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.

have hurt the Sanders so much. How can you smile at

probably would have

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

mere pawn, I wanted to go

me before she passed to

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

why had Grandma brought them

so

Grandma had played a final trick on Dominic before she

had wanted Dominic to investigate and exact revenge

identity and the danger

harmless. We were

her

his hold on her, allowing her to

why he had kept the Sanders' past hidden, even pushing Whitney to hate

her to live, even with

didn't explain further. "You haven't eaten all day. You need to

the strength for eve you

else."

face darkened. "Chloe, I

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

her. Whitney seemed to remember something and lowered her head,

"threat of love" was harsh, but it

ate a little too, leaving some for

glanced down, his expression grim. "Don't worry. My mom won't let

but sigh, seeing his sad

to speak

tree somewhere. Just find

"Why?"

it's easier to cry, throw a fit, or hang yourself on strong branches that

I was speechless.

was going on

best I could. With Taylor there, I didn't need

them, and as Taylor had said, he

in an orchard, safe from snakes. It was clean, and there wasn't a snake

a bedsheet, shouting about how death was better

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

was clear-she was acting like a spoiled