Even after Her Death by Rita Bond

Chapter 382 No Regrets

Chapter 382 No Regrets

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The old woman shook her head, her expression unreadable. "There are some truths that cannot be shared," she said.

Zoey, who had come to support me, seemed lost in thought. The weight of everything had shifted onto her as well, and it was clear she was grappling with it.

I took a step closer, unable to keep the urgency out of my voice. "Is there really no other way? Does it have to be a life for a life? Isn't there anything else?"

She met my gaze. "This is your trial," she said simply. "To overcome it, you must face it as it is. Life for life -there's no alternative."

Her words struck me like a blow, though I'd half-expected them. Carter wouldn't have gone this far if he'd had another choice.

I inhaled deeply, forcing myself to stay calm. "If the trial hasn't come yet, I can still live, right? And if I can live, could I ... could I have a child? I want to leave him something-someone-to remember me by. If I have to die, at least he won't be alone." The old woman studied me, her gaze sharp. "In principle, it isn't possible. You don't truly own this body."

Her response made my chest tighten. Carter must have known this all along. That's why he avoided the subject every time I brought it up.

But I wasn't ready to give up. I clung to her words like a lifeline. "And if we step outside of principle? There, has to be a way. Please, I'll do whatever it takes. Just tell me how."

I dropped to my knees, clasping my hands together. "I'm begging you. Help me."

The woman sighed, as though she had been expecting this. "The blood-binding ritual your adoptive parents performed was a step in that direction. It was meant to tie you more fully to this body. It was for this purpose. But there's still something missing." My heart raced. "What is it?"

She pulled a small, dark pill from her pocket. Zoey leaned closer, her brow furrowed. "What is that? It looks like a Milk Dud."

The old woman almost smiled. "It may look simple, but don't underestimate it. I spent years creating this."

She hesitated for a moment before continuing. "If you trust me, swallow it."

Without hesitation, I took the pill and swallowed it whole.

I asked, "And Zoey? She can't have any babies of her own as well?"

The crone nodded. "Yes. Her fate is just like yours."

I requested, "Can you give her another one of that pill as well? At least she'll leave behind something of hers.

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We at least wanted to be mothers before we died. Didnt want to waste our lives.

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The old woman reached into her robe again and handed Zoey a small bottle. "If you're certain, you can

take one now."

I thought of Carter and the Stone of Duality. Only seven days remained. Before I'd left, he'd reminded me several times to return in two or three days.

He must have been worried about the stone's condition. If I stayed in the village too long, he'd come for me himself.

I looked back at the old woman. "I don't want him to worry. Is there a way to keep him from finding out?"

She retrieved another stone from her bag. It was nearly identical to the one I carried. "Wear this," she said. "It will do the trick."

I turned the stone over in my hand, its likeness to mine astonishing. "Who are you?" I asked, unable to hide my curiosity.

The old woman clasped her hands behind her back, her expression calm. "I am no one of consequence," she said. "Just a grain of sand in the ocean of existence."

Islipped the fake stone around my neck, clutching the real Stone of Duality-Carter's blood and soul bound within it-in my other hand.

I couldn't bring myself to destroy it. It was too much a part of him.

But I knew I'd never risk his life, not for anything.

The old woman studied me for a long moment, her expression unreadable. "Chloe, you still have a chance. to turn back. In seven days, there will be no undoing what's set in motion."

I met her gaze, steady and certain. "If my happiness means his death, then I don't want it. Not like this."

Turning toward the blackness of the well, I felt the weight of the stone in my hand. Then I let it go. It fell soundlessly into the depths, disappearing as though it had never existed.

A tear slipped down my cheek, but I didn't waver. "I'll never regret this. Not now, not ever."

I was more than happy with whatever happiness I'd lived on this borrowed timeline.

my shoulder. "Make the most of the time you have left. Life

said all I can. Don't

her steps deliberate. I knelt, bowing my head to

stopped but

the stillness, "you're stronger than I ever was. Perhaps

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Chapter 382 No Regrets:

something different, Go

my voice barely

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wind chime on the tree swayed gently, filling the

else, it might have seemed like

felt like waking from a dream-a dream of

the bottle of pills into her bag, her movements deliberate

touch of mischief in her expression. "I'm not like you, Chloe. I don't have anyone I'd want to have a

"Chloe, life doesn't come with guarantees. Some kids don't even get to grow up. People die every day. What makes us think we're the exception? Most of us don't make it to old age. We just need to live in the moment," she said, her voice firm. "Like the old woman told

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smile widening as if she'd shrugged off a heavy weight. "Instead of worrying about things we can't control, why

She seemed fearless, untethered by the things that

had the luxury of being free. Her mother was safe, her responsibilities

other hand, had been born into regret. It followed me everywhere, a constant shadow I could

having a child with him, of watching them grow and living

this was simply the price

head home. Mom and Dad are probably waiting," Zoey said, pulling me back

right," I replied, though I felt a reluctance

away, I took one last look behind

the cherry blossom tree, her gaze following us. Her

eyes locked, and it

go of Zoey's hand and ran toward the

she could react, I embraced her

so much to get to this point, haven't

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Chapter 382 No Regrets

Chapter 382 No Regrets

Chapter 382 No Regrets

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shook her head, her expression unreadable. "There are some truths that cannot be shared,"

everything had shifted onto her as well, and it was clear she was grappling with

a step closer, unable to keep the urgency out of my voice. "Is there really no other way? Does it have to be a life

said simply. "To overcome it, you

half-expected them. Carter wouldn't have gone this far if he'd had

have a child? I want to leave him something-someone-to remember me by. If I have to die,

along. That's why he avoided the subject every time I brought it

her words like a lifeline. "And if we step

to my knees, clasping my hands

in that direction. It was meant to tie you more fully to this body. It was for this

a small, dark pill from her pocket. Zoey leaned closer, her brow furrowed. "What is that?

may look simple, but

hesitated for a moment before continuing. "If you

hesitation, I took the pill and

asked, "And Zoey? She can't have any babies

crone nodded. "Yes. Her

of that pill as well? At least she'll leave behind something of

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Chapter 382 No Regrets.

before

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robe again and handed

take one now."

Stone of Duality. Only seven days remained. Before I'd left, he'd reminded me several times to return in

I

want him to worry. Is

was nearly identical to the one I carried. "Wear this," she

hand, its likeness to mine astonishing. "Who are you?" I asked, unable to hide

her expression calm. "I am no one

fake stone around my neck, clutching the real Stone of Duality-Carter's

bring myself to destroy it. It was

I'd never risk his life, not for

me for a long moment, her expression unreadable. "Chloe, you still have a chance. to turn back. In seven days, there will be no undoing