Loved You Once But He's My Forever

Chapter 425 Wasn't Going Anywhere

The room was filled with stunned faces, especially from the Carlyns brothers.

They had no idea what | was doing.

Yael, mid-motion of passing a ravioli, froze so suddenly that his hand shook, sending the dumpling plopping back

onto the plate.

Whitney stared at me, dumbfounded, her thoughts likely racing to piece together what on earth had transpired

overnight. Her gaze flicked between Amber and me, suspicion etched across her face. She was probably

thinking, "Whoever or whatever you are, get out of Amber's body!"

It was too surreal for her to process.

Carter, on the other hand, seemed to have figured something out. His expression grew darker by the second.

Yael whispered nervously, "Chloe, you..."

| took a sip of the soy milk and said casually, "What's everyone so shocked about? Amber is Carter's aunt. Since

Carter and | are married, it's only proper that | respect her. Amber, wouldn't you agree?" Amber's reply was stiff

but obedient: "Yes."

Just last night, she catwith a dagger, ready to end me. And now? Here we are, playing the picture-

perfect happy family.

This absurd plot twist was beyond anyone's imagination. Taylor, notably, remained silent throughout.

Even Yael, sensing something was off, couldn't figure out where the pieces didn't fit.

The breakfast continued, though everyone seemed lost in their thoughts.

As soon as we finished eating, Amber turned to Taylor. "Cto the study with me."

"Okay, Mom," Taylor replied, but not before givinga deep, piercing look.

In the past, Taylor often wore a fake smile, one that gave nothing away. But now, his expression had shifted to

something colder and more foreboding-far more unsettling than his false cheer.

He followed Amber out. Yael, still uneasy, tried inching closer to me, but Carter's icy glare made him instinctively

retreat.

Whitney, restless and on edge, finally blurted out, "Chloe, what exactly happened last night?"

Carter was also watchingintently, waiting for an explanation.

"I talked with Amber," | said lightly. "She was moved by my sincerity and agreed to convince Taylor to let you

go."

Whitney and Yael exchanged disbelieving looks. "That's impossible," Yael scoffed. "Taylor is obsessed with

Whitney. He'd rather die than let her go."

Whitney didn't say anything, but the doubt in her eyes mirrored Yael's sentiment.

It wouldn't be easy, but Amber had already agreed to help. If she made the promise, she would find a way to

control Taylor.

Just then, a loud bang echoed from the study, followed by the sound of porcelain shattering.

"Taylor!" Yael cried, bolting from his seat toward the noise.

I hurried after him.

Inside the study, Taylor was on his knees amidst shards of broken porcelain. Blood streamed down his forehead

from a fresh cut caused by the jagged fragments.

Amber, ever composed in Carter's presence, was known for her volatile temper otherwise. She was a ticking time

bomb, and her sons had learned to tread carefully around her.

But | had underestimated how much Taylor cared for Whitney.

Ignoring his injury, Taylor straightened his back and stared Amber down. "Mom," he said firmly, "I'll agree to

anything you ask. But Anna is my everything. If you're determined to tear us apart, you might as well kill me

right now."

| cut in coldly, "Tear you apart? You've got snerve calling it that. You've kept Whitney locked away for years.

‘Mutual affection’ doesn't mean much when it's one-sided possession."

Taylor shota cold glance. "Chloe, what happens between Anna andis none of your business. Not even if

you're her sister."

"You!"

Before | could say more, Carter wrapped his arm around my waist, pullingback and silently urgingto stay

calm.

| took a deep breath. "Marriage isn't just about two people-it's about two families as well. It's not something

driven purely by your possessiveness. If you truly love Whitney, shouldn't you respect her feelings?" Taylor

turned to Whitney. She stood silently by my side, her thoughts unreadable.

"Anna," Taylor said firmly, "I told you I'd marry you, and no one can cbetween us."

His face betrayed an unhealthy obsession, and the blood dripping slowly from his forehead only made him look

more unnerving.

"Taylor, you've been forcing Whitney to stay by your side for years. Has she been happy? Have you?"

My question left him silent. Over the

past few days, I'd noticed him trying to change. He no longer treated Whitney like something he could simply

take for himself. Instead, he sought her approval, even to the point of groveling.

But Whitney's sadness lingered, a fact Taylor couldn't ignore.

"Even if you get married and have a wedding ceremony, do you think that will change your relationship?"

"That's between us and has nothing to do with you."

"Whitney will be 26 this year," | continued. "She's spent the best years of her life with you, yet how many of

those days have been truly happy? Her past has been nothing but darkness. Are you planning to dim the rest of

her life, too? To make her live like a shell of herself? Sure, you might be able to comforther today, but what about

tomorrow? Next year? Years down the line? Hearts change, Taylor. And when the day comes that you lose

interest in her, what then? That day will mark the end of her world. Both the Sanders and Carlyns have suffered

enough. Isn't it tto end this cycle?"

| sighed deeply. "I can see that you genuinely love Whitney and want to give her a good life. That proves

you've already started to let go of et

your hatred. So why not take it a step further? Let's compromise. | won't interfere with your wedding, but at the

very least, remove the chip from her body. Is that fair?"

"If you truly care for Whitney," | added, "treat her like a person, not someone shackled by a leash you're

constantly tightening."

Taylor locked eyes with Whitney. "If | remove the chip, will you leave me?"

My heart tightened. This was the critical moment. | silently prayed that Whitney wouldn't lash out at him or say

something harsh.

Taylor was beginning to crack under the pressure. We couldn't afford to lose this chance.

After a long silence, Whitney finally spoke. "I hope you'll givefreedom-not constant surveillance. If you can

do that, | promise | won't run."

Taylor studied her fragile frame. Perhaps he had always known the root of their problems.

| was betting everything on one truth: if a man truly loves someone, he won't let her live in misery.

Taylor closed his eyes and finally said "Fine. I'll do it. | trust you, and | hope you won't betray that trust."

A flicker of disbelief crossed Whitney's face. "You're willing to?"

With a bitter smile, Taylor nodded. "I don't want to lose you. And | don't want to hurt you anymore."

"When can she have the surgery?" | pressed.

"Let's schedule a check-up today. If everything looks good, she can have it tomorrow."

Relief washed over me. All my efforts had finally paid off. Whitney would soon be free.

Amber, seemingly uninterested, rubbed her temples and looked at me. "Well, now that this is resolved, you and

Carter should head back."

Dark circles shadowed her eyes, evidence of a sleepless night. She looked utterly drained.

But | smiled warmly. "Amber, why the rush to send us away? It wasn't easy for Carter andto find you, our

dear relative. We'd love the chance to show our respect and take good care of you."

| wasn't going anywhere.

Amber needed to understand that while gettingto chad been easy, gettingto leave would be far

more difficult.