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.

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

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Chapter 381 Another Death

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ocarina 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

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

eyes widened. "Chloe, how on earth did

respond. My focus remained on the old woman "What does it

me, her gaze steady and

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

to accept anything without a fight, leaned forward. "But how could he have known you were going to die?

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

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

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

"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 anyone depending on me anyway. I'll-" "Zocy!"

old woman let out a deep sigh, her shoulders slumping

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

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

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

wouldn't do this unless he was out of

hope, I had

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

Chapter 381 Another Death

ancient stone well, its edges worn

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the petals, and the bells hanging from the

believe

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

I said finally, my

time to face what's waiting

lower branches. Without hesitation,

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

and the still water below began to shift. Its inky surface rippled, then transformed, as though

air heavy and electric. For Zoey, standing beside me, it must have

it-every detail of the past we

no such thing as love without reason. Bonds don't form by chance; they are

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

thoughts. "What did

falling onto the ground. I dropped to my knees, clutching at the old woman's sleeve. "You know who I am. You know my past. Please, tell me what

over 81 days. How long