Chapter 163: Chapter 163

Chapter 163:

“Well… Alright, take care,” Jacob said, scratching the back of his head as he waved goodbye to Eileen.

Eileen offered a smile but did not look back at Bryan. Instead, she exchanged a glance with Phoebe and departed. Being in the city center made hailing a cab effortless, particularly given her striking attire. A taxi pulled up beside her almost at once.

Once she was seated inside, Eileen finally allowed her gaze to drift towards Bryan. He was still finishing his cigarette. Meanwhile, Jacob and Phoebe had climbed back into their car. Bryan leaned against the vehicle, his expression one of deep contemplation. He had voiced no suspicions, yet his every gesture had seemed to radiate mistrust.

Jacob, who was now driving, remained puzzled. “What’s the problem? Why did the atmosphere between Eileen and Bryan turn cold all of a sudden?”

After a brief silence, Phoebe crossed her legs and said, “Imagine this. A woman sells herself to a man to pay her mother’s medical bills. Later, when she reunites with the man, he finds her mingling among affluent men. What do you suppose he would conclude?”

“Clearly, he would suspect she had sold herself to those men!” Jacob exclaimed, then suddenly grasped that Phoebe was referring to Bryan and Eileen. After a pause, he asked, “So, do you believe Eileen is really involved with those two men?”

The mood in the car shifted instantly. Phoebe rolled her eyes and turned away, exclaiming, “I refuse to talk to an idiot!”

Phoebe believed Bryan’s judgment was clouded by his emotions. But Jacob’s interpretation now was utterly absurd!

“Whom are you calling an idiot?” Enraged, Jacob stopped the car to the side of the road and reached out to seize Phoebe by the head, forcing her to look at him. “You’re saying anyone who doubts Eileen is an idiot? Then Bryan is an idiot, too!”

Phoebe fought to free herself without success. In her fury, she headbutted Jacob. Stunned, Jacob released her, his vision blurred. Then, a fight erupted in the car.

galnoνℯls.com is your update source As evening approached, the streetlights bathed Bryan in a warm glow. At his feet, a cluster of cigarette butts accumulated. Having smoked his last cigarette, he dialed Raymond.

“Track every action Eileen has taken since her arrival in Wist Land, especially how she has succeeded in the education industry so swiftly,” he commanded. After pondering for a moment, he added, “You can leave the hospital now.”

Raymond replied, “Understood, but gathering details on Ms. Curtis in Wist Land might take time.”

“Do it as quickly as possible,” Bryan said before hanging up. Though Raymond was set to leave the hospital, a nagging sense told him something was amiss. Delving into Eileen’s affairs hinted at an underlying issue that might upset Bryan’s mood. He feared he would be affected…

Approaching the ajar door of Ruby’s hospital room, Eileen heard Bailee speaking inside.

“Mom, things are looking up for us. Eileen’s well-connected. There’s Benjamin Nash. He’s been a big help back in Onaland. After moving here, he introduced his local network to Eileen, and her client base has been expanding,” Bailee said as she tended to Ruby with a warm towel. “And remember Phoebe, who visited you the other day? She invested in Eileen’s educational project. Without that, Eileen’s education agency couldn’t have succeeded…”

Ever since Ruby regained some consciousness, Bailee often spoke to her about their life, carefully avoiding any mention of Bryan since Eileen had divorced him. Bailee mentioned Benjamin and Phoebe to reassure Ruby that Eileen’s finances were legitimate. She told Ruby that they now had enough funds to manage her medical expenses.

“Why are we telling Mom all this?” Eileen entered the room, closed the door, and set her bag on the sofa. She took the towel from Bailee, who was preparing to wash it, and said, “Let me handle this. You should get some rest.”

Bailee, seated at the bed’s foot, watched Eileen and replied, “Mom’s likely curious about our situation. I thought I’d update her early.”

Eileen believed Benjamin was no longer a part of their daily lives, and once Ruby was well, there would be little reason to mention him. But Bailee had already filled Ruby in, so Eileen chose not to say anything about that.

“What prompted this outfit today?” Bailee inquired, eyeing Eileen’s attire curiously. “Where have you been?”

After a brief pause, Eileen replied, “I was at a business banquet.”

Bailee suddenly fell silent, looking at Eileen. Eileen quickly added, “Phoebe was there as well.”

This information seemed to ease Bailee’s concern. Eileen wasn’t trying to keep secrets. However, defining her current relationship with Bryan was hard. She and Bryan would go their separate ways once he returned to Onaland, so there was no point in troubling Bailee with this detail.

“Oh, by the way, Huey will be visiting soon,” Eileen casually said. “He has a match here in Wist Land and will be staying for about a week.”

