A Second Chance at Forever ( Eleanor Shultz )

Chapter 1496 

The news of Yates’ passing reached Eleanor as she was cradling the baby, Damian, and helping Nina with her homework. Nina was struggling, especially with math, much like Eleanor had at her age. Even the simplest questions was a challenge for Nina. 

Fortunately, elementary level math was something Eleanor could handle. So, with patience, she guided Nina, while Damian, nestled in her arms, often couldn’t help but snort at Nina’s puzzled expressions. 

At first, Nina thought little of Damian’s strange noises, assuming the baby was just being odd. It wasn’t until the fifth snort that she grew suspicious and turned her wide, inquisitive eyes to study Damian. 

Damian, absentmindedly fiddling with a pen, felt Nina’s gaze and suddenly tilted his head, lifting his chin defiantly and glaring at her with his little nostrils, “Hmph!” 

Now Nina was certain. She waved her chubby little hand in accusation towards the smug Damian, “Eleanor, Dame is taunting me!” 

Eleanor, engrossed in flipping through the math textbook, didn’t look up. “How could that be? Dame’s just one year old; he probably doesn’t even know what is taunting…” 

But Nina, stomping her foot in urgency, pointed at Damian, “Eleanor, look! He’s not just glaring with his nostrils; he’s laughing at me with his eyes…” 

As Eleanor’s gaze shifted from the textbook to her son, Damian quickly reverted to an innocent expression, even flashing a goofy smile when Eleanor turned him to face her. 

Nina was spooked by Damian’s rapid change in demeanor. “Eleanor, your baby birthed is kinda freaky…” 

Unaware of the face-changing act, Eleanor brushed it off, “Maybe you’re just stressed from all the schoolwork. How about we go for a walk and clear your head?” 

Nina, still eyeing Damian, shook her head determinedly. “No need, I want to stay home and keep an eye on Dame, see if he will wet the bed at night…” 

As soon as she spoke, Damian cracked a silent but sinister smile, chilling Nina to the bone. “Aaah! Bernard, help! I don’t find your son cute at all anymore!” Panicked, Nina dashed toward the study, bumping into, Bernard. The collision sent her bouncing backward, but Bernard’s strong, slender hand gaught her by her collar, steadying her. She was about to complain when she caught sight of Bernard’s solemn face and wisely stepped aside. 

As Bernard walked past Nina, he ruffled her hair, a gesture that set Nina off again. “Aaah! Help! Has Uncle Bernard been possessed? He’s acting weird too…” 

From a distance, Damian watched Nina’s frantic spinning, his bright eyes rolling as if to 

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say, “Idiot…” 

Bernard approached Eleanor and relayed the news, “Yates injected himself with a drug at Pauline’s grave and passed away. He left all his personal assets to you.” 

Eleanor paused mid-motion while dressing the children, absorbing the shock, then turned to Bernard, “Why would he suddenly…” 

Bernard looked down, his gaze landing softly on Damian, who was quietly playing with his pen. “Peterson said Yates felt he had done all he needed to in this world and had no more attachments.” 

After a moment, Bernard added, “Before he died, he arranged for a doctor to help me. Someone who could stabilize the chip in my brain.” 

Eleanor wasn’t deeply moved by Yates’ death; after all, she hadn’t grown up with the Sharp family, and her connection to Yates was one of blood, not affection. Her feelings were further complicated by the fact that, despite everything, it was Yates who had saved her life and helped her regain her memories using her child. And now, he’d found a doctor to help Bernard. 

Still, the chip in Bernard’s brain was tied to Yates, and Eleanor felt no sorrow for Yates’ passing, only empathy for what Bernard had endured in Area Opaca. 

After composing her emotions, she picked up Damian. “Honey, could you tell Peterson that I don’t want Yates’ assets? He can keep them.” 

Bernard nodded slightly, then said, “Peterson mentioned that we won’t be invited to the funeral, but if you ever want to go back home, you can. The cottage will always be there for you.” 

Eleanor had always been treated well by the rest of the Sharp family-the uncles, cousins, aunts by marriage-so she was open to staying in touch. “We’ll visit when we have the chance.” 

“Sounds good,” Bernard replied, his eyes tenderly tracing Eleanor’s face before resting on baby Damian’s plump cheeks. “Nina has been begging to have a sleepover with the little one. Let’s let them sleep together tonight.” 

Damian, still playing with the pen, looked up at Bernard with eyes clear as a melted snowdrift, as if pondering the intent behind Bernard’s suggestion. 

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