A Second Chance at Forever (Eleanor and Bernard) novel Chapter 1412

Bernard's question jolted Mr. Penrod from his reverie. With a lift of his gaze, he locked eyes with Bernard—the eyes that seemed to see right through everything.

"Indeed," he said, "I thought to myself, maybe with your knife, taking down the Pines, the Stanleys, and the Lawrences would be more satisfying than doing it myself. After all, they're your kin."

Revenge—a vendetta like the one the Howards had—that endless cycle of blood for blood wouldn't do. It had to be like slowly boiling three frogs in a pot over a low flame, making them turn on each other in their desperation.

If Yates was ruthless, Mr. Penrod was venomous, biding his time, orchestrating for years just to set this chessboard. And ironically, the pawns saw the chessmaster as family.

"At seven, beaten within an inch of my life, it was you who reached out, pulled me back from the brink. I thought it was salvation, not realizing it was all just part of your game." Even suspecting he was a pawn, Bernard couldn't help but feel the sting of disappointment, an emotion that seeped out, unable to be concealed.

All his life, with a father who didn't care, a mother who wasn't there, and a stepmother's cruelty, even the grandfather who raised him did so only for his utility...

So at seven, when Mr. Penrod cradled a bloodied Bernard, whispering, "Don't be afraid, I’m here. It'll all get better," he truly believed that he was his redemption, the life raft on his journey of growth, a foster father with genuine affection.

In his final moments, Mr. Penrod was indeed a fatherly figure, a mentor, the reason for Bernard's tireless dedication to the Siren Organization. But now, as winter approached, the once savior morphed into a specter, encased in frost, forever chilling his heart.

The savior of his seventh year was gone, leaving only Bernard shrouded in darkness, an enigma half-lit on the couch.

Mr. Penrod saw the shift in Bernard's eyes, yet he seemed to have anticipated this outcome and felt no regret.

"Truth be told, watching you demolish the Stanleys, unite the Lawrences, and clash with the Pines was quite satisfying. But..." Mr. Penrod paused, peering at the solitary and desolate Bernard across from him.

"My strategy did take out the Stanleys, but the Pines, even with my nudging from the shadows, only reached a stalemate, not obliteration. And then there's the Laurence family..."

Mr. Penrod kept his darkest thoughts to himself, but Bernard had already guessed them.

"At this point, Mr. Penrod, why bother with pretense?"

A slight nod from Mr. Penrod confirmed the truth. "Yes, even if I don't tell you, you would find out. So, it's better that I give you the answers."