I knew I shouldn''t be so pessimistic, always thinking of the worst-case scenarios.


    Zoey would be fine. She had to be fine.


    But no matter how much I tried tofort myself, the image of that snowy night when Ss drove a knife into me kept reying in my mind. Back then, I never imagined something like that could happen.


    The door creaked open, and Han stepped out, ncing around. "Where''s Janice?"


    "She went back," Carter replied.


    "Back? That woman left me again!" Han stomped his foot in anger.


    Perhaps he sensed Zoey''s change and was growing uneasy.


    Without saying more, he rushed off, and Carter followed him.


    Left alone, I stared at the leftovers fromst night''s takeout on the table.


    Zoey''s words reyed in my mind.


    "May you guys live long and happy lives."


    She had already prepared herself to face death.


    Knowing full well the danger ahead, she still chose to walk into the lion''s den. She wanted to eliminate all the threats for me.


    My fists clenched tightly and the nails dug into my palms until I felt a sharp pain.


    A storm of hatred brewed in my heart.


    Why was the world so unfair?


    The wicked roamed free, livingfortably, while the good suffered and died young.


    Whitney was still trapped in her nightmare, and I had narrowly escaped death at Amber''s hands.


    It wasn''t supposed to be this way!


    Carter wanted to rewrite fate. Zoey was willing to take the hit for me to survive.


    But the ones who deserved death were Amber and the Carlyn brothers.


    A surge of resentment engulfed me, spreading through every corner of my soul.


    I had to do something. I couldn''t just let others shield me while I stood idly by.


    I began reviewing every detail from the moment of my death up until now.


    Whitney had mentioned that the Sanders residence was rigged with bombs. Aside from the chip, her family was also being used to control her.novelbin


    My first step was to relocate the Sanders and question Grandma about the truth behind the Carlyns'' ims.


    Second, I needed to uncover the true story of Carter''s biological mother. Who was she and was she dead?


    Why did Yael refuse to call Amber "mom," yet Amber showed such kindness to her nephew?


    What kind of entanglement did Carter''s mother have with his father?


    Most importantly, I needed to find out where Whitney''s chip was hidden and remove it safely before Taylor had a chance to detonate it.


    As I cleared the table, these thoughts raced through my mind. I couldn''t allow myself to be a burden to them.


    "I''ll take care of this. You should rest.


    I''ve already arranged for a doctor to check your throatter," Carter said


    as he returned after seeing Han


    off


    His demeanor had steadied significantly. The wild, forlorn look from the night before was gone.


    Noticing my concern for Zoey, he


    added, "I''ll make sure Zoey stays safe. Don''t worry too much. Everyone knows Mrs. Pearson


    adores Whitney. If anything Dens


    vel.


    to her at the Carlyns'' ce, suspicion will fall on them immediately. Their base is likely in Jaford, and they''re more afraid of drawing unwanted attention than we are. Zoey''s identity makes her the least likely to raise suspicion-she might actually pull off something extraordinary."


    He quickly tidied the table, then gently patted my head. "Don''t be afraid, Chloe. I''ll always stand by


    you. No matter whose blood ru


    through my veins, I''ll never


    swneverne


    acknowledge them as my family."


    I gestured to him, "You''re not dirty. You''re purer than anyone."


    "I''ll make you some breakfast," he said, picking up the trash bag and heading to the kitchen.


    The house fell into a serene calm, but I knew it was quiet before the storm.


    One way or another, we would face off against the Carlyns eventually.


    Feeling stifled, I stepped outside for some fresh air.


    The garden was in full bloom, vibrant and colorful. Jaford''s perpetual springtime made the nts here flourish.


    A gentle breeze carried the fragrance of flowers, soothing my mood.


    My gaze fell on a small potted nt in the garden.


    It was the Bodhi tree and it was still in the same pot.


    I remembered when Carter brought this nt home. I had watered it a few times myself.


    It was just a nt-why had he brought it all the way to Jaford?


    A thought crossed my mind, and suddenly, everything clicked.


    I rushed over to the Bodhi tree.


    Jaford''s climate had been kind to it, and tiny fruits had started to grow, their green skins tinged with a faint blush of pink.


    Squatting down, I carefully sifted through the soil.


    Beneath the dirt, nestled in the pot, was a pitch-ck Stone of Duality.


    No wonder I hadn''t found it in any of the ces I had searched.


    He had hidden it right under my nose.


    I recalled the small wounds on his hands that he always brushed them off as idents. He had been nurturing this nt with his blood!


    Fortunately, Amber''s interference led me to discover his secret before his n could seed.


    I was about to bury the stone back when I felt someone standing behind me.


    Carter''s cold voice sounded above me, "Chloe, what are you doing?"


    My heart skipped a beat.