Chapter 180: Chapter 180

Chapter 180:

How should she practice? This question lingered in Eileen’s mind all afternoon. At five o’clock, she received a message from Bryan, informing her that he had arrived. Following Eileen’s strict instruction, Bryan had parked his car around the corner on the next street.

After reading the message, Eileen grabbed her bag and hurried down the stairs just as it was time to leave work. Descending with a few colleagues, she locked the door and exchanged farewells with them in front of the educational agency. She wore a black wool coat, a shirt, and a knee-length skirt that highlighted her long legs.

The temperature in Wist Land varied significantly between day and night. She had to wear her coat in the morning but take it off by noon. Running her fingers through her hair, she dashed across the street. She quickly spotted Bryan’s car parked by the roadside.

Bryan, dressed in a suit, was smoking beside the car. He stood tall, with his angular features evident. His presence perfectly complemented the luxury car beside him. Many women glanced his way. With the sun behind him, his face was hard for Eileen to see when he turned his head. He flicked the cigarette butt into the trash can and walked toward Eileen.

Stopping in front of her, he used both hands to straighten her coat. “Get in the car.”

“Okay.” Eileen’s voice softened, sounding much gentler than she had been on the phone before. But Bryan remained dissatisfied. He opened the door for her and then went around to the driver’s seat. He knew the route to the Vance family’s house. He started the engine, and the car merged into traffic. Before he could say anything, Eileen’s phone rang.

Eileen slid her finger across the screen to answer. The call was from a male coworker at the educational agency, a married man in his thirties.

“Ms. Curtis, where are you? Didn’t we agree that I would drive you to your student’s home?”

After ending the call with Bryan in the afternoon, Eileen had been preoccupied with thoughts of how to practice tonight and had forgotten to tell her colleague she wouldn’t need him to drive her to tutor her student today.

G a lno v els .com is packed with thrilling adventures Inside the car, it was quiet enough for Bryan to hear Eileen’s colleague clearly. He glanced at her. So that was her idea of ‘joking’?

“Thank you, but I’ll manage on my own this time,” Eileen replied to her colleague.

Thinking Eileen was just being polite, her colleague persisted, saying, “Ms. Curtis, it’s no trouble for me to drive you there. I’m heading in the same direction anyway, and it’ll save you the hassle and expense of taking a taxi or public transport.”

“Actually, my friend has already picked me up…” Eileen began.

The mention of ‘friend’ seemed to chill the atmosphere in the car instantly.

After a brief pause, Eileen corrected herself and said, “Actually, it’s my boyfriend.” Eileen’s colleague dismissed her explanation. “Ms. Curtis, I understand you’re being polite, but there’s no need for such excuses.” The colleague teased Eileen a bit and hung up the phone.

After the call ended, Eileen turned to look at Bryan innocently and said, “I’ve told him the truth. He just doesn’t believe me.”

“It’s okay. He’ll believe it tomorrow,” Bryan replied with a meaningful tone.

Eileen didn’t know what he meant by that, but she didn’t continue the topic. She asked, “What will you do after dropping me off at the Vance family’s place? I’ll stay there for two hours.” It would take him an hour to return home and come back for her again. But she believed he wouldn’t just stay there and wait for her.

“I have a meeting with Denzel. It’ll also take about two hours,” Bryan said. Before, Gilbert had asked Denzel to tell Bryan about the financial matter. So now, it would be appropriate for Bryan to talk about the matter with Denzel. Bryan had arranged this with Denzel in advance. As Bryan arrived with Eileen, Denzel was already waiting at the door.

Upon seeing Eileen step out of Bryan’s car, Denzel was momentarily taken aback but quickly regained his composure. “Mr. Dawson, Ms. Curtis, please come in,” Denzel greeted them. Several people in the kitchen were bustling around, preparing dinner.

Seeing this, Bryan said, “No need to trouble yourselves. We won’t be staying for dinner.”

“It’s okay, Mr. Dawson. I have the staff prepare dinner already. But I received your call a tad late; they couldn’t procure the finest ingredients,” Denzel replied. Despite Bryan’s earlier call saying that they would leave after Eileen’s tutoring session, Denzel had had the kitchen prepare dinner.

Denzel said warmly, “We can share a meal together after Ms. Curtis’s tutoring session.” His hospitality made it hard for Bryan and Eileen to decline. But Eileen felt it was inappropriate to dine at the Vance family’s house as a tutor.

As for Bryan, he simply preferred to have dinner with Eileen alone, finding the company of many people bothersome. “It’s fine if you two don’t dine here,” Ryann chimed in, shooting a glance at Denzel. “Mr. Dawson and Ms. Curtis are busy. Let’s not push it.”

After a moment’s pause, Denzel grasped her implication. “Ah, of course. We’ll discuss this later. Ms. Curtis, please proceed upstairs for the class.”

Feeling a bit flustered, Eileen maintained her composure as best as she could, offering a smile before swiftly heading upstairs. This was the eighth class Eileen had conducted for Adalina alone since Milford quit her class. She noticed Adalina’s mood deteriorating day by day.

Upon entering the room, she caught sight of Adalina hiding something under the table. Choosing not to address it immediately, Eileen sat down beside Adalina.

“What are you going to teach me today, Ms. Curtis?” Adalina spoke first, attempting to cover up her uneasiness.

