Loved You Once But He's My Forever

Chapter 527 Not Even a Moment With Jeffrey gone, I turned to leave, but then my gaze landed on Amber and Dominic standing in the distance.

Dominic, dressed in solemn white, kept to the shadows, his figure barely noticeable. He didn't want attention. His quiet presence was a tribute to Jeffrey.

Years ago, Jeffrey had unknowingly saved his father and the Carlyns, and Dominic had never forgotten that debt.

Despite their efforts to remain hidden, I noticed them, trying to stay out of sight behind a tree. They looked suspicious, as if they were up to something.

Amber's voice suddenly broke the stillness. "We're here to pay respects, not to steal anything. You shouldn't crouch and skulk around."

Dominic reached over and ruffled her hair. "Calm down. We'll get in once the Boltons are gone."

Their relationship had clearly grown. Amber's voice wasn't as sharp as it once

was.

It didn't surprise me. Though Amber had come to love Dominic a little later, they had eventually found each other.

Life is short, after all. In the end, when two people truly love each other, the past seems like something better left behind.

Dominic's history wasn't much different from mine, either. He, too, had been shaped by loss.

I walked over to them, speaking softly, "Amber, it's been a while."

Amber jumped, startled. The moment she saw me, her face flushed red with annoyance. "Chloe, are you crazy? Do you enjoy scaring people?"

I couldn't help but laugh. "Scaring others isn't fun. But you, you're a riot. It's been forever since I had your homemade fruit juice. I was actually starting to miss it. Is that why you've been avoiding me? You don't want to make me any?"

The mention of fruit juice made her blush even deeper. "Don't you dare bring up fruit juice! You've already stolen my son. Isn't that enough?"

The Emerald Dragon organization had all but crumbled. Yael, the man once protected by the Carlyns, had returned to campus. He'd visit Everett and Everly, bringing them new toys he'd made with his own hands.

He wasn't as closed off as before. With so much talent, he even started live- streaming his carving sessions. He kept his face hidden, but I'd sometimes tune in. His streams often attracted tens of thousands of viewers.

Mostly women, who'd flood the comments with things like, "Kyah, your hands are perfect!"

"His voice is so calming!"

"Even without seeing his face, I'm pretty sure he's got abs!"

so I can screenshot your abs for

playing with rocks and play

this is the comment section, not a wishing well! Hey, cutie, I'm 56 years old with 30 years of cleaning experience. I make 450 dollars a month, can take care of kids and handle hard work. I'd love to date you-not

before I was completely freaked out by the

think I was

knew was that the mysterious guy behind the screen was blissfully unaware of all the madness surrounding him—simple, naïve, and completely unaffected by

On quiet afternoons, when the weight of the world lifted

a collection of his creations, each toy more than just a

I watched the kids play, my thoughts

you heard anything about Taylor?" The question left my lips before I could stop it, the worry still gnawing at

went missing, and yet I couldn't stop searching.

still looking. Sometimes I wish we'd put a chip in her, so we could

Jeffrey, just go ahead. He

the quiet

he had

carried the weight

connection seemed to hangover him like a

murmured, his voice steady but distant. "He probably didn't want to

sharp. "I don't want to see him either. If it weren't for him, my sister wouldn't have ...

this is all Brynn's doing. Jeffrey was a victim in

lost somewhere far beyond us. "Look

me was darker and crueler

could someone be so callous,

"Amber," I said, trying to move past the discomfort in the air, "The organization is falling apart. You've already torn through so many of them. What's next

laugh, her eyes distant. "What's next? Whatever life

woman I once knew. Amber had become something else more subdued, more

Dominic. His expression was one of quiet resignation, his shoulders heavy with a burden only he could truly understand. "People

past. Not really."

just wants his parents to love him. You left

Are you really going to

hung in the

Boltons had

came over. His presence was a small relief in the tense silence.

down and gently cupped his face in her hands, her smile tender as she pinched