Billionaire Is 382
Chapter 382 No Regrets
Chapter 382 No Regrets
+5 Free Coins
The old woman shook her head, her expression unreadable. "There are struths that cannot be shared," she
said.
Zoey, who had cto support me, seemed lost in thought. The weight of everything had shifted onto her as
well, and it was clear she was grappling with it.
| took a step closer, unable to keep the urgency out of my voice. "Is there really no other way? Does it have to be
a life for a life? Isn't there anything else?"
She met my gaze. "This is your trial," she said simply. "To overcit, you must face it as it is. Life for life -
there's no alternative."
Her words strucklike a blow, though I'd half-expected them. Carter wouldn't have gone this far if he'd had
another choice.
| inhaled deeply, forcing myself to stay calm. "If the trial hasn't cyet, | can still live, right? And if | can live,
could I ... could | have a child? | want to leave him something-someone-to rememberby. If | have to die, at
least he won't be alone." The old woman studied me, her gaze sharp. "In principle, it isn't possible. You don't
truly own this body."
Her response made my chest tighten. Carter must have known this all along. That's why he avoided the subject
every t| brought it up.
But | wasn't ready to give up. | clung to her words like a lifeline. "And if we step outside of principle? There, has
to be a way. Please, I'll do whatever it takes. Just tellhow."
| dropped to my knees, clasping my hands together. "I'm begging you. Help me."
The woman sighed, as though she had been expecting this. "The blood-binding ritual your adoptive parents
performed was a step in that direction. It was meant to tie you more fully to this body. It was for this purpose.
But there's still something missing." My heart raced. "What is it?"
She pulled a small, dark pill from her pocket. Zoey leaned closer, her brow furrowed. "What is that? It looks like a
Milk Dud."
The old woman almost smiled. "It may look simple, but don't underestimate it. | spent years creating this."
She hesitated for a moment before continuing. "If you trust me, swallow it."
Without hesitation, | took the pill and swallowed it whole.
| asked, "And Zoey? She can't have any babies of her own as well?"
The crone nodded. "Yes. Her fate is just like yours."
| requested, "Can you give her another one of that pill as well? At least she'll leave behind something of hers.
[11]
1/4
Chapter 382 No Regrets.
We at least wanted to be mothers before we died. Didnt want to waste our lives.
+5 Free Coins
The old woman reached into her robe again and handed Zoey a small bottle. "If you're certain, you can
take one now."
| thought of Carter and the Stone of Duality. Only seven days remained. Before I'd left, he'd remindedseveral
times to return in two or three days.
He must have been worried about the stone's condition. If | stayed in the village too long, he'd cfor me
himself.
| looked back at the old woman. "I don't want him to worry. Is there a way to keep him from finding out?"
She retrieved another stone from her bag. It was nearly identical to the one | carried. "Wear this," she said. "It
will do the trick."
| turned the stone over in my hand, its likeness to mine astonishing. "Who are you?" | asked, unable to hide my
curiosity.
The old woman clasped her hands behind her back, her expression calm. "I am no one of consequence," she
said. "Just a grain of sand in the ocean of existence."
Islipped the fake stone around my neck, clutching the real Stone of Duality-Carter's blood and soul bound within
it-in my other hand.
| couldn't bring myself to destroy it. It was too much a part of him.
But | knew I'd never risk his life, not for anything.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt
The old woman studiedfor a long moment, her expression unreadable. "Chloe, you still have a chance. to
turn back. In seven days, there will be no undoing what's set in motion."
| met her gaze, steady and certain. "If my happiness means his death, then I don't want it. Not like this."
Turning toward the blackness of the well, | felt the weight of the stone in my hand. Then I let it go. It fell
soundlessly into the depths, disappearing as though it had never existed.
A tear slipped down my cheek, but | didn't waver. "I'll never regret this. Not now, not ever."
| was more than happy with whatever happiness I'd lived on this borrowed timeline.
The old woman placed her hand lightly on my shoulder. "Make the most of the tyou have left. Life is
unpredictable. No one knows if tomorrow or the unexpected will cfirst. "Thank you," | said softly.
She nodded, her voice calm yet final. "I've said all | can. Don't cback here again."
She turned and walked away, her steps deliberate. | knelt, bowing my head to the ground three times, gratitude
flowing fromlike a silent prayer.
The woman stopped but didn't turn.
"Chloe," she said, her voice carrying through the stillness, "you're stronger than | ever was. Perhaps your
2/4
Chapter 382 No Regrets:
path will lead to something different, Go forward. Don look back. Live without regret
"I understand," | replied, my voice barely above a whisper.
