Loved You Once But He's My Forever

Chapter 405 Can You Bear to Leave Me?

Ever since being schemed by Damian, every day had been filled with anxiety, and I'd been desperate to see Carter again.

Last night, we parted so quickly that I didn't even get a good look at him.

He had cleaned himself up just to see me. The stubble from the video call was gone and every strand of his hair was perfectly styled.

He didn't want me to see him looking disheveled, but I could still tell he'd lost weight.

In just a few short days, his features had become sharper and his entire presence radiated an intense aura.

I reached out to brush away the shadow clouding his brow. I wanted to call his name, but no sound would come out.

"Chloe, come with me. I can't leave you with the Carlyns anymore," he said.

I shook my head and grabbed his phone, typing out a message.

"Whitney has a chip implanted somewhere in her body; I don't know the exact location. Also, the Sander residence is rigged with explosives. If we want to take Whitney, we need to solve these two problems first.

Carter pulled me into a tight embrace. "Chloe, we'll deal with Whitney later. Taylor hasn't hurt her after all these years, which means he's not planning to hurt her anytime soon. But you're different-if you're discovered, it's a dead end for you."

He spoke with logical calmness. "We've fought so hard to get to this point. Chloe, I know you can't bear to leave Whitney, but can you bear to leave me?"

In the dim, warm light, his icy expression was replaced by a desperate plea.

I silently mouthed his name. "Carl."

Conflicting emotions tore at me.

If it were anyone else from the Sanders, I wouldn't hesitate to leave.

But it was Whitney. She was a victim, too.

I thought about the excitement in her eyes when I returned last night. She wanted me to escape, yet at the same time, she didn't want me to leave her behind.

I understood Carter's concern for me.

He would risk his life to ensure I survived. If anything happened to me, he'd lose his mind.

He didn't know I had already lost the Stone of Duality. My fate would no longer transfer to him.

Every moment I stayed with the Carlyns felt like dancing on the edge of a blade. Perhaps fate would have its way after all, and I would end up dying at their hands. My rationality told me to leave and to get as far away from them as possible.

was still

tightly. The world doesn't allow for perfection. I

and I also loved

a child? Come home with me. We'll have children, lots of

liar. He was using children to persuade me

buried my head against his chest, listening to the familiar rhythm of his heartbeat. I stayed silent, giving him

endured 20 years of suffering, but hadn't

one

please don't force

pleaded with

out a soft sigh. "Alright, I won't force

was about to give in,

ready and waiting. Before I could react, he pressed it against my nose and

"I'm sorry, Chloe."

I

forgive my selfishness. There will never be anyone more important to me than you. I can't let you risk your life." Darkness swallowed

first time, had refused

chose for me in his

lady, leaving Carter free to carry me away from the bustling exhibition hall. Meanwhile, Whitney and Zoey were seated

the Gardners, Zoey had been

to spend money or enjoy herself and ultimately ended up taking

rebirth, she was determined to make the most of her limited

and she both found the experience novel.

beamed. "Whitney, this ombre layered fringe dress is perfect for you. You'd look absolutely

didn't have the time or energy to care about

she was still a girl, and her innate

noticed the longing in

she admired the dresses.

that moment, Whitney seemed

a person, but

of how she used to smile as a

QLIMS

smile in a long time.

much.

would look great on you too. You're so

her fingers. "I do not have to wear

visit you often, and we'll have so much fun together. Let me buy it for you. A girl should always

I don't want it." Whitney shook

money