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.

relented and placed a dagger into my hand. "Protect yourself

He had given in.

kissed me fiercely, leaving me breathless. "Don't be

tightly, knowing it

it likely

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

to his plan. However, he didn't know

plan was doomed to

are

voice snapped me out of my thoughts. He was back with a candy apple. I sighed

used to love them.

complimented my reddened eyes, keeping Yael's suspicions

do you know why I like you so much? Because there's no one else in this world as pure and kind as you. Here,

handed me a candy apple and gently

gone far. He was watching us from the

him as a cripple. They would never associate

sight of his clenched fists. It must have taken all his strength to resist whisking me

greatest distance

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

my breath, "Carl,

knuckles turned white before he

me

away

an entire rack of

I bought enough for you and Whitney," he said with a bright

I froze.

was so

had I not

firsthand, I

just an innocent

hungry. Let me

followed us from a safe

presence was

did, if I

overwhelming urge to run

wanted

escape with him to

be

ties.

paradise. I didn't want to b bothered

fantasies faded quickly, doused