Chapter 115: Chapter 115

Chapter 115:

As Eileen and Bryan arrived at Eileen’s place, Eileen reached for the door. But suddenly, she felt something solid thrust into her palm by Bryan.

Startled, she paused. In her hand lay the gleaming key to a brand-new red BMW.

She looked at Bryan with puzzled eyes.

With a playful arch of his eyebrows, Bryan nodded toward a dazzling red BMW parked just a stone’s throw away. “You need a car! Eileen quickly caught onto his implication. Just a quick five-minute drive to…” she said, brushing off the need for a car.

“You could drive to Harlan’s house on Saturdays or drive to the hospital,” Bryan said.

Sometimes, Bryan would head back to the Dawson Mansion to keep Stella company on Saturday evenings. That usually left Eileen to navigate her own way to Harlan’s house. The chilly mornings often forced her to rise early, braving the darkness to catch a bus.

Bryan’s handsome face was reflected in Eileen’s clear eyes; she felt warm. Taking Eileen’s hand, Bryan led her toward the car, tilting his head toward the vehicle. “Go ahead: give it a try,” he said.

Just as Bryan reached for the car door, Eileen seized the moment, pulling him into a passionate embrace and initiating a kiss, ignoring the prying eyes of passersby. It was a bold move for Eileen, breaking her usual reserve, but she was swept up in the intensity of the moment.

Taller than Eileen, Bryan’s gentle nature shone through as he adjusted himself to bridge the gap, making it easier for her to kiss him. He held her waist to support her as they kissed.

Peeking through partially-lidded eyes, Bryan appreciated the delicate curl of Eileen’s eyelashes, even as the distant whistling of passersby filled the air. He noticed a subtle tremor in her lashes and felt her hand beginning to slip away. She appeared to hesitate as if considering pulling away, but he held onto her waist more firmly. “Don’t stop,” he said.

Suddenly, her ears turned crimson. Against the snowy backdrop, their intertwined forms stood out beneath the gentle glow of the streetlamp. It was a tableau of pure harmony.

L∆Ŧ€$† ¢♄₳þŧ€яŞ ¡η Ġ@lиøνεlş.cøm But inside a nearby car, Vivian’s jealousy erupted into action. Determined to confront them, she made a move to leave the car. However, Kian, positioned at the wheel, swiftly locked the doors, ignited the engine, and sped away.

Frantically, Vivian tugged at Kian’s shirt and yelled, “Stop the car! Why won’t you let me out? Eileen’s shameless! She has destroyed my relationship with Bryan!”

“Eileen is inconsequential,” Kian replied calmly. “There are many ways to make her leave. It’s not wise for you to confront Bryan.”

But Vivian remained undeterred by his words. She persisted in pounding on the window and yanking at Kian’s hair, disrupting his focus.

The car veered off course and collided with a pillar. The impact sent Kian’s head crashing into the glass window, causing it to shatter and blood to trickle down from the wound on his forehead. He appeared different from the dignified man he usually was.

Upon waking up in the VIP ward, Vivian felt some pain in her head and instinctively reached up to touch it. Instead of her long hair, her fingers encountered a piece of gauze.

“Don’t touch it!” the nurse said, rushing over to prevent her from pulling the bandage. “Your head has been stitched and it’s freshly bandaged.”

“Where’s my hair?” Vivian asked.

Vivian held the nurse’s hand tightly, causing the nurse to furrow her brow, though she remained patient. “A small section of the injured area was shaved,” the nurse said.

But before the nurse could explain further, Vivian erupted, pulling the nurse’s hand frantically. “Who permitted you to shave my hair? Bryan always cherishes my hair. If he dislikes me for this, will you bear the blame?”

Vivian’s grasp was forceful. Then, she kicked the nurse into a corner. The nurse looked at Vivian in terror as Vivian leaped off the bed and lunged forward.

“Vivian, stop!” Kian intervened, swiftly moving to restrain Vivian and signaling for the nurse to leave.

The shaken nurse quickly left the room. As she left, she encountered a colleague and said, “The patient in this ward must be insane, acting like a lunatic.”

In the ward, Kian comforted Vivian, gradually calming her down. “Just wait here. I’ll help you handle Eileen. Stay in the hospital and wait for someone to visit,” he assured her.

Clutching Kian’s hand tightly, Vivian asked, “Kian, do you think Bryan will come to see me? Will he find me ugly now?”

Kian shook his head. “No, don’t think that. He loves you. To him, you’ll always be beautiful, no matter what.”

Once he left Vivian’s ward, Kian wasted no time in calling Benjamin. “Find out Bailee’s whereabouts.”

