Chapter 230: Chapter 230

Chapter 230:

Bryan’s kiss stirred Eileen awake, and his warm breath and the refreshing scent of his shower gel filled her senses. Almost instinctively, she responded to his kiss, intensifying his desire.

Just as they were about to do something more intimate, the doorbell abruptly chimed, its sound reverberating throughout the house. Hastily, Eileen pushed Bryan aside, fastened her pajamas, and smoothed her long hair to conceal the blush on her cheeks before answering the door.

“Mom?” Eileen was taken aback to find Ruby standing outside. Ruby had arrived on her own, with the door across from Eileen’s place still open. She gestured toward it. “Eileen, come over for breakfast…”

Milford had already gone for breakfast. He and Bailee both assumed that since Eileen was still in bed, Bryan must have been at her place. However, unaware of this, Ruby had come over to knock on Eileen’s door while Bailee was preoccupied.

As soon as she finished talking, Ruby noticed a mark on Eileen’s neck. Though faint, it was unmistakable to her keen eye. After a brief pause, Ruby’s expression turned awkward, and she quickly shook her head, saying, “No. I should go.”

“Not, Mom!” Eileen stammered, feeling the embarrassment of being caught in a romantic encounter like a young girl. Seeing Ruby hurry away, she refrained from following, fearing Ruby might stumble in her haste.

Watching Ruby enter her house and shut the door, Eileen was about to turn and head back inside when the elevator doors suddenly opened. Raymond emerged from the elevator, meeting Eileen’s gaze for a second before approaching.

“Ms. Curtis, I’ve brought some clothes for Mr. Dawson,” he said. “Please, come in.” Eileen stepped aside to allow him entry. Despite her burning ears, her demeanor remained composed.

Raymond paused at the doorway, handing Eileen Bryan’s clothes. “I won’t come in,” he said. “Mr. Dawson’s grandmother wants you back for lunch. Make sure to remind Mr. Dawson of this.”

I∆t€$† ¢н∆ρŧεґš ¡и g𝒶l𝑛ovєl𝑆.𝗰om Expressing gratitude, Eileen accepted the clothes and watched Raymond leave before returning to her room. Since it was still early, Eileen planned to address some issues, but Bryan was adamant about fulfilling his desires. After tempering his immediate desires to a certain extent, Bryan changed into the clothes provided by Raymond.

Despite his initial fatigue, Bryan now exuded contentment, tinged with a lingering sense of desire. They enjoyed breakfast outdoors, and Eileen purchased gifts tailored to Stella’s preferences. In a sense, this marked her first official visit. Although she had visited the Dawson Mansion numerous times before, her sentiments this time were vastly different.

As the car approached, the gates of the Dawson Mansion creaked open, and Bryan eased the car inside. Gardeners meticulously tended to the verdant lawn while the grand villa’s large windows offered glimpses of the busy servants within.

Bryan pulled the car to a stop directly in front of the villa, where Jarred was already positioned at the door, ready to welcome them. “Miss Curtis,” Jarred greeted. Eileen nodded politely and greeted him as well.

Hand in hand, Bryan and Eileen entrusted the gifts to a servant before entering the villa. “Is Eileen here?” Stella descended from upstairs, her face breaking into a smile. Assisted by a servant, Stella approached, grabbing Eileen’s wrist and guiding her to a seat in the living room. Bryan was completely disregarded, his expression inscrutable as he trailed behind them.

“Madam is merely putting up a front. Bryan hasn’t set foot home since his return to England, and she has talked about seeing him on multiple occasions,” Jarred said. Now that Stella had laid eyes on Eileen, she ignored Bryan, but that was just an act.

Once seated, Stella shot a glare at Jarred. “I miss him. He’s been back for days and hasn’t bothered to visit, as if he has no grandmother.”

“He’s busy,” Eileen said in defense of Bryan.

Stella countered, “Who isn’t busy? He’s busy enough to neglect his own grandmother?” Stella’s dissatisfaction with Bryan was palpable. “I need a light bulb replaced in my greenhouse. Go and attend to it,” Stella instructed Bryan, dismissing him.

Casting a fleeting glance at Eileen, Bryan ascended the stairs. In the living room, only Eileen, Stella, and a few bustling servants remained. “Before you came into the picture, he still made time for me, no matter how busy he was. But ever since you entered his life, my standing has diminished,” Stella remarked, her frustration palpable.

Eileen hadn’t anticipated that Stella would be the first woman to feel jealous because of her. “He treats me with great kindness, but he holds you in equal regard. He’s been genuinely occupied these past few days, scarcely responding to my messages,” Eileen said. Upon hearing this, Stella responded without hesitation, “I’m happiest when you two get along. I’m simply expressing my thoughts, not really upset with him.”

After a brief pause, Eileen whispered, “That’s why it’s not right to hide the matter about the marriage from him. I want to tell him.”

“That’s beside the point,” Stella waved her hands in frustration. “He loves you so much; he won’t be upset with you. He might be upset with me! You must understand that all these years, I’ve been subtly pushing you toward him. I’ve been the mastermind behind it all, orchestrating things. He’s bound to hold it against me.”

