Chapter 904: Making Amends


    Chapter 904: Making Amends


    Ayan rolled down the car window and, despite his usual habit of not smoking in a moving car, lit a


    cigarette. His tone was indifferent as he asked, "Did Preston ask you toe back?"


    He was direct, without any hint of delicacy.


    Eileen looked at him through the drifting smoke, her heart still quickening at the sight of his handsome


    face. That feeling, which had persisted from the past to the present despite all that had happened,


    remained unchanged.


    Eileen pressed her lips together, speaking softly, "Yes."


    He asked, "Did he have any specific ns for you toe back?"


    "He didn''t say. He just asked me to return to Hance first."


    Ayan nced at Eileen from the corner of his eye, clearly skeptical of her words.


    Eileen hurriedly exined, "Ayan, I''m telling the truth. Preston only asked me toe back. As for any


    ns he might have, he didn''t mention them."


    Ayan''s voice remained dispassionate as he said, "I didn''t say anything. You don''t need to get so


    worked up."


    Eileen''s expression stiffened for a moment. She had thought she was well-prepared to face Ayan after


    being away for so long, but seeing him again made her realize that she always felt uncertain in his


    presence. She always seemed to be one step below him.


    Did she really have to resort to those methods to be on equal footing with him?


    A sense of confusion and hesitation crept into Eileen''s mind.


    She halted the spread of these thoughts and looked at Ayan, saying, "Ayan, I''m not worked up. I just


    don''t want you to misunderstand me. If Preston really has any ns for me, I could choose not to tell


    you. Since I reached out to you beforeing back, you can be sure that I have no reservations about


    being open with you."


    Ayan didn''t respond to her words, and the natural answer was that he didn''t believe her.


    Kian, who had been driving, reached the hotel-a property under the Simpson Group. Ayan said, "Since


    you''ve just returned, take a few days to rest."


    Ayan instructed Kian to apany Eileen to her room. Throughout the process, Ayan remained in the


    car, maintaining a distance from Eileen. His behavior made it clear that he wanted to keep some


    distance.


    Eileen wasn''t in a hurry. She followed his arrangements.


    However, once she returned to her room, Eileen immediately shared her return to Hance with Preston.


    She was attempting to navigate a delicate bnce, not wanting to offend anyone on either side. Her


    desire was to reap the benefits from both sides, a goal she had held steadfastly throughout.


    Yet, she couldn''t help but question whether her ambition would truly lead to the desired oue.


    After seeing Eileen to her room, Kian left the hotel and got back into the car.


    Kian nced at Ayan in the rearview mirror, asking, "Mr. Simpson, are we heading back to Simpson


    Group now?"


    "Yes," Ayan responded in his usual detached tone. After arriving at Simpson Group, he instructed Kian,


    "Get the car washed."


    Kian nodded and was about to drive to the car wash when Ayan changed his mind, "Actually, never


    mind. Get a different car."


    Ayan returned to his office. Instead of diving into work immediately, he took a shower and changed into


    spare clothes before tending to his tasks.


    Around three in the afternoon, Mr. and Mrs. Bell, apanied by their assistant, arrived at Simpson


    Group.


    They had been back for a few days, but their time had been upied with other charitable endeavors,


    dying their visit to Simpson Group.


    The project was ready, and the uing opening ceremony would mark itsunch. Mr. Bell stated, "I


    want this to be lively. I want the project to be well-known in Hance City. It''s not just about the


    Modest Temple Hotel; the main theme is charity, in line with our original intention."


    Ayan nodded in agreement, "Yes, you''re right. Please have your assistant list your requirements, and


    I''ll have Kian announce them in the group chat. If you need any specific channels for promotion or have


    other needs, your assistant can directlymunicate with Kian."


    Mr. Bell was pleased with Ayan''s attention to detail, and he couldn''t help but engage Ayan in a casual


    conversation beyond the project. He asked, "Mr. Simpson, what''s really going on with Mr. Baxter? Is he


    truly the same person as Mr. Walker?"


