Loved You Once But He's My Forever

Chapter 525 Farewell A weight settled in my chest, cold and crushing. I could not wait any longer-I had to call Carter.

The phone rang. Then, at last, his voice came through, rough, and weary. "Chloe."

I tried to speak, but the words caught in my throat. "Dad, he ... "

Carter's silence stretched before he forced the words out. "He's gone."

The phone slipped from my fingers, hitting the floor with a dull thud.

I had known this moment would come. Jeffrey prepared everything, leaving no loose ends. The signs were there. The outcome had always been certain.

But knowing and accepting were two different things.

The finality of it struck like a blade, sharp and merciless.

I dropped to my knees, my hands covering my face. Sobs broke free, and tears spilled between my fingers. My whole body shook.

He had been a good man. A pillar of quiet strength. For 20 years, he had stood in my life like an unwavering presence, and I had come to love him as a grandfather.

If he had stayed-weak, frail, bound to a hospital bed—it wouldn't have mattered.

He still would have been here. There would have been someone to visit, someone to miss.

Now, he was gone, and with him, the last thread holding the Boltons together had begun to fray.

"Jeffrey, why did it have to be this way?"

His health had failed him, but medicine had come so far. The Boltons had wealth,

power, and connections. They could have kept him here a little longer.

But Carter had been right. No one could hold back a man who had already chosen to go.

grandmother. Now, I had to bury Jeffrey,

people who had loved me, guided me, made me

gentle. "Ma'am, the master left strict instructions. You must take care of

ago, laughter had filled the house. Now, silence pressed in from every side. I looked up and saw Everett standing still, his gaze distant, his eyes searching for

the air. A warmth, light and fleeting, brushed over me, like a

course, I saw nothing. But I knew. He had

couldn't leave his grandson behind. He couldn't leave me behind. Not yet. Not before he

was smiling, his voice filled with the same kindness he had always carried. "Chloe, don't cry. I'm only going

whispered through trembling lips, "I'll take care of Everett and

draft stirred the air, lifting a few strands of my

then settled. The house remained as it

had let

sudden, piercing cries, their laughter

sprang into

to prepare formula, and

milk and

wet, and they just ate. Could they

the dampness from my face, pushing myself upright with their help. "No.

but obeyed,

came weakly. "Tell the butler to

older nanny frowned.

words stuck. It took effort to force them out. "My father-in-

two women stiffened, eyes darting between

minds, grief had cursed this house, following us

patience for questions. I waved them off.

"Yes, ma'am."

tiny faces were blotchy with tears, their cries still hiccupping in their throats. I gave

too little to understand. Their exhaustion soon won over, and

sleep did not