《Rebirth of the Wife in Despair》 Chapter 1 Chapter 1 Ended With Hatred This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. ck! ck! The sound of footsteps in the hospital¡¯s corridor broke the silence of the ward. Lying on the hospital bed, Eileen Swan strained to open her eyes slightly, catching a glimpse of someone standing before her as the footsteps drew near. Could it be that Eric is here to visit me? Exhausted as she was, Eileen couldn¡¯t help but feel a surge of joy at the thought of that. However, she quickly regained herposure and let out a disappointed sigh when she saw that the person was actually Sarah Swire, the woman whom her husband, Eric Snow, treasured deeply. Ugh¡­ What am I even thinking? In the six months since Eileen was diagnosed with a brain tumor, her days were filled with dialysis, chemotherapy sessions, a myriad of medications, and constant IV drips. Even so, it did nothing to stop her illness from worsening. Adding to her distress, Eric never once visited her. Eileen forced a wry smile at Sarah and asked in a hoarse voice, ¡°Why are you here?¡± Sarah shed her a smile and ced a basket of fruits on the table. ¡°You seemed disappointed when you saw me. Eric won¡¯te, so you can stop dreaming about him showing up.¡± She then gracefully tucked her hair behind her ear, retrieved a file from her handbag, and tossed it onto the hospital bed. ¡°Eric wanted me to bring you this. You have to sign these divorce papers tonight. Snow Group is a huge business, so it¡¯s only natural that an heir wille to inherit it. Since I¡¯m already pregnant with Eric¡¯s child, you should give up your position as his wife!¡± Sarah dered proudly. The slightly raised bump on her tummy was proof of her statement, indicating her victory in winning Eric over. Oh, the irony¡­ Eileen had experienced motherhood in the past, but she tragically lost the child, and her body suffered irreversible damage, rendering her unable to conceive again. Amidst her ongoing battle with illness, Eric impregnated Sarah. Normally, Eileen might have fought Sarah fiercely, even risking harm to her unborn child. However, she nowcked the strength and confidence to confront Sarah. ¡°All right. I¡¯ll sign it,¡± Eileen said without any hesitation. Her hand, which was connected to the IV drip, trembled as she picked up the pen and signed her name on the divorce papers. Sarah froze in surprise as she didn¡¯t think it would be this easy. A look of joy then spread across her face as she carefully put the divorce papers back into its folder. The shiny diamond ring on Sarah¡¯s slender finger was quite the eyesore for Eileen, who had devoted herself fully to Eric throughout their eight long years of marriage. She had loved him so much that she sacrificed everything for him, and yet, he never gave her a diamond ring. He didn¡¯t even give her the chance to see him onest time before divorcing her. ¡°Does Eric know that I¡¯m sick?¡± Eileen asked weakly, her lips pale. Despiteing to terms with her reality, she felt a lingering resentment for the way Eric had treated her. ¡°Yes, he knows. He said you¡¯re a burden and that you should just die off,¡± Sarah replied without hesitation, her harsh tone mirroring Eric¡¯s. With her heart numb, Eileen no longer had any reason to doubt Sarah¡¯s words. She knew with absolute certainty that Sarah was simply delivering Eric¡¯s heartless message. Eileen¡¯s father had entrusted Eric with all of their family¡¯s businesses before his passing, elevating Eric from the once-dependent individual the Swan family took in. Even after learning about Eileen¡¯s cancer and her limited time left, Eric insisted on divorcing her to be with his mistress. Heh¡­ He sure is a heartless one¡­ Nevertheless, as Eric was the only man Eileen had ever loved, she still wanted to see him onest time. ¡°Could you bring me to him so I can see him onest time?¡± she pleaded while looking at Sarah. ¡°No need for that. Have you taken a look in the mirrortely? What¡¯s the use of seeing him when you¡¯re in this wretched state?¡± Sarah retorted, looking down on her like a haughty princess. ¡°C-Can I at least call him, then?¡± ¡°Look at yourself, Eileen! Do you see how pathetic you are right now? I would never love a man to the point where I lose all dignity, unlike you!¡± The contempt in Sarah¡¯s eyes felt like a knife stabbing at Eileen¡¯s heart. How did I end up in such a pathetic state that a woman like Sarah, whoes from an ordinary family, could insult me to this extent? Ignoring Eileen, Sarah stormed out of the ward in her high heels. The door mmed shut, plunging the ward intoplete silence once again. Eileen, fading in and out of consciousness from the pain,y weakly on the hospital bed. She felt as though she was watching her life ebb away as she stared at the IV fluid slowly dripping from its bag. It was Christmas that day. The atmosphere in the streets was incredibly lively with heavy snow and festive decorations. Many people gathered in the hospital corridor to watch the snow and wish each other a merry Christmas. They got so carried away that no one noticed the beeping from the monitor on Eileen¡¯s bed. Eileen slowly closed her eyes as her consciousness faded away little by little. She couldn¡¯t shake the feeling of hatred for having sacrificed so much for Eric, only to end up losing everything in the end. If only I had a second chance to start over and change my life. Chapter 2 Chapter 2 Chapter 2 Reborn Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Eileen sensed her body floating through the air. Ssh! The next thing she knew, ice-cold water sshed against her face. Eileen mustered all her strength and forced her eyes open. Shivers ran down her body as she gazed up to find Eric staring at her. He turned off the shower when he saw that Eileen was awake. With a disdainful look, as if he were viewing a despicable prostitute, he eximed, ¡°I can¡¯t believe you¡¯d drug me, Eileen! How shameless can you be?¡± Eileen nced about and realized that she was in the bathroom inside Eric¡¯s bedroom. Huh? Didn¡¯t I just die? Why am I here? Did I get reborn or something? The ce was in disarray, with toothbrushes and shampoo bottles scattered on the floor. Eric, in a dark-colored suit, had wet hair and a wet chest. Judging by the look of anger in his eyes, it became obvious that things were pretty heated a moment ago. After taking a moment to recall what was going on, Eileen remembered that this incident took ce on Eric¡¯s birthday eight years ago. Nursing a long-standing crush on him, she changed into a sexy, ckce nightgown and decided to present herself to him as a gift. To ensure the sess of her n, she had spiked Eric¡¯s wine with an aphrodisiac. However, Eric somehow saw through her scheme and forced that wine down Eileen¡¯s throat instead. After that, he dragged her into the bedroom. It didn¡¯t take long for the aphrodisiac¡¯s effects to kick in. As Eileen¡¯s body got hotter, she tore her nightgown off and threw herself at Eric. Eventually, Eric dragged her into the bathroom and hosed her down with the shower. That was what led to the current situation they were in. Eileen realized she had been reborn to the time when she was eighteen. Kneeling in front of Eileen, Eric fixed her with a cold gaze. Devoid of any affection, he uttered, ¡°This is the final time I¡¯m making it clear, Eileen! I¡¯ll never have feelings for you, so stop wasting your time on me! I¡¯m your brother, and that won¡¯t change. You¡¯re on your own.¡± With that statement, Eric turned away and left. Struggling to rise from the bathroom floor, Eileen swayed unsteadily. When she nced at the mirror, she observed her slender arms and youthful face. Her cheeks were still flushed from the effects of the aphrodisiac, and her nightgowny in tatters, rendering her appearance nothing short of absurd. Eric is right. He is indeed my brother¡­ She was fifteen when she first met Eric. Her father, Will Swan, had brought Eric home and said to her, ¡°He¡¯ll be your brother from now on.¡± Despite his young age, Eric exuded a surprisingly mature aura. However, he had a cold personality and always kept his distance from her. Despite his efforts to avoid her, Eileen found herself falling in love with him from the moment they first met. Eric, on the other hand, persistently avoided her advances and constantly reminded her that they were siblings. Even so, Eileen was so madly in love with him that she refused to give up no matter what. The more Eric tried to distance himself, the more determined she became to get closer to him. Eileen¡¯s possessiveness reached a point where seeing Eric with other women drove her to the brink of madness. On one asion, she went all out, dressing up and baking him a cake. However, upon arriving at his office, she witnessed an attractive woman smiling warmly at him. Consumed by jealousy, Eileen impulsively smashed the cake onto the woman¡¯s head, creating a chaotic scene. The woman, covered in cream, produced a contract from her bag. To Eileen¡¯s embarrassment, it turned out the woman was a representative from apany there for a business discussion with Eric. Furious at Eileen for disrupting the business deal, Eric stormed off and went missing for a few days. In order to look for him, Eileen skipped sses and waited outside his office daily. Whether out of exhaustion from her relentless pursuit or for other reasons, Eric eventually agreed to date her. Not long after, she was able to force Eric into marrying her as well. However, Eileen¡¯s one- sided love ultimately resulted in her losing everything. Returning to her bedroom, she took a shower, changed into a clean nightgown, and patiently waited for the effects of the aphrodisiac to wear off before lying down on her bed. The room, adorned with a pink color theme and girly d¨¦cor, emanated a feminine atmosphere. This is my bedroom before I got married¡­ Eileen¡¯s heart sank as shey on her bed, the familiar surroundings enveloping her. She had been reborn and sent back to a moment in time before the tragedy took ce. While it wasn¡¯t all the way before things went downhill, it wasn¡¯t toote for her to do something about it either. A mix of indescribable joy and profound pain coursed through her as she crossed her trembling arms. At that moment, Eileen vowed to not make the same mistakes again. This time, I shall live for myself instead! Chapter 3 Chapter 3 Chapter 3 Meeting Eric Again All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. Lost in thought, Eileen was interrupted by a series of knocks on the door. ¡°Ms. Eileen, are you all right? Is everything okay between you and Mr. Snow?¡± The voice echoing from outside the door filled Eileen¡¯s heart with joy, prompting her to get out of bed and open the door. At the sight of Eileen, the Swan family¡¯s servant, Sharon Swire, sighed in relief, but the look on her face was swiftly reced by one of deep concern. ¡°Ms. Eileen, I saw Mr. Snow storm out in a fury. Did the two of you have a fight again?¡± The current Sharon was still young. Gazing at her, Eileen couldn¡¯t help but feel a lump forming in her throat. Tears welled up in her eyes at once and blurred her vision as she dashed forward to hug Sharon. Taking in Eileen¡¯s tear-stained countenance, Sharon instantly furrowed her brows. ¡°Ms. Eileen, why are you crying? Did you have a nightmare? Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m here for you.¡± Eileen, unable to stop her tears from falling, buried her face in Sharon¡¯s soft embrace, smelling the familiar detergent scent on thetter. It¡¯s really Sharon. Only Sharon prefers using this type of detergent to do herundry. Choking back sobs, Eileen shook her head and said, ¡°Sharon, I¡¯m hungry. Do we have anything to eat?¡± Sharon broke intoughter. ¡°So, you¡¯re just hungry? Is that a reason for a grown-up like you to cry? I¡¯ll go make you some spaghetti!¡± Ten minutester, Eileen sat at the dining table downstairs, watching Sharon serve her a steaming te of spaghetti. ¡°Eat up, Ms. Eileen!¡± Eileen nodded and began to devour the food, startling Sharon with her demeanor. The spaghetti still tastes the same as before. Suppressing her urge to cry, Eileen cleaned her te. Only after watching Eileen finish having her meal did Sharon ask tentatively, ¡°Ms. Eileen, I heard a hugemotion upstairs earlier but didn¡¯t dare to check. Moreover, Mr. Snow appeared furious when he left. What happened between you two?¡± Eileen reached out for a piece of tissue and wiped her mouth with it, answering indifferently, ¡°It¡¯s nothing, Sharon. We just had a little argument.¡± She couldn¡¯t possibly tell Sharon that she tried to seduce Eric but failed and instead ended up being taught a lesson by him. Sharon bobbed her head. The next second, seemingly suddenly recalling something, she continued, ¡°By the way, Ms. Eileen, Mr. Swan asked me to tell you he can¡¯t make it back for a banquet and wants you and Mr. Snow to attend on his behalf.¡± Eileen was momentarily stunned. In her previous life, Will had only asked Eric to go, so she wondered why she was included this time. Pouting, she nodded obediently. It seems I¡¯ll be meeting Eric again soon. On the day of the banquet, the servants brought the evening gown prepared for her early in the morning. Eileen nced at the outfit. It was a pink dress, its fluffy skirt adorned with dazzling gemstones that sparkled under the light. Will had always been willing to spend money on his only daughter, but there was no real father-daughter affection between Eileen and him. Therefore, she didn¡¯t dare refuse Will¡¯s request for her to attend the banquet, having no choice but toply with his instructions. After Eileen washed her face, she gazed at her own reflection in the mirror. She was looking at a youthful, innocent girl with skin as tender and smooth as a baby¡¯s bottom, contrasting starkly with her previous state marred by illness. Sharon, holding a nket, entered. She nced at Eileen, grinned, and complimented, ¡°You¡¯re so pretty, Ms. Eileen, even more charming than the celebrities on television!¡± Eileen replied sheepishly, ¡°Sharon, you¡¯re teasing me again!¡± In fact, she was indeed beautiful, having grown into a striking figure at the age of eighteen. With delicate facial features, fair and tender skin, a petite face with a hint of baby fat, and radiant eyes, she looked somewhat na?ve. However, Eileen¡¯s personality was quite despicable. She carried herself with the typical arrogance and willfulness of a pampered youngdy from a wealthy family, which was why she never had any friends in her previous life. By the time Eileen changed into her evening gown and finished preening herself, it was already evening. The sound of a car horn came from outside. Eileen looked out the window and saw a ck Bentley driving into the courtyard. Eric had returned. Gripping the hem of her dress, Eileen turned around and prepared to head downstairs. As she descended the stairs, she saw Eric standing in the living room with his arms crossed. His tall and upright figure was d in a crisp, ck suit. Even as he stood motionless in his spot, he exuded an overwhelming, aloof, and noble aura. When observed up close, his countenance appeared all the more stunning, carrying an intimidating sense of authority and steadfastness inherent in those of higher status. A man like him was naturally attractive to women. In the past, I was also enchanted by this very outward form of his, wasn¡¯t I? I threw myself at him like a moth to a me, only to pay a devastating price in the end. At that thought, Eileen felt her legs turn to lead as she continued to advance in his direction. Hearing the resounding footsteps, Eric slightly turned his head around to nce behind him and noticed Eileen, who was dressed in a long pink dress with a waist-cinching design that entuated her slender figure and a pair of strappy heels. As she walked, her delicate ankles could be vaguely observed beneath the hem of her dress. At that moment, she resembled a princess straight out of a fairy tale. Such a scene could take any man¡¯s breath away, but Eric merely briefly swept his eyes across her before averting his gaze, then uttered expressionlessly, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± With that, he turned and strode away without waiting for her. Eileen awkwardly lifted the hem of her dress and hurried after him. Chapter 4 Chapter 4 Chapter 4 Attending Banquet This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. The atmosphere inside the vehicle was slightly tense. Eric drove the car in the driver¡¯s seat while Eileen sat quietly in the back. Eileen stole a nce at Eric through the rearview mirror and caught sight of his brooding eyes. She figured it made sense for him to react in that manner. After all, she did attempt to drug him a few days ago. If it weren¡¯t for Will¡¯s order, Eileen reckoned Eric wouldn¡¯t have wanted to see her again. Eric was a little taken aback because, since the moment they met that day, Eileen had been behaving quite differently from before. Usually, whenever she saw him, she would immediately run up to him and cling to his arm. On the contrary, Eileen was oddly calm today. Despite what happened several days ago, she would typically cling to him again after a short period whenever he scolded her in the past. He wondered if that could be a new tactic she was employing. As those thoughts swirled in his mind, Eric abruptly regained his senses. Isn¡¯t it wonderful that she¡¯s no longer latching onto me? Why am I thinking about these? Eric quickly decluttered his thoughts and stepped on the gas pedal, elerating the car. The banquet was held at Euphoria Hotel, a well-established five- star venue. As soon as they exited the vehicle, a valet swiftly offered to help them park the car while a hotel staff led them to the banquet hall. The opulent hall was already filled with many distinguished guests. The banquet that night was to celebrate Henry Gaunt and his wife¡¯s golden wedding anniversary and was attended by prestigious figures of Hulbury. Eric, apanied by Eileen, approached and greeted Henry. The older gentleman¡¯s wife, Valerie Shurmer, standing at one side and grinning at Eileen, asked, ¡°Are you the youngdy from the Swan family? You¡¯ve grown so much. Is this your boyfriend?¡± Before Eileen could reply, Eric forestalled her, saying, ¡°Old Mrs. Gaunt, I¡¯m Eileen¡¯s stepbrother.¡± rity washed over Valerie at once. ¡°You must be Eric, right? I¡¯ve heard about you. You¡¯re a rare talent in the business world!¡± Eric nodded slightly and chirped, ¡°You¡¯re ttering me, Old Mrs. Gaunt.¡± The corner of Eileen¡¯s mouth twitched. He¡¯s genuinely in a hurry to dissociate himself from me. At that point, she could already roughly guess Will¡¯s intention in asking her and Eric to attend that event together. Will wanted more people to recognize the sibling rtionship between her and Eric, so she would abandon her foolish feelings for Eric sooner. For Will, nothing was more important than his reputation. He viewed her love for Eric as a potential source of humiliation that could tarnish his image if words were to get out. Such painstaking efforts¡­ However, Eileen had already died once. Her affection for Eric had also worn away after the countless days of despair she experienced. At that moment, she no longer harbored any hope to have a future with him. She spent the evening being paraded around by Eric, forced to smile and exchange pleasantries with every guest they encountered. By the end of it, Eileen couldn¡¯t bring herself to smile anymore. Suddenly, Eric halted in his tracks and turned to her. ¡°You can roam around on your own. I have to step away for a bit.¡± She nodded, feeling utterly d to be away from him. Noticing he had walked away, Eileen picked up a ss of champagne from a nearby table and started sipping it. While watching the elegantly dressed men and women dance to the music on the dance floor, she unknowingly consumed ss after ss of the alcoholic drink. Feeling slightly intoxicated, Eileen staggered out of the banquet hall for some fresh air to sober up. As she made her way to the courtyard, she heard a sultry female voice that caused her to stop in her steps instinctively. ¡°Eric, aren¡¯t you afraid that youngdy from the Swan family will find out that you¡¯re meeting with me?¡± Eileen froze. Then, she quickly hid behind arge tree and discreetly peeked in the direction of the voice. That woman speaking was dressed provocatively with long, wavy hair cascading down her waist. Her arms were crossed in front of her ample chest, entuating her deep cleavage. The next second, a familiar voice rang out. ¡°Eileen? Why would I be afraid of her? Regarding the matter I asked you to handle, how is it going?¡± It¡¯s really Eric! Who is this woman, and what did Eric tell her to do? Eileen tilted her head, straining to listen to their conversation. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Everything is progressing smoothly. Still, isn¡¯t that Eileen obsessively in love with you? Haven¡¯t you ever considered using her? That way, you can attain your goals much easier.¡± Eric furrowed his brows and said coldly, ¡°No one is toy a finger on Eileen for now. I still have a use for her.¡± ¡°Tsk. I thought you might have a soft spot for her. It seems she¡¯s not that capable either, failing to capture your heart even after so many years.¡± The woman winked at Eric and even leaned closer to him. Eric gazed at her in amusement, uttering leisurely, ¡°I¡¯m not interested in an underdeveloped brat.¡± As he spoke, he reached out to grasp one side of that woman¡¯s bosom and casually groped her. ¡°Ah! You¡¯re so mean! You¡¯re hurting me!¡± While intoning coyly and swatting his hand away, that woman curled her seductive red lips into a yful smirk, prompting the atmosphere to turn highly sensual at once. Eileen rolled her eyes. Whether it was in her past or current life, Eric¡¯s habit of cheating hadn¡¯t changed. Despite her indifference and having given up on him, she still felt somewhat ufortable listening to those words in person, especially his demeaning and disdainful remarks about her. I can¡¯t believe I ended up in ruin for his sake in my previous life. While she bitterly reflected on that, Eric was already preparing to return to the banquet hall. Chapter 5 Chapter 5 Chapter 5 Avoid Him Eileen swiftly lifted the hem of her dress and hurried back. After all, it might raise suspicions if Eric couldn¡¯t locate her upon his return. Upon reaching the banquet hall, she observed Eric scanning the crowd for her. Straightening her dress and fixing her hair, she approached him with a meek smile. Eric frowned upon spotting her. ¡°Where have you been?¡± Eileen tilted her head and replied innocently, ¡°I went to the restroom.¡± There was a certain innocence in her eyes that made it difficult for anyone to get angry with her, but Eric¡¯s brows furrowed even more when he noticed the rosy tinge on her cheeks. ¡°Have you been drinking?¡± ¡°Just a little.¡± Eileen was honest about it. She even gestured with her fingers to indicate the small amount she had drunk, wearing an alluring smile. He quickly looked away before saying, ¡°Let¡¯s go. I¡¯ll send you back.¡± With that, Eric strode out of the banquet hall, and Eileen followed immediately. Once in the car, she couldn¡¯t help but think about that woman. Although Eileen had no idea about Eric¡¯s intentions in staying with the Swan family, she was certain that his goal involved seeking revenge. She had neither the intention nor the ability to intervene in his n, for Eric was a formidable person, and anyone who crossed him would inevitably meet a dreadful end. In her previous life, she was na?ve enough to believe she could persuade Eric to let go of their grudges and live peacefully with their father. Having been given a second chance at life, Eileen¡¯s primary focus was on graduating from university. Once aplished, she could leave the Swan family and Hulbury, pursuing a life of her own. The carpsed into silence. Eventually, Eileen decided to break the tension. ¡°Eric, there¡¯s something I need to tell you.¡± Eric¡¯s eyes flickered at her words, as he thought she might finally be reaching a breaking point. ¡°It was my fault. I was being too stubborn in the past. Moving forward, I¡¯ll keep in mind our sibling rtionship.¡± Eileen maintained a calm demeanor as she spoke. Her words and demeanor caught Eric off guard. He scrutinized her through the rearview mirror but failed to detect anything unusual. After a prolonged silence, he raised an eyebrow and sneered sarcastically. I was wondering why she hadn¡¯t been pestering me throughout the day. Turns out, she¡¯s just ying hard to get. With his hands firmly on the steering wheel, Eric spoke in a gentle tone. ¡°It¡¯s good that you¡¯ve reflected on things. Let¡¯s put the past behind us.¡± Seated in the back, Eileen responded with a brightThis belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. smile. Subsequently, silence enveloped the car again. Eileen looked out of the window, feeling relieved. As long as I keep my distance from Eric, I can avoid trouble. Once I leave Hulbury, I don¡¯t have to care about the conflicts between Eric and Dad. They can sort out their grudges on their own. The car soon arrived at Unde Mansion. As Eileen was stepping out of the vehicle, she suddenly recalled something and called out to Eric, ¡°Eric, is Veraing back soon?¡± Vera ke held a special ce in Eric¡¯s heart as his childhood sweetheart. Having faced hardships together in the orphanage, their bond was forged through shared struggles, including sleeping on the streets and enduring hunger. When Eric was adopted into the Swan family, heter brought Vera into the fold during the second year. Will had no objections, given the family¡¯s means to support an additional member. However, despite being close in age, Eileen and Vera couldn¡¯t findmon ground. Eileen¡¯s envy grew as Vera maintained a close rtionship with Eric. This jealousy led Eileen to frequently find fault with Vera. Eventually, Eric sent Vera abroad for her studies. In the present, Eric paused, turning to look at Eileen with a guarded expression. Just look at him. So worried about Vera. Eileen regarded him with a hint of disdain before adding, ¡°I must admit, I do miss her after all this time. I¡¯ve already instructed Sharon to clean her room. It will be ready for her when she returns.¡± There was a room in Unde Mansion specifically designated for Vera, left vacant since her departure for studies abroad. Eric¡¯s expression darkened briefly, a fleeting glint crossing his eyes. ¡°No need. I n to have Vera stay with me.¡± ¡°Really?¡± A hint of embarrassment flitted across Eileen¡¯s visage. ¡°That¡¯s a great idea¡­ It will be more convenient for you to take care of Vera.¡± She knew that Eric had his own house, and he seldom returned to Unde Mansion to avoid her. ¡°When she returns, I¡¯ll bring her here to collect her belongings.¡± Eileen gazed at Eric¡¯s stern expression, offering a silent nod without further words. Bringing up Vera was her way of conveying that she had moved on from her feelings and her past misbehaviors. However, it seemed her current efforts didn¡¯t leave a strong impression on him, given hisposed reaction. Eric observed her quietly¡ªhead bowed and silent, a stark contrast to the once-arrogant Eileen. It must be difficult for her to put on an act for so long. Checking the time on his wrist, he remarked, ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. Head back and get some rest.¡± Eileen smiled, waving. ¡°Sure, Eric. Goodbye.¡± With the engine of the ck Bentley starting, the car swiftly disappeared into the night. Chapter 6 Chapter 6 Chapter 6 Vera Is Back On the day Vera returned home, it coincided with Eileen¡¯s birthday. In the early morning, Eileen was roused by the activity downstairs. She groggily checked the time, finding it was just half-past eight. No longer feeling sleepy, Eileen got out of bed, freshened up, and went downstairs, her luscious locks cascading down her back. The living room had been tidied, and Sharon busy wiping a vase. Spotting Eileen, Sharon approached with an apologetic smile. ¡°Ms. Eileen, did I wake you? I¡¯m so sorry. Mr. Swan called and informed me that it¡¯s your birthday today. He wants us to spruce up the house for a birthday celebration,¡± she exined. Eileen suddenly realized that it was her birthday¡ªthe first one since her rebirth. In her previous life, she had been marred by illness. The diagnosis and subsequent hospital stays meant that any celebration was overshadowed. ¡°Ms. Eileen, Mr. Swan called earlier. He won¡¯t be able to make it back for your birthday due to work, but he prepared this for you.¡± Sharon retrieved a tinum card from her pocket and handed it to Eileen. epting the card, Eileen smiled. ¡°Sharon, since Dad won¡¯t be back, there¡¯s no need for an borate celebration. Just a few simple dishes will suffice.¡± With that, she made her way upstairs to call Will. The phone rang for a while before someone answered. ¡°Hello.¡± ¡°Hi Dad. It¡¯s me. Thanks for the card.¡± ¡°You¡¯re wee. Go out and buy whatever you like. Eileen, don¡¯t give Eric any trouble. Understand?¡± ¡°I know, Dad.¡± Eileen chuckled in silence, understanding it as a warning from her father. Will had always desired a son to take over the family business, and despite having several mistresses, none of them bore him a son or daughter. In the end, he adopted Eric. As for his only daughter, Will had nned to use her to forge a marriage alliance that would benefit his empire. If it weren¡¯t for her current inability to leave the family, Eileen wouldn¡¯t have stayed for a second longer. After the call, Eileen sat at the table, flipping through her workbook. In reality, her academic performance wasn¡¯t ster. In her previous life, she had sought Eric¡¯s tutoring not only to secure a spot in university but also to get closer to him. Eric, despite stopping at high school, was self-taught and well-versed in university-level material and even foreignnguages. However, Will was more interested in Eileen¡¯s performance in extracurricr activities. Her vacations were always filled with various extracurricr sses, including dancing, painting, piano, and even floristry. Will closely monitored her performance in these sses, with the intention of grooming her into a socialite. His ultimate n was to marry her off at the age of twenty to his most promising business partner, forming a powerful marriage alliance. While her life appeared glorious on the surface, in reality, she was nothing more than a canary in a gilded cage. ncing at the baking cookbook on the shelf, Eileen reached out and grabbed it, triggering a flood of memories. Among the numerous extracurricr sses, painting and baking had sparked her interest the most. Recalling the baking utensils she had purchased for the ss, a sudden thought crossed Eileen¡¯s mind. I¡¯ll bake myself a birthday cake! In her excitement, Eileen rushed downstairs only to hear a familiar voice at the main door. She looked up to see Vera standing behind Eric. Both were dressed in matching outfits, appearing exceptionally well- coordinated. After years of studying abroad, Vera returned, more beautiful than ever, donning a fine cashmere coat and a pale pink knitted dress. The pearl earrings added to her elegance. Except for their family background, Eileen found herself inferior to Vera in every other aspect. In her previous life, Eileen had been jealous of Vera¡¯s close rtionship with Eric, often inflicting subtle harm with fine needles. Despite that, Vera dared notin, for Eileen knew of her secret. Eventually, Vera tragically chose to end her own life. When that happened, Vera was merely twenty years old. Her untimely demise fueled Eric¡¯s rage. On that fateful day, he stormed into Eileen¡¯s room with a murderous aura, gripping her neck in a fit of anger. ¡°This is all your fault, b*tch! You Swans deserve nothing but death!¡± Had it not been for Sharon¡¯s timely intervention, Eric might have seeded in ending Eileen¡¯s life as Eileen was indirectly responsible for Vera¡¯s death. When her train of thought ended there, Eileen paused on the stairs. Both Eric and Vera noticed her. They turned their heads simultaneously, directing their gaze toward her.Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 7 Chapter 7 Chapter 7 Birthday Cake Material ? N?velDrama.Org. At the sight of Eileen, Vera was at a loss for action. She tucked her hair to the back of her ear and walked over to Eileen before handing the gift in her hands to thetter. ¡°Happy birthday. This is a gift from me. I hope you like it.¡± On the gift box was a thin transparent covering. Eileen could distinctly see that a ne was in it, and it was Swarovski to boot. Sure enough, it was exactly the same as the previous life. Eileen actually did not like wearing jewelry, much less one given by Vera. However, it was necessary to keep up appearances. Thus, she smiled, the corners of her eyes crinkling. ¡°Thank you. I love it. When did youe back? If there¡¯s anything you need, just say the word.¡± In the previous life, Vera¡¯s death had something to do with her, so Eileen wanted topensate her as much as possible in this life. Shocked, Vera cautiously nced at Eric as though seeking his help. It was only natural for her to be suspicious, for Eileen had never been courteous with her. If it were in the past, Eileen would have thrown the gift onto the ground and grabbed her hair, ordering her to get lost. ¡°She only came back today, and it so happened to be your birthday. How about going shopping with us tonight to buy some necessities for her?¡± Eric interjected mildly. Us? He¡¯s speaking of himself and Vera together while I¡¯m just an outsider in his eyes. Oh well, that¡¯s to be expected. They grew up together since childhood, whereas I¡¯m nothing more than his enemy¡¯s daughter. Smiling, Eileen replied cheerfully, ¡°No, it¡¯s okay. You both go ahead, Eric.¡± After all, there was no reason for her to tag along and be the third wheel. It was her birthday that day, and she wanted to enjoy her time alone. Eric looked at her dubiously, trying to discern something from her calm expression. But the look on her face was so in that he could not figure out her game. Sensing his probing scrutiny, Eileen was a touch nervous. She only wanted to y a well-behaved and adorable sister, no longer interfering in his rtionship with Vera. Unfortunately, Eric was suspicious by nature, and she was not sure whether she could fool him. A momentter, Eric nodded. Without saying anything, he brought Vera upstairs to put her things away. Eileen breathed a sigh of relief. Then, she quickly ran to the kitchen. Sharon was washing the vegetables. At Eileen¡¯s approach, she was somewhat surprised. ¡°You¡¯re hungry, Ms. Eileen? Didn¡¯t you eat the bread and milk I prepared for you?¡± ¡°I did. I¡¯m here to look for something.¡± Eileen casually opened the cab and rummaged around. ¡°Sharon, where¡¯s the equipment I use to make dessert? I want to bake a cake myself.¡± A light bulb went off in Sharon¡¯s head. She opened the cab below her and said, ¡°It¡¯s here, Ms. Eileen. I¡¯ve kept them all in one cab.¡± Delight flooded Eileen. Yay! Flour, butter, eggs, and whipping cream are all avable at home. There¡¯s also a cherry tree in the yard, so I can pick some cherries and make a cherry-vored cake. As she was thinking about it, the sound of an engine roaring to life sounded outside the window. She looked out through the kitchen window and saw a ck Bentley driving out the gates. It looks like they¡¯ve left. Eric has brought Vera out, and Will isn¡¯t yet back from his business trip. In other words, Sharon and I are the only ones in the mansion today, so I can do anything I want! She turned to Sharon and instructed, ¡°Please help me take out the ingredients, Sharon. I¡¯m going to the yard to pick some cherries!¡± After saying that, she sprinted out at lightning speed. Eileen hurried to the garden in the backyard. Sharon had previously told her that the cherry tree was personally nted by her mother when thetter was still alive. Right then, it was already even taller than the fence. The cherries on the tree were so heavy that they were almost breaking the branches, and the sweet scent of the fruit wafted in the air. Standing below the tree, Eileen jumped a few times. s, she could not reach the branches and had seemingly overestimated herself. Left with no recourse, she could only carry over adder from the storage shed. While at it, she snagged a basket. As she picked the cherries, she casually wiped a few and tossed them into her mouth. Sweet and sour juices filled her mouth, and unprecedented joy suffused her. When the basket was full, she climbed down thedder and skipped back to the kitchen. By then, Sharon had already taken all the equipment out and washed them. Eileen ced the basketful of cherries under the faucet and rinsed them, humming happily. She separated part of the cherries, nning to make some cherry jam. Subsequently, she mixed the batter for the cake while the jam was cooking before cing it into the oven to bake. As she waited for the base to cool, she started whisking the whipping cream. Seeing that she was in a good mood, Sharon did not disrupt Eileen but went about her own work. After bustling around for almost two hours, Eileen ced thest cherry on the cake, and her birthday cake was finally done. All of a sudden, the sound of ss shattering rang out from the adjacent mansion, apanied by a young man¡¯s furious voice. ¡°Get out of here! Scram!¡± Eileen leaned close to the window in curiosity, searching for the source of the sound Chapter 8 Chapter 8 Chapter 8 The Young Man In The Wheelchair The conversation continued behind the wall. ¡°How about we go out for a walk, Jasper? You¡¯ve been staying home for a very long time. I¡¯m worried about you.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need your concern. A useless piece of sh*t like me would be better off dead! Get out, all of you!¡± Yet another ear-piercing noise rang out as he broke a hole in the window. ¡°A-All right. I¡¯ll leave. Please don¡¯t hurt yourself.¡± Eileen was shocked. Although she couldn¡¯t hear the conversation very clearly, she could tell that it was between a mother and son. Sharon nced in Eileen¡¯s direction and said regretfully, ¡°The one staying next door is the heir of the Smith family. He got into an ident when he was little and had been staying indoors ever since. That poor thing¡­ I think he isn¡¯t quite right in the head.¡± Eileen nodded in response and fell into deep thought. In her past life, Jasper was eighteen when hemitted suicide by slitting his wrists. He was already dead by the time the ambnce arrived. Eileen was watching from the balcony as the paramedics covered his lifeless body with a white nket and carried it into the ambnce. Apparently, he had been dead for two days before they discovered his body in the bathroom. As Eileen nced at the cake on the table and stared at the wall, a thought suddenly formed inside her head. She then cut a huge slice of the cake, ced it carefully inside a box, and tied a ribbon on it. ¡°I¡¯ll be right back, Sharon. Help me put the cake in the refrigerator.¡± Sharon could only shake her head helplessly in response as Eileen had run off before she could ask where she was going. Eileen ran into her bedroom, grabbed a pen and a piece of paper, and retrieved her drone from storage. She had bought that drone when she was fifteen, only to leave it aside after ying with it for a few days. This time, however, she was able to put it to good use. After writing a note and attaching it to the ribbon, she made her way into the courtyard with the cake and drone in hand. As the mansions were connected, Eileen attached the box containing the cake onto the drone and flew it in through the broken window. Jasper sat on a wheelchair, his gaze fixated venomously on a de lying amidst broken ss on the floor. Spending all of his time indoors had left his skin pallid, exuding a sickly and somber aura. Why would my parents bring me into this world if they don¡¯t love each other? Now that they both have their own respective families, what will be of me? I¡¯m just a cripple that nobody wants! Jasper¡¯s eyes darkened, growing gloomier as he struggled to rise from his wheelchair. His legs proved too feeble to bear his weight, and he crumpled to the floor secondster. Broken ss cut into his palms, causing them to bleed, staining the wooden floorboards a vivid red. Undeterred, he retrieved the de from the shattered ss and slid it out. All I have to do is sh my wrists open with this razor-sharp de, and I¡¯ll be free from my suffering! Out of nowhere, an unidentified object sailed through the window,nding within the room. Jasper paused, eyeing the object warily. Huh? That looks like a drone¡­ It even has a box attached to it¡­ After a brief inspection to ensure its harmlessness, he picked up the box. Within, he found a note attached that read: My name is Eileen Swan. I¡¯m your neighbor, and it¡¯s my birthday today. I baked this cake myself. Please have some! I¡¯lle visit you every day from now on, okay? Eileen Swan? She¡¯sing to visit me every day? Jasper eagerly tore open the box and devoured the cake. The sweetness on his tongue and the delightful aroma enveloping him brought a warm sensation to his heart. In that moment, the urge to end his own life faded away. After staring at the broken window for quite some time, Eileen directed her drone back to her. A few minutester, the dronended next to her feet, and a smile appeared on Eileen¡¯s face as she saw that he had eaten the cake. he reason behind her action eluded her, but perhaps it was a shared understanding of being abandoned by those close to them. If she could, Eileen wanted to prevent him from ending his life this time.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. Chapter 9 Chapter 9 Chapter 9 Suspicions Upon entering the mansion, Eileen encountered Sharon, who had just finished tidying up the kitchen. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re back, Ms. Eileen. I¡¯ve stored the cake in the fridge. Would you like a slice now?¡± Sharon dried her hands on a towel, facing Eileen. Weary from a day¡¯s work, Eileen sank into the couch and gesturedzily. ¡°I could use a nap first. I¡¯ll grab a pieceter.