Chapter 454


    He gently kissed her, just a little peck, and then let go.


    His fingertips traced her hair, lightly caressing her cheek, feeling cool to the touch.


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    Eleanor slightly turned her head away, dodging his touch.


    This subtle move stirred up a whirlwind of emotions in the man’s heart, making him feel a sudden pain,


    “You don’t want this anymore?”


    He already knew the answer, but couldn’t help but ask.


    “Mmm…”


    Eleanor nodded, her eyes clearing of theplex emotions that filled them.


    Her answer was like thest straw that broke his faith, leaving him feeling powerless.


    “Why?” Bernard asked.


    Why, even after exining everything, she still didn’t want to be with him.


    Why, despite his best efforts to hold onto her, he could never really grasp her.


    All he ever wanted in his life was her, but he couldn’t have her.


    Eleanor lowered her head, pondered for a moment, then lifted her bright eyes to look at him,


    “Do you know what I was like eight years ago?”


    The past eight years belonged to Garett, and Bernard had no idea.


    Although he didn’t want to hear about their past, he still shook his head when faced with her.


    “To love someone, you can give your all, without hesitation, but…”


    Eleanor’s eyes grew dark, as if shrouded by the shadows of the past, losing their luster.


    She continued, “I once knelt before Garett, crying, begging him not to abandon me, not to forget me,


    but all I got was despair.


    Though five yearster, when he regained his memory, he told me it was all a misunderstanding, I was


    truly hurt.


    And it was because of that injury that my personality became sensitive, no longer daring to boldly love


    someone.”


    As she spoke, she looked at Bernard’s face, which had caused her pain for eight years, and once again


    fell into the dusty memories,


    unable to break free.


    Eleanor said, “Back then, I knew you wouldn’t marry me or love me, yet I still fell in love with you.


    But the injured me no longer had the courage to love, only daring to silently stay by your side.


    I was praying every day that the end of our agreement would came slower, but you ended it early.


    Later, you and Sophie appeared together, taunting me, hurting me, making me lose hope in you.


    When you said, ‘Don’t delude yourself that I’ll love you,‘ that sentence made me never expect you to


    love me ever again.”


    Tears filled Eleanor’s eyes as she cried, speaking to the man holding her about the past that weighed


    on her heart.


    She said, “Bernard, I’ve been hurt. I have no sense of security, and I’m very sensitive. My trust in you is


    fragile. Even under these circumstances, I still gathered the courage to agree to be with you, but as


    soon as I opened my heart, I saw you with another woman entering a hotel.


    Even if you tell me now that it’s all fake, I saw it with my own eyes, and I’ll still feel disappointed,


    desperate, and scared. These feelings torment me, leaving me without the courage to even ask you


    questions.


    I’m no longer the person I was eight years ago, and my personality has be extremely sensitive. If I


    encounter a simr situation next time, I’ll still back down. Being with you like this will not only hurt me


    but also hurt you. We’re simply not right for each other.”