Chapter 1385
After Yates finished speaking, he rose from his seat and left the room. In the wake of his departure, Bernard felt the chilling countdown begin anew within his mind, the chip implanted in his brain ticking away with relentless persistence.
The countdown, along with his remarks about Eleanor’s pregnancy, served as a stark warning to Bernard-a reminder of the deal he had struck and Yates’ threat that he was a man of his word, and that betrayal would not be tolerated.
Regardless of whether Bernard gave any hints or whether Eleanor could guess the direness of his situation, it was futile. Yates’ condition was absolute: the two of them must part ways for good.
Otherwise, Yates could, at any moment and without a sound, endanger Eleanor’s unborn child.
And the chip in Bernard’s brain-it kept him tethered to Area Opaca, an invisible prison from which he could not escape.
Trapped in Area Opaca, he couldn’t protect Eleanor or their child… He had to get out. He had to gather all the help he could find to deal with Yates and set everything back on track.
But for now, their time together was destined to end in parting.
The thought alone made Bernard’s chest tighten, robbing him of breath, yet he kept his turmoil hidden, simply lifting his hand to remove the mask from
his face.
At that same moment, Eleanor also took off her mask. Their eyes met, and both were filled with a sorrow too deep for words.
They remained silent, eyes locked, until the intrusive beeping of the countdown penetrated their quiet moment, pulling Bernard back to reality.
He stood before Eleanor, still weak from his ordeal, not crouching or sitting, just standing in the backlight.
“You…” Bernard’s voice choked up as he started to speak, but he fought to keep his composure.
“Last time, you said it was over, that I’d never see you again. I thought…”
Eleanor looked up at him, squinting slightly as his silhouette was backlit, obscuring his expression, “Isn’t it normal for couples to have fallouts and say harsh things in the heat of the moment? Are you still holding onto that?”
Hearing her say this, tears threatened to spill from Bernard’s eyes, but he quickly shielded them with his long lashes, “How could I hold onto that?”
Eleanor, slightly uncomfortable from looking up, gestured to a nearby chair, patting the cushion invitingly for him to sit.
Once Bernard collected himself, he slowly sat down. But no sooner had he settled into the chair than Eleanor leaned in close, her lips near his ear, “We’re under surveillance here, and it’s not safe to talk freely. Let me whisper to you what I’ve found out, okay?”
Her voice was always gentle, like a stream trickling into his heart, prying open his very soul to pull him out of the mire.
Bernard watched his adorable wife for a few seconds before nodding in agreement. He tilted his head down toward her, allowing her to speak without straining and letting her warm breath tickle his ear, igniting a spark of life within him.
This sensation reminded him that he was not just a shell of a man; he had a soul, a wife, a child-it was a beautiful feeling.
Unaware of Bernard’s thoughts, Eleanor brought her lips close to his ear and began to share her plan in a hushed tone.
“I won’t bother you with how I got to know Yates. Let’s focus on the essentials. You already know about Yates’ identity, and I’ve secretly sent Area Opaca’s location to Aidyn. Next, I’ll use my clearance as 1-1 to grant you permission to leave Area Opaca. That way, you can meet up with Aidyn, and you two can decide how to proceed. I’ll stay here and convince Yates to grant me access to every sector. When the time comes, I’ll open the gates for you.”
Eleanor’s plan was seamless, almost perfect, and Bernard admired her brilliance. As he looked into her eyes, it was as if he was gazing into a galaxy brimming with stars.
But even his clever wife couldn’t guess that the very surveillance she feared was embedded in his brain, that Yates was privy to every word spoken, every plan conceived.
And Yates, ever the strategist, would never allow her to reveal Area Opaca’s location so easily. Chances were that the moment she sent out the message, it was intercepted by a hacker.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: A Second Chance At Forever novel (Eleanor and Bernard)
Loved the story, many times caught in so much actually crying with the situation. Wish had more chapters to a better ending....
It's weird that the story went from narrative to slang use. Good story so far though...