Loved You Once But He's My Forever

Chapter 402 Why Did You Come Back?

I knew Carter was waiting for me, hoping I'd change my mind.

To him, my decision to go to the White Residence was reckless. He would never willingly let me put myself in harm's way.

But, Whitney was still waiting for me.

Gritting my teeth, I shut the door resolutely.

I didn't dare look in the rearview mirror as I was afraid of seeing the disappointment in his eyes.

I clenched my fists and silently chanted to myself when the car started.

Don't look back. I'm sorry, Carl.

Sensing my unease, Yael, who was seated beside me, spoke up. "Chloe, are you unhappy?"

"Is Taylor planning to keep Whitney imprisoned forever?" I asked.

"Chloe, Whitney doesn't love Taylor. If she were free, she'd run."

So they understood, after all. Before I could reply, Yael added, "If Taylor didn't care about her, she would already be dead. Freedom or life-which do you think is more important?"

Though I was relieved Whitney was still alive, the thought of her suffering for the past 20 years made me question if living was truly better than dying.

Death was a momentary pain, but living had brought her two decades of torment.

Still, I believed her suffering would soon end.

Once we rescued her, she would become a crucial witness. With more evidence, we could topple the Carlyn brothers and the powers behind them. They had to face justice.

It all had to end.

As we approached the White Residence, Yael handed me a pill.

"Chloe, take this to avoid suspicion."

Earlier, he'd given me an antidote to let me speak for half a day, but now he wanted to reverse it.

I didn't take the pill. Instead, I stared at him coldly. "Is it to avoid suspicion? Or are you afraid I'll call for help? Yael, if I wanted to escape, I could've screamed for help back at the night market. That was the best chance, wasn't it?" I didn't want to lose my voice again.

"Chloe, it's not that I don't care about you. There are surveillance cameras everywhere in the White Residence. If you speak, you'll be exposed. I can't imagine what would happen. Just bear with it. Once we leave, I'll give you the antidote again, okay?" His face was filled with concern, but I knew he wouldn't compromise.

With a heavy sigh, I reluctantly took the pill that would render me mute.

in the

it," I replied before losing

the White Residence, Yael carried bags of items, including the candy apple

was late, and everyone should've

stepped into the courtyard,

"Where have you been?"

hidden behind Yael, whose

was Taylor and his danger level was

like he had

soon, but Whitney has been sulking. I

much about Whitney?" Taylor

my head down to

circled me and his icy voice sent shivers down my spine. "And, since when were you

his head, avoiding the question. "Close? I went out with her because I

Mute Girl take it. You shouldn't

"Fair enough."

was flawless, leaving no

me everything. "Take

my head low as

Taylor's voice.

Had he noticed something?

Yael's warning echoed in my mind.

sense something, would

door, Whitney was awake.

saw me, her face feigned calm, but the flicker of joy in her eyes betrayed

parting with Carter melted into

was glad

had chosen to leave with Carter.

it would extinguish that light,

of surveillance cameras, she couldn't show

masked her feelings

"What's all

on the window sill and handed her

turned red the

thought memories from so long ago would've faded,

tightly and tears

you do?" Taylor's voice suddenly boomed behind

his foot as if

in