Chapter 167: Chapter 167

Chapter 167:

Four dishes were already on the table, and Bryan was preparing another. “Please, make yourself at home and sit down.” Milford leaned in, his elbows resting on the table. “Did you and Bryan know each other before?”

“Why do you think that?” Eileen hesitated, careful not to reveal too much. She was unsure what Bryan had told Milford about why she had spent the night at their house.

Milford replied, “Bryan mentioned you helped him generate some income last night to tackle his project’s financial issues.”

Eileen was taken aback. Her lips twitched slightly, and as she gathered her hair, she frowned. She wondered how Bryan could say such things without a hint of embarrassment.

“That’s adults’ business. Don’t be too nosy.” Bryan, emerging from the kitchen, placed a dish in front of Eileen and shot Milford a warning look.

Milford bit back his words, recoiling slightly. Eileen stood up to pour soup into their bowls, and the three of them ate in silence. Bryan appeared preoccupied, intermittently checking his phone while eating. After a few bites, he set down his utensils, his plate still half full.

“You can get back to work after lunch. I’ll be in my study upstairs for a teleconference,” he told Eileen. He gave her a brief look before heading to the second floor.

Eileen nodded, hurriedly finished her meal, and cleaned up the table. Afterward, she went to her room to repack her suitcase and left the house without informing anyone.

It was midday, and the streets were bustling, likely because of the approaching Christmas season. The malls and stores were adorned with festive decorations. Loud music blasted through her car window. At an intersection, Eileen stopped her car and waited for the traffic light.

To her, Bryan seemed to have a magical power. She was never able to remain calm before him. She couldn’t resist him. Yet, after their encounters, she would regain her clarity and realize what she should do. She decided to distance herself from Bryan, aiming to regain the tranquility she had enjoyed over the past year.

Discover stories now gαlnσνℯℓs․com However, thoughts of her nightly commitments to tutor Milford at Pianoforte Villas gave her migraines. With a heavy sigh, she resolved to take things as they came. Fortunately, Bryan seemed to be preoccupied. After all, Gilbert was unable to invest in Bryan’s project, and Bryan would need to reorganize his plans if he hoped to salvage it.

For half a month, Eileen hadn’t seen Bryan around when she had gone to tutor Milford. She heard no news of him, either; it was as if he had disappeared. Eileen even wondered if he had abandoned his project here and returned to Onaland.

Though Bryan was absent, Phoebe made her return. One night, after her tutoring session with Milford, Eileen returned home. The living room was ablaze with light, sparking fears of an intruder in Eileen. She fetched a baseball bat from her car trunk and crept to the living room. She eased the door open, her body tensed for confrontation.

To her surprise, she saw Phoebe emerging from the room, donned in cartoon pajamas and a facial mask. Their eyes met, and a wave of relief washed over Eileen. Phoebe looked at her curiously. “What are you doing?”

Eileen laughed nervously. “I thought you were a burglar. What brought you back so suddenly?” Setting the bat aside, Eileen removed her coat and hung it.

Phoebe chuckled. “This is my home. Should I really surprise you by being here?”

Pausing as she slipped into her slippers, Eileen considered her words carefully before saying, “Has Jacob…” Eileen couldn’t make out Phoebe’s expression beneath the mask, but she could see Phoebe’s eyes twinkle.

Phoebe stepped closer to Eileen and sighed dramatically. “Go ahead; cry if you feel like it.”

Eileen had inquired about Jacob’s whereabouts because she was curious if Bryan had also left. She was quite sure Phoebe had caught on. From Phoebe’s reaction, Eileen gathered the answer was affirmative.

After pausing momentarily, she forced a smile, walked into the dining room, and took a soft drink from the refrigerator. “Why would I cry? My mother is close to recovery now. Bailee and I can finally let go of that weight. From then on, it’s just about making money. The three of us will have a carefree life,” she said.

Phoebe followed her into the dining room and leaned against a chair, studying her. “Do you really believe that? Once your mother recovers, she’ll be dictating your marriage plans. What are you going to do? You’re nearly thirty, old woman!”

“Watch your tone!” Eileen snapped back. “You are about the same age as me.”

“I have no interest in marriage. Plus, I’ve severed my ties with my family. There’s no one left who can force me into anything. You’re different, though. If your mom pulls out all the stops to get you married, you’ll have to go along with it,” Phoebe said with a pragmatic tone, always one to calculate her moves well in advance.

Back when she had been with her family, she had never flattered Vivian the way Megan had. She had already been prepared to cut ties with her family. Eileen, too, liked to plan things out, but she often found that her plans couldn’t keep pace with life’s unexpected turns. Thus, she decided to go with the flow.

“I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it.” Eileen shrugged.

But Phoebe wasn’t having it. A second later, she was dragging Eileen to the bedroom. “It’ll be too late then, Eileen. What if your mother just picks someone at random and tells you to marry him? Change your clothes. I’m taking you to a blind date right now.”

Eileen realized Phoebe was dead serious. Her lips twitched in bemusement. “Why are you setting up a blind date for me all of a sudden? Besides, it’s late now. Are you sure this is a blind date, not just some casual hangout?”

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