Loved You Once But He's My Forever

Billionaire Is 396

4/4

09.18 Thu, Dec 19

Chapter 396 Easily Deceived.

Chapter 396 Easily Deceived.

| raised my hand and brought the knife down with all my strength.

At the stime, he moved. But instead of hitting him the blade struck a moth.

4983%

+5 Free Coms

The sharp edge sliced through the insect's wings, and the rest of its body fluttered, struggling helplessly.

It felt like a reflection of my own fate-fighting against what I couldn't change.

I glanced up at him. "Sorry, | thought it was a cockroach. You really startled me."

For a moment, a flash of something cold crossed his face, but it was gone almost immediately. | could feel the

chill of fear still gripping me.

He had been testing me, hadn't he?

If I'd gone through with it, if I'd tried to strike him, he would've overpoweredin an instant. It would've

completely contradicted everything | had told him about staying. What would've happened if he'd calledout

on my lie?

Would | end up like Whitney, locked up and forgotten?

| managed to keep my composure in that moment. If | tried to kill him, | had no chance of winning. Not without

the proper training.

Even the angle of the knife wouldn't have been enough to do any real harm.

The risks were too high. | had to change my approach.

That had been a close call.

"You're scared of cockroaches?" he asked, taking the knife from my hand and twirling it casually between. his

fingers. The sound of the blade scraping against his skin made my heart skip.

"Who isn't? Snakes, cockroaches, and slugs," | replied, forcing a smile as | tried to ignore the unease creeping up

my spine.

He tucked the knife away and patted my head lightly. Sorry about that. Didn't mean to scare you.

"Scare me? | keep having dreams of snakes chasing| said, trying to act frustrated, though | wasn't sure it

was convincing. Then, without warning, he pulledinto his arms. | froze, unsure of what was happening. Was

this another test?

But then he said, "How about | take you away from here

Tblinked, caught off guard by his words. Was he serious

1/4

09:18 Thu, Dec 19

i,

83%1

+5 Free Coins

Chapter 396 Easily Deceived,

Maybe it was another trap.

"Really?"

"You've already made your offering to my family. We can leave now."

| blinked. "You're not makinginto a sculpture?”

He gave my nose a gentle tap. "I can do it anywhere. Sculpting stone isn't something you finish in a day."

So, from the start, he had been toying with me!

"Where are we going?"

"I'm taking you to my brother's wedding. | had planned to leave you here on the island, but since you're so

scared, | thought better of it. But you have to promisesomething. You have to stay by my side. If you try to

get Carter's attention, I'll have to make sure you stay with me, my way."

His thumb’ brushed lightly against my cheek. "Chloe, it not

The who wants your life. But if she finds out you're still alive, she will kill you. Even | won't be able to stop her

then. You're smart-you know what you need to do.

| couldn't believe he was actually lettinggo back. | nodded quickly.

Even if | couldn't meet Carter face to face, just catching a glimpse of him would be enough.

"I understand."

"Good girl, Chloe. I think I'm starting to like you more

In that moment, | realized Yael wasn't looking atthe way Taylor had looked at Whitney. There was no

romantic interest. It was more like a child clinging to a memory of warmth.

He rememberedonly because | had stayed with him to wait out the rain.

It wasn't love or desire-it was a mix of gratitude, appreciation, and sother tangled emotions.

His feelings forweren't about possession like Taylor's were for Whitney.

Whitney was about to marry a man like that.

She must be in agony.

"When do we go back?" | asked.

The sea's too rough tonight. We'll leave when the wind and rain calm down."

"Okay."

| looked at him seriously. "Do you have anything to eat I'm starving"

"Yeah, I'll make something

He tied on an apron and headed to the kitchen. | said, remember the first twe met, you said your,

2/4

Chapter 396 Easily Deceived

24 83%

+5 Tree Cons

mom hit and you sat under a tree, not moving. Now look at you. You've grown up so much."

you,

| wanted to get closer to him. Maybe he'd be the key to helpingturn things around.

"You remember that?"

"| just thought of it. But what about your mom? You never talk about her."

The person slicing vegetables stopped for a moment. "She... wasn't a good mother. Let's not get into it."

"Then can you explain why Amber wanted to kill me? She's not even part of the Carlyns. Why would she hate me

so much?"

He gave a dry, bitter laugh. "Maybe she's just messed up

| furrowed my brow, sensing that something about his connection with Amber was off. Every the mentioned

her, it was always with that distant that person’ tone. It was clear they were on the sside, but how? He

didn't seem interested in talking more, and | couldn't press him further.

All | could do was hope that when we returned, more of the answers would fall into place.

At three in the morning, after being gone for three days. | was finally given a hot meal. The warmth almost made