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.

How can

probably would have agreed. But now, my perspective

while the Carlyns weren't saints, they had their reasons. Both sides were guilty in

a mere pawn, I wanted to go after the

to

made it clear they wouldn't harm Whitney or me. That meant Grandma was warning me

had Grandma brought them up in front of

nearing the end, so why not

only explanation was that Grandma had played a final trick on Dominic before

So, she had wanted

Grandma had known the Commander's true identity and the danger it posed-so great that she didn't want me to face

We were all struggling together, facing the same tragic

knowledge; her pain was

his hold on her, allowing her to regain her

kept the Sanders' past hidden, even pushing

with that hate. It

"You haven't eaten

strength for eve you

else."

"Chloe, I don't want to

Taylor's cold voice cut through. "If you don't

to remember something and lowered her

"threat of love" was harsh, but it

little too, leaving some for

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

couldn't help but sigh, seeing his sad

wanted to

find a big one,

"Why?"

a fit, or hang yourself on strong branches

I was speechless.

going on between Amber

With Taylor there, I

two of them, and as Taylor had said, he was

found them in an orchard, safe from snakes. It was

shouting about how death

his back as her footrest. I had no idea how long

was clear-she was acting like