Chapter 1440
When Bernard heard the name Caleb, a fog of regret clouded the cool depths of his eyes, and he felt a tide of remorse rushing in.
His thick, long lashes drooped, casting a faint shadow beneath his eyelids.
He was still for a long time, until the pain hidden in his eyes was sufficiently veiled, and then he looked up with a guarded expression to meet Robin’s serious gaze.
“What’s the name of the guy who looks like Caleb?”
“Zephyr Clark.””
Zephyr Clark. Bernard rolled the name around in his mind and nodded subtly.
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“I just happened to be back in town for some business and thought I’d drop in to tell you.”
The truth was, a simple phone call would have sufficed, but Robin had made the effort to come in person. The intention behind this seemed pretty clear. Bernard was well aware of Robin’s unspoken motives. Still, Robin was never good at controlling his emotions, acting on impulse.
Lately, he had a peculiar dream where Eleanor stumbled and lurched towards him; he caught her firmly and told her, “Alright, I’ll take you away!
After waking from such a dream, Robin sat up in bed, staring out at the bleak view for a long time, unable to shake the feeling. That dream reignited a flicker of emotion in a heart that was supposed to have moved on.
Now, his gaze dropped to where their fingers were intertwined, skin touching skin in harmonious accord, a reminder to him that it was all just a dream, a longed-for fantasy.
“Thanks.”
Bernard’s heavy heart withdrew from the serpentine maze of his thoughts, and when he looked at Robin again, he could sense what was on his mind. Following Robin’s gaze, he glanced at his own hand, clasped with Eleanor’s, and for a moment, he felt a pang of envy from Robin.
“Mr. Spencer.” Bernard’s voice was cold as frost, snapping Robin back to the present.
He looked up, only to meet Bernard’s detached and weary gaze.
“Thanks for saving my wife, and I appreciate you coming all this way to tell me.”
The emphasis on “coming all this way” was unmistakable. If Robin couldn’t detect the underlying jab, he would be as foolish as Elbert Pine.
“It was no big deal; there’s no need to thank me.”
After saying this, Robin walked around the front of the car to the passenger side, opened the door, and prepared to get in. Bernard’s indifferent voice followed him.
“Aren’t you staying for dinner?”
Robin, hand on the car door, shot him a look..
“Do I look like I’m in need of a charity meal? Do I need to stay at your house for dinner?”
He wasn’t about to endure that pain again.
“Well then, let me send you a parting gift as a token of my gratitude.”
It was Eleanor who spoke, softening Robin’s mood slightly, though he was far from pleased.
“When I saved you, I must have been out of my mind. If I had to do it over, I definitely wouldn’t save you, so quit it with the thank-yous. They’re driving me insane.”
Watching Robin’s impatient expression, Eleanor paused, sensing his apparent indifference. Yet, she was grateful not just for being saved, but for the sustenance he had left her- the drawer full of food.
In those dire circumstances, every apple and every glass of milk Robin had provided were unforgettable. In her heart, Eleanor cherished this kindness. Before Robin could slide into his seat, she sincerely said, “Thank you, Robin.”
The man in the car hesitated for a moment before nonchalantly buckling up and starting the engine swiftly.
As the car turned and drove away, it was only then that Robin allowed himself to openly glance in the rear-view mirror, watching the shrinking figure…
He couldn’t quite articulate the feeling, just a sense of hollowness. Did he want her? He did, but she wasn’t his to have. Even looking felt like overstepping his bounds. In the end, all he could muster was a sense of helpless acceptance.
Robin’s feelings for Eleanor were deeply buried, and he kept a respectful distance. Bernard played along, never addressing it directly.
But he could see that Eleanor treated Robin differently, a difference that began with the food he left her. Watching the monitors, Bernard had seen Eleanor cry all night over Robin and eventually sit on the bed, clutching the apple he left.
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...