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.

not so sure. Maybe I was wrong. Maybe someone lied to me. You

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Chapter 381 Another Death

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for mystone. Her hands, worn with age, moved slowly as her fingers traced

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

"Chloe, how on earth did you figure

remained on the

me, her gaze

"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

to accept anything without a fight, leaned forward. "But how could he have known you were going to die? That doesn't

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

and final. Her presence felt larger now, like she was a step ahead of us in a game we didn't fully understand. I grabbed her

If you do, there's a chance you'll die again.

"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.

let out a deep sigh,

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

stumble onto someone who can help. Like a guide or something." Her optimism barely

determination, could only find a life-for-life solution, was

this unless he was

even the faintest hope, I had to

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to a cherry blossom tree, its branches covered in delicate blooms.

Chapter 381 Another Death

its edges worn

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bells hanging from the tree chimed, their

do you believe in

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

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

time to face what's

wind chime that hung from one of its lower branches.

but its presence carried a gravity I couldn't ignore. My hands shook as I held it over

to shift. Its inky surface rippled,

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

I saw it-every detail of the past we

is no such thing as love without reason. Bonds

debt so profound that he chose to repay it with the only thing he

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

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

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