¡± However, Sharon eximed, ¡°Ms. Eileen, your clothes got messy from baking just now. You¡¯re going to soil the couch. Please head to your room and change first.¡± Eileen reclined on the sofa and replied mischievously, ¡°No chance, I¡¯m so exhausted. Let me rest for a bit.¡± ¡°No, this is getting out of hand!¡± Sharon was on the verge of pulling her up when Eileen yfully rolled down onto the carpet. She whined, ¡°It¡¯s my birthday today, Sharon.¡± Just then, the door swung open, prompting Eileen to turn around. She immediately furrowed her brow at the unexpected intruder. Didn¡¯t he head out with Vera? Why is he back so soon? In the foyer, Eric gripped his car key, with Vera trailing closely, head lowered, intentionally avoiding eye contact with Eileen. Sharon greeted with a gentle smile, ¡°Back already, Mr. Snow?¡± Eric nodded. ¡°Mypany called for an urgent meeting. I¡¯m here to grab some documents. Let Vera hang around here for a bit. I¡¯ll be back to pick her upter.¡± Eileen promptly rose, attempting to straighten her clothes, only to realize the futility due to the baking-rted smudges. Instead, she raised her gaze, meeting Eric¡¯s eyes. Eric quickly scanned her appearance before inquiring, ¡°Why are you all dirty?¡± Eileen bit her lip before breaking into a radiant smile. ¡°I got a little messy while baking earlier. Eric, Vera, would you like to try my cake?¡± Vera, who had kept her head lowered, suddenly lifted her gaze and stared at Eileen in disbelief. She then turned to Eric with a questioning expression. Even Sharon sensed that something was off with Eileen. Eileen had never shown any particr fondness for Vera. It was already a notable act of kindness for her to refrain from bullying Vera. So why, Vera wondered, would Eileen offer her cake now? Sharon hesitated before finally asking, ¡°M-Ms. Eileen, are you feeling unwell today?¡± Eileen replied calmly, ¡°No, I feel fine. I won¡¯t be able to finish such a huge cake, so what¡¯s the issue with sharing?¡± Eric, too, found himself surprised, struggling to discern Eileen¡¯s true motive. After a moment of thought, he expressed, ¡°Thank you, but there¡¯s no need. I¡¯m heading out after grabbing my documents, and Vera isn¡¯t particrly fond of sweets.¡± ¡°Oh, all right then.¡± Eileen appeared disappointed, but deep down, she was secretly delighted. She had only extended the offer out of courtesy, never intending to share the cake with them. After a moment¡¯s reflection, Eric suggested, ¡°I didn¡¯t have anything prepared for your birthday today. How about I pick up your favorite strawberry mousse cake after my meeting?¡± Eileen shed him an appreciative smile and nodded. ¡°Sure. Thank you, Eric.¡± Suddenly realizing, Sharon eximed, ¡°Oh, I forgot about the stew I was cooking. You three carry on chatting.¡± With that, she rushed into the kitchen, leaving Eileen, Eric, and Vera in a slightly awkward silence. Eileen¡¯s gaze darted between Eric and Vera. Sensing the tension, she turned to the man, saying, ¡°I¡¯ll go get changed first.¡± She wasn¡¯t particrly keen on facing Eric, as remnants of the past lingered, making her ufortable around him. Eric furrowed his brow, observing her hasty departure. Eileen appeared changed from her usual self. Previously, witnessing Eric and Vera together would trigger intense jealousy in her. However, that day, her demeanor had noticeably shifted. Has she truly given up on me?This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. Chapter 10 Chapter 10 Chapter 10 Suspicions Upon entering the mansion, Eileen encountered Sharon, who had just finished tidying up the kitchen. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re back, Ms. Eileen. I¡¯ve stored the cake in the fridge. Would you like a slice now?¡± Sharon dried her hands on a towel, facing Eileen. Weary from a day¡¯s work, Eileen sank into the couch and gesturedzily. ¡°I could use a nap first. I¡¯ll grab a pieceter.¡± However, Sharon eximed, ¡°Ms. Eileen, your clothes got messy from baking just now. You¡¯re going to soil the couch. Please head to your room and change first.¡± Eileen reclined on the sofa and replied mischievously, ¡°No chance, I¡¯m so exhausted. Let me rest for a bit.¡± ¡°No, this is getting out of hand!¡± Sharon was on the verge of pulling her up when Eileen yfully rolled down onto the carpet. She whined, ¡°It¡¯s my birthday today, Sharon.¡± Just then, the door swung open, prompting Eileen to turn around. She immediately furrowed her brow at the unexpected intruder. Didn¡¯t he head out with Vera? Why is he back so soon? In the foyer, Eric gripped his car key, with Vera trailing closely, head lowered, intentionally avoiding eye contact with Eileen. Sharon greeted with a gentle smile, ¡°Back already, Mr. Snow?¡± Eric nodded. ¡°Mypany called for an urgent meeting. I¡¯m here to grab some documents. Let Vera hang around here for a bit. I¡¯ll be back to pick her upter.¡± Eileen promptly rose, attempting to straighten her clothes, only to realize the futility due to the baking-rted smudges. Instead, she raised her gaze, meeting Eric¡¯s eyes. Eric quickly scanned her appearance before inquiring, ¡°Why are you all dirty?¡± Eileen bit her lip before breaking into a radiant smile. ¡°I got a little messy while baking earlier. Eric, Vera, would you like to try my cake?¡± Vera, who had kept her head lowered, suddenly lifted her gaze and stared at Eileen in disbelief. She then turned to Eric with a questioning expression. Even Sharon sensed that something was off with Eileen. Eileen had never shown any particr fondness for Vera. It was already a notable act of kindness for her to refrain from bullying Vera. So why, Vera wondered, would Eileen offer her cake now? Sharon hesitated before finally asking, ¡°M-Ms. Eileen, are you feeling unwell today?¡± Eileen replied calmly, ¡°No, I feel fine. I won¡¯t be able to finish such a huge cake, so what¡¯s the issue with sharing?¡± Eric, too, found himself surprised, struggling to discern Eileen¡¯s true motive. After a moment of thought, he expressed, ¡°Thank you, but there¡¯s no need. I¡¯m heading out after grabbing my documents, and Vera isn¡¯t particrly fond of sweets.¡± ¡°Oh, all right then.¡± Eileen appeared disappointed, but deep down, she was secretly delighted. She had only extended the offer out of courtesy, never intending to share the cake with them. After a moment¡¯s reflection, Eric suggested, ¡°I didn¡¯t have anything prepared for your birthday today. How about I pick up your favorite strawberry mousse cake after my meeting?¡± Eileen shed him an appreciative smile and nodded. ¡°Sure. Thank you, Eric.¡± Suddenly realizing, Sharon eximed, ¡°Oh, I forgot about the stew I was cooking. You three carry on chatting.¡± With that, she rushed into the kitchen, leaving Eileen, Eric, and Vera in a slightly awkward silence. Eileen¡¯s gaze darted between Eric and Vera. Sensing the tension, she turned to the man, saying, ¡°I¡¯ll go get changed first.¡± She wasn¡¯t particrly keen on facing Eric, as remnants of the past lingered, making her ufortable around him. Eric furrowed his brow, observing her hasty departure. Eileen appeared changed from her usual self. Previously, witnessing Eric and Vera together would trigger intense jealousy in her. However, that day, her demeanor had noticeably shifted. Has she truly given up on me? This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. Upon entering the mansion, Eileen encountered Sharon, who had just finished tidying up the kitchen. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re back, Ms. Eileen. I¡¯ve stored the cake in the fridge. Would you like a slice now?¡± Sharon dried her hands on a towel, facing Eileen. Weary from a day¡¯s work, Eileen sank into the couch and gesturedzily. ¡°I could use a nap first. I¡¯ll grab a pieceter.¡± However, Sharon eximed, ¡°Ms. Eileen, your clothes got messy from baking just now. You¡¯re going to soil the couch. Please head to your room and change first.¡± Eileen reclined on the sofa and replied mischievously, ¡°No chance, I¡¯m so exhausted. Let me rest for a bit.¡± ¡°No, this is getting out of hand!¡± Sharon was on the verge of pulling her up when Eileen yfully rolled down onto the carpet. She whined, ¡°It¡¯s my birthday today, Sharon.¡± Just then, the door swung open, prompting Eileen to turn around. She immediately furrowed her brow at the unexpected intruder. Didn¡¯t he head out with Vera? Why is he back so soon? In the foyer, Eric gripped his car key, with Vera trailing closely, head lowered, intentionally avoiding eye contact with Eileen. Sharon greeted with a gentle smile, ¡°Back already, Mr. Snow?¡± Eric nodded. ¡°Mypany called for an urgent meeting. I¡¯m here to grab some documents. Let Vera hang around here for a bit. I¡¯ll be back to pick her upter.¡± Eileen promptly rose, attempting to straighten her clothes, only to realize the futility due to the baking-rted smudges. Instead, she raised her gaze, meeting Eric¡¯s eyes. Eric quickly scanned her appearance before inquiring, ¡°Why are you all dirty?¡± Eileen bit her lip before breaking into a radiant smile. ¡°I got a little messy while baking earlier. Eric, Vera, would you like to try my cake?¡± Vera, who had kept her head lowered, suddenly lifted her gaze and stared at Eileen in disbelief. She then turned to Eric with a questioning expression. Even Sharon sensed that something was off with Eileen. Eileen had never shown any particr fondness for Vera. It was already a notable act of kindness for her to refrain from bullying Vera. So why, Vera wondered, would Eileen offer her cake now? Sharon hesitated before finally asking, ¡°M-Ms. Eileen, are you feeling unwell today?¡± Eileen replied calmly, ¡°No, I feel fine. I won¡¯t be able to finish such a huge cake, so what¡¯s the issue with sharing?¡± Eric, too, found himself surprised, struggling to discern Eileen¡¯s true motive. After a moment of thought, he expressed, ¡°Thank you, but there¡¯s no need. I¡¯m heading out after grabbing my documents, and Vera isn¡¯t particrly fond of sweets.¡± ¡°Oh, all right then.¡± Eileen appeared disappointed, but deep down, she was secretly delighted. She had only extended the offer out of courtesy, never intending to share the cake with them. After a moment¡¯s reflection, Eric suggested, ¡°I didn¡¯t have anything prepared for your birthday today. How about I pick up your favorite strawberry mousse cake after my meeting?¡± Eileen shed him an appreciative smile and nodded. ¡°Sure. Thank you, Eric.¡± Suddenly realizing, Sharon eximed, ¡°Oh, I forgot about the stew I was cooking. You three carry on chatting.¡± With that, she rushed into the kitchen, leaving Eileen, Eric, and Vera in a slightly awkward silence. Eileen¡¯s gaze darted between Eric and Vera. Sensing the tension, she turned to the man, saying, ¡°I¡¯ll go get changed first.¡± She wasn¡¯t particrly keen on facing Eric, as remnants of the past lingered, making her ufortable around him. Eric furrowed his brow, observing her hasty departure. Eileen appeared changed from her usual self. Previously, witnessing Eric and Vera together would trigger intense jealousy in her. However, that day, her demeanor had noticeably shifted. Has she truly given up on me? Chapter 11 Chapter 11 Chapter 11 It¡¯s Just Us In This House Now A gentle night breeze came billowing in from outside, as a series of hurried footsteps woke Eileen up. She blinked hazily, looking around her. She saw that the sky was already dark, and stopped feeling sleepy at once. The sound of Vera apologizing over and over again could be heard. Confused, Eileen got up slowly and. opened the door. She squinted her eyes, and was a little surprised by the sight that greeted her. ¡°Oh, are you done with work?¡± Eric had gotten home around an hour before Eileen went to bed, and brought Vera shopping. The two returned home, and Eric noticed that something in his room was missing. It was none other than the birthday present Eileen had given to him. Vera¡¯s eyes were reddened, looking pitifully at Eileen. ¡°Eileen¡­¡± Eric walked forward, blocking Vera off. He looked calm, but his gaze was cold. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Eileen. I broke the bear you gave me. Vera thought. that it was something useless, and threw it away!¡± Sharon appeared as well. ¡°It¡¯s my fault I didn¡¯t tell Ms. ke in time too.¡± Everyone was waiting for Eileen to throw a tantrum, and start shouting. Yet Eileen simply raised her eyebrows, letting out augh. ¡°Is that so? That¡¯s a shame, that bear was limited edition¡­¡± Anyone who cried would get their way in the world. It wasn¡¯t her fault. Vera was in tears, which meant that Eileen would be at fault if she did not forgive her. She had hated Vera in thest life for taking Eric¡¯s heart, hated her for the way she would cry and whine at the slightest inconvenience. She still hated her for that in this life, but it didn¡¯t matter anymore. Eric stared at Eileen, his gaze cold. He was about to speak, but Eileen cut him off. ¡°If you like it that much, I¡¯ll give you another one on your birthday this year. That way I won¡¯t have to spend so much time thinking of a gift.¡± Vera said, ¡°I¡¯m really sorry, Vera. I didn¡¯t mean it.¡± Eileen nced at Vera. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. The bear wasn¡¯t even mine, you don¡¯t have to apologize to me even if it goes missing.¡± To prevent the topic from going on, Eileen asked, ¡°Sharon, is dinner ready? I¡¯m getting a little hungry!¡± ¡°Yes, I was just about to call you to cat.¡± ¡°Let me get changed, and I¡¯lle downstairs.¡± After changing into a different set of clothes and going downstairs, Eileen saw that there were two empty seats in the dining room. ¡°Sharon, where are Eric and Vera?¡± Sharon said, ¡°Mr. Snow¡¯s left with Ms. ke, they said they already had dinner and didn¡¯t want to stay. Oh¡­ Mr. Snow brought you dessert and told me to remember to give it to you. He actually cares about you quite a lot.¡± Thest line was said tofort her. Eileen could tell. Sharon brought out a strawberry mousse cake. He had really bought it. Eileen thought that he had just said it to cate her. Finding out that Eric and Vera had left the house and seeing the cake Eric had bought did not make Eileen feel much. She knew then that she had already gotten over the past! Eileen took a bite of the cake. It was not too sweet, from the shop she always went to. ¡°Youe eat with me then, Sharon.¡± Sharon said, ¡°That¡¯s alright, I ate a while back. Besides, it¡¯s not right for a maid to eat with her master.¡± Eileen held Sharon by the hand, pulling her onto a nearby chair and putting on her most pitiful expression. ¡°We¡¯re the only ones left in this house now,e on! There¡¯s no one else around anyways.¡± Eric and Vera might never return to this house anymore! Sharon had no choice but to sit down. She honestly took pity on the kid, seeing as she had no friends that truly cared for her. Eileen was always doing everything on her own. Even Mr. Snow, the man of Ms. Swan¡¯s dreams, only had eyes for Vera ke. Eric had not returned to the house once ever since he left. Will¡¯s flight had been dyed by turbulence, and it would take him some time to get back. Eileen began to think about her life during this time. She had been willing to go through hell and back for Eric in herst life, putting all of her time and energy into him. She had even flunked her entrance exams, and could only get into an average college. She was only in twelfth grade now, and should study hard to get into a good university so that she would go a different path than she had in herst life. Eileen was currently attending Petalburg High School, one of the best schools in the city. The whool fees were of course expensive as well, going as high as over a hundred thousand dors per year The car that sent the students to and from school was priced in the millions as well, and anyone who attended school at this ce came from a rich family, Of course, there were also transfer students from other schools who had gotten in with good results. The school had a reward system for exceptional students like this, waiving their fees entirely with a hefty schrship. All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. Eileen¡¯s chauffeur dropped her off at the school entrance. ¡°Ms. Swan, give me a call when you¡¯re done.¡± Eileen nodded. ¡°Alright.¡± Chapter 12 Chapter 12 Chapter 12 Used To Being Alone Eileen¡¯s school uniform was different from the usual boring shirt and skirt. It was an English uniform, with a zer and shiny leather shoes. The schoolbag was made of a special material as well. Petalburg High School was right across the road from Cloudberg Public School, a regr public school. It was, however, the most desirable public school, and all the students who went to Cloudberg were intelligent and talented. The students at Petalburg got in relying on their parents¡¯ wealth and power. The students at Cloudberg were not so well off, but had gotten into the school by working hard. The wealth gap had driven a wedge between both schools, and they had been rivals for the longest time. Eileen blinked. She seemed to catch sight of Eric¡¯s car among the ck SUVs, stopping at the school across the road. Sure enough, Vera got out of the car. Was Eric sending Vera to study at Cloudberg? Eric sensed someone was staring at him. He turned around instinctively, and was greeted by the sight of Eileen in her ck uniform. She had her hair up in a ponytail, her tall and slender figure making her stand out in the crowd. Eileen had not expected for him to turn around all of a sudden. She merely nodded and smiled, greeting him. ¡°Eileen-¡± A chubby girl in sses and pigtails ran up to Eileen. Walsh Byrd panted as she reached Eileen, a heavy stack of books in her hand. ¡°You¡¯re back, Eileen! I heard you were on sick leave, are you alright?¡± Walsh was the daughter of the education minister. She was also ssmates with Eileen. Her identity was not much of a secret in Petalburg. ¡°I¡¯m much better now.¡± ¡°Hey, are you not wearing makeup today? Also, why are you so quiet? You used to be scowling all the time, why does it feel like you¡¯re a different person now!¡± Eileen had put on makeup in the past to attract Eric¡¯s attention, which was honestly quite a fuss and took up at least an hour. She could now use that time to get more sleep. ¡°Am I supposed to scowl at you so I¡¯ll look more normal?¡± Eileen did indeed use to have a bad temper, andshed out at people quite often. This left her on her own most of the time, which she was used to. She did not care for making friends much, either. Everyone saw Eileen as an outcast, introverted and at loner. Walsh was the only one who would talk to her, and Eileen hardly ever responded to her. Walsh waved her hands at once. ¡°No, that¡¯s not what I meant! I think you look nice like this too, and¡­. honestly, you look really good without makeup.¡± This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. Eileen did not have the best reputation in school. Her family background was considered a shameful one. Who would want to be friends with someone from the Swan family, who had blood stained on their hands just so they could have a ce in Hulbury? Anyone who knew the Swans knew that they had done some sketchy things in the past, some of them. gruesome and illegal. It was only after the blow that they finally stopped what they were doing. Eileen¡¯s grandfather had even gone to prison. It could be said that the Swans did not have much money or power, but few people dared to mess with. them. Even the most powerful ministers would have some amount of respect reserved for the Swan family. No one from this family was to be messed with! Eric looked away from Eileen¡¯s retreating back, ncing at his watch. ¡°There¡¯s still time. I¡¯ll walk you in.¡± ¡°Was that Eileen? Does she study at Petalburg?¡± Vera was d in a regr blue and ke uniform, her hair tied in a bun. The uniform, despite being in, did little to hide Vera¡¯s beauty. She was just the kind of person who looked good in anything. ¡°Yep. If I get off work early at night I¡¯ll text you, ande get you.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine, I can take the bus back myself. The bus stop¡¯s right in front of the school, it¡¯s convenient enough. I know you¡¯re busy, I don¡¯t want to get in your way.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll never be in my way, Vera. Got it?¡± Eric¡¯s voice was low and earnest. The two of them were willing to do anything for each other. Vera nodded with a smile. ¡°I know, Eric.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take you to the principal¡¯s office so you can fill in the enrolment papers.¡± ¡°Sure!¡± Eileen turned around to look. Eric¡¯s charm and looks attracted a good deal of attention. He was walking Vera into school, holding her bag. Vera really was the one for Eric, huh? He was so worried she might get bullied that he had taken time out of his busy schedule to send her to school himself. Eileen waited until they disappeared from her line of sight, and made her way to the ssroom. Now that Vera wasn¡¯t in the same school as she was anymore, her life¡¯s course must have deviated a great deal. ¡°What are you looking at, Eileen?¡± Walsh looked in the direction Eileen was looking at. All she saw were students rushing to their ssrooms, what was there to see? ¡°Nothing. Let¡¯s go to ss.¡± Chapter 13 Chapter 13 Chapter 13 Elm Smith, Her Worst Nemesis! School at Petalburg started a littleter than usual, at nine in the morning. Eileen walked to her ssroom. She looked at the ssmates around her, and realized that she only knew a few of their names. The bell rang, and Eileen got into her seat. Just as she had sat down, Eileen saw a few students looking her way. Some of them were murmuring, ¡°That¡¯s Elm¡¯s seat. She¡¯s got some nerve, sitting there!¡± ¡°Has she lost her mind after being sick for just a few days?¡± What? Elm? Eileen looked down at her desk. It was clean and neat, without a single book in sight. She got to her feet at once. How could this be Elm¡¯s seat? She had always sat in the second tost row! Right? Right on cue, Elm appeared at the door. His uniform was draped loosely on his, his tie askew and his bag slung over one shoulder. He was staring at Eileen coldly, grinding his teeth. It made Eileen¡¯s hair stand. There were two of his loyal sidekicks right behind him, Charlie Good and Albert Roberts. Elm Smith, her worst nemesis! He was the school rascal no one dared to mess with.N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. He could do whatever he wanted in school. Eileen had never started a conversation with him, their only interactions consisting of Elm talking to her first. Thetter happened purely because Elm simply did not like Eileen. Yes, it was that simple. Eileen spotted Walsh pointing at a seat by the window, and realized that the ssroom had swapped the seats during the time she had been sick. She drew a deep breath, walking to her proper seat. Elm had a known hot temper. He walked up to his desk, kicking it to the corner in one swift move. The metal drawer dented from the gesture. Everyone else in ss got a fright from the noise, some of the ssmates around bing unwilling victims as well. ¡°Elm, where are you going now?¡± Albert pped Charlie¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Where else? He just doesn¡¯t want to see her!¡± Charlie walked up to Eileen¡¯s seat, kicking her chair. Eileen, what are you doing here instead of just staying at home? I swear to god, I¡¯ll be the first to put out a warrant for your family when I¡¯ve graduated. You and that good-for-nothing dad of yours will be in jail before you know it, just you wait!¡± He fixed his tie haughtily as he spoke. Eileen raised her eyes, looking the two boys up and down. Charlie was able to talk such a big talk because his father was chief of the CIA. This man was a terrifying force, even Will preferred to stay out of his way. The Good family had been eyeing Will like a hawk, waiting for something they could penalize him for. As for Willow, he came from a family ofwyers. His father was the country¡¯s most powerful judge, and his mother was a topwyer as well. These two were a nightmare to Eileen. She did not react much to Charlie¡¯s threats, nodding confidently instead. ¡°Good speech, very righteous! I think Will Swan is a good-for-nothing as well. I hope you get it done eventually, and cause his downfall!¡± Charlie stopped short, his expression darkening with rage. He pointed at Eileen, unable to say a word. Albert saw that Elm was missing from sight, and yanked an indignant Charlie away in search of Elm at once. The three of them were experts at skipping school. There was nothing the teachers could do, and there. was little use in calling their parents as well. Thus, the ss teacher usually turned a blind eye to their ministrations. Eileen did not know in her past life what she had done for Elm to treat her this way. She had never started any trouble, simply defending herself if someone confronted her. She had a nasty temper, about as bad as Elm¡¯s. That Eileen was now gone, her bad temper nowhere to be seen. The first ss was math. Eileen took out her exam papers- she had scored eight marks out of a hundred and two. God, she had really done badly. Eileen took a closer look at the questions, and realized that they weren¡¯t even that difficult. Most of the questions were ones she was able to solve. Eileen took out a red ballpoint pen, and began solving the questions she had gotten wrong one by one. She nced at the desk that had been kicked over, left just like that. She still had onest chance during the semester to change sses, and it would take her working hard to get good results for that to happen. As for the entrance exams, she already had a university she wanted to go to in mind. Chapter 14 Chapter 14 Chapter 14 A Great Photo With Depth Each sssted forty five minutes. When the bell for break rang, Eileen walked to the back row and picked up Elm¡¯s desk from the floor. She even arranged the scattered books and papers neatly into the drawer. Many people were shocked at the gesture. ¡°Are you kidding me? Someone like Eileen, picking up after Elm like a maid? Did she lose her mind?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t believe she¡¯s doing that for her mortal enemy. Oh my god, I¡¯m seeing things!¡± Someone took out their phone, sneakily taking a photo Eileen and posting it on the school forum. Eileen did not pay any mind to the murmurs around her. She returned to her seat after she was done, having decided that she was just going to bear with Elm¡¯s temper. Just then, Charlie was talking about which bar they should go to at night. N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. Albert was on his phone, when a notification popped out of nowhere: I¡¯m in shock! Eileen Swan actually¡­ He clicked in at the mention of Eileen¡¯s name at once and a photo came up. It showed Eileen bent. over, a stack of books and papers in her hand. She seemed to be standing where¡­ ¡°What the f*ck? Oh my f*cking god, take a look at this! Elm, look, Eileen¡¯s picking up your books for you!¡± ¡°What?¡± Charlie thought he was hearing things! Elm raised his eyebrows, ncing at the screen Albert had thrusted over. The photo showed a young girl kneeling on the floor, her skirt draped around her. Eileen¡¯s side profile was illuminated by the sunlighting in from the window. Her back was bent as she had a stack of books and papers in her hands, another hand reaching for the other books on the floor. It was a pretty great photo, honestly. Eileen did not eat in the canteen during the afternoon. She usually brought her own food to ss, as she was a picky eater and did not really like the food at school. She was the only person in ss now. Everyone else had gone outside with their friends. Eileen dug into the aglio olio pasta that Sharon had made, still focused on the exam paper from earlier. A hourter, the other students started filing into the room. Eileen still had one question left. A cry sounded from the corridor. ¡°Oh my god, it¡¯s Elm Smith! Is he back for Eileen?¡± ¡°I think so. Let¡¯s go watch! I¡¯ve never liked this girl from her dodgy family, I don¡¯t know how she even got in here.¡± ¡°Keep your voice down. My dad said the Swans run the underground scene in Hulbury, it¡¯s best not to mess with them. You might get yourself into trouble if you keep talking¡± It was true that no one dared to say any of this to Eileen¡¯s face. Many of the students came from families who ownedpanies that had been screwed over by the Swans, using methods that were less than savory. Eileen continued to solve her math problem, when a figure appeared in front of her. The next second, the contents of her desk were swept to the floor. Eileen looked at Elm, glowering murderously at her. ¡°What was that for?¡± ¡°Who allowed you to touch my stuff? Are you looking to get beaten up?¡± He stared daggers at Eileen, as if he was about to eat her alive. Was Elm really doing this just because Eileen had picked up his books? Eileen had done that because she thought that she had angered him by sitting in his spot, and had picked up his things as an apology. Only for Elm to react like this. Outside the window, students were gathered watching the showdown. Eileen shrugged, twirling the pen she was holding as she looked at Elm coldly. ¡°Well, you touched my stuff too so I guess that makes us even. Besides, I was supposed to be on cleaning duty anyways- I would¡¯ve eventually had to pick up your desk. I won¡¯t touch it in the future if you don¡¯t want me to, then.¡± Elm¡¯s hands were jammed into his pockets, and he kicked Eileen¡¯s table. ¡°What are you trying to get at, Eileen Swan? Who the hell do you think you¡¯re fooling?¡± Eileen frowned at Elm, confused. She picked up her books and put them into her bag. ¡°Who do I have to fool, huh? Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m doing my best to stay out of your way. You can stay in ss, I¡¯m headed to the library. Finals are in three weeks, and I¡¯ve got onest shot at changing ssrooms. I¡¯ll do best to not show up within your line of sight.¡± my Eileen held the remaining books in her hand, turning and leaving the ssroom. The bell rang right on cue for ss then, and the English teacher was at the door. ¡°Eileen, ss is starting. Where are you going?¡± Eileen said nothing. Charlie said, ¡°F*ck me, Elm! She¡¯s disrespecting you!¡± Albert said, ¡°She¡¯s really something. Secondst in the entire form, and she thinks she can change sses? She might as well drop out of school!¡± Elm punched Eileen¡¯s desk hard. Eileen was lucky she had left in time, or Elm would have broken his rule of not hitting women. Chapter 15 Chapter 15 Chapter 15 Why Doesn¡¯t She Just Drop Out? Eileen was nothing but thankful that she cared enough about her studies. She would not have had the courage to just walk out of ss like that otherwise. She knew now that she was able to handle the entrance exams enough to get a barely decent grade. If she was to bear down and study hard, she might just make an average grade. Eileen was decent at art subjects, but not so at science or math. The thing was that she did not have much time to catch up on those subjects. After school she had cooking sses and piano sses lined up¡­ Eileen sat in front of the window, running a hand through her hair frustratedly. No, she was just wasting time like this. She pushed those thoughts away quickly enough, and got back to studying. The library was usually only frequented by people from the higher sses. Now that recess was over, there was no one in there aside from the librarian. She was used to being alone, and enjoyed a setting like this. Just then, someone walked out of the teacher¡¯s office. They spotted Eileen sitting at the library, and took a photo at once. It was quickly sent to the school forum, under the photo from earlier. Look, Eileen Swan¡¯s hiding in the library. Within a minute, someone hadmented: D*mn, respect to Elm Smith! I can¡¯t believe he just got her out of the way like that, I finally won¡¯t have to see her in ss anymore. Ha, as if I bet you she¡¯ll be back in less than two days. That¡¯s impossible. Why? Because¡­ Elm threw her desk and chair out of the ssroom, and the cleaningdy took them away. There were a few photos after that, of Eileen¡¯s textbooks being thrown in the trash. There seemed to be something covering the books as well. It looked like vomit. Eileen was still oblivious to all of this. She finished the papers and was about to head back, when she received a text on her phone. Eileen, please don¡¯te back to ss right now. 1/3 Eileen stopped in her tracks, confused. What happened? A reply came quickly enough. Look at the school forum. An ominous feeling seeped into Eileen¡¯s chest. She had never cared for school gossip, and it was her first time going on the forum. She saw the posts of her books and desk in the trash. The lunchbox in the drawer had rolled to a corner. Sharon had bought the lunchbox for Eileen. Sharon had even sewed the bag holding it herself. Eileen ran back to ss¡­ A whileter, someone stood out and shouted at the sight of an iing figure. ¡°She¡¯s here¡­ Eileen Swan¡¯s here¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s hrious that she¡¯s back here.¡± ¡°We¡¯re in for a good show. She¡¯s going to lose her mind.¡± ¡°She deserves it, for being so cocky all the time.¡± Elm, who had been taking a nap, hurled a textbook in the direction of the voices. ¡°Shut up, or I¡¯ll kick you out too!¡± The ssroom fell silent at once. Elm finally saw the personing in through the door. Everyone in ss turned over to look. They were waiting for Eileen tosh out at Elm, and be taught a fierce lesson. Eileen did enter the ss, but she was not angry in the slightest. She did not pay Elm any mind as well, keeping calm as she walked to the trashcan. She picked up her lunchbox, dusting it off. She opened it to see if the inside was alright, and screamed. The lunchbox ttered to the floor, at bloody rat rolling out of it. Eileen¡¯s face was pale with fear as she trembled. The people in ss took one look at the frightened expression on Eileen¡¯s face, and burst outughing. Someone said, ¡°I¡¯m going to wet myself! God, look at her.¡± Walsh had a book in her hands. She was worried for Eileen, but did not dare to say much as she pretended to read. No one dared to mess with Elm, not even the principal. Just then, the ss teacher came in from outside. Elsie Field looked at Eileen strangely for a while, before looking away and opening the book on her table. ¡°That¡¯s enough. Are you bullying your 2/3 ssmate again, you rascals? Finals areing, and this is what you get up to? No wonder your grades. are the worst in ss.¡± ¡°What are you standing there for, Eileen? Get back to your seat, it¡¯s time for ss!¡± All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. Elsie picked up her phone, pretending to look at the time as she took a photo of the sight in front of her and sent it to a number with a ck profile photo. Eileen turned around silently, looking at the sexy, mature woman in front of her Seeing Elsie after being reborn filled Eileen with a sense of disdain. This woman was not just her ss teacher, but would also be her stepmother. Elsie would be. the one woman that could marry into the Swan family. On top of that, Elsie had endless rtions to Eric as well. They were not exactly clear, but the pair seemed a little too friendly for sure! How friendly, you might ask? In thest life, Will had died less than three years after this woman had entered the family! The doctors had not been able to find a cause of death. Will¡¯s death had been highly suspicious. Eileen remembered seeing Elsieing out of Eric¡¯s room on the day of Will¡¯s funeral¡­. Eileen furrowed her brows at the thought. Eric really was something else. He was capable of using any woman he wanted Chapter 16 Chapter 16 Chapter 16 It Was All Fake Elsie strutted up to Eileen in her high heels, her long hair swaying against her back. ¡°What are you standing there for, Eileen? Can you please tell me what happened?¡± She stretched out an arm, and Eileen stepped backwards with a frown. Eileen picked up the lunchbox on the floor, and left without saying a word. She appeared calm as she walked along the corridor, but her chest was beating furiously. The more she thought about it, she realized that every single person around her had something they wanted from her. No one had treated her with a sincere heart! Eric had used her love to scam her of the will she had, kicking her to the curb after he was done. Elsie had always taken such good care of Eileen in school, listening to her rants and giving her advice in an attempt to get closer to her and gain Will¡¯s attention. Elsie married into the family, and joined forces with Eric to kill Will. As for Sarah, Eileen had thought that they were the best of friends¡­ It was all fake! Everything in her life was a lie! Eileen took the lunchbox out in the bathroom, washing it clean. The stench of metal mixed with blood and decay lingered in her mind. The water pressure was strong, and soaked the injury at her wrist. Water seeped into the wound, and a sharp pain shot up her arm. Eileen seemed numb to the pain, as if she felt nothing. She saw that her wound was paling when she was done washing, blood seeping out slowly. She was about to leave, when her vision turned to ck. Someone had covered her head with a ck stic bag. She felt a kick on her back, then a punch on her face. Blow after blownded on her body, and the paint slowly spread as she was unable to cry out at all¡­ She could not see a thing, or tell how many people were attacking her¡­ After the beating was done, she was dragged into the bathroom. The bag was taken off her head, making her head spin with the sudden motion. The sound of three to five peopleughing rang through her cars¡­ The wound on her wrist had split open once again, blood staining the floor. She clutched onto herst will to survive, dialing a neater in her phone- Eric! 1/3 ¡°Beep beep beep¡­¡± Eric stopped in his tracks, taking out his ringing phone. He squinted at the screen, displeased. All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. He switched his phone off, and put it into his pocket. Vera¡¯s gaze shed. ¡°Eric, who¡¯s calling? You don¡¯t have to be with me if you¡¯re busy, I¡¯ll be fine on my own!¡± Eric said, ¡°Just a fraud call. It¡¯s nothing. Eileen had probably lost it atst, and was trying to get to him. ¡°Alright.¡± Vera smiled, holding up two ice creams in her hands. She passed one of them to Eric. ¡°I bought this for you, try it!¡± Eric had never liked desserts, but he still took the ice cream. Vera dug into the ice cream, cold and sweet melting on her tongue. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be eating stuff like this when your body¡¯s so weak. It might make your stomach hurt.¡± Eric chided gently. Vera stuck out her tongue yfully. ¡°Eric, I¡¯m really happy you brought me to the movies¡­ but are you. sure I¡¯m not getting in the way of your work? You know, you don¡¯t have to be with me all the time. I¡¯m fine on my own.¡± Vera had not expected that Eric would be waiting to pick her up after school, even taking her to the movies. Eric nced at his watch. ¡°Work hasn¡¯t been that busytely, I¡¯d rather be spending time with you. Let¡¯s go, the movie¡¯s about to start!¡± Vera noticed the two movie tickets he was holding, and pursed her lips. ¡°Eric, is Eileen not going?¡± Eric said, ¡°Eileen has her sses to go to, she can¡¯t make it.¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go then!¡± Vera locked arms with Eric. They were watching a romance movie. The male lead died at the end, leaving the female lead alone in the world until she died of old age. Eric saw that Vera was still down from the movie when they left, seeming to still be immersed. He took her shopping, buying all the most trendy clothes until they wereden with bags. It was eight in the evening when the two of them had finished shopping. The sky was slowly darkening, and the road lit up with streetlights and cars. It made for a beautiful view. Vera was happily sat in the passenger seat. ¡°Eric, that arcade was so fun! Let¡¯s go again next time!¡± Eric smiled warmly. ¡°Sure. I¡¯ll do my best to go with you.¡± Eric leaned over to fasten Vera¡¯s safety belt. The close proximity filled his nostrils with a feminine scent. This scent was different from that of Eileen¡¯s- hers was sweet. The image of Eileen¡¯s slender figure. shed past Eric¡¯s mind. Vera had grown up with Eric, but she would still get nervous whenever he got close to her. She held her breath, her pulse quickening. Eric leaned back, taking a look at his phone. He saw that aside from Eileen¡¯s call, there were over thirty missed calls from the Swan household. He had not picked up a single one. Eric frowned. He was about to call them back, when his phone rang with a call from them again. Sharon¡¯s panicked voice rang through the phone. ¡°Mr. Snow, is Ms. Swan with you?¡± ¡°No, what¡¯s up?¡± Eric said calmly. ¡°What? She¡¯s not with you? Where could she be?¡± ¡°What? Eileen¡¯s missing?¡± Eric¡¯s expression grew stern Chapter 17 Chapter 17 Chapter 17 Her Going Missing Might Be A Good Thing Sharon said, ¡°Yes. The driver went to pick her up after school, but she never came out. I called all the sses she was supposed to go to as well, and they all said she never showed up. I¡¯ve just made a police. report. Do you think anything could¡¯ve happened to her?¡± Eric spun the steering wheel with his other hand. ¡°Probably not. She called me just now, but I didn¡¯t pick up. How about¡­ I¡¯ll go looking around the ces she usually goes to, and call you back if I find her. ¡°Yes, of course!¡± Sharon hung up the phone. Vera had heard the call, and knew what happened. ¡°Why would Eileen go missing all of a sudden? Did something happen to her?¡± ¡°She¡¯s probably just hiding somewhere. Don¡¯t worry, she¡¯ll be fine.¡± ¡°I can go looking for her with you, Eric!¡± Eric shook his head, turning Vera down at once. ¡°That¡¯s alright. I might just know where she is.¡± Eileen was stuck-up and stubborn, and had always been a selfish person. She might just be throwing a tantrum. She had done this enough times for Eric to be sick of it, but would go looking for her still. Eric was not too worried about this. He even felt like her going missing might be a good thing. He stopped the car in front of Vera¡¯s apartment building, crossing around to open the door for her. Vera stood under the streetlights in her blue floral dress, her long hair falling over her shoulders. ¡°You should get going, and find Eileen! I¡¯ll be fine going upstairs on my own.