Loved You Once But He's My Forever

Billionaire Is 381

Chapter 381 Another Death

Chapter 381 Another Death 81%

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The old woman's gaze lingered on the Soul-Stabilizing Pendant, her face unreadable.

Without hesitation, I dropped to my knees. "Please, malam, if you know anything, tell me. This could mean everything to someone I care about."

Her eyes shifted toward me, calm yet piercing. "The man who came with you before-he's not with you this time?"

Zoey quickly knelt beside me, her hands gesturing in reassurance. "No, he's not here! Don't worry, he's far away. Look, if it'll help, I'll bow too. Just tell my sister what she needs to know."

"Both of you, get up," the old woman said, her tone firm but not unkind.

Zoey and I obeyed, settling cross-legged on the floor as she had.

"After you left last time," the old woman began, "that man returned to see me."

A sharp chill ran through me. Of course Carter would take matters into his own hands. A mere mention of him, and he'd already found her.

"What did he say?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

She ran her fingers over the smooth surface of the ocarina. "He gave me money. Told me to leave this place."

My hands curled into fists. "He's afraid you'll tell me the truth. But since you stayed, he won't let this drop!

Carter's nature was all too clear to me. His kindness was a mask he wore only for me.

If this was important enough to him, he'd stop at nothing to get what he wanted.

"I left," the old woman said, her voice calm, "but I knew you'd come."

Her words struck like a thunderclap. Zoey and I exchanged stunned glances.

"You knew we'd come?" Zoey asked, disbelief plain in her voice. "How could you possibly know that? It doesn't make sense!"

The woman's smile deepened, her eyes softening. The wrinkles at their corners somehow made her look gentler, as though she'd known us for years.

It was strange. Though I'd never seen her before, something about her felt familiar, like the echo of a memory I couldn't place.

"What do you want to ask me?" she said, ignoring Zoey's question entirely.

thought I understood what this was. But now, I'm not so sure. Maybe I was wrong. Maybe someone lied to me. You know what this is. Please, tell me the truth. What is this stone? What does it do? Is there a second one? And what did you mean by the things

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Chapter 381 Another Death

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Her hands, worn with age, moved slowly as her fingers traced the surface again and again, as if each pass revealed

finally, "is the Stone of Duality, You were right-there is another piece. The black one represents negative

on earth did you

respond. My focus remained on the old woman

at me, her gaze steady

didn't falter as she continued. "Whoever possesses the Stone of Duality can overturn destiny itself. If you live a life of wealth and ease, another will share in your blessings. But if your life is cut short, their fate will mirror yours. Neither escapes unscathed I had suspected something like this,

fight, leaned forward. "But how could he have known you were going to die? That doesn't add

expression didn't shift. "Life and death

felt larger now, like she was a step ahead of us in a game we didn't fully understand. I grabbed her hand, unable to mask my desperation. "Please, tell me more. How does it work? What has to happen for it to take effect? Is it too late

change it? If you do, there's a chance you'll

those monsters, not her! Ma'am, you must know a way to save her. She doesn't deserve this. Take my life instead. I don't have anyone depending on me anyway. I'll-" "Zocy!" I snapped. "Don't

a deep sigh, her shoulders

arm a reassuring squeeze. "Don't do anything reckless. If she's still here waiting

a small smile breaking through her frustration. "You're probably right. Maybe we really did stumble onto someone who can help. Like a guide

Carter, with all his determination, could only find a life-for-life solution,

wouldn't do this unless he was

there was even the faintest hope,

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old woman led us outside to a cherry blossom tree, its branches covered in delicate blooms. Beside

Chapter 381 Another Death

an ancient stone well, its edges

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the bells hanging from the tree chimed, their clear tones echoing softly in the

you believe

me cold. My head snapped toward her, disbelief clouding my mind. I had never told her my name. Not

my voice unsteady. "But

to face

moved toward the tree and unhooked a wind chime that hung from one of its lower branches. Without hesitation,

gravity I couldn't ignore. My hands shook as I held it over the black void of the

to shift. Its

the air heavy and electric. For Zoey, standing beside me, it must have passed in the blink of

it-every detail of the past we

such thing as love without reason. Bonds don't form by chance; they are forged

that he chose to repay

my thoughts. "What did

the ground. I dropped to my knees, clutching at the old woman's

works over 81 days. How