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.

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

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Chapter 381 Another Death

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down with care and reached for mystone. Her hands, worn with age, moved slowly as her fingers traced the surface again and again, as if each pass revealed

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

"Chloe, how on earth did

on the

gaze steady and

blessings. But if your life is cut short, their fate will mirror yours.

accept anything without a fight, leaned forward. "But how could he have known

woman's expression didn't shift. "Life and death are already written. No one gets

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

there's a chance you'll die

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 anyone depending on me anyway. I'll-"

sigh,

a reassuring squeeze. "Don't do anything reckless. If

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

all his determination, could only find a life-for-life solution, was there any other

him. He wouldn't do this unless he was

hope, I had

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outside to a cherry blossom

Chapter 381 Another Death

an ancient stone well, its edges worn smooth

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

do you believe in past

clouding my mind. I had never told her my

didn't," I said finally, my

face

tree and unhooked a wind chime that hung from one of its lower branches. Without

felt light, almost weightless, but its presence carried a gravity I couldn't ignore. My hands shook as I held it over the black void of the

the still water below began to shift. Its

endlessly, the air heavy and electric. For Zoey, standing beside

I saw it-every detail of the past

reason. Bonds don't form by chance; they are

had owed me a debt so profound that he chose to repay it with the only thing

broke through my thoughts. "What did you see? I didn't

old woman's sleeve. "You know who I am. You know my past. Please, tell me what I need to

waver. "The Stone of Duality works over 81 days. How long have you kept