Chapter 1450 Bernardâs gaze was indifferent, his eyes a frosty blue as they locked onto Yates. âWhatâs this? Canât find Xavier, so youâre thinking of messing with my chip to make me go looking for him?â
Evan had mentioned, Yates had been scouring the globe to no avail; Xavier had vanished without a trace, as if heâd been swallowed whole by the earth. Yates must have been desperate to come to him now.
Yates felt a pang of frustration under Bernardâs scrutiny. âYouâve got me all wrong, Bernard. I didnât come here to talk shop about the chip just to manipulate you. I came to tell you Iâve destroyed the failsafe system. Youâre not under its thumb anymore.â
Bernard was momentarily taken aback. Ever since heâd returned from his stint outside the Golden Sea District, heâd tried and failed to dismantle the chipâs self-destruct mechanism. Hearing that Yates, the chipâs creator, had personally disabled it, was a shock to his system.
âThough the explosive system is gone, the chipâs laced with a virus. Remove it, and you risk unleashing an infection. Looks like that piece of tech is a permanent tenant in your head now.â
Bernard knew this all too well and didnât respond, but Yates continued. âThis could shorten your lifespan, but I donât know how.â
This chip was designed for control, never before tested on a human subject. Bernard was the first, so the final outcome was a mystery to Yates as well.
Yates fell silent as Bernard remained quiet, his gaze shifting to the corner where Eleanor was deep in conversation with Peterson. âShe hasnât come after me yet, which means you havenât told her about the chip.â
Bernardâs silence was his way of protecting Eleanor from worry and fear, a testament to his responsibility as a man and his love for her. But...
âThe virus in your head could flare up at any moment. Sheâs bound to find out sooner or later. If that day comes, could you do me a solid? Tell her it was Kermit Hyde who put that chip in you, not me.â
It was Yatesâs research, sure, but it wasnât him whoâd used Bernard as the guinea pig. And he certainly didnât know Bernard was Eleanorâs husband or that Eleanor was his granddaughter.
Yates had admired Bernardâs savvy from the start, seeing him only as a pawn to be used and controlled, hence why he told Kermit to control him. But that initial intention didnât account for their personal connections.
Regardless, Yates couldnât wash his hands of the matter entirely. If Eleanor found out, 1/2 Chapter 1450 sheâd likely want his head, but relations with Eleanor were strained enough. He didnât want an enemy in her. He could only hope Bernard would understand.
Asking a victim to speak on your behalf was a tall order, and Bernardâs disdain was palpable. Without a word, he turned on his heel and walked away.
Yates sighed, watching the proud figure approach Eleanor, perhaps regretting his actions a little, but also feeling somewhat innocent. He didnât linger, instead choosing to leave as well.
Eleanor asked Peterson how could he stop running errands for Yates.
Peterson just smiled at his cousinâs concern and said nothing, prompting an impatient shake of his arm. âPeterson, come on, talk to me.â
He finally spoke, his voice smooth and cultured. âWith Area Opaca disbanded, and no one left to stand by my grandfatherâs side, I canât just up and leave him, can I? And what about avenging Maâam Pauline?â
He was raised by his grandfather, and despite realizing the old manâs ruthlessness, he owed him his loyalty.
Petersonâs sense of duty and filial piety proved his character, and the more Eleanor saw, the more she admired him. âJust look out for yourself, okay?
Donât be the hero every time.â
Eleanor was aware of Yatesâs vendetta against Xavier. It spelled trouble, and she feared her cousin might sacrifice himself for Yates, which she could not bear to see.
She couldnât sway Peterson easily, so she heaped on the advice, cherishing the cousin who had always been there for her.
Peterson gently patted the top of Eleanorâs head with a reassuring touch. âCousin, donât worry. Iâll be around till Iâm 99 at least. Maybe Iâll even meet your great-grandkids.â
His tone was tender, and Eleanor felt comforted. âBernard, I owe you a lot for helping me and my husband unite. Without you, God knows how long we would have been apart.â
Peterson felt a twinge of guilt. âIf we hadnât started Area Opaca, if we hadnât done those terrible things, you and your husband wouldnât have had to part. Iâm truly sorry for that.â
A Second Chance At Forever novel (Eleanor and Bernard)
ï¤Chapter 1449 Impulsive Vow to an Enigmatic Husband (END)
ï¤Chapter 1765 (END)
The chip in Bernardâs head was a secret he was bound to keep, his grandfatherâs strict warning. All Peterson could offer was his silent apology.
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