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

guided me, made me feel like

me, her voice 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 something unseen. Then, slowly,

A warmth, light and fleeting, brushed over

him. Of course, I saw nothing.

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

kindness he had always carried. "Chloe, don't cry. I'm only going where

in my throat, and I whispered through trembling lips, "I'll take

a few strands of my hair before

curtains shifted, then settled. The house remained

had let

twins let out sudden, piercing cries, their laughter vanishing as if snatched away by

sprang into

and

refused milk and comfort alike. Their

and they just ate. Could they be sick? Should

my face, pushing myself

obeyed, exchanging

weakly. "Tell the butler to make

nanny frowned. "For what,

stuck. It took effort

darting between me and the

minds, grief had cursed this

had no patience for questions. I waved them off.

"Yes, ma'am."

them gently. Their tiny faces were blotchy with tears, their cries still hiccupping in their throats. I gave them the softest smile I could muster. "Don't cry. Grandpa's gone to

Their exhaustion soon won over, and their breathing evened

sleep did not come for