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.

the butterfly flitted from place to place, never pausing for long. It danced with the breeze, as if the world were a playground to explore, never bound to stay in one

night market, laughing as she held candied apple in one hand and an ice cream cone in the

picture of youth and joy, standing beside a tall man who spoke

every Bolton descendant, as if

it moved on, one last farewell to each of

to the colorful butterfly, their

paused again, fluttering its wings before it landed on Adam's

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

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

of age, the sister had died protecting

legs fractured, his spirit shattered too. He was like a puppet, moving only

resemblance he looked so much like a young Jeffrey. The old hag had kept him close, as

had a twisted, cruel plan to bear a child from the Bolton

with wealth and legacy. But the truth

ago, she had loved Jeffrey. They were a perfect match-both from respected

chosen a different path. He had fallen for a poor flower

make Jeffrey see her as the one he needed to

as a sister. She

the Commander. But that marked her

saw him with the flower seller, her

deepened, while her own life with Commander slipped further

she was with him, the colder her heart became. Her bitterness grew

her further

in love that hurt the most-couples

pregnant wife, his arm around her as he

had longed for, everything

had not been trying to please Commander. She had her eyes set on

had noticed the woman at the temple, pregnant and seeking 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 servant, her

hag, consumed by the jealousy she had carried for years,

Mrs. Carlyn Senior, he did

own life. He grew to care for her, and he had plans about

boiled inside her.

especially one

set out to destroy Mrs. Carlyn. She sent her into another man's

emotionally. With that, she crushed any hope

so, she tore apart

shattered.

for the Sander family, my 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,

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

Brynn hated above all else was Mrs. Bolton-the woman whom Jeffrey had fiercely protected, the woman who had captured his

Women she secretly drugged, hoping