Loved You Once But He's My Forever

Chapter 526 Goodbye We sent Jeffrey off, the final step of a long journey. Everything had been planned by him, down to the smallest detail—his burial beside his first wife.

It wasn't in the Bolton family plot, but in a quiet valley, where the air was crisp and the wildflowers bloomed in abundance.

There were no speeches, no grand ceremony. It was just us, the immediate family, standing in silent respect as he was laid to rest.

Carter spoke first, breaking the stillness. "He always said we didn't need to visit on holidays. He owed her too much. She spent her life tied down, trapped by the Bolton name. She never knew a moment of peace. But now, in death, he can finally make it up to her. He has all the time in the world to share with her, to explore the world they never had."

A man who had spent his whole life bound by duty-who would've guessed that in the end, he'd choose to let go?

When the rich are buried, it's always a grand affair-the best time, the best place, the perfect conditions for prosperity and family legacy. People consult experts, check the stars, and ensure that everything is just right.

But Jeffrey? He didn't care about any of that.

He spent his years working to preserve the Bolton legacy. But on the day he chose to die, he was free.

Carter wiped away the tear at my cheek. "Dad said not to cry, this isn't an end. It's a new beginning."

I nodded, unsure of what to say.

"It's beautiful here," Carter continued. "The birds, the flowers... He won't be alone."

"Yeah."

It didn't feel like a funeral. It felt more like a quiet goodbye.

We set the tribute and the wreaths, and that was all.

Everett and Everly had been still, calm in their stroller. But then, they started laughing.

Their tiny hands reached up, swiping at the air, their eyes focused on something only they could see.

Above them, two butterflies danced-one pure white, the other bright with color. Maybe they didn't see butterflies at all.

The white one landed gently on Carter's shoulder, while the colorful one fluttered in front of me.

Suddenly, I remembered Jeffrey's words. "Your mother-in-law always had a love for beauty. Even if she turned into a butterfly, she'd still be the most beautiful one in the garden."

The white butterfly gently landed on Carter's shoulder, as if a soft hand had rested there, offering a quiet blessing. It seemed to whisper, "The Boltons are yours now", a weight passing from one pair of hands to another.

The colorful butterfly hovered near me, its wings flicking with a deliberate grace. It felt like it was studying me, examining the life I had led. Jeffrey must have told it everything—the trials, the twists, the paths I'd taken.

I forced back the lump in my throat, my voice thick with emotion. "Jeffrey, don't worry. I'll take care of the kids and Carter." I wanted to believe it myself, but the weight of his absence was already pressing down.

The butterfly hovered over the dessert beside the gravestone, resting for a moment. Carter had prepared it as a small tribute to Jeffrey's wife, remembering her fondness for sweets. It was a simple, quiet gesture, but somehow, it felt like the most meaningful one.

place to place, never pausing for long. It danced with the breeze, as if the world were a playground to

She ran through a bustling night market, laughing as she held candied apple in one hand and an ice cream cone in the other.

tall man who spoke softly, offering wisdom in gentle tones, guiding her forward,

Bolton

a moment before it moved on, one last farewell to each of

the colorful

its

was the child she had fought to bring into the world,

twins. The old hag had plotted to use them as weapons in her vengeance

eight years of age, the sister had died

fractured, his spirit shattered too. He was like a puppet, moving only because his strings hadn't

like a young Jeffrey. The old hag had kept him close, as if he were some

plan to bear

with wealth

loved Jeffrey. They were a perfect match-both from respected families,

for a poor flower seller, and Commander's eyes

had thought that agreeing to the marriage would make Jeffrey see her as the one he

saw her as a sister.

Commander. But that marked her descent into madness, into

saw him with the flower seller, her heart broke a

the woman only deepened, while her own life with Commander slipped

more she was with him, the colder her

twisting and pulling her further away

of couples in love that

Jeffrey with his pregnant wife, his arm around her as he whispered soft words of affection. The tenderness

everything she had longed for, everything she could never

please Commander. She had her eyes set on Mrs. Carlyn Senior from the very

blessings. My grandmother's eyes darkened with jealousy as she watched Mrs. Carlyn Senior. "She must be about to give birth," she murmured to the

words to my grandmother. The hag, consumed

saw Mrs. Carlyn

was immediately drawn to her beauty. But it wasn't just that-he admired her kindness, something he hadn't found in his own life. He grew to care for her, and he had plans about

Brynn learned the truth, fury boiled inside her. She couldn't stand the thought

especially

out to destroy Mrs. Carlyn. She sent her into another man's bed, breaking

crushed any hope

in doing so, she tore apart the Carlyns' happiness, leaving them broken

shattered.

grandfather was a man too weak to stand on his own, easily swayed by those around him. My grandmother, though strong and determined, had no illusions about love. They cared for each other, but there was a burden between them that neither could

he would have never chosen, introducing him to other women, hoping to break his faith in loyalty and love. This subtle manipulation set the stage for the Carlyns' revenge. My grandfather's health had already begun to fail. The Carlyns knew exactly how to finish him off— by introducing a few more women

else was Mrs. Bolton-the woman whom Jeffrey had fiercely

over and over, to send him women. Women she secretly drugged, hoping he would fall for them. But every