Even after Her Death by Rita Bond

Chapter 453 Grandma Had Played a Final Trick on Dominic

I felt powerless as an observer. The rift between them was too wide for mere words to mend.

I had already suspected Taylor's motives.

Finished

I approached Whitney and helped her to her feet. "Don't cry. You need to be careful with your heart. What if you make yourself sick?"

It was only when she saw me that Whitney seemed to find some comfort. She threw herself into my arms, her tears flowing freely as if she were a helpless child.

I gently patted her back. "There, there. You still have me. I will always be here for you."

Whitney sobbed, her voice breaking as she choked on her words. "But... my dad and the others...

"They're gone now. All we can do is live on. You're the only family I have left in the Sanders family. If something happens to you, I don't know what I'll do."

I knew I was laying it on thick, but I needed her to find a reason to keep going. Even if it was just for me, she had to push through.

She sniffled, and I wiped away her tears, glancing over at Taylor. "Do you have any food?"

"Yes, come with me."

I helped Whitney stand. She hadn't eaten in nearly a full day, and she had grown so frail. My only wish was to help her regain her strength, even if just a little.

As we entered the dining room, a tall figure pulled me in a hug. Yael, his voice thick with worry, muttered, "You really scared me!"

Now that I understood the secrets of the Carlyns, I no longer feared him.

I patted his head and smiled. "See? I'm still here. No need to be scared."

Yael, so large with his red-rimmed eyes, reminded me of a big polar bear.

I recalled childhood pictures of him, all chubby and adorable.

If life had been kinder to him, perhaps he wouldn't have turned out this way. He would have had loving

parents.

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"I'm starving," I said, trying to gently push his bulky form aside.

A grin spread across his face. "I've already made the food. You need to eat a lot."

grabbed bowls and utensils. Whitney, however, was frowning, clearly unhappy to

Sanders so much. How

had been in Chloe's body, I probably would have agreed. But now, my perspective

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Played

guilty in

Finished

for a mere pawn, I wanted to go after the

before she passed to let go of

Whitney or me. That meant Grandma was warning me not to

Grandma brought them

the end, so

had played a final trick

fall from grace and dragging future generations down with it. So, she had wanted Dominic to investigate and exact revenge on the Commander. She wanted us safe, letting

true identity and the danger it posed-so

way, the Carlyns were harmless. We were all struggling together, facing the same

with this knowledge; her pain was already

his hold

he had kept the Sanders' past hidden, even pushing Whitney to

her to live, even with that hate. It was our

explain further. "You haven't eaten all day. You need to eat so you

darkened. "Chloe, I don't

I could respond, Taylor's cold voice cut through.

her. Whitney seemed to remember something and

"threat of love" was harsh,

too, leaving some

"Don't worry. My mom

but sigh, seeing

to

probably under a tree somewhere. Just find a big

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08:42 Mon, Jan 20

Had Played a Final

"Why?"

throw a fit, or hang yourself on strong branches that

I was speechless.

on between Amber and

I could. With Taylor there I didn't need to

for the two of them, and

found them in an orchard, safe from snakes. It was clean, and

bedsheet, shouting about