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.

the next few days, avoid her at all

I replied before losing my

we entered the White Residence, Yael carried bags of

late, and

as soon as we stepped into the courtyard, a figure

"Where have you been?"

I was hidden behind Yael, whose tall frame shielded my

and his danger level was

like

you're getting married soon, but Whitney has been sulking. I brought Mute Girl along to pick out some gifts." Yael's innocent

much about

kept my head down to

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 was bored. Is Whitney asleep?

it. You

"Fair enough."

acting was flawless, leaving

me everything. "Take

my head low as I awkwardly carried

Taylor's voice. "What's

Had he noticed something?

with worry. Yael's warning echoed in my mind. My greatest threat wasn't Taylor but

something, would Amber

opened the door, Whitney was awake. She was likely

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

with Carter

was glad I'd

I had chosen to leave with Carter. Whitney's once lifeless

left her now, it would extinguish that light,

the watchful eye of surveillance cameras, she

masked her feelings

"What's all

on the window sill and handed her the

eyes turned red the moment she saw

from so long ago would've faded, but

the candy apple tightly and tears

you do?" Taylor's

strode over, raising his foot

stepped in