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

Chapter 20 Marriage of Convenience.

"Fifteen billion. And it's still climbing."

Luke sank into the couch. He knew his uncle had done well, but he hadn't realized things had reached this scale.

Fifteen billion. That wasn't far off from what the Bolton Group was worth.

The Boltons had spent generations building their empire, growing rich and powerful in the real estate world, second only to a few.

But Carter had built his fortune from nothing. In just over a decade, he had become a serious rival.

And if their grandfather handed everything to Carter, his worth would explode. He'd be one of the wealthiest men on the planet, not just in the nation

Luke's face drained of color. "How did we get here?"

Adam's voice was calm, steady. He watched Luke carefully. "You've messed up, Luke. Again and again. You've made your grandfather furious. And now, he feels like he owes Carter. If Carter plays his hand right, he could end up owning the family business." Luke shot to his feet, panic flickering in his eyes. "No! Grandpa wouldn't give the family to him."

Adam's lips twisted into a smirk. "Maybe not all of it. But if Carter takes the lion's share, what then? The legitimate heir reduced to a footnote, while a b*stard takes over. People will talk, Luke."

He let those words hang for a moment before speaking again.

"Sure, Carter's wealth may be greater now, but you still have two things in your favor. First, you're healthy, unlike him. And second, your grandfather adores Chloe. If you two have a child soon, he will be more inclined to favor you. For Chloe and the child, the family business could still be yours."

Adam rose from his chair, his voice steady. "I don't have to spell it out for you, do I? Treat Chloe right. End things with Anna. Tomorrow's your best shot."

Luke followed him to the door. "I understand, Dad. I won't make the same mistake again."

I sat on the terrace, my hand outstretched, catching snowflakes as they drifted down. They melted against my skin, slipping away just like everything else. A cold smirk crept onto my face.

Luke, it's too late for regrets now.

A dead woman doesn't get to forgive.

I had accepted my fate, neither alive nor truly gone. I was just a spectator now, waiting to see if the world would ever catch up with Luke's sins.

After Adam left, Luke's worry was written all over his face. Carter's return had shaken him to the core.

He kept dialing my number. Again and again, the voice on the other end told him my phone was off. Every time he heard it, his frustration grew deeper.

In the silence of the night, I could hear him whisper, "Chloe, how long are you going to keep this up?"

Even now, he didn't understand a thing. He thought it was still my fault.

Luke's hand gripped the prayer beads tighter, rubbing them like a habit he couldn't shake. As if that could calm him.

What he didn't know was that I was tied to those beads now. I felt his every touch, every restless thought.

But after seeing him going at it with Anna, every moment he spent with those beads sickened me.

Morning came.

Luke dressed carefully, slipping on the dark suit I used to love on him. He chose the tie I had given him once, years ago. With a gift for my grandmother in hand, he made his way to the Sanders estate. 2/3RêAd lat𝙚St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

12:05 PM

Chapter 20 Marriage of Convenience

Roy, sensing his unease, asked gently, "Mr. Bolton, has Mrs. Bolton come home?"

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Luke's chest tightened, but he hid it behind a cool mask. "She's probably at the Sanders' house. She wouldn't miss this. She always puts her grandma first."

He convinced himself that I hadn't called because I was still angry.

The birthday dinner wasn't until that night. For now, the house was quiet, with no guests yet.

Anna had been waiting. She saw him from afar, and without hesitation, she rushed to him. "Luke, I'm so glad you're here."

When Luke stepped out of the car in his black suit, Anna, scrunched her nose. "Luke, why are you in black again? It makes you look so old and dull, like a man way past his prime. I just got you that custom suit last month. Why not wear it?"

The suit she mentioned matched the design on her own dress. It was clear she had planned for them to show up as a pair.

Luke thought about what his father had said the night before. Without a word, he gently removed her hand from his arm.

"Anna, we're not kids anymore. We should start keeping some distance. People might start gossiping about it."

Anna stared at him, her confusion plain. Just the other day, he had been so sweet, always making sure she was comfortable. "Luke, I only-"

"I'm going to check on your grandmother." He cut her off, his tone flat. Without waiting for her reply, he strode off, leaving her standing there, her smile fading into something darker.

Luke didn't stop as he made his way into the courtyard. He grabbed a servant by the arm, urgency in his voice. "Has your lady returned?"

The servant nodded, thinking Luke was talking about Anna. "Yes, She arrived early this morning. Didn't you see her?" Luke's heart skipped a beat. He knew Chloe wouldn't let her anger keep her from seeing her grandmother. Without another word, he rushed toward the inner rooms, his steps quick, hope building with every step.