Loved You Once But He's My Forever (Chloe) novel Chapter 266

Chapter 266 The Start of Tension 

Chapter 266 The Start of Tension 

In the pitch–black silence of the night, memories of the torment from my past life often resurface. 

Only fleeting indulgence seems to momentarily ease the hollow ache within me. 

Even though Carter has shown me immense kindness, the horrors of those violent days still linger in my mind after more that a month. 

Anna feels like a splinter lodged in my soul, buried where I can’t reach it. 

Despite the storm passing, sleep continued to elude me entirely. 

I got dressed and made my way downstairs. 

The living room was flluminated, casting a warm glow, and Luke sat there with a cigarette in hand. I had no idea how long he’d been there, but the ashtray overflowed with discarded cigarette butts 

He glanced at me and asked, “Why are you still awake at this hour?” 

“I can’t seem to fall asleep, I replied. 

His eyes drifted to the faint mark above my collarbone, his expression cooling slightly. “You and him 

Without hesitation, I admitted, ‘Carter and I are married.” 

He gave a bitter, almost mocking smile, fully aware that there was nothing he could change now. 

In the end, he was the one who chose to let me go first, 

No one can be expected to stand still, waiting endlessly for someone who left. 

I couldn’t tell what thoughts were running through his mind, but a faint, sorrowful smile curved his lips This is for the best… this is for the best… he murmured. 

He rose to his feet slowly as if the weight of the moment had crushed him, his expression etched with anguish. 

Turning away, he retreated to his room, his silhouette radiating an air of deep loneliness. 

If he had foreseen this outcome, why did he make those choices in the first place? 

I poured myself a glass of water and lingered in the living room, lost in thought for a long while. 

I couldn’t help but wonder–did Anna find peace in her sleep tonight? 

The following morning, I felt refreshed and headed to the hotel, showing no trace of exhaustion 

The Sander family is regarded as a distinguished name in the area, and their cross–border marriage has become a focal point of interest. 

The guests arriving and departing were all affluent and influential figures. 

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Chapter 266 The Start of Tension 

Anna, dressed in an exquisite custom–made wedding gown, walked arm in arm with Ashley. 

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As 1 watched the scene unfold, I couldn’t help but sigh. Perhaps even she remained unaware of the twists and turns that fate had planned for her. 

“Ms. Sanders, you look absolutely stunning today,” I said with a warm smile. 

“Mrs. Bolton, you’re too kind. Please, come in. I apologize for any shortcomings in my hospitality.” 

We exchanged pleasantries, and to the outside eye, there was no hint of the hidden animosity between us. 

I scanned the crowd for Sadie, wondering why the fool hadn’t shown up yet–she should’ve been here by 

THOW. 

Bill and my mom were already there, so I made my way over to her. 

As soon as she spottell me, she smiled and extended her hand to mine. “Zoey.” 

“Mom, please sit down. Don’t stand for too long 

“It’s fine, I’m not that fragile. Actually, I haven’t experienced much morning sickness lately, so it’s been bearable with no serious issues. 

Having had a miscarriage myself. I was especially concerned about her well–being. “You need to take extra care of yourself. The first three months are crucial.” 

“Alright, alright, I’ll listen to you.” With my help, my mom settled into a seat. 

As I scanned the crowd, I spotted many familiar faces, including Monica’s cheating husband, Zack! 

His large belly was so prominent, it looked like his shirt might rip open at any moment. 

I couldn’t believe he had the nerve to show up in front of Bill so shamelessly! 

Not only did he appear, but he was now walking straight towards Bill. 

“Mr. Gardner, what a coincidence to meet you again. And this must be Mrs. Gardner,” he said, his eyes. landing on my mom. 

The only thing I could picture was that live broadcast–the sight of his pale stomach resembling a giant 

watermelon. 

Even the way he looked at her made my skin crawl with disgust as if his mere presence could taint my 

moni 

Bill, clearly not bothered to make much of an impression, gave a slight nod and responded with a casual, “Hello, Mr. Harrison.” 

Zack’s weight gain was certainly to blame–his piggish face now resembled an overinflated balloon adrift 

at sel 

It made it harder to notice just how much Sadie’s features mirrored his. 

Bill’s clearly dismissive attitude should have been enough to discourage any further interaction, but Zack, 

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Chapter 266 The Start of Tension 

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shamelessly added, “Mrs. Gardner is so young and stunning. Mr. Gardner, you’re truly fortunate. You two must be deeply in love, right?” 

Even my mom picked up on the off–putting vibe, casting him a subtle yet icy glance, 

I cut in before she could respond, “Certainly not as loving as you and Mrs. Harrison. Five children, right? That must be a testament to your wonderful bond.” 

The moment those words left my mouth, both Bill and my mom turned to look at me, while Zack’s expression shifted ever so slightly. The corners of his smile froze, stiff and uneasy. 

Even Bill, unaware of Zack’s personal life, seemed caught off guard by my knowledge of his family. 

Zack, however, was likely on edge now, wondering how much I actually knew. 

Wasn’t he just trying to show off? Let’s see if he can keep that smile now. 

“Do you know me, Ms. Gardner?” he asked cautiously, testing the waters. 

I offered him a polite smile. “Of course. Mr. Harrison, you built your empire from nothing and even took your company public. Truly inspiring! Your perseverance is something we younger folks should aspire to.” 

Zack’s expression grew even more unsightly, and after muttering a few half–hearted words, he hurriedly walked away. 

I could guess what was running through his mind. Sleeping with Bill’s woman and letting Bill unknowingly play the father–he probably thought he’d outsmarted him, even though Bill was clearly the one pulling all the strings. 

As that acting in secrecy was a way to flaunt his confidence. 

Man, Zack seemed to t 

Although Bill might be trash, he was still better than someone who not only climbed to power by relying on leveraging women but also schemed to kill Bill. 

While I might have been more cautious abroad, here at the Boltons territory in Snowville, Carter’s presence gave me an overwhelming sense of safety. 

I wasn’t worried about any schemes he might try against me. In fact, if I could drive him to desperation and push him into taking action against Bill, exposing Monica’s affair with him in the process, that would certainly make things entertaining! 

Bill, noticing the tension between us, frowned and said, “He’s a shady one–crooked in both business and character. Keep your distance from him.” 

“I know. As long as he doesn’t do anything foolish,” I replied calmly. 

Bill seemed to sense that something wasn’t quite right but chose not to press the matter further. 

“Just stay on the sidelines today and don’t stir up any trouble. While the Hudsons and our family can’t form a marriage alliance, we still have business ties to maintain.”