Putting her bag aside, Eileen said, “Let’s start with a chat.” She rubbed her temples, showing signs of fatigue. “I’ve been quite busy lately and feeling a bit tired. How about you? Are you worn out from having lessons at home every day after school?”

Adalina nodded. “Yes, but I think it’s worth it for the sake of getting into a good high school.”

Hearing this, Eileen smiled and said, “You’ll definitely ace the exams. If Milford keeps up his studies, he’ll do well, too. But…” Eileen trailed off, her expression troubled. Noticing that, Adalina asked, “What happened to Milford, Ms. Curtis? Why isn’t he attending the tutoring sessions anymore?”

After the altercation that day, Adalina had had a sinking feeling, and it turned out Milford had indeed stopped attending the tutoring sessions after that incident.

“Milford’s sister didn’t approve of my tutoring methods, so I stopped tutoring him for now. But he’ll definitely continue receiving tutoring sessions; it’s just I’m not sure if his tutor will be me,” Eileen explained, realizing that Adalina’s low spirits were because of Milford.

After a moment of contemplation, she reassured Adalina, “With your abilities, you stand a good chance of getting into a top high school in Wist Land. Just keep up the hard work. Don’t worry about Milford.”

“No, Ms. Curtis,” Adalina said. “My mother mentioned that my father might be transferred next year, possibly to Onaland. So I’ll probably attend high school there.”

This news concerned Eileen. Getting into a top high school in Onaland wouldn’t be easy.

“My grades aren’t great, but my father believes my other talents can secure my place in a top high school there. Of course, I’ll keep studying hard,” Adalina added, expressing her insecurities about not being as academically gifted as Milford. However, she harbored a desire to attend the same high school as him.

Understanding Adalina’s sentiments, Eileen comforted her with a reassuring pat on the back. “Your father is right. While your talents help, it’s still crucial for you to study hard. Let’s get started with the lesson now.”

Encouraged, Adalina approached the lesson with renewed determination. Two hours later, the tutoring session was over. When Eileen descended the stairs, Bryan had just finished his conversation with Denzel.

Bryan had removed his coat, leaving only a black shirt on, his face enveloped in smoke. Spotting Eileen, he quickly stood up and grabbed his coat. “Mr. Vance, I need your assistance in discussing matters with the White family. I hope my suggestions can aid them in overcoming their current challenges.”

Denzel agreed, escorting Eileen and Bryan to the door alongside Ryann. “Sure!” Denzel said, leading them out. Eileen and Bryan bid farewell to Denzel and Ryann before driving off.

The breeze tousled Eileen’s hair through the half-open car window, prompting Bryan to adjust it, leaving it slightly open. “Is that better?” he asked.

“Yeah.” Eileen smoothed her hair and asked, “Are you planning to assist the White family?” If the White family’s financial situation faltered, they would require a new investment source. But where would Bryan procure such a substantial amount of capital? Besides, Eileen was also curious as to where Bryan got his project’s investment.

“I don’t have that much money, but there are avenues to explore. Since my arrival in Wist Land hasn’t been long, fostering a good relationship with the White family could prove beneficial in the future,” Bryan replied.

Bryan clearly contemplated settling in Wist Land. This revelation surprised Eileen. “Are you considering establishing your business here? Aren’t you returning to Onaland?” she asked.

Bryan emitted a puzzled hum through his nose before meeting her gaze. “Are you planning to return to Onaland?”

“Absolutely not,” Eileen replied without hesitation. The favorable climate in Wist Land was conducive to Ruby’s recovery. She didn’t anticipate returning for at least another year.

Bryan furrowed his brow, scrutinizing her. “Then what will you do if I decide to pursue opportunities in Onaland instead of staying in Wist Land?” Although his inquiry seemed rational, it struck Eileen as odd.

She said, “In that case, we’d maintain a long-distance relationship…” She didn’t perceive it as a significant issue. However, before she could finish, Bryan interjected firmly, “That won’t happen.”

Having endured unrequited love for an entire year, Bryan was resolute in his commitment now that they had confessed their feelings.

“Many couples nowadays manage long-distance relationships, and some even live separately after marriage. That’s not a big deal,” Eileen spoke honestly, drawing from the experiences of several colleagues at her education agency.

“I’m simply expressing my stance to you,” Bryan said decisively. The funding for the project in Wist Land had been cut off by the Apex Group, and Bryan found himself in conflict with his father, leaving Eileen feeling uneasy. Despite her concerns, Eileen refrained from probing too much, seeing that Bryan appeared fine.

The pair stopped at a nearby shopping mall, stocking up on food ingredients that filled the fridge with two large bags of groceries. Eileen could sense from Bryan’s demeanor that he intended to stay for an extended period. This reminded her that Phoebe had asked her to explain things tonight. But where would Phoebe live if she returned?

As Bryan prepared dinner, Eileen took a quick shower and tossed yesterday’s clothes into the washing machine. Previously, she hadn’t felt the house was small, but with Bryan in the kitchen, the house suddenly seemed cramped. The idea of moving to a larger house crossed her mind, especially with Ruby’s imminent discharge from the hospital after her treatment.

While she was lost in thought, her phone pinged abruptly; it was a WhatsApp message from Benjamin. “I’ve just returned to Onaland recently, and I’ve been quite busy. Have you given it any thought?” Benjamin was referring to the moment at the airport when he had asked her to be his girlfriend. Eileen felt a pang of guilt as she glanced up, only to find Bryan standing beside her, his eyes clouded with a somber expression, fixed on her phone.

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