Chapter 1490 It was a moment that defied simple emotion for Bernard as he cradled the squirming bundle of life in his arms. For the first time, he truly grasped why Eleanor had risked everything for a mere 10% chance. Parenthood has a way of unlocking a primal willingness to sacrifice oneself for the continuance of oneâs offspring-a noble instinct indeed.
Eleanorâs eyes reddened as she watched Bernard with their child, bathed in a warm glow. of sunlight, his lips curled in a soft smile. She knew, without a doubt, she would make the same choice again and again-to bring this child into the world, no matter the cost.
Cedric, ever the joker, snapped a photo with his phone and sent it off to their cousin group chat, excluding Bernard, [Holy smokes, our dear old Bernard is actually cradling a baby!]
No sooner had he sent the message than Hailey elbowed him. âYou bonehead, you sent it to the family group chat...â
Cedricâs grin froze as he fumbled to retract the message, only to see Bernard beckoning him over with a curled finger. âHand it over,â Bernard said, calm yet commanding.
I Cedric clutched his phone to his chest, refusing to give it up. âCome on, I was sending the guys some... uh, racy videos. Sent it to the family by mistake. Hailey here told me to take it back before Eleanor sees. Iâll show you some other time.â
The excuse was so poor that Bernard didnât even bother to respond. Instead, he locked eyes with Hailey and made an offer she couldnât ignore. âIâll give you a 30% stake in the nightclub. Youâll run Midnight Bar and keep it at the top.â
Hailey didnât hesitate for a second-a testament to her respect for the almighty dollar. âHe said, âHoly smokes, our dear old Bernard is actually cradling a baby!â
To curry favor with the big boss, she even spilled the beans about a secret brothersâ gossip group titled âAnnoying Bernard, Why Donât You Just Fly Away?â
As Cedric frantically tugged at Haileyâs sleeve, trying to silence her, his face a mix of anger and fear, he beat a hasty retreat.
Bernard, who had already set the baby down, sprang into action, catching Cedric in a chokehold and marching him out of the room with the promise of a brotherly lesson in humility, âLetâs go. Iâll show you how to fly.â
Cedric, looking utterly dejected, pleaded, âBernard, Iâm all for flying, but please, not the face. Iâve got a big corporate meeting tomorrow, and Iâd rather not show up looking like a punching bag.â
Bernardâs response was unheard, but soon after, Cedricâs wails for mercy echoed through the halls. Hailey snuck a peek and caught Scott pinning Cedric against the wall, while Aidyn tickled his bare feet with a feather, and Bernard stood by, hands in pockets, 1/2 08:33 Chapter 1490 watching the spectacle with apparent delight.
Hailey quickly captured the scene and sent it to the âAnnoying Bernard, Why Donât You Just Fly Away?â group with a caption, âEveryone, hereâs the sequel.â
The group chat exploded.
âSpill the tea quick, then bail from this group!â
âBailing wonât save us from Bernardâs wrath. I better delete the group with Cedricâs phone.â
âIâd cut ties with Cedric in a heartbeat if it meant Bernard would let us off the hook.â
âThis is why I said this group was a bad idea. Now Bernard knows, and weâre all screwed.â âItâs not the group. Itâs Cedric whoâs the liability. Any group he makes, count me out.â
âCount me out too. Foot tickling? I canât handle that kind of torture.â
âYou know... I kind of enjoy being tickled.â
That odd confession from the brother in Africa brought a moment of silence, followed by a collective virtual cringe.
âWeirdo.â
âDisgusting!â
A Second Chance At Forever novel (Eleanor and Bernard)
ï¤Chapter 1489 Impulsive Vow to an Enigmatic Husband (END)
ï¤Chapter 1765 (END)
âIâm out!â
âIâm gone too...â
One by one, the cousins exited the chat, and Hailey, putting her phone away, felt a twinge of guilt for dismantling their brotherly bond. But then she looked at her husband, laughing until he cried, and thought, sorry, but her career must come first.
Returning to the hospital room, Hailey showed Eleanor the captured photo and the chat messages. Eleanor chuckled and shook her head. âTheyâre just like children who never grew up, so utterly childish.â
Hailey agreed. âCedric turns into a chatterbox under pressure from your husband, firing off messages like a machine gun. If only he spent his time more productively.â
Eleanor held their baby, smiling contentedly. âCedricâs retained his childlike spirit because lifeâs been kind to him. Heâs had few troubles, and thatâs precious.â
Hailey nodded, recognizing the stark contrast between Cedricâs charmed life and Bernardâs trials. Both from the same family, yet their fates were worlds apart, as if all the hardships were reserved for Bernard alone.
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