¡± Eric handed her the shopping bags from just now. They weren¡¯t very heavy, all of them containing the year¡¯s newest branded clothing. ¡°Alright. You get some rest, don¡¯t wait up for me.¡± ¡°I know, I know.¡± ¡°Go on, then. I¡¯ll watch you leave.¡± Vera blushed, turning around under Eric¡¯s gaze. Her heart was racing, and the wind did little to cool down her burning face. For some reason, ever sinceing back from healing abroad she had been hanging out with Eric like a normal couple save for intimacy. They ate together, and said goodnight to each other before they went to bed. Eric would even pick her up and send her home¡­ Her and Eric¡­ Vera did not dare to think about it too much. Eileen was still very much present in her and Eric¡¯s lives, and Vera would never be together with Eric as long as Eileen was around. Vera did not know if she had feelings for Eric, or was simply dependent on him¡­ Eric had always been the only family Vera had known. They had gotten through the toughest of times together, from begging on the streets to getting into. fights with other beggars and more. If¡­ if she did have feelings for Eric. What did Eric feel? Did he like her back, too? Vera sped up her footsteps, as if terrified of being called out to by the man behind her. She had never been able to hide anything from him, and they knew each other too well. Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Eric waited until the lights in the living room upstairs were turned on before getting into the car, calling Eileen again. He called her over and over again, until he lost his patience and sent her a text message in a rage. Are you done? Call me back, I don¡¯t have time for your games! Pick up the phone, Eileen! We can talk about it in person if there¡¯s anything, don¡¯t make us worry like this! What are you even mad about, Eileen? The messages were sent over one by one, but there was no reply. Eric¡¯s gaze hardened as he continued driving. Eileen used to respond within two or three messages he sent, but this was different. What was she ying at? Chapter 18 Chapter 18 Chapter 18 I¡¯ll Be Sure To Pay Him Pay Eileen did not see any of Eric¡¯s messages, because there was not a single part of her body that was not in pain. It was the kind of bone-deep, agonizing pain! Someone could be heard talking near her. ¡­..Thank god you sent her over in time, or this could¡¯ve been so much worse. We¡¯ve reattached her ribs, and she should stay in bed in the next few days. We rmend keeping her in the hospital for supervision.¡± ¡°She should also eat lighter foods, nothing too greasy or heavy.¡± ¡°Alright, alright. Thank you, Doctor.¡± The doctor left, and the phone a man in a suit was holding rang. The bodyguard picked up, and said respectfully, ¡°Sir.¡± ¡°How is she?¡± The voiceing from the phone was cold and cutting. The bodyguard described whatever happened to Eileen in detail. ¡°That¡¯s about it. She¡¯s out of critical condition now.¡± ¡°Look into this. Remember not to alert anyone, and find out who did this in the next three days. I¡¯m going to make them pay.¡± ¡°What are you nning to do, Sir?¡± ¡°That¡¯s my own business.¡± ¡°Alright, Sir!¡± The call ended, and Eileen seemed to hear Jasper¡¯s voice. It faded after a while. Eileen did not stay awake for long, falling unconscious again. Three days had passed when she woke up again. Eileen¡¯s injuries were extremely severe, and she had broken a few ribs. The wound on her wrist had split open when she was found, bleeding everywhere. She was already unconscious, and would have bled to death if she had been found anyter, Around ten at night, Eileen could vaguely hear the sound of someone crying next to her. ¡°My poor girl¡­¡± Eileen¡¯s finger twitched as her vision cleared up slowly and she croaked out, ¡°Sh¡­ Sharon¡­ It h- hurts¡­.¡± She felt like her organs had been pulverized, and her bones ground to dust. Sharon looked at the patient on the bed in shock, clutching Eileen¡¯s hand gently with reddened eyes. ¡°I know. Eileen. Just a minute, I¡¯ll get the doctor.¡° The tranquilizers had worn off, and Eileen had been woken up from the immense pain. Tears came out of her eyes, sliding into her hair. She had battledte stage cancer for three months when the doctor said that she only had a week to live. Was this just her fate? The doctor came over quickly enough, running a full-body test on Sharon. ¡°She¡¯s healed pretty well in thest few days. Try to keep her from moving too much, in case the wounds split open again.¡± Yes, of course¡­ Can she eat now that she¡¯s awake?¡± ¡°Yes, but she should stick to fluids and a lighter diet.¡± ¡°Thank you, Doctor.¡± The doctor changed Eileen¡¯s IV bag, and left. Sharon did not dare to touch Eileen too much, only clutching her hand and wiping the tears from her face. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Eileen. I¡¯ll be by your side.¡± Eileen teared up again at the words. The pain she was feeling reminded her of the pain she had been in from her past life. She was alone even at the end of her days. Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Now she had Sharon, and Eileen finally felt like she was not alone anymore. Sharon had been the only one who had given Eileen any warmth. ¡°Mr. Swan found out about what happened to you, and he¡¯s rushing back. He¡¯ll be here by tomorrow. Mr. Snow¡¯s still at work, and he¡¯ll be here when he¡¯s done. He¡¯s been by your side in the past few days where you were unconscious, staying here until the wee hours of the morning.¡± Eileen held back the searing pain in her chest. ¡°Tell him he doesn¡¯t have toe anymore. It¡¯ste, I don¡¯t want to disrupt his work.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll tell Mr. Snow.¡± ¡°If he insists oning over, tell him I¡¯ve woken up. Eileen did not want to see Mr. Snow? How strange. Hadn¡¯t she always clung to him back then? She would demand for him to feed her by hand every time she fell sick, even if it was just a small cold. Eileen seemed to be pushing Mr. Snow away these days. Around half past ten at night, Eric finished his meeting and got off work. He was thoroughly fatigued. He took the elevator to the parking lot, and saw a slender figure asleep in the car. Eric was about to open the door, when his phone rang. He walked away to pick up the call. ¡°Sharon. How¡¯s Eileen?¡± ¡°The doctor said she¡¯s healing pretty well. She just fell asleep, and it¡¯s prettyte. I don¡¯t think you shoulde over, Mr. Snow. Let Eileen rest, I¡¯ll watch over her on my own.¡± Eric frowned. ¡°Alright, I understand.¡± ¡± Chapter 19 Chapter 19 Chapter 19 You¡¯re Just A Dog I Used To Take Care Of Eileen finally fell asleep after taking two painkillers. It wasn¡¯t until three in the morning when cold sweat beaded at her forehead, and she began to wheeze. All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. Eric looked up from hisptop, reaching out to put a hand to her forehead and cheeks. ¡°Her temperature¡¯s dropped. I think her fever¡¯s going down.¡± Sharon was making her way over with some water. ¡°Mr. Snow, let me take care of her! You¡¯ve got work. tomorrow, don¡¯t wear yourself out.¡± Eric had stille in the end. Sharon knew that Eric did not have feelings for Eileen, but still treated. her like a little sister. ¡°I¡¯m alright. Has she taken her painkillers?¡± Sharon said, ¡°Yes, at around ten.¡± ¡°It¡¯s best not to take too much of those.¡± Eric wrung the towel in the bowl of water dry, wiping the cold. sweat away from Eileen¡¯s forehead. ¡°You should rest instead, Sharon. I¡¯ve taken a half day off tomorrow.¡± Sharon looked at Eileen, then at Eric. ¡°Alright then¡­¡± ¡°No¡­¡± Eileen croaked from the bed, her voice feeble. I want Sharon¡­ don¡¯t go¡­¡± Eileen had actually been awake for a while, but did not want to appear so after hearing Eric¡¯s voice. She did not want to see him at all. Sharon hurried over, stroking Eileen¡¯s hand tenderly. ¡°Alright¡­ I won¡¯t go, I¡¯ll stay!¡± ¡°Mr. Snow, Eileen wants to be around me. I think you should just let me watch over her.¡± ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll be next door, let me know if anything happens.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Snow.¡± Eric¡¯s expression was cold again when he closed the door behind him. Eileen opened her eyes slowly, watching him disappear from sight before saying. ¡°Sharon, you should rest too. I¡¯m really fine.¡± ¡°Did the pain wake you up again?¡± Sharon wiped away her tears, her chest aching. ¡°No, I¡¯m much better now.¡± # ¡°Eileen, do you really not like Mr. Snow anymore?¡¯ Eileen stared at the ceiling above her. ¡°Yes, I don¡¯t like en anymore. One lesson was enough! Besides, Eric doesn¡¯t like me back that way. Forcing it will only make him resent me more.¡± 1/4 In all the years Eileen and Eric had been married, every time Eric said something when he was drunk. or asleep it would be about Vera. Eric had treated Eileen like a faceless body and nothing else for the eight years they had been married, and nothing more. ¡°So¡­ I think being his sister¡¯s pretty alright. Besides¡­ Dad doesn¡¯t like seeing Eric and I together. anyways.¡± ¡°I should just let go if that¡¯s the case, shouldn¡¯t I? That way Vera can have her man, too. I just want to work hard in school now, and get into a good university. I¡¯m getting older, I can¡¯t keep relying on my family.¡± Eileen¡¯s words shocked Sharon to her core. It seemed like Eileen had really grown up. ¡°What¡¯s all this talk about relying on us? You¡¯re still a kid, you¡¯re in no rush to grow up. You¡¯ll always be a baby to me.¡± Eileen closed her eyes at Sharon¡¯s words, swearing to herself that she would take Sharon with her the day she was free from the Swan household. Outside the ward, a hand on the doorknob slowly retreated¡­. Eric had left hisptop in the ward, and had overheard Sharon¡¯s words when he went back for it. His gaze grew cold. His hand left the doorknob, and he turned to leave. Eileen watched as his silhouette grew smaller and smaller, looking away when it was gone. Eric¡­ did you hear that? I¡¯m really letting go of you this time. I don¡¯t love you anymore, Eric Snow! Eileen finally fell asleep through the pain when it was almost light outside. She slept peacefully this time, without having any dreams. Will Swan returned to Hulbury at around noon. There were several bodyguards following him. Tensions were high in the Swan household study. Will bowed to the altar at the side of the room, letting out a sigh. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Dad. It¡¯s my fault I didn¡¯t take enough care of Eileen, and neglected to see what was happening at her school.¡± Eileen was rude and arrogant, and Eric had predicted that this would happen. Will turned around after bowing. ¡°How did Eileen get hurt? Did you look into it?¡¯ Will had rushed home afternding in Hulbury, and did not even change. He was slightly fat, with a string of buddha beads around his wrist and an air of authority about him. Will had done many unsavory things when he was younger, but did not look like a terrifying man at all. He seemed kind and friendly, but was capable of the most ruthless methods. Perhaps he felt like he had killed and hurt too many people, but Will turned to Buddhism when he was older. He had an altar in his study, and donated a great amount of money to the temple every year. ¡°I have, but the Smith family¡¯s been looking into it too. And¡­ I was preparing to get the perpetrator yesterday, but the Smiths got there before me and took the person who bullied Eileen away.¡± ¡°The Smiths?¡± Will squinted. ¡°Yes! Of course it was them. ¡°How did Eileen know the Smiths? Was it their son, Elm Smith?¡± ¡°No, it seemed like someone else. I suspect Elm hired someone to hurt Eileen, there¡¯s no way he¡¯s on her side.¡± Elm was an illegitimate child the Smiths had brought back from abroad, and he had gotten into some conflicts with the Swans before entering the Smith family. There was no one else that could be behind this aside from Elm. They had had it good for far too long. The Smiths had seemed to forget who had brought them the stability they now had. On top of that, Eileen was Will¡¯s daughter. Anyone whoid a finger on her was challenging Will. ¡°Are you sure the Smiths were helping Eileen?¡± Eric nodded. ¡°Yes.¡± Will fell silent for a while, furrowing his brows. ¡°Well, we¡¯ll leave it be since they¡¯ve taken care of it. Elm¡¯s nothing more than another dog I used to take care of, how dare he do this! Have someone teach him a lesson, and don¡¯t get caught.¡± Eric nodded, his gaze darkening. ¡°Yes, Dad!¡± ¡°How¡¯s Eileen?¡± ¡°She¡¯s out of critical condition, and healing pretty well.¡± ¡°I brought her some gifts, you can take them over to her for me. I know she¡¯s got a nasty temper, and I hope you can be more patient with her as her brother.¡± ¡°Eileen¡¯s like a sister to me. Don¡¯t worry, all girls have a little temper of their own.¡± Eric¡¯s tone was gentle, but his gaze was cold. ¡°Great, as long as you understand. You should head back now.¡± Eric nodded. ¡°Get some rest, Dad.¡± The sun was out today, and the temperature was perfect. Eileen was drinking the bone broth that Sharon had brought her. It was good as usual, making her a little nostalgic. It had been five days, and the wounds on Eileen¡¯s body were beginning to scar. They were just a little itchy, and she had to resist the urge to scratch them. ¡°Eileen, who¡¯s the person that just sent you flowers?¡± Eileen nced at the roses by her bed, smiling softly. ¡°A friend sent them. It¡¯s a little hard for him to leave the house, but I¡¯m happy enough that he sent me flowers.¡± There were neen roses, and a card: Get well soon. I¡¯m looking forward to seeing you again when you¡¯re out. -Jasper Smith. Neen was Eileen¡¯s lucky number. ¡°Invite him over when you¡¯re out of the hospital! I¡¯ll cook up a feast for the two of you.¡± ¡°I will! I¡¯ll see him for sure when I¡¯m out of the hospital.¡± They had been supposed to meet, only for things to be dyed by her injury. Eileen had never seen Jasper before. They had always been separated by a window, or talked on the phone. She was also looking forward to seeing him. Chapter 20 Chapter 20 Chapter 20 Is That What She Taught You All These Years? ¡°The car¡¯s ready, Sir. Are you really going to the Smiths?¡± ¡°Why can¡¯t I?¡± A young man in a zer sitting on a wheelchair asked. There were tattoos peeking through his sleeves, and he radiated an air of authority. ¡°But Madam said¡­¡± Jasper looked up, staring at the butler coldly. ¡°What I do is none of her business!¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Sir, I shouldn¡¯t have said that. Let me take you downstairs now.¡± Jasper was leaving the house for the first time in years. He had not seen the sun outside in a long time. He saw that the weather was lovely outside, just like Eileen had said. An hourter, Jasper had arrived at the massive Smith mansion. There were over ten servants waiting for him as the car slowly rolled up to the front door. Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. A servant walked up with a wheelchair, and another helped him onto it. ¡°Wee home, Mr. Smith Jasper did not react much to this. He had forgotten how long it had been since he hade back. ¡°Oh my, Jasper¡­¡± A hoarse voice rang from nearby, followed by the sight of an olddy hobbling over holding a cane. John Smith hurried up to her from behind. ¡°Slow down, Mom.¡± Jasper saw the old woman, and said, ¡°Grandma.¡± There were tears in Old Mrs. Smith¡¯s eyes. ¡°You finally came back to see me.¡± Jasper nodded, before spotting the middle-age man behind his grandmother. The two men locked eyes, and Jasper looked away coldly. ¡°Grandma, I¡¯m back to do something¡­¡± ¡°Yes, you can get to it after you eat.¡± Jasper was pushed into the dining room. The dining table wasden with all his favorite food. Old Mrs. Smith had heard he wasing, and kicked everyone else out of the house in fear that they would make him ufortable. Her eyes reddened, looking her grandson up and down. ¡°You¡¯re all thin now, Jasper. Eat more.¡± ¡°Thank you, Grandma.¡± John saw this, and said in an attempt to please his mother, ¡°How have you been these years? I heard didn¡¯t go to school? Your entrance exams areing up, would you like to sit for them? I can enroll you into a school if you would like that.¡± Jasper took a bite of fish. ¡°I¡¯ve been good these past few years. It¡¯s a littlete for you to be caring for me, isn¡¯t it, Dad?¡± John shifted ufortably in his seat, his gaze growing cold. ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about me, Dad. I¡¯m perfectly fine.¡± John still felt a little guilty about Jasper. ¡°Since you¡¯re back, you can just stay here from now on. We¡¯ve cleaned up your room.¡± Old Mrs. Smith said, ¡°Yes, yes. I¡¯ve kept your room this whole time, you should move back in.¡± you ¡°That¡¯s fine. I¡¯ve got no ce in this house, I don¡¯t want to get in anyone¡¯s way here.¡± Jasper¡¯s tone was icy. Old Mrs. Smith¡¯s expression darkened at once. ¡°Who said that? You¡¯re the only grandson we have, and you¡¯re going to take on the family business. Who else is going to live here, if not you?¡± Jasper did not know that no one had been allowed into the Smith household after John had married. Roxanne. Even Elm was no exception. ¡°Watch your tone, Jasper. Is that what she taught you all these years?¡± Jasper clenched his chopsticks, his veins popping. ¡°What she¡¯s taught me is none of your business, Dad!¡± ¡°I never wanted to disrupt any of you. I¡¯m sorry, Grandma.¡± Old Mrs. Smith sensed Jasper¡¯s mood, and put a wrinkled hand over his. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Jasper? Were you bullied by anyone? You can tell me¡­ I¡¯ll stand up for you!¡± ¡°That¡¯s alright.¡± Jasper put down the fork he was holding, wiping his mouth before looking at the man. behind me. ¡°Did you bring him here?¡± The butler said, ¡°He¡¯s outside the door.¡± Jasper waved a hand. Two bodyguards appeared at the door with a man in tow. He was wearing a ck T-shirt, and covered in injuries as he was thrown to the ground. John saw who it was, and widened his eyes. ¡°Elm?¡± Elm¡¯s face was covered with bruises. His hands were ben in weird directions as his wrists had been broken, lying on the ground semi-conscious as he glowered in front of him. Old Mrs. Smith looked disgusted at once. ¡°This good-for-nothing. Why did you bring him here, Jasper?¡± John seemed to panic. ¡°Jasper, that¡¯s your brother!¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure he knows why I did this, and who he messed with.¡± Jasper looked at John calmly. ¡°If you won¡¯t discipline him, I will. Make sure he remembers who he is, and doesn¡¯t step out of line just because he¡¯s entered the Smith family!¡± John¡¯s expression darkened, but he was unable to say anything with his mother around. ¡°Also, onest thing¡­¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have a brother. My mother only gave birth to one son.¡± Jasper was pushed away by the butler, and he nced at Elm on the floor onest time. ¡°Remember, there are some people you can mess with, and some you just shouldn¡¯t!¡± ¡°This is yourst warning!¡± Jasper got in the car. The butler turned around, and saw Jasper¡¯s face creased in pain. ¡°Is your leg hurting again, Sir? We¡¯d better make a trip to the hospital.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. Let¡¯s go back!¡± Jasper opened his eyes, holding back the pain. ¡°Is Eileen better now?¡± ¡°She¡¯ll be able to get out of bed in a few more days. The doctor said she¡¯s recovering pretty well.¡± ¡°Is that so? That¡¯s great.¡± ¡°Oh, right. Ms. Swan told the florist you hired to send her flowers that the flowers were beautiful, and she liked them a lot.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Jasper smiled faintly. He thought of something, and took out a ck velvet box from his pocket. He opened it to reveal a crystal ne in the shape of a moon. He had prepared it as a gift for her when they met. Jasper had designed it himself. He was looking forward to putting it on Eileen¡¯s neck. The butler stole another nce at Jasper. He had never been quite this happy ever since the ident. Chapter 21 Chapter 21 Chapter 21 Every Move Has Been Calcted Eileen was finally discharged after half a month in the hospital. She had not just sat around in the meantime either, doing a good number of mock exams in the hospital. Eric would find time to see her no matter how busy he was. He would look through her exam papers, pointing out any mistakes he spotted and exining them to her patiently. He had downloaded a few new games thepany had justunched on Eileen¡¯s phone, so she could. y them when she took a break. That rarely happened, as she spent most of her time on her studies. The midterms happening in a few months were her best shot at leaving the Swan family. She would finally be away from Eric and Will¡¯s fighting¡­ Eric helped Eileen fill out her discharge paperwork. Her chest still hurt a little, but it was much better than before. The scars on her body had fallen off as well, and only itched a little now. Eric was willing to spend so much time on Eileen this time around just to make a point to Will. Everyone said that Eric was just like a dog Will kept around. Only Eileen knew that he was more like a wolf, hungrily eyeing everything in the dark. A beast, ready to pounce and attack. Every move he made had been calcted. He would never make a sacrifice for nothing. Eileen walked behind Eric, heading to his car. She saw Vera in the backseat, her nervousness palpable even through the car window. Eric stood in front of the passenger seat door, ncing at Eileen. ¡°I thought Vera and I would celebrate. your discharge with you. Let¡¯s have a meal together.¡± Eileen said nothing, pursing her lips. She got into the passenger seat, spotting the sticker above her.¡± Her face began to burn a little. Look what she had done! Eileen Swan¡¯s Assigned Seat. She had once thought that doing this would show everyone just how much ownership she had over Eric, but looking back now everyone probably saw her as a joke. Wasn¡¯t that so? To Eric, she would always be a bumbling idiot willing to run circles around him and nothing more. Amidst her thoughts, Eric leaned over all of a sudden. Eileen caught a whiff of jasmine mixed with tobo. She knew that Vera liked to use jasmine perfume. Eileen panicked as Eric came closer, leaning away. Eric did not seem to notice her avoidance, reaching out and putting on her safety belt. The car began to move. No one spoke, filling the air with a strange tension. Eric nced in the rearview mirror from time to time. ¡°Are you not feeling well?¡± Eileen knew that those words of concern were not for him. She did not answer either. Eileen looked out of the window. Vera said softly, ¡°No, I¡¯m alright. Just as little carsick from the long ride.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll drive a little slower. Let me know if you¡¯re unwell.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Eric proceeded to chat with Eileen to distract her, bringing up some things about school and her studies. The conversation was a snoozefest, and it was not long before Eileen nodded off to sleep. She did not know how long she was asleep for, but woke up to the sound of someone calling her name. ¡°Eileen.¡± Eileen opened her eyes blearily to the sight of Eric¡¯s sharp gaze. She nked for a few seconds, before returning to her senses and ducking out of the way. ¡°W-what¡¯s the matter, Eric?¡± ¡°We¡¯re home.¡± Eric looked at her coldly. ¡°Oh¡­ okay.¡± Eric left the car after that. Eileen undid her safety belt, ncing at the sticker above her before tearing it off. She took away everything else she had put in the car, Eric saw her holding a bunch of stuff in her hands, but neither of them said anything. After all, saying some things would only put more distance between the two of them. Eileen walked into the house, and Sharon greeted her at once. ¡°We¡¯ve got some guests over today.¡± Eileen frowned. ¡°Guests? Who?¡± ¡°Your ss teacher.¡± Elsie? Eileen¡¯s chest lurched. What was Elsie doing here? Was she here to get closer to Will? Had her n with Will been brought forward? Eileen¡¯s hands began to tremble, and her gaze shed. ¡°Where is Ms. Elsie?¡± ¡°She¡¯s talking to Mr. Swan in his study, apparently about what happened to you in school.¡± N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. This had not happened in Eileen¡¯sst life, but she had changed the course of her life after being reborn this time. Eric walked past her, sitting on the couch next to Vera to watch television. Just then, a voice rang from upstairs. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mr. Swan. I promise whatever happened to Eileen will never happen again. It¡¯s my misstep as a teacher that this even happened, and for that I¡¯m deeply sorry.¡± ¡°That¡¯s alright, it¡¯s just a little tussle between students. Why don¡¯t you stay and eat with us, Ms. Elsie? I¡¯ll have the driver send you home after that.¡± Elsie smiled, tucking a lock of hair behind her car. ¡°Would I be in your way?¡± ¡°Not at all. Sharon, put down an extra te.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Swan.¡± Eileen was frozen to the spot, watching as the pair came downstairs. Will had his arm around Elsie¡¯s waist. Elsie was wearing a ke bodycon skirt today, with a pinkcy top. It hugged her curves as she walked, and she smiled at Will warmly. Every gaze the pair shared seemed awfully intimate. Elsie looked over. ¡°Eileen? Are you all better?¡± She got closer, and Eileen got a closer look of her. Elsie¡¯s skirt was wrinkled, and the top button of her blouse was undone to reveal a few telling marks that proved all of Eileen¡¯s worst nightmares to be true. Eileen felt an overwhelming sense of nausea all at once. She clutched her stomach, running away. Everyone thought that Eileen was probably just sick, and did not think much of it. Eileen ran into the nearest bathroom, spitting into the sink as her stomach clenched. She turned on the tap, staring at her bloodshot eyes. Just how long more could she take being in this house? There was a knock on the bathroom door. ¡°Eileen, are you feeling sick again? Do you need me to get the doctor to take a look at you?¡± Eileen wiped at her tears. She walked out quickly, pulling Sharon into a hug in an attempt to feel some Sharon patted her back gently. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Eileen said nothing. ¡± Chapter 22 Chapter 22 Chapter 22 Eileen Doesn¡¯t Know Who Jasper Is Yet Eileen calmed herself down, and sat down at the dining table. Will asked, surprisingly concerned. ¡°Ms. Elsie says you¡¯ve been doing pretty well in schooltely. What would you like as a reward?¡± He had always been nothing but strict to her, and hardly ever talked at the dining table. Elsie had obviously put him in a pretty good mood. Eileen took the chance to say, ¡°T¡¯d like to take a trip to Seatown with my friends after my finals. Can I do that, Dad?¡± ¡°Sure you can. Have a driver go with you, it¡¯s not safe for you to be on your own out there.¡± Eileen did not seem too happy at this, merely smiling. ¡°Thanks, Dad.¡± Just then, Elsie said, ¡°Are you going to Seatown for the beach? The view there is stunning, you should go after your finals and take a break.¡± Eileen said half-heartedly, ¡°Yeah, I haven¡¯t been out in ages.¡± A servant poured juice into Elsie¡¯s cup, ¡°Have you decided what school you¡¯d like to go to? I¡¯m sure you can get into Artemis if you work hard now, with the results you¡¯ve been getting.¡± Artemis University was a pretty decent school, and Sharon would be able to get in with her decent art subject results. Eric knew what Eileen¡¯s results were like, and had seen the papers she was doing in the hospital as well. She could even get into Hulbury University if she wanted to. Hulbury University was the best university in the country. Eileen chewed for a while, before saying, ¡°I haven¡¯t decided yet. We¡¯ll see!¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine too. I can make you a study n once you¡¯ve made your decision.¡± Elsie appeared to be nothing but concerned for Eileen, which Eileen had fallen for in her past life. She was not going to stay in Hulbury, that was for sure. She was fine with going to any regr university abroad. Eileen was a little distracted all throughout eating. Eric tried to find a way to talk to her several times, only for her to answer half-heartedly with short answers. Will seemedpletely entranced by Elsie, and Eric was focused on Vera¡­. Halfway through her meal, Eileen left the table. It didn¡¯t matter if Elsie was going to marry into the Swan household. None of that would be Eileen¡¯s business anymore. She walked to the balcony, gazing at the tightly-shut windows across her. She looked at the time. It was almost noon. Was he still asleep? Just as Eileen was wondering what he was up to, she spotted a ck car stopped in front of the house. next to hers. She looked over curiously as the car stopped, and a driver emerged. He opened the door, and helped a young man in a ck shirt onto a wheelchair. Was that Jasper Smith? Eileen could only see Jasper¡¯s back from here. The bodyguards that followed behind him look a little like gang members. What did this man¡¯s family do? Eileen did not ask, and had a vague idea from hearing his argument with that woman in the past. Jasper had lost the ability to walk because of his family, and Eileen never brought his family up because of that. Before she could get a good look at him, Jasper had entered the house. A whileter, Eric knocked on the door. Will wanted to have a talk with her. The two of them entered Will¡¯s study, and Eric closed the door. The tension in the room grew. Will was currently praying at his altar. ¡°Did you make a new friendtely?¡± The sudden question made Eileen nervous, and her pulse began to race. ¡°Y¡­ Yes! Dad, did I do something wrong?¡± Will sat down at the study table slowly, Eric next to him. ¡°Eileen, does talking to me make you nervous?¡± Eileen looked down, pondering on what she should say. ¡°No¡­ you¡¯re just really strict, and I¡¯m afraid of geuing into trouble with you.¡± These were words that Will had never heard before. He looked his daughter up and down, feeling like some things had changed. She had toned down a lot from her previous brashness. ¡°When did you befriend the Smiths?¡± 2/4 Eileen only had one friend with the surname Smith. It couldn¡¯t be anyone else. There was no way Will could stand and watch Eileen get hurt. The question seemed to exin one thing¡­ Could¡­ Jasper be a part of this? That was the only logical exnation Eileen had. Will would never talk to her alone like this otherwise. She knew that she could not hide from Will either, and he would find out eventually. Eileen said truthfully, ¡°I just got to know him a few days ago. He lives next door.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± The Smiths lived here too? Eileen continued to say, ¡°His name is Jasper Smith. He¡¯s actually a pretty nice Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. guy, Dad.¡± Will got to his feet, patting Eileen on the shoulder. ¡°I¡¯m just worried for you. After all, there are all these people who have it out for our family. I just don¡¯t want you to go down the wrong path.¡± ¡°I know, Dad. I¡¯ll be wary.¡± ¡°Invite that friend of yours over to eat with us if you have the time.¡± Will seemed to be hinting at something. Eileen nodded anyways, saying, ¡°Got it, Dad.¡± ¡°You can go back to your room now.¡± ¡°Okay, Dad.¡± Eileen left the study, closing the door behind her. ¡°How do you feel about that?¡± Eric said, ¡°I don¡¯t think Eileen knows who Jasper Smith really is yet.¡± ¡°His family¡¯s done a good job at keeping his identity a secret. I heard, however, that Jasper broke both his legs in an ident a few years ago. It¡¯s highly possible that Elm might rece Jasper as the person to take on the Smith family.¡± Will nodded. ¡°That¡¯s a pretty good take. Many women are in charge these days, anyway. It¡¯s a pity women can¡¯t really hold their ground in the industry ¡°He might be from the Smiths, but he¡¯s still disabled. A useless pawn, destined to be thrown to the side.¡± Will asked, ¡°I heard the Friedmans are raising a new person to take on the business?¡± Eric nodded. ¡°Yep. This person¡¯s apparently Jasper¡¯s sister for a different father. The guy probably married richer than him, but this daughter of his is too yful to do anything.¡± Chapter 23 Chapter 23 Chapter 23 I Can Make It For You Anytime You Want C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. Vera waited until Eric emerged from the study, walking up to him. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Why do you look so upset? Did he¡­ give you a hard time?¡± Eric? Eric had a zer draped over one arm, brightening up at the sight of Vera. ¡°I¡¯m alright. Let¡¯s go back.¡± On the way home, Eric¡¯s grip on the steering wheel tightened as he thought about the conversation in the study just now. ¡°This is an invite to the charity g happening in a week. I¡¯ll send some people over to help you out. You know what to do!¡± Eric took the invite from Will. ¡°Do you want towork with the Friedman family?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m thinking of an arranged marriage. You¡¯re not getting any younger; it¡¯s time you start a family of your own. From the looks of things, the Friedmans seem like a pretty good pick.¡± ¡°Yes. I won¡¯t let you down, Dad.¡± Eric stopped the car abruptly for some reason, and Vera looked at him. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Eric?¡± The next second, Eric reached out and pulled the girl into an embrace, deeply inhaling the scent of jasmine on her. Vera was frozen to the spot, not knowing what to do. She had been with Eric for so many years, but there seemed to always be a barrier between them that neither of them was unwilling to cross. Something was definitely off about Eric in the way he reached out to hug her on his own. The tension in the car took a shift, and Vera slowly rxed her body. She raised her head, propping her chin on his shoulder and stroking his back softly with her hands. ¡°Eric¡­ what¡­. what¡¯s gotten into you? Did anything upset you?¡± Eric eventually let go of her. ¡°Vera, I¡¯ve got some things I need to sort out. I¡¯ll need you to live at your school dorm for a while.¡± Vera was shocked. She had not expected that Eric would have asked for something like this, and could not help the sinking feeling in her chest. ¡°Was I a burden to you?¡± Eric smoothed out her tousled hair. ¡°Of course not. You¡¯re wonderful. Give me a little more time, alright? I promise I¡¯ll tell you everything you want to know after you¡¯ve graduated.¡± ||| 14 Vera looked into his earnest gaze, and felt her heart rate kick up on its own as she lowered her head and blushed. ¡°Eric¡­ alright then. I¡¯ll listen to you.¡± Eric smiled. ¡°I¡¯ll pick you up from school on Friday.¡± Vera nodded. ¡°Alright.¡± Eric returned to the office at once after sending Vera home, and Gavin reported to him what the n was. Gavin Walsh was Eric¡¯s personal assistant. He took out several documents for Eric to sign. d in a ck vest and gold-rimmed sses and radiating an air of authority, Eric looked through the reports and the uing proposals. It was already dark outside when the phone on his desk began to vibrate. Eric did not look away, focusing on his papers as he reached out to ept the call. ¡°Eric Snow. Who is this?¡± ¡°Darling, I miss you so much!¡± A female voice rang from the phone, sultry and low. Eric frowned. He put down the documents in his hand, leaning back in his chair and frowning in annoyance. He seemed to hear the sound of sshing water from the call. ¡°You¡¯ve got three minutes, and you¡¯d better make them worth my time.¡± ¡°When did you turn into such a coward, Eric? What, are you scared that our little secret might get exposed? Why don¡¯t you guess what I¡¯m doing? I¡¯ll go and keep youpany if you get it right, you can do whatever you want to me¡­how about one round each in all your favorite positions?¡± ¡°Elsie, I don¡¯t have the time to be wasting it on you. You can just turn me down outright, there¡¯s no point testing me like this. I told you, you can get out of this anytime you want.¡± Eric hung up the phone, when a message popped up on his screen. The notification showed that it was a text from Jasper Smith. The Mont nc cake you made was really good. Thank you, Eileen. I really enjoyed it. Eileen replied soon enough. I can make it for you anytime you want, just hit me up Sure. r 2/4 Eric looked at the message on the screen, his gaze a little dark. For some reason, watching Eileen reply to another man¡¯s text¡­ Eric felt like someone had taken away something that belonged to him, and it made his chest thump in difort. These messages hade from spying on Eileen¡¯s phone. He had downloaded the surveince app when he was at the hospital before. After that, Eileen spent the next half an hour talking to Jasper, mostly about their interests. and hobbies when they were kids. It was boring and dull, but Eric still read all of it. He realized that Eileen had indeed changed quite a bit from before. Eric read all the way until they finished talking, feeling a little frustrated out of nowhere. He nced at the time: a quarter to nine. He had spent over an hour on Eileen¡­ Over at the Swan household. Will was out for business, and it was unclear when he would be back. Eileen was sure he wouldn¡¯t be, not for the night. Her father had countless women outside, it hardly mattered where he spent the night. Having sent the final message, Eileen went upstairs to take a shower. Sharon had been the one really making the Mont nc cake. Eileen herself had just helped. knead the dough and weigh out ingredients, but it wasn¡¯t that she didn¡¯t know how to make the dessert Sharon had simply not allowed her to do too much in fear of making her. wounds worse. In the past life, Eileen had learnt how to cook all kinds of things in an attempt to please Eric. She was a pretty decent chef. After all, the way to a man¡¯s heart was through his stomach. Eric had fallen for this, and had even be a picky eater as a result. He could hardly even eat outside anymore. Eileen had learned to cook because Eric had stomach problems. He used toe home wasted almost every single day since taking on the Swan familypany. ||| §Ô 34 Every time he was drunk, he would use it as an opportunity to take it out on her. He would only stop after she had fallen unconscious. During the worst asion, Eric had even been hospitalized. Eileen had been the one who admitted him. The doctor said that he was bleeding internally. Ever since then, Eileen would cook every single day. She never missed a meal, even if Eric did not like her showing up at the office. Eileen would stand outside thepany, waiting for his assistant to bring the food to him. Eileen once thought that Eric would never get sick of her food. But he had still gotten sick in the end! Their third anniversary came up eventually. Eileen cooked up a feast, waiting for him toe home. She spent four to five hours waiting for him, and it was in the wee hours of the morning. when he was finally back. It was snowing that day, but his words had been colder than the weather. ¡°Eileen, it doesn¡¯t matter even if you use different ingredients every single meal. It¡¯ll all eventually taste the same, it¡¯s impossible for someone to not get sick of it.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t waste your time anymore. You¡¯re better off focusing your time and energy on doing. yourself up and looking pretty, right now you look as disgusting as this food does.¡± Chapter 24 Chapter 24 Chapter 24 What Had Gone Wrong? The moon shone gently into the window as Eileen walked downstairs in her pajamas. She rarely got out of bed in the middle of the night, but wanted a drink of water and saw that her sk was empty. Eileen bumbled down the stairs blearily, and got a fright at the ck figure on the couch. ¡°Ahh!¡± She woke up at once. The person on the couch got to his feet, turning the light on.. The brightness made Eileen squint, making out who it was. ¡°Eric? What are you doing here? Why didn¡¯t you go home?¡± The living room smelt faintly of alcohol. It wasing from Eric. Was he back from a night ofworking again? Also¡­ what was he doing here, instead of going home to Vera? Eileen and Eric had been married for eight years, but she had no idea this time what he was up to. Eric stumbled over to her, getting closer. Eileen was right in front of a wall, and there was nowhere she could run. Eric walked right up to her. He nced at the girl in front of him, and her flushed chest. It was a brief nce, but Eileen still caught the glint in his eyes. The way his breathing was rushed. This was the kind of gaze that had the power to break Eileen. She knew that Eric was not the kind of person to sleep around. At least, not before what happened to Vera. Eric had lost himself in alcohol and sex after Vera¡¯s death, and had had a good deal of women, Eileen knew that with Will around now, Eric would never dare to do much to her. ||| < 1/5 N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. Her pupils trembled, and she tried to fake being oblivious so she could run. Yet Eric stuck out an arm and held himself up against the wall, blocking her offpletely. Eileen¡¯s chest lurched, her pulse racing. ¡°Eric¡­ Eric¡­ is there anything you need?¡± Her pulse was increasing by the second. His gaze seemed to bore into her, piercing through her no matter how hard she tried to avoid it. His presence was overwhelming. He also recked of alcohol, making Eileen squirm ufortably. Eric pushed a lock of Eileen¡¯s hair behind her car. ¡°Eileen, have I done anything wrong recently to upset you?¡± ¡°N-no¡­¡± Eileen¡¯s arms were pressed to the wall, her hands balled into fists as she kept her head bowed. ¡°Is that so? But¡­ why does it feel like you¡¯re avoiding me, ¡°Is it because of Vera?¡± mmm?