Loved You Once But He's My Forever (Chloe) novel Chapter 20

The snow whipped past the car window, thick and heavy, but Luke hardly noticed. His face was tense, and his thoughts seemed far away.

He was caught between hope and fear, checking his phone every few minutes only to shove it back in his pocket each time.

When the house finally came into view, the warm lights glowing through the windows, he let out a long breath. His shoulders relaxed, the weight of uncertainty easing a bit.

As soon as the car stopped, he got out, moving quickly toward the front door.

I saw him pause at the steps, straightening his clothes. Then he slipped on his usual mask of cold indifference before pushing open the door.

He kicked off his shoes and called out for me, his voice sharp with frustration.

"Chloe, after all that, you finally come back? Do you have any idea what you've put me through these last few days?"

But it wasn't me standing there to greet him. It was Adam.

Luke froze, his eyes widening at the sight of his father. "Dad? What are you doing here?"

"Your uncle's at the residence. I came to have a word with you." Adam's gaze swept the room. "Chloe's not back yet?"

He seemed unfazed by my absence, which didn't surprise me.

Luke and I had been close since we were kids, always fighting but always making up. To them, even me running off before the wedding was just more of the same.

They figured I'd come back on my own.

Luke, trying to save face, quickly said, "Her grandmother's birthday is tomorrow. She wouldn't miss that. She's probably at the Sanders' house by now."

Adam lit a cigarette, the smoke drifting lazily through the air. His voice was low, almost casual. "When she does come back, make sure you fix things. Your grandfather's been asking about grandkids. His mind's clearing up, and he's been getting closer to that other one."

Luke's expression tightened. "Uncle's never cared for Grandpa. Why would he now?"

A bitter smile tugged at Adam's lips. "Care? Who needs care when there's money involved? The second your grandfather showed signs of recovery, your uncle came rushing back. You think that's a coincidence? Word is, your grandpa's already working on a marriage arrangement."

"Marriage?" Luke's face went pale as he moved to the couch. "Who with?"

"Either the Gardners or the Hudsons."

The Gardners and the Hudsons held enough influence to be on par with the Boltons.

The Sanders was rich, sure, but they were nothing compared to the old dynasties that had ruled for generations.

If it weren't for the fact that I'd grown up with Luke, they would've married him off to one of those families instead.

Carter, though, had made his name abroad. With his business and the right marriage, he had already left Luke far behind.

Luke gritted his teeth. "He's just a b*stard. How could he deserve any of this?"

Adam, standing nearby, gave Luke a glance, his words cutting. "Ten years ago, you'd have been right. But do you know what Carter's company is worth now?"

Luke's eyes tightened. "How much?"

"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, it's too late for regrets now.

A dead woman doesn't get to forgive.