On the other end of the line, Benjamin replied after a brief pause, “Okay.”

Back in the quiet of the ward, Vivian calmed down. But thinking of Eileen and Bryan’s kiss made her feel jealous, clenching her teeth in frustration.

Suddenly her phone rang, and she eagerly answered. It was the individual she had tasked with tailing Bailee and Ruby.

“Miss Warren, Ruby is still in the hospital, but she’s in a VIP ward. The hospital has tight security, so we can’t get in. We don’t know which ward she’s in.”

Anticipation ignited within Vivian as her eyes shimmered with excitement. She glanced around the hospital, a thought striking her: Wasn’t this the same hospital where Ruby was admitted?

The ingredients they had bought had finally run out, prompting Bryan to suggest dining out in Eileen’s new car.

Agreeing, Eileen took Bryan on a spontaneous drive to a street near her university.

Inside the car, Bryan surveyed the chaotic surroundings outside, his brow furrowing.

Eileen said, “I remember a barbecue joint on this street. It was amazing. I practically lived off their food during my college days. I wonder if it’s still around.” Just as she began to unbuckle her seatbelt, she noticed Bryan’s hesitance.

Raising an eyebrow, she asked, “You’ve never been here before?”

Bryan shook his head.

“Trust me, it’s worth a try. The food here is incredible,” Eileen urged, giving Bryan’s arm a gentle shake.

The sunlight filtering through the window accentuated her bright eyes, lending them a sparkling allure. At that moment, Eileen seemed transformed, no longer the same reserved person. Bryan felt flutter in his heart. With that, he nodded. “Alright.”

Upon Bryan’s agreement, Eileen’s eyes danced with joy. Swiftly unbuckling her seatbelt, she urged him, “Let’s hurry. If the barbecue restaurant is still open, we need to move quickly before all the seats are taken!”

With that, she exited the car and hastened to Bryan’s side, taking his arm as they wove through the bustling crowd. Among the crowd, many were youthful college students. Bryan and Eileen, clad in formal attire, caught the attention of passersby as they navigated through the crowd.

Whispers and murmurs rippled through the crowd as they observed Eileen and Bryan with a mix of curiosity and admiration. “They’re such a perfect couple!” “Look at them, both so stunning! They must have come back to relive their college romance.”

Eileen caught snippets of the conversation but simply grinned in response. Approaching the barbecue restaurant, Eileen’s smile widened at the sight of its presence. With renewed enthusiasm, she grasped Bryan’s hand and led him to the last available table.

The chair was too small for Bryan, causing him some discomfort as his knees nearly touched his chest. He frowned slightly. “Would you like to take a look at the menu and decide what to order?” Eileen suggested, handing Bryan the menu with eager anticipation.

Bryan shook his head and replied, “I’m okay with your choice.”

Understanding Bryan’s tastes, Eileen decided not to press the matter further, confident in her decision. She took charge and confidently placed their order, handing the menu back to the owner.

The owner asked, “You look familiar. You used to come here often, right?”

Eileen replied, “I practically lived here every night before I graduated from college. Six years ago, do you remember me?”

During that time, the barbecue restaurant had been hiring hourly workers, and Eileen had been one of them, working there for nearly two years. However, she held back from mentioning her employment directly, fearing that the owner might not recognize her after all these years.

The owner looked at Eileen once more and nodded warmly. “Of course, I remember you, Eileen. I just couldn’t place you at first. My wife has always liked you. She often talks about how she wishes our daughter could be as beautiful as you. We even have a photo together. When she was expecting, she often looked at it and dreamed of our daughter inheriting your beauty.”

The owner’s recognition touched Eileen deeply. Intrigued, Bryan interjected, “Can I see that photo?”

Having been seated for a while and noticing the curious glances around them, he couldn’t help but be curious about Eileen’s appearance during her college days.

Upon hearing Bryan’s words, Eileen’s heart skipped a beat, and her face paled slightly. She knew Bryan couldn’t recognize her as his wife because she had changed significantly over the past six years. However, if he were to see a photo of her from her college days, he would probably recognize her…

“Well, may I see that photo?” Bryan asked politely, noticing the owner of the barbecue restaurant standing still.

The owner nodded. “Sure, but I’ll have to search for it.”

Turning to Eileen with a smile, the owner asked, “Eileen, is this your boyfriend?”

Eileen hesitated, unsure of how to introduce Bryan.

“Yes, I’m her boyfriend,” Bryan replied in a low but clear voice, nodding slightly to the owner.

“You two make a perfect couple. I’ll look for that photo for you. Eileen was an absolute beauty back in her college days.” With a warm smile, the owner turned and left to search for the photo.

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