Chapter 188: Chapter 188

Chapter 188:

“Phoebe, who do you think you are? Do you think you’re worthy of talking to me?” Vivian’s voice was raspy, her tone and expression threatening.

Phoebe had anticipated Vivian’s scorn, so she just shrugged nonchalantly. “If someone with your mental problem can come out and scare people, why can’t I stand here and speak?”

“I’m warning you, you’re no longer a part of the Burton family. If you dare to provoke me, I won’t let you off easily!” Vivian said. Vivian had never liked Phoebe, who, unlike Megan, had never tried to flatter her.

Phoebe patted her chest, pretending to be scared. “Oh no! I am so terrified. You should take care of yourself first, or you might get sick and blame it on me.”

Eileen gently tugged at Phoebe’s sleeve. Vivian clearly had bad intentions, but they shouldn’t escalate the situation. After all, if Vivian had a fit, they would be in trouble.

“I’m not wasting any more words on you,” Vivian said, her chest heaving with anger. She also feared losing control and becoming a laughingstock. She turned her malicious gaze to Eileen. “Eileen, take a good look at yourself. Do you honestly believe you’re suitable for Bryan? You don’t even deserve to set foot in the Dawson family’s residence!”

The contrast in status between Eileen and her was something Vivian had always taken pride in. In the past, such remarks might have caused Eileen to retreat, but not anymore.

“Whether I’m worthy or not is not your concern, Miss Warren. You should focus on taking care of your own well-being,” Eileen replied calmly.

Vivian’s lips twisted into a sneer. “Do you think just because you have Bryan’s affection, you can control everything? Bryan is no longer the omnipotent Mr. Dawson of Apex Group. Let’s see if he can still protect you!” With that, she turned and returned to her seat, appearing more relaxed after her outburst. She even joined in on Kian’s conversation from time to time.

Phoebe patted Eileen’s shoulder and whispered, “Just ignore her. What she said was baseless. Bryan is quite capable; he is respected even in here.” After all, Bryan was from the Dawson family. Beneath the resplendent chandelier, Bryan sat at the dining table, clad in a white shirt with a cigarette between his fingers. The wisps of smoke only added to the allure of his striking features, his deep-set eyes gazing downwards as he was lost in thought. His demeanor, simultaneously relaxed and graceful, caught Eileen’s eye.

Your next story starts here gⱯlnσν𝒆ℓs․cøm Even without the support of the Dawson family, Bryan remained exceptional. A graduate of a prestigious institution, he had achieved significant milestones in his career. Within three years of joining Apex Group, he had propelled the company to unprecedented heights. He owed part of his fame to the Dawson family name, but the majority was due to his own capabilities. He was already a prominent figure in the business world now.

“It seems being with Bryan will pose a constant challenge. I must stay resilient,” Eileen muttered, drawing a deep breath. Previously, she had been cautious due to her financial struggles; without money, Ruby’s life would be at risk. But now, she had nothing to fear.

“I believe in you,” Phoebe said. Changing the subject, Eileen asked, “How are you and Jacob doing?” Phoebe scoffed, “That guy’s a fool, trying to mimic Bryan, the authoritative CEO. But he forgets I’m not some Cinderella; I’m… a wolf!” Her remark elicited laughter from Eileen, dispelling the heaviness Vivian had brought.

Around eleven o’clock, Zola suggested leaving. “It’s past Milford’s bedtime. Let’s call it a night,” she said. Upon hearing this, Jacob promptly got up to leave. However, Kian remained in his seat. “You go ahead and take Milford back first. We’ll stick around a bit longer. It’s been a while since we’ve had a chance to catch up.”

Eileen and Bryan rose to see them off. Bryan’s fingers delicately encircled her wrist, his thumb caressing her skin lightly. Upon hearing Kian’s words, Eileen paused. Bryan’s eyebrows creased slightly, a chill briefly crossing his gaze. The atmosphere in the dining room suddenly became tense.

With her bag already in hand, Zola said, “What’s the point of you staying longer? Eileen and Bryan also need their rest. Eileen still has to tutor Milford tomorrow. She’ll need to get to bed early.” She then approached Kian and gave his shoulder a friendly pat. “Let’s head out together.”

“Okay,” Kian replied softly, exchanging a glance with Vivian, who promptly rose from her seat as well. The situation felt odd, but Kian and Vivian didn’t do anything more. Soon, Kian and the others all left the villa. Eileen and Bryan stood at the door, watching as they got into their cars. Through the half-open car window, Vivian’s expression seemed somber, while Kian waved calmly.

Bryan simply nodded in acknowledgment. As soon as their cars started moving, Bryan didn’t wait for them to disappear before leading Eileen back inside. Raymond and the bodyguards were already cleaning up the dining room. Eileen rolled up her sleeves, intending to help. Taken aback, Raymond quickly said, “Ms. Curtis, you don’t need to do this. It’s our job.”

