Female Novel
Chapter 1788
The wail of sirens outside persisted, slicing through the sky with persistent urgency.
Bernard stopped speaking, his chest heaving with unspoken emotions, his lips pressed into a thin,firm line.
Leonard's health had deteriorated so much that even a bout of coughing left him drained ofstrength.
Holding out the letter, he inadvertently coughed up a spot of blood, "Just stop, take a good look -this is the truth you've been after."
The truth lay before him, one Bernard had sought for all those years, yet he suddenly seemedhesitant to reach out and grasp it.
Leonard's shaky grip found Bernard's hand, pressing the letter into his palm.
"Don't keep compounding your mistakes. Fitch and Ian, those boys you watched grow up, Yvonneadored them the most. What are you trying to do now? Send Fitch to his grave? Let Ian's wife dietoo? She’s pregnant now. You've caused enough suffering already."
"So what?" Bernard's reply was airy, still seeing no fault in his actions.
Leonard dabbed at the blood on his lips with a handkerchief, his face ashen, "You'll understandonce you read it. Now, I'm taking Fitch and Maja out of here. If you're going to stop me, you mightas well let me die in this room, ready to join Yvonne."
Yvonne had taken her own life in this very house, and now Leonard was tired, longing to find her.novelbin
Bernard's pupils contracted sharply, his grip on the letter tightening. He didn't open it, insteadwatching as Leonard slowly moved toward where Fitch was.
Lingery, standing by, looked ready to intervene, but Bernard held him back. Lingery's lips thinnedwith frustration, itching to just pull out a gun and end Leonard's life.
But Leonard showed no fear, instead taking Sarah's hand; the latter was prepped to administermedication.
Sarah, unsure of the situation, looked toward Bernard, whose expression was grave, betraying nohint of his next move.
Finally, he raised his hand in a slow gesture.
"Lingery, escort him downstairs."
Lingery nodded and immediately moved behind Leonard, pulling him away with force! Leonard,already on the brink of death, couldn't resist.
He coughed up more blood and fainted. Lingery didn't care about his condition; he hastened downthe stairs.
At the living room doorway, Leonard coughed up blood one last time and collapsed. Lingery froze,and then tested for breath at Leonard's nose.
There was none. Frowning, he called up to Bernard at the top of the stairs, "Professor, he's passedaway."
Leonard had been holding on just to find Bernard; now, his life force spent, he couldn't hold on anylonger.
Bernard looked down, observing the blood trail stretching down the hall, and slowly closed his eyes.
Lingery still awaited orders, but Bernard just stood there, motionless.
"Professor?"
Bernard let out a cold laugh, his lips arching upwards, "Take his body outside. Let everyone think Idrove him to his death."
Lingery was puzzled, not understanding why Bernard would provoke the crowd's anger.
The sirens continued unabated, and no one outside knew the turmoil within the house. Soon, thehouse's door swung open, and Lingery, supporting Leonard, stepped out.
They reached the iron gate, where Lingery set Leonard down with an air of defiance, "People whomeddle too much deserve to die!"
The first responder, seeing Leonard's bloodstained mouth, rushed forward in horror.
The iron gate closed at that moment. Someone checked Leonard's breath; he was indeed dead.
"Bernard! Are you even human? This is Yvonne's father!"
"Bernard, you're a monster!"
"There's no saving you; you're beyond redemption!"
The crowd's anger swelled as they cursed. Inside, Bernard stood with the letter in hand.
This was the truth behind Yvonne's death, but what was the truth? He unfolded the paper slowly,revealing the handwriting inside.