Even after Her Death by Rita Bond

Chapter 527 Not Even a Moment

Finished

With Jeffrey gone, I turned to leave, but then my gaze landed on Amber and Dominic standing in the

distance.

Dominic, dressed in solemn white, kept to the shadows, his figure barely noticeable. He didn’t want attention. His quiet presence was a tribute to Jeffrey.

Years ago, Jeffrey had unknowingly saved his father and the Carlyns, and Dominic had never forgotten that debt.

Despite their efforts to remain hidden, I noticed them, trying to stay out of sight behind a tree. They looked suspicious, as if they were up to something.

Amber’s voice suddenly broke the stillness. “We’re here to pay respects, not to steal anything. You shouldn’t crouch and skulk around.”

Dominic reached over and ruffled her hair. “Calm down. We’ll get in once the Boltons are gone.”

Their relationship had clearly grown. Amber’s voice wasn’t as sharp as it once was.

It didn’t surprise me. Though Amber had come to love Dominic a little later, they had eventually found each other.

Life isshort, afterall. In theend, whentwopeople trulylove eachother, thepastseemslikesomethingbetterleftbehind.

Dominic’s history wasn’t much different from mine, either. He, too, had been shaped by loss.

I walked over to them, speaking softly, “Amber, it’s been a while.”

Amber jumped, startled. The moment she saw me, her face flushed red with annoyance. “Chloe, are you crazy? Do you enjoy scaring people?”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “Scaring others isn’t fun. But you, you’re a riot. It’s been forever since I had your homemade fruit juice. I was actually starting to miss it. Is that why you’ve been avoiding me? You don’t want to make me any?”

The mention of fruit juice made her blush even deeper. “Don’t you dare bring up fruit juice! You’ve already stolen my son. Isn’t that enough?”

The Emerald Dragon organization had all but crumbled. Yael, the man once protected by the Carlyns, had returned to campus. He’d visit Everett and Everly, bringing them new toys he’d made with his own hands.

He wasn’t as closed off as before. With so much talent, he even started live–streaming his carving sessions. He kept his face hidden, but I’d sometimes tune in. His streams often attracted tens of thousands of viewers.

Mostly women, who’d flood the comments with things like, “Kyah, your hands are perfect!”

“His voice is so calming!”

“Even without seeing his face, I’m pretty sure he’s got abs!”

I can screenshot your abs

CAL

1/4

Mon, 3 Mar.

Even a Moment

Finished

not a wishing well! Hey, cutic, I’m 56 years old with 30 years of cleaning experience. I make 450 dollars a month, can take care of kids and handle hard work. I’d love to date

take more than three minutes before I was completely freaked out by

think I was obsessed

was blissfully unaware of all the madness surrounding him–simple, naïve, and completely unaffected

crafts. On quiet afternoons, when the weight of the world lifted just a little, he’d sit with

creations, each toy more than just a gift–it was a piece of him,

the kids play,

question left my lips before I could stop it,

since Taylor went missing, and yet I couldn’t stop searching. I couldn’t let go.

above a whisper. “We’re still looking. Sometimes I wish we’d put a chip in her, so we could track her no matter where she

here to honor Jeffrey, just go ahead. He asked us not to make a big deal. After today, there’s

always the quiet one, shifted uncomfortably. Though he had never directly harmed the Boltons, he carried the

distant. “He probably didn’t want

here.”

see him either. If it weren’t for him, my wouldn’t

is all Brynn’s doing. Jeffrey was a victim in

gaze lost somewhere far beyond us. “Look around. Who here isn’t a victim?”

revealed to me was darker

someone be so callous, so intent on causing harm?

sister

air, “The organization is falling apart. You’ve already torn through so many of them. What’s next for you?”

a hollow laugh, her eyes distant. “What’s next? Whatever life throws

from the fiery, determined woman I once knew. Amber had

2/4

Mon, 3

Not Even

The change

#2 Finished

to Dominic. His expression was one of quiet resignation, his shoulders heavy with a burden only he could truly understand. “People like us don’t get to live like normal folks,” he said quietly. “We’ve saved so many, but we can’t erase

love him. You left him

in the

pushing the kids in a stroller, came over. His presence was a small relief in the