Loved You Once But He's My Forever

Chapter 453 Grandma Had Played a Final Trick on Dominic

I felt powerless as an observer. The rift between them was too wide for mere words to mend.

I had already suspected Taylor's motives.

I approached Whitney and helped her to her feet. "Don't cry. You need to be careful with your heart. What if you make yourself sick?"

It was only when she saw me that Whitney seemed to find some comfort. She threw herself into my arms, her tears flowing freely as if she were a helpless child.

I gently patted her back. "There, there. You still have me. I will always be here for you."

Whitney sobbed, her voice breaking as she choked on her words. "But... my dad and the others..."

"They're gone now. All we can do is live on. You're the only family I have left in the Sanders family. If something happens to you, I don't know what I'll do."

I knew I was laying it on thick, but I needed her to find a reason to keep going. Even if it was just for me, she had to push through.

She sniffled, and I wiped away her tears, glancing over at Taylor. "Do you have any food?"

"Yes, come with me."

I helped Whitney stand. She hadn't eaten in nearly a full day, and she had grown so frail. My only wish was to help her regain her strength, even if just a little.

As we entered the dining room, a tall figure pulled me in a hug. Yael, his voice thick with worry, muttered, "You really scared me!"

Now that I understood the secrets of the Carlyns, I no longer feared him.

I patted his head and smiled. "See? I'm still here. No need to be scared."

Yael, so large with his red-rimmed eyes, reminded me of a big polar bear.

I recalled childhood pictures of him, all chubby and adorable.

If life had been kinder to him, perhaps he wouldn't have turned out this way. He would have had loving parents.

"I'm starving," I said, trying to gently push his bulky form aside.

A grin spread across his face. "I've already made the food. You need to eat a lot."

He quickly grabbed bowls and utensils. Whitney, however, was frowning, clearly unhappy to see me so comfortable with the Carlyns.

so much. How can you smile at him? He's

Chloe's body, I probably would

weren't blameless either, and while the Carlyns weren't saints, they had their reasons. Both sides

a mere pawn, I wanted to go after the real threat behind

passed to let go of revenge and not

That meant Grandma was warning me not

brought them up in front

end, so why not

Grandma had played a final trick

couldn't accept the Sanders' fall from grace and dragging future generations down with it. So, she had wanted Dominic to investigate and

the danger it posed-so great that she didn't want me to

harmless. We were all struggling

this knowledge; her

his hold on

the Sanders' past hidden, even pushing Whitney to

even with that hate.

"You haven't eaten all day. You

the strength

else."

darkened. "Chloe, I don't want

Taylor's cold voice cut through. "If

beside her. Whitney seemed to remember something and

love" was harsh, but it

ate a little too, leaving

his expression grim. "Don't worry. My mom

seeing his sad face.

wanted to speak

a tree somewhere. Just find a big one, and

"Why?"

a fit, or hang yourself on strong

I was speechless.

was going on between Amber

could. With Taylor there, I didn't

two of them, and as Taylor had

in an orchard, safe from snakes. It was clean, and

was waving a bedsheet, shouting about how

footrest. I had no idea how long they

was acting like a spoiled