the sadness in Bill’s eyes, I gently added, “But don’t worry. Zoey never hated you. She was just disappointed in you.”

After hearing this, Bill’s guilt deepened. “I would have preferred if she hated me. That silly child… it’s my fault, but she’ll never hear me apologize.” He lowered his head, his shoulders heavy with regret. “Chloe, did she willingly let you take over her body?”

“The first time I entered, it was by chance. The second time, she accepted me. She wanted me to finish what she couldn’t.”

Bill looked at me once more. “Since it’s her wish, I’ll give you my blood.”

With the tension easing, Carter let out a relieved sigh. “No need to delay any longer. Let’s begin now.”

To be honest, having experienced death and returned, I thought nothing could faze me. Yet, at this moment, a trace of unease crept in.

“What should we do, Carter?” Philippa asked, her voice carrying a hint of anxiety.

Sensing her worry, Carter spoke calmly to reassure her. “Don’t worry. It’s simple; just press a drop of blood from your fingertip onto Ms. Gardner’s forehead.”

As Carter spoke, he moved the wheelchair closer and gently placed the Soul-Stabilizing Pendant around Zoey’s neck. My ashes are in this stone; it seems they’re trying to bind my soul to it as a master.

Philippa carefully pressed a drop of blood from her fingertip onto Zoey’s forehead. Meanwhile, Bill, still lost in thought, cut his finger, letting the blood drip freely as if in a daze. Seeing this, Philippa gave him a firm nudge, snapping him back to reality. He let the blood fall precisely on the same spot as Philippa’s. Blood stained the small red mark on Zoey’s forehead.

At that moment, Carter’s voice broke the silence, calling out, “Chloe, return to us.”

In the past, no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t possess Zoey’s body. Perhaps it had something to do with the Soul-Stabilizing Pendant. But this time, as I hovered nearby, an unseen power drew me back into Zoey’s body.

For a brief second, my mind seemed to drift away. When I regained awareness, my eyes locked onto Philippa’s worried expression.

“Mom,” I murmured.

Philippa pulled me into a tight embrace. “You’re finally awake. You gave me such a fright,” she said, her voice trembling.

Bill sat silently nearby, his gaze fixed on me, distant and unfocused.