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."

Whitney, however, was frowning, clearly unhappy to see me so comfortable with the

have hurt the Sanders so much. How can you

probably would have agreed. But

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Had Played a Final

sides were guilty in different

Finished

I wanted to go after the real threat

passed to let go of revenge and not seek

it clear they wouldn't harm Whitney or me. That meant Grandma was warning me not to go

brought them

was nearing the end, so why not take her

was that Grandma had played

couldn't accept the Sanders' fall from grace and dragging future generations down with it. So, she had wanted Dominic to investigate and exact

had known the Commander's true identity and the danger it posed-so great that she didn't want me

a way, the Carlyns were harmless. We were

Whitney with this knowledge; her pain was already too much to

wasn't mistaken, Taylor would soon begin loosening his hold

the Sanders' past

even with that

didn't explain further. "You haven't eaten all day. You need to eat so you can have the strength for everything

"Chloe, I don't want to

cut through. "If you don't eat, I'll

Whitney seemed to remember something and lowered her

was harsh, but

too, leaving some for

worry. My mom won't let

but sigh, seeing his sad face. "Where's Aunt

wanted to speak with

a tree somewhere. Just find

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08:42 Mon, Jan 20

Had Played a Final Trick

"Why?"

fit, or hang yourself on strong branches that won't

I was speechless.

was going on between

I could. With Taylor there I didn't need

and as Taylor had said,

them in an orchard, safe from snakes. It was clean, and there wasn't a snake in

a bedsheet, shouting about how death