Loved You Once But He's My Forever (Chloe)
Chapter 336 Hidden Secrets

The Sanders' mental state was rapidly deteriorating. Yet, despite their struggles, they were determined to seek revenge. They rallied together, intent on uncovering the person who had caused them harm.

I had accomplished my goal, and I wasn't in the mood to console them.

After all, they hadn't taken me seriously when I died by the river.

I could be considered kind for not mocking them now that they were in a bad situation.

The only thing that bothered me was the lack of updates from Josh. It seemed the Sanders had angered someone from Grandma's generation, which might explain Anna's cruelty toward her.

During Grandma's time, communication was primitive, and the country was still in its early stages of development. Investigating things from that period was nearly impossible.

Noticing my troubled expression, Carter gave my shoulder a gentle pat. "Mr. Sander has been through a lot lately, and his mind is all over the place. It's understandable if he doesn't remember anything right away. He might have a clue soon. Don't put too much pressure on yourself."

"Hmm."

I rested against him and closed my eyes. "I'm glad to have you by my side."

"You didn't sleep last night. You should get some rest. I'll keep watch."

"Okay."

That day, the Sanders went to the cemetery, apologizing at my tombstone. But what did it matter? Chloe was gone forever.

I didn't want Carter to worry about me too much. Adults should be able to handle their emotions.

He had to manage his business, the Boltons, and everything else, and he was already stretched thin.

I decided to focus on other things and helped him with his daily tasks. Staying busy helped me avoid thinking about all the chaos.

It wasn't until I received a message from Yael that I was pulled back to my concerns.

"Zoey, it's my birthday tomorrow. Can you come?"

"Of course."

Only then did I remember his birthday. Yael had already learned about my marriage. He probably wasn't as excited as before.

I had to check in with Whitney, who had been worrying me lately.

I told Carter about it, and he rubbed my head. "Alright, just be careful. If Taylor is holding that woman captive, it's best to stay away from him."

"Many of my classmates will be there, so it should be safe. But I'll bring two bodyguards just in case. They'll be able to act quickly if something goes wrong." "Okay."

In the past, I was more naive and didn't fully grasp how ugly human nature could be. Now, even in peaceful times, I learned to be cautious of everyone.

Carter suddenly remembered something and asked, "Are you good at shooting?"

Some rich kids have shooting ranges, but I never developed that interest, so I shook my head.

"No."

"I'll teach you sometime. When you face people like that, you need to know how to defend yourself. Physical training takes too long, but shooting is something you can learn quickly." "Alright, please ask your assistant to help me get a gift."

"Sure."

The next day, just before I left, Carter handed me a folding knife. Without hesitation, I took it.

If I ever crossed paths with someone like Silas again, I'd be ready with a weapon in hand, so I wouldn't be easily overpowered like before.

"If anything feels wrong, just let me know."

"Don't worry. I care about my life."

I took a car to the Carlyn Residence.

Before heading there, I made sure to look into the Carlyns. They had spent many years abroad, investing in real estate and stocks in various countries. Recently, with the booming real estate market in Cashya, they returned to focus on developing there. From what I could replace, their background seemed clean, with no apparent issues. However, the data I found only went back about ten years, leaving earlier years unclear.

Upon arriving, I noticed that several classmates had already shown up. Most of them had taken taxis, but when my Bentley pulled up, all eyes were on me.

For a brief moment, everyone seemed shocked and envious.

The bodyguard opened my car door and stood respectfully by the vehicle.

I had never shown off in front of these people, and today, my outfit was different from the usual school attire.

In my past life, I always wore formal dresses to any event and applied delicate makeup out of respect for the host.

The other girls looked lovely too, but compared to their imitation dresses, the quality of my outfit was clear.

Xenia Dunn approached me with a flattering smile, "Zoey, is this your car?"

"It's not "

She immediately rolled her eyes and cut me off, "I knew it wasn't yours."

I casually replied, "Well, if it's not mine, does that mean it's yours?" "You!"

I ignored her and walked inside.

One of the girls behind me whispered, "Did you see the bag she's carrying? It's one of only a hundred in the world and worth two million."

Another added, "And the diamond necklace around her neck? It's worth enough to buy a mansion."

"Who is Zoey, exactly?"

"She must come from a rich family. You can tell by the way she carries herself. She skips class every day, and the vocal teacher is usually strict, but she doesn't seem mad at her. She's definitely got a background." Xenia snorted. "Does she have a bigger background than Sadie? Her dad's the CEO of a huge company. She's the real deal, unlike some people who probably fake it."

Just then, Sadie arrived.

After being kicked out by Bill, she lost all her jewelry and dresses.

Though she looked a bit better than most people, the contrast with my appearance was too obvious. Everyone was starting to wonder if Sadie was rich.

Xenia said, "Sadie, you're so understated compared to some people who try too hard."

I stopped and turned to face her, "Are you talking about me?"

"Who else would I be talking about? You're wearing all that expensive jewelry on purpose."

I smiled. "So, in your eyes, is this considered expensive? This is my least expensive piece."

Everyone was stunned, not believing me. "You must be exaggerating."

I glanced at Sadie and said, "Sadie should know whether I'm exaggerating."

My display of wealth was nothing compared to hers in the past when she would casually wear dresses and jewelry worth millions or even billions.

A mere million was just the starting point.

Sadie knew I wasn't lying, but she didn't dare speak the truth.

"Sadie, do you know her? You both have the same last name. Could you be sisters?"

"..."

Before she could respond, Yael's voice rang out from the door, "Please come in, guys." Sadie quickly took the chance to avoid further questions, worried I might reveal her secret.

As everyone walked inside, I handed Yael the gift box. "Happy birthday, Yael."

He looked at me intently, a look of love in his eyes. "Zoey, I'm so happy you could come."

I felt a bit confused. Didn't he know I was married? Why was he reacting this way?

Something didn't seem right with him.

What secrets were the Carlyns hiding?