A Second Chance at Forever novel (Eleanor and Bernard)

Chapter 1059

The area was as dark as a crypt, with only the weak glow of a distant streetlight casting an eerie light on the overgrown bramble bush in front, exposing a large indentation in the earth

Cedric stepped towards the brambles, bending over, his hands shaking as he pushed aside the prickly foliage

The sight that met him – Hailey, lying on the ground, her clothes torn, her body smeared with blood–shocked him to his core

He’d never experienced such terror before. It was as if his blood had suddenly frozen in his veins

His heart pounded against his chest, feeling as though it had been dropped into an abyss, the sheer dread robbing him of breath.

He tried to speak, to say something to Hailey, but the words refused to leave his throat.

It was as if someone had clenched his throat in a vice. All he could do was extend a shaky hand to touch Hailey’s icy face

At his touch, Hailey flinched. She tried to move but found she couldn’t

Her tears mixed with the blood, trickling from the corner of her eyes

‘Please, don’t touch me please

Hearing her plea, Cedric’s heart ached so much he could hardly breathe

“Hailey, it’s me!

voice stopped Hailey in her tracks

eyes towards him, slowly

blurred, and she could hardly make out his

are, don’t touch me… please, don’t touch

eyes welled up

it’s me,

Cedric

know it’s you,

want you to

turned her head away, not wanting him to see her in this

was covered not just in blood, but also in cuts and scrapes

crouched down,

Hailey up, ignoring the blood on her neck, and buried his head in

I’ll

down on one knee, holding her tenderly,

see her like this, but she was too exhausted

go of the rock she’d been clutching, and buried her head

enjoy this moment

took off his coat and wrapped it around her,

Hailey in his arms, a hand

brambles seized Cedric’s foot, his

I cant hold