A Second Chance at Forever (Eleanor and Bernard) novel Chapter 680

Even though the door was only slightly opened, the strong smell of blood still permeated out. Eleanor, got one whiff of the metallic smell and almost buckled at the knees, but she steeled herself, pushed past the doctor, and quickly entered.

Aidyn and Caleb were cleaning up the blood on the floor, and when they saw Eleanor barging in, the two stopped in fright."Ms. Shultz?"

She didn't leave?

Eleanor's bright eyes moved past the blood on the floor and focused on the man lying in bed, already deep asleep.

His strong, sturdy back had been cleaned, treated with medicine, but left unwrapped, and the dense knife wounds could be seen at a glance. The sheets underneath him, perhaps not yet changed, were soaked in blood, dripping onto the floor.

Seeing the usually cold, aloof, and untouchable man now weak like a child, Eleanor panicked.

She staggered to the bedside, squatted down, and reached out a shaking hand, wanting to touch those wounds but fearing she might cause him pain.

After some tentative air-strokes, she placed her hand on his perfectly sculpted arm, ever so lightly touching him.

Feeling the touch, Bernard woke up and instinctively grabbed her hand, even though he was still half-asleep.

"Bernard, it's me."

His eyes were foggy, but his ears were sharp. Hearing her voice, he immediately let go.

His gaze was as cold as a hawk's but softened considerably when he focused on her.

"You didn't leave?"

Eleanor saw his eyes open, and tears instantly fell.

"How could I leave when you're hurt like this?"

Bernard saw her tear-streaked face and sighed gently.

He hadn't wanted to worry her, which was why he hadn't told her. Yet, she'd still found out.

The man bore the pain, reached out, and gently caressed her face.

"Hey, don't cry..."

The one hurt was him, yet he was the one comforting her. This only made Eleanor cry more.

Seeing the wounds on his back, she couldn't imagine what he'd gone through, but she could imagine the pain he was in.

That pain made her so heartbroken that she dared not even touch him, afraid that she might hurt him.

"Is it painful?"

Her sobbing voice was nasal, making Bernard's heart ache— not from his wounds, but from seeing her cry.

"I've taken painkillers. It doesn't hurt anymore, don't worry."