¡± Eric leaned forwards. All he had to do was look down, and he would be able to see all of Eileen under her thin pajamas. He had seen it too, her waist that night. And everything else as well¡­ To tell the truth, she was gorgeous and breathtaking. God knows how many men she would. conquer as she grew older. Eileen said softly, I¡¯ve known from the start that it was Vera you liked¡­ I didn¡¯t know any better before, but I do now. That¡¯s why I think it¡¯s better we keep a distance from each other, so Vera doesn¡¯t think anything¡¯s going on between us.¡± ¡°Look up at me.¡± Eric said in a firm tone. Eileen was still terrified of him, two lifetimester. She raised her head, her gaze pitiful and sad. The way she looked only made Eric want to y with her even more! 25 He looked back at her, staring into her soul. For some reason, his gaze felt gentle to her. That was how Eric was supposed to look at Vera He only looked cold, disgusted and angry at Eileen¡­ He had never been like this before¡­ What had gone wrong? She had done nothing. ¡°Vera would be really happy to know you¡¯ve been thinking so generously for her. What about you, then? Do you have a crush on Jasper Smithi ¡°Huh?¡± Eileen was confused and shocked. What did Jasper have to do with any of this? Also, was Eric on something today? Why was he acting so strangely? Eric looked at her wordlessly, waiting for a reaction from her. He let go all of a sudden, backing up as his gaze went back to cold and cutting again. As if everything just now had been in Eileen¡¯s head. ¡°Nothing!¡± Eileen heaved a sigh of relief. She was about to escape atst, but at the veryst second- Her wrist was grabbed by a scorching hand. ¡°Eric¡­ what¡¯s the matter? What else do you want?¡± ¡°I¡¯m hungry. Make me some pasta.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± She hadn¡¯t learnt how to cook yet. Besides, Eric knew that she was terrible at it. She might blow up the kitchen just frying ant egg Before she could turn him down, Eric had turned away and returned to the couch to rest. From the way he reeked of alcohol, it seemed like he had been drinking quite a bit indeed. Eileen headed to the kitchen with no other choice. She opened the fridge, taking out ||| < 3/5 vegetables and two eggs. Eric liked drinking on an empty stomach, and not having breakfast the next morning. That was how he messed up his stomach. He was, after all, her brother now. She just hoped that he would be able to go easy on her when he took revenge on the Swans, on the ount that she had made him noodles before. Eric looked at her busying herself in the kitchen. For some reason, it felt like his wife was cooking for him. This was definitely his first time watching Eileen cook, but he felt like he had seen it. countless times before. Eileen made him a simple bowl of noodles. Sharon had made the dough earlier today, and there was some left over. Eileen was not trying to do anything extra, she just wanted him to stop looking at her. She boiled the noodles, putting in the vegetables a few minutes after and frying an egg- Aside from seasoning, Eileen added a little chili oil as well¡­ That would make it taste better. Eileen yanked her apron higher, bringing the noodles to Eric. She was not wearing a bra, and it definitely showed. She was embarrassed, but there was not much she could do. ¡°Here you go, Eric.¡± Eileen put the noodles on the table, looking at the man on the couch with his eyes closed. Was he asleep? Eileen walked over to him. ¡°Eric, wake up¡­¡± He did not react. Eileen reached out to shake him, when Eric¡¯s foot moved. Eileen tripped, losing her bnce and keeling over onto him. She fell onto himpletely, hearing him grunt in mild pain. sevirdi Ard her lips, and Eileen opened her eyes to the sight of Eric¡¯s passionate gaze Chapter 25 Chapter 25 Chapter 25 Mr. Eric Caught A Cold In a state of panic, Eileen rushed back to the room, feeling utterly bewildered. She mmed the door shut and locked it securely, pressing her whole body against it. Her trembling hands kept wiping her lips, as though she had touched something unclean. Although Eileen had initiated her first kiss with Eric while intoxicated, sheter kissed him in secret. Eric forcefully pushed her away, leaving an unforgettable expression of extreme disgust on his face. However, Eileen had changed. She wanted nothing to do with him anymore-feeling nauseated and as if countless flies had settled on her. She kept rubbing her lips until they turned red, swollen, and numb, not feeling any pain. She could not exin why she had be so infatuated with Eric, as it was entirely improbable under normal circumstances. Yet, since Eric was also drunk, she could not herself to doubt him. bring. Eileen tried to console herself, considering it just an ident that shouldn¡¯t be taken to heart. However, lying in bed, she tossed and turned, unable to sleep, as Eric¡¯s facepletely upied her thoughts. Downstairs in the living room, Eric sat quietly, his pupils seemingly blending into one. another, giving off an intoxicating vibe. He finished the in noodles in his bowl in a peculiar manner, savoring a taste he had never experienced before. Did she pretend not to be able to cook, given her excellent cooking skills? However, Eric remembered that Eileen had taken special cooking sses, so it seemed possible that she could cook noodles well. Eric tripped her on purpose earlier to observe her reaction, and he noticed an obvious. change in the way she looked at him. C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. Now, whenever he gets within three steps of Eileen, she visibly resisted him, which left him. with an odd feeling. He realized that her distance from him has nothing to do with Vera but stemmed from genuine dislike and fear. What did you find out, Eileen? Eric, who was used to being in control, found Eileen¡¯s behavior challenging to grasp. He sensed that she was hiding something from him, making it hard for him to read her actions. ||I < 1/4 Regarding the Swan family, Eric was determined to eliminate Will if he could not use Eileen as his pawn. After eating the noodles, Eric feels less drunk and his stomach difort subsided. He lit a cigarette, something he rarely did, except for entertainment purposes. As time passed, Eileen¡¯s mind remained clear. Suddenly, there¡¯s a knock on the door. Startled, Eileen hid under the quilt and remained silent. She knew that it was Eric because it was 2 a.m. Sharon went home and Will was not present, leaving her alone in the house. She decided to pretend she did not hear anything and remained quiet. ¡°Eileen, are you asleep?¡± Eileen remained silent. In addition to the sound of knocking on the door, Eileen¡¯s heart was pounding with the resolve never to fall into Eric¡¯s charming trap again. After some time, the knocking stopped, and Eric eventually left. It took Eileen a while before she feltfortable enough to move. The next day, Eileen woke up quitete as she had fallen asleep around three or four in the morning. In the morning, she changed into a nightgown and yawned as she made her way downstairs. ¡°Sharon, what¡¯s for breakfast?¡± Sharon was busy in the kitchen and replied, ¡°Mr. Eric caught a cold, so I prepared some porridge for him. I¡¯ll serve it to him first, and there¡¯s some left in the pot for you to help yourself.¡± Eileen was taken aback, ¡°How could he get sick when he seemed perfectly fine yesterday?¡± ¡°It¡¯s partly my fault. I thought Mr. Eric had left, so I put away his nket to prevent it from getting dirty. As Sharon was about to serve the porridge, she suddenly remembered. something. ¡°Oh, I almost forgot. We¡¯ve run out of medicine. I need to buy some.¡± ¡°Eileen, do you have time? Can you please bring it to Mr. Eric for me?¡± ¡°No problem, Sharon. I¡¯ll take care of it. You can buy the medicine, Eileen replied, feeling at little guilty. ||| 2/4 r Eric¡¯s illness seemed to be connected to her somehow. Eileen carried the porridge upstairs, but she did not eat any herself. When she reached Eric¡¯s room on the upper floor, she knocked on his door. ¡°Eric, are you awake?¡± A coughing sound came from inside the room. ¡°Cough, cough, cough¡­e in, the door is unlocked.¡± Eileen entered the room, but to her surprise, she found Gavin there with Eric. Eric closed a document and said, ¡°Today¡¯s meeting will be postponed untilter¡­. I¡¯ll follow up on this project.¡± ¡°That¡¯s all for now. You can go back to thepany and call me if you need anything.¡± ¡°Okay, Mr. Snow,¡± Gavin acknowledged, picking up his briefcase and nodding at Eileen as a form of greeting. ¡°Eileen? Where¡¯s Sharon?¡± ¡°She went out to buy medicine for you.¡± After Gavin left, Eileen ced the porridge on the bedside table and said, ¡°Eric, you¡¯re sick. so you should take it easy and eat something first!¡± ¡°Leave it here,¡± Eric said, his gaze fixed on theputer screen, fully immersed in his work. When a man was focused on his tasks, there was an allure to his intensity. Eileen knew him well enough to understand that once he was focused on work, he would lose track of time. By the time he remembers the porridge, it would have gone cold. In the past, she might have taken theputer away and insisted he ate, but not this time. She has decided not to care anymore. ¡°Eric, remember to eat. I¡¯ll revise my subjects then.¡± ¡°Okay, you can ask me if you have any questions. Eileen nodded and left the room, closing the door gently so as not to disturb him. Instead of revising. Eileen went downstairs to watch TV. ncing at the clock, it was already past noon. 34 It Will did not return by midnight, it meant he had other matters to attend to and would not being back today. Without him around, Eileen felt more at ease. Her injuries had scabbed over, but the internal ones still hurt whenever she moved too much. After falling on Eric yesterday, she initially felt better, but now the pain seemed to have intensified. Eileen took a couple of painkillers, and that eased her difort. At that moment, her phone chimed with a familiar text message notification-Jasper. Jasper texted, ¡°Does it still hurt? What are you up to?¡± Eileen slipped on her slippers and, replied as she was pouring water, ¡°It¡¯s almost healed, I¡¯m watching a TV show. And you? Have you taken your medicine on time? The weather is nice. today. Try going out for a walk if you can.¡± Jasper replied, ¡°Will youe with me?¡± Eileen agreed, ¡°Sure! Right now?¡± Jasper continued, ¡°Not today, I¡¯m not at home. I have a surprise for you the next time we meet.¡± Eileen was slightly delighted, ¡°Alright, then I¡¯ll look forward to it¡­¡± Jasper did not respond further, and Eileen put away her phone. In the second-floor room, Eric sat on the bed, staring at the TV with a clouded expression, emitting an aura of coldness that filled the entire room. Chapter 26 Chapter 26 Chapter 26 You¡¯ll Be A Qualified Wife ¡°Thud!¡± All of a sudden, a loud noise echoed from upstairs, causing Eileen to nce upward in concern. Reacting quickly, she slipped on her slippers and hurriedly ascended the stairs, fearing that something might have happened to Eric. Apprehensively, Eileen pushed open the door to the room where the noise came from, and anxiously asked, ¡°Eric, are you alright?¡± Inside, she found Eric lying on the bed, seemingly trying to pick up the shattered pieces of a bowl on the floor. ¡°Eric, let me handle this. Just lie down and rest,¡± Eileen said gently, rearranging the pillows. behind him. She fetched a broom from outside and cleaned up the mess on the floor, though some stains remained. Squatting down, Eileen used a few tissues to wipe away the remaining stains. Eric watched her from behind, squinting his eyes, feeling amazed. He never would have believed it if he had not seen it himself ¨C Eileen knew how to do the work of a servant, something she had never done before. Eric could not understand what caused this change in Eileen. He wondered if something had happened to her. However, he knew that the reason for Eileen¡¯s transformation was because of him. After graduating from university, she married Eric. During their eight years of marriage, hispany flourished and established a strong presence in Hulbury. While everyone else. feared him, Eileen remained confined to their home, waiting for his return. As a housewife, she had servants to assist her, but it left her feeling unfulfilled and restless. In Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. her spare time, she would often find herself lost in thought, yearning for something more. meaningful. So, she began to learn new things, such as cleaning the rooms, tending to the flowers, and even trying to fit into her own social circle. She invited her neighbor¡¯s wife over for tea, visited the beauty salon, and even went to the gym. However, Eric did not take kindly to her newfound activities and asked her to stay home, fearing that she might embarrass him. Eileen understood that it was not that Eric disliked her going out, but rather, he was possessive of what he considered his own. As there was one time she went to the gym, a few good-looking men wanted to walk her home. How could Eric know even though she had met ||| r 1/4 so many men, no one could match him¡­ Feeling like a caged bird, Eileen imprisoned herself within the confines of a defeated family, much like a neglected concubine in a pce. Her life was filled with waiting for Eric¡¯s asional attention, and the word that best described her previous existence was ¡°sad¡± Perhaps Eric¡¯s assurance that she would not leave him was the reason for her reckless behavior. He never cherished her love as he should have. In another world, Eric already knew she was dead. He must have been living happily with Sarah now! Eileen cleaned the mess up, brought him another bowl of porridge, and sat by the bed. ¡°Eric, this porridge isn¡¯t this hot, be careful not to drop it again.¡± ¡°Thanks, Eileen!¡± Eric¡¯s voice was hoarse, and he coughed a few more times Eileen handed the porridge to him and felt that Eric¡¯s palm was incredibly hot. Seeing that he was this weak, she was afraid that he would not be able to hold onto the bowl and Sharon might need to clean the mess up. So, Eileen decided to feed him. ¡°Eric¡­ If you don¡¯t mind, let me feed you!¡± Eileen offered gently. ¡°Why would I mind? My sister is sensible and knows that she loves her Eric,¡± Eric replied, affectionately ruffling her hair. Eileen smiled softly and said, ¡°Eric, if you¡¯re sick, I should take care of you.¡± With that, she brought a spoonful of porridge to his mouth, and Eric obediently opened his mouth. Taking care of Eric had be a familiar routine for Eileen, and she tried not to let her emotions get in the way as long as he did not watch her too closely. She only intended to finish feeding him and leave, but to her surprise, it took much longer. than expected. Eric was eating slowly, apanied by asional coughs, leaving Eileen with no choice but to be patient. Just when Eileen was feeling slightly anxious, Sharon returned, providing her a sense of relief. ¡°Mr. Eric, let¡¯s take your temperature first!¡± Sharon said worriedly, taking the thermometer and measuring Eric¡¯s fever, which showed 102 F Sensing Eric¡¯s difort, Sharon suggested, ¡°You have a high fever, maybe we should take you to the hospital, Mr. Eric.¡± III 24 Eric declined, ¡°It¡¯s troublesome to go to the hospital, I¡¯ll just take medicine.¡± Sharon, concerned for her employer¡¯s well-being, warned, ¡°Mr. Eric, make sure to tell Eileen if you can¡¯t bear it. If Mr. Swan finds out, he might be upset.¡± Seeing the concern in Sharon¡¯s eyes for Eric, Eileen intervened, reassuring her, ¡°Sharon, don¡¯t worry; you won¡¯t get into trouble. Carry on with your duties; I¡¯ll take care of him.¡± Sharon added, ¡°Alright then, please feed Mr. Eric his medicine after half an hour and make sure he stays hydrated.¡± Eileen nodded, ¡°Okay.¡± Once Sharon left, Eileen continued to look after Eric, putting hisptop aside and ensuring he rested comfortably. ¡°What are you doing, Eileen?¡± Eric inquired. ¡°Eric, you¡¯re sick, so you need to take a break from work for now. Lie down and rest,¡± Eileen insisted, guiding him to lie down and take a rest. Protecting the back of his head with her hands and adjusting the pillow, Eileen performed these movements with such ease and grace, as if she had done them countless times before. She adjusted his position, offering advice, ¡°Sleep on just one pillow; using two at night can cause neck stiffness and isn¡¯t good for your spine.¡± Ericplimented her, saying, ¡°Eileen, you¡¯ll be a qualified wife when you get married. I¡¯m starting to envy your future husband.¡± Eileen found irony in his words, almost wanting tough. If she had not been rebirthed, she would have believed those words. Eileen spoke softly, ¡°Eric, when you¡¯re with Vera, she¡¯ll take care of you just as I do, and perhaps even better.¡± ¡°My sister is always the best.¡± Eric gazed at her with a pensive expression. ¡°Knowing that you think that way makes me very happy¡­¡± She felt inadequatepared to Eric in many aspects. After half an hour, Eileen gave Eric his medicine, made sure he drank enough water, and gently touched his forehead, which was sweaty. Eric soon drifted off to sleep. Feeling somewhat restless, Eileen decided to retrieve a set of test papers from the adjacent room and returned to Eric¡¯s room to work on them. ||| < 3/4 Meanwhile, Eric fell into a deep sleep and had a long dream. In his dream, Eileen married him, but she treated him indifferently because he cheated. He acted callously, disregarded her feelings, and hurt her. Eventually, he divorced her, cruelly casting her out of the house because she could not get pregnant. Later, when he realized his mistake and wanted to reconcile, he discovered that Eileen had already passed away¡­ Chapter 27 Chapter 27 Chapter 27 Vera Was Preparing Supper For Eric Eric woke up and found himself drenched in sweat, his heart still heavy with the pain of losing Eileen. The emotions from his dream felt overwhelming-sadness, depression, and heartbreak engulfed him, leaving him breathless. He could not believe that a mere dream could evoke such intense feelings, especially with the unexpected twist of Eileen¡¯s death and his own heartbroken demise alongside hers. It all seemed too absurd to be real. ¡°Eric, you¡¯re awake!¡± Vera¡¯s gentle voice brought him back to reality. ncing at the clock on the wall, Eric realized it was already afternoon and it was getting dark outside. How long did he sleep? Noticing the redness in Vera¡¯s eyes, as if she had been crying. ¡°Vera, aren¡¯t you at school?¡± Vera replied with a sad tine, ¡°Eric, did you forget? You said you were gonna pick me up after school every Friday. I¡¯ve waited for you for quite some time and you didn¡¯t show up. So. I called Gavin and he said you were sick and I rushed here.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I forgot!¡± Eric apologized, his mind still in disarray from the vivid dream he had just experienced. ¡°Eric, are you feeling any better? Do you want some water?¡± Vera asked with concern. ¡°No,¡± Eric replied quietly. ¡°Okay,¡± Vera replied softly, noticing Eric¡¯s difort. She held his hand tightly and remained quietly by his side. Just then, a knock came at the door. Eric opened his eyes and directed his gaze towards the door, granting permission to enter. ¡°Mr. Eric, it¡¯s time to eat. Are you feeling better?¡± Sharon entered the room. Eric¡¯s heart sank for some reason. ¡°I¡¯m feeling better. Where is Eileen?¡± he inquired. Sharon responded, ¡°Eileen is eating downstairs! Would you like me to call her for you, Mr. Eric?¡± Eileen? Why did I mention Eileen? Was I still fixated on her? Feeling weary, Eric covered his eyes with his hands and said, ¡°It¡¯s alright, Vera, you can go and have your meal too.¡± 1/4 r ¡°I¡¯ll keep youpany after dinner,¡± Vera assured him. ¡°Sure,¡± Eric acknowledged. After dinner, Vera nned to stay home for the weekend to take care of Eric. If need be, she would take him to the hospital. So I had not seen much of Eric, happy with that! Happy and rxed, Eileen sat on the sofa, watching variety shows. By eight o¡¯clock in the evening, Will returned home. As Vera expected, Will was told about Eric¡¯s sickness and immediately went to check on him. Sharon had almost been fired, and the room was in a mess with the bed sheets scattered everywhere. Eric had spent the night sleeping on an uncovered bed. Vera felt small and insignificant in this family, so she kept silent, not daring to speak up. Meanwhile, Eileen pleaded with Sharon, who was kneeling on the ground, ¡°Dad, Eric falling. sick has nothing to do with Sharon: It¡¯s all my fault. Please don¡¯t me her anymore.¡± In Will¡¯s eyes, no one in the family couldpare to Eric. Even though Eric was merely sick, Sharon had to suffer severe consequences, which felt extremely unfair to her. ¡°Don¡¯t me me for firing you if this happens again!¡± Will eximed angrily. Sharon replied, ¡°Yes, Mr. Swan!¡± Will angrily threw his cane away and stormed upstairs to his room. Eileen brought Sharon back to her room and tended to her wounds. Eileen could not help. but imagine how much pain Sharon must have endured. After all, Sharon had been a loyal. servant to the family for many years. ¡°Don¡¯t cry, silly girl. I¡¯m fine,¡± Sharonforted Eileen. ¡°But he hit you! Will is a scum. How could he do such a thing?¡± ¡°Enough!¡± Sharon¡¯s eyes turned cold suddenly. ¡°Eileen, he¡¯s your father. Don¡¯t be disrespectful.¡± Eileen did not say anything else. ¡°I understand, Sharon. I won¡¯t mention it next time.¡± Later, when Eileen returned to her room, she noticed a car parked at the gate. A woman in a r 2/4 red, sexy dress was seated in the passenger seat. Although Eileen could only see the outline of her profile, she was Elsie. Elsie was doing her makeup in the mirror¡­ After some time, Will said something to Eric and left. Elsie¡¯s presence seemed to have. puzzled Will, and he had not returned home either. Eileen quickly retreated behind the curtains upon seeing the car leave. She could not be sure if Elsie noticed her, but she knew Eric was sharp and suspicious. If he suspected that Eileen. knew about Elsie teaming up with him, Eric would not let her off lightly. She might meet at terrible end without even realizing how she died. Feeling anxious, Eileen bit her fingernails and paced around the room. If she wanted to be safe, she had to reassure Eric and remove any doubts he might have. However, she could not reveal that she knew about his true intentions when he was adopted into the Swan family. N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. If Eileen were to approach Eric directly and say, ¡°Eric, I don¡¯t care about what you¡¯re trying to do to the Swan family or what you n to do to Will. I won¡¯t stop you. If you want to take control of the Swan family, go ahead.¡± Such words would not only be foolish but also lead to a faster demise. She had to be careful in dispelling Eric¡¯s doubts and make him believe that she posed no threat to his ns. Eileen¡¯s fear stemmed from her deep understanding of Eric¡¯s methods. She knew about his unrelenting grudge against the Swan family, and that made her afraid to interfere with his ns. Deciding not to bother them for now, she resolved to wait until the next day to approach Eric. Aside from Sharon, there were other servants in the household, but they did not stay overnight. They woulde in the morning to clean the rooms and attend to their duties. During the night, if anyone got hungry, they had to prepare their own supper. Due to Sharon¡¯s injuries, Eileen had been cooking for herselftely. Early in the evening, Eileen went to check on Sharon before returning downstairs. As she descended the stairs, she noticed that the living room on the first floor was lit up. Assuming that Vera was preparing supper for Eric, she didn¡¯t think much of it. However, when she saw Vera appearing before her with disheveled hair, Eileen¡¯s drowsy eyes instantly. sharpened. She quickly covered her mouth, realizing that her presence might be out of ce. Vera and Eric were sitting together at the dining table, having supper. Both of them turned 3/4 their gazes toward Eileen simultaneously. Feeling slightly embarrassed, Eileen managed at smile and exined, ¡°I was just thirsty, so I came down to get some water.¡± Vera apologized, saying, ¡°Eileen, we thought you were asleep, so we didn¡¯t call There¡¯s still some soup in the pot if you¡¯d like to join us.¡± you down. Eileen politely declined, ¡°It¡¯s fine, I don¡¯t eat supper, and I¡¯m worried about gaining weight. I¡¯ll just drink some water and head to bed.¡± Deep down, she wished she could plead with Eric to forgive her for disturbing their private moments. Chapter 28 Chapter 28 Chapter 28 How Would She Survive¡­ Eileen quickly poured a ss of water from the refrigerator and hurried back to her room. Vera nced at the disappearing figure on the stairs and said, ¡°Maybe I should give her at bowl of soup upstairs. I¡¯m worried she might feel ufortable.¡± Eric affectionately stroked Vera¡¯s hair and replied. ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡± He stood up and made his way upstairs. Vera bit her lip, feeling uneasy about Eric meeting Eileen alone. However, she was also afraid of facing Eileen herself. Meanwhile, Eileen was lying on her bed, about to close her bedroom door, when suddenly, the door was opened, and Eric entered her room without knocking. This gesture. bothered her; everything else about Eric was fine, but thisck of respect for privacy left her feeling somewhat disgusted. ¡°The soup Vera made tastes good. Would you like to try it?¡± Eric suggested. ¡°L¡­ Eileen hesitated, but Eric had already sat beside her bed. His cold aura made her heart race. He held a spoon in his hand and stirred the soup in her bowl. ¡°Do you want me to feed you?¡± ¡°I¡­ I¡¯ll eat by myself,¡± Eileen stammered. The bowl was hot, and her fingers felt almost numb. but she did not dare to express her difort. Eric¡¯s eyes appeared somewhat cold as he looked at her. ¡°Eileen, have you been feeling. unwelltely? Did you misunderstand me? Is that why you¡¯ve been avoiding me?¡± His voice was calm yet carried an underlying tone of coercion. Feeling her heart pounding in her chest, Eileen tried to maintain herposure on the surface. ¡°No¡­ no, there¡¯s nothing like that,¡± she replied, but inside, she felt extremely anxious. At that moment, Eric took out his phone and showed Eileen a photo, asking, ¡°What are you secretly looking at, huh?¡± Eileen stared at the photo in disbelief, her hands shaking, and she identally overturned. the bowl of soup onto the bed, staining the nket. Eric¡¯s expression remained indifferent and stern, as if he was trying to force her to admit something. The photo showed her standing by the window, taken from the perspective of someone in a car. The picture was taken when Eileen was spying on Elsie. Feeling the burn from the spilled soup on her thighs, Eileen quickly got out of bed, avoiding ||| 1/4 Eric¡¯s gaze. She asked, ¡°Eric¡­ Eric, who took this photo?¡± As she spoke, she pushed the dirty nket aside and walked over to take Eric¡¯s phone, pretending to ponder. ¡°Eric¡­ I¡¯m not sure if I should say something.¡± Eric sat her beside him and said, ¡°Tell me.¡± ¡°I think this photo was taken by Ms. Elsie. Today when Dad came back, I was standing by the window, and I saw Ms. Elsie in his car. She was the teacher who visited our housest time, do you remember?¡± ¡°I have some vague knowledge about what Dad has been doing, but I¡¯m still young and can¡¯t do much about it¡­ Eric, if Ms. Elsie is being forced by Dad, can you help her?¡± ¡°Ms. Elsie is very kind, and I don¡¯t want her to be bullied by my father.¡± Seeing her eyes turn red, Eric gently held her face with his left hand, wiping away her tears. with his thumb. He looked at her with affection and said, ¡°Silly, did you forget that I attended your parent- teacher meeting? I added your teacher¡¯s contact information, and this photo was indeed sent to me by your homeroom teacher.¡± ¡°But she¡¯s too embarrassed to talk to you about her rtionship with your father now, so I decided to find out for you, to see if you would ept it.¡± ¡°After all, she is your teacher¡­¡± ¡°And besides, you are about to take the college entrance examination, so I don¡¯t want anything to distract you or spoil your mood.¡± Weakly, Eileen responded, ¡°Actually, I really like Ms. Elsie. She took good care of me in school before. If she¡¯s willing to be with Dad, I¡¯ll ept it.¡± ¡°Also¡­ you don¡¯t have to worry about my college entrance exam. I have already decided which school I want to enroll in.¡± Eric asked, ¡°Really? Can you tell me?¡± Eileen replied, ¡°I want to be a teacher in Lumiose, and I aspire to be a renowned. educator. After graduation, I n to apply for teaching support in the frontier regions.¡± Eric¡¯s eyes flickered, and he looked at Eileen who had lowered her head. ¡°Lumiose ist thousands of miles away from Hulbury, and it takes more than ten hours to reach by ne at the fastest. Eileen¡­ I don¡¯t want you to go to a city so far away.¡± ¡°Why do you want to go so far all of a sudden?¡± You don¡¯t want me to go? ||| C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. < 2/4 It¡¯s not that you don¡¯t want me to go, I know you just want me to remain under your control and never escape your grasp. She continued, ¡°I heard from Sharon that my mother was an educated youth in the city, and she met my father because of her teaching support. So I want to follow in her footsteps and be a teacher. I truly believe that teaching and guiding others is a noble profession.¡± ¡°If I want to be a teacher, I must attend the best school. The school in Hulbury is not as good. as the one in Lumiose.¡± ¡°Eric, you¡¯ll support me, won¡¯t you? Can you help me convince Dad?¡± Coquettishly, she reached for Eric¡¯s hand and pleaded, ¡°Eric¡­ Please¡­¡± Eric¡¯s frown revealed a trace of impatience, and Eileen noticed that he did not like physical contact. So, she discreetly withdrew her hand. Eric sighed, ¡°If you truly wish to go to Hulbury, I will talk to Dad about it¡­¡± ¡°But think carefully. Once you leave Hulbury, you will lose the protection we can provide. If anything happens to you, neither Dad nor I will be able to rush to your help in time.¡± Eileen assured him, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, once I pass the exams and, I¡¯ll be careful and won¡¯t let your and Dad worry.¡± ¡°No matter what you decide, I¡¯ll support you.¡± ¡°Thank you, Eric.¡± Eileen smiled warmly and charmingly. Eric left the room, closed the door behind him, and deleted the photos from his phone. As Eric pondered over Eileen¡¯s responses, he could not shake off the suspicion that she might be hiding something. Her answers seemed calcted and deliberate, as if she was trying to convey a message without directly stating it. It was unusual for her to act this way, given her typical straightforward nature. If Eileen knew Eric¡¯s intentions in the Swan family, shouldn¡¯t she oppose his done everything in her power to drive him away? Yet, she chose to leave instead. presence and Her decision to go to Lumiose surprised Eric. The words she said subtly hinted that once she left the Swan family, she would never return. It seemed as though she wanted to distance. herselfpletely from the Swan family in Hulbury, even if the Swan family business faced. difficulties. Eric could not help but feel a sense of regret that Eileen did not choose to enter the < 34 entertainment industry. He wondered how she would venture outside the luxurious world. she was ustomed to, should she indeed decide to leave the dealer. He was genuinely curious about what a youngdy, who was used to wealth and privilege, would do to survive without money and status. How would she survive¡­. Chapter 29 Chapter 29 Chapter 29 Act In Front Of Them Eileen watched as Eric left, clutching her racing heart. She hoped that he would not doubt. her anymore. She had hinted that after the college entrance examination, she intended to distance herself from the family and go to Lumiose, far away from Hulbury. After graduating from university, she nned to sign up for teaching in the frontier, a decision that would not. interfere with Eric¡¯s revenge n against the Swan family. In Eileen¡¯s mind, Eric could treat her as if she were already dead and simply erase her from his life. Once she left the family, she would never return. Looking at the stains on the nket, Eileen siglied. Eric was heartless, she just changed the nket today. Eric wanted her to experience what it felt like to be without a nket at night, so he had not prepared clean ones for her. As she threw the nket on the ground, she thought about washing it the next day. However, she was irritated by Eric¡¯s vengeful nature, considering that the quilts in the cupboard hadn¡¯t been cleaned or dried for over half a year. She knew she would end up at the hospitaf due to her dust allergy if she used those quilts. How vengeful, you scumbag! In frustration, Eileen found a thick coat to cover herself, turned off the light, andid on the bed. The following morning was bright and sunny. When Eileen woke up, she was relieved to find that she didn¡¯t have a headache or stuffy nose. However, to her surprise, she noticed that she was now covered with a bedsheet with gray stripes, a color that only Eric had. She was terrified and lifted the nket, realizing that it was Eric¡¯s doing. Her face turned pale, and her mind raced with anxiety and shock. Oh my God, did Eric sneak in my roomst night? Eileen¡¯s head felt like it was going to explode, and she was filled with a sense of fear and. confusion. Lately, Eric had beening to her room more frequently, which was bing concerning. Eileen wondered if she had forgotten to lock the door. She felt irritated by the thought. Just then, Sharon knocked on her door and entered. She told Eileen that their father was. back and waiting for dinner. Eileen was surprised. ¡°Dad is back?¡± Sharon nodded, ¡°Yes, Mr. Swan has also brought a woman back, or¡­¡± She stopped herself. before completing her sentence and urged Eileen to get ready. ||| 1/4 Eileen quickly dressed up, washed her face, and went downstairs. She noticed that Elsie had taken her seat at the table, sitting beside Will. Eric was seated opposite Vera. Feeling a bit out of ce among them, Eileen hesitated for a moment before taking her seat beside Elsie. Sharon pulled the chair back for her, and she sat down. Will¡¯s voice sounded displeased, ¡°Why did you wake up sote? What were you doingst night?¡± Before Eileen could respond, Elsie spoke up in her defense, ¡°Oh, Eileen is under a lot of pressure now. She probably stayed upte studying. It¡¯s understandable for her to wake upte. Right, Eileen?¡± Eileen forced a smile and replied, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Dad. I won¡¯t do it again.¡± Sharon served a bowl of porridge and ced it in front of Eileen, urging her to eat, ¡°Eat up¡±. Elsie then inquired, ¡°Do you need a tutor? I heard you want to attend teacher training in Lumiose. The teachers there have a good reputation. Are you sure about your decision? And Lumiose is quite far away. If you go alone, your father and I will worry.¡± Eileen figured that Eric must have told Elsie about her ns. She confidently responded, ¡°I¡¯ve looked atst year¡¯s score requirements, and I¡¯m confident I can make it.¡± Will¡¯s words cut through the air with a cold andmanding tone, ¡°Either stay in Hulbury, or don¡¯t go at all. What¡¯s the use of going to university? You¡¯ll have to get married sooner orter. There¡¯s a banquet in a few days, and you¡¯ll apany us. Some men want to meet you. Eileen was well aware that Will had a traditional view of women, seeing them primarily as tools for reproduction. However, she was determined to stand her ground and pursue her dreams. ¡°Dad, times have changed. I know some friends who have gone to study abroad. Wendy, for instance, she¡¯s preparing for the IELTS test and ns to settle abroad and change her nationality. Compared to going to Lumiose, that¡¯s already a bigger step. At least I cane back during the holidays.¡± ¡°If someone asks about my education background one day, having only a high school education would be quite embarrassing. I don¡¯t mind beingughed at by others, but I can¡¯t let you be embarrassed because of me.¡± Will was particrly concerned about his reputation and appearance. Despite his humble background, he achieved sess through the exhibition business. Eileen¡¯s words seemed to resonate with him, and frowned, ¡°Do you really have to go to Lumiose?¡± ||| 24 Eileen nodded earnestly and replied, ¡°Yes, Dad, I¡¯ve thought it through. When I go to Lumiose, I¡¯ll take care of Grandma. I promise I won¡¯t cause you any trouble.¡± Grandma was Eileen¡¯sst resort. Although Will was aplicated figure, he had always been a dutiful son and tried to persuade Grandma toe live with them in Hulbury. However, Grandma insisted on staying in a small ce in Lumiose. Will was concerned about her so, he visited her every New Year. Eileen added, ¡°And what if I manage to persuade Grandma toe back?¡± This made Will contemte the possibility. Elsie chimed in with a smile, ¡°Eileen has a point. Education is important for girls nowadays, in addition to their appearance. Since she has her own dreams, why not support her? I graduated there and it can easily find good jobs. Eileen nodded in agreement with Elsie¡¯s perspective. Finally, Will agreed topromise, but with a condition, ¡°If you don¡¯t perform well in school and fail to graduate, youe back and marry someone right away.¡± Eileen promised, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Dad, I won¡¯t let you down.¡± She knew that by the time she graduated, the Swan family would likely be long gone. Will¡¯s eyes were filled with relief, so he said happily, ¡°It¡¯s rare to see that you are promising. You can clean upter and free up your room for Gin to live in.¡± ¡°Cough¡­¡± Eileen choked after taking a mouthful of porridge. Elsie smiled and patted Eileen on the back, ¡°It¡¯s okay! Eileen won¡¯t be able to ept it for a while.¡± ¡°No, no¡­¡± Eileen hurriedly denied, ¡°I¡¯m just so happy that Ms. Elsie can live here, so that I won¡¯t be bored at home in the future. I can chat with Ms. Elsie when I have nothing to do.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t finish your homework, I¡¯ll be strict. N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. ¡°I promise to hand in homework on time.¡± Eileen remembered that Elsie and Will¡¯s rtionship had not developed so fast yet. Forget it¡­ Eileen did not bother to think about it. 3/4 She would be able to leave in five or six months. Eileen lowered her head, pretending not to see the wonderful scene under the table. Elsie¡¯s slender and straight long legs in ck silk, took off her high heels, and stretched out her legs to rub against Eric¡¯s calf, which was as exciting as it could be. She could not imagine if Elsie lived in her room¡­ Eileen no longer had an appetite. She made up an excuse to leave and leave them there. After pouring a ss of water, she returned to her room, and she still needed to take. medicine. The most difficult thing was not to deal with Elsie but to act in front of them every day Chapter 30 Chapter 30 Chapter 30 Elm Disliked Her Will, who prefers solitude, always slept alone. Both the study and the master bedroom on the second floor are off-limits. Initially, Eileen and Eric upied the third floor, while Vera lived on the fourth floor. Now, she had no choice but to give up her room on the third floor and move to the only avable room on the fifth floor, which happened to be the topmost floor. However, the fifth floor had its advantages; it was incredibly serene and boasted a spacious. balcony where she could indulge in activities like nting flowers, sipping tea, and enjoying the night view. Even if she spent all day in that room, she would not feel bored. Eileen took a few painkillers and some water before starting to tidy up the house. At that moment, Sharon entered the room looking upset and said, ¡°Even if you wanted to move in, you shouldn¡¯t have been the one to leave.¡± Eileen took Sharon¡¯s hand, gently smiled, andforted her, ¡°Honestly, it¡¯s the same for anyone living in this room. I actually prefer the fifth-floor room. I think my Mom¡¯s paintings. and photographs are kept upstairs.¡± ¡°Maybe if I stayed there, Mom can visit me in my dreams. It¡¯s been years since I dreamt of her.¡± That room had always felt closest to her mother. Sharon could not bear to see Eileen in distress and held her hand. ¡°Our Eileen, you¡¯re so sensible.¡± ¡°Because I¡¯ve grown up, Sharon. I know many things now,¡± Eileen replied. She continued to pack her clothes and essential belongings before the housekeepingpany arrived. They reced all the old furniture in her original room and covered the pink walls with ke wallpaper, transforming the room¡¯s style in less than two hours. There were also exclusive custom-made clothingpanies that deliverrge quantities of clothes and skirts to the upper floors. Will had always been generous with women. As far as Eileen knows, a college student who was with Will for three years was gifted an apartment. after he grew tired of their rtionship. Eileen did not have many belongings, so she quickly packed her things in the tidy room. When she pushed open the ss doors leading to the balcony, memories of her mother flooded back. Her mother used to take good care of the flowers, and there was a painter¡¯ser on the wall, where her mother drew. 1/4 As she strolled on the balcony and leaned against the railing, the wind gently brushed her face, and the view was breathtaking. From this spot, she could even see Elsie¡¯s room. Compared to her previous room, this ce felt like her own private sanctuary. She could now lock herself in the room and do whatever she pleased. Apart from the inconvenience of going up and down the stairs, there was no reason for Eric toe to her room. Feeling ecstatic, Eileen joyfully rolled around on the bed. Sharon entered the room, holding a framed painting of sunflowers. ¡°Eileen, I just made the bed; please don¡¯t mess it up.¡±Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. ¡°Sharon, you don¡¯t have to clean my room anymore. I¡¯ll take care of it myself, along with washing my own clothes,¡± Eileen said. