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.

a dagger into my hand. "Protect yourself and

He had given in.

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

the dagger tightly, knowing it

it likely had a

his way of staying connected when I couldn't use my phone,

with the Stone of Duality was imminent, and he feared any disruption to his plan. However, he didn't know that

plan was doomed to

what are you

back with a candy apple. I sighed in relief as he didn't notice anything

if Whitney had eaten one in all these years. She used to love them. The night

complimented my reddened eyes, keeping Yael's suspicions

me deeply. "Chloe, do you know why I like you so much? Because there's no one

handed me a candy apple and

knew Carter hadn't gone far. He was watching us from the

They would never associate the towering figure nearby

of his clenched fists. It must have taken all his strength to

greatest distance in the

deeply in love, standing within reach, yet we could only look

under my breath, "Carl,

white before he finally relaxed

looked at me and mouthed, "Be

away to hide my

this time carrying an entire rack

for you and Whitney,"

I froze.

smile was so clean

had

I

he was just

must be hungry. Let me take you somewhere nice

us from a

was a

I turned around, he

urge to run into his arms

even wanted to throw

escape with him to

be

ties.

paradise. I didn't want to b bothered

those fantasies faded quickly, doused