Chapter 97 CARTER IS DEAD
Carter panted, staring at the bright sun. He couldn’t help but feel happy. Two months he had been beaten, his bones broken. He reached for the phone booth and dropped in some coins.
“Hello, please leave a message,” the recorded voice came through.
“Meet me at Stanley Rivers… two hours. I have something to tell you!” he said, then hung up.
He walked out, his stomach rumbling. He was hungry, but he had no cash and couldn’t afford anything. He licked his lips and then froze.
A man and a woman from afar were staring at him. “Isn’t that Carter?”
He froze, then immediately moved away. He couldn’t get caught. He stayed hidden for a moment, then finally started moving again.
He trekked until he reached the building and spotted his secretary. He moved toward her but froze the moment he saw the police. He ducked behind a pillar, hiding.
“You said you have information!” one of the officers demanded. His secretary nodded. Carter stared in anger. He had promoted this woman, he couldn’t help glaring at her. All he felt was the urge to claw her face. He bit his lower lip, bitterness and murderous intent simmering in his eyes.
He waited, watching as she showed a credit transaction to the officer and two more other officers came out carrying boxes.
He was a wanted man now. He checked his worn-out watch and knew he couldn’t stay here any longer.
RIVERSIDE
Carter sank into a wooden chair, staring at the fish gliding through the water. He glanced at his watch again and tilted his face to the hot sun.
“That bitch still isn’t here!” he cursed, glaring at the water. “She annoys me… bossy bitch!”
“That’s a nice name,” a voice said. Carter spun around to see a figure wearing glasses.
“Boss!” he said with flattery. She rolled her eyes. “Stop with the flattery. Get to the point—”
“Well, I nee-”
“How did you end up like this?” she interrupted, scanning him from head to toe and Carter’s gaze darkened.
“Transfer two million to my account right now, and get me some food. Then I’ll tell you everything,” he said desperately, but his tone still carried scorned pride.
She laughed, folding her arms. “Since when did the Almighty Carter become a beggar? But… slavery does look good on you.” She started to turn and leave.
But Carter’s next words froze her.
“What did you say?” she asked.
“Celina is alive, that bitch… she set me and Giselle up. She’s coming for everyone - everything that destroyed her!” Carter’s smile widened.
The figure’s expression changed. She removed her glasses, her gaze suddenly serious. “What do you mean?” she asked.
“The money and the food,” he replied.
An hour later, a pizza sat on the table, along with a chilled drink. Carter dug in immediately, hungrily, like a starving animal.
“What the hell happened to you?” she asked.
“That bitch happened to me. Two months, eating rotten meals,” he growled, his eyes filled with rage and killing intent.
“I don’t care what you went through, spill now,” she said. Carter slammed the pizza onto the plate in anger. He licked his lips and glared at her.
“You are one deadly bitch… I wonder how she’ll feel when she finds out,” he said. The figure slammed her fist onto the table.
“I didn’t ask you to lecture me, Carter! Spill or I won’t send the two million!”
Carter sighed, his gaze serious. “She’s super rich, and she looks different. She also has the backing of someone… probably mafia. She’s…”
“What!” the figure exclaimed, standing up. She burst into fresh laughter. “Are you trying to trick me for money?”
He sighed. “Erica is Celina!”
“She looks nothing like her!”
“Exactly. That’s what I thought at first, but she kept emphasizing sex tapes, victims... something wasn’t right...." He paused "She told me herself she was Erica, and asked how she looked now.” Carter’s words hung in the air.
The figure’s panic disappeared. She was calculating, thinking.
“Why aren’t you panicking?” Carter asked.
“If Erica is Celina, I can deal with that,” she said softly, a small chuckle escaping. “What a small world… I didn’t sense anything was wrong when I met her.” She licked her lips, a slight smile forming.
She reached for her bag and swirled around to leave, but Carter jolted up.
“Transfer the money!” he demanded.
“Fool!” she spat, removing her glasses. “Do you really think I would give you money? Carter, I wasn’t the one who left an easy route for Celina to destroy you!”
He laughed and reached for the knife on the table, but froze. A gun was pointed at his head.
The bodyguard moved closer and Carter could only stay frozen.
“Do you think Celina won’t find out? She’ll kill you!” he yelled, laughing like a maniac. The figure’s smile curved upwards.
“I ended Celina once. Who said I can’t do it again?” she paused, staring at him with false pity.
“But you… I’m sorry, I can’t keep you alive. I wouldn’t want Celina finding me out.”
“After everything… ur-”
A bullet slammed into his brain. Carter froze, blood trickling down as his body collapsed into the riverbank behind him.
“Sorry, but only the dead can keep secrets,” she said.
“Should we get rid of the body?” the bodyguards asked, staring at the lifeless man.
“No. Leave traces he was killed here,” she said, turn
ing her back and walking away.
“Celina… Erica. I can’t believe this. I’ll finish you off this time.”