Having finished tidying up, Eileen suggested as Ruby slept, “When Huey arrives, have the caregiver look after Mom. It’d be good for you to support him at his match, especially since you two are friends.”

Bailee remained silent for a considerable time before nodding. “Alright, I’ll see when that happens.”

“So, how has Mom been this week? What did Dr. Potter say?” Eileen inquired.

As dusk settled and neon lights cast reflections into the hospital room, Eileen and Bailee sat down, facing each other. Their conversation was subdued yet clear.

Disappointment was evident on Bailee’s face as she sighed and spoke softly. “There’s been no significant progress. Dr. Potter mentioned that initial improvements are quick, but then they taper off.” Since Ruby had opened her eyes and shown the ability to respond, Bailee’s hopes for a swift recovery had soared. However, after nearly a month with no new progress, her spirits had waned.

Eileen said, “Mom is already on the targeted medications. Dr. Potter mentioned that with two or three months of treatment, Mom’s cancer might be cured. Then, we could bring her home for further rehabilitation.” She gently patted Bailee’s shoulder. “Seeing us every day and getting out in a wheelchair might hasten her recovery.”

“Really?” Bailee’s voice was tinged with hope. She had been devoted to Ruby’s care, so there were aspects she hadn’t grasped as fully as Eileen had.

“Would I lie to you? In a couple of months, we’ll bring Mom home!” Eileen assured Bailee.

The thought of bringing Ruby home brought tears to Bailee’s eyes. Feeling constricted by her tight dress, Eileen slipped into one of Bailee’s more comfortable outfits: a short skirt and a cropped top that revealed a hint of her waist, a sharp departure from her usual attire.

As darkness enveloped the surroundings, Eileen received a message from Phoebe. “Eileen, aren’t you going to deal with the woman who impersonated you?”

Eileen felt overwhelmed and unsure of where to start. Arthur likely already knew the woman was a fraud and had said something, possibly eliminating any potential leads. Phoebe’s message continued, “Remember, if you don’t unearth some evidence, the Blake family will persist, and it will affect you.”

Perceiving Eileen’s hesitation, Phoebe realized Eileen was considering ignoring the issue. As a tutor for children of affluent families, Eileen could not risk her reputation being damaged by the Blake family’s claims.

“Alright. Understood.” Eileen’s response showed she had been convinced by Phoebe. After pondering for a while, Eileen knew she had to confront Arthur. Thoughts of Arthur brought Bryan to mind, entangling her emotions. Feeling suffocated, Eileen took a coat and slipped out of the hospital room silently.

She settled in the quiet hospital garden, the clock nearing ten, and found herself alone. Bryan’s image filled her mind as if he were etched deeply in her heart. A brisk wind suddenly jolted her back to reality. Why was Bryan still influencing her so deeply? His visit was just a fleeting moment in her life. She reminded herself not to be affected.

She then took out her phone and dialed the number she had previously blocked—Arthur’s. The call connected after a few rings, and Arthur’s voice came through, filled with uncertainty. “Eileen?”

“Yes, it’s me,” Eileen responded with a composed tone. “I need to discuss the impersonator.”

Arthur felt a headache at the mention, dissatisfied that he, an experienced player, had been deceived. Realization dawned on him that Eileen wouldn’t reach out unless the situation would affect her.

“I know who that person is,” Arthur declared.

“Really?” Eileen responded, her expression turning into a frown.

“Absolutely,” Arthur replied. Sensing Eileen’s skepticism, he added, “Lying isn’t in my nature.”

His blunt honesty suggested he expected something in return. Eileen fell quiet for a brief moment. Arthur continued, “Don’t worry. This woman is an adversary to us both. Just keep my number unblocked and add me on WhatsApp, and I’ll reveal her identity to you.”

Arthur had figured out that Eileen was more receptive to a softer approach than forceful tactics. Eileen was unlike any woman he had encountered before, fueling his ambition to win her over. He resolved that today he would persuade Eileen by any means necessary.

“Okay, but you need to make sure that you won’t disturb my life,” Eileen said.

“Deal,” Arthur replied. Suddenly recalling a detail, he inquired, “Is your WhatsApp account associated with your phone number?”

“Yes,” Eileen said. Just then, she caught the sound of footsteps and turned to see Bryan a short distance away. Following him were Milford and Raymond, each carrying their luggage. Bryan was seemingly there to collect Milford and Raymond after their discharge from the hospital.

Bryan’s gaze fell on Eileen’s outfit—a short skirt and crop top worn so late in the evening. His scrutinizing stare left Eileen feeling guilty somehow. She intended to end her call with Arthur. But instead, her finger slipped and activated the speakerphone.

Arthur’s voice resonated. “Alright, let’s then connect on WhatsApp. Perhaps later, if you’re available, we could have a video chat…”

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