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

"Carl, I'm here. I've been here all along."

I pressed my face against his. Can he feel me?

He knelt on the ground, his usual elegance and dignity nowhere to be seen. He looked utterly exhausted even.

"Carl, it's raining. Please go inside. You'll catch a cold."

He had already lost so much weight. If he got sick on top of that, even the strongest immune system wouldn't help.

And if he fell ill, who would take care of our children?

As if fate enjoyed mocking me, the moment the thought crossed my mind, Carter suddenly collapsed forward.

"Carl!"

Instinctively, I reached out to catch him.

However, he fell right through me, crashing onto the wet ground.

"Somebody, help! Save Carl!"

I screamed until my voice was raw, but no one could hear me. I could only watch, helpless, as he lay unconscious before me.

"Carl... Carl...

Kneeling in the rain, I pleaded with the heavens.

Please, if you must take someone, take me. Just spare Carl and our children. I don't care if I never wake

up again, or if I can only stay by their side as a spirit-as long as they are safe and well.

At last, Damian arrived. Seeing Carter unconscious on the ground, he strode over in alarm.

"Mr. Carter!"

"Damian, help him, please!"

Damian lifted Carter onto his back and carried him inside. The doctor's diagnosis confirmed he was simply

too weak-he hadn't rested in days, and the cold rain had only made things worse.

That night, he developed a fever.

When the doctor prepared to administer an injection to bring it down, Carter suddenly woke up, stopping him.

"Mr. Bolton, don't worry. It's just a fever-reducing shot. You have a high temperature."

His voice was weak, but firm. "Leave me be."

Damian frowned. "Mr. Carter, you're already so weak. Ms. Chloe's life is still hanging by a thread, and the little ones are barely a day old. If you fall ill, who will take care of them?"

I thought mentioning the children would soften him—after all, they were his children.

But instead, his expression darkened. For a split second, something like resentment flickered in his eyes. "If it weren't for them, Chloe wouldn't be like this...

So I was right. He hadn't even glanced at the children after I gave birth. Even now, he refused to hold them.

Damian, ever the honest man, couldn't hide his disapproval. "But Mr. Carter, they're the children Ms.

Chloe gave her life to bring into this world. They're your flesh and blood."

Carter had always been a man of cold, singular devotion. He gave all his love to me and not even his own children could take a share of it.

He muttered, "Just have someone take care of them."

"And what about you?"

"It doesn't matter. If I stay sick, maybe I'll be able to see her again."

I froze. So that's why.

Carter had deliberately exposed himself to the elements, forcing his body into a fevered state-just to see

if it would bring him closer to me. Luke and Grandma had both seen me when they were at their weakest. He was testing if the same would happen to him.

"You idi*t, Carter!" I whispered, cursing him softly.

His body tensed. Then, as if hearing something impossible, he turned toward me in disbelief. "Chloe ..."

He threw back the blanket and lunged toward me, arms outstretched, trying to hold me close.

By instinct, I reached for him, too-just like I always had before.

But we were like two souls from different worlds, separated by life and death. We passed right through each other.

Carter nearly collapsed onto the floor.

The doctor thought his fever was making him delirious. Damian, however, seemed to understand something. Without a word, he dismissed the doctor and quietly closed the door, leaving us alone. "Carl," I whispered, stepping closer to him.

He swayed slightly, his trembling hand reaching out as if to touch my face.

I wondered what I looked like to him now. Did I seem like a ghost?

I recalled those stories about spirits who had died tragically-their tongues hanging out, their faces contorted in horror.

Surely, I didn't look that terrible ... right?

"Chloe ... I knew you were still here," he murmured.

I forced a small smile. "Carl, I saw our babies."

It wasn't entirely true. I had barely spared them a glance before rushing off to find Carter.

But I said it anyway-hoping to awaken the father in him.

Carter stiffened. "Are they beautiful?"

"My husband has such incredible genes. Of course, our babies are beautiful." Then, gently, I asked, "Carl, won't you go see them?"

"I don't want to," he answered without hesitation.

His voice was cold, distant. "Every time I look at them, I see you-covered in blood. Chloe, I can't accept

losing you. I'm afraid... that if I see them, I might do something I can't take back."

His eyes darkened with an almost manic intensity. "I'd rather they had never existed. I just want you back."

Hearing that, my heart ached.

I still remember how he once told me he wasn't young anymore-that he hoped I would give him an heir. And yet now, with our children here, he felt nothing.

"Carl," I said carefully. "Last time, when my soul was separated from my body, what did you do? Can't you do the same thing again?"

He shook his head. "That was

different. I used the Stone of Duality

to trade our fates. But you threw it away. Our lives were never

exchanged. If this calamity is meant to be your death ... then when Zoey's heart stops beating, your fate will be sealed."

His words sent a chilling wind through my soul.

So this was it? The death I had feared all along?

I forced a smile, "Carl, it's alright. Even if I die, will always be with you and our children. I may disappear, but my love won't. I will always love you. "So please ... don't give up on yourself. Seeing you like this hurts me so much, and there's nothing I can do. I can't even cry."

I nestled into his embrace, even though he couldn't feel me. I nuzzled against him anyway.

"Please, don't make this harder for me."

"Chloe ... " His voice was hoarse. "Let me look at you a little longer." His fingers ghosted over my face. I

held his hand, grasping at whatever connection we still had.

"Carl, I've already been so happy."

Suddenly, he grasped my hand

tighter. "I'm sorry, Chloe. How could I

be so cruel to our children? You

must be worried about them, toonet

After all, you gave your life to bring

them into this world. I should go see

nov

them."

I was stunned. "But your health—"

"I'll be fine."

He led me out of the room. Damian, concerned, followed closely behind.

As we walked through the halls, bodyguards and medical staff glanced at him curiously. After all, to them,

it looked like he was holding nothing but empty air.

Ignoring their stares, he stopped outside the nursery.

"Get me a mask."

Even now, he was afraid of passing his illness to the babies.

A guard handed him one. Finally, he took my hand again and pushed open the door.noveldrama

Zoey, oblivious to his condition, held one of the babies in her arms, while Yael cradled the other.

With a teasing smirk, Zoey cooed, "Rocky, look who's here! Uncle Carter has finally come to see you."

I was speechless.

For a moment, the heart-wrenching atmosphere shattered completely.

Who let you name my child Rocky without asking me?!

Yael, ever the troublemaker, grinned. "Susie Bolton, say hi to Uncle Carter."