A Second Chance at Forever

Chapter 1447

Bernard stared at the man before him, who bore an uncanny resemblance to Caleb. For a fleeting moment, it was as if he saw Caleb clawing his way out of hell and staggering toward him, proclaiming, “Mr. Law, I clawed my way out of that hellhole. Pretty badass, huh?”

How often had Bernard wished for such an ending, even dreaming it into existence. Yet the indifferent gaze that met his was not like Caleb’s-whose eyes, despite being weathered by storms, still sparkled. This man’s eyes held a detachment from worldly

concerns.

It took only a glance for Bernard to differentiate Caleb from the man before him, Zephyr. But due to their shared features, a sliver of hope persisted in Bernard’s heart, and he finally broke the silence, “I’m here for you.”

Hearing Bernard’s voice, Katherine, who had been sipping honeyed tea, felt a surge of anger darken her expression. The anger was tempered, though, by her recent practice of meditation, which had smoothed her once volatile temper.

She restrained her fury and turned to face Bernard, who had just entered with Eleanor, “If Caleb hadn’t come back safe and sound, I would have killed you.”

Seeing Katherine, Bernard felt a deep sense of guilt. Caleb should have been there to live a happy life with his love and their child, but because of Bernard, Caleb was gone, and his beloved was condemned to a lifetime of pain.

The usually haughty Bernard, with his cool, detached eyes, couldn’t help but reveal a trace of remorse buried deep in his heart, “I’m sorry.”

Sorry for causing Katherine to lose her husband, and sorry that Caleb hasn’t come back-this latter thought Bernard couldn’t voice. Who could be so cruel as to sever Katherine’s last thread of hope?

Sometimes, it’s the blissful ignorance in life that spares us from regret. Let her believe Zephyr is Caleb. How else would she go on living?

Seeing guilt in Bernard’s eyes was rare, and Katherine wanted to seize it to lash out at him. But when her hand brushed Eleanor’s pregnant belly, the harsh words she’d prepared retreated, “You’re pregnant?”

Eleanor touched her belly, feeling a moment’s guilt. Katherine had lost her child, her Caleb, yet Eleanor still had her husband and child. It seemed so unfair.

Unable to face Katherine, Eleanor was taken aback by her smile and the understanding in her eyes, “If my child had lived, they’d be about as big as yours now. But it’s okay, Caleb and I will have more children.”

With kindness, Katherine added, “With the baby so far along, you shouldn’t have troubled yourself coming to see Caleb. You need to take care of yourself so the little one can be comfortable in your belly.”

Eleanor lowered her gaze, ashamed, “Katherine, I’m sorry. If it weren’t for me, your child might still be…”

Seeing Eleanor’s face, Katherine remembered the time she had lost her temper and scalded her. Katherine felt even more remorseful, “It’s not your fault at all. I was the one with the temper. I caused my own loss.”

Having said her piece, Katherine didn’t want to keep apologizing for past grievances. She rose from her wicker chair to make room for them, “You two catch up with Caleb. I’ll leave you to it.”From NôvelDrama.Org.

She swept past Bernard without a glance, but as they brushed shoulders, she caught his whispered apology once more, “I’m sorry.”

It was a sincere apology, heavy with regret, as if Caleb truly were dead, prompting the proud man to say sorry again and again.

Katherine, unfazed, gestured toward Zephyr, “The one you should be apologizing to is Caleb.”

With that, she strode away. Once she was gone, Zephyr’s gaze softened, and he made a welcoming gesture to the two guests, “If you don’t mind, please take a seat. Would you like a cup of tea?”

Caleb never liked tea. He favored strong coffee to stay alert, ready for when Mr. Law would call him to action.

Bernard glanced at the tranquil tea setup and wondered if Caleb, had he not been sent away by his own family on that ill-fated ship, might have enjoyed a peaceful life like Zephyr’s, not having to live on the edge for him.

There were no answers, no way to trace back the past. One could only live in the present, where all past things seem beautiful through the misty veil of memory.

Bernard helped Eleanor to a seat across from Zephyr. Few words were exchanged, but in Zephyr’s calm demeanor, Bernard saw something extraordinary, “On the way over, Robin told me about Caleb’s background. I didn’t expect him to be your brother.”

After pouring tea for them, Zephyr offered a light smile, “I thought you might mistake me for Caleb, like Katherine did. I was wondering how to explain.”