Loved You Once But He's My Forever (Chloe)

After hearing Grandma's words, I was struck silent. For as long as I could remember, she had always been the person who treated me with the most kindness.

I had always thought of her as the purest, most selfless soul-someone who had devoted herself entirely to the family while showing only coldness to outsiders.

I reflected on Yael's chaotic nature, the tangled affairs between Taylor and Whitney, Amber's mental collapse at Dominic's hands, and even Wisteria's transformation into someone unrecognizable.

It all traced back to Grandma's influence on the Carlyns. Could I really claim to be blameless? Wasn't the entire Carlyn family equally guilty?

The Sanders' shadow still loomed over them after all these years.

It seemed as if Grandma thought they should have accepted their fate long ago.

She suggested that if they hadn't resisted, only Mrs. Carlyn Senior would have been the only one to suffer insult. She had already extended mercy to them, and with a little humility, the Carlyns could have healed and moved forward.

But it was their stubbornness, their refusal to let go of old grievances, that had dragged on the curse for three generations.

I could understand her reasoning-survival in a world where only the strong thrive. Everyone was trying to rise higher, but I couldn't quite agree with her way of thinking.

If the Sanders had reached their wealth and power at the expense of others, then I'd rather live in humble circumstances.

Without the hatred that plagued the Carlyns, my brothers would have had bright futures as ordinary men. I wouldn't have met Luke, and I certainly wouldn't be facing such a tragic end.

Maybe in another life, I would have been with Carter instead.

But could I really blame Grandma? We, the ones who had benefited from this situation, were the least qualified to do so.

It was too late now. All the mistakes had been made, and we had to bear the consequences of the Sanders' actions. Grandma's words only seemed to fuel the Carlyns' anger further.

Dominic's normally gentle face hardened with fury. "So, you want me to thank you for your 'great kindness'? My sister was ripped from our mother's arms as an infant, denied her milk, and soon after she died. And now you still have the audacity to speak this way? If we show mercy to you, who will show mercy to us?"

His eyes gleamed with cold malice as he stared down Grandma. "Do you want us to leave, or are you planning to wipe us out? You know exactly what you're doing-twisting the truth just to look good in front of your granddaughter. It's disgusting."

The truth didn't matter anymore. The fact was clear: the Sanders owed the Carlyns, and there was no denying it. I couldn't argue with that.

I stepped forward, trying to calm him. "Mr. Carlyn, the Sanders have already wronged you. They've paid the price with three lives. Whitney's been tortured for 20 years, and she's lived a life worse than death. The Sanders are on the brink of collapse, and Greg can barely survive. Isn't that enough punishment?"

I feared that if their anger wasn't quelled, none of us would leave this place alive.

"Enough?" Dominic sneered. "Let the ancestors of the Carlyn family decide. Take them to their graves."

I had known this day would come. The Carlyns would use the Sanders' blood to honor their ancestors.

Grandma and Josh, both struggling to walk, were dragged roughly away by men in black, Josh handled like a limp ragdoll.

I feared Grandma would suffer the same fate, so I quickly crouched in front of her. "Grandma, let me carry you."

"Chloe, I... " she began, her voice weak.

"Get on my back," I insisted. Despite everything, despite how the Carlyns saw her as a devil, she would always be my Grandma.

There was nothing I could do to undo the past, but I would do what I could for her now.

Grandma had always maintained a slender figure, even in her youth. Despite her age, she was still lean, never carrying much weight.

In recent months, she hadn't gained any-if anything, she had lost some. Even now, as I carried her, she couldn't have weighed more than 80 pounds. It wasn't much for me to manage.

Her voice quivered as she whispered, "Chloe, I'm so sorry."

I smiled gently. "There's no need to apologize. You took care of me when I was little. Now it's my turn to look after you. No matter what happens, this is what a granddaughter does." Kate and Josh overheard this conversation. Kate looked at me, her eyes filled with unshed tears, but she said nothing.

Whitney, who had been with the bodyguards, gestured for them to disperse, and she, along with Kate, helped Josh catch up to us. Dominic watched with a cold smirk but didn't intervene.

It wasn't until w

we stepped outside

that I realized we were no longer at

the same house where Yael had

once taken me. The air was thiet

with danger, and I could feel the presence of venomous snakes surrounding us.

Kate, who had never witnessed such a sight, screamed in terror. "Ah! So many snakes!"

"Shut up, or I'll cut your tongue out," Dominic hissed, his voice icily calm.

Kate immediately fell silent, her face streaming with tears.

I ignored her fear and continued walking, focusing on carrying Grandma.

Grandma's voice faltered. "I must be heavy, right? You can put me down. I can walk by myself."

"You're not heavy at all, Grandma. You're so light. Haven't you been eating well lately?" I said, trying to lift her spirits.

Her gaze wandered over the endless sea, her thoughts far away.

Greg, freshly bandaged, caught up with us, and Wisteria, like a ghost, emerged from the shadows, her cloak billowing in the breeze, revealing the white dress beneath.

A chill ran down my spine. I had a terrible feeling that today would be the end for the Sanders.

I was powerless to stop what was coming. I couldn't protect Grandma for much longer.

Grandma seemed to sense that the end was near, but she wasn't afraid. She whispered in my ear, as if it were a secret shared between us, just like before.

"I always thought Luke wasn't the right one for you. Now I know I was right. You should be with Carter. He's a nice kid."

I nodded. "I know, Grandma. I'll never let Carter down."

"I just wish I could see you get married... I'd love to help you with your children. Will you have a handsome boy or a beautiful girl? I'm really looking forward to it..."

Her words cut through me, and I couldn't hold back my tears. They blurred my vision, but I didn't care.

We both knew that the Carlyns' graveyard wouldn't be just for their ancestors today. The Sanders would join them.

My rebirth couldn't change any of this. All I could do was watch as fate unfolded.

But even if I could change things, what would I do? If I protected the Sanders, would that erase the suffering of the Carlyns? What would make me different from their evil? This was fate. A fate no one could escape.

Today would mark the end of the Sanders. What about me? When and how would my death come?

Feeling hopeless, I whispered, my voice shaky, "I'll have two, Grandma. When the time comes, I'll bring them to see you. Would that be alright?"

I couldn't even bring myself to lie and tell her she'd live a long life.

Grandma smiled faintly. "Two is good-one boy, one girl."

A warmth spread down my neck as

her words pierced my heart. "It's a blessing that you were reborn in

Zoey's body. That way, you won't et

carry the Sanders' blood. You'll

u'll live

clean pure life, and your children

won't carry the same curse

It's

better this way, Chloe. Very good."

I couldn't hold back my tears any longer. They fell freely.

"Chloe, my time is coming. After I'm gone, don't hate the Carlyns. This is something owe them. Don't carry.

on the grudges of the past. Live at

good life with Carter. Forget

eliet

me-this sinful Grandma. Forget those heartless relatives.

sad for us. Move forward be

don'tnoveldrama

look back..."