Chapter 14 He Wanted to Skin Me


    I stood by the bedside, staring at the corpse in front of me. There was no sign of decay, no livor mortis.


    The face was just too pale, like a sick person.


    If the chest wasn''t so still, I would''ve thought he was just taking a nap.


    I''d been holding on to a sliver of hope, thinking that maybe I was just badly injured or stuck in aa-anything that meant I still had a breath left in me.


    If Luke found me in time, maybe he could still save me.''


    But the moment Iid eyes on my own corpse, all hope disappeared.


    I was really, truly dead.


    I sat beside my own corpse, gazing down at my palms. What was I supposed to do now? Was I really going to be stuck like this forever?


    No taste, no smell, and not even a single tear when I tried to cry. So this was what it was like after death?


    No one could hear me. I could see everyone, but no one could see me. I covered my face, crying without tears.


    Then, I heard footsteps-quick, hurried steps, and more than one person.


    The person who walked in had those familiar eyes, but his face was hidden behind another mask, so I still couldn''t see his real face. Following him was a tall, dark-skinned guy dressed in robes.


    "That''s her," the man said, pointing at my body.


    The guy in robes quickly pulled off the white sheet draped over me, exposing my body underneath. I could clearly see the wound on my abdomen.


    My pale skin was slick with ayer of some transparent grease, likely some kind of substance that kept the corpse from showing signs of decay. Seeing the man in robes...


    A bad feeling crept up inside me.


    The dark-skinned man inspected me from head to toe, asionally pressing on my body, almost as if he was testing the sticity of my skin.


    His gaze felt more like he was inspecting merchandise than a person.


    He pointed at the wound on my abdomen and said with a regional ent, "It''s a shame there''s a scar here. Otherwise, we could remove it whole." Remove it whole?


    Was that what I think it meant? He wanted to skin me?


    How was that even possible? This was a society governed by thew.


    But their serious expressions made it obvious they weren''t kidding.


    As the guy got his tools ready and moved closer to me, I screamed with everything I had, "No! Get away!"


    Then everything went ck. When I came to, I was back in a ce I knew.


    It was the Bolton Residence.


    I slumped on the ground, feelingpletely drained, and my mind kept shing back to that guy in robes.


    "Get down!" The old, but stillmanding voice snapped me back to reality.


    It was Luke''s Grandpa, Jeffrey Bolton. I hadn''t seen him in a long time.N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    After his wife died a few years ago, his health and mind had deteriorated significantly. He''d be clear-headed one moment and confused the next.


    To keep him from wandering around and getting lost, he''d been staying in a nursing home for the past few years.


    Thest time I saw him, his mind was like that of a child...


    But now he looked serious andposed, so it seemed like he had regained his senses.


    I rushed up to him in desperation, shouting, "Grandpa, please help me! I''m begging you, don''t let them skin me!"


    But therge room was filled only with his strong, booming voice.


    "On the day of the grand wedding between the Boltons and the Sanders, you left Chloe at the ceremony. Whether her sister lives or dies is not my concern. How can I trust you with the Boltons after such a reckless act?"


    Years ago, Adam insisted on being with She despite Jeffrey''s disapproval. This led to Jeffrey''s deep disappointment in him. Since then, all of his hopes were pinned on Luke.


    Given Luke''s actions, there was no way his grandpa would let him off easy.


    Luke knelt, not daring to argue a word with Jeffrey.


    "We''ll go by family rules."


    Family rules meant a whip. Jeffrey was serious about this.


    "I''ve told you since you were young. The head of the Bolton family must not act recklessly. You must be strict with yourself and stick to the rules. Did you just ignore everything I said?"


    When Luke was a child, he''d been whipped by Jeffrey enough to know how harsh the whip could be. No matter what, Luke was Adam''s son, so he quickly jumped in to plead, "Dad, Luke was just worried about his sister. His actions weren''t right, but you can understand why he did it."


    James was fuming. "Family rules are clear. Rewards and punishments are separate. Like father, like son. Get out of my way."


    "Take off your shirt," Jamesmanded coldly.


    Luke had no choice but toply. His back still bore the faint scars from that night with Anna, but they had faded enough not to raise suspicion.


    James showed no mercy, delivering a harshsh that immediately tore the flesh.


    Anna rushed forward, crying out, "Grandpa, it''s all my fault. If you''re going to punish someone, punish me. I shouldn''t have called my brother."


    That year, after Adam''s wife passed away, Adam insisted on marrying She, which shattered their father-son rtionship.


    Jeffrey, who disliked She, naturally had no fondness for Anna.


    "You''re just like your adoptive mother. Both of you are nothing but seductresses," Jeffrey said, raising his hand to hit Anna.


    Luke quickly shielded Anna, taking the hit himself.


    Another harshshnded on Luke''s back.


    p p p.


    The sound of apuse echoed from behind.


    Damian pushed Carter forward, who had a sneer on his face. "Luke cares so much about Ms. Anna. For those who know, she''s your sister. For those who don''t know, they might think she''s your wife." Everyone''s faces turned pale at those words.


    Luke, who had been stoic during his beating, looked rmed now, as if Carter had seen through everything.


    She, who had been indifferent before, suddenly spoke, "Uncle Carter, you shouldn''t speak out of turn. Anna is an unmarried woman. If this gets out, people will think badly of her. A woman''s reputation is everything." "Oh, so you do understand that a woman''s reputation is everything," Carter said, his words dripping with sarcasm, making Luke uneasy.


    She knelt before James, pleading, "It''s all my fault for not teaching Anna properly. She''s just too dependent on her brother. If anyone should be punished, it should be me. Please, spare the children."


    James was already seething with anger. "Who are you to speak here? I haven''t even acknowledged your ce. You''re not fit to be Mrs. Bolton!"


    "Grandpa, it''se to this. I''ll take responsibility for my actions. It has nothing to do with Aunt She or Anna. If you want to punish someone, punish me," Luke said firmly.


    Carter sneered from the side, "How forgiving and kind-hearted you are, getting along so peacefully with the woman who killed your own mother. No wonder you''re so smitten that you''ve even forgotten your ownst name. "Didn''t you swear you''d rather die than return to the Boltons? What''s with the sudden change of heart today?"


    Carter nced at him indifferently. Luke was still on the ground, while Carter sat calmly.


    Despite his limited mobility, Carter maintained an imposing presence, his demeanor towering over Luke''s.


    "I''ve changed my mind."


    Carter drummed his long fingers on the armrest of his wheelchair and said nonchntly, "Rather than letting the Boltons fall into the hands of someone like you, it''s better to put it in mine." "What did you say?"


    Instantly, everyone''s gaze in the room focused on him.


    Carter maneuvered his wheelchair until he stopped right next to Luke.


    Looking down from his position, Carter met Luke''s gaze. "I''ve had a change of heart, Luke."


    Luke''s face turned pale, panic evident on his features.


    I could sense there was something between Carter and Luke that I wasn''t aware of.


    With a cold, piercing stare, Carter said slowly and clearly, "You didn''t value it, so I''ll take over everything rted to the Boltons from now on."