Evertel Even Stel Her Death Chapter 422: End It

I caught a glimpse of my reflection in Amber’s dark pupils—a twisted, manic grin spread wide across my face. “You’re insane,” she hissed.

I tilted my head, a mocking smile playing on my lips. “Insane? Weren’t you the ones who drove me to this point, Amber? You orchestrated this grand drama, dragging me into the feud between the Carlyns and the Sanders. Why? What did I ever do to deserve this? In my past life, I spent years in depression before dying a horrible death. Even in death, I had no peace. My bones were shattered, my skin flayed, my body reduced to fragments.”

I laughed, but tears welled in my eyes, streaming down my face. I stepped closer to her, one deliberate step at a time, until there was no distance left between us.

“Do you know what death is like? I was abandoned by the world—no one heard my cries. My family stood within reach, but I couldn’t speak, couldn’t scream. I could only watch as my killers walked away, free and unpunished.”

I locked eyes with her, my voice trembling with rage and despair. “Whitney was only five when you took her. You tortured her, shattered her innocence, and scarred her soul. What gave you the right? We never harmed anyone, yet this is the fate you forced upon us. Who granted you the power to decide who lives and who dies? If you’re so intent on killing me, then here I am. Do it. Kill me now.”

I pressed the knife into her hand and guided it to my chest, over my heart. “Go on. Stab me. End it.”

The knife clattered to the floor as she shoved me away, storming up the stairs without another word. Her retreating figure screamed of desperation, like someone fleeing a battle already lost. Amber was unraveling; the situation had spun completely out of her control.

When she disappeared, I let out a shaky breath, wiping the tears from my face. I collapsed onto the couch, utterly drained. But in the end, I had won. I’d gambled, and I’d won. Thank God Carter had uncovered the truth about their relationship. It seemed Amber cared about Carter more than she did about Yael and Taylor. Once again, Carter had saved me.

At least now, I had nothing to fear from the Carlyns. Thinking of Yael, who had been dragged away earlier, I headed down to the basement.

A sharp crack of a whip hitting flesh echoed through the air. The door was slightly ajar. Pushing it open, I saw Yael crouched in the corner, arms wrapped around his head. For such a tall, imposing man, he looked utterly defeated. He didn’t resist, didn’t struggle—just like Taylor before him. Yael could have easily dodged the glass Amber had thrown at him earlier, but he hadn’t.

This family was a tragedy. The mother wasn’t a mother, and the sons weren’t sons. Yael was wearing a plain white T-shirt, its back torn open to reveal raw, bloody wounds. His shirt was ripped apart, the damage grotesque. And yet, aside from clutching his head, he made no move to defend himself.

My mind flashed back to the first time I saw him—crouched under a tree, his arms wrapped around his head in the same way.

I stepped forward, my voice cold. “Haven’t you had enough?”

The tall man in black didn’t even glance at me, raising the whip for another strike. I didn’t dare attack him recklessly. Instead, I knelt beside Yael, wrapping my arms around him, just as I used to when we were kids.

The man hesitated. Without a word, he dropped the whip and left. Yael turned to me, his eyes lighting up with a fragile, hopeful glimmer. “Chloe, you’re here.”

“Why didn’t you dodge?” I demanded.

His gaze drifted into the distance, his voice soft and resigned. “There’s no point. I can’t escape.” It sounded like he wasn’t just talking about the beating but his entire life—his fate, his bond with Amber. No matter how far he ran, he would always be her son—blood ties can’t be severed.

“Come on. Let’s get you out of here.”

I helped him to his feet and guided him back to his bedroom. True to his word, he’d replaced the sheets with brand-new ones, decorated with pink bunnies. Ignoring his injuries, he pulled out a pair of matching pink bunny slippers and handed them to me with a shy smile. “Chloe, I prepared these for you. And a fresh towel too.”

“Where’s the first-aid kit?” I asked.

