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.

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

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Chapter 381 Another Death

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set the ocarina down with care and reached for mystone. Her hands, worn with age, moved slowly as her fingers traced the surface

piece. The black one represents

widened. "Chloe, how on

didn't respond. My focus remained on the old woman "What does it

me, her gaze

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

how could he have

expression didn't shift. "Life and death

air, heavy 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 hand, unable to mask my desperation. "Please, tell me more. How does it work? What has to happen for it to take effect? Is it too

want to change it? If you do, there's a chance you'll die

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.

woman let out a deep sigh, her shoulders

"Don't do anything reckless. If she's still here waiting for us, there's a chance we can

her frustration. "You're probably right. Maybe we really did stumble onto someone who can help. Like a

only find a life-for-life

him. He wouldn't do this unless he was

there was even the faintest hope, I had to

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

Chapter 381 Another Death

an ancient stone well, its

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

you believe in

my mind. I had never told her my name.

said finally, my voice

it's time to face what's waiting

lower branches. Without

ignore. My hands shook as I

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

and electric. For Zoey, standing beside me, it must have passed in

I saw it-every detail

Bonds don't form by chance;

profound that he chose to repay it with the

"What did you see? I didn't

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

"The Stone of Duality works over 81