A Second Chance At Forever novel (Eleanor and Bernard) novel Chapter 1528

Last week at home, Nina announced she was gearing up for a debate competition, landing the role of fourth speaker. Damian scoffed at the idea, implying she wasn't up for the task. Nina, fuming with indignation, insisted on making a bet with him. To her delight, she won.

Damian glanced at the hand waved under his nose and sneered with a mocking tone, "Your usual verbal fireworks and arguments are decent, I'll give you that. Winning the championship suits you well, congratulations."

The sarcasm was thick, but Nina couldn't care less. "Whatever you say, you lost this time, Damian. Pay up!"

Damian, ever the picture of nonchalance, unfolded his napkin with deliberate slowness. "I'll transfer it after dinner, but Nina..." He raised an eyebrow, looking at the indignant Nina. "You're seventeen and still in high school, not even secured early admission to any college. I wonder if you'll even get into university when the time comes."

Nina felt a sudden tightness in her chest. "You... Just because you got into one of the top schools doesn't mean you're so great. Maybe next year, I'll get into the same college as you!"

Cutting a piece of steak, Damian quipped, "Then I’ll be your school senior?"

Nina was so irate she could barely muster a retort before Damian, with a smirk, added, "If we bump into each other on campus next year, freshman... remember to call me 'senior'."

Nina was livid. "Aaargh, you're infuriating!"

After pounding her chest in frustration, she plopped down on a nearby chair and, still fuming, leaned on her aunt Eleanor's shoulder for comfort.

"Auntie, your son is so annoying! When can we send him away? I can't stand to see him anymore!"

Eleanor patted Nina's head affectionately, "You might miss him once he's gone."

"Not a chance," Nina retorted, though her eyes couldn't help but drift back to Damian's infuriating face. Truth be told, after a decade of these skirmishes, she'd developed a sort of fondness for him, albeit still mixed with annoyance, "I can't wait for him to leave."

Eleanor chuckled, and with the grace of a hostess at a Thanksgiving dinner, she forked a piece of fruit and placed it in Nina's mouth. Nina accepted it with an open mouth and a challenging gaze fixed on Damian, "Auntie dotes on me the most."

Damian rolled his eyes but bit back any retort when Eleanor gave him the look. His mother's affection for his 'silly' cousin was something he couldn't compete with.

Nina, feeling victorious, suddenly found her appetite. She requested bites of tuna and fois gras, keeping Eleanor so busy she barely had time to eat herself.

Watching the trio, Bernard allowed a smile to grace his lips as the icy barriers around his heart melted with the countless warm moments shared over the years.

He wanted to continue living this life, but the pain in his head reminded him that he might not see Serenina's wedding or Damian come of age...

His gaze lowered, and the din of the cutlery clattering onto the plate drew the anxious gazes of all three.

Especially Eleanor, who was ready to rush to his side only to see Bernard raise an eyebrow and say, "I'm full. You three keep passing the food around."

With that, Bernard left the dining room. Nina and Damian thought nothing of it, assuming he was indeed full. But Eleanor, gazing after his retreating silhouette, felt her worry deepen...

After the meal, Eleanor returned to the bedroom to find Bernard sitting on the sofa, eyes closed as if asleep.

"Honey..." she called softly, touching his arm. When there was no response, a chill ran through her, and she felt her legs give out. She fell to her knees, reaching out to him with trembling hands, only to find she no longer had the strength to hold on...