She had always cherished her beauty throughout her life. Even on her deathbed, the medications she took were to prevent swelling, fearing she'd look unappealing when departing this world.
However, now her back was no longer the flawless masterpiece it used to be.
Seeing her like this made Bernard's heart momentarily stop; his face turned ashen. He tossed away his umbrella, kneeling before her. His trembling hands wanted to hold her, but he was at a loss on how to proceed. Her wedding dress on her back was decayed, skin charred black, with bones showing. The sight of her severe injuries caused tears to roll down Bernard's cheeks.
With trembling hands, he reached out to touch her face, only for Eleanor to cry out in pain: "Don't... touch me... it hurts..." Bernard instantly pulled back his hand, opening his mouth but unable to make a sound. Her pallid face reflected in his eyes filled him with sorrow. He looked helplessly towards Liana, who was running over: "Quickly! Liana, help her!"
His voice was hoarse, quivering, his indescribable pain leaving him unable to fathom her current agony.
All he knew was that her state was causing him so much pain, he could hardly breathe: "Why... why are you so foolish..." Eleanor mustered the last bit of her strength to look back at the pale-faced Garett, her eyes slightly drooping...
When she turned back to Bernard, a faint smile surfaced in her eyes: "I... owe you too much..." In this lifetime, she was indebted to two men. Garett had cared for her for half of her life, had attempted suicide for her, ended up disabled; she had no way to repay him. Bernard had loved her for eight years, spent so much money for her, did so much, and she couldn't repay him.
She wanted to give the rest of her life to Garett and repay Bernard with the money she'd worked hard to earn... But no matter her choice, she'd end up hurting them. All the mistakes were hers. She should have left this world three years ago, that would have been fair to them. The heavy rain poured down, washing over her back. The burning sensation grew stronger, and Eleanor, unable to hold on, collapsed onto the ground.
Her lifeless eyes looked at the man in front of her, slowly becoming desperate. "Bernard, I might have paid my dues to you in this manner, but I... don't want to see you hurt. But I'm sorry, I already promised Garett when I found out all you'd done, I can't let him down."
Bernard knelt in front of her, his tall body soaked, filled with a sense of helplessness.
Looking at her laying on the ground, on the brink of unconsciousness, he comforted her through his trembling, "You've paid your debt, you don't owe me anymore. But Eleanor, listen to me, stay with me, okay?"
Enduring the burning pain on her back, Eleanor obediently responded: "Okay..." Yet after speaking those words, she broke her promise. The overwhelming pain made her close her eyes. Seeing her lose consciousness, Bernard, like a madman, picked her up, intending to rush her to the hospital. However, with just a touch of his fingers, her small body trembled in pain. Even in her unconscious state, the pain was unbearable, indicating the sheer extent of her suffering...
The intense pain kept Bernard from daring to touch her again... As he stood helplessly trembling, the janitor suddenly pulled out a knife and charged at him!
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