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll leave the painting here,¡± Sharon replied. Just then, Eric¡¯s voice was heard. Eileen immediately sat up on her knees, removing the nket from her head. ¡°Eric, why are you here? Are you feeling better?¡± Eric coughed a few times and said, ¡°I¡¯m almost better. If you don¡¯t like this room, you can move to mine. The floor is lower, and it¡¯s less troublesome to go up and down.¡± Eileen responded, ¡°It¡¯s okay; it¡¯s a good way to exercise. Besides, the view from here is amazing, especially for stargazing. Don¡¯t worry about me, Eric.¡± Eric walked to the side of her bed and ced a reassuring hand on the top of her head, saying, ¡°I¡¯m just worried that you might feel ufortable or mistreated.¡± Ufortable? Mistreated? How could she ever feel that way? I should be grateful if you spared my life. ¡°Not at all!¡± Eileen replied with a smile, her eyes slightly bent. She had willingly made way for Eric tomunicate with Elsie more conveniently. She did not feel wrong at all. ¡°Tell me if you need anything,¡± Eric added. ¡°Okay,¡± Eileen responded. Later, Eileen brought a kettle into her room from downstairs, that was to make sure she would not have to go down for water, reducing the chance of bumping into Eric and Elsie. 2/4 Time flew by, and Elsie stayed there for several days, working at the dealer¡¯s ce. Eric left with Vera and never returned since. Eileen rarely saw Elsie or Will in the house; they hardly came back. Most of the time, she was. alone. After staying at home for about a week, Eileen returned to school. She found that Elsie had fewer sses and mainly taught music, which did not intersect much with her own sses, so they rarely met on campus. Back in ss, the results of the mock quizzes were announced one by one. The teachers had set the test papers themselves. Eileen had achieved three rtively good scores. In the humanities, her average score was around 100, and in science, it was around 90. These scores were enough for her to get into Rustboro University in Lumiose. Trying too hard beyond. that point would not make much difference. When the ss monitor announced the ss rankings, Eileen was surprised to find herself in fifth ce. Her ssmates looked at her with disbelief. Someone questioned, ¡°Is this real? Are you sure you¡¯re not fifth from the bottom?¡± The ss deputy coughed and said, ¡°Eileen¡¯s recent efforts have been evident to all of you, and everyone should learn from her. Although all of youe from good family backgrounds, the knowledge you gain is your own, and sometimes money cannot guarantee sess. After the results are announced, let¡¯s all focus on our studies and learn diligently.¡± ¡°Eileen,e with me, the ss deputy said, and Eileen quietly set aside the romance novel she was using to cover her math book before following him outside the ssroom. ¡°Sir, is there something you need from me?¡± Eileen asked, feeling a bit nervous. The ss deputy, who wore sses and was in his forties, was the head teacher of ss 1. He spoke, ¡°I heard from Ms. Elsie that you want to transfer to another ss. Is that right?¡± Eileen nodded and replied, ¡°Yes, teacher.¡± The ss deputy expressed his concern, ¡°Transferring sses at this point might not be very beneficial for your studies. It could end up dying your progress. Each ss has its own. pace, and there are only a few months left in the semester. My advice is to wait and see. As for Elm, you needn¡¯t worry. He¡¯s currently hospitalized and won¡¯t being to school.¡± ¡°Hospitalized? What happened to Elm? Is he seriously injured?¡± Eileen asked with concern. The ss deputy¡¯s expression turned serious. He¡¯s not doing very well. When I visited him, he was in a coma. Eileen, I am aware of your family¡¯s situation to some extent. If possible, talk to your family members and show some leniency. Please lecture him, and there¡¯s no need to be overly harsh.¡± She said, ¡°Teacher, can I ask for leave to visit him? I really want to see how Elm is doing.¡± Her feelings wereplex. Elm disliked her, but she did not believe he would let anyone harm her. The head teacher responded, ¡°You can visit him after school. Go back to ss.¡± ¡°Alright sir,¡± Eileen replied obediently. Chapter 31 Chapter 31 Chapter 31 His Visit Was Quite Sudden In herst ss, Eileen asked for leave and went to Serene Hospital. Stopping at the hospital¡¯s entrance, she bought a bunch of flowers. Although she wasn¡¯t sure what Elm liked, she settled for ke chrysanthemums as they were the only ones avable at the flower shop. Feeling a sense of heartbreak, she spent fifty dors on the flowers and asked the shop owner to wrap them nicely. Eileen asked the front desk where Elm¡¯s ward was and took the elevator to the twelfth floor. ¡°Honey, what are you looking at?¡± Elsie asked as she wore sunsses and revealing clothes. while she was holding Eric¡¯s arm. Eric looked away immediately. Was that person Eileen? Two people were enough as the hospital was full of people. If Will found out about the two of them being at the hospital, they might get in trouble. Eileen was praying hard for Eric not to recognize her. As Eileen walked out of the elevator, she coincidentally encountered a middle-aged man pushing a wheelchair with a neen-year-old boy sitting in it. The boy was remarkably handsome, resembling a character from aic book. He had a peculiar blue tattoo on the back of his hand that extended under his long sleeves. Eileen could not help but nce at him a few times, but she quickly looked away when he passed by. Unexpectedly, the middle-aged man pushing the wheelchair stopped, turned around, and looked back. They had juste out of that ward, and Eileen went in. ¡°Mr. Jasper, it¡¯s Ms. Swan. It looks like she entered Elm¡¯s ward. It seems that she didn¡¯t recognize you.¡± Jasper¡¯s gloomy eyes were partially hidden by his hair, and an air of unhappiness emanated. from him as he responded coldly, ¡°After Eileen leaves, transfer Elm to another hospital, watch carefully, and don¡¯t let anyone bother him.¡± This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. ¡°Yes, Mr. Jasper.¡± Once inside the elevator, Jasper overheard a voice from the nearby ward. A bouquet of ke chrysanthemums was thrown out, and Elm¡¯s angry voice followed, ¡°Eileen, I¡¯m not damn dead yet! Why did you bring chrysanthemums? Are you cursing me?¡± 1/4 kept exining and apologizing. ¡°Elm, I came to see you sincerely. I went to the flower shop to buy flowers for you. This is the only bouquet left. It cost me fifty dors, which is already very expensive.¡± ¡°Get out, Eileen! If you dare to appear in front of me, I¡¯ll kill you!¡± Picking up the flowers from the ground, Eileen spoke calmly, ¡°Elm¡­ Why are you so angry? Aren¡¯t we even now?¡± Eileen noticed Elm¡¯s injuries; his left hand and both feet were in ster, indicating a severe condition, likely caused by Eric. Eric had been ruthless. While Eileen had her share of faults in the past, Eric hadpletely shattered her arrogant. and domineering personality in her previous life. Now, she could not bear to see anyone suffer. Seeing Elm in pain, Eileen felt an unexpected surge ofpassion. ¡°Get out of here!¡± Albert walked out with Charlie, who said impatiently, ¡°Leave! He¡¯s been healed and now you¡¯re opening out his wounds again. You¡¯re toxic!¡± Upon noticing the people by the elevator, Albert¡¯s expression turned strange, and he quickly warned Charlie. Charlie noticed that Eileen hadn¡¯t left yet, so he restrained himself a bit and said, ¡°You should keep the flower for yourself and don¡¯te here again.¡± Eileen¡¯s face showed regret as she responded, ¡°I really don¡¯t know much about flowers. What¡¯s wrong with chrysanthemums? They are still beautiful. I might as well take them back, dry them, and make tea. ¡°Elm. I¡¯ll visit you again tomorrow.¡± Charlie noticed that the person hadn¡¯t left yet, so he restrained himself a little, ¡°You should give this flower to yourself, and don¡¯te here in the future.¡± Eileen¡¯s face was full of regret, ¡°I really don¡¯t know anything about goods, what¡¯s wrong with chrysanthemums? They¡¯re flowers anyway, they look so pretty, and you can make tea with them.¡± ¡°Elm, I¡¯ll visit you again tomorrow.¡± | ¡°What kind of flowers do you like? I¡¯ll bring it to you tomorrow.¡± From inside the ward, another ss was thrown out, apanied by an irritable voice, ¡°Eileen, you¡¯re not done bothering me yet?¡± Eileen was pulled away, and the cup nearly hit her. When she noticed Eric standing beside her, she was surprised, ¡°Eric, why are you at the hospital?¡± Eric looked her up and down, asking. ¡°Are you okay? Did you get hurt?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± She had been immediately kicked out when she entered, so she could not do anything with Elm. ¡°Eric, are you sick?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing, my gut¡¯s just feeling a bit sick. I came to the hospital to get it checked. Eric frowned and questioned, ¡°Did youe to see Elm on purpose?¡± Eileen hesitated before speaking, ¡°Eric¡­ Elm was beaten like that, did you do it?¡± Eric¡¯s face darkened, ¡°Eileen, do you really think I¡¯m someone who would do such a thing?¡± So, it¡¯s not Eric? Then who could it be? If it were Eric, he would never hide it, and if it was not him, he would not admit to it either. ¡°No, it¡¯s not¡­¡± Seeing Eric¡¯s sullen expression, Eileen quickly tried to tter him, ¡°I thought you beat him up for me. So I thought you did that.¡± ¡°Are you saying that I should have beaten him up for you?¡± Eileen waved her hands in fright, ¡°No, that¡¯s not what I meant¡­¡° ¡°Alright, I was just teasing you. Why are you so nervous? Shall I send you back to school or directly home?¡± Eileen declined and said, ¡°I asked for leave from school, and I have piano lessonster. I can walk over there; it¡¯s not too far.¡± Eric nced at his watch, ¡°Alright, just be careful then. After the piano lessons, remember to call the driver and don¡¯t wander around.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Eileen nodded. It was riskier to follow him. 3/ Eileen massaged her throbbing temples. She could not help but wonder why she kept running into Eric everywhere she went. Is he haunting me? I guess I¡¯ll visit Elm tomorrow. His visit today was quite sudden¡­ think my Jasper sat in the back seat, gazing at the blue tattoo on his hand. ¡°Richard, do you think appearance scares people?¡± he asked with concern. He always wore long sleeves to hide the tattoo, fearing how others might react if they saw it. ¡°No, Miss Swan simply doesn¡¯t know you well yet. Once she gets to know you better, she¡¯ll understand you,¡± Richard assured Jasper. ¡°Mr. Jasper, you tend to be serious, which naturally makes ordinary people hesitant to approach him. But with someone like Miss Swan, it¡¯s best to show a kind and friendly side, especially since she¡¯s a girl,¡± he added. Jasper held his tablet, and the lock screen was a picture of Eileen¡¯s back, taken discreetly by him. ¡°However, Mr. Jasper, you should follow the doctor¡¯s orders for a full recovery,¡± Richard reminded him. ¡°Yes, I will,¡± Jasper replied gratefully, acknowledging that it was thanks to Eileen that he could. return to the hospital for treatment. His leg surgery was scheduled for tomorrow, and Jasper could not help but think about how much effort Eileen had put into helping Jasper regain his health. Eileen¡¯s presence had a profound impact on his life, pulling him out of the darkness he had been living in for so long. As Eileen left the hospital, she received a call from the driver, informing her that her father was angry after finding out she left school on her own. And, once again, it was Eric causing the trouble. r Chapter 32 Chapter 32 Chapter 32 Jasper? A Tattooed Gangster? Watching Eric leave, Eileen stood at the bus stop, still wearing the Petalburg High School uniform, distinguished by the knight riding and archery school badge on her chest. Anyone with a keen eye could easily identify her school affiliation. Amidst the bustling street, Eileen¡¯s bright appearance made her stand out, attracting both. friendly and potentially malicious attention. Just then, three troublemakers approached Eileen. It was still the year 2000, with no street cameras, and technology was not as advanced as it would be later. This made it challenging to gather evidence in case of any untoward incidents, leaving wrongdoers with a sense of impunity. Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. As the hooligans closed in, she instinctively lowered her head, hoping they would pass by without incident. Unfortunately, luck was not on her side that day. ¡°Hey, little girl, where are you off to? Want us to apany you?¡± one of the hooligans taunted. ¡°Look, she¡¯s a student from Petalburg High School. I heard only rich families send their kids. there. Does this little beauty have some money to spare us?¡± another one chimed in. With three people surrounding her, Eileen had no escape route, and bystanders preferred to avoid getting involved in such situations, leaving her feeling stranded and vulnerable. Terrified, Eileen took a few steps back and nervously retrieved a ck wallet from her schoolbag, but it was swiftly snatched from her before she could even open it. The young gangster checked the contents and his eyes gleamed upon seeing the bills inside. ¡°Wow, I didn¡¯t expect this little maggot, to be quite wealthy!¡± he remarked with a hint of surprise. ¡°And there¡¯s a student ID card,¡± one of hispanions observed, taking a closer look at the card. Upon seeing the name, the trio exchanged nces, their expressions changing. They then looked back at Eileen and the one holding the ID card asked, ¡°Why are you out of school so early, girl? Why don¡¯t youe and have some fun with us?¡± As he spoke, he extended a hand toward Eileen¡­ On the opposite side of the street, Elsie leaned against the car window, cing her hands on her forehead, leisurely observing the people nearby. He spoke casually to Eric, who was 14 beside him, ¡°Darling, aren¡¯t you gonna rescue her? It won¡¯t matter if I don¡¯t. In this situation, no one will ever find out about us.¡± Elsie moved closer and hooked her arm around Eric¡¯s, intimately observing the scene not far away. She could not help but admit that Eileen was undeniably beautiful, which sparked a hint of jealousy within her. ¡°You really fear nothing, Elsie!¡± Eric¡¯s eyes darkened, his intimidating presence growing Nevertheless, Elsie smiled like a flower, undeterred, and continued to approach him. stronger. openly. Elsie¡¯s red nails brushed against his firm chest, saying, ¡°Fine! Let¡¯s face death together and be a pair of ghosts. It¡¯s not a bad oue. We¡¯ll be together in the afterlife.¡± Elsie slowly reached out to Eric¡¯s chest. Annoyed, Eric grabbed her hand on his chest and pushed her away, warning, ¡°Do you think Will doesn¡¯t know what you¡¯re doing? Elsie, don¡¯t be reckless, or you might end up getting burned.¡± ¡°So what? As long as I have you¡­ Eric, you¡¯ll protect me, right?¡± Eric looked at her coldly, replying, ¡°Do you think your death would affect me? Once Will finds out, do you think it will be you or me who¡¯ll meet the same fate?¡± ¡°I¡¯m a businessman, and I only see things that benefit me. Don¡¯t overestimate. importance in my heart.¡± your As he said that, he reached out and pinched Elsie¡¯s cheek, an evil grin forming on his face. ¡°You can¡¯t evenpare to Eileen?¡± To Eric, there were only two kinds of people. Pawns he could use and friends who can benefit. him. Women were merely ythings that can be discarded at will. In his eyes, anyone could be married or have children. Elsie¡¯s eyes gradually cooled down, the smile still on her lips but with a chilly glint in her gaze. ¡°We¡¯ve known each other for ten years, and I can¡¯t even measure up to Eileen. Do you truly care about me, Eric?¡± ¡°To be honest, are you even worthy?¡± Eric observed the disturbing scene as they mistreated Eileen, uncertain about whether he should intervene. However, before he could make a decision, several suited bodyguards appeared out of nowhere and quickly subdued the attackers. The screams echoed loudly. even reaching Eric¡¯s ears from across the street. ||| 2/4 In fear, Eileen clung to a nearby billboard, her clothes disheveled, and a few buttons torn off. Her once neatly tied hair, adorned with a bluece headband, now draped messily over her shoulders. Her expression conveyed sheer terror and distress as tears welled up in her eyes. A ck Cayenne pulled up in front of the bus stop, and the window slowly rolled down, revealing a young and handsome man inside. He spoke gently, asking, ¡°Are you okay?¡± Eileen, looking like a vulnerable princess on the streets, exuded a poignant beauty. She timidly shook her head, sniffled, and trembled, shedding a few tears like pearls. This young man was the same boy Eileen had met at the hospital. Seeing his smile, she felt at sense of comfort, realizing he was not as frightening as she initially thought. He appeared quite pleasant when he smiled. ¡°It¡¯s okay, don¡¯t be afraid. I¡¯ll take you wherever you¡¯re going,¡± he reassured her. Eileen wiped her tears with the back of her hand and replied, ¡°No, thank you. My driver will be here soon.¡± The young man smiled gently, saying, ¡°No worries, I¡¯ll wait with you. Are you a student at Petalburg High School?¡± Eileen nodded and said. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Here¡¯s your wallet, Miss¡± one of the bodyguards said, handing her the wallet they had retrieved from the attacker¡¯s pocket. Eileen had been too frightened to notice where the attackers took the three other individuals. The young man asked, ¡°Check if anything is missing.¡± Eileen opened her wallet and inspected its contents. Thankfully, her ID card and student card. were still there. She replied, ¡°Everything¡¯s still here.¡° ¡°Where did those people go?¡± Eileen asked. ¡°I took them to the police station so that it won¡¯t happen again,¡± the young man replied. Jasper noticed the torn school uniform on Eileen¡¯s body and expressed his concern, ¡°Your clothes!¡± Embarrassed, Eileen quickly covered her open cor to hide her exposed skin, feeling a bit. flustered. Despite the age gap that could span two lifetimes, she could not help but feel self- conscious in such a situation. The young man handed a ck coat from the car window, saying, ¡°These are my backup clothes, I haven¡¯t worn them before, so they¡¯re clean. If you don¡¯t mind, you should wear 31 them for now, to avoid attracting attention.¡± Eileen hesitated for a moment but eventually epted the offer, saying, ¡°Thank you¡­ I¡¯ll return it to youter. By the way, please give me your address, and I¡¯ll return the coat to you. tomorrow.¡± ¡°No need, just keep it,¡± the young man insisted. ¡°But¡­¡± Meanwhile, the driver in the car noticed a Mercedes-Benz in the rearview mirror and asked Eileen, ¡°Miss Swan, is that car from yours?¡± Eileen nced and confirmed, ¡°Yes.¡± Before she could say anything further, the Cayenne had already driven away. The driver was concerned about Eileen¡¯s well-being and stopped the car in front of her, asking, ¡°Miss, what happened? Are you okay?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I just identally fell down, and my school uniform got torn,¡± Eileen replied, choosing not to make a big deal out of the recent incident to avoid unnecessary trouble. ¡°Miss Swan, would you like to go back home or¡­¡± ¡°Take me to the Skyline Building; I have a piano lesson there,¡± Eileen instructed. ¡°Alright, Miss Swan.¡± Eileen wiped away the tears from her eyes and removed her torn school uniform, she was going to ask Sharon to sew on the missing buttons. The uniform was quite expensive, and she did not want to let it go to waste as the two sets of clothes were nearly 3,000 dors. As she wore the coat, she noticed a faint scent of mint mixed with the aroma of traditional medicine. Watching the young man¡¯s figure as he left, Eileen could not help but wonder if she had seen. him somewhere before. Could he be Jasper? No, that could not be possible. Based on their usual conversations, Jasper seemed more like a warm-hearted brother next door, certainly not a tattooed gangster. Moreover, there were already two people like that at home. If Jasper turned out to be such at person, Eileen would not know how to react. With these thoughts swirling in her mind, Eileen decided to text Jasper.. Chapter 33 Chapter 33 Chapter 33 The Young Girl Had Matured While Jasper was driving in the opposite direction with Eileen, he decided to turn around at the uing traffic light. At that moment, he received a message from Eileen asking, ¡°Jasper, where are you?¡± Jasper had always kept his mobile phone with him, eagerly waiting for her messages, and whenever he saw one, he would reply promptly. However, this time he turned off his phone. The driver nced at the rearview mirror and asked, ¡°Is it a message from Miss Swan? Did she suspect something?¡± ¡°I think so¡­ But I don¡¯t want to lie to her,¡± Jasper neither confirmed nor denied. He wanted to wait a little longer until he could stand on his own, and then Eileen would see him as his true self. The driver suggested, ¡°What if Miss Swan wouldn¡¯t mind that?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that she minds, but I do. Let¡¯s head back for now!¡± Jasper closed his eyes, feeling exhausted. What happened just now was incredibly dangerous. If he had not deliberately waited at the hospital gate or had left at the wrong time, he shuddered to think of the consequences Eileen might have faced. Determined, Jasper opened his eyes again, a cold determination flickering in them. ¡°Take the three of them to the police station, and they are not supposed to be released without my permission.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Meanwhile, Eileen did not wait for any other messages, assuming that the boy she encountered earlier could not have been Jasper. If he were, why wouldn¡¯t he have recognized. her? Later, Eileen arrived at the Skyline Building for her piano ss. Opting for one-on-one private teaching, she quickly mastered the piece she was working on, having practiced it countless times before. After nearly three hours of piano practice, darkness had fallen outside. When the driver came to pick her up, he noticed that the person waiting for her was not n but Eric. After ying the piano for an extended period, Eileen felt her finger joints getting a bit sore. When she noticed the car window rolling down, she hesitated before approaching. ||| 1/4 Why was Eric here? Did he want to reprimand her? But back at the hospital, she had already acted as if she did not see him and Elsie, so why did hee over now? Out of habit, Eileen opened the co-pilot¡¯s door but then paused and decided to sit in the back. instead. As soon as the door opened, she heard Eric¡¯s cold voice say, ¡°Eileen, I¡¯m not your driver.¡± Startled, Eileen quickly switched to the passenger seat and fastened her seat belt before Eric could come over.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. At the same time, she noticed the items she left in the car were gone, reced by a pair of bobblehead dolls-a man and a woman that could bobble their heads. They were adorable, and something Vera would like. She also noticed a change in the car¡¯s scent. Eric must have known about Vera¡¯s motion, sickness and put on a perfume that refreshed the mind and prevented motion sickness. Taking in these changes, Eileen turned her head, looking out the car window with a neutral expression. ¡°Eric, don¡¯t you need to pick up Vera?¡± ¡°Vera lives on campus.¡± What? Vera lives on campus? Eileen was a bit surprised at Eric¡¯s willingness to let her live there. ¡°Why does Vera live on campus? I thought your apartment wasn¡¯t far from her school.¡± Eric exined, ¡°I¡¯m usually busy with work, and I can¡¯t take care of her properly. She had to do all the cleaning and housework by herself. I was worried it would affect her studies, so I suggested she goes back to school ande home on weekends.¡± Eileen wasn¡¯t very interested in their matters, so she replied casually, ¡°Well, that sounds like a good n.¡± After a brief silence, Eric asked again, ¡°Did you have your piano lesson today? Are you tired?¡± ¡°Not at all, the teacher was great,¡± Eileen replied. Eric nced at her sideways and noticed that she seemed absent-minded during their conversation. He frowned slightly and asked, ¡°Eileen, do you find it annoying when I ask too 2/4 111 < many questions?¡± Eileen could sense a hint of dissatisfaction in Eric¡¯s tone and wondered why he felt that way. ¡°No, not at all. I appreciate that you care about me.¡± Eric noticed that Eileen was wearing loose clothes that did not fit well, and they looked like. men¡¯s clothing. He asked if she had worn her school uniform today. Eileen looked down at her outfit, realizing that she had forgotten to change out of her school uniform. ¡°Yes, I wore it, but the button on my school uniform came off. A ssmate lent me these clothes, and I have to return themter.¡± ¡°Was it a guy who lent you the clothes?¡± Eric inquired without hesitation. Eileen nodded and didn¡¯t hide the truth. ¡°Yes, it was.¡± . Eric chuckled, but there was a hint of coldness in his eyes as he said, ¡°Seems like you¡¯re dating someone.¡± ¡°No,¡± Eileen hurriedly denied, ¡°He¡¯s just a friend of my ssmate.¡± ¡°It¡¯s normal for girls to develop feelings for someone when you¡¯re a teenager. You¡¯ll encounter a few people you like along the way. If you ever have problems with rtionships. in the future, you can alwayse to me, your brother,¡± Eric assured her. ¡°Thank you, Eric,¡± Eileen replied. As they chatted, Eileen remained cautious and alert. She felt that if she let her guard down, she might be easily influenced by Eric¡¯s charm. Upon arriving at Unde Mansion, Eric parked the car in the garage. Anxious to leave, Eileen tried to open the car door but realized that it was still locked. Her heart skipped a beat, and her senses heightened as Eric suddenly drew closer, emanating a strong, masculine presence that enveloped her in an instant. Eileen caught a whiff of the delightful fragrance on his body and nervously asked, ¡°Eric¡­.. is there something else?¡± Eric gently held her face in his hand, his thumb brushing against her soft lips, leaving a trace of pink. Eileen instinctively pulled back, afraid to make any sudden moves, her eyes. betraying evident fear. ¡°Did you apply lipstick?¡± he inquired. ¡°No, no, it¡¯s just chapstick that has color,¡± Eileen replied. ||| 3/4 < She could not understand Eric¡¯s intentions. In the past few days, she had tried to avoid him and had not done anything to provoke him. Racking her brain, she tried to recall everything she had done recently, but she could not figure out what might have triggered his behavior. ¡°Are you afraid of me?¡± Eric asked, his eyebrows slightly raised. Eileen managed a wry smile, ¡°No, how could I be afraid of you? I really do care for you¡­¡± ¡°Care for me?¡± Eric¡¯s eyebrow arched further. ¡°How much do you care for me?¡± Care for him? What was she even saying? She wished she could take back her words. ¡°No, I just¡­ I just rely on you like a brother¡­¡± Eileen felt her lies were poorly thought-out. ¡°Don¡¯t apply the chapstick anymore. This color doesn¡¯t suit you,¡± Eric advised. Eileen¡¯s striking facial features and bold beauty made her easily stand out and leave asting. impression on others. The subtle pink hue on her lips, resembling the allure of a peach blossom, only enhanced her captivating charm. In that moment, it seemed as if the young girl had matured before Eric¡¯s eyes. Eileen nodded absentmindedly. ¡°Alright.¡± Eric unfastened her seat belt, but this time, Eileen did not rush to leave the car as he had not unlocked the car door yet. ¡°Eric, is there¡­ something else?¡± she asked hesitantly. Lowering his body, Eric ran his hand through her hair without her realizing it. Eileen found herself captivated by his tender gaze. Her breathing grew shallow, and she momentarily forgot to breathe¡­ Chapter 34 Chapter 34 Chapter 34 Are You Really Into Elm? The moment Eric¡¯s gaze fell on her, Eileen snapped back to reality and pushed him away firmly, saying, ¡°No!¡± Her heart was racing with anxiety. Ericposed himself and looked at her with an emotion she couldn¡¯t quite decipher. ¡°Eileen, you¡¯re rejecting me,¡± he remarked calmly. Eileen clutched onto her ck pleated skirt tightly, reiterating, ¡°I¡¯ve told you before, Eric, you¡¯re only my brother. Please stop doing these strange things to me from now on. Vera would be upset if she found out.¡± She could not bear the thought of Eric ying with the feelings of two women simultaneously. While waiting for him to pick her up earlier, was he doing something like this with another woman in the car? Eileen realized that she no longer had any feelings of love for him. He only loved Vera. Even Sarah, who bore a resemnce to Vera, was merely seen as a tool to bear a child for him. Her heart once belonged entirely to Eric, but she had lost too much in the process. She was genuinely afraid. Eric¡¯s eyes turned cold as he responded, ¡°You¡¯re right. I¡¯m sorry. I promise it won¡¯t happen again, and I apologize for what happenedst time as well.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine¡­ I¡¯ve already forgotten about it!¡± ¡°Good¡­ let¡¯s just pretend it never happened.¡± With the car now unlocked, Eileen quickly opened the door and fled. As she entered the entrance of the house, she saw Elsie descending the stairs wearing a captivating purple pajama set. Elsie greeted her ¡°Eileen, did you just get back? Your father. has a party tonight and won¡¯t be back for dinner. Let¡¯s have dinner together.¡± However, Eileen was too preupied to care about dinner. Her mind was filled with thoughts. of the tumultuous encounter she had with Eric earlier in the car. Eileen felt a strong sense of disgust, and her stomach churned, making her feel nauseous. 145 Just as she was about to decline Elsie¡¯s offer, Eric¡¯s voice came from behind, ¡°Idiot, don¡¯t you want your schoolbag?¡± Elsie turned to Eric at the door, surprised, ¡°Eric, weren¡¯t you at thepany? I just finished. cooking, and since I was bored, I decided to prepare dinner. Come and taste my cooking.¡± Elsie nced back at Eileen, who was still in shock, with a meaningful smile in her ¡°Eileen, what are you standing there for? Come over for dinner.¡± Feeling cornered, Eileen replied stiffly, ¡°Okay.¡± Sharon brought three sets of bowls and chopsticks over, and Eileen sat beside Elsie. eyes. ¡°I know you like sweet crispy meat, so I asked Sharon for advice to see if it suits your taste,¡± Elsie said, gesturing to her dish. Eileen looked down at Elsie¡¯s dish, took a bite, and forced a smile. ¡°Thank you, Aunt Elsie, it¡¯s delicious.¡± ¡°I¡¯m d you like it, I¡¯ll make it for you the next time.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Elsie suggested, ¡°Do you wanna have wine? Your stepfather brought a bottle of red wine yesterday. I told him to quit drinking, and it would be a waste if it¡¯s left untouched.¡± Eileen¡¯s te remained untouched, but she had eaten her rice quickly and began to cough violently. Concerned, Sharon hurried over, patting Eileen on the back, and said softly, ¡°Don¡¯t eat so fast, no one is going to take your food away. Drink some water.¡± Clutching her chest, Eileen coughed until she felt a dull pain in her chest. She managed to speak through the difort, ¡°Sharon¡­ Can you get me my painkillers? I forgot to take it.¡± ¡°Of course, hold on. I¡¯ll get it for you,¡± Sharon replied soothingly. Eileen had been injured for a long time, she felt as if her ribs were about to break all over again. Enduring the pain, Eileen said, ¡°Aunt Ginnie, Eric¡­ I¡¯m full. You can continue eating.¡± Elsie stood up, showing concern, ¡°Are you alright? Should I take you to the hospital?¡± ¡°No, there¡¯s no need. I¡¯ll be fine with some medicine. Fearing that Eileen might stumble on the stairs. Sharon helped her up to her room, leaving 2/15 Elsie and Eric alone. ¡°Are you satisfied?¡± Eric¡¯s tone was cold. Elsie casually brushed her wavy long curly hair behind her shoulder, ¡°I didn¡¯t do it on purpose. Who would have thought she couldn¡¯t handle a little teasing¡± ¡°Do you doubt that Eileen knew about it all along? You know I¡¯m cautious, and you don¡¯t want Eileen to know what¡¯s going on between us, right? Or are you suggesting that I should do something to her? Do you want to help me with that?¡± Eric asked. Elsie smiled, and she crossed her fingers as she rested her chin on them, her eyes exuding allure and seduction. ¡°Darling, you know I¡¯m not soft-hearted when ites to dealing with romantic rivals.¡± ¡°If she is really with Jasper, and if they get married¡­ Dealing with the Swan family would be enough for you, but now there¡¯s the Smith family too. Do you think you can handle it all?¡± Elsie questioned. Eric put down his cutlery, wiped his mouth, and replied, ¡°You have no right to judge me¡­. Put your shoes on.¡± Elsie smiled and moved her foot away from his calf. Eric stood up and left the room. Soon, the Audi drove out of the garage. That night, Eileen went to bed before eight o¡¯clock. Jasper still had not replied to her message, but she didn¡¯t let it bother her too much. The person she met earlier today likely was not him. If it had been Jasper, he would not have ignored her messages. Sharon had washed the ck coat and hung it outside on the balcony of Eileen¡¯s room. The school uniform with a missing button was stitched up and neatly folded by her bedside. In the morning, Eileen woke up feeling restless and sleepless throughout the night, haunted. by intermittent nightmares. In one of her dreams, Eric locked her in a room and treated her aggressively. He chained. both her legs to the head of the bed as he looked at her aggressively, ¡°Eileen, you¡¯re my wife. How could you like someone else?¡± ncing at the time, she saw it was only six o¡¯clock. Eileen decided to take a shower and read 3/5 a book for a while. It was not until 7.30 am. that she finally sent the messages she had intended to send and rushed to school. For the next few days, Eileen¡¯s life was rtively peaceful with little to do, and she rarely bumped into Eric. However, she noticed that her ssmates were increasingly distant and cold toward her. When collecting homework, the ss representatives would skip her on purpose, and when test papers were handed out, some students would purposely throw them on the ground, offering fake apologies like, ¡°I gave it to you, but you didn¡¯t catch it.¡± Though this happened more than once, Eileen did not let it affect her. During the weekly exams, she consistently performed well,nding in the middle to upper ranks of the ss. Eileen deliberately kept her grades from being too outstanding to avoid. drawing criticism from others. After thest ss ended, Eileen noticed Charlie and Albert approaching her from outside. Quickly stopping them, she asked anxiously, ¡°How Elm is doing?¡± Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. Charlie responded with disdain, ¡°It¡¯s none of your business! What¡¯s it to you? Are you really into Elm? Do you think you even stand a chance? Save yourself the embarrassment¡­ even if he liked dogs, he wouldn¡¯t like you. Albert patted Charlie¡¯s shoulder, saying, ¡°Let¡¯s go, don¡¯t waste your breath talking to her. She might cause us trouble¡± Eileen watched them leave. She was just genuinely concerned about Elm, why did they have to assume she liked him? Eileen carefully packed her review materials and ss notes into her schoolbag. She was on duty today, and she had decided to stay back for cleaning. As she silently ced her schoolbag down, she could not help but notice the messy corner behind her, prompting another sigh. Attending such an expensive school demanded maintaining cleanliness. Eileen¡¯s strong inclination towards cleanliness resurfaced, and she diligently cleaned the ssroom until it was almost dark outside. Even the chewing gum on the ground was meticulously removed using a ruler. Wiping the sweat off her forehead, she gazed at the ssroom, now clean and spotless, and felt an inexplicable sense of happiness. Eileen was thest oneing out from school, and her driver had been patiently waiting for her. As she was about to get in the car, she suddenly spotted a familiar, slender, and tall figure not far away on the street, apanied by three or five other people¡­ Chapter 35 Chapter 35 Chapter 35 Take Her To Die Together! If she was not wrong, these people were Albert, Charlie, and Elm! Eileen was standing right beside her car. Eileen was surprised. When did Vera be friends with Elm? Their rtionship seemed to be quite good. Eileen could not even imagine. Wasn¡¯t Vera like Eric? Did Eric know about her and Elm? However, it was not much rted to Eileen. She did not want to get involved in their case. Eileen saw the cyan tattoo on Elm¡¯s arm. She seemed to have seen it before on someone. But she couldn¡¯t remember who it was for a while. Charlie looked at the car and said, ¡°Elm, isn¡¯t that Eileen? Is she looking at you? She must definitely be interested in you.¡± ¡°Look at her jealous expression!¡± Eileen had already gotten into the car. Vera had also noticed that the car belonged to the Swan family. Two schools were just across the street, but there was a gap between heaven and earth. ¡°Eileen, do you know her?¡± Vera was gorgeous in her ke dress. Charlie raised her eyebrow and said, ¡°You know her too?¡± Vera nodded and said gently, ¡°I grew up with Eileen since childhood. But I went abroad for treatment and didn¡¯t return for many years. Are you two in the same ss?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll see she¡¯s a nice person.¡± Charlie could not believe her words. The atmosphere was awkward for a moment. Vera and Eileen actually had a connection. Vera even praised Eileen. The difference between them was huge. Vera was gorgeous but had a tragic background. She was an orphan and had a non-blood-rted brother. 111 1/4 r Compared to Eileen, it was somehow a pity. Someone like Vera should have been born into a rich family. Elm threw away the cigarette and said, ¡°Here is it.¡± The air was filled with the refreshing scent of camellia from the girl. Vera tidied up her hair and said, ¡°Thank you for sending me back.¡± ¡°Elm, take your jacket! Thank you!¡± Vera said. Vera was about to remove the jacket, but Elm stopped her and said, ¡°Take your time.¡± With amusement, Charlie said, ¡°Let¡¯se out and y more often.¡± Vera was stunned for a moment and said, ¡°Okay Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. The three of them watched Vera enter the school before leaving. Albert suddenly said, ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, Vera is the type you like! Elm, when do you n to date her?¡± Elm replied, ¡°She¡¯s a clever girl. Don¡¯t target her. Charlie said, ¡°Not interested? Do you prefer demonic bits like Eileen instead? Elm, be careful!¡± Elm retorted, ¡°Are you kidding me?¡± In the car¡­ Eileen suddenly remembered that the man who was forced to jump off the building by Eric was Elm! She recognized him from the tattoo. When Elm was in charge of the Smith Corporation, a severe car ident happened to him. Everyone thought that he was dead. After that, the Smith family hired a woman to take over thepany, but it didn¡¯tst long. After two years since Elm¡¯s ident, a massive explosion happened at the Smith family house. No one survived. A mystery person then acquired Smith Corporation. Eileen couldn¡¯t remember that person¡¯s name. 24 He was very secretive and always wore a mask. Eric said that the person¡¯s face was burned. But Eileen only remembered that he had a cyan tattoo on his hand. He had a temper as well. That tattoo was exactly the same as the tattoo of Elm¡¯s body. She realized that the man was Elm. If Elm was not dead. How did he have the money to acquire the Smith Corporation? It was a doubt. Secondly, How did Eric manage to monopolize the Smith family, which was in control of the economy of Hulbury? There was no trace left behind, either. Eileen carefully recalled what had happened that year. After Eric was in charge of the Smith family, he cooperated with the new president of the Smith family. The president was Elm, who had returned anonymously after the ident. Eric used arge amount of money from the Swan family and caused all of the shareholders. to be dissatisfied. The Swan family would have been bankrupt at any time due to the w in thepany¡¯s contracts. However, Eric was still able to attend the business banquets calmly. At that time, he probably gave all the funds from the Swan family to Elm to acquire the Smith Corporation. Elm signed a cooperation agreement with Eric. They had known each other for a long time. If Eric could acquire the Smith Corporation, why did he not do it himself and rely on Elm? Unless there was something else in this that she didn¡¯t know about! But Elm could never imagine Eric having such ambition. In less than a year, the Smith Corporation was genuinely bankrupt. He used the same tactics on Elm with the Swan family. When Elm found out, he was already in billions of dors of debt. At that time. Eileen watched him stand on the rooftop. He seemed helpless. Elm had even threatened Eileen. Elm said, ¡°Eric admit that I have lost. But your wife has to die with me!¡± 34 Police surrounded the rooftop, and everyone watched, including Sarah. Eileen would always remember what Eric said. He said, ¡°She¡¯s pregnant! Take her to die together! Isn¡¯t that a good deal for you?¡± Eileen felt hopeless. However, Elm suddenly pushed her away. He himself jumped down from the building. Eileen could not forget Elm¡¯s gaze at that moment until now. She even heard a faint ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Since then, Eric has acquired Smith Corporation and be itsrgest shareholder. Eric suddenly became invincible and manipted everything in Hulbury. But all of it was achieved by stepping on one corpse after another. Chapter 36 Chapter 36 Chapter 36 Let Me Sleep With You First. It was already nine in the evening after Eileen had finished her dancing ss. Eileen was exhausted as she got out of the car. She could not even walk well. Sharon immediately walked over and said, ¡°What happened? I¡¯ll give you a massage.