    Ayan chuckled softly, saying, "You''re quite direct in your question. It''s a bit difficult for me to answer


    that."


    Mr. Bell had his assistant step outside before he continued, "We''re alone here. Give me an honest


    answer. Is the museum incident rted to him? As the initiator of this charitable project, I must ensure


    that there are no unforeseenplications. We don''t want any tarnish on this project."


    His emotions grew slightly agitated as he spoke.


    Mrs. Bell, who had remained silent, chimed in, "Mr. Simpson, we''ve known each other for a long time,


    and we have a basic understanding of each other. We know you might be caught in the middle and


    can''t say too much, but can you at least tell us if there''s any connection? That way, we can n ahead


    and make preparations."


    Mrs. Bell''s eyes were filled with earnestness as she spoke, hoping that Ayan would provide some


    rity.


    Ayan responded, "Rest assured, your project involves the Simpson Group as well. I am, after all, the


    main person in charge of this project. I can assure you that there won''t be any issues. What I can tell


    you is limited, though, as there are certain things I can''t disclose."


    He wouldn''t resort to backhanded tactics to tarnish Preston''s reputation. Preston wasn''t worthy of his


    descent to such tactics.


    Ayan''s assurance eased Mr. and Mrs. Bell''s concerns, and they refrained from pressing further. They


    felt reassured with his statement.


    Mrs. Bell then suggested, "We''ve been back for a few days. If you''re avable tonight, how about the


    four of us have dinner together, with Cami?"


    Ayan nodded, "Sure, you can contact Cami. She''ll be delighted to hear about it."


    "Okay, that''s settled."


    After the n was confirmed, Mrs. Bell immediately messaged Camille. Mrs. Bell hadn''t been in touch


    with Camille since her return due to her busy schedule.


    Receiving Mrs. Bell''s message, Camille was genuinely delighted, just as Ayan had predicted. She


    readily agreed to the dinner invitation.


    Despite the significant age difference between Mrs. Bell and herself, they got along surprisingly well


    and had a lot to talk about.


    With the dinner ns in ce, Ayan took the initiative to ask, "Since you''ve been in Hance for some


    time now, and this project is nearingpletion, there might be new coborations in the future. How


    about, for tonight, I introduce you to a new friend-someone I''ve grown up with?"


    "That sounds great. Let''s do it tonight. But let me be clear, I insist on treating you for this meal."


    "Whether it''s you or me treating doesn''t matter. What''s important is that everyone enjoys the meal and


    has a good time," Ayan said with a faint, understated smile.


    After bidding farewell to Mr. and Mrs. Bell, Ayan contacted Rex directly. While Mr. and Mrs. Bell had


    met Rex before, their interactions had been limited, and this dinner would be a proper introduction.


    Concerned that Camille might be bored, Ayan reminded Rex to bring Sienna along.


    As Sienna, the apanying guest, was mentioned, she immediately voiced her discontent. She used


    the opportunity toin to Camille, saying that it made her feel like she was being used as a tool.


    Sienna eximed, "Mr. Simpson seems to favor you too much, don''t you think?"


    Camille, listening to Sienna''s voice filled with frustration even over the phone, couldn''t help butugh.


    She asked, "Should I scold him for you tonight?"


    "Come on, Cami! Are you really enjoying this? I can practically hear the joy in yourughter. You''re


    ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    finding pleasure in my suffering."


    Sienna''s impable acting skills could be felt even through the phone. Camille patiently endured,


    waiting for Sienna''s performance to y out.


    Once Sienna finished, Camille asked nonchntly, "So, how would you like me to make it up to you?"


    "Fine. In a couple of days, I have to apany my mother-inw shopping and meeting her friends.


    You should bring your mother-inw and join us!"


    "Ha, isn''t this returning the favor with vengeance? I helped you out once, and now you''re trying to drag


    me into this mess?" Camille responded with a dismissive snort. She wasn''t very eager to attend a


    gathering of wealthy wives.