81%#
$5 free Cons
A cool breeze stirred, and the wind chon the tree swayed gently, filling the air with soft, fleeting notes.
To anyone else, it might have seemed like nothing.
But to me, it felt like waking from a dream-a dream of all that had been, in this life and the last.
Zoey slipped the bottle of pills into her bag, her movements deliberate yet unhurried. "You're not taking one?" |
asked, surprised.
She smiled, a touch of mischief in her expression. "I'm not like you, Chloe. | don't have anyone I'd want to have a
child with."
Her words hung in the air, unspoken truths woven' between them. After a pause, she added, "Chloe, life doesn't
cwith guarantees. Skids don't even get to grow up. People die every day. What makes us think we're
the exception? Most of us don't make it to old age. We just need to live in the moment," she said, her voice firm.
"Like the old woman told us-don't waste our youth. That's all we can do"
www
11
Zoey stretched, her smile widening as if she'd shrugged off a heavy weight. "Instead of worrying about things we
can't control, why not enjoy what we have? Make the most of each day. Then, if death comes, at least we'll have
no regrets."
Her nonchalant attitude madepause. She seemed fearless, untethered by the things that weigheddown.
But she had the luxury of being free. Her mother was safe, her responsibilities were few.
I, on the other hand, had been born into regret. It followedeverywhere, a constant shadow | could never
shake.
| dreamed of having a child with him, of watching them grow and living out our lives together.
Perhaps this was simply the price of wanting too much.
"It's getting late. We should head home. Mom and Dad are probably waiting," Zoey said, pullingback to
reality.
"Yeah, you're right," | replied, though | felt a reluctance to leave.
As we walked away, | took one last look behind me.
The old woman stood beneath the cherry blossom tree, her gaze following us. Her eyes were swollen, as though
she'd been crying.
For just a second, our eyes locked, and it felt like titself had paused.
Without thinking, I let go of Zoey's hand and ran toward the old woman.
Before she could react, | embraced her tightly.
"You've been through so much to get to this point, haven't you?" | asked.
3/4
Chapter 382 No Regrets
Chapter 382 No Regrets
Chapter 382 No Regrets
+5 Free Coins
The old woman shook her head, her expression unreadable. "There are struths that cannot be shared," she
said.
Zoey, who had cto support me, seemed lost in thought. The weight of everything had shifted onto her as
well, and it was clear she was grappling with it.
| took a step closer, unable to keep the urgency out of my voice. "Is there really no other way? Does it have to be
a life for a life? Isn't there anything else?"
She met my gaze. "This is your trial," she said simply. "To overcit, you must face it as it is. Life for life -
there's no alternative."
Her words strucklike a blow, though I'd half-expected them. Carter wouldn't have gone this far if he'd had
another choice.
| inhaled deeply, forcing myself to stay calm. "If the trial hasn't cyet, | can still live, right? And if | can live,
could I ... could | have a child? | want to leave him something-someone-to rememberby. If | have to die, at
least he won't be alone." The old woman studied me, her gaze sharp. "In principle, it isn't possible. You don't
truly own this body."
Her response made my chest tighten. Carter must have known this all along. That's why he avoided the subject
every t| brought it up.
But | wasn't ready to give up. | clung to her words like a lifeline. "And if we step outside of principle? There, has
to be a way. Please, I'll do whatever it takes. Just tellhow."
| dropped to my knees, clasping my hands together. "I'm begging you. Help me."
The woman sighed, as though she had been expecting this. "The blood-binding ritual your adoptive parents
performed was a step in that direction. It was meant to tie you more fully to this body. It was for this purpose.
But there's still something missing." My heart raced. "What is it?"
She pulled a small, dark pill from her pocket. Zoey leaned closer, her brow furrowed. "What is that? It looks like a
Milk Dud."
The old woman almost smiled. "It may look simple, but don't underestimate it. | spent years creating this."
She hesitated for a moment before continuing. "If you trust me, swallow it."
Without hesitation, | took the pill and swallowed it whole.
| asked, "And Zoey? She can't have any babies of her own as well?"
The crone nodded. "Yes. Her fate is just like yours."
| requested, "Can you give her another one of that pill as well? At least she'll leave behind something of hers.
[11]
1/4
Chapter 382 No Regrets.
We at least wanted to be mothers before we died. Didnt want to waste our lives.
+5 Free Coins
The old woman reached into her robe again and handed Zoey a small bottle. "If you're certain, you can
take one now."
| thought of Carter and the Stone of Duality. Only seven days remained. Before I'd left, he'd remindedseveral
times to return in two or three days.
