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

Seeing Whitney collapse to the ground, sobbing uncontrollably with tears streaming down her face, I felt my heart ache.

I gently wrapped my arms around her from behind. "The wind outside is strong. Let's go inside. He mentioned your health isn't great and that you're likely to catch a cold out here."

Her sobs only grew louder after my words. Between her cries, she managed to ask, "Chloe, why didn't you tell me earlier?"

"He had his reasons," I replied softly. "The truth is, he didn't implant a chip in you-it was just a bluff."

I remembered Taylor's expression when he spoke those words to me the night before. His eyes reflected a mixture of sorrow and tenderness. "She's so gullible, like a bunny," he'd said. "I tricked her into believing there was a chip that would explode if she wandered off. And she believed it. Can you imagine how foolish she is?"

But it wasn't Whitney who was foolish it was him.

I couldn't follow his suggestion to deceive Whitney.

From my experience with Carter, I understood that he hid the truth from me because he wanted to save me, thinking it was for my good.

But I couldn't let him carry everything on his own.

I didn't want Whitney to end up like me. No matter what would happen to Taylor, Whitney had the right to know the truth.

Nobody, not even Taylor, should make decisions for her.

I continued, "Back then, Wisteria had already planned everything. He didn't want you to get hurt, so he used the chip and the lives of the Sanders to force you into a corner. That day, when you had no choice but to kill your father, he didn't want that guilt to stay with you forever. He'd rather you hate him than live with that burden. He lied to me, saying the ashes were Josh's, but they were actually Grandma's. He deceived Dominic and gave them to me.

"He asked me to keep it a secret from you and even suggested giving you a drug to erase your memories. Without those memories, you could live your life as if none of this ever happened. You could wake up and start fresh as Anna Sander, leaving Whitney behind." Whitney clung to me, her tears soaking into my clothes.

"Chloe, why are you telling me all this?"

"Because this is something only you and he can deal with. No one else can decide for you. You deserve to know what's truly going on. I have the drug, but it's up to you whether to take it or not." With red-rimmed eyes, she looked up at me. "What about him?"

I gently wiped her tears away. "He has his journey, and you have yours. You're almost 26. It's time to let go of the past and move forward. Don't let regrets hold you back.

"Freedom is what lies ahead."

"Freedom? Do I truly have it now?"

"Yes, you're free."

Whitney slowly stood up with my help. She glanced back, but the ship had already drifted too far from the shore for her to see anyone.

I gently stroked her tear-streaked cheek and asked, "What are you thinking?"

"Chloe, I'm thinking ..."

"You're thinking about him, right?"

"No, I'm thinking about the path that got me here."

I wasn't sure if Whitney truly loved Taylor, but one thing was clear-he was no longer part of her life.

"Chloe, I'm okay now. Can you leave me alone for a bit?" she asked softly, gently pushing me away. "Okay."

I took the cloak Taylor had left for her and draped it over her shoulders.

Whitney's tears started flowing again when she saw the cloak. She held it tightly, her nails digging into the fabric as she whispered, "No one will ever understand me like he did."

I gave her some space to process, then turned and went inside the cabin.

Kate glanced up at me, hesitant to approach. Greg was sitting with Josh, both of them looking awkward.

Josh seemed like he wanted to say something, but I didn't give them the chance and avoided them completely.noveldrama

Their apologies didn't matter to me anymore. The Chloe who had longed for their love was gone, buried by their constant pain and neglect.

Carter pulled me into his arms. "Rest for a while."

"Okay."

His embrace was the only place I felt safe. I closed my eyes and let the rocking of the ship lull me to sleep.

In my dream, I saw an elderly woman with silver hair, standing by the sea and playing an ocarina, all alone.

As the sun set, she placed the

instrument on the shore and walked into the water, allowing it to engulf her. Her face was calm, without fear, as she smiled and drifted toward the deep sea.

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"No!"

I woke up suddenly, my heart racing. Carter stirred beside me, looking at me with concern.

"Did you have a nightmare?"

The feeling of the cold waves crashing around me lingered. The water seemed to suffocate me, rushing in from all directions.

I gripped Carter's sleeve tightly and reached up to touch his cheek.

"Carl, Carl..."

"What's wrong?"

"I don't want to be alone. Please don't leave me." I clung to him, afraid and uncertain.

"Silly girl, it was just a dream. How could I ever leave you?"

He gently stroked my hair. "We're almost at the shore."

The sun was high in the sky, and the sea was calm, with no sign of the island. All that had happened there felt like a distant dream.

I lost Grandma. The Carlyns got their revenge. Whitney found her freedom.

It was all over.

A helicopter was waiting on the shore, arranged by Carter. The Sanders had to take a car back since the helicopter had limited seats.

I looked at Whitney, hoping she'd come with me.

But she had already made her choice. "Chloe, the Sanders need me more than you do."

I understood. The Sander residence, even in its broken state, was still her home.

She couldn't leave the Sanders at this time.

"Alright, let's keep in touch when we're back."

"Okay."

Carter boarded the helicopter. I was about to follow when someone suddenly rushed up from behind and hugged me.

Kate's hot tears soaked into my neck, and her voice cracked as she said, "Chloe, I know what we did to you is unforgivable.

"After everything, I finally understand

the pain you went through. I should have protected you, should have recognized you sooner. All the

mistakes were ours."

If it had happened months ago, I might have been happy to hear her say those things.

But now, I gently pulled her hands off me, tucked a strand of white hair behind her ear, and looked her in the eye.

"Mrs. Sander, you're mistaken. Your daughter Chloe is gone. Don't you remember?"

I smiled faintly at her. "The person

standing in front of you now is Zoey. My mother is Philippa, and my father is Bill Please don't make the same

mistake next time we move

With that, I turned and walked away, hearing Kate's heartbreaking cries behind me. "Chloe, can't you just call me Mom one more time?"