¡± n and Sharon helped her sit on the sofa. Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. ¡°This must be a muscle cramp. I¡¯ll get you some safflower oil. Sharon applied the oil to Eileen¡¯s legs and asked, ¡°Doesn¡¯t your teacher know you¡¯re injured? Let me take a look.¡± Eileen replied, ¡°I don¡¯t me the teacher. I asked for extra training and identally strained. my legs.¡± Sharon nodded and said, ¡°Be cautious in the future; don¡¯t hurt yourself.¡± ¡°Does it feel better after the oil?¡± Eileen nodded and said, ¡°It¡¯s better. By the way, where are Aunt Elsie and Dad?¡± Sharon replied, ¡°Mr. Eric and Ms. Elsie were in the home.¡± Eileen¡¯s expression turned strange. She thought about whether she should tell Will about staying at school. But she knew it would be impossible. Eric had been staying at home recently. After applying the safflower oil, Eileen said, ¡°Sharon, you may return to rest.¡± ¡°I have to wait for Mr. Swan toe back. There are still foods in the pot. Can you walk?¡± ¡°I¡¯m much better; I can go up by myself.¡± Eileen said, ¡°How¡¯s the wound on your back?¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. Don¡¯t worry about me. Go and rest. You still have sses tomorrow.¡± Eileen tried to walk upstairs alone. She then realized how painful her leg was. The lights were off when she stood on the second floor. Eileen intended to run up to the fourth floor without stopping. She intentionally aggravated her footsteps when she reached the third floor. It was counted as a warning to them. A sudden, loud sound appeared when she stepped onto the third floor. r 13 ¡°Don¡¯t stop me, I want to drink.¡± The drunken Elsie came out of Eric¡¯s room in messy clothes. Eric held Elsie¡¯s arm and noticed Eileen. He said, ¡°Eileen, why did you return sote today?¡± Eileen did not turn around. She was afraid of seeing something she should not have seen. Eileen quickly said, ¡°I had an extra ss today. I¡¯ll go back to bed first.¡± Eileen rushed to her room. But after a while, a miserable scream came from upstairs. Something was not right. Eric grabbed Elsie¡¯s hair and said coldly, ¡°I¡¯ll find more men to apany you if you need it so much.¡± ¡°Are you crazy? Let go of me! It hurts!¡± Elsie shouted. Elsie could see that Eric was outraged. Eric said, ¡°If you dared to mess with me again, You¡¯d surely regret it next time.¡± Elsie was startled momentarily and said, ¡°Before that, let me sleep with you first.¡± ¡°You are crazy!¡± Eric threw her to the side and shouted. Eric grabbed her and went to the bathroom. He repeatedly dipped Elsie¡¯s head in the sink. Eileen felt that today was a bad day. She walked out of the bathroom. Unfortunately, her ankle spasmed in the fourth-floor stairwell. It was so painful. She returned to the bathroom to apply cold water to her ankle. Luckily, she brought the safflower oil upstairs. She applied and felt somehow better. It was almost eleven o¡¯clock. She was ready to sleep. Usually, Eileen would fall asleep at ten o¡¯clock. She immediately fell asleep as she was tired. The evening breeze was pleasant. At midnight, someone opened the door to the room. Eileen had no idea that someone had walked in. ||| 2/3 Eileen just felt that a burst offort had reced her pain. She couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°Hubby, keep rubbing.¡± Eric stopped moving as he heard these words. Chapter 37 Chapter 37 Chapter 37 Eric Almost Killed Her! After a while, Eileen opened her eyes and was instantly awake when she saw Eric. Eileen pulled her foot back and said, ¡°Eric, why are you. in my room?¡± Damn, what did she say just now? Eileen cringed in shock. ¡°When did youe in?¡± Eric held safflower oil and said, ¡°Come over. Let me massage your leg.¡± His gaze made Eileen feel ufortable. Eileen shook her head and said, ¡°It¡¯s okay, Eric. Sharon has already massaged it for me.¡± Eric frowned and said, ¡°Eileen, listen to me. I don¡¯t want to repeat any words.¡± Eric would do something even more inappropriate if Eileen rejected him. This was how they interacted in her past life. Eileen would have been obedient to Eric. Eileen had no choice but to take her leg out of the nket. It was delicate and pampered. Eric grabbed her ankle and slowly massaged it. ¡°It hurts!¡± ¡°Eric, please be gentle.¡± Eric replied calmly, ¡°Didn¡¯t you just say you were alright?¡± ¡°I thought it was going to be fine. Thank you, Eric!¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Eric continued to massage her swollen ankle. He had never treated her like this before. He was somehow attractive when he was serious. However, everyone had their side. She had almost seen all sides of Eric. However, she had never seen Eric behave like this. before. ¡°The safflower oil wasn¡¯t spread out evenly. Be more careful next time!¡± 1/3 Eileen felt that her pain seemed to have disappeared. She even felt a bit drowsy. Eileen said, ¡°Eric, I¡¯m better now! You should rest.¡± Indeed, her ankle had gotten better. Small matters like this had made her lose control. What was next? The next morning¡­ Eileen woke up when her rm rang on time. She quickly got out of bed. Her foot seemed to have recovered. She could not recall when Eric leftst night. Eileen felt anxious when she saw what happened to Elsiest night. She hesitated for a while before going downstairs. Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. The house was empty. Eileen quickly took a few slices of toast and prepared to leave. Sharon suddenly came out from the kitchen and said, ¡°Sit down and give breakfast. I¡¯ll call Mr. Eric.¡± Eileen replied, ¡°I¡¯m rushing! Sharon, I¡¯ll just have some toast.¡± ¡°Eileen, you should have a nutritious meal.¡± ¡°And don¡¯t forget your milk.¡± Eileen had already disappeared. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Eric walked down the stairs in a ck suit. Sharon said, ¡°Eileen left with only two slices of toast and no milk. She¡¯s still growing!¡± After breakfast, Eric went back to thepany. Sharon went to Elsie¡¯s room since she had not eaten breakfast yet, Sharon was stunned when she saw what happened in Elsie¡¯s room. Elsie fainted on the floor while her hair was all wet. She had a fever as well. Sharon quickly called a doctor toe over. The doctor examined Elsie and said, ¡°Nothing serious. Just amon fever. I¡¯ll prescribe some medicine for her.¡± ||| 2/3 After a while, Elsie woke up in pain. She recalled what happenedst night. Eric almost killed her; he is crazy! Elsie always thought that she would be better than Vera. That was why she kept teasing Eric. However, Elsie noticed something different about Eric. Eileen felt hungry during the final ss of the morning. She had eaten too little for breakfast. Walsh, who was at the front desk, took a small snack and said, ¡°Eat some snacks first. Shall we go to the cafeteria togetherter?¡± Was she talking to me? Eileen was unsure. Nobody wanted to talk to her in this ss. The ss bell rang suddenly. ¨C Petalburg High School had two and a half hours of lunch break. The students could do. whatever they wanted. Walsh had just been moved to sit in front of Eileen today. There were only a few people left in the ss. Walsh turned around and asked, ¡°Eileen, let¡¯s go to the cafeteria together!¡± Eileen replied, ¡°Sorry, but I bring my lunch daily.¡± Chapter 38 Chapter 38 Chapter 38 It¡¯s A Secret ¡°Eileen, why are you using a bag that contained dead rats not long ago? Aren¡¯t you afraid of getting sick?¡± A tall girl walked over and looked disdainfully at Eileen¡¯s lunchbox. ¡°You¡¯re the only one to bring food to school. Are you broke? We are rich! We can lend money. to you!¡± They continued to say, ¡°Walsh, she doesn¡¯t care about you. Stay away from her, or you may get involved in trouble.¡± Eileen stood up and shouted, ¡°What are you? Repeat it if you dare!¡± Eileen rarely got angry, but that doesn¡¯t mean she had no temper. Eileen looked at them and said, ¡°Lany, your family is in the building materials business, right? All three of you had cooperation in your familypanies, right? Do you still remember the quality of Peach Manor, built by your families? It was all shoddy work!¡± ¡°Three lives were lost at that time. Don¡¯t forget who settled it.¡± Eileen said, ¡°Do you want me to continue with more details?¡± Lany argued, ¡°Stop talking nonsense. They were dead due to idents! Eileen, I¡¯ll tell my dad to stop cooperating with your family if you keep talking nonsense!¡± Eileen smiled and said, ¡°Lany, it wasn¡¯t enough to be beautiful only. Remember to read more. books!¡± Many people who appear beautiful and bright might have dark secrets hidden inside. Will was always the one who took care of the dark secrets. Why were so many people afraid. of him? Because he was such a savage. If he were gone, the entire Hulbury¡¯s Market would be paralyzed by at least half. When someone in high positionsmitted a crime, someone was always there to wipe. their a*ses. The market was cruel andplicated. Eric¡¯s teachings made Eileen understand everything. Eileen did not want to argue with them anymore. She walked away. Walsh wanted to follow but was stopped by Pearl Pearl said, ¡°Being friends with her will make you the enemy of the whole ss. Think carefully Walsh shook off her hand and said, ¡°So what? Eileen did nothing wrong; she doesn¡¯t deserve. to be treated like this! It was you who started this in the first ce!¡± Eileen had already disappeared. No one knew where she had gone. Theke behind the school was crowded at night, with even fountain performances. Eileen had never seen it in real life before. It was beautiful. There were even several ck swans swimming in the middle of theke. ¡°Isn¡¯t that Ms. Swan?¡± Richard and Jasper were hanging around Petalburg High School. They came here quietly without notifying the school. Jasper said, ¡°Why is she here alone?¡± Richard said, ¡°Ms. Swan is used to being alone. She mighte out to take a break since now. is lunch break time.¡± They visited Petalburg High School for Ms. Swan. They originally nned to proceed with the surgery. However, it was postponed due to Mr. Jasper¡¯s leg problem, which was caused by ack of exercise. Jasper wanted to see Eileen. Eileen was the biggest motivation for Jasper. Jasper focused ahead and said, ¡°Wait for me here.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Jasper¡­¡± Eileen was sitting on the bench and eating her lunchbox. Suddenly, she noticed a shadow appearing in her eyes. She recognized the ic boy¡¯ she had met at the hospital thest time. But he was in a wheelchair. Eileen noticed a tattoo on his neck, which was under his cor. There was a tattoo hidden beneath his long sleeves as well. 2/3 Jasper said gently. ¡°What a coincidence! We meet again. Eileen was shocked and quickly swallowed the food in her mouth. Then she said, ¡°It¡¯s you! I have already washed your clothes! Are you a student here too? Why haven¡¯t I seen you before?¡± Jasperughed and said, ¡°Which one should I answer first?¡± Jasper continued to say, ¡°First, no need to rush to return my clothes; you can give them to me when we meet next time. ¡°Secondly, I was a student at Petalburg High School and had graduated two years before you. I came back today to see¡­ Eileen pondered and said. ¡°So you are a junior. I thought we were in the same batch. Eileen was not used to interacting with strangers. Jasper sensed her difort and said, ¡°This ce is beautiful, isn¡¯t it?¡± Eileen replied, ¡°Yes. I felt calm every time I sat here.¡± Jasper asked, ¡°Do you know why there¡¯s a one-armed angel in the middle of theke?¡± Eileen asked. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because one of its hands was broken by me.¡± Eileen fell silent. Was he serious? Jasper smiled and said, ¡°If I am not mistaken, I even left a message on the statue.¡±C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. Eileen asked, ¡°What did you leave?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a secret. Jasper replied. Chapter 39 Chapter 39 Chapter 39 Her Brother Is Fierce On the other side of theke. Charlie recognized Eileen. She was chatting with a person in at wheelchair, but the distance was too great to hear what they were saying. Eileen asionally smiled. Vera walked among them with a girl named Jasmine. Both girls walked together, followed by Elm and others. Jasmine was stunned as she looked around. ¡°Everything is so beautiful here! Theke here is even bigger than our school¡¯s football field.¡± ¡°Yes. I may get lost here if I don¡¯t know the way. Vera said. Charlie signaled Albert to look. Who else could it be if not Eileen? But¡­. Who was the man next to her? Howe he had never seen him before? Did Eileen find a substitute since Elm didn¡¯t like her? Why did she choose someone sitting in a wheelchair? Eileen was amusing. ¡°I appreciate it. Thank you for chatting with me so much.¡± Richard suddenly came over and whispered in Jasper¡¯s ear. Jasper frowned and said, ¡°I see¡­¡± After that, Jasper gently said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I have to go now to settle something urgent.¡± Eileen waved her hand and said, ¡°It¡¯s alright. I should be the one thanking you.¡± Eileen stood up and watched him leave. She never expected to meet him here. She thought he was the same age as her, but he turned out to be three years older. 1/2 However, chatting with him felt veryfortable. When Eileen was about to leave, Walsh suddenly appeared with a milk bottle. Walsh was sweating. She must have gone to the store to buy it for her. ¡°Eileen, I want to be friends with you. I¡¯m not the same as them! I apologize for today.¡± Walsh said while deeply bowing to Eileen. Walsh had an average appearance, with freckles on her chubby face. Her family were all officials, so she was not bullied at school. Eileen was outstanding and inherited her looks from her mother inparison. Walsh seemed like a typical student when standing beside Eileen. When Eileen was not smiling, she gave people the impression of being unfriendly. It was enchanting when she smiled. Eileen usually prefers not to smile, Eileen took the milk and said, ¡°Walsh, I¡¯m used to being alone. I may even be moved to Lumiose after graduation. A friendship takes time to maintain, and if there¡¯s no time for us maintain it, we¡¯ll still end up being strangers. ¡°You know my situation in the ss. I don¡¯t want to drag you down.¡± ¡°Lumiose was just a small city. Why would you go there? But these are not important. More importantly, even if you don¡¯t be my best friend, please don¡¯t ignore me when I want to chat with you.¡± Eileen nodded and said, ¡°I won¡¯t ignore you as long as my studies aren¡¯t disturbed.¡± ¡°Thank you for being so kind, Eileen!¡± Walsh happily said In fact, Eileen didn¡¯t quite understand Walsh¡¯s intentions. Eileen was not interested in making new friends. Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. When Eileen was about to leave, she saw Elm. Elm wore a ck jacket with a ster cast on her left hand. Eileen even saw Vera. Vera has often appeared in front of her recently. She somehow could not escape it. Walsh said, ¡°The person in front of us is called Vera. She was a new student here. I heard that Elm liked her. I¡¯m unsure whether the two of them are in a rtionship.¡± ¡°I heard that Vera even had a non biological brother. Her brother is fierce and does not allow Vera to start a rtionship. Her brother might not know Vera came to our school.¡± The brother she mentioned was Eric. ||| Eileen was curious and asked. ¡°How did you know all of these?¡± Walsh replied, ¡°I saw it on our school¡¯s forum. Someone even saw Elm get drunk and ride at motorcycle with Vera.¡± ¡°It only took one night. Everyone knew Vera. The person next to her was called Jasmine.¡± Eileen pondered for a while. She indeed did not know what Walsh had mentioned. She was not interested in knowing about others¡¯ gossip too. Eileen usually has a busy day filled with sses and extracurricrs. Vera and Elm¡­ It was impossible to even think about it. Apart from true love, Eileen would know that Eric had strayed first if Vera and Elm fell in love. There were still forty minutes before ss when Eileen returned to the ssroom. The time was enough toplete a set of test papers. What she learned was hers, and no one could help her. Eileen took out a set of English papers and started working on them. Suddenly, someone kicked her chair. Eileen said without looking up, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Hey!¡± Elm? Eileen raised her head and saw Elm with a face full of smiles. Eileen knew what it was about and quickly lowered her face. She said, ¡°What do you need?¡± This was the first time Elm saw her being so gentle. Chapter 40 Chapter 40 Chapter 40 Eileen, You Must Be Adopted Too! Elm kicked the fat kid who was sitting next to Eileen while he was sleeping, causing him to be stunned. He then sat next to Eileen, ¡°Go away.¡± The fat kid was from a nouveau riche family that had made their fortune from livestock farming, and he spent most of his time napping, There was usually a puddle of saliva on his papers. When the fat kid realized it was Elm, he shook his head and promptly made room for him. Elm dragged a chair and settled down beside Eileen. His other hand was in a ster cast, drawing attention to the limited edition sneakers of a well-known brand that he was wearing. Elm asked Eileen, ¡°Do you know Vera?¡± Eileen stopped writing and replied, ¡°Yes, my dad adopted her, and the person named Eric she mentioned earlier was also adopted by my dad. They¡¯re not rted to me by blood.¡± Charlie said with a teasing smile, ¡°So many of your siblings are adopted, Eileen¡­ you must be adopted too!¡± Eileen ignored herment. Elm lowered his eyes, looking thoughtful, and then he kicked Eileen¡¯s calf, asking. ¡°Why the hell are you asking her this?¡± Eileen frowned, ¡°I don¡¯t want to know about this, so what do you want? Elm If you want me to help you pursue Vera, I¡¯m sorry, but I can¡¯t do this. Your rtionship with her has nothing to do with me. I have no right to help you¡­ Now that the college entrance examination ising, you should focus on your studies.¡± Elm was taken aback by Eileen¡¯s response. He really wanted to chase Vera, but Eileen did not know what Elm was thinking about asking her to help. Elm smiled with a hint of coldness in his eyes, thinking to himself¡­ Who are you to judge me? Who do you think you are, huh? He kicked her table leg again, demanding. I¡¯m asking you if you want to help me.¡± Eileen frowned and looked at him, ¡°I don¡¯t have time, I¡¯m not gonna help!¡± This was her response. If she helped him, it would mean intervening in Eric and Vera¡¯s rtionship. Did she really. want to offend Eric again? Life was already challenging enough, did she need more trouble? Charlie came over and said, ¡°Eileen, this is a rare opportunity to show your skills, don¡¯t ignore compliments. Didn¡¯t you learn from thest time?¡± Albert also stepped forward, putting his hand on her shoulder and shaking his head. Eileen organized the test papers on her table. She could not stand dealing with these guys. ¡°I promised my dad that if I want to go to university, I must pass the exam; otherwise, I¡¯ll ruin my life,¡± Eileen said as she stood up with her schoolbag on her back. ¡°Elm¡­ Even though I can¡¯t help you, I can tell you that Vera¡¯s ultimate goal is to enroll at Hulbury University. If you get to Hulbury University, you can continue pursuing her, and no one will stop you.¡± The school might prohibit dating, but those rules were just nonsense to Elm! As Eileen was about to leave, she noticed Elm standing there suddenly. He had one foot on the wall behind her waist, leaning slightly forward, looking at her with narrow, mischievous. eyes, ¡°Eileen¡­¡± Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Feeling cornered, Eileen retreated back and forth, seeking shelter. ¡°What are you trying to do?¡± ¡°Do you like me?¡± Elm asked. Eileen was dumbfounded. In an instant, people who were initially afraid to watch the situation turned their heads to look at the scene unfolding in the corner of the ssroom. Eileen left the ssroom anyway; she could not bear staying where Elm was. She decided to do a few sets of papers to calm herself down. After finishing thest set of chemistry papers, Eileen could not calm down. She scratched. her head, trying to figure out what could have led Elm to think that she liked him. She wondered if Elm had eaten something or if there was something she did that gave him the wrong impression. Recalling thest time she helped him pick up things, Eileen remembered that someone. took a picture of Elm, and the situation got misunderstood and spread online. Eileen quickly took out her phone and checked the school¡¯s forum. She wanted to see what. people were saying about that incident and how it might have contributed to Elm¡¯s misunderstanding. To her surprise, the post on the forum had been hacked and could not be opened at all. Just then, she received a message from Walsh. ¡°Eileen, you¡¯re so brave. Elm¡¯s face turned pale after you punched him. He was sent to the infirmary after you left, but be careful, Elm might seek revenge. I think your attack was pretty ruthless. I think he was bleeding.¡± Eileen replied, ¡°Who told him to talk nonsense? If my dad finds out about this, I¡¯ll be in big trouble!¡± ||| Walsh continued, ¡°You really don¡¯t like Elm?¡± Eileen was perplexed, ¡°Why does everyone think I like him? What made you all believe that?¡± Walsh responded, ¡°The whole school knew that you bought flowers for Elm when you visited. him at the hospital. Didn¡¯t you know about this?¡± Eileen replied, ¡°What does that have to do with me liking him?¡± Walsh exined, ¡°Your identst time wasn¡¯t caused by Elm, but it was rted to him. We thought you and Elm would never interact, and some even bet that you would transfer to another school¡­ But then you sent him flowers. It gave us the impression that you like him, so we thought you ignored the fact that you were beaten and went to the hospital to see him.¡± Walsh soon sent another message. ¡°You really don¡¯t have a crush on Elm, do you?¡± Eileen looked at the phone screen, took a deep breath, and started typing a response. But before she finished, she deleted it again. She didn¡¯t fully trust Walsh, so she chose not to reveal her true thoughts. She decided not to exin any further. Eileen couldn¡¯t help but wonder if Elm¡¯s injury was caused by Will, and that¡¯s why she thought of sending him flowers. But such assumptions were not only disgraceful but also illegal¡­ She did not want to get involved in any misunderstandings or dangerous situations. Eileen decided to be more cautious and mindful of her actions. She turned off her phone and focused on writing down chemical forms, but a memory suddenly resurfaced in her mind¡­. ¡°Do you like me?¡± The smell of tobo from both Eric and Elm lingered in her thoughts, mixed with the scent. of perfume. At that moment, Eileen had not given much thought to it; she simply felt ufortable with anyone getting too close to her. Elm crossed her boundaries, making her upset, so she pushed him away forcefully and said to him, ¡°You¡¯re sick,¡± before leaving. To her surprise, Elm ended up in the infirmary due to an open wound from their encounter. To avoid further rumors, Eileen decided not to be involved with him anymore. Instead, she spent the rest of her time alone in the library until school was over. At Vera¡¯s ss in Hulbury High School, Vera¡¯s desk was filled with love letters as usual. Her drawer was also filled with snacks, more than she could possibly eat on her own. 3 Jasmine, her desk mate and roommate, had a good rtionship with her¡­. r Chapter 41 Chapter 41 Chapter 41 I Got You Into Trouble! Fortunately, Vera¡¯s school was not as strict as imagined when it came to snacks. Although they were not allowed to eat in ss, snacks were allowed on the school premises. Vera found herself with an abundance of snacks Unsure of whom they belonged to, she had two options either share them with her ssmates or share them with her do Vera had a wonderful personality, she was always ready tough and excelled academically. Even as a transfer student, she had not lost the knowledge she gained while studying abroad. In fact, she was first ced in his ss and second ce in her entire grade during thest exam. Other students often sought her help, and Vera was more than happy to teach them. She never hesitated to share her notes with ssmates and was liked by everyone in the ss, making fier the best student in her teachers¡¯ eyes. As the evening self-study ss ended at 9.40 p.m. Vera tidied up her belongings and asked Jasmine. ¡°Jasmine, I¡¯m going to the bathroom, do you wanna go together?¡± ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll go with you.¡± Jasmine took Vera¡¯s hand As they left the ssroom, they noticed that many students had already left the school. premises one after another, and the sensor lights in the corridor automatically lit up as they walked by. Jasmine said. ¡°Vera, I¡¯ll wait for you outside.¡± Vera nodded and replied, ¡°Okay. As Vera made her way to the bathroom, a group of people approached from the other end of the corridor. The leader. Felicia, caught Jasmine¡¯s attention. She knew Felicia as the school¡¯s big sister and a skilled volleyball yer who received special training. Jasmine could not understand how these delinquents, especially Felicia, who was supposed to be training most of the time, were here. She felt wary as they approached. Felicia confronted Jasmine, ¡°Hey shortie, where¡¯s Vera?¡±. Feeling intimidated, Jasmine stammered. ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know.¡± She knew it would not be good if Felicia knew where Vera was. Felicia was not convinced and retorted, ¡°You don¡¯t know? I saw hering in with ¡°Flush¡± Just then, they heard the sound of the toilet flushing, and Vera came out from one of the cubicles asking. ¡°Jasmine, I think I¡¯m on my period, do you have any pads. However, the 14 hostile group outside the toilet was not friendly, and Vera was perplexed, ¡°You¡­ You¡¯re¡­¡± Felicia used Vera, ¡°So you¡¯re the transfer student who¡¯s trying to seduce Elm. I heard that Elm took you for a motorcycle ride. I didn¡¯t expect you to be an expert at seducing people!¡± Vera grew uneasy, stepped back, and asked, ¡°What do you want from me?¡± Felicia replied coldly, ¡°You¡¯ll find out soon enough.¡± As Felicia approached, Jasmine rushed forward and pounced on Felicia, ¡°Vera, run!¡± However, Vera¡¯s path was blocked by others. Felicia effortlessly lifted Jasmine away and warned, ¡°I was gonna let you go¡­ But don¡¯t to escape now!¡± They were then dragged into the bathroom by the taller girls. you try After fifteen minutes, Felicia grabbed Vera¡¯s hair and forced her to raise her head while taking. photos of her injured and vulnerable face with her phone. She even took more humiliating pictures and saved them on her phone. Upon finishing, Vera rushed to check on Jasmine¡¯s injuries, but Jasmine was unconscious and could not be woken up no matter what. Felicia, satisfied with her actions, sent the photos to her contacts and left. She nced at Jasmine with a disgusted expression before leaving and gestured at the other girls following her. The person understood what Felicia meant and brought a basin of cold water, pouring it directly on Jasmine, who was unconscious. The sudden cold shock caused Jasmine to wake instantly, coughing as she choked on the water. up Felicia looked down at the disheveled and scratched faces of Vera and Jasmine and med them for their actions, ¡°Don¡¯t me us, Vera. However, you should me the people for spreading rumors and do something they shouldn¡¯t. And of course, your biggest mistake was to seduce Elm.¡± ¡°My little sister likes Elm¡­ If you dare to flirt with Elm and his friends, I might share the photos I took with everyone¡­¡± Felicia unted her phone. They had taken pictures of what happened earlier, as well as Vera¡¯s bare body. If these pictures were shared on the inte, her life would be ruined. Before leaving, Felicia warned Vera, ¡°My sister told me to say this to you. We can¡¯t touch Eileen but she really made us mad! That¡¯s why we re taking our anger out on you! You have to take the pain no matter how much it hurts! Oh, that¡¯s right, don¡¯t you dare of calling the 2/4 police or telling the teachers¡­ It¡¯s useless!¡± Vera¡¯s thoughts were in turmoil, her eyes fluttered¡­ Se¡­ Eileen¡­ Petalburg High School? Jasmine hugged Vera, frightened and in tears, ¡°Vera, what do I do? If my parents saw the photos, they¡¯ll think I caused trouble at school and will beat me up when I go back.¡± Vera straightened her clothes and hugged Jasmine, offering reassurance, ¡°It¡¯s alright, don¡¯t be scared¡­ I¡¯ll find a way.¡± ¡°Yes¡­ I¡¯m sorry¡­ I got you into trouble!¡± Jasmine cried, feeling guilty. ¡°We¡­ we¡¯re good. friends! I should have protected you¡­ but Jasmine¡­ I¡¯m really scared¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, don¡¯t be afraid¡­ I¡¯m here,¡± Vera responded calmly, her cold gaze fixed on the ke tiled wall. She spoke with the utmost gentleness, trying tofort Jasmine despite the resentment she felt. N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. Jasmine could not perceive the resentment in Vera¡¯s eyes. ¡°Okay, don¡¯t cry. I¡¯ll help you up. Let¡¯s go back to the dorm and rest. I¡¯ll figure out a way tomorrow,¡± Vera said as he lifted Jasmine gently. Jasmine nodded, still weeping. ¡°Yeah.¡± Except for two obvious p marks on her face, Jasmine had no obvious injuries. On the other hand, Vera¡¯s injuries were more severe. Her face was scratched with nails, and even his eyelids were bleeding. As Vera helped Jasmine up, she suddenly felt a sharp pain in her lower abdomen. She released her grip, and she copsed on the ground, clutching her lower abdomen in agony. Concerned for Vera, despite her own headache, Jasmine hurriedly checked on him. She asked, ¡°Vera, what¡¯s wrong? Are you okay?¡± Vera was in so much pain that he could not respond immediately. After a while, a pool of red. blood flowed out of her pants. Jasmine¡¯s eyes widened in shock, ¡°You¡­ you¡¯re bleeding, Vera! What should we do?¡± Hearing themotion, the teacher on duty rushed over with a shlight. She asked. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Are you still in the bathroom? Which ss and grade are you in?¡± 3/4 Feeling relieved that help had arrived, Jasmine said, ¡°Wait a minute, I¡¯ll find a teacher right away. Hang on, Vera¡­¡± Chapter 42 Chapter 42 Chapter 42 Vera Was Beaten Up In the infirmary¡­. ¡°Fortunately, it was just a false rm. It¡¯s nothing serious except that you¡¯re on your period. It¡¯s nothing serious, but the injuries on your faces¡­ The doctor in the infirmary nced at the teacher on duty beside him. The teacher on duty stood up and said, ¡°Mr. Leon, you should go back first! I¡¯ll take care of the two of them.¡± ¡°Okay, Mr. Cory, then I¡¯ll go back first. The medicine has been prescribed, and it¡¯s on the table. Don¡¯t forget to take it.¡± The teacher on duty was Duncan, the director of the moral education department. He was a middle- aged man in his forties, with a big belly and sses. He looked. There were blood stains on his clothes when he carried Vera to the infirmary. Vera was on the first day of her period when she experienced cramps. She used to have painkillers on her, but the painkillers were in her schoolbag, and she did not take them yet. Duncan kept looking at Vera. Vera lowered his eyes and held a ss of warm water in his hand, she did not know what Duncan was thinking. Jasmine¡¯s face was much better after just applying the medicine. She looked at Vera with a distressed face, ¡°Jasmine, are you feeling better? You got bullied because I was useless.¡± Vera said in a weak voice, ¡°It¡¯s not your fault, sir. It¡¯s mine, I¡¯m the one who got you involved Duncan nced at his watch: ¡°It¡¯s almost eleven o¡¯clock, go back and rest first, I will tell your homeroom teacher about what happened to you tomorrow.¡± Speaking of which, he had already walked to the bed where Vera rested, and squatted halfway, ¡°Vera, I¡¯ll carry you back to the dormitory.¡± Vera took the water ss and shook it tightly, ¡°No need, sir, I¡¯m much better and I can walk by myself.¡± Duncan insisted, ¡°How can this be? I¡¯m worried about you!¡± As he said that, he stretched out. his hand and was about to reach out to Vera. Vera¡¯s tone suddenly turned cold, ¡°Sir, as I said, I can walk by myself!¡± Jasmine was taken aback by the unfamiliar look in Vera¡¯s eyes. She seemed like apletely different person from the Vera she knew. It felt like an illusion when Vera¡¯s soft tone and faint. smile vanished in an instant. She pleaded. ¡°Jasmine, can you please help me up?¡± < 14 Startled for a moment, Jasmine quickly understood the situation and replied, ¡°Ah¡­ okay..¡± Vera lifted the nket, got out of bed, and put on her shoes. Duncan coughed awkwardly, but his eyes still held that inappropriate look he had shown earlier, appreciating the girl¡¯s tender skin and body shape. As they left the infirmary and passed by the ssroom, Jasmine went upstairs to get Vera¡¯s painkiller. Duncan spoke to the dormitory caretaker, and the door was quickly opened for them. When they entered the dormitory, the lights were already turned off. Among the six upants, a couple of people were still awake, studying under a small deskmp. ¡°Why did you twoe back thiste?¡± one of them asked. N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. Snowie noticed Jasmine¡¯s face and eximed, ¡°Oh my, Jasmine, what happened to your face?¡± Vera went to her locker and searched through her pajamas. To her dismay, she found that some of the skin care products Eric had bought for her were missing. These were the Lae products he brought back from his business trip to Francest time, and although they might not be very expensive for her, they held sentimental value. She nced at the missing items but chose not to say anything. Instead, she looked into the cab once more and noticed that her usual night dress was also gone. ¡°Jasmine, I forgot to tell you. When I came back to the dormitory today, it was dark, and I identally wore your night dress. Sorry about that,¡± Snowie exined. ¡°And about the skin care products, Jamie and the others borrowed them, and they¡¯ve been working really well. She hasn¡¯t had any e since then.¡± Snowie asked nervously, ¡°You¡­ don¡¯t mind, right?¡± Jasmine expressed her dissatisfaction, saying, ¡°You are going too far. Vera usually shares. snacks with you, which is already very kind of her. But now, you¡¯re touching her things without her permission.¡± Kelly, who upied the upper bunk next to them, chimed in, ¡°It¡¯s not even your stuff.¡± Someone else in the dormitoryined, ¡°Why are you making so much noise? We¡¯re sleeping!¡± Vera tried to diffuse the tension, saying, ¡°It¡¯s alright, just use it. Jasmine, don¡¯t be angry. Eric will buy more for me when they¡¯re used up. In the dim light, Vera¡¯s expression was hard to discern, and her tone did not betray any annoyance, so they let the matter go. 2/4 dier 100teen, james nhuricentood the ethanon and repbed. Ah¡­okay. ared the binnege pot otcobbedianptionierssocs Duncan coughed awkward btn til held that inapreorintjobkin na showered appreciating the girl¡¯s tender ad bodyshape. wielt theann mary and passed by the kisscon nine went upstairs to get Vera¡¯s tier. Duncan socken the deemooreanrutenddie door was quickly opened for in the 25 Jas1111 ¡°Shh. Later they entered the dominorythee tints were hiredgumed of. Among the six ants, a couple of people were still awakesse aer a small deskamp. did you twoe back this kuroneof teenaakse.. enoticed jasmine¡¯s ice and exchanced Ohmyamme what happened to your facer ent to her jocker and searched through ceramdummy, sheddond that of the skin care products Find had bought donnerweening. These were the reproducts he brought backttroni isis businessed racedastingand ahhough nght not be very expensivedor hen thevickelssentieeni vitice, inced at the missing items but chose not to say nyingi istede doobed intoahee conce inore and noticed that her usualichtdress washigeone. 1. I forget to sell you. When i came back notes deemoorya¨»duvawwadant, ond 1 nally were your night dress, borry about that 5500 neepblindd Andabout the skitin roducts, Jamie and the others borrowed them and teeyve beenwritin realit well! sn¡¯t had any e since then tasked nervously, ¡°You¡­ don¡¯t mind, right?¡± pressed her insatisfaction saving. You are goingtodian Vera usulitiyishness witis/ voogwinch is already very kind of her. But nowy you redoucing pherhinges utter permission w upied the upper bunk next to them, chimed in, it¡¯s not even consu neebeenthedioemoryined. Why are you making sonh poise Were 190 to husene tension, saving. It¡¯s alright justesedt jasmine, dont beanervide Vencedorovhenicey reused up.¡± a cupression was hard to discerisiertone tiid not betray any In their impression, Vera had a good temper and rarely got upset with others. Vera retrieved some unopened skin care products from under the cab and handed them. to Jasmine, saying, ¡°You can have some too. These are for you, don¡¯t be angry.¡± Jasmine hesitated, ¡°I can¡¯t ept it, it¡¯s too expensive.¡± ¡°Shh, let¡¯s not wake the others again.¡± Later, Vera went to the bathroom to freshen up and returned to the dormitory, ready to sleep. She put on her pajamas and applied a heat pack to her abdomen and headed to rest. When Jasmine was done washing up, Vera was already fast asleep.. The next morning, Vera skipped the 5.40 a.m. run due to her period. When Jasmine touched. Vera¡¯s forehead, she noticed that her whole body felt cold, something was wrong. ¡°Vera, are you alright? I¡¯ll go find the dormitory caretaker right away.¡± ¡°No¡­ no need. I¡¯m in too much pain. I¡¯ll just take some painkillers.¡± Vera sat up on the bed and noticed that her worn-out nightgown had been returned. She looked at it, frowned, but remained silent. After taking the painkillers, Vera requested, ¡°Please, help me ask the head teacher for a leave of absence for self-study this morning,¡± Jasmine asked about breakfast, to which Vera shook her head, saying, ¡°I won¡¯t eat. I don¡¯t have much appetite. Thank you, Jasmine. If it weren¡¯t for you, I wouldn¡¯t know what to do.¡± Jasmine replied, ¡°It¡¯s okay. You should rest and take care of yourself.¡± In the bathroom, two girls who had just returned from running and exercising were washing up and gossiping, deliberately leaving the door open so that Jasmine could hear them. ¡°Look at Jasmine, always so eager to please others. If you give her something delicious, she bes a total pushover.¡± ¡°Yeah, and have you seen her face? It¡¯s nothing special. Who knows if those skin care products are even genuine? She¡¯s just trying to look good.¡± Jasmine wanted to confront them, but Vera held her back, saying, ¡°Don¡¯t bother. The exams are coming up, and there¡¯s no need to get involved in such petty matters.¡± At Vera¡¯s school, there was a strict rule against fighting, and getting caught in a fight could. lead to expulsion. They needed to focus on their studies during this crucial time. | 3/4 News of Vera being beaten spread rapidly throughout the grade in less than a day. If it were someone else, they might have gone unnoticed, but being a good-looking and high- achieving student like Vera, it was hard not to be noticed Since her arrival, Vera had quickly be a student representative and even delivered a speech on the podium. Her presence was hard to forget Eileen was aware that Vera was being bullied, and she knew that Elm woulde to her for revenge As a result, her lunch and test papers were sabotaged. Chapter 43 Chapter 43 Chapter 43 What Can You Do to Us? Eileen¡¯s frown deepened as she looked at the scattered rice on the ground. What¡¯s Elm up to now¡­ ¡°Elm, what are you doing?¡± Eileenined, attempting to pick up the lunchbox from the ground. Before she could grasp it firmly, Elm kicked it again, causing the lunchbox to fall once more. Elm then grabbed Eileen¡¯s cor from behind and lifted her up, forcefully pressing her against the wall. His hand on her neck tightened, and he demanded, ¡°What the hell did you talk about behind me?¡± Eileen¡¯s back was pressed against the corner of the window sill, causing some difort, but she kept her cool gaze on Elm. ¡°What do you want to say?¡± Elm¡¯s eyes were colder than ice, and he replied, ¡°Vera was beaten up because of that mouth of yours, and now she¡¯s in the hospital. You imed she¡¯s your sister. Is this how you treat your sister, Eileen?¡± ¡°If you have something to say, say it to me directly. Don¡¯t go around spreading rumors. behind her back!¡± ¡°If anything happens to Vera, I¡¯ll make sure you regret it!¡± Despite Elm¡¯s tightening grip, Eileen remainedposed. If it was not for the crowd, she believed Elm would strangle her to death. She had faced much greater challenges in her life, and Elm¡¯s immature threats did not scare her at all. Moreover, having experienced death once before, she was not afraid of dying again. Struggling to breathe under Elm¡¯s grasp, Eileen managed to grab his hand and said, ¡°Elm¡­.. calm down!¡± Albert intervened, saying, ¡°That¡¯s enough. Eileen is not stupid enough to harm Vera. They¡¯re like family. There¡¯s no need to use her.¡± Eileen¡¯s face turned red, and she felt the pain from Elm¡¯s grip, pleading. ¡°Elm¡­ Elm¡­ it hurts¡­ let¡­ let go!¡± Albert stepped in, saying, ¡°That¡¯s enough, do you want to escte the situation? Have you forgotten what happened to youst time?¡± ||| 1/4 < Elm¡¯s hostility gradually subsided, but the coldness in his eyes remained. He finally let go of Eileen. Eileen covered her neck, coughing from the pressure she felt. ¡°Don¡¯t think that having Jasper cover you means I won¡¯t do anything to you!¡± Elm left at warning and stormed out of the room. Jasper? Does Elm know Jasper?! Eileen wanted to ask for rification, but after considering the situation, she decided to let it go for now. It wouldn¡¯t be Swire to confront him in his current state of mind, driven by anger towards Vera. After taking a few deep breaths outside, Eileen felt better and straightened up. She thanked Albert. ¡°Thank you.¡± Albert just nced at her and replied, ¡°No problem.