Loved You Once But He's My Forever (Chloe) novel Chapter 23

Beneath the dark, looming clouds, a sudden streak of lightning was followed by a thunderclap so loud it felt like it was right on top of me.

I crouched down where I stood, clutching my ears in fright, nearly convinced I was about to lose my senses from the fear.

When I dared to look up again, I noticed the candle from the altar had toppled over in front of Luke.

The candle was snapped in half, and the wax spread across the floor like a dark omen.

This unsettling scene caused my grandmother, who had been watching with her usual stern concern, to nearly collapse. Thankfully, Mrs. Lambert was quick to support her.

"Old Madam."

Luke, typically dismissive of superstitions, could not help but feel unnerved by the candle that had seemingly targeted him.

Grandma's face paled, her voice shaky, "Thunder, broken candle, an omen of death ... What have you done that is so terrible?"

"Grandma, I swear, it's just a coincidence," Luke tried to reassure her, but his voice lacked conviction.

Understanding the old lady's deep-seated beliefs, Mrs. Lambert immediately summoned a servant to clean up the place.

"Old Madam, it's just a coincidence. Please, don't worry yourself. You should rest."

"Mrs. Lambert, I've been uneasy. Chloe haunts my dreams every night, and it's been over ten days since she last called," Grandma confessed, her anxiety palpable.

Luke's expression darkened significantly. He was well aware of my deep attachment to Grandma, frequently visiting her or at least calling every few days.

While I might disregard him, I would never neglect Grandma.

"Grandma, are you sure Chloe hasn't called?" Luke pressed, desperate for some reassurance.

"Do I look like I would lie about this?" Grandmother snapped back, her frustration clear.

At that moment, I watched as realization dawned on Luke. His face turned white and he seemed to be getting weak in the knees.

Perhaps he was beginning to understand that the disturbing details surrounding the bloody wedding dress at the police station were more than mere coincidences.

Suddenly, a servant's voice broke the tense atmosphere, "Old Madam, your package has arrived. It's from Ms. Chloe."

Hearing the mention of Ms. Chloe, Luke quickly stepped forward to receive the package. The sender's details confirmed it was indeed from me, complete with my name and phone number.

His tension eased upon seeing the package, and he hastily opened it.

Inside, there was a wooden box containing an amulet and a greeting card I had prepared for Grandma.

This amulet, blessed at Mount Spiritus before my wedding, was meant to ensure her health.

I had arranged for its delivery today, after the wedding, through a courier who frequently handled my deliveries.

This timing was perfect as it coincided with Grandma's birthday.

Tears formed in Grandma's eyes as she read the greeting card and clutched the amulet.

Mrs. Lambert reassured her, "This amulet comes from Mount Spiritus and isn't something you can simply buy. It requires one to make their way to its summit, where a priest blesses it. Ms. Chloe has shown great filial piety."

Relieved, Grandma said, "If she's sent a gift, she must be on her way. Have someone wait for her at the front door."

"Of course."

Luke, who had been quietly observing, asked Mrs. Lambert about the amulet's significance, "To obtain this amulet, one must really go to the summit?"

"Yes," she explained, "it's a journey of 39,999 steps to the top, a challenge that can take a whole day. Many in poor health don't make it."

I'm sure he was recalling the year of the earthquake when I cheerfully sent him off to the airport, handing him a protective amulet.

Although skeptical of its spiritual significance, he had carelessly tossed it into his wallet.