Eileen felt resigned. “If he’s not upset with me, he won’t be upset with you.”

“He will be. He might even turn my coffin over a century later,” Stella declared firmly.

Stella had invested so much effort into anything in her life as she had in the past seven years of planning. She continued, “If you didn’t bring it up when you first got together, it’s best not to complicate things. It’s better to steer clear of trouble.”

Stella’s words made sense, but Eileen still felt uneasy. She said, “I didn’t mention it at first because I didn’t know that he hadn’t seen my name when he signed the divorce papers.” Eileen was still puzzled by that. Had Bryan signed that with his eyes closed?

Stella’s body tensed briefly before relaxing. “He signed it in haste and probably overlooked it. The important thing is that the situation was urgent, and we couldn’t risk any complications in your relationship. I only wish for you both to marry smoothly and have children. Then, the Dawson family will be secure.”

Truth be told, Eileen had been bracing herself for Bryan’s anger. After a prolonged silence, Stella conceded, “Put this aside for now and revisit it after your wedding. You two should form a united front.”

The notion of presenting a united front briefly swayed Eileen. They whispered in the living room for a while, oblivious to a lurking shadow nearby, moving stealthily with a duster, constantly hovering around them. From that matter to discussions about children, Stella skillfully diverted Eileen’s attention, making her somewhat confused.

Luckily, Bryan descended the stairs, breaking the flow of their conversation. Lunch was ready; Bryan and Eileen escorted Stella to the dining room.

Suddenly, a noise erupted in the courtyard, prompting several individuals to peer through the floor-to-ceiling windows at the sight of a car arriving at the gate. Zola got out of the car first. Usually haughty, she now acted more humble as she opened the car’s door for the people inside. A woman in her forties, with long hair, appeared fierce; she got out.

From the passenger seat emerged a man radiating authority and sharing a resemblance to Bryan. However, his demeanor sharply contrasted with Bryan’s; while Bryan exuded a cold, aristocratic air, Brandon appeared somewhat bitter and petty, lacking the dignity befitting a man.

Soon, they stepped into the villa. The dynamic between Brandon and Lydia appeared intimate on the surface, yet their demeanor suggested otherwise. They both exuded a certain feigned air of nobility.

“What a bother! I can’t enjoy a peaceful meal,” Stella grumbled, giving Eileen’s wrist a gentle pat. The newcomers went inside, face to face with Eileen and the others.

Brandon’s gaze bore into Eileen, as if attempting to penetrate her soul. “Bryan is here as well. It’s been ages since we all dined together,” Lydia exclaimed with a radiant smile.

However, while Lydia retained her charm in her age, she fell short of Eileen’s expectations. Eileen had assumed that someone capable of persuading Brandon to sever ties with Bryan must be a “young temptress.” Bryan’s expression remained neutral. Apart from a fleeting exchange of glances with Zola, he didn’t bother to acknowledge them.

Brandon and Bryan looked less acquainted than strangers, and the atmosphere was tinged with an invisible tension. “Since you’re here, let’s dine together,” Stella said with a hint of indifference, her expression almost conveying an unwelcome demeanor. She ushered Eileen to the second seat to her right, with Bryan seated beside her.

Brandon and his wife occupied seats opposite them, while Zola sat in the corner beside Lydia. “Look, there are quite a few dishes my son enjoys. It’s a shame he’s not here,” Lydia said, breaking the silence at the table. “Don’t bring him up here,” Stella said coldly.

Eileen listened silently, realizing that Lydia must be referring to the son she had with Brandon. Years ago, Eileen had heard about Bryan’s younger half-brother, who had grown up abroad. Lydia chuckled, covering her mouth. “What are you saying? My son is also a Dawson. Why can’t he be mentioned?”

“Be quiet!” Stella reprimanded Lydia, a look of disdain on her face.

Lydia wasn’t offended. Instead, her gaze lightly settled on Eileen for the first time since entering the room. Eileen possessed a quiet elegance, displaying delicate beauty while exuding a striking presence. Lydia believed Eileen’s pure yet captivating appearance made it understandable why Bryan was captivated by her.

She said, “An outsider can enter the Dawson family, yet my son’s name can’t be mentioned here. Why is that?”

“Because she’s mine,” Bryan’s voice, cold as ice, slipped from his thin lips. His dismissive glance at Lydia caused her throat to tighten.

After a brief pause, Lydia said with a smile, “Bryan, it’s been years since we last saw each other, and your temper has certainly grown. Remember how you used to chase after Zola every day, eager to marry her? And you’ve been enchanted by nobody.”

Bryan’s face darkened, his body subtly shifting and the veins on the back of his hand bulging, but Eileen calmed him down with a gentle touch. She subtly shook her head at him, suggesting they should be mindful of Stella’s feelings.

Besides, it was not appropriate for Bryan, as a man, to argue with a woman. Eileen believed she should say something to retort. With a smile, she looked at Lydia, her tone innocent. “Even a nobody knows one cannot speak without thinking. It seems that some people’s intelligence doesn’t even measure up to that of a nobody.”

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