Chapter 213: That Woman That Night Was You

Chapter 213: That Woman That Night Was You
Tara's POV

I frowned as I inserted the silver needle into the lock. The familiar resistance of the lock core yielded with an almost inaudible click. A familiar cologne lingered in the air—the same scent that had awakened me from my sleep. Someone was deliberately leading me somewhere, and I intended to follow the trail.

The scent grew stronger as I moved silently through the prison corridors, skillfully avoiding the night guards on patrol. Years of training had made stealth my second nature. I slipped past the security checkpoints, following the scent into the night air outside, every sense heightened, alert to every shadow and sound.

The distinctive sandalwood and bergamot notes in the cologne intensified as I advanced. This was no coincidence—someone had deliberately left a scent trail, guiding me forward. Was this really Howard returned from the dead? Or was someone playing an elaborate game?

There was only one way to find out.

I tracked the scent to a narrow alley near the prison. The passage was dark and narrow, the brick walls absorbing almost all of the faint light that filtered through. The scent was particularly strong here, yet the alley appeared empty.

I stood in the center of the narrow passage and smiled coldly into the darkness. "What's wrong, afraid to show your face?" My voice was calm and controlled.

Only silence answered me. The only sounds were the distant hum of traffic and the dripping of a pipe somewhere. But I could feel someone watching—someone observing from the shadows, waiting.

"Blaming everything on Howard Harrison," I continued, my voice echoing softly between the brick walls. "Do you really think I'd believe Howard Harrison is still alive? No matter how well you imitate him, you might fool others, but not me." I raised my voice slightly, "If you really are Howard, then step forward and let me see you with my own eyes!"

Just as I was beginning to lose patience, a voice came from the end of the alley: "Tara, you've actually broken out of prison!"

In that moment, I understood the true intention of this trap. This wasn't about a face-to-face confrontation—it was about adding another charge to my record. Already accused of murder, now I would be charged with prison escape as well. Crime upon crime, making my situation increasingly desperate. No matter how I tried to explain, who would believe me?

Clearly, the mastermind wanted to destroy me completely.

---

"Ms. Taylor, Mr. Carter is here again!" The guard's voice carried a hint of familiarity—Luke had visited every day since my arrest.

"I won't see him," I answered without looking up, remaining seated on the edge of my cell bed.

The guard cleared his throat. "This time he brought Mrs. Carter with him."

I jerked my head up, a string of curses rising in my mind. "Damn it!" I muttered under my breath. Luke knew exactly what he was doing—he had brought the one person I couldn't refuse. I pressed my temples, feeling a headache coming on. "Fine, I'll see them."

As soon as Gloria entered the visiting room, her eyes grew moist. Though elegantly dressed in a pearl-gray suit that complemented her silver hair, the obvious worry lines on her face couldn't be hidden.

"My poor child," she said with a trembling voice, reaching across the table to take my hand. "I should have protected you better. This is all my fault."

Seeing her tears, my heart tightened. If there was one thing I couldn't bear, it was seeing Gloria cry for me.

"I'm really fine. The prison food isn't bad. I've even gained weight." I patted my stomach, trying to reassure her.

Gloria narrowed her eyes. She knew me too well to be fooled by such an obvious deflection. "Don't try to comfort me, dear. Look at you, clearly exhausted." She squeezed my hand. "My poor darling."

The term of endearment sent a bittersweet warmth through me.

"I'm staying here voluntarily," I explained softly. "It's the best way to draw out whoever is behind this. To be honest, Gloria," I leaned forward slightly, "with my abilities, I could leave anytime I wanted."

Gloria's face showed both pride and concern. "Even so, you shouldn't face this alone." She turned completely toward Luke, her voice taking on an unmistakable tone of command: "Luke, I don't care what methods you use, but you must help Tara through this crisis, or I will no longer acknowledge you as my grandson."

Luke responded immediately: "I will find whoever is behind this, Grandmother. Tara and I will uncover the truth together."

I shook my head silently, both amused and exasperated by what seemed like an almost rehearsed exchange between them. I was about to speak when Gloria suddenly stood up.

"Oh! I forgot to take my blood pressure medication this morning." She hurriedly gathered her handbag. "I need to go—you two need to discuss your strategy."

Her excuse was too obvious, and the speed with which she left the room only confirmed my suspicion—this had all been arranged beforehand.

