Chapter 1448
Zephyr’s smile held a hint of transcendence, a serene detachment that couldn’t help but influence Eleanor and
even Bernard, who felt his eager anticipation to meet Caleb settle into a calm stillness.
Bernard, who usually never drank anything outside his home, took the colorful
stained-glass tumbler in his hand and brought it to his lips. The sip was delicate and the fragrance of the tea
infusion quickly spread through his senses, revealing an unexpected
charm.
He was silent for a moment before looking up at Zephyr, “You do look like him, but you are
not him.”
The words, ‘but you are not him,’ indicated that in Bernard’s heart, no one could replace Caleb. Caleb was
irreplaceable, unique, and even if someone bore a striking resemblance, they could never truly be him.
For Zephyr, Bernard’s distinction was a comfort, “The fact that you can tell us apart shows how much Caleb also
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtmeant to you. Such mutual care and friendship is truly priceless.”
Bernard’s eyes fell, hiding the shade of melancholy, “I did wish you were him for a moment, but seeing you, I knew
it was just a fantasy.”
Zephyr, observing the man suffused with regret, offered some consolation, “If you don’t mind, you can think of me
as him. I am willing to take his place and serve you as he would have, sir.”
It seemed only fair to Zephyr, who had enjoyed the family’s fortunes while his brother had walked towards death in
the storm, to make some amends for the imbalance of their
fates.
The term ‘sir,’ falling on Bernard’s ears, was as if Caleb had returned to him.
The hardships of the journey were akin to crossing the mythical River Styx, and Bernard’s heart ached at the
thought.
Staring at Zephyr’s face, Bernard softly asked, “What did you just call me?”
Zephyr set down his teacup, turned his face slightly, and with a teasing arch of his eyebrow, said, “Sir.”
He remembered Robin telling him Caleb liked to refer to the head of the Laurence Group
as Mr. Law.
Bernard hesitated for a moment, as if he could see Caleb through Zephyr’s features.
Back then, after firing his last shot, Caleb would sling the rifle over his shoulder, raise an eyebrow, and tilt his chin
up at Bernard.
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Chapter 1448
“Sir, I was the first to finish the shooting drill today. Don’t you think I deserve a little
bonus?”
“Hit thirty more targets, and I’ll give you ten grand.”
“Only ten grand? You’re such a cheapskate.”
“Are you going to shoot or not?”
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm“Of course, I will. Ten grand is still money!”
That carefree and willful young man would then shoulder his rifle and keep shooting for that hundred thousand
dollars.
Sometimes, Bernard wondered if Caleb would still be alive if he had not followed him into that dangerous life.
He looked at Zephyr, lost in thought, but Zephyr pulled him back from his painful memories, “Mr. Law, the past is
gone. Let it go.
The person before him spoke with the wisdom of a sage, with a touch of the spiritual, and Bernard, watching this
new version of Caleb, slowly gathered his thoughts, took another sip of his tea, and found himself at a loss for
words.
They sat in silence for a while until Zephyr turned to Eleanor, “Miss, I’ve noticed you seem to have something on
your mind. Is there something you’d like to say to me?”
Eleanor didn’t actually have anything particular to say; she was just moved by his face that so resembled Caleb’s.
But since Zephyr asked, she ventured, “Would you like to try some of my husband’s cooking?”
After the question escaped her lips, she regretted it, realizing it was unfair to seek Caleb’s shadow in Zephyr. Yet
Zephyr simply smiled, “I suspect your husband’s cooking isn’t the best?”