Hitched & Hitched Again: A Comedy of Marital Mayhem novel Chapter 1590

Walter didn’t know how to explain, his expression stiffening. Elliot didn’t press him on that point, asking instead, “Walter, tell me the truth. Can Bernard get better?!” Walter’s brow furrowed, and he remained silent. The answer was clear. Realization hit Elliot, his eyes welled up, and he let out a heart-wrenching sob. Walter quickly pulled him into an embrace, comforting him softly, “Elliot, life and death… it's the natural way of things. Everyone’s time comes eventually.” Elliot didn’t answer. He just clung to Walter, burying his face in his chest, and cried as if his heart was breaking. The scarred man stood frozen, staring at Walter in utter disbelief. A few seconds later, he turned and ran. He ran as fast as he could. Walter knew he was going to find Bernard and shouted after him, “Don’t tell Evan yet! He doesn’t want him to know!” The scarred man paused for a split second before charging back into the woods, tears streaming down his face. His elder brother was like a father to him. Though he had resented Bernard for many years, deep down, he saw him as his own flesh and blood. If he was going to die, what would he do? The only family he had left in the world would be gone. His vision blurred. The scarred man roughly wiped away his tears and ran even faster into the forest, like a madman. When he reached Bernard, Bernard was still watching Evan practice his moves. Seeing him, Bernard was about to greet him with a smile but noticed his expression was wrong. His eyes were filled with tears, grievance, sorrow, confusion, and a terrified panic. He was a man in his early sixties, but right now he looked like a helpless child. Bernard guessed what had happened. He knew about his condition. “Sigh…” With a soft sigh, Bernard stood up. “We’ll talk later. Don’t let Evan know for now.” Just as he finished speaking, Evan ran over. “Uncle!” Bernard pulled Evan aside. “Evan, you head home first. I need to talk to your uncle about something private.” Evan saw the tears in his uncle’s eyes and grew worried. “Bernard, what’s wrong with Uncle?” Bernard leaned in and whispered in his ear, “He’s missing your grandmaster and his wife. He’s embarrassed and can’t let it out with you here. After all, a grown man crying in front of a little kid… it’s pretty embarrassing. You go on ahead, and I’ll comfort him.” Evan knew his grandmaster and his wife had died tragically. He frowned and said with determination, “Vengeance will be served, but not yet! Don’t worry, you and Uncle can rest assured. One day, I will get justice for them!” Bernard smiled, gratified. “Good. Now, go on back.” “Okay.” After Evan left, Bernard walked over to the scarred man and called him by his childhood name. “Jeremy.” The scarred man’s full name was Jeremy Warner. Bernard’s was Jake Warner. Bernard was an orphan adopted by the Warner family. They gave him the name Jake, signifying he was their first child. Jeremy's parents had adored him, treating him as their own son from the moment they took him in. That was why he had flown into such a rage after his father, the man who had also been his mentor, was murdered, going abroad to systematically dismantle the champions of seven elite global fight leagues. It was why he had faked his own death and hidden in the mountains when his adoptive mother and younger brother were kidnapped, unwilling to gamble with their lives. And it was why he had lost his mind for so long after his adoptive mother was defiled and brutally killed… Their devotion had been the foundation of his world. His master and his wife had treated him like a son, and he had loved them as his own parents. He hadn't been called by that name in a long, long time. In that moment, Jeremy's emotions reached their peak. He stared at Bernard with red-rimmed eyes and screamed, “You were poisoned! Why didn’t you tell me? Why did you lie and say it was a cold? Were you just going to keep this from me until the end, leaving me to find your lifeless body without even a chance to say goodbye?”