A Second Chance At Forever novel (Eleanor and Bernard) novel Chapter 1376

Chapter 1376 

“Alright, now that the deal’s done, how about we head downstairs and wrap up tonight’s dinner?” Yates extended a hand, the very picture of a gentleman, towards Eleanor. 

Eleanor stared at the hand before her, stained with the blood of bad deeds, and let out a wry chuckle. 

She had yearned for a life untouched by the mud of the world, a tranquil existence, yet here she was, willingly stepping into the fray. 

With a swallow of her rage and disappointment towards Yates, she placed her hand into his palm, playing her part in the final act of the night. 

After the guests had filed out, Yates turned to the girls his family had adopted, instructing them to take good care of Eleanor, to harbor no resentment against her. His every word was a veiled concern for Eleanor. In truth, aside from his shadowy dealings with Area Opaca, Yates had always treated Eleanor quite decently. Had he not been the founder of Area Opaca, it was possible that Eleanor could have come to see him as a grandfather figure in the long days to come. 

The Sharp family had taken in four girls in total, each one legally under the guardianship of two uncles, and they all bore the surname Sharp. One of them was a brand designer at Faustina Enterprises, and she was gentle and obedience. 

Eleanor had such impression towards her because she overheard a conversation in the restroom, where the adopted girls were gossiping about her. 

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They couldn’t fathom where she had sprung from, suddenly demanding their deference and even taking away their status as the first and second ladies in the Sharp family. 

Amidst their grumbling, it was the gentle one who spoke up, rebuking them by stating that the titles of first and second ladies in the Sharp family rightfully belonged to Emilia and Eleanor and that they were merely outsiders. 

This defense sparked the ire of the other three sisters, who turned on her, eventually revealed her secret crush on Peterson… 

Upon having her secret revealed, the gentle girl lost her composure. First, she denied ever loving Peterson, then warned the other three to watch their step or risk being cast out of the Sharp family. 

After her bold declaration, she grabbed a tissue, shouldered past her sisters, and stormed out of the restroom, leaving them cursing in her wake. 

Eleanor chose that moment to emerge from a stall, nonchalantly washing her hands at the sink. 

The sisters froze upon seeing her. Eleanor finished washing her hands with an impassive face, then slowly dried them under the hand dryer. 

Without uttering a word, she left them there, wide-eyed and stumbling over apologies, assuring her that they didn’t mean any harm and that they welcomed her return. 

Eleanor replied coolly, “Whether you welcome me or not is immaterial to me. But treating your own sisters with such cruelty–I simply can’t accept your apology.” With that, she walked away, only to see Peterson looking longingly at the gentle girl as she helped her child into the car, her husband at her side. 

In Peterson’s deep gaze, Eleanor discerned his unrequited love and gradually understood that Peterson’s crush was that gentle girl-Starry, the fourth adopted daughter in the Sharp family. 

Had Starry not been married with a child, Eleanor might have told Peterson that Starry had also harbored feelings for him, that their affection was mutual. But Starry’s marriage meant that Eleanor had to keep the secret. Unattainable love required clear boundaries. 

Peterson watched Starry drive away, then turned to Eleanor. “I thought you’d break it off with him after finding out. But here you are, still able to hold his hand and play the loving granddaughter.” 

Eleanor’s lips curled slightly. “With age comes the understanding that rashness solves nothing. Only through endurance can one plot a course to their goals.” 

Peterson wanted to say something more, but Yates called out from the study, “Peterson, come to the study.”