Feeling that his job was already at risk, Raymond knew that failing at this simple task could lead to losing his position. Raymond and the others quickly tidied everything up. “Mr. Dawson, Ms. Curtis, we’ve completed the clean-up. Have a good night,” Raymond said with a faint smile, waving as he led the bodyguards away. Their footsteps faded, muffled by the door.

Turning, Eileen found Bryan waiting for her at the stairway, his tall figure leaning against the banister. His clear eyes met hers, and he raised his eyebrows, a faint smile playing on his lips. Eileen glanced around the now-empty room, appreciating the excellent soundproofing. Feeling a slight headache coming on, she pointed to the large television in the living room. “This TV is quite impressive. I’m not really tired. How about we watch something?”

“Do you like it here?” Bryan’s tone held a hint of surprise as he approached her. “Sure, let’s do that here.” His words carried weight, and the hint of anticipation in his voice sent a tingling sensation through Eileen. Bryan switched off the chandelier in the dining room and the living room, leaving only the soft glow of ambient lights along the walls.

The room felt cozy, the dim lighting creating a perfect ambiance. When Bryan turned on the TV, it automatically adjusted its brightness to avoid straining the eyes. Eileen didn’t pay much attention to the TV. She didn’t even reach for the remote, letting whatever was on play in the background. Bryan gently guided her to lie in his arms.

Leaning back on the sofa, Bryan held Eileen close, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat echoing in her ears. The faint scent of tobacco and alcohol on Bryan surrounded Eileen. “So, you’re enjoying this?” Bryan asked, his deep voice resonating in her ear.

Eileen snapped back to reality, looking at the TV screen. It was playing a documentary about animal mating habits. Majestic lions and lionesses were engaged in a thrilling chase across the expansive savannah. Who would enjoy watching this? Eileen couldn’t help but think the TV must be cursed—couldn’t it show a beautiful romance movie instead? But then she thought romance movies often featured steamy scenes, perfect for couples in the throes of passion… Those scenes might ignite something within them.

Bryan tightened his arms around her, a hint of amusement in his breath. “You can’t escape. Let’s get done with that and head to bed early,” he suggested, half-encouraging and half-serious. Eileen believed he was right. She quickly got up and turned off the TV.

In the moonlight filtering through the windows, she took Bryan’s hand as they made their way upstairs to the bedroom. As the night wore on, the bright moonlight retreated behind veils of clouds, casting a quiet veil over the surroundings.

A car came to a swift halt at the gates of Pianoforte Villas. Milford disembarked, striding into the house without a backward glance, while Zola, trailing behind, paid him little mind. After Bryan moved out, she had claimed his old room as her own, filling it with her possessions. Even his study now bore her mark, adorned with her personal items.

On the lengthy table lay sheets of paper for calligraphy and a book of traditional scriptures. Draped in soft, pale yellow silk pajamas, Zola elegantly tied her hair into a neat bun. Her nails shimmered with a subtle golden sheen under the soft light as she wielded the brush with grace and precision. Her script flowed swiftly and beautifully across the page.

Occasionally, she cast a glance at the scriptures beside her, effortlessly completing passages within half an hour. Setting the paper aside to dry, she paused for a moment before inscribing three words on a new one: “Kill With Flattery.” The words sprawled across the entire sheet.

Zola took the paper, standing by the half-open window to let the breeze dry the ink. Once the paper was dry, she rolled it and tied it with a small red string. Opening the safe, she placed the scroll inside alongside several others, each tied with a similar red string. The scroll at the bottom showed signs of age, the edge yellowed with time. After putting the new scroll inside, Zola locked the safe.

The sudden ring of her phone shattered the quiet of the night, but Zola remained unfazed. After tidying away her calligraphy tools, she finally answered the call. “Kian, you’re still up at this hour? How’s Vivian doing? You shouldn’t have brought her over; I’m worried she might have a relapse,” she said.

“She insisted on coming, so I brought her along. Don’t worry; her attending physician is with her,” Kian reassured Zola over the phone. He then shifted the conversation, his tone light and inscrutable. “What are your thoughts on Bryan and Eileen being together?”

After a brief pause, Zola chuckled softly. “Why are you asking me this? From Vivian’s perspective, of course, I feel for her. But Bryan’s choices are his own. As long as I’m not the one marrying him, I’m fine with it.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll help you. I won’t let you marry him.” Kian’s voice was a mix of promise and determination. Zola could imagine the seriousness in his gaze as he spoke. She chuckled softly, her tone gentle. “Thank you, Kian. You’ve always been so good to me.”

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