Loved You Once But He's My Forever

Chapter 401 Chloe, Come With Me

The location I sent him was near the beach, and he must have deduced the presence of a nearby night market.

Maybe he came on a whim, hoping for a chance encounter. Even though the likelihood of running into me was slim, he still came.

I'd told him not to act recklessly, but to him, even the smallest chance was worth the risk.

Thankfully, fate reunited us. Watching Yael walk off toward a candy apple vendor, I quickly ran to Carter.

He pulled me behind a large tree and wrapped me in a tight embrace like he wanted to crush me to the bone.

I held back my tears and clung to him just as tightly, greedily taking in his familiar scent laced with the sharp bitterness of tobacco.

He must have smoked a lot.

It was something he would never do in front of me before.

Suppressing the emotions bubbling in my chest, I whispered, "Carl, don't worry. I'm fine, really."

"Chloe, come with me," he rasped.

His bloodshot eyes made my heart ache.

Has he been sleepless since I disappeared?

I felt a pang of guilt and sorrow as I explained, "I'm sorry, but I can't leave. Whitney is still in their hands."

Carter frowned. "Chloe, I don't care about anyone else's life but yours. Not even your sister's. I won't allow it if helping her puts you in danger. You have to come with me. Do you know what these past days have been like for me?" Panic surged within me.

As much as I wanted to escape with him, I couldn't ignore the image of Whitney's haunted face and her desperate attempts to create opportunities for me to leave even before she knew who I was. Such a kind soul didn't deserve this fate. "There won't be a better chance than now, Carl. Trust me."

"Chloe, stop being stubborn!" Carter's tone grew firm as he tried to drag me away.

Standing on tiptoes, I caught him off guard with a kiss.

It was fleeting, far too brief to calm his restless heart.

If I left now, Yael would surely take his fury out on Whitney-not necessarily killing her, but tormenting her in ways I couldn't bear to imagine.

Whitney had already suffered 20 years of agony. I couldn't let her endure any more of it.

"Carl, please, help me. Help Whitney. Please."

Carter sighed as his gaze lingered on the Stone of Duality hanging from my neck.

and placed a dagger into my hand.

He had given in.

we had, he kissed me fiercely, leaving me breathless. "Don't be afraid. I'm here." And

the dagger tightly,

weapon, it likely had

when I couldn't use my

any disruption to his plan.

plan was doomed

what are you

a candy apple. I sighed in

wondering if Whitney had eaten one in all these years. She used to love them. The night we were separated, she had one

complimented my reddened eyes,

do you know why I like you so much? Because there's no one

apple and gently pinched my

hadn't gone far. He was watching us

thought of him as a cripple. They would never associate the towering figure

have taken all his strength to resist

distance in the

love, standing within reach, yet we could only look at each other

murmured under my breath, "Carl, don't act

before he finally relaxed his

looked at me and mouthed, "Be

nodded and turned away to

returned, this time carrying an entire rack

and Whitney," he said with

I froze.

smile was

that, had

I might

was just an

hungry. Let me

followed us from a safe

was a

matter what I did, if I turned around,

an overwhelming urge to run into his arms

even wanted to

and escape with

be

ties.

didn't want to b bothered by

those fantasies faded quickly, doused by the weight