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.

I'm not so sure. Maybe I was wrong. Maybe someone lied to me. You know what this is. Please, tell me the

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Chapter 381 Another Death

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age, moved slowly as her fingers traced the surface again and again, as if

Duality, You were right-there is another piece. The black one represents negative energy,

on

focus remained on the old woman

looked straight at me, her gaze steady and intent. It changes

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, but hearing it laid out so plainly felt like a

one to accept anything without a fight, leaned forward. "But how could

and death are already written.

grabbed her hand, unable to mask my desperation. "Please, tell me more. How does it work? What has to happen

voice remained steady. "Are you sure you want to change it? If you do, there's a chance you'll die

"Why does Chloe have to die? The ones who deserve it are 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

deep sigh, her shoulders slumping

and I exchanged a glance. I gave her arm a reassuring squeeze. "Don't do anything reckless. If she's still here waiting

really did stumble onto someone who can help. Like a guide or something." Her optimism barely touched me. My thoughts churned, tangled with

only find a life-for-life

do this unless he was out of

faintest hope, I had to hold

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outside to a cherry blossom tree,

Chapter 381 Another Death

an ancient stone well, its edges worn smooth by

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light breeze rustled the petals, and the bells hanging from the tree chimed, their

believe

toward her, disbelief clouding my mind. I had never told her my name.

I said finally, my voice

it's time to face

that hung from one of its lower branches. Without hesitation, she placed it in my

hands shook as I

into the darkness, and the still water below began to shift. Its

For Zoey, standing beside me, it must have passed in the blink of

it-every detail of the past

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

he chose to repay it with the only thing he

my thoughts. "What did

at the old woman's sleeve. "You know who I am. You know

works over 81 days. How long have you kept it