Chapter 179. Man of the Hour

Bernard caught Marissa and held her tightly to himself as her body got wracked with shudders, and she sobbed as she clung to him.

"Oh my God. Oh, my God," she said repeatedly as she held him tightly. "I thought…I thought I would never see you again. I was…I couldn't... oh my God," she said brokenly as tears and relief gushed out of her.

Bernard seized her lips in a kiss. "I know, I know. Hush now, my love. I am so sorry for making you worry so much."

Marissa moved back from the embrace and gave him a thorough look before holding him tightly to herself again in a warm hug. "Please never do that to me again. I never want to go through something like this again in my life. I don't… I don't think I can survive it, Marissa mumbled against his shoulder.

"I promise. I am so sorry." Bernard smiled as he held her more tightly and comforted her while her tears abated, filing away the memory of the moment for perusal later.

"Your father said... Helen was saying