A Second Chance at Forever novel (Eleanor and Bernard)

The courtroom had cleared, its final verdict severing the last thread between Chase and Sigrid. Leaning heavily on the attorney's desk, Chase peered over the sea of bustling suits to catch a glimpse of Sigrid as she rose to leave...

His lips parted, yearning to call out to her, "Sigrid, one last goodbye," but no sound could escape his throat...

Chase finally collapsed, right there on the floor of the courtroom he loved so dearly, with no regrets, save for the piercing one: the woman who had burrowed deep into his bones had never once looked back at him...

Chase's body gave in, and he found himself in a hospital room, tubes running in and out of him like a grim marionette. He made his students promise not to tell Sigrid. "Why endure this alone?" they asked. Gazing out at the pallid sky, he replied, "I pushed her away first, how could I expect her to look back?"

Yet, when the doctor grimly announced he had merely three days left, Chase yanked out the tubes, dressed in his sharpest suit, and had his students drive him to Sigrid's studio.

Sigrid had been working tirelessly, nights on end, carving a masterpiece from exhaustion. The effort took its toll, and she collapsed into a deep sleep atop her drafting table.

When Chase entered, the other artisans respectfully made their exit, giving him space. Out of gratitude for his help with the lawsuit, they were willing to play matchmakers for him and Sigrid, unaware that Chase no longer had the luxury of time....

The sun shone that day, bathing Sigrid in a soft golden glow, stark against Chase's shadowed figure. It was like a cruel metaphor: one destined for the light, the other doomed to darkness...

How could a creature of the sun ever mingle with one from the underworld? Even when Sigrid later opened her heart to another, only to be rejected, Chase had no chance to hold her hand, to fulfill the promise of their youth to grow old together...

he was on the verge of tears. What could he do with just three days left? He could only stand there, an imbecile, watching Sigrid

courage, leaned closer, and like a thief in the warmth of the sun's embrace,

touch, but instead of a

a floodgate of pain in Chase's heart, bringing tears to his eyes. Fearing he might wake her, he reluctantly broke

fell upon Sigrid's cheek. Her lashes fluttered, and thinking she might stir, Chase quickly straightened up and hurried

didn't leave the

et

outside the door, waiting for Sigrid to emerge so he could feign nonchalance and say "The trial's over, and you didn't even

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ticked by, Sigrid didn't come out. Inside, she considered following him, yet restrained herself, touching her cheek where his tear had

about her

before seeing Chase again. However, before she could sort her thoughts, Chase

flared up and asked her

from hers.

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