He must have been worried about the stone's condition. If | stayed in the village too long, he'd cfor me
himself.
| looked back at the old woman. "I don't want him to worry. Is there a way to keep him from finding out?"
She retrieved another stone from her bag. It was nearly identical to the one | carried. "Wear this," she said. "It
will do the trick."
| turned the stone over in my hand, its likeness to mine astonishing. "Who are you?" | asked, unable to hide my
curiosity.
The old woman clasped her hands behind her back, her expression calm. "I am no one of consequence," she
said. "Just a grain of sand in the ocean of existence."
Islipped the fake stone around my neck, clutching the real Stone of Duality-Carter's blood and soul bound within
it-in my other hand.
| couldn't bring myself to destroy it. It was too much a part of him.
But | knew I'd never risk his life, not for anything.
The old woman studiedfor a long moment, her expression unreadable. "Chloe, you still have a chance. to
turn back. In seven days, there will be no undoing what's set in motion."
| met her gaze, steady and certain. "If my happiness means his death, then I don't want it. Not like this."
Turning toward the blackness of the well, | felt the weight of the stone in my hand. Then I let it go. It fell
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmsoundlessly into the depths, disappearing as though it had never existed.
A tear slipped down my cheek, but | didn't waver. "I'll never regret this. Not now, not ever."
| was more than happy with whatever happiness I'd lived on this borrowed timeline.
The old woman placed her hand lightly on my shoulder. "Make the most of the tyou have left. Life is
unpredictable. No one knows if tomorrow or the unexpected will cfirst. "Thank you," | said softly.
She nodded, her voice calm yet final. "I've said all | can. Don't cback here again."
She turned and walked away, her steps deliberate. | knelt, bowing my head to the ground three times, gratitude
flowing fromlike a silent prayer.
The woman stopped but didn't turn.
"Chloe," she said, her voice carrying through the stillness, "you're stronger than | ever was. Perhaps your
2/4
Chapter 382 No Regrets:
path will lead to something different, Go forward. Don look back. Live without regret
"I understand," | replied, my voice barely above a whisper.
81%#
$5 free Cons
A cool breeze stirred, and the wind chon the tree swayed gently, filling the air with soft, fleeting notes.
To anyone else, it might have seemed like nothing.
But to me, it felt like waking from a dream-a dream of all that had been, in this life and the last.
Zoey slipped the bottle of pills into her bag, her movements deliberate yet unhurried. "You're not taking one?" |
asked, surprised.
She smiled, a touch of mischief in her expression. "I'm not like you, Chloe. | don't have anyone I'd want to have a
child with."
Her words hung in the air, unspoken truths woven' between them. After a pause, she added, "Chloe, life doesn't
cwith guarantees. Skids don't even get to grow up. People die every day. What makes us think we're
the exception? Most of us don't make it to old age. We just need to live in the moment," she said, her voice firm.
"Like the old woman told us-don't waste our youth. That's all we can do"
www
Zoey stretched, her smile widening as if she'd shrugged off a heavy weight. "Instead of worrying about things we
can't control, why not enjoy what we have? Make the most of each day. Then, if death comes, at least we'll have
no regrets."
Her nonchalant attitude madepause. She seemed fearless, untethered by the things that weigheddown.
But she had the luxury of being free. Her mother was safe, her responsibilities were few.
I, on the other hand, had been born into regret. It followedeverywhere, a constant shadow | could never
shake.
| dreamed of having a child with him, of watching them grow and living out our lives together.
Perhaps this was simply the price of wanting too much.
"It's getting late. We should head home. Mom and Dad are probably waiting," Zoey said, pullingback to
reality.
"Yeah, you're right," | replied, though | felt a reluctance to leave.
As we walked away, | took one last look behind me.
The old woman stood beneath the cherry blossom tree, her gaze following us. Her eyes were swollen, as though
she'd been crying.
For just a second, our eyes locked, and it felt like titself had paused.
19
Without thinking, I let go of Zoey's hand and ran toward the old woman.
Before she could react, | embraced her tightly.
"You've been through so much to get to this point, haven't you?" | asked.
3/4
Chapter 382 No Regrets
She froze, clearly caught off guard.
| gave a small, reassuring smile. "I won't let you down. Even if fate is already set in stone, | still believe we can
change it."
She froze, clearly caught off guard.
| gave a small, reassuring smile. "I won't let you down. Even if fate is already set in stone, | still believe we can
change it."