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!”

please lift your shirt so I can screenshot your abs for my grandma. She’s never seen anything like

CAL

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527 Not Even a Moment

Finished

well! Hey, cutic, I’m 56 years old with 30 years of cleaning experience. I make 450 dollars a month, can take care of

I

Carter saw this, he’d probably think I was obsessed with watching some bodybuilder

knew was that the mysterious guy behind the screen was blissfully unaware of all the madness surrounding him–simple,

hands were always busy–either carving delicate figurines or piecing together intricate crafts. On quiet afternoons, when the weight of the world lifted just a little, he’d sit with the kids, filling the air

just a gift–it was a piece of

the kids play, my thoughts

anything about Taylor?” The question left my lips before

and yet I couldn’t stop searching.

and Dominic exchanged a long look before Amber spoke, her voice barely 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

chest tightened. I forced the air into my lungs. “Since you’re here to honor Jeffrey, just go ahead. He asked us not to make a big deal. After

uncomfortably. Though he had never directly harmed the Boltons, he carried the

voice steady but distant. “He probably didn’t want to see us. It’s enough that

here.”

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

doing. Jeffrey was a victim in all of this.”

his gaze lost somewhere far beyond us. “Look around.

revealed to me was darker and crueler than I had ever imagined.

could someone be so callous, so intent

sister

trying to move past the discomfort in the air, “The organization is falling apart. You’ve already torn through so many of them. What’s

let out a hollow laugh, her eyes distant. “What’s next? Whatever life throws at us. Wherever my

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

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527 Not Even a

more resigned. The change

#2 Finished

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

love him. You left him once.

in the air, unanswered.

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