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.

in a shaky breath. "The last time we spoke, I told you I 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

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Chapter 381 Another Death

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with age, moved slowly as her fingers traced the surface again and again, as if each pass revealed something only she

said finally, "is the Stone of Duality, You were right-there is another piece. The black one represents negative energy, while the one in your hand represents positive

how on earth did you figure

My focus remained on

gaze steady and intent. It

a life of wealth and ease, another will share in your blessings. But if your life is cut short, their fate will

a fight, leaned forward. "But how could he have known you were going to

shift. "Life and death are already written. No one gets something

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

do, there's a chance you'll die again. He brought you the Stone of Duality to take your place to

flared. "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

out a deep sigh, her shoulders slumping

do anything reckless. If she's still here waiting for us, there's a chance we can

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

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

knew him. He wouldn't do this

the faintest hope, I had to hold

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woman led us outside to a cherry blossom tree,

Chapter 381 Another Death

stone well, its edges

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bells hanging from the tree chimed, their clear tones

do you believe

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

didn't," I said finally, my voice unsteady. "But now, I

to face

its lower branches. Without hesitation,

My hands shook as I held

into the darkness, and the still water below began to shift. Its inky surface rippled, then

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

saw it-every detail of the past

reason. Bonds don't form by chance; they

chose to repay it with the only thing he

"What did

unchecked, falling onto the ground. I dropped to my knees, clutching at the old woman's sleeve. "You know who I am. You

of Duality works over 81 days. How long have you kept