Loved You Once But He's My Forever

She grabbedby the collar and hissed, "Why aren't you wearing it anymore?"

It was clear that her concern for Carter far outweighed any affection she had for her own son.

The ravioli she once made for Yael had left a lasting impression on him, but over the years, she had prepared

countless meals for Carter herself.

When Carter struggled with mobility, she sent Damian to take care of him.

And Carter's smooth rise in a foreign country? It was obvious she'd been pulling strings behind the scenes.

| had gambled and | had won.

With a smile, | said, "Amber, | should thank you. If it weren't for you tellingabout the Stone of Duality, |

would never have known Carter was willing to risk his life for me." Her expression darkened. "What are you

getting at?"

"Well," | said, letting the suspense linger, "since you know about the Stone of Duality, you should also know that

the stones remain effective for eighty-one days. Care to guess why I'm no longer wearing mine?" Her pupils

dilated, and | delivered the revelation slowly, savoring every word. "Obviously, the tis up. | don't need to

wear it anymore because Carter and | have already swapped fates."

"D*mn it!" Amber exploded. Her fury propelled her forward, and she raised her hand to strike me.

| caught her wrist mid-air and turned the knife she was holding toward my chest.

"Amber, isn't this what you've wanted all along? To kill me? Well, here's your chance. Lethelp you."

| spoke without a shred of fear. "But just so you know, Carter and | have exchanged fates. If you stab me, | might

only suffer a severe injury, while Carter... Well, who knows what might happen to him?" Her hand trembled

violently. It was clear she understood the consequences. Amber was more familiar with the Stone of Duality than

anyone.

| stood up, and this tit was her turn to retreat, step by step.

She was scared-terrified because hurtingmeant Carter would have to pay the price.

| advanced toward her, slowly and deliberately. "Amber, isn't this what you wanted? What are you hesitating for?

Showwhat you've got."

Amber was frozen, clearly unprepared forto seize the upper hand so thoroughly.

Her dark eyes burned with icy hatred, the kind that seemed sharp enough to cut a person to pieces. But it was

laced with helplessness, and that was what gavejoy.

So this was what it felt like to be the villain. I liked it. | loved how she desperately wanted to get rid ofbut

couldn't.

"Amber," | taunted, "your hands are shaking. Are you low on calcium? Wantto help? I've already died once-

I've got experience."

| easily pried the knife from her hand and pressed the blade against my side, just above my kidney.

"This spot here? That's where Silas stabbedclean through the other night. But your knife? It probably

couldn't even pierce me."

Amber's expression hardened. She finally realized that | had cto Carlyn Residence with a purpose.

"What do you want?" she demanded.

I had her backed against the couch, and she fell into it with a thud.

Looking down at her, | let my smile widen. "I want a lot of things, Amber. Do you think you can give them to

me?"

"Don't callthat!" she snapped.

"But I'm Carter's wife, and we're one unit. As his aunt, it's only polite forto address you by name."

Amber's eyes widened in shock. "You both know?"

"Of course," | replied lightly. "And | should thank you. If it weren't for your care over the years, Carter wouldn't

have achieved what he has."

| reached out and gently touched her face. Her features were nothing like Peter's. It was clear she had gone to

great lengths to conceal her true identity.

While she was lost in thought, | took advantage of the moment and tore away her human-skin mask.

"Ah! Chloe!"

I might have used too much force, causing her sdiscomfort.

"Sorry, Amber, | didn't mean to be rough."

Despite my apology, there wasn't a shred of remorse in my voice.

| bent closer to her, lowering my voice. "Amber, what are you so afraid of? You have such a stunning face-why

hide it?"

Beneath the mask was a face with exotic features: a high nose bridge, deep-set eyes, and strikingly dark

eyebrows.

But what stood out most were her jet-black pupils, unlike the usual brown.

A thought flashed through my mind. Could she be Carter's mother's twin sister?

"Chloe, don't get too full of yourself," she hissed.

Grabbing my wrist, she threwonto the couch. Her hand clamped around my jaw, her expression twisted with

malice. "Even if I don't kill you, | have a hundred ways to make your life hell. Who do you think you're messing

with?" "You and Carter swapped fates, didn't you? As long as | leave you barely alive, he'll be fine. Do you know

what it's like to be imprisoned? Locked in a tiny, dark room with no way out? | could keep you like a dog,

breaking you bit by bit." | stared directly into her eyes. She was unraveling, trying to mask her emotions with

threats.

"Why don't you try and see how that ends?"

Amber scrutinized me. "What are you implying?"

"I should thank you for your arrangement," | replied with a faint smile. "They gavethe inspiration | needed

after Silas and Sheila's deaths. Want to guess how I'd choose to go out?"

At my words, she abruptly let go of me, as if afraid | might be rigged with explosives.

"You've only just clawed your way back to life. You wouldn't throw it away so easily."

"Why not? In this second chance, I've found warmth through Carter and even reunited with my long-lost sister. |

have no regrets. Besides, if die, Carter will go down withIsn't that perfect? In life, we couldn't be a loving

couple, but in the

afterlife, we can finally be together."

| toyed with the blood-stained dagger in my hand, adopting a wistful expression. "Living is exhausting.

Constantly watching out for your schemes and assassination attempts-it's not worth it. Amber, if you want me

dead so badly, why don't you be the one to do it? Just aim for my heart and make it quick."

Amber's fury flared, her eyes practically spitting fire. "Do you think | don't have the guts to kill you?"

"Then go ahead. | won't dodge. I've already died once; what's there to fear? Just make sure Carter and | are

buried together. And when you visit his grave, don't forget to pay your respects totoo..." "Shut up! Who

would visit you?!" she snapped, even angrier now.

"Sorry, my bad It's just that Carter and | don't have any children, and | don't have any other family. You're his

aunt, so | thought I'd treat you as one of my own. If | die and things go

wrong, | might even haunt you. T

Amber, I'll cling to you forever."

"Don't you dare!"

Her anger boiled over. "What the hell do you want? Just spit it out already!"

Since her cards were on the table, there was no need to beat around the bush anymore.

| gave her a faint smile. "First, remove the chip from Whitney's body."

"Second, | want to take Whitney away."

"And third, tellthe whole truth."

She glared atcoldly. "You've got quite the imagination, don't you?"

Feigning innocence, | replied, "Amber, we're family. You can't even grantthese small requests? Then what's

the point of living? | might as well just die." Spinning the dagger in my hand, I lightly pointed it at my chest.

"How about | aim here?"