¡± Charlie added, ¡°You deserved it!¡± With Vera being bullied by Elm and now herself, Eileen could not help but wonder what kind of revenge Eric might have nned for her. The thought sent a chill down her spine. Eileen¡¯s mind immediately turned to Lany and the others. The only conflict she had was with them recently, and she could not think of anyone else. In the women¡¯s bathroom, the three girls were fixing their makeup, adjusting their bow ties, and curling their lips in satisfaction. Lany was humming a cheerful tune, seemingly pleased with herself. Daniel eximed in surprise, ¡°You seem to be in a good mood today!¡± Lany lifted her skirt, giving a smug smile, ¡°Not bad, not bad at all.¡± Pearl chimed in, ¡°Did you see the pictures I posted in the group? C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. Lany responded, ¡°Yes, I saw them. I¡¯m very satisfied. Keep up the good work, Pearlie.¡± Pearl wiped off the excess lipstick from the corner of her mouth and said, I¡¯ve been annoyed with Eileen for a long time. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that her brother is still handsome, I would have had someone beat her upst time.¡±. 2/4 Lany propped herself up on the sink, looking intrigued, ¡°You mean that cold and aloof handsome guy from the charity banquet? That¡¯s her brother?¡± Pearl nodded, ¡°Yes, that¡¯s the one. My dad told me he¡¯s a minion raised by Will. I even tried to bribe him with money, but he didn¡¯t want it. He even ignored me when I invited him for at drink.¡± ¡°He¡¯s just a minion, who cares? Whatever!¡± Daniel chimed in. ¡°I heard that Eric cares more about Vera than Eileen. They were orphans who grew up together in an orphanage and used to scavenge for food together. But my dad warned me not to get close to Eric. He didn¡¯t say why though.¡± Daniel shrugged, ¡°I saw Eric at the barst time. He¡¯s good-looking, but he looks a bit older. I prefer younger men!¡± Lany¡¯s interest was piqued by the mention of Eric. She loved a challenge and couldn¡¯t resist. pursuing a man who seemed unattainable. ¡°Do you think Eric wille after us after something happened to Vera?¡± Pearl shrugged, ¡°She¡¯s just Vera. I don¡¯t think Eric would dare to touch us. I¡¯ve talked to my dad. If Will comes after him, my dad will handle it for me¡­¡± Suddenly, the door of the toilet was kicked open, and Eileen stormed in, dering, ¡°I knew it was you who did it!¡± The three girls looked over, and upon seeing Eileen, Lany twisted her hair yfully and. smirked, ¡°Well, well, look who it is¡­ Eileen, since you¡¯ve overheard everything, that¡¯s right¡­. we did it! We were the ones who got Vera beaten up. What can you do to us, Eileen?!¡± Eileen ignored Lany¡¯s threat and asked sternly. Do you want me to call the police or inform the teacher? Should I report this to your parents?¡± Lany and the other two burst into mockingughter, ¡°Oh, we¡¯re really scared!¡± Without hesitation, Eileen took action. She stepped forward and swiftly delivered at backhanded p to Lany¡¯s face. Before Lany could react, another p followed, knocking her to the ground. Lany was stunned and tried to regain herposure, ¡°Eileen, how dare you hit me! Do you know who I am? You¡¯re asking for trouble!¡± Lany was furious, ¡°What are you two waiting for? Pin her down!¡± she ordered Pearl and Daniel. The girls tried to attack Eileen together, but she was agile and anticipated their moves, managing to kick both of them. ¡± 34 Eileen rolled up her sleeves, facing Lany again, and the fight ensued. However, being outnumbered, Eileen was at a disadvantage. Despite her previous self- defense training, she was not strong enough to handle three opponents simultaneously. Soon, she found herself overwhelmed and injured, as her old wounds acted up again. One disadvantage Eileen had was that she did not keep her fingernails long. Due to her interest in learning the piano, she had them trimmed short, which turned out to be at hindrance in the fight. Chapter 44 Chapter 44 Chapter 44 How Much Wine Does It Take To Please Him? Eric received a call from the school and learned that Vera had entered the hospital. The meeting was halfway through, and the rest was left to Gavin to deal with the aftermath, so Eric rushed to the hospital immediately. Vera was lying on the hospital bed as she had an iv drip, her face was a little pale. When she saw Eric, she looked like a little girl who did something wrong, and she did not know how to face him. She lowered her head, ¡°Eric¡­ I¡¯m sorry, I caused you trouble again.¡± When Eric saw the wound on Vera¡¯s face, an imperceptible coldness shed quickly in his obsidian eyes, ¡°What did the doctor say?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine, except for the abrasions, I just have some physical difort. The doctor told me to drink more hot water.¡± At this time, a middle-aged woman in her thirties came in from the door, holding a medicine list in her hand, ¡°Are you Vera¡¯s brother?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Eric replied. ¡°Vera¡¯s brother, pleasee with me, I have something to tell you.¡± Outside the ward, Ashley told Eric everything that happenedst night. She exined that she would also find the parents of both parties to talk about it as this was a big issue. In addition to the students of her own school, there were also students from Hulbury High School that were involved. Ashley continued, revealing that these things had happened before, but due to some pressure, it did not work out in the end. As for why, she said that everyone is an adult and knows it well. If he made things bigger, it would only be moreplicated, and it would be out of control. Eric¡¯s eyes turned cold. ¡°Did you mean that you want to let this matter go away? Is this your attitude as a teacher?¡± Ashley spoke calmly, neither angry nor annoyed Vera¡¯s brother, I have also spoken with the other party¡¯s parents Regardless of the cost, they are willing to bear it, and Felicia has acerely apologized to Vera If you find this serdement method unsatisfactory we can further at school Eric checked bus watcleand resporated marold one. Thave general understanding of the Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. situation. I will investigate the reasons further. However, Vera is not feeling well, so we¡¯ll end the discussion for today. I¡¯ll free up my whole day tomorrow. Miss Nyra, as a businessman, I value efficiency. Unnecessary processes are not needed. If the school¡¯s proposed solution doesn¡¯t satisfy me, I will find my own way to achieve my satisfaction.¡± His words were sharp and decisive, leaving no room for ambiguity. Eric showed respect to Miss Nyra before returning to Vera¡¯s ward. Ashley was left standing there, feeling immobilized by Eric¡¯s words. She shivered as if a cold wind had blown through her entire body. ¡°How did it go, Eric? I didn¡¯t cause you trouble, did I? I didn¡¯t know why they attacked me. I didn¡¯t do anything wrong. Please don¡¯t be mad at me!¡± After speaking with the teacher, Eric entered the ward, his demeanor different with Vera. He gently stroked her hair and assured her, ¡°I¡¯m not mad at you. Have you taken the painkiller?¡± ¡°Yes, I took it, and I feel much better now,¡± Vera replied. Eric had not been fully aware of the severity of her menstrual cramps, as he had been overseas for most of the time and rarely came to see her. Feeling guilty, he said, ¡°I already arranged for you to take a leave from school so you could rest in the hospital.¡± ¡°Eric, I can go back to school after this IV bag is finished. You don¡¯t need to worry about me,¡± Vera said. Eric touched her hand, feeling it was a little cold, and decided to slow down the IV drip. He looked at the infusion bag and said, ¡°I¡¯ll take you home.¡± Vera protested, ¡°It¡¯s not necessary, Eric! You have to go back to school tomorrow. I don¡¯t want to dy your work. I can go back to school myself.¡± Eric turned the scroll wheel down and replied, ¡°You won¡¯t be going back to school. I¡¯ll ask Sharon to take care of you.¡± ¡°But what about Eileen? She¡¯s closest to Sharon. Vera expressed her concern. Eric¡¯s lips curled up slightly, and he said, ¡°The Swan family has many servants who can take care of her. If Eileen refuses, I¡¯ll find a solution.¡± After Ashley left, Eric waited in the quiet hospital ward and eventually fell asleep while waiting for the IV infusion. During his sleep, Eric¡¯s phone vibrated in his pocket. He muted the phone and saw that it was a call from his father, Will. Stepping out of the ward, Eric answered the call, ¡°Dad¡­¡± Taleen got into trouble at school, go and see what happened!!¡± Will sounded irritated. 24 ¡°Eileen? Okay, I¡¯ll handle it,¡± Eric replied calmly, though his expression turned serious. Will ended the call. With Vera in the hospital, Eric couldn¡¯t leave her side, but he needed to address his other daughter¡¯s situation as well. Eric immediately called Gavin, who promptly answered the phone, ¡°Mr. Snow.¡± ¡°How long will it take to settle thepany¡¯s affairs?¡± Eric asked. Gavin replied, ¡°The meeting just ended.¡± ¡°Head to Petalburg High School right away,¡± Eric instructed. Gavin inquired, ¡°Did Miss Eileen get into trouble again?¡± Eric responded, ¡°Sort out the problem and bring her to the apartment to see me.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Snow,¡± Gavin acknowledged. It was not the first time Eileen caused trouble, but this time Eileen¡¯s actions were particrly ill-timed. She managed to offend the daughters of three important business partners, and thepany still had three contracts pending finalization, which now seemed unlikely to happen. Eileen¡¯s troubles had often led toplications for the chairman and the general manager in the past. This time, with the three contracts on the line, it was a significant concern. Gavin swiftly made his way to Petalburg High School and easily found the conference room next to the principal¡¯s office. The room had a transparent ss door, allowing a view inside, but the sound instion was good, preventing Gavin from hearing the ongoing discussion. within. As Gavin entered the conference room, he was taken aback by the intense scene unfolding before him. Eileen had already climbed onto the conference table and was holding onto another girl¡¯s hair tightly. He took a deep breath, mentally preparing himself for the difficult task ahead. He wondered how much effort he would have to put into smoothing things over with the other party¡¯s boss. If the chairman himself had to step in, Eileen would undoubtedly face severe consequences. Just then, a teenager in a wheelchair was brought into the scene, apanied by several men in ck suits carrying briefcases, Gavin felt a sense of familiarity when he saw the neer, as if he had encountered him before. Filern¡¯s fare was swollen, and her eyes still burned with fury, but it seemed disconnected from the situation She threatened Say it again and Ille over and beat you again. 31 believe me!¡± The girl, Lany, was in tears, seekingfort from her mother. She pleaded, ¡°Mom, look at what she did to me! My face, my hair¡­ you have to take revenge for me!¡± Without wasting any time, Gavin swiftly pushed open the door of the conference room. The people inside, around seven or eight of them, were trying to restrain Eileen, who appearedpletely out of control. Gavin spoke calmly, ¡°Excuse me!¡± Chapter 45 Chapter 45 Chapter 45 All Hell Breaks Loose Once Again ¡°Why did I think it was someone else? Gavin, where is Will? His daughter beat up my daughter so badly, and sent you here to cover things up? You all clearly don¡¯t take my family seriously,¡± ¡°Mrs. Gates, I wouldn¡¯t dare! I came here to solve the problem properly. Regarding the matter about Ms. Swan, I will personally apologize to everyone here. Whateverpensation you need, Mr. Swan and I will definitely do our best topensate!¡± Gavin noticed that there was a scratched bloodstain on Eileen¡¯s face. It looked pretty bad and her hair was all over the ce. Her opponent didn¡¯t fare that well either. Usually, when something bad happens to Eileen, Eric would be the one dealing with things. But this time, the one in Eric¡¯s ce is Gavin instead. Eileen had a feeling that Eric had to console Vera. After all, she was injured too. Eric must be very distressed. gone Teresa Gates let out a cold snort. ¡°Money? And you said that Mr. Swan wasn¡¯t trying to just put us off. You¡¯re just working for a corruptedpany, I¡¯ll tell you that! If Will Swan does not get over here, beg on his knees and apologize right this instant, I will tell my husband about everything that happened and he will cancel whatever coboration that we have. And, if I recall correctly, the project that we gave you to work on, we can just simply look for anotherpany to do it for us!¡± Gavin had to do damage control. ¡°Mrs. Gates, please calm down first. Ms. Gates and Ms. Swan are still kids. It¡¯s very normal for kids their age to fight a little. If this little incident affects the cooperation between the two families, it will hurt our harmonious ties with each other.¡¯ Teresa ms her hand on the table. ¡°I¡¯m telling you right now, it already has! Get Will Swan on the phone right now and tell him to get here immediately!¡± gave ¡°Who said I was friends with that loser? How can apany even be run by a broke a¡¯s bumpkin¡­ Does she even have manners? And how dare shey her hands on me! Who her the right? Even if she knelt and kowtowed and apologized to me, I will not forgive her. And you, you¡¯re nothing but just a dog raised by the Swan family. When is it your turn to speak to us here in our own house?¡± Lany sneered. Gavin corrected the cement of the sses on the bridge of his nose. ¡°Ms. Gates, please watch your words.¡± Lany smiled contemptuously ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Did I say something wrong? You¡¯re just the Swan family¡¯s dog¡±¡± Suddenly, a shoe came flying out of nowhere, andnded smack right onto Lany¡¯s face. ¡°Aaaaaaah-¡± ¡°Lany!¡± ¡°Eileen Swan!¡± All hell breaks loose once again. Gavin stared ahead nkly. One side of his shoulders was pulled aback abruptly. Then, in came Eileen with a golf club in her hands. She walked to the front of Gavin with a missing shoe on one of her feet. Lany wanted to fight her really badly, but seeing the club in Eileen¡¯s hands, she felt a tremble from within. Eileen held up the golf club and pointed it at Lany. She raised her scarlet red lips and eximed: ¡°You call yourself the heiress to your wealthy family, but why do you have such a potty mouth? Have I given you shame?¡± The few teachers who came to mediate the tension were all dumbfounded, only toe to their senses a few momentster. One of them yelled out: ¡°Eileen Swan, what on earth are you doing? This is a school. How dare you act out in front of the teachers? Are you asking to get expelled?¡± Now that things have gotten to this point, Eileen could only continue to y along with it. Underneath all that gusto, she was faking it. Her legs were shaking underneath her short skirt. At that moment, Teresa walks up to Eileen, grabs onto her golf club andnds a hard p across her face. ¡°This is for beating up my daughter, you cheap and dirty thing! How dare you hit her?¡± Eileen stumbles to her side from the p. Her cheek was swollen and flushed with bright red. A p this loud must have taken 80% of Teresa¡¯s entire strength. Gavin wanted to block the p, but it was toote. Eileen held her hand to her cheek, and said in a low voice: ¡°So what if I am cheap and dirty It is not mistaken, Mrs. Gates, you hit someone after drinking and driving, and you paralyzed them. And not to mention, a five-year old kid died under the wheels of your car Don¡¯t you remember?¡± Teresa¡¯s face nked out. The blood faded awrom her cheeks, leaving a cold paleness Everyone in the vicinity was shocked to find out about this secret The atmosphere in the meeting room shifted into an eerie silence. ¡°Eileen, how dare you nder my mom!!¡± Lany uttered in disbelief. Eileen looked at her and everyone¡¯s shocked expressions indifferently. The two from the Hunts and the Sheppards did not dare to utter a word. Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Do you want me to go into detail?¡± Teresa suddenly cried out: ¡°Shut up! That¡¯s enough! How dare you threaten me. Eileen Swan How much has Will told you?¡± ¡°Oh my god, so it¡¯s true!¡± Pearl said in shock. Her mother covered her mouth in an instant and gave her a ferocious side eye. Of the three families that were present, the Gates were the most powerful and influential The other two, not so much. Lany looked at the people around her, not knowing what to believe. ¡°Mom, why do I not know about this? Did the kid really die? What happened after? Mom¡­ why did you drink and drive¡­ That can¡¯t be true¡­ You¡¯re lying¡­¡± The mother that Lany grew up with and loved with all her heart turned out to be a murderer. It was an uneptable truth. It¡¯s illegal to drink and drive! Eileen did not say anything. She turned her gaze to Pearl¡¯s mother. ¡°Oh by the way Mrs. Sheppard, three years ago, your husband¡­¡± ¡°Okay that¡¯s enough, Eileen. Let¡¯s end it here, shall we? I have not disciplined Pearl well I have wronged you¡­¡± She took off the Vera bracelet from her wrist and stuffed it into Eileen¡¯s hand. ¡°I¡¯m here to say sorry to you¡­ ¡°And to all of the teachers, Pearl and I need to head home now, she¡¯s not feeling too well ¡± Pearl begrudgingly walked away with her mother not having understood the reason why Unless her parents too did something. Now that the Sheppards have left. Mrs Good was also afraid that Eileen would blurt out some secret So she said a few words and took Daniel away with her after giving tileen the Patek Phillipe watch that was on her wrIST The back in lear Fur mom¡¯ Say something warded with a tremble in her voice exwas both bright gatul at the same to ¡°Eileen She said through her grand iceth Teresa took her handbag and left in a hurry. Then, there were only three teachers left in the meeting room. After the door closed, Eileen let go of the golf club in her hand, and sat down on the ground, her energy all drained out. She started to sob profusely, wiping her tears and trying to suppress the sound of her cries. Gavin looked at Eileen crying her eyes out, and reached out his arm wanting to console her, only to retract it in the end. Eileen Swan, the girl who was not afraid of anything, also gets scared sometimes? This was the first time ever that he saw a protective side to Eileen. But also a vulnerable side as well. He had always thought that she did not have a heart. Chapter 46 Chapter 46 Chapter 46 No One Will Bully You Anymore Back in the office, the assistant who came continued on with the report that he was doing in the meeting room. He reported everything word for word and left nothing unsaid. Everyone who was on-site during the incident was here, except for Eileen. ¡°¡­So that was all that happened, Mr. Jasper.¡± Jasper nodded his head. The assistant retreated behind him. The atmosphere grew tense. The three wives sat on the sofa, none of them dared to speak. Jasper was an intimidating man. The air around him had a daunting aura, and everyone in the room could feel it. ¡°I want to see the contract signed in half an hour.¡± ¡°Yes, President Smith.¡± Jasper¡¯s new assistant, James Carver, replied. From the moment Jasper stepped out of his house, he set his sights on taking back what was originally his. Jasper could only be able to protect Eileen by doing that. Everyone dared not say a word, because they did not know about the truth of the Then a soft voice broke the silence. ¡°Mr. Jasper, I know I am not in any ce to say anything about the company, but¡­ I know you mean well, so why did you terminate the cooperation?¡± ¡°That¡¯s none of your business.¡± Jasper muttered, and left the office. The wheelchair he was on was a newly developed one from overseas. It could move automatically with just a press of a button. It turned out that Jasper had a surgery in the hospital, but after knowing that Eileen was bullied. He rushed over as soon as he could Cutside of the offer he heard the sound of a girl crying Silently he wan hed the gut as tears rulled dow Lave The door of the meeting room was still open. He went in to get closer to Eileen, but she had not noticed him yet. ¡°Why are you crying?¡± Jasper¡¯s voice was surprisingly more delicate than before. Eileen squeezed her nose, and the sound of her crying stopped immediately. Tears hung on her eyshes, and her eyes were still wet. She was kneeling on the floor, and stared nkly at the person in front of her. ¡°What¡­ What are you doing here?¡± Eileen answered with a hoarse voice, and rubbed the tears off her cheek with her sleeves, her nose still red. She was the only one in the meeting room. The teachers had left, and Gavin was on a call somewhere. ¡°I was just passing by,¡± Jasper narrowed his eyes and saw the scar on her face. ¡°Does it hurt?¡± he frowned. Eileen bit her lips and nodded. Tears started falling from her eyes again. ¡°It does.¡± ¡°Were you wronged?¡± There was a hint of pity in Jasper¡¯s voice. She had felt a bit better after crying, but because of what Jasper just asked her, she felt even worse. There are so many grievances in two lifetimes. Her teardrops crashed onto the floor. Jasper was wearing a ck button-up shirt and cks. His sleeves were rolled up, exposing a green and mysterious tattoo that stretched all the way from his forearms, to the back of his palm and the tip of his fingers. He gentlyid his tattooed arms on Eileen¡¯s face, cold as they were, and wiped away her tears with his thumb. Eileen could not take it anymore. She was not as strong as she thought she was. She really envied Lany and the others. They could go back into their parents¡¯ care and embrace when something went wrong. But she had no one. Her mom passed away when she was young, and her father¡­ He has not liked her since she was a kid. Even if he tried to care, it was not genuine¡­. And her brother¡­ The brother that was not hers She only had one person¡­ Gavin was actually on the phone with Ene III Eric had already sent Vera home. All of her things at school were already packed and ready to be taken home. Vera had fallen asleep, so Eric was just starting to deal with Eileen¡¯s problem. ¡°Ms. Swan¡­¡± Gavin sighed frustratingly. ¡°Why don¡¯t I just pass the phone to Ms. Swan? You can console her!¡± Eric did not have the energy to coax her. ¡°After this is all over, you don¡¯t have to bring her here anymore. Just send her back to the house.¡± He replied emotionlessly. ¡°Yes, sir¡­¡± Gavin did not put down the call, and put his phone directly into his pocket. On the other end of the call, Eric walked into the kitchen to get himself a ss of water. Just as he was about to hang up, suddenly he heard the sound of Eileen crying through the phone. Apart from her, there was also the voice of another man¡­ ¡°No one will bully you anymore okay? It¡¯s okay. Don¡¯t cry¡­¡± Jasper¡¯s hand was warm. It made Eileen¡¯s heart warm up too. He was the first person to ever say such words to her. Eric had never been the one to console her when she was sad. He would tell her that it annoyed him a lot that she was a crybaby and shoo her away. ¡°Can I¡­ lean on your shoulder?¡± Eileen asked with a tremble in her voice. Jasper smiled slightly and stretched out his hands towards her. ¡°Anytime.¡± So just when Gavin walked in, he saw Eileen crying in another man¡¯s arms. put him in a dilemma, he didn¡¯t know what to do. Eric heard Eileen¡¯s cries, and his eyes deepened. Eileen had put some ointment on her face Jasper had bought it for her It was only the third time that they had met, abe¡¯s already held her in his arms when she cried she had wer his clothes from all her cars even more embarrasingly, her shot as well Apart from this incident, Eileen knows deep inside that she couldn¡¯t take another beating again. So, she let Gavin take her for a car ride. ¡°Do you think my father will know about what happened today?¡± she asked in the car. Gavin looked at her through the rearview mirror and nodded. ¡°If you feel wronged about it. Ms. Swan, you can always tell him. Even though he may not look like he cares, I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll take care of it for you behind the scenes.¡± Eileen stared out the window and enjoyed the seaside view. They were at the border between Hulbury and Pearltown. There was a painting in her room that depicted the very same scene she was looking at. Her mom was the one who drew it¡­ ¡°¡­ Let¡¯s not trouble him today! He¡¯s already busy enough.¡± ¡°Gavin, let¡¯s go home a bitter today. Can you¡­ help me hold him off¡­?¡± Eileen bit her lips as she said that. Gavin took a deep breath. ¡°I will try my best, Ms. Swan.¡± ¡°Oh, forget it¡­ I have to go back and deal with it anyways. I was the one who caused all the mess. Let¡¯s just head back, Gavin.¡± ¡°Sure thing, Ms. Swan.¡± Back on the road, Eileen saw a vendor selling ice cream, so she asked Gavin to stop the car and buy a couple for them. He had a blueberry one, and she had a strawberry one. She was just a girl after all, so having something to eat before a scolding was not a loss to her. Back at Unde Mansion, the sky was already dark. She took a day¡¯s leave from today¡¯s training ss teen carried her school backpack and walked into the mansion¡¯s entrance. She could smell the went of burning mes the second she passed the door. Everyone was already sitting on the dining table bar had bnd Cavin He could feel a sense of tense eeriness in the room. ¡°Mr. Swan, sir, everything is settled. Ms. Swan is aware of her wrongdoings, and apologized to all of thedies.¡± Will Swan could see Eileen through Gavin¡¯s frame. ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard today. Go home.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± As Gavin turned around to leave, he shot Eileen a look, as to wish her good luck. C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. Will did not look at his daughter at all. He only picked up the spoon on the table, took a bite of food, and said. ¡°Go kneel in the study.¡± Eileen lowered her gaze. ¡°Yes, father.¡± Sharon looked at her worryingly. She really couldn¡¯t help her this time.. Chapter 47 Chapter 47 Chapter 47 Not Calling Your Brother Anymore? Eileen knelt on the ice cold ke marble tiles in the study. She could see the reflection of the scar on her face on the floor. She touched it gently with her fingers, and felt pulses of sharp stings. The study smelled of sandalwood, and it made her nose feel ufortable. At that moment, she could hear footsteps outside the door and immediately straightened her kneeling position, and tightened the grip on her clothes. She knew what was going to happen. next. Soon, the door flung open, and in came her father, followed by Eric and Vera. ¡°Do you know what you did wrong today?¡± He walked past Eileen, held up three joss sticks and lit them up with a red candle. He held them up to his forehead and bowed three times. Eileen¡¯s head was hung low, with Eric¡¯s shadow covering her within her eyesight. The study had a depressing atmosphere which made her feel suffocated. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have argued with my ssmates,¡± She said quaintly. Will took down the bamboo stick that was hanging on the wall, and stood in front of her. She trembled with fear as she heard her father¡¯s voice from the top of her head. ¡°Three contracts cost more than nine million dors. And if you include the money I contributed as well, it adds up to more than thirteen million dors. Don¡¯t you think I should punish for that today, Eileen? Yes or no?¡± Vera, who was standing behind Eric, was so scared to look directly at them she backed up a few steps. ¡°Yes. It¡¯s all my fault. I didn¡¯t control my emotions well enough, and I shouldn¡¯t have started a fight with them. You have every right to punish me!¡± ¡°Turn around.¡± Eileen moved her knees and turned around. No one could save her now, could Eric? But Eileen had never ever expected him to. Will cased the bamboo stick in his hands, and swung vigorously. The first hit and her enture tark werd numb She couldn¡¯t feel any pain until the second hit felt like a tear across her skin then the third hat the fourth best not to scream in pain let alone cry Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. She had already shed all those worthless tears earlier. Up until the twenty-third hit, she could not feel the whipping pain anymore. 13 million dors¡­. This amount of money was even more important than Eileen¡¯s life to Will. She had seen the will that Will left after he died. All of his assets went to Eric. On the forty-second hit, her back had a few visible, deep strokes of blood and scars. Her whole torso was on the ground because the pain had caused her to faint, but also to wake up again. Vera held on to Eric¡¯s arm tightly, she did not dare to look. Then suddenly, Will¡¯s phone on the table started to ring. He lowered his hand and took his phone after Eric had handed it over to him. Before he picked it up, he looked at the caller ID as per his usual habit. It was an unknown caller. ¡°Hello, who is it?¡± ¡°Smith Corporation¡­¡± ¡°Yes, I will be there on time tomorrow.¡± Will looked perplexingly at his daughter who was on the floor. ¡°That¡¯s enough. Go back to your room!¡± Next time, you better watch your mouth, what to say and what not to say¡­ If I find out that you are spewing nonsense outside, I will make you speechless for the rest of your life.¡± Eileen held herself up from the floor with her palms with much difficulty, and turned around to face her father. ¡°Yes, I know.¡± The things that she should not say are the ones that people would hold against her. Because these things that she said were in the heat of the moment. She could not take it anymore. Eileen walked out the door, and Sharon was just outside waiting for her. She walked up immediately to Eileen. ¡°Eileen are you okay?¡± Eileen¡¯s face was pale. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m fine, don¡¯t you worry. Do you still have any painkillers? Her voice grew weaker and weaker with every word, and she eventually fainted by the end of the septener This scene was witnessed by Elsie in the corner St. saw Fileen fainting bot she did not walk op to help her and headed down the stairs insteal 24 She saw the scars on Eileen¡¯s back. Isn¡¯t she Will¡¯s daughter? Why would he hit her so harshly like that? The next day, when Eileen woke up, it was already noon. She was lying face down on her bed, and she could sense a cooling feeling on her back. She saw that her naked back was exposed in the corner of her eye, and scrambled to cover it with her nket. But she was stopped by someone, and he drew the nket away. ¡°Stop moving, I¡¯m trying to put some ointment here.¡± Eileen freaked out and saw her exposed chest. She didn¡¯t hear what he said and curled into at ball out of fear with the nket covering her entire body. She sat up quickly and said: ¡°This is my room! Who let you in here?¡± It was the first time in her life that she used such an angry tone to talk to him. Eric was holding a tube of pain relief cream, there were still some on his fingers. ¡°Why, you¡¯re not even going to say hi to your brother anymore?¡± ¡°Eric! I am your sister! And I¡¯m naked! How could you!¡± He has seen it! He must have! There was a clock on the wall, and it showed twelve o¡¯clock. At this time, Sharon would be at the market getting groceries, and Will would be at work or doing business-rted matters. It was not a weekend, so there weren¡¯t many people at home. So is this why he can act whatever way he wants? ¡°Is this how you talk to me, Eileen?¡± Eileen retorted almost subconsciously: ¡°And what about it? I¡¯m not a little girl anymore, mind you, can you not simply enter my room without my permission?¡± Eric frowned with dissatisfaction and his gaze grew cold. He looked at Eileen, turned around and left her room. He shut the door behind him as he left. Eileen grabbed the pajamas beside her and put them on. How dare he act so unscrupulously? He¡¯s not usually this affectionate. Doesn¡¯t he have feelings for Vera? Why did he bothering into her room and taking off her clothes under the pretense of helping her with putting ointment? T Who knows what kinds of strange things he dihen she was sleeping? Once Ene got to the bottom of the staircase, he bumped into Sharon who just came home. 31 ¡°Mr. Eric? Did you juste out of Eileen¡¯s room?¡± Eric had a bitter coldness to him, and his facial expression was even worse than emotionless. He continued on downstairs without answering her, so she felt something was going on and rushed to Eileen¡¯s room. Eileen freaked out once more as Sharon opened the door, thinking that Eric came back. But once she realized that it was just Sharon, her anxiousness quickly calmed down. ¡°Eileen, did Mr. Erice by just now? Did he see anything¡± ¡°What do you mean, Sharon?¡± She was confused. ¡°Before I went out to get groceries, I took off your clothes and put the ointment on your back. I didn¡¯t think that there would be anyone that woulde up to your room, so I didn¡¯t think of putting them back on. Mr. Eric didn¡¯t see anything, did he?¡± Sharon exined. ¡°Because when he was going downstairs, he didn¡¯t look too great. Did you say something to him?¡± Eileen was perplexed. It seemed that she had misunderstood badly! Chapter 48 Chapter 48 Chapter 48 Why Did You Go Back On Your Word? Not long after Eric left, Elsie brought some pastries to Eileen¡¯s room. She took a look at her injuries, said some superficial words of care and left. Even though she had taken her painkillers, Eileen still felt the throbbing pain on her back to the point that she could not fall asleep at night. She was awakened in a cold sweat by a nightmare in the middle of the night. She couldn¡¯t move nor adjust her posture, so she definitely couldn¡¯t sleep well. After a while, her chest hurt from lying t on her bed, so she took a pillow to cushion. herself. She was only eighteen, having boobs that were too big weren¡¯t great for her. She took a look at the time, it was half past three. Eileen got up from the bed and headed to the bathroom. She unbuttoned her pajamas and took them off slowly. Looking at the wounds that criss-crossed on her back, there were a few buttons that were ripped off and some swollen redness in some parts of her skin. But it had healed so much more than before. Having woken up in a sweat, and not to mention that it was a hot summer now, her whole body was sticky all over. So she took a quick shower carefully, trying not to touch her wounds. After putting on a new pair of pajamas, she walked out to the balcony to get some fresh air. The stars shone dimly through the night, but the moon was extraordinarily bright. The lights on the third floor of the opposite vi were off. Eileen realized that she hasn¡¯t seen him in a long time. He was just a blurry shadow back then. But now, she had no idea where he was. She just hoped that he¡¯s not taking things too hard Serene Hospital hours from the start of the the end Jasper was still under anesthesia, so he was in deep sleep. His legs were still bandaged with gauze. Richard: ¡°Doctor, how is Mr. Jasper doing?¡± The doctor-in-charge replied: ¡°Judging by the current situation, the operation was very sessful, but we can¡¯t rule out anyplications after the surgery, so he still needs to be observed in the hospital for a period of time.¡± ¡°And¡­ how long would that be?¡± ¡°It depends on the patient¡¯s health condition. It might take thirty to fifty years to recover fully. The recovery period can take a rtively long time, and I can¡¯t rule out if there are any other seque after the surgery. After all, it was dyed for such a long time, it¡¯s a miracle that the surgery was a sess.¡± ¡°Okay, doctor! Thank you for your hard work!¡± ¡°Just doing my job.¡± Richard then dialed his phone right after.. The call was picked up almost immediately. ¡°Ma¡¯am, Mr. Jasper¡¯s surgery was sessful.¡± ¡°Great, please take care of him in the hospital. I wille over to visit him after I¡¯m done. with the banquet tomorrow. Please remember to give him whatever he wants, and do not let him lose his temper temper under ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am!¡± any circumstance.¡± After he finished exining, Richard hung up the phone. Back in the VIP room, Jasper had already woken up. He was donned in a hospital gown that was covered in ke and blue stripes. His hands were on his eyes. It seemed that he had just woken up not long ago. ¡°You¡¯ve woken up, Mr. Jasper? Do you feel any difort anywhere?¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay, you can head home first. Thank you for your hard work.¡± Jasper replied in a weak and husky voice. Okay, please get a good rest, sir. I¡¯lle visit you tomorrow. After Richard left, Jasper felt his phone underneath his pillow. He opened his messages. Their chat history was up untilst week. She must be sleeping at this moment. Before this, when he would think about her, he wouldn¡¯t normally reach out to her. But now¡­ He couldn¡¯t stop himself from sending her a text. Jasper: What are you up to¡­? Eileen had almost fallen asleep lying on her chair, but was suddenly awakened by the sound of her ringtone. She picked up her phone, squinted her eyes, and read the notification. It was from Jasper. She subconsciously nced at the vi across. And she replied: Dreaming She sent another text: You¡¯re not at home today? Jasper: Nope, I have things to deal with at the hospital. Why are you still up? Eileen: I can¡¯t fall asleep, so I¡¯m just sitting around. Why are you at the hospital? Are you unwell? Jasper: Nothing much, just a small cold. Eileen curled up her legs. The light from her phone screen reflected in her eyes. She didn¡¯t know what to reply to him. So she just sent some usual words of concern. Eileen¡± Since you have a cold, get some rest. Remember to drink lots of warm water and take your medicine on time. Jasper Okay Ileen Don¡¯t sleep toote Goodnight. Jasper Goodnight Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Tow that che thought about it, she didn¡¯t realle anything to do with Jasper A save hom she had neer untended to have many interactions with him. Because¡­ she wanted to leave and have a new start to her life somewhere else after all. Perhaps she won¡¯te back ever again. Ever again. Eileen can only then escape from the Swan family and from Sarah Swire¡­ She could finally start a new life that was finally hers. Jasper wasn¡¯t in any of those ns. If she had any attachments with him, it would only pose a problem. She yawned and felt herself getting sleepy again, so she went back onto her bed fantasizing about her wonderful life in the future, and fell asleep soundly. After resting for a few days at home, her wounds had almost healed entirely. In the morning, Eileen was still fast asleep, until there was a knock on her door. ¡°Eileen, wake up. Come downstairs for breakfast.¡± ¡°I still want to sleep¡­¡± She replied drowsily. ¡°Get up now! Your father is already waiting for you downstairs. Come on now!¡± Eileen¡¯s eyes flew open instantaneously after hearing that. She threw her nket to the side. ¡°Okay, got it. I¡¯m getting up now.¡± She grabbed her clothes, washed up and went downstairs, all within ten minutes. Holding onto the handrail, she trotted down the staircase. There was a group of people sitting neatly at the dining table. Eric and Vera were here too. It was a Sunday Vera had the weekend off There was a heavy atmosphere in the dung area Eileen did not want to walk over, especially stace she misunderstood Em the other day and said some stuff that made him angry i had bern so many days siner then aihe still has talked to her She dragged for heavy feet to the table and sat Flury ce The table had many big tes of food, which left her very curious. What was the special asion? And it was everything that she loved to eat. It was the first time that her father had not called her out for sleeping inte. She adjusted her posture on her seat. Will looked over in her direction. ¡°Have your wounds healed?¡± ¡°Yeah, they¡¯re almost fully recovered. I can go back to school tomorrow.¡± Sharon came over with a bowl of porridge. Will: ¡°Later, go to Aunt Elsie¡¯s room and pick out something nice and formal to wear. I¡¯m going to take you and Eric to the banquet tonight.¡± Eileen nked out. ¡°Dad¡­ can I not go tonight?¡± If only she had known earlier! ¡°You are going even if both your legs are broken. There will be a lot of good, young boys. there tonight. You can see if any of them suit your liking. You¡¯re not a child anymore, anyways.¡± ¡°Dad, I¡¯m still growing up. I haven¡¯t even graduated from university yet, isn¡¯t it a little too early?¡± Eileen replied frantically. ¡°We can already start talking about it now. You can get married right when you finish your degree. I¡¯ve talked about it with Eric, you¡¯re going to university in Hulbury instead of Lumiose.¡± ¡°But why¡­¡± Eileen felt a pang in her chest and it was building up. Suppressing it made her feel even worse as she looked at Eric taking some food for Vera. All she wanted to do was flip the table in a rage. She wanted to ask him why he went back on his word! But Dad, we agreed on this.¡± Chapter 49 Chapter 49 Chapter 49 I Want To See Just How Tough She Is! ¡°Are you seriously bargaining with me right now?¡± Will frowned. ¡°You were the one who broke your promise, Dad! I¡¯m already a young adult. Can you not make every decision for me? I am not your puppet.¡± Eileen argued with sheer frustration. ¡°So what!¡± Will mmed the spoon in his hand onto the table. ¡°I raised you and this is how you treat me? Don¡¯t forget who was the one who raised you! Don¡¯t ask for a single cent from me if you dare!¡± Eileen¡¯s eyes trembled. ¡°So, if I don¡¯t stay here in this house, and not spend a single cent of yours, you won¡¯t interfere in anything I do?¡± ¡°Oh, now you¡¯re asking for it, aren¡¯t you? Haven¡¯t you learned your lessonst time? If you want to die, I will make it happen for you!¡± Will stood up, his belt from his trousers had already been pulled out. Will had always been strict about his rules. But it was the first time being so angry towards Eileen. Elsie attempted to stop him in a hurry: ¡°What are you doing, Will? She¡¯s just speaking in anger. I will persuade her, don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°Eileen, apologize to your father now!