Loved You Once But He's My Forever (Chloe)
Chapter 354 Zoey, I Got Your Back

When she was alive, I had never interacted with her for even a single day. And yet, I am the person in this world who understands her the most, who empathizes with her the deepest. The fact that she was still alive-it filled me with immeasurable joy.

I hugged her tightly, unwilling to let go. "Thank God! Thank God!" You're still here.

"Janice, who is this?" A sugary, fake-sweet voice rang out behind us.

Other people's family affairs aren't my concern. But Zoey? She's not just anyone to me.

In the brief exchange between the three of them, I had roughly pieced together their relationships.

I'm Chloe Sander, 28 years old, and she's Zoey Gardner, 20. She's like a sister to me.

Instinctively, I pulled her behind me, shielding her. My eyes scanned the woman who stood next to the man in the suit.

To be fair, Harlan had the kind of polished charm that hides a rotten core-a handsome face with refined, aristocratic features, a tall and lean build, and a cold, distant demeanor. But if he'd done Zoey wrong, I'll be the first to make him pay.

"Carter, this is your wife, isn't it?" Harlan started, breaking the silence.

I glanced at the woman in the white dress clinging to his arm. "Mr. Pearson, hello. And this must be Mrs. Pearson, correct?"

That woman's face lit up with triumph when I said that, a smug smile spreading across her lips.

Harlan frowned. He was visibly displeased. "She's not."

I smirked and said, "Oh, my mistake. With how she's hanging onto your arm, her chest practically glued to you, I just assumed she's your wife. My apologies, Mr. Pearson." Though I apologized, everyone present could tell I was being deliberately snide.

Carter coughed awkwardly and said, "That's on me. Let me introduce everyone properly. This is Harlan, whom I've mentioned to you before. And this lady here is his wife, Janice."

His voice trailed off as he gestured toward the woman, clearly not planning to elaborate. The smug woman's expectant expression froze in place.

Since Carter wasn't going to help her out, she took the initiative and introduced herself, "I'm Nina White. My family and Harlan's are old friends."

I nodded with mock understanding. "Ah, I see. Carter, I suppose customs are different where she's from. Where I'm from, even childhood friends understand the importance of boundaries. They don't cling to married men so intimately. Jaford must have a particularly progressive culture."

Then I added, "You don't have any other childhood sweethearts or old flames like this around here, do you? Because I'm petty and couldn't possibly tolerate a husband who doesn't respect his vows."

Carter knew I was being deliberately sarcastic but couldn't refute me.

I knew it was rude, but I couldn't stand anyone mistreating Zoey.

Zoey, I'll protect you.

Never again will I let anyone drive you to despair.

Harlan's expression darkened, clearly catching on to my jabs. Out of respect for Carter, he didn't lash out. Instead, he withdrew his arm from Nina and turned to Janice. "Come here." Zoey was different from how she used to be. But, of course, dying once changes a person.

She lazily glanced at Harlan and retorted, "Are you my dad or something? Just because you call me over doesn't mean I'll come. How embarrassing."

The mention of Bill made me impatient; I had so many things I wanted to talk to her about.

Harlan clearly wasn't expecting her to embarrass him in front of everyone. His face turned an even darker shade.

Carter, trying to defuse the tension, said, "Let's all sit."

Harlan pulled out the seat next to him and looked at Zoey. However, Zoey didn't even glance at him. Instead, she plopped down next to me.

Somehow, we ended up becoming the closest of friends in that room.

"Harlan, if Janice won't sit, I'll join you," Nina offered, trying to salvage the situation.

I gave her a quick glance and asked, "Ms. White, weren't you about to leave? Why sit back down?"

Nina forced a sheepish laugh and said, "I just remembered that I actually don't have anything urgent to do."

Harlan, glaring at Zoey and me, asked, "You two know each other?"

I shook my head and said, "No, but the moment I met her, I felt like she was my soulmate."

Zoey snorted, "What does it matter to you? Shut up already."

Harlan was speechless.

During the meal, Harlan and Carter discussed business.

Meanwhile, Nina, ever eager, peeled a shrimp for Harlan. "Harlan, I peeled this for you."

As she placed the shrimp on his plate, she shot a smug look at Zoey, clearly trying to provoke her.

"Ms. White," I began, feigning innocence, "is it common for women here to peel shrimp for men? Where I'm from, it's the other way around."

Carter, playing along, placed a few peeled shrimp onto my plate.

The stark contrast made Nina's attempt at provocation laughable.

I casually placed a few shrimp onto Zoey's plate and said, "Eat up."

She was younger than my own sister. How could I not spoil her?

Zoey smiled sweetly, biting into one, and said, "It's delicious."

Carter gave Harlan a knowing look and suggested, "Why don't you peel some for your wife too?"

Harlan's expression turned even icier. I couldn't help but wonder if Zoey's life was still miserable after her rebirth.

Could this man be abusive?

I was concerned that he would be able to remove Nina's implants with a single punch, given the way his veins bulged on his hand as he clenched his fist.

To my relief, all he did was tear the head off a shrimp. At least it wasn't Zoey's head; I patted my chest in mock relief.

Can you blame me for jumping to conclusions? I've encountered enough wolves in sheep's clothing to be wary of everyone.

After all, I've seen my fair share of wolves in sheep's clothing.

It was clear he had lived a life of luxury and had never done this kind of thing before. The way he peeled the shrimp wasn't just clumsy-it was pure chaos.

If you knew he was peeling shrimp, you'd give him credit for trying. If you didn't, you might think he was performing open-heart surgery on the poor creature. When he placed it in Zoey's bowl, he barked, "Eat."

His jaw lifted slightly, his gaze flickering to Zoey, as if waiting for her reaction.

Ah, I see.

He's one of those arrogant, self-important, dominant CEO types.

Is he expecting Zoey to compliment him?

Zoey casually tossed the shrimp back at him. "It's hideous."

Nina quickly snatched it up and stuffed it into her mouth, trying to salvage the moment. That's when Zoey added, "Even a dog wouldn't eat it."

It rendered both Nina and Harlan speechless.

The scene was absurd. Nina looked like a fool, unsure whether to chew or spit it out.

I watched the scene unfold with amusement. Tsk, this love triangle was far more entertaining than a small-town middle-aged soap opera. Poor Carter was stuck in the middle, visibly uncomfortable.

There's always drama when women are involved. Zoey and I went all out.

Even though it was our first time teaming up, we worked together with the kind of unspoken understanding only soulmates could have. Dinner was cut short, likely because the tension made it unbearable for them.

Carter announced, "Let's meet another day. We're exhausted for now."

"Agreed." I shot Harlan a grin. "Thank you for the hospitality, Mr. Pearson. This meal was very entertaining."

Oops. That last part slipped out, and Harlan's face darkened again.

Zoey linked her arm with mine as we prepared to leave.

Harlan gritted his teeth and said, "Janice, this is far enough. You're my wife. Where do you think you're going?"

"Wife? Didn't I already hand you the divorce papers? Isn't the new Mrs. Pearson right beside you, waiting to step in?" "Janice, I'm warning you, playing hard to get will work on me."

Zoey rolled her eyes and climbed into the car with me. "Call me when you're at City Hall. I'll be there."

Without sparing Harlan another glance, she slammed the door shut. "Drive."