A Second Chance at Forever (Eleanor and Bernard) novel Chapter 1342

She was feverish, sweating profusely. Her hair was drenched, making her look as if she had just been fished out of the ocean.

Seeing Eleanor in this state, Hailey felt a pang of heartache. She gently brushed the sticky strands of hair from Eleanor's forehead, wiping away the sweat with a towel.

For over two months, Eleanor had vanished into the night, leaving nothing but a letter behind. She had broken her promise, leaving Hailey both angry and worried.

Pregnant and constantly anxious, Hailey spent her days either bedridden or in tears. She had even prepared for the worst, yet she couldn't bear to believe it. She hoped that Eleanor, who had already faced death once, wouldn't be so unlucky again.

Thankfully, Robin returned with news that Eleanor was alive, as was Bernard, though they were in some danger. Only then was Hailey able to sleep soundly.

She knew that Robin was holding back information, but that was enough for Hailey, who clung to hope. As long as Eleanor was alive, that was all that mattered.

Gently, Hailey wiped Eleanor's forehead, cheeks, neck, and palms, until her fever finally broke and she could breathe a sigh of relief.

Eleanor was still in the throes of a nightmare, but this time, a gentle hand was there to pull her from the watery depths. Her furrowed brow relaxed, and under the cool touch, she fell into a brief slumber before slowly opening her eyes again.

This time, it wasn't Robin she saw, but Hailey's radiant face.

"Eleanor, are you awake?" Hailey asked, dropping the towel and leaning in for a closer look. "Are you feeling okay?"

Eleanor shook her head gently, then licked her dry lips. "Hailey, I'm sorry for worrying you."

Her first words were an apology, which did much to quell Hailey's anger. She playfully pushed Eleanor's shoulder. "You're pregnant and you run off to some dangerous place. Do you not care about your safety or our concern at all?"

Hearing Hailey scold her like an older sister, Eleanor managed a serene smile. "Hailey, did you miss me?"

Hailey, who had planned to feign anger, burst into tears at the question. "What do you think? You didn't answer your phone, and we couldn't reach you. What else could we do but worry?"

Eleanor's eyes welled up as well. "Hailey, you've always been the best to me."

"We grew up together. Who else could match our bond, our shared history? Of course I'll always be there for you." Hailey said, causing Eleanor's tears to spill over.

"Stop crying, you look terrible."