¡± Eileen: ¡°Why do I have to apologize? Beat me to death if you have the guts to! Why should I have to be at your mercy?¡± Sharon frantically stood up to protect Eileen. ¡°What nonsense are you saying, Eileen? Your father is only doing this for your own good.¡± ¡°For my own good? Why do you keep saying it¡¯s for my own good? Since I was a child, I had to get permission for everything from him. What kind of father is like him? If my mom was still around, she wouldn¡¯t do this to me!¡± Will walked over to her, andnded a fierce p onto her face. ¡°Your mother was a b*tch! I should have strangled you to death when she gave birth to you! You think you¡¯re all that? Get out of this house if you dare and don¡¯t evere back!¡± Fileen felt her cheek go numb, followed by a sharp pain. She could feel her face swelling up ¡°If you say so Win ¡°Get out!¡± ¡°Stay back! No one is allowed to go after her. If I find out whoever is helping her, I will chase them out too!¡± Eileen was still dressed in her pajamas and sandals. She did not have anything with her. The whole dining area was immersed in a dreadful atmosphere. Will sat down in his chair angrily. ¡°Eat your food!¡± Sharon looked worriedly at Eileen¡¯s silhouette who had already run away far from the door of the house. Elsie put some food on Will¡¯s te and said: ¡°Will, what are you thinking, fighting with your daughter so early in the morning? Eileen is still young, she doesn¡¯t understand your good. intentions. She doesn¡¯t have anything with her, where is she even going to go?¡± ¡°Eric, go and bring Eileen back! What if something happens to her¡­¡± Before Eric could say anything, Sharon chimed in: ¡°I¡¯ll go! Eileen¡¯s always listened to me since she was a kid. I¡¯m sure I could say something to get her toe back.¡± ¡°No one is going anywhere! I want to see just how tough she is! Without my money, where else can she go? It¡¯s better that she starves to death out there than toe back.¡± Sharon: ¡°Sir, how could you!¡± Will: ¡°Shut up! You can get lost too if you keep making noise!¡± The meal ended up finishing in silence and unhappiness. Vera sat in the passenger seat. Eric had put on her seatbelt for her. ¡°Eric, do we not need to look for Eileen? She could be in danger.¡± Eric¡¯s face was stoic. He turned the steering wheel with a nk face and stepped on the gas. ¡°The princess has been in her castle for way too long. She still hasn¡¯t learned the ways of the real world yet. Don¡¯t worry, I know her¡­ She¡¯ll be back.¡± Did Eileen not y enough tricks of running away from her home before? Hasn¡¯t she ended uping back every single time? If herst name wasn¡¯t Swan, she wouldn¡¯t even have any worth to her life. He wanted to see how long Eileen, who has noth, could survive away from her home Three minutes? Or three hours? Eric smirked sarcastically. Oh, don¡¯t let him down now, Eileen Swan! On the road leaving the Swan house, Eileen was nowhere to be found. She must be hiding somewhere. The next second, Vera pointed at a figure sitting in the front seat of a big ke truck. ¡°Eric, look! It¡¯s Eileen!¡± Eric slowed down the car, right at the same time she spotted their car. ¡°Goodness, why did Eileen leave with a stranger? She¡¯s not in danger, is she? Eric, do we need to call the police?¡± Eric looked away from Eileen¡¯s direction in a gloomy manner. ¡°It¡¯s none of our business.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t we need to do something?¡± Eric focused on the road ahead and remained silent. The big ke truck was driving fast, and left them in the dust before they knew it. Vera felt the car pulling forward faster and faster. She wanted to tell Eric to slow down. She felt that Eric was chasing after the truck, so she had to endure the speed. The traffic light ahead of them turned red right when they were about to cross it. Eric ran the red light and made a turn. The truck was gone. ¡°Eric¡­ We lost them. What do we do now?¡± Vera looked at Eric anxiously, but she only saw the coldness in his eyes. Eileen, what kind of game are you trying to y this time round! 36 Eileen looked in the rearview mirror, they managed to shake Eric off. She hoped that Eric would understand that when she said she wanted to run away before, she wasn¡¯t just pulling his leg. What happened with Vera, she had already learned her lesson. Lamenting on the feelings before, Eric had better not think about her anymore. The pain would be a lot if she were to get hurt again. The truck driver who was willing to give her a ride was a long-distance delivery man, and he was traveling with his wife. They both seemed like warm and honest people. Eileen had told them that she had a fall out with her father, and she wanted to look for her mother. So they let her tag along with them. After a forty-minute ride, she arrived at an old building. She said her goodbyes with the couple. Relying on her memory, she walked down the dpidated street. She could smell the foul stinking from the drain beneath it. Very quickly, she spotted a familiar sign, and stopped in front of a building. There was no elevator here, so she had to climb to the sixth floor by the stairs. On the way there, Eileen lost one of her sandals, so she walked with a limp. Her knees were still hurting. She finally found the unit she was looking for. She found a key under a flower pot on the balcony opposite the door. ¡°Who are you, little girl? Why haven¡¯t I seen you before?¡± Ady in her forties walked out with a bucket of clothes in her hands ¡°My mother lives here. I¡¯m looking for her Eileen replied Oh you¡¯re the daughter of the Swire family? There, there I didn¡¯t know that she had such a beauidul daughter like you What¡¯s your name, tle girl¡± My naman Fileen Swell ¡°I see, what a beautiful name. Have you eaten yet. Eileen? I¡¯ve made some food, would you like to have some?¡± Eileen: ¡°It¡¯s okay, thank you. I¡¯m a bit tired, I want to rest for a bit, and wait for my mom toe home.¡± ¡°Okay, don¡¯t forget toe and visit anytime.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Eileen walked into the unit. It was neatly organized, albeit a little shabby. There was no living room, just a single bed and a bathroom, and better yet, a small balcony.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Chapter 50 Chapter 50 Chapter 50 Eileen, Let¡¯s Go Back It was Sharon who rented the cheap house outside. Without this rented house, she might have to sleep on the streets. This was the second time she had been here. The first time was because Eric secretly bought a dress for Vera. But he had never bought anything for me. When Eileen got into an argument, Eileen was so angry that she left the house. That was the first time Eileen ran away from the house. Eric didn¡¯t coax Eileen because she cut up Vera¡¯s dress. Eileen could not ept the dirty environment there at that time and obediently returned home. In the end, she was used to being pampered. They wouldn¡¯t have found it if Sharon hadn¡¯t mentioned it. In fact, she could work outside while staying in this ce. She could also live well. Eileen cleaned the ce and took a bath. When the water touched the wound, Eileen took a deep breath in pain. She tried her best to avoid it. There was no hot water, so she could only use cold water. Then, she used a somewhat yellowed but still clean towel to dry her hair. She felt a freedom she never had after leaving the Swan family. She fell asleep. It was already nighttime when she woke up. Eileen¡¯s stomach growled uncontrobly. with She woke up and cooked a bowl of noodles why some voy sauce There were no other ingredients ɽ 13 She didn¡¯t find life too difficult under these circumstances. In her previous life, she was diagnosed withte-stage cancer after being kicked out of Hulbury. She had to sell all her assets from the divorce for treatment. She couldn¡¯t afford anything to eat. Therefore, she cherishes everything now more than ever. At eight o¡¯clock at night, Eileen heard someone opening the door. It must be Sharon. Eileen hurriedly went to open the door. Indeed, it was Sharon who came back. Sharon said, ¡°You¡¯re really here! You haven¡¯t eaten all day, right? I brought you some food.¡± Eileen hugged Sharon and said, ¡°You¡¯re the best!¡± Eileen took the lunchbox and sat at the small table. Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. ¡°Why did you run out? Mr. Swan and Mr. Eric were worried about you. Go back tomorrow!¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to persuade me. I won¡¯t go back; I am useless in their eyes. They won¡¯t care about me.¡± Sharon looked at the stove and saw the used pot and soy sauce. Sharon felt heartbroken. She had watched Eileen grow up and treated her as her own child. ¡°Eileen, is this all you have for lunch?¡± Eileen nodded and said, ¡°I just cooked some noodles. But the soy sauce seemed a bit off? Was it spoiled?¡± Sharon tapped her head and said, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you check the expired date? What if you have diarrhea? I¡¯ll take you back home tomorrow.¡± Eileen replied, ¡°I told you I wouldn¡¯t go back. If you insist on making me back, I¡¯ll leave now Eileen walked toward the door. Sharon pulled her back and said, ¡°If you don¡¯t go back, do you n to stay in this ce forever¡± Who wer 24 ¡°This ce is shabby and dirty. What¡¯s good about it? Let¡¯s go back, okay?¡± ¡°So what? I haven¡¯t had a home since my mother passed away. Sharon, can you not kick me out? Eileen lowered her head and cried. ¡°Why are you crying? Eileen, look at this ce. This ce is nothingpared to your house.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. I can find a job to support myself.¡± ¡°You¡¯re born rich. How can you do such things?¡± Sharon said, ¡°Stop crying; just stay here for now. I¡¯ll buy some groceries for you tomorrow. I won¡¯t be here because I need to go take care of Vera for a few days. Don¡¯t go out; it¡¯s not safe at night here.¡± I nodded and said, ¡°What happened to Vera?¡± Sharon replied, ¡°She was injured, and Mr. Eric wasn¡¯t free to take care of her.¡± ¡°He can hire an escort. I can¡¯t make it without you.¡± Eileen sniffled and hugged her. Sharon said, ¡°I¡¯ll only be gone for a few days. I¡¯ll cook whatever you want when you return home.¡± But Eileen did not want to go back. At night, Eileen slept in the same bed as Sharon. They used two nkets since Eileen liked to kick the first one. Why did Eric have to let Sharon take care of Vera? Was she not still fine today? He did it on purpose. Sharon could take care of her for a few days, but she could not take care of her all the time. Eileen slept in a daze after hearing Sharon leave. But Sharon seemed to havee back again within half an hour. Fileen smelled a very fragrant smell of food. Chapter 51 Chapter 51 Chapter 51 No Different Than a Crazy B?Tch Sharon was cooking. It was only six o¡¯clock in the morning. ¡°Why did you wake up so early? Quickly go and sleep some more. The meal will be ready soon.¡± Eileen hugged Sharon and said, ¡°What delicious food do we have?¡± Sharon replied, ¡°It¡¯s all smoky in here. Go out; don¡¯t get dirty. I bought you some toiletries. It¡¯s just some misceneous brands.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong with misceneous brands? I like them.¡± Go tidy up. The meal will be ready after this dish is done.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Sharon left before even having her meal. She also reminded Eileen to go to school. The room was left empty, with Eileen eating her meal alone. Eileen didn¡¯t n on going back to school. She wouldn¡¯t care if she got expelled. She nned to walk around the area and see what else to buy ¡°Eileen, where are you going?¡± ¡°I was nning to walk around. Auntie Morgan, what are you doing?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to do theundry. Howe I haven¡¯t seen you here before?¡± Eileen smiled and said, ¡°I was busy studying earlier. I return to visit my mother since I have some free time now.¡± ¡°I see! Do you have a boyfriend?¡± ¡°Aunit Morgan, I didn¡¯t n for this yet. I¡¯m still young.¡± ¡°There must be a lot of boys like you. Sooner orter, you¡¯ll get married, so you might as well get married early.¡± Thave a son who seemed to bepatible with you. Think about it.¡± Eileen instantly went downstairs and disappeared Morgan whispered. ¡°Who does she dank she 13 Morgan ruined Eileen¡¯s mood. Eileen was just eighteen, and Morgan was already introducing her to a partner. Honestly, this ce was somewhat messed up. The buildings here seemed undeveloped. Eileen also noticed that the prices here were quite low. There was a vast sea behind the buildings. It was the edge of Hulbury. Eileen was surprised and ran toward the beach. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the moment. She walked barefoot on the beach and picked up several beautiful seashells. Suddenly, a harsh voice appeared. ¡°Hey, who the hell are you? Don¡¯t you know this is my territory?¡± It was a woman who seemed to be tough and had a tattoo on her arm. She did not look like someone to mess with. The woman snatched the things from Eileen¡¯s hand and said, ¡°Where are you from, bumpkin? Hand it over to me, whatever is in your bag!¡± ¡°I¡­¡± The woman poured out everything inside the bag and said, ¡°It¡¯s all useless stuff. You¡¯re really a bumpkin.¡± The woman was named Pa. She lost in a game with some guys, and they sent her over to find seafood. How could they behave like this? Eileen calmly picked up the bag and intended to leave. But Pa was not going to let her go. ¡°Why do you think you can just leave?¡± This tone felt so much like Lim¡¯s Fuensand ¡°What do you want? Cand a buckerio hrs at the some seaboo ti the bucket isn¡¯t 23 ¡°Why should I do that?¡± ¡°Because I don¡¯t like you. Is that enough of a reason?¡± Eileen said, ¡°Sorry, but I don¡¯t have time for this.¡± ¡°Bumpkin, do you know you have to listen to me here? If you don¡¯t, do you know what the consequences are?¡± Why did Eileen always run into these kinds of strange people? ¡°Pa, it¡¯s been so long, and you still haven¡¯t caught even a crab yet?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! Otherwise, what are we going to cat tonight?¡± There were at least seven guys walking toward Eileen. They did not seem like good guys. Their arms were all covered in tattoos. ¡°Look at this girl! You seem quite adorable. Did you want to have a date with me?¡± ¡°Taylor, she seemed weak and feeble. I bet she won¡¯t be able to get out of bed after tonight.¡± Everyoneughed. Eileen would not havee here if she had known what would happen.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. Chapter 52 Chapter 52 Chapter 52 I Have No Money ¡°Pa, Taylor, what are you doing?¡± A chubby man with a stick in his hand was walking toward them. He walked toward Eileen and asked, ¡°Did they bully you?¡± Eileen shook her head and replied, ¡°No.¡± The man seemed to know Eileen. He asked, ¡°Are you the girl that Sharon brought from the city?¡± ¡°My name is Eileen.¡± ¡°Right, It¡¯s Eileen¡­¡± The man eximed, ¡°Sharon even asked me to look after you, but I was busy just now. Don¡¯t worry; stay with me here. They won¡¯t dare to hurt you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m telling you, Paolo, you¡¯re still a young girl. Can you pay attention to your impression and dress properly? You all better get lost before I beat you up!¡± Pa impatiently lit a cigarette and said, ¡°Fat bastard, why are you butting in? Mind your own business. Are you interested in a young girl like her?¡± ¡°What did you say? When you return, I¡¯ll ensure your father teaches you a good lesson.¡± ¡°What I do is none of your business, you f*cking bastard,¡± Pa said while staring at Eileen. ¡°You little brat¡­¡± ¡°Taylor, let¡¯s find another ce.¡± Taylor picked up the things thrown on the ground and followed Paolo and others to leave. ¡°Thank you, Sir. I might have been in trouble if you didn¡¯t show up.¡± ¡°It¡¯s no big deal. I¡¯m an old friend of Sharon¡¯s. Don¡¯t hang around this area. It¡¯s not safe. I can bring you somewhere else to have fun.¡± Eileen nodded. She picked up the seashells and returned them to the bag before leaving with Along the way bark. Ealeen realized that the house rented by Sharon belonged to hum Semurlopened a restaurant in this neighborhoof and ate-night supper shop C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. poptions are could not provide a home bar the shop He is hed on the rental ie to survive. His wife passed away in her thirties, and now he lived alone. The group of people earlier were the locals here. This ce was remote and had a small poption. The government did not bother to intervene either. Most people who came here are workers who came from abroad and are undereducated. It was pretty chaotic. Eileen had lunch with Mr. Samuel in the Delightful Sea Grill House. The table was filled with seafood and other dishes. The restaurant was crowded with other customers too. ¡°You can start eating first. I¡¯ll go cook some dishes for the customers who just arrived.¡± Eileen stood and said, ¡°Mr. Samuel, let me help you.¡± Mr. Samuel smiled and said, ¡°You¡¯re a guest here; there¡¯s no need for a guest to help. Try my dishes! You can¡¯t get enough of it!¡± Eileen was sitting in a private room with lovely views. She noticed the sweet and sour pork before her and tasted it. The taste was unexpectedly the same as what Sharon used to make. It was delicious. She was pretty hungry and ate quite a lot. After finishing her meal, Eileen saw a group of people passing by. It was Pa and others. It seemed like they were alsoing to this restaurant. As expected. After a while, the private room¡¯s door was pushed open, and they walked in. ¡°You¡¯re eating really nice! How can the fat bastard never treat us like this? He is really biased¡± I¡¯m hungry. Adam, get me the cutlery.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you get it yourself?¡± Hey, girl, can you move aside? I can¡¯t get in.¡± Eileen pulled back her chair and made way for the 111 91 Pa was sitting in front of Eileen with an unpleasant sitting posture. She took a big bite of the sweet and sour pork on the table. ¡°Here¡¯s the beer.¡± A skinny guy came in with a box of beer. The private room suddenly became crowded. ¡°This bastard never does it for me when I ask him. But he actually did it for you!¡± While looking at Eileen, Pa said, ¡°Bumpkin, where are you actually from?¡± ¡°Pa, she looks innocuous.¡± Don¡¯t scare her.¡± ¡°Are you heartbroken? She might be pretty, but she won¡¯t be interested in you. It¡¯s useless to speak up, for her.¡± Eileen drank a cup of water and said, ¡°I¡¯m done eating. You guys enjoy the meal.¡± Someone stopped her when she was about to leave. ¡°What¡¯s the rush? Let¡¯s chat for a while.¡± She was not afraid of them, even though they seemed intimidating. She felt that they were not bad guys after all. However, this feeling was something she had never experienced before. ¡°What do you want to chat about?¡± Two guys with dyed hair sat beside her, stared at her, and said, ¡°Pa, she¡¯s not afraid of you. It looks like you can¡¯t handle her!¡± ¡°Be quiet!¡± Pa licked her lips and said, ¡°I¡¯ll let you go because of this meal and offer you to join our gang for only fifty bucks. Shout my name in the streets; no one will dare to mess with you!¡± Eileen replied, ¡°I don¡¯t have any money.¡± ¡°You can write a promissory note. After that, we are in the same gang¡± As she spoke, Melvin put his hand on Eileen¡¯s shoulder. It Will knew Fileen was with this group of gangsters, what would happen fir would break Eileen¡¯s hand first and the caseir legs mudividually Will was always strict Back then, Will even beat a stray dog to death, which was picked up by Eileen from the roadside. He used a golf stick. After that, he let Eileen learn golf with the same golf stick. Will told her that if she wanted to keep a dog, she should choose a good and proper dog breed. After the dog¡¯s death, she never kept any pets again. She knew that, in Will¡¯s eyes, people were divided into different sses, and she never expected that even a dog could be judged this way. Chapter 53 Chapter 53 Chapter 53 Chat With Us, Miss. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I have something to attend to, so I¡¯ll be leaving now. Take your time, and we¡¯ll catch up later.¡± C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. Eileen was ustomed to solitude and did not believe in the concept of true friendship. She departed, and this time, no one tried to stop her again. As Eileen stepped out of the shop, Mr. Samuels came out, wearing an apron and holding a te of food. ¡°Miss, are you in such a hurry? Those kids aren¡¯t bothering you, are they?¡± ¡°No,¡± she replied. ¡°Don¡¯t judge them too harshly. Those children aren¡¯t bad; they just want to y with you.¡± ¡°Mr. Samuel, I understand, but I still have something to buy, so I¡¯ll be leaving now.¡± ¡°Alright, remember toe over for dinner tomorrow, free of charge. Eat to your heart¡¯s content.¡± Eileen smiled and nodded, saying, ¡°Okay.¡± After leaving, Eileen purchased some personal clothes, a few changes of outfits, and a couple of pairs of shoes, all at reasonable prices. She was preparing to settle here for a considerable period. Time flew by, and nearly three months had passed since Eileen began living there. During this period, she worked as a waiter at Mr. Samuel¡¯s restaurant, earning a decent wage of 50 dors a day, along with daily meals. The daytime customer flow was sparse, while evenings could get busier during supper time. Initially, the work left her tired with sore feet and legs, but she eventually grew ustomed to it Being a waiter was apletely new experience for her, but it mostly cleaning tables, so it was not too dithcuit Thear days marked a rare period of peace for bren Be to control her luxurouxfort no plush bedy or fancy clothes no her ke and shedder hands began dewater and wasting dishes, mab dig them look unsightly with peeling skin. Sharon was unaware of her job at the restaurant, as she had been absent for many days, likely preupied with taking care of Vera. Eileen understood the situation and was fine with it. She knew that if Sharon were around, she would never let her handle such tasks. For now, Eileen needed to save more money and n for her future. It was around eight-thirty in the evening, and the restaurant¡¯s customers had already left. Eileen finished cleaning the tables, gathered a basin of dishes to wash, and headed toward the exit. Outside, a group of drunk men in their thirties sat shirtless near the entrance, having consumed three or four cases of alcohol. One of the men leered at Eileen and slurred, ¡°See that person who lives next door to my house? ording to my mother, she¡¯s only eighteen and got expelled from school because she got involved with someone. Every morning, she starts washing clothes at seven or eight, and the noise keeps me from sleeping. She looks so damn good, it gets me aroused every time I look at her.¡± Another man questioned, ¡°Really? This girl doesn¡¯t seem to like talking to anyone and seems to y around with people. Is that true?¡± Unaware that Eileen might hear their disrespectful words, they continued their conversation. Eileen didn¡¯t want to provoke the group of drunk men and decided to keep her distance. ¡°Yeah, how do you know such things, Thomas?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know much. If she really was a good student, why would she work here instead of studying all day?¡± ¡°Enough of the talk! Let¡¯s call her over and ask!¡± In a loud voice, Thomas directly yelled, ¡°Hey, you there! Your name is Eileen, right? Come here, and take our order.¡± Despite feeling ufortable with the situation, Eileen approached cautiously, trying her best to remainposed and not let their hurtful words affect her. As Eileen continued washing dishes, she pretended not to hear the lewdments from the group of men and instead looked toward her coworker, Hannah, who was about her age. Hannah gave her a smug smile, Eileen turned away and left the men¡¯s table. Hey I¡¯m calling you to take our order, ca,t your me? one of the men called out 91 Eileen set down the te, washed her hands, and quickly brought over a menu. ¡°What dishes would you like to order?¡± she asked, taking out a pen and a small notebook to jot down their choices. The five men stared at her with predatory eyes, giving off a pungent and disgusting vibe. One of them spoke, ¡°Pretty girl, do you need some money? If you¡¯re short on cash, just tell me, I¡¯ve got plenty of money.¡± He took out a wallet from his pocket, ced it on the table, and pulled out 300 dors, offering it to Eileen. Spend the day with me, and the money is yours.¡± Suddenly, Thomas burst intoughter. ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m just a part-timer here, and that¡¯s not the service we provide. Do you want to order more food? If not, I have work to do,¡± Eileen responded. ¡°What work? We¡¯re the only table here. Come, sit with me, have a chat, and share a few drinks.¡± Another man pulled out a stool and ced it beside him. Ignoring them, Eileen turned to leave. At that moment, a man mmed his hand on the table and yelled, ¡°You damn fool, who do you think you are? If you were a student, why would you be working here?¡± Eileen took a few steps but then stopped abruptly. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a delicate pink wallet with diamonds, opening it to reveal her student ID card. She ced it in front of them and said, ¡°Sirs, take a good look. This is my student ID card, and the photo on it is me. I am a student at Petalburg High School, in my third year of senior high. Do you understand? Please refrain from making up false stories. Spreading nder and rumors is against thew,¡± ¡°Who the hell would believe it? You¡¯re from Petalburg High School? Can you afford it? It costs tens of thousands a year, and at least a hundred thousand for three years. Eileen put away her wallet speechlessly, she should not argue with them. ¡°It¡¯s up to you if you wanna believe it.¡± Hey what¡¯s with your tone? You¡¯re educated, and did your teachers teach you to talk to your eiders like thus If you don¡¯t fush das ss of wine today and apologize to us you won¡¯t leave Face dended us to engage with them and pld the wallet to the pocket under his pro Wat de wiewut of leaving she turned artsend walked away trouts the alte the man¡¯sp. ¡°What are you doing! Let me go!¡± she protested. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, Miss. We just want to have a chat with you, nothing else,¡± the man replied with a smirk, while the othersughed at Eileen¡¯s distress. Hannah silently walked into the kitchen, deliberately pretending not to see what was happening. With Mr. Samuel away on a delivery, Eileen was left alone with these rowdy and disrespectful men. As she saw one of them reaching toward her chest, Eileen reacted quickly and grabbed the wine ss. In a desperate move to defend herself, she sshed the wine directly on the man¡¯s face and forcefully pushed him away. ¡°Damn you!¡± the man retaliated, seizing Eileen¡¯s hair, causing her to cry out in pain. 3 ¡°How dare you ssh me! I¡¯ll make you regret this!¡± he threatened angrily. Chapter 54 Chapter 54 Chapter 54 Eileen¡¯s Wallet Is Missing He tore Eileen¡¯s clothes with one hand, and the buttons fell off, revealing her ke suspenders inside. In an instant, everyone¡¯s eyes lit up. Eileen tightly clutched the clothes in front of her chest and bit the back of his hand hard. The man let go of the pain quickly. As Eileen turned around and hurriedly ran away, she was taken aback to see Elm walking towards her in the dimly lit street. Elm was dressed in a ck T-shirt, a silver pendant. hanging around his neck, and he had his hands in his coat pockets, holding a cigarette. To her surprise, Vera and Pa were also with him. Eileen didn¡¯t know why they were there, but she knew she had to avoid being seen by them. Elm appeared preupied, engaged in conversation with Vera, and did not seem to notice. Eileen. Seizing the opportunity, she quickly fled in the opposite direction, making her way back home. As she rushed, the man yelled, ¡°Damn it, she ran so fast,¡± fueling her fear and anxiety. She dared not stop until she reached the safety of her home. Sweating profusely and feeling her heart pounding in her chest, Eileen leaned against the door to catch her breath. The intensity of the situation left her legs weak and her body trembling. After a while, she managed to regain someposure and decided to take a shower to calm her nerves. In thete evening, shey in bed but struggled to fall asleep, her thoughts haunted by past memories of being bullied and mistreated. C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. The images she had tried so hard to forget flooded back, tormenting her mind once more. She curled up in bed, hugging the quilt tightly as feelings of suffocation overwhelmed her. Despite the darkness in the room, the memories felt vivid and clear, and she found herself reliving the distressing encounters once again. Eileen hesitated for a moment but decided to turn on the phone that Sharon had sent her from home. It was her first time using it, and she was surprised to find a flood of messages from Jasper, totaling more than a hundred in thirteen days. Most of the messages were asking about her whereabouts and why she had not replied. He also shared his daily routine with her until thest message expressing concern and worry for her well- being. Fering touched by Jasper¡¯s genuine concern, Feen replied with a simple T¡¯m tired, good night She did not expect someone to care abour, especially Jasper, whom she considered a familiar strange His worry for her warmed her heart in a way she had never experienced before. Just as she was about to turn off the phone, a call from Eric appeared on the screen. Eileen hesitated but ultimately decided not to ept the call. Meanwhile, in Hulbury, Eric sat in a study room with a stack of printed photos in hand. As he looked at Eileen¡¯s familiar side profile in the pictures, his deep eyes grew dim with emotion. He had not anticipated that she would stay in the remote vige for so long. The photos depicted Eileen working at a restaurant, serving dishes, and washing dishes at the door. Seeing her current situation in the pictures, Eric couldn¡¯t help but feel a mix of emotions. Was she the same Eileen he knew in the past? Looking at the monitoring information that appeared on theputer screen, the time stamp showed 12.43 a.m., indicating when the information was sent. After the phone disconnected automatically, Eric chuckled and ced it down, noting that the call had lasted until 12:44 a.m. It seems like she hasn¡¯t endured enough yet. Eileen, don¡¯t you know that a rebellious kid doesn¡¯t get candy? Why do you struggle to understand this truth? What purpose does it serve you to endure such hardships? Eric thoughtfully tapped his fingers on the table, thest photo disyed Eileen¡¯s clothes being torn by the man. Half a minuteter. Eric dialed another number and said, ¡°I need your help with something¡­ After exining the situation, Eric made onest call to Eileen. All he heard was a cold notification from the phone. The number you dialed is currently unavable: Ture dock in the morning 10 Someone loudly know ked on ideen¡¯s dooy Open the door. Im back open it akiy Eileen covered her ears and stared at the pitch-ck ceiling. She had lost count of how many times Hannah had bothered her in the middle of the night. Thest time she hung her clothes out, they went missing, only to find them in the downstairs trash can the next day. She had hoped to live peacefully here forever¡­ If this situation continued, she feels like she would go insane. Thomas was a well-known gangster in the area and also the son of her neighbor, Morgan¡­ Eileen didn¡¯t open the door, and he didn¡¯t leave until she lost track of time¡­ Finally, the noise subsided. That night, Eileen could not sleep peacefully. She woke up, and it was already noon. Eileen went to the balcony, where she prepared stewed ribs, shredded pork, and braised pork ribs¡­ After washing the clothes, she hung them on the balcony. Holding the clothes rail, she suddenly noticed a light turned on in the neighboring house, which had been vacant for a long time. The buildings were close together, and without curtains drawn, one could see inside the rooms through the windows. Unexpectedly, the window across from Eileen¡¯s opened, and she saw Elm smoking a cigarette on the balcony. The two made eye contact for a moment. Eileen quickly snapped out of it, hastened to hang up thest piece of clothing, turned off the gas stove, and retreated inside her house. She closed the balcony door and drew the curtains. She was wearing a light-colored nightdress, and she immediately changed into regr clothes, feeling the need for more coverage. Bringing in the dishes she had prepared outside, Eileen began to eat. Today, she had no ns. to go to the store, as she was unsure when Elm and Vera would leave. She didn¡¯t want Vera to see her there. Eileen¡¯s n was to leave after they departed and move to Lumiose to live with her grandma. She did not find this ce suitable for her anymore. In the midst of her thoughts, Eileen suddenly rehabered her wallet and realized it was missing. She distinctly recalled cing it in the clothes she wore the previous day. However, 0 34 upon searching for it, she could not find it anywhere, not even in the washing machine. Then, it dawned on her that it might have fallen in the storest night. Panic set in as she did not have time to waste. Without her ID in the wallet, she would not be able to buy a ticket to Lumiose. Moreover, the wallet held a precious picture of her mother. Eileen couldn¡¯t afford to ponder the situation further, so she dashed out to go back to the store. As soon as she arrived, she approached Hannah, who was picking vegetables, and inquired, ¡°Did you happen to see my wallet in the store yesterday?¡± Hannah did not bother looking at her and replied indifferently, ¡°You lost your wallet, what¡¯s that got to do with me?¡± The reason Eileen chose to keep her wallet on her as she knew her surroundings were not trustworthy. In Mr. Samuel¡¯s store, there were designated cabs for employees to store their belongings. Eileen requested Sharon to fetch her hand cream from the Swan Mansion¡¯s drawer. This hand cream had been gifted to her by Elsie and was considered an expensive skincare product, costing over two hundred yuan each. Two hundred dors was a significant amount in today¡¯s times. Eileen recalled thest time she caught Hannah pretending to use the restroom, only to sneak into the back and rummage through her belongings, even using the hand cream. without her knowledge¡­. Despite witnessing Hammah¡¯s sneaky behavior, Eileen felt frustrated as she had no concrete evidence to confront her. Without proof, she could not make any usations lightly! Chapter 55 Chapter 55 Chapter 55 I¡¯m Gonna Scream Losing something usually meant it could be reced, but this time, it was different. Without a registered permanent residence, Eileen had no means of recovering her lost wallet, and she didn¡¯t want to return to the dealer. Eileen had never been patient with Hannah, often choosing to turn a blind eye to her actions to avoid conflict. If she had followed her usual temperament, she might have reacted impulsively, possibly even covering the trash can over his head. ¡°Hannah, my mother¡¯s photo is in that wallet, and it¡¯s important to me, along with some essential documents¡­ If you need money, I can give it to you. The rest isn¡¯t valuable to you. Just give it back, please!¡± Eileen pleaded. Hannah kicked open the trash can by his feet, and its contents spilled out. He retorted angrily, ¡°Eileen, what are you talking about? I didn¡¯t take your wallet! Why are you using me? If you don¡¯t believe me, call the police!¡± Eileen¡¯s voice echoed throughout the store, attracting attention from others present. Feeling agitated, Eileen ran her hands through her hair in frustration and said, ¡°Hannah, I¡¯ve never meddled in your affairs before, right? If you want that hand cream, I can give it to you. Just return the wallet, and I¡¯ll pretend nothing happened.¡± ¡°Eileen, I swear I didn¡¯t take your wallet! Why are you so intent on framing me?!¡± Hannah protested. Mr. Samuel heard themotion and hurriedly approached, asking, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Miss, aren¡¯t you supposed to work the evening shift? Why are you here so early today?¡± Mr. Samuel asked. Eileen replied honestly, ¡°Mr. Samuel, I lost my wallet. There¡¯s a very important photo and my ID inside. I was nning toe here to resign and go back to my grandma¡¯s ce, but without my ID, I can¡¯t even buy a ticket.¡± Concerned, Mr. Samuel asked, ¡°Why do you want to leave? What happened?¡± Eileen did not want to discuss the events fromst night as thinking about them only made her ufortable. So, she avoided the topic and kept it to herself. Liten did not want to escte the situation further She vaguely expressed, ¡°I just want to go home Mr Samue! Can you please help call the police to find my wallet?¡± Mr. Namurlummediately asked ¡°What does Het look like? TO Eileen described, ¡°It¡¯s a pink Chanel wallet, it has my student ID card and regr ID card. Most importantly, my ID card Mr. Samuel¡¯s expression turned mncholic as he said, ¡°Losing a wallet is tough to recover. Your wallet must have been expensive, and if someone found it, they probably won¡¯t return it. Tell me how much money you need, and I¡¯ll give it to you.¡± Eileen bit her lip and replied, ¡°Mr. Samuel, could you buy me a bus ticket to Lumiose? I want to leave today.¡± Surprised by her sudden decision, Mr. Samuel hesitated, ¡°In such a rush? Miss¡­ it might not be possible to arrange it for today. Let¡¯s see if it can be arranged for tomorrow afternoon. I¡¯ll buy it for you then.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the only option I have.¡± Eileen nodded. ¡°Okay, please, Mr. Samuel. You can deduct the money for the bus ticket from my sry this month.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about this small amount of money. Eileen, are you really going to leave? Have you told Sharon?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll tell Sharon when she returns tonight.¡± Mr. Samuel understood, saying, ¡°Alright, then. Just wait a moment, and I¡¯ll settle your sry for the past few days first.¡± When Eileen finally received her sry, it amounted to one or two thousand dors, which was a substantial sum for her. Comparing it to what Will gave her, two thousand dors was the price for a dress. She now realized that earning money was actually quite challenging. Eileen held the money in an envelope, and it felt rtively thick. After Mr. Samuel settled the matters, he went to deliver the goods, leaving only Eileen and Hannah in the store. Eileen mustered the courage to address Hannah, ¡°Hannah, I can say this with certainty. I know your personality, your actions, and who you really are. You know it better than I do. I just hope that you can look at yourself honestly, I know I have no evidence¡­ Maybe 1 misjudged you. If I did, I¡¯m sorry. But if you did take my wallet and are hiding something from me, then you¡¯ll have to live with your thieving ways for the rest of your life¡± I Hannah responded with a sarcasticugh, Eileen, why are you pretending? You¡¯re just slightly better looking than me. Do you actual, believe you¡¯re some rich youngdy? Your wallet te worth three thousand dors? Why not say ¡®s worth thirty thousand dors? If you it¡¯s were truly a wealthy youngdy, would you be here doing part time jobs and washing 24 dishes?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve seen people who can pretend, but I¡¯ve never seen anyone as good at pretending as you!¡± Hannah¡¯s appearance was far from pleasing, with his thin and unkempt appearance, dry and split hair, and a sour and sinister face, which made the situation even more awkward. When Eileen first came to the store, she treated Hannah kindly, allowing her to use her skincare products. However, Hannah became greedy and started taking them without permission. When Eileen gently reminded her to ask for permission before using her belongings again, Hannah became angry and started spreading rumors about her. She falsely used Eileen of being unhygienic and flirtatious with men, trying to tarnish her reputation. But Eileen did not let Hannah¡¯s words affect her; she felt more pity for her. As the saying goes, appearances reflect the heart, and hateful people must have pitiful experiences, just as poor people may have hateful circumstances. ¡°I hope you maintain this tone when you¡¯re talking to me. I also hope you can have a clear conscience,¡± Eileen replied calmly.. After the confrontation, Eileen left and began packing her belongings. As she went upstairs, she unexpectedly encountered Thomas blocking the stairs. He sneered, ¡°Miss, you¡¯re back? What were you doing outside? Tell me.¡± ¡°No, please move aside!¡± Eileen requested, trying to pass by him. Eileen was determined not to engage with Thomas and was trying to leave when he continued to block her path. Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Don¡¯t be so aggressive! I didn¡¯t have a chance to apologize to you for what happenedst night. Today, I¡¯m having a meal at home, and I want us to eat together so I can apologize properly,¡± Thomas said, attempting to persuade her. Ignoring him, Eileen turned around and started to go downstairs to avoid the confrontation. However, Thomas unexpectedly grabbed her arm tightly, ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going? Come to my ce, it¡¯s only me¡­¡± Despite her struggles, his towering and burly figure made it easy for him to overpower her. ¡°Let go of me! Eileen demanded, trying to free herself from his grip. Thomas paid no heed to her protests and continued dragging her towards his house, which was close to the stairs. Thomas, what are you doing? Il scream!¡± a vorer boomed from upstairs Ignoring the warning Thomas sunked atleeting her. You can secam all you want. but nobody wