Chapter 120: Chapter 120

Chapter 120:

“Go ahead.” Eileen didn’t question Bailee. She simply walked out of the ward with her, watching as Bailee and Huey left. She let out a deep sigh.

As she turned around, she spotted Bryan at the end of the hallway. He had just extinguished his cigarette and was walking toward her, his intense eyes fixed on her.

“Thank you for everything these past few days, Mr. Dawson,” Eileen forced a smile and said, “Now that my mother is out of danger, I’ll hire a caretaker and then get back to work. However, could you pass a message to Miss Warren for me? Tell her if this happens again, fight back at all costs.”

Bryan’s expression shifted as he began to say, “Regarding this issue—”

Before Bryan could finish, Eileen interjected, “I know what I’m doing. Don’t worry about me, Mr. Dawson, and I don’t expect you to take my side. But please, don’t suggest that I forgive Vivian.”

The smile faded from Eileen’s face, and she knitted her brows, looking down to avoid Bryan’s gaze. If she had looked up, she would have seen that Bryan was genuinely feeling sorry for her.

“I’m going to talk to Dr. White about the caretaker situation. You can leave now,” Eileen said, giving a small nod and turning to leave.

Down the hallway, Bryan’s tall figure cast a long shadow in the setting sun, his gaze lingering on Eileen as she stepped into the elevator. Only after the elevator doors closed did he look away. He pulled a cigarette from his bag and placed it between his lips but didn’t light it. He walked straight to another elevator, made his way to the parking lot, and climbed into his car. At that moment, his phone rang.

It was Jacob, clearly upset, saying, “How could you keep such a big thing from me?” He had heard from Phoebe about the antics Vivian had pulled, and to make matters worse, the Warren family saw Vivian as the victim because she was battling depression.

With the cigarette still unlit in his mouth, Bryan started the car and drove away from the hospital. His hands were tense on the steering wheel, his brow furrowed as he listened to Jacob’s tirade.

gαℓησν𝒆𝓁s․com is where your journey begins “What’s your plan now? You need to decide between Vivian and Eileen, and Eileen can’t handle being messed with like this…”

Decide? Bryan slightly raised an eyebrow, his expression serious. Bailee had few possessions, which made packing a quick twenty-minute affair before she was ready to leave.

Huey quietly took her luggage downstairs and headed straight to his car.

“Huey,” Bailee called out. She walked over with a polite smile and took the luggage from him. “I called a taxi. It’ll be here soon, so no need for you to drive me. Thanks for all the rides to the hospital recently. I’ll treat you to a meal when I get the chance.”

Her fingers clung tightly to the suitcase handle, her smile strained.

“Why call a taxi? Even if you’ve resigned, I can still give you a lift. We’re friends, after all,” Huey said, his brow creased with concern. “Where are you moving to? Is it far?”

Bailee nodded. “Yes, quite far, and I really don’t want to trouble you. Once I’m settled and have a new job, you must come over for dinner.”

“Then at least let me know where you’re moving to,” Huey said.

Just then, the taxi arrived and honked. Bailee walked toward it with her suitcase, giving Huey a wave. “I’ll let you know once I’m settled,” she said, placing her suitcase in the backseat and climbing in. She waved to Huey through the window again as the car drove off.

Bailee gave the driver an address nearby, about a thirty-minute ride. When they arrived, she paid the driver, got out, and entered a modest apartment complex, making her way up to the fifth floor.

The driver, instead of leaving, quickly took out his phone and called Benjamin. “Mr. Nash, it’s time. Bailee is by herself now, in her new apartment.”

Benjamin was about to head into a meeting with Kian when he got the call. He stopped in his tracks and moved aside. “Which floor is she on?” he asked.

As evening approached, the dimly lit complex made it hard to see without turning on the lights. The driver watched the building Bailee had gone into and soon noticed the lights of a fifth-floor living room flick on. “She’s in the east apartment on the fifth floor,” the driver said.

Just as Benjamin was about to instruct the driver to leave, he heard Kian’s voice from behind him. “Have you located Bailee?”

Benjamin tensed up and turned around. After a moment’s pause, he nodded. “Yes.”

“Where is she?” Kian asked, noticing Benjamin’s hesitation and furrowing his brows.

Benjamin told Kian the location of the community where Bailee was staying.

Kian, showing no interest in delaying, walked toward the elevator to personally fetch Bailee.

After taking a few steps, he paused and looked back at Benjamin. “Aren’t you coming? What are you waiting for?”

“I need to cancel the meeting first.” Benjamin eyed the conference room, bustling with people.

He approached the conference room door, briefly explained the situation, and turned to find Kian still waiting.

With no other option, he followed, heading straight for the parking lot to drive Kian to Bailee’s place.

When they arrived outside Bailee’s apartment, they saw her stepping out, draped in a thin blanket and looking frail.

Her pale face grew even paler at the sight of Bryan.

Without giving her time to react, Kian marched forward, ushering her back into the apartment. The door slammed shut behind them, silencing Bailee’s cries of alarm.

Benjamin, just a step behind, seized the moment to call Eileen but received no answer. He resorted to sending a text message.

After he sent the text, the door opened slightly, and Kian’s irritated voice came, “Since when did you become so slow?”

Benjamin swiftly put his phone away. Upon entering the room, he found Bailee beaten unconscious on the sofa.

Eileen had arranged for a top-notch caretaker with years of experience to look after Ruby. The caretaker was skilled in handling patients with similar issues.

Once everything was in place, she returned to the ward, spending half the day there. She watched the sunset through the window and then saw the neon lights flicker to life.

She stood up and turned on a lamp.

With a frown, she reached into her pocket for her phone to text Bailee to ask why she hadn’t shown up yet.

That was when she noticed her phone was on mute. The screen lit up with a barrage of missed calls and messages, causing her to tense up immediately.

She remembered then, Kian had his eyes on Bailee!

Spotting a text from Benjamin that was sent an hour ago, she bit her lip in frustration and hurriedly returned Kian’s calls.

The call connected instantly, and Kian’s voice was steady. “I thought you’d given up on everything, that you no longer cared about Bailee.”

“Have you no decency, Bryan?” Eileen’s voice was sharp. “You always use these underhanded methods. Doesn’t it ever get old?”

“Whether it gets old or not, it doesn’t matter as long as it works.” Kian was not bothered by her. He glanced at Bailee, who was unconscious and tied to the bed, and chuckled. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen Bailee. She’s quite beautiful and has a nice figure.”

Eileen cut him off sharply. “Enough with the nonsense. What do you want from me?”

“The same as before, leave Bryan,” Kian said.

Kian had demanded the same thing previously, but Eileen had managed to escape then. However, this time was different.

He added, “I’m running out of patience, Eileen. Until you leave, you won’t see Bailee again. And if you even think of telling Bryan, I won’t hesitate to sleep with Bailee.”

Eileen felt trapped now. “Don’t lay a finger on her!”

“As long as you do as I say, I won’t touch her. I’ll arrange your international flight and make sure your mother is looked after,” Kian stated, effectively sealing her fate.

But Eileen was defiant. “I’m not leaving the country. I’ll handle things myself. I need constant updates on Bailee. If you harm her, I’ll destroy us both. Don’t underestimate me, Kian—I’m stronger and less compliant than you think!”

Bailee was at her breaking point. Kian had hit her where it hurt most this time.

Yet if she showed any weakness now, she couldn’t predict the extent of the troubles that might follow.

After a brief silence, Kian finally said, “Then I’ll wait to hear the good news from you.”

With that, the call ended. In the cold hospital, the steady beeping of machines filled the air. Eileen looked at the screen displaying a call duration of just one minute and thirty-six seconds. She realized then it wasn’t a dream.

She was really leaving this place and Bryan.

She stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, watching the snowflakes gently fall outside. Memories of the beautiful moments from the past few days flooded her mind.

On the snow-covered road outside, couples huddled together, laughing and enjoying themselves as they strolled down the pedestrian path.

Eventually, Eileen moved. She put on her down jacket and grabbed her bag. After arranging Ruby’s care with the caretaker, she left the hospital.

She had planned to quietly pack her bags and leave. What she hadn’t expected was to find Bryan in her apartment, standing silently in the dark near the window.

At the sound of the door, he turned to look at Eileen. Eileen walked over slowly and switched on the light.

Despite the distance between them, their gazes locked. Her eyes appeared calm yet became tumultuous as she moved toward Bryan.

“Mr. Dawson, what brings you here?” she asked.

The sharp smell of smoke assaulted her as she noticed the full ashtray on the table.

On the floor, ash scattered around Bryan’s feet.

“It has become a habit,” Bryan said.

Eileen averted her eyes, falling silent, uncertain how to respond.

Bryan extinguished his cigarette, one hand in his pocket, and gazed out the window at the snowflakes, his Adam’s apple bobbing slightly.

Eventually, he turned to face her and suggested, “Eileen, what if we give us a try?”

Eileen’s eyes widened in shock.

What was he suggesting? That they be together?

She couldn’t believe it.

And it was just a try; she couldn’t afford to gamble.

One attempt could provoke the Warren family, and what if he decided she wasn’t right for him after that?

Eileen couldn’t help but laugh. “Us, together? You know I’m only in it for the money.”

Bryan’s eyes turned cold as he stared at Eileen’s face. The moonlight washed over her, illuminating her features and making her expression unmistakable.

Was it disdain? Sarcasm? Was she mocking his feelings?

He grabbed her wrist, pulled her close, and tilted her chin up, forcing her to meet his gaze. “What did you just say?”

Reflected in her clear eyes was his undisguised fury.

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