Loved You Once But He's My Forever (Chloe) novel Chapter 457

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.