Chapter 447 Forget Me, This Sinful Grandma

After hearing Grandma’s words, I was struck silent. For as long as I could remember, she had always been the kindest person to me. I had always perceived her as a selfless soul, a stark contrast to the coldness within our family—someone who devoted herself entirely to outsiders.

I reflected on Yael’s chaotic nature, the tangled affairs between Taylor and Whitney, Amber’s mental collapse at Dominic’s, and even Wisteria’s unrecognizable transformation. It all stemmed from the Sanders’ actions. Could I truly claim to be blameless? Wasn’t the entire Carlyn family equally guilty? The Sanders’ shadow still loomed over them after all these years.

It seemed Grandma believed they should have accepted their fate long ago. She suggested that if they hadn’t resisted, only Mrs. Carlyn Senior would have suffered insult. She had already extended mercy, and with a little humility, the Carlyns could have healed and moved on. But their stubbornness, their refusal to let go of old grievances, had prolonged the curse for three generations.

I understood her reasoning—survival in a world where only the strong thrive. Everyone strives for advancement, but I couldn't agree with her approach. If the Sanders had achieved their wealth and power at the expense of others, I’d rather live humbly. Without the hatred that plagued the Carlyns, my brothers would have had bright futures as ordinary men. I wouldn’t have met Luke, and I certainly wouldn’t be facing this tragic end. Maybe in another life, I would have been with Carter.

But could I truly blame Grandma? We, the beneficiaries of this situation, were the least qualified to judge. It was too late now; the mistakes had been made, and we had to bear the consequences of the Sanders’ actions.

Grandma’s words only fueled the Carlyns’ anger. Dominic’s usually gentle face hardened with fury. “So, you want me to thank you for your ‘great kindness’? My sister was ripped from our mother’s arms as an infant, denied her milk, and died soon after. And now you still have the audacity to speak this way? If we show mercy to you, who will show mercy to us?”

His eyes gleamed with cold malice as he glared at Grandma. “Do you want us to leave, or are you planning to wipe us out? You know exactly what you’re doing—twisting the truth to look good in front of your granddaughter. It’s disgusting.”

The truth no longer mattered. The fact remained: the Sanders owed the Carlyns a debt, and there was no escaping it. Ward tried to calm Dominic. “Mr. Carlyn, the Sanders have already paid the price—three lives. Whitney has been tortured for twenty years, living a life worse than death. The Sanders are on the brink of collapse, and Greg can barely survive. Isn’t that enough punishment?”

I feared that if their anger wasn't quelled, none of us would leave alive.

“Enough?” Dominic sneered. “Let the ancestors of the Carlyn family decide. Take them to their graves.”

I knew this day would come. The Carlyns would use the Sanders’ blood to honor their ancestors. Grandma and Josh, both struggling to walk, were roughly dragged away by men in black, Josh handled like a limp ragdoll.

Fearing Grandma would suffer the same fate, I quickly crouched in front of her. “Grandma, let me carry you.”

“Chloe, I…” she began, her voice weak.

“Get on my back,” I insisted. Despite everything, despite the Carlyns viewing her as a devil, she would always be my Grandma. There was nothing I could do to undo the past, but I would do what I could for her now.

Grandma had always been slender, even in her youth. Despite her age, she remained lean, never carrying much weight. In recent months, she hadn't gained any—if anything, she had lost some. Even now, as I carried her, she couldn’t have weighed more than eighty pounds. It wasn’t difficult for me.

Her voice quivered as she whispered, “Chloe, I’m so sorry.”

I smiled gently. “There’s no need to apologize. You took care of me when I was little. Now it’s my turn to look after you. No matter what happens, this is what a granddaughter does.”

Kate and Josh overheard. Kate looked at me, her eyes filled with unshed tears, but she said nothing. Whitney, who had been with the bodyguards, gestured for them to disperse, and she, along with Kate, helped Josh catch up to us. Dominic watched with a cold smirk but didn’t intervene.

It wasn’t until we stepped outside that I realized we were no longer at the same house where Yael had once taken me. The air was thick with danger, and I could feel the presence of venomous snakes surrounding us. Kate, who had never witnessed such a sight, screamed in terror. “Ah! So many snakes!”

“Shut up, or I’ll cut your tongue out,” Dominic hissed, his voice icily calm.

Kate immediately fell silent, her face streaming with tears. I ignored her fear and continued walking, focusing on carrying Grandma.

Grandma’s voice faltered. “I must be heavy, right? You can put me down. I can walk by myself.”

“You’re not heavy at all, Grandma. You’re so light. Haven’t you been eating well lately?” I said, trying to lift her spirits.

Her gaze wandered over the endless sea, her thoughts far away. Greg, freshly bandaged, caught up with us, and Wisteria, like a ghost, emerged from the shadows, her cloak billowing in the breeze, revealing the white dress beneath.

A chill ran down my spine. I had a terrible feeling that today would be the end for the Sanders. I was powerless to stop what was coming. I couldn’t protect Grandma for much longer.

Grandma seemed to sense the end was near, but she wasn’t afraid. She whispered in my ear, as if it were a secret shared between us, just like before.

“I always thought Luke wasn’t the right one for you. Now I know I was right. You should be with Carter. He’s a nice kid.”

I nodded. “I know, Grandma. I’ll never let Carter down.”

“I just wish I could see you get married… I’d love to help you with your children. Will you have a handsome boy or a beautiful girl? I’m really looking forward to it…”

Her words cut through me, and I couldn’t hold back my tears. They blurred my vision, but I didn’t care. We both knew that the Carlyns’ graveyard wouldn’t be just for their ancestors today. The Sanders would join them.

My rebirth couldn’t change any of this. All I could do was watch as fate unfolded. But even if I could change things, what would I do? If I protected the Sanders, would that erase the suffering of the Carlyns? What would make me different from their evil?

This was fate. A fate no one could escape. Today would mark the end of the Sanders. What about me? When and how would my death come?

Feeling hopeless, I whispered, my voice shaky, “I’ll have two, Grandma. When the time comes, I’ll bring them to see you. Would that be alright?” I couldn’t even bring myself to lie and tell her she’d live a long life.

Grandma smiled faintly. “Two is good—one boy, one girl.”

A warmth spread down my neck as her words pierced my heart. “It’s a blessing that you were reborn in Zoey’s body. That way, you won’t carry the Sanders’ blood. You’ll live a clean, pure life, and your children won’t carry the same curse. It’s better this way, Chloe. Very good.”

I couldn’t hold back my tears any longer. They fell freely.

“Chloe, my time is coming. After I’m gone, don’t hate the Carlyns. This is something I owe them. Don’t carry on the grudges of the past. Live a good life with Carter. Forget me—this sinful Grandma. Forget those heartless relatives. Don’t be sad for us. Move forward and don’t look back…”