The room held only Luke and me, facing each other. Luke gazed at me, his expression determined. "Get ready, I'm taking you out of here today."

"Out?" I couldn't help but laugh. "I have my own plans. Whether I leave or not is my decision."

Luke ignored my protest. Before I could react, he had already pulled me onto his wheelchair. I stared at him in shock, stunned by his boldness. "Luke, what are you doing?"

"Grandmother asked me to take you away," he stated simply, already maneuvering the wheelchair toward the door.

"Do you know where we are?" I reminded him, still unable to accept his audacity.

"So what?" His confidence was infuriating. "If I want to take you away, even if it's from hell itself, nothing can stop me."

I sighed, feeling that familiar worry settling heavily on my chest again. "I'm now a murder suspect who's escaped from jail. There are probably many reporters waiting outside. If someone sees you helping me, it won't just affect you personally—it could cause irreparable damage to Carter Group."

Luke's gaze softened, filled with understanding. "So that's why you've been pushing me away all this time. You're afraid I'll end up like Finn, becoming another sacrifice in your life. Tara, I've known you for so many years—do you think I can't see through you?"

His next words cut even deeper: "That night in the hospital, it wasn't some mysterious woman—it was you. The person leaving in the surveillance footage wasn't you, but someone disguised to look like you."

"You have quite an imagination," I forced a casual laugh. "Are you so desperate to believe we slept together? Do you also hypnotize yourself into believing my feelings for you are as deep as before, and I've only been rejecting you because I'm angry or don't want to implicate you?"

Luke's gaze never wavered. "Isn't that the truth?"

"If I said it wasn't, would you believe me?" I challenged, looking directly into his eyes. "Luke, I was never a faithful, devoted woman. To be honest, I never truly loved you. It was just that after we were both poisoned, plus it being my first time... and I needed to hide my identity..."

No matter what I said, Luke maintained that confident smile on his face. "If you're not lying, Tara, then why are you so flustered?"

"Where am I flustered?" I felt my irritation growing. "Luke, is it really so difficult to accept the fact that I don't love you? Or is it that you simply can't accept your charm doesn't work on me? If you really want to prove your charm, you could find other women!"

"Unfortunately, I have no interest in them," Luke leaned closer to me. "You're right—I can't stand that you're immune to my charm, so I keep pursuing you. Unless you love me like you used to, otherwise..." his voice faded into a sly smile.

I rolled my eyes. "Luke, I'm busy. I don't have time for idle chat. If you want someone to talk to, why not find that woman who detoxified you that night? Haven't you been wanting to know where she is? I can give you the address right now!"

"No need," he looked deeply into my eyes. "I've already found her. Whether you admit it or not, I know it was you that night. No one else matters to me—especially not this person you're deliberately hiding."

He continued with an unquestionable tone, "Tara, I wasn't completely unconscious that night. I remember certain... sensations... very clearly. The feelings that night were exactly the same as when we were first together three years ago. That sensation is unique, and I trust my judgment."

I realized further argument was pointless. "Think whatever you want, Luke. I've said all I have to say. You can leave if you want, but I'm staying." I struggled to escape his grasp. "If you don't want your arms to become as useless as your legs, you'd better let me go."

Luke remained calm: "As you wish."

Despite my threats, Luke held onto me firmly as we left the prison. As I had predicted, we were immediately surrounded by a swarm of reporters.

"Ms. Taylor, is the information about you online true?" "Ms. Taylor, online sources say you're a notorious killer who has murdered countless people, and that's why you killed Jamie, is that right?" "Ms. Taylor, with so many lives on your conscience, how are you leaving without a final verdict?" "Mr. Carter, are you using your wealth to defy our country's laws?"

The questions came one after another, each more aggressive than the last. This had clearly been meticulously planned—reporters had been positioned strategically, waiting for this moment.

I leaned close to Luke's ear and whispered: "Luke, you can still put me down. It's not too late."

Luke looked at me with determination: "I've let you go twice before. I won't make the same mistake again. Whatever the cost, I'll stay with you through this."

"The Carter family isn't just you," I said worriedly. "There's your grandmother and sister. Don't be so selfish."

Luke smiled slightly: "Grandmother and Lucy care about you no less than I do. If I did nothing, they would be even more upset."

I fell silent, my emotions complex. Luke turned to the reporters, his posture resolute:

"This woman is mine," he declared firmly. "Anyone who wants to harm her will have to go through me first."