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

Anna had no idea what awaited her. All she knew was that Taylor promised she could go home once she felt better, so she was determined to recover quickly.

Though too young to grasp the full situation, she sensed Taylor and Yael weren't bad people and felt safe staying close to them.

Before long, she and Yael were playfully rolling around together.

Taylor glanced away for just a moment and turned back to find them sitting in a mountain of snacks.

Anna had drawn a huge pattern on Yael with watercolor pens.

Yael turned his head, looking like a ghost.

Both kids were munching on chips and popcorn, sounding like little hamsters as they crunched away, while the floor was littered with the remnants of their battlefield.

Having always been doted on by three personal maids, Anna didn't see anything wrong with this setup. Wearing a pink dress and her hair down, she ran toward Taylor with a bright smile.

"Taylor."

Any irritation Taylor had felt dissipated instantly. Looking down at the girl hugging his waist, he gently patted her head. "Why did you draw on Yael like that?"

"It makes him cuter, doesn't it?"

Taylor took a closer look, realizing she hadn't drawn a ghost but a bee, complete with antennae. He nodded, "Very cute."

Seeing her hair tangled and a tuft sticking up, he found her even more endearing. "Can't you brush your hair?"

"No, at home Mrs. Lambert, Chloe, or Mommy always do it for me. If they're not around, even clumsy Jake helps. Taylor, can you help me?"

"Me?"

Taylor had never braided a girl's hair before, but with her hopeful eyes sparkling at him, how could he refuse? "Alright, I'll give it a try."

He had seen Wisteria braid her hair before and thought it seemed simple enough. However, when he tried, he couldn't get it right. The braids were either too high or too low, and a few strands always managed to escape.

After half an hour, Anna looked at her uneven pigtails and beamed, "Taylor, don't worry. You'll get better with practice. For your first time, I think it's amazing."

Her pure encouragement was heartwarming.

But then Anna remembered something. "Taylor, my cold is better now. Can I go home tomorrow?"

Taylor's face stiffened. Anna grabbed his hand and swayed it, "Taylor, come visit my house, okay? I have three brothers and a sister. They'll love you."

This poor girl still had no clue about her fate.

"Sorry, you can't leave just yet."

Her eyes dimmed instantly, and she looked at Taylor sadly. "Why?"

Taylor licked his lips, reluctant to reveal the truth. "Your parents want you to

become more independent, so they've arranged for you to stay away for a while."

Anna's chest tightened. "They wouldn't abandon me, would they?"

"No, they wouldn't."

"Then when can I leave?"

"When you're truly independent."

Anna recalled the frightening scenes she had seen recently. "Those bloody

scenes were fake, right? You were just acting, weren't you?"

Thinking how close he had come to hurting her, she reasoned that if Taylor were a

villain, she would already be dead many times over.

This must be like a summer camp she once attended. When her training ended, she'd graduate and go home.

Taylor mumbled an affirmative.

He didn't want to shatter the sparkle in her eyes. As long as he could keep her hope alive, he would.

"Taylor, I'll become independent. Today, I'll dress myself."

"Great."

Taylor picked up Yael, who looked like a little bee, and grinned at Anna. "Anna."

With a slam, the bathroom door closed, and soon, ghostly wails echoed from within.

"Taylor, it hurts!

"Taylor, be gentle!

"Taylor ... "

Anna knocked on the bathroom door, and Taylor, drenched with water, peeked

out, his voice gentle. "What's wrong?"

"Is Yael okay? Can't the paint wash off?"

Feeling guilty, Anna clutched her dress and carefully apologized, "I'm sorry. I

thought it was like the watercolor pens at home that wash off easily. I didn't mean

to...noveldrama

"1

"It's okay. He just likes to yell. It

doesn't actually hurt." Taylor smiled, patting her head affectionately

"Your drawing is quite good. You

have a talent for it. Both Yae and I love it."

"Really?"

"Yes, really. Now, it's late. Time to brush your teeth and go to bed."

"Okay!"

With a cheerful skip, Anna ran off.

As soon as the door shut, Taylor's smile vanished. Armed with a bath loofah and a brush, he turned back to Yael. "If you aren't clean tonight, you can forget about going to bed."

Terrified, Yael whimpered in the corner of the bathtub, "Taylor...'

It took Taylor two exhausting hours to clean Yael. By the end, he was utterly spent.

Sighing deeply, he took a quick shower and prepared to rest.

Having taken care of Anna and Yael, and completing his studies on his own, Taylor felt the weight of responsibility heavily. Despite being just a few years older than Anna, he had a daunting task.

As he emerged from the bathroom, he found Anna standing there, holding a big pillow, her bare feet on the carpet, clutching his shirt with

tears in her eyes. "Taylor, I hadee

nightmare. I'm so scared. Can you sleep with me?"