Chapter 419:
He shot a conspiratorial wink in Eileenâs direction.
Eileen approached with a gentle smile. âYouâve filled out a bit, but it suits you. Youâve got that maternal glow now, just like me. How could I ever find you unattractive?â
âBut you never gained weight,â Phoebe countered, her voice thick with tears. âIâve ballooned by at least fifty pounds since before I was pregnant.â
Well, that was a considerable difference! Eileen had only gained thirty pounds throughout her pregnancy, and miraculously snapped back to her original weight a month after giving birth.
âLetâs be honest, neither of us were beauty queens right after delivery,â Eileen admitted, trying to comfort the tearful Phoebe. âBut for the sake of the little one, itâs all worth it. Once the babyâs a bit older, we can tackle those extra pounds together as a team.â
Despite Eileenâs efforts, Phoebe remained enveloped in a gloomy cloud.
Gwyneth and Phoebeâs mother returned with the baby in tow. Eileen exchanged pleasantries, all smiles and polite conversation.
It wouldnât do for Bryan and Jacob to linger, so they excused themselves and found a quiet corner to chat.
Due to past unpleasantness with Vivian, Phoebeâs mother hadnât exactly shown Eileen much warmth. But now, with the tides shifting, her demeanor had changed dramatically, her words laced with a touch of fawning flattery.
Gwyneth joined in with compliments, making Eileen squirm in her seat.
âLetâs not dwell on bygones,â Eileen interjected, offering a few more polite remarks before strategically excusing herself from the room.
Iâŧе$Ñ Â¢#αpŧêÑs Iи galnoνels.com The hospital corridors buzzed with activity, punctuated by the occasional wail of a newborn. Despite searching high and low, Eileen couldnât locate Bryan or Jacob. Theyâd likely found a refuge away from the social whirl.
While a quiet respite in the small garden sounded tempting, fate intervened as she reached the lobby.
There, she spotted Julio practically sprinting down the hall, his assistant trailing behind, diligently absorbing his instructions.
A jolt of memory struck Eileen. Julio had brought Dalores to the hospital. Where was Dalores now?
Eileenâs curiosity got the best of her, and she couldnât help but ask the nurses in the inpatient department where Dalores was located.
As she approached Daloresâ room, she noticed several bodyguards stationed outside, all of whom acknowledged her presence. âMs. Curtis.â
âIs Miss Sampson inside?â Eileen asked.
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