“Right here,” he said eagerly, handing it to me. His eyes sparkled like a child showing off a treasure. “Chloe, are you going to patch me up? I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you. How did you get away? She didn’t hurt you, did she?”

I shook my head. “I’m fine…”

He took off his shirt, revealing a back so battered it was hard to look at. The way he moved so casually suggested this wasn’t his first punishment. Suddenly, I remembered the ointment he used on me back on the island. Could it have been his scar removal cream? With injuries like this, scars were inevitable, yet his back bore only fresh wounds. I couldn’t help but wonder how many times he had endured this kind of excruciating pain.

In a soft voice, I asked, “Does she hit you often?”

“When we were younger, it happened a lot more. It’s not as bad now that we’re older,” Yael replied.

“Why does she hit you?”

A bitter smile flickered across his face. “Because she hates our father. She hates us even more for sharing his blood. Just being born was a sin in her eyes, and every day we live is another day we have to atone.”

I was stunned. The Sanders had been cruel to me, but that was due to Wisteria’s manipulations. At one point, they had genuinely cared about me. But Amber? She had been hurting her children since they were small and fed them this twisted ideology. No wonder Yael seemed so strange.

I began treating his wounds. “Why don’t you leave her?”

“Leave?” Yael’s voice was soft but firm. “Chloe, I’ve always longed for my mother’s love. But from as early as I can remember, all I’ve ever seen in her eyes is disgust. She calls me a wretched little monster, says I should be dead, that I don’t deserve to live.”

He looked at me, his dark eyes shimmering with unshed tears. “Even so, I still want her love. My father died when I was young. If my mother doesn’t want me either, I’ll have no one left in the world.”

It suddenly made sense why his personality was so peculiar—it was all thanks to Amber.

“Can you tell me about your parents?” I asked gently. His guard seemed to lower as he began to open up.

“My dad loved my mom very much, but she didn’t love him. She despised him. And she hated me and Taylor even more for existing.”

“Do you know anything about her family?”

Yael nodded. “You mean the Doltons? She doesn’t acknowledge our connection to them and forbids us from having any contact with them.”

No wonder Amber spent most of her time at the Dolton Residence. Tiffany could act spoiled around her and make demands. It was clear Amber treated Tiffany far better than she ever treated Taylor or Yael.

“How many siblings are there in the Dolton family?” I carefully steered the conversation toward the truth.

Yael wasn’t oblivious. “Chloe, you’re asking about Carter’s mother, aren’t you?”

“Can you tell me about her?”

“I don’t mind, but I don’t know much. I’ve never met her. All I know is that she and my mother were twins. My mother relied on her a lot, but she passed away a long time ago.”

This explained why Yael didn’t know much about the grievances between the Doltons and the Boltons. It seemed Amber had a strong bond with the Doltons. Perhaps her care for Carter stemmed from her late sister—he was her sister’s only child, and Amber might have felt a need to protect her sister’s last living legacy. If that were true, at least I wouldn’t have to worry about Amber harming me.

I finished applying the ointment and tossed the used cotton swabs into the trash. “Don’t let water touch your wounds for the next couple of days.”

“Got it.”

“I’m going to check on Whitney.”

“Chloe, aren’t you afraid of her?” Yael’s wide-eyed disbelief reflected his shock. That I managed to escape from Amber unharmed was a miracle in itself.

“I’m not afraid,” I said simply.

I pushed the door open and headed upstairs. The doors to Taylor and Whitney’s rooms were slightly ajar. Concerned Taylor might be forcing Whitney into something, I didn’t hesitate. I pushed the door open and walked right in.

What I saw stopped me in my tracks. Taylor had one hand gripping Whitney while the other was locked in Whitney’s bite. She bit down so hard it drew blood, refusing to let go.

“Whitney!”

Her eyes lit up at the sight of me. Letting go of Taylor, she ran straight into my arms. “Chloe!”