Loved You Once But He's My Forever

Chapter 516 New Year Zoey shot Harlan an annoyed look. "What are you doing here?"

He looked a little travel-worn as if he had just rushed over from somewhere far away. But at least he seemed better than the last time I saw him, when he was stuck in a cast.

I let out a small sigh of relief. After all, he had gotten hurt because of us.

If he had died in that accident, I would never have forgiven myself.

I had no idea how things were progressing between him and Zoey, but one thing was certain he still had feelings for her.

You could always tell when a man was truly in love.

Just like now-his eyes, his entire world, were only filled with Zoey.

In his hand wasn't his usual briefcase, but a food container. "Didn't you say you love my staff's cooking? I asked him to make something for you before I came. I kept it warm on the way-it should still be hot. Try it."

Zoey's retort caught in her throat. "Huh? Oh. Fine."

Then, Harlan turned to Carter. "I heard Chloe made it back alive. Where is she? I even brought something she likes."

He really had to pick that topic, didn't he?

Zoey shot him a warning glance, but Harlan just frowned. "What's wrong with your eye? Got dust in it? Want me to blow it out?"

Without another word, she grabbed him by the arm and dragged him out of the room.

I turned to Carter. "He didn't mean anything by it. Don't let it bother you."

"I'm fine."

But he wasn't fine. The weight of everything still lingered in his gaze, heavy and unresolved. I knew what was tormenting him-me, but I had no way to fix it.

I wanted to return to my body, but something invisible, something I couldn't understand, kept me from getting close.

I didn't know why. Carter grew quieter and quieter.

accounts, I was alive. But I wouldn't wake up. The doctors had made their final diagnosis-I was in a

tried everything to bring me back, but nothing

could only rely on the flickering flame and our children's reactions to

only see me within a short

they never saw me as something otherworldly. Wherever I moved, their tiny eyes followed,

would chuckle. "Look at them. It's like an invisible fairy

She had no idea.

babies saw-what they followed so intently-was

about it a lot. If I could stay with them like this forever, maybe it wouldn't be so

worried... What would happen

had a mother they could

an eye.

again, and with it, the reminder of my looming

took care of me every single day. The nurses whispered about how they had never seen a man

them, nodding along. "I

the

brought the babies back to the

lot. He had prepared a gift for the babies-pendants for

eyes were red as he listened to Carter

Everett and Everly...

way he staggered as he left as if he might collapse

next day... My death

funerals when I was alive. And now, as a spirit, I

A once-in-a-lifetime experience.

twins to visit

carefully wrapped basket of hydrangeas, covered in

were my favorite.

stood beside Carter, gazing at my own gravestone. The photo etched into it would always show

fingers over my own face. It was me, and yet ... it

at

want to live," Carter murmured. "What

to Damian, then knelt down to carefully clean the snow off my

bouquet of