Loved You Once But He's My Forever

Chapter 537 I Will Always Protect You

When I finally understood that Eleanor had orchestrated everything, the pieces fell into place. As I thought back over the time spent with her, it became clear.

She had always pushed me to learn how to make the dishes Carter loved. She even told me that after she was gone, if Carter ever wanted those meals, I should be the one to cook them for him.

Now everything made sense. She had been preparing me all along to carry on her legacy in the kitchen. Even though Carter would no longer have his mother with him, her spirit, her presence, would remain in the meals she had taught me to prepare.

Every mother loves her child.

Eleanor was far from perfect, but from the start to the end, she had given every ounce of her love to her son.

Even in death, her thoughts remained with him.

Had she not passed, she would have always stood between us.

Jeffrey's death had dealt her a heavy blow too.

Though he had never loved her, he had been a piece of her life. And with his death, all the hope she had held on to faded away.

Carter held her close, tears soaking his shirt, trickling down her neck.

I stayed silent, simply standing by his side, offering my presence without words.

From a distance, Amber appeared, holding an umbrella above her. "Carter, please don't be sad. This was your mother's wish. She lived her life for you. As long as you and Chloe are happy, she has no regrets."

"Did she ever tell you what she wanted us to do with her remains?"

Amber's voice cracked, and her eyes were swollen from crying. "At first, she wanted to be buried beside your father, so she could haunt him forever. But later, she changed her mind. She wanted her ashes scattered in the ocean. Trapped in life, she hoped to be free in death, drifting with the wind, wherever it may lead her."

Her words hung in the air, heavy with sadness. The world around us seemed colorless, as though a storm cloud had settled over everything.

Our wedding had transformed into a funeral.

and Eleanor-both lost

relentlessly, adding weight

ill with a high fever

people came to bid me goodbye-Grandma, Ethan, Jake, Jeffrey, and Eleanor. Their voices were soft, overlapping as the scenes around me shifted and changed

The dreams kept coming.

the day we first met. She had mimicked

her as a sister, and I would have greeted

was pale, her eyes locked on mine, unblinking, full

His

He was

gave me one last lingering look before turning away and walking

matter how hard I tried, I couldn't wake up.

Luke appeared. He wore a white shirt, calm and

was gentle as he called my name. "Chloe, I'm

shirt, desperate. "I'm

had loved him, and I had hated him, but I never wished for his

over my head. "Chloe, don't carry any burdens.

the happiest. Live on, and I

urged me away. "Go back. Don't

emptiness. When I opened my eyes again, I found

I'll bring in

tears on my face, my throat raw as I

who are gone. No matter how hard we tried, you wouldn't wake up. It was as if something

remembered that last push, the one that Luke had

the room, landing on the crib next to me. My body

had been weighed down, heavy and

chest, urging me back down. "Don't move, don't move. You still have a

her arms.