Even after Her Death (Chloe and Luke) novel Chapter 18

Chapter 18 I Dreamt that Chloe Was Dead 

The following morning, the Sanders arrived to take Anna home from the hospital. 

I noticed my parents looked exhausted, likely from a lack of sleep, probably due to their concern for Anna’s health. 

“Mom, Dad, didn’t you get enough rest?” 

My mom massaged her temples, “That troublesome girl, Chloe, has been stirring up too much chaos lately, and now I’m having nightmares because of her.” 

“You dreamt about Chloe too?” my dad asked, looking at my mom in disbelief. 

Even Luke, who was getting ready to leave for work, paused. 

“Yeah, remember how that girl faked her death before? I dreamt she actually died this time.” 

It’s not unusual for one person to have this kind of dream, but it’s a bit odd when multiple people experience the same dream at the same time. 

Suddenly, Anna spoke up, “Could it be that Chloe…” 

Luke quickly cut her off, “That’s impossible! Chloe can’t be dead!” 

Anna quickly remarked, “Luke, you’re mistaken. I was actually thinking about why Chloe chose Cloudville, a place known for its cult activity, instead of somewhere else. I’ve heard that some cultists on the border use dark rituals to harm others. Lately, none of you have been at peace, and I almost died yesterday. Could it be that Chloe…” 

My mom slammed her hand on the table, “No wonder I can’t sleep at night. Did that girl curse us with some evil spell?” 

My dad quickly tried to calm my mom down. He was easily swayed and usually let her make all the decisions at home. It was uncommon for him to speak up for me, “In the end, we’re family. Why would we want to harm her? Plus, all of that is just outdated superstition, nothing to take seriously.” 

A few people helped Anna out of the hospital. As they were leaving, I could still hear Anna’s voice, lightly teasing, “Mom, I was just joking. Don’t think too much of it.” 

My mom responded, “When that girl comes back, I’ll have a serious talk with her.” 

I trailed behind Luke, noticing the concern etched on his face. He appeared unfocused throughout the day. 

Things didn’t get better. In fact, they worsened. Every night, he would wake up from nightmares, soaked in sweat. 

My phone remained out of service. He tried to book a flight to Cloudville, but either the flights were canceled due to bad weather or all the tickets were sold out. 

As my grandma’s birthday approached, he eventually abandoned the idea altogether. 

Just like the Sanders, he was convinced I would return for my grandma’s birthday. 

But unfortunately, I wasn’t able to make it back. 

12:05 PM 

Chapter 19 Human–skin Bible 

Chapter 19 Human–skin Bible 

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Grandma’s condition was getting worse, so the Sanders was getting ready for a birthday celebration to wish her well. 

Luke took Anna to an auction with the plan of purchasing an antique with a positive meaning for Grandma. 

Anna leaned close to Luke and murmured, “I heard Ornate Pavilion has some great items.” 

Luke had been struggling with sleep lately, his face showing signs of exhaustion and his eyes appearing dull. 

He responded, “Yeah, I’ll get you whatever you want.” 

“You’re the best, Luke.” 

While Anna spoke, she attempted to cuddle closer to him. He reached out, gripping her arm, his eyes filled with caution. 

“Why worry? It’s completely dark here, no one can see us,” Anna murmured softly. 

Luke firmly replied, “That’s enough.” 

“Luke… Anna pressed against his arm with impatience. 

“The auction is about to begin. Look around and see if anything catches your eye,” Luke said, trying to change the subject. 

From a distance, I noticed someone snapping a photo of the two being intimate. 

Who could it be? 

This isn’t the first time. I’ve observed over the past few days that someone has been tailing Luke. 

Whenever he’s with Anna, this person takes photos. Anna didn’t realize that she had been captured in hundreds of photos. 

Who could it be? Is this someone trying to destroy Luke’s family? 

Whoever it is, if they can reveal the secret between Luke and Anna on my behalf, they are my ally! 

Ornate Pavilion is an underground auction venue where you can discover all sorts of rare and unusual items, whether visible or hidden. 

I’ve been here before, but for some reason, today I felt a strange sense of unease. 

It didn’t take long to understand why. 

The first item on the auction’s big screen was a heavyweight treasure beaded bracelet, a Sacred Nine–eyed bracelet. 

The masked auctioneer on the side explained that this beaded bracelet features two Nine–eyed beads from the ancient kingdom, which were consecration by priests and are believed to protect against evil and bring good fortune. 

Hearing that it could provide protection and good luck, Anna quickly leaned in and whispered to Luke, “Luke, you’ve been feeling uneasy lately. Why not bid on this bracelet?” 

Luke stared intently at the bracelet, feeling an inexplicable urge within him to place a bid. 

After the auctioneer’s description, many of the wealthy attendees were already intrigued. 

Besides the bead collectors, many were drawn by the allure of old superstitions. 

A woman in a peplum dress carried a tray. As she lifted the black cloth, I was instantly captivated by a powerful force. 

“Ah!” 

I wasn’t sure what was coming next. All I felt was a sudden darkness before my eyes, and then my body seemed to vanish. When I opened my eyes again, I found myself in a dimly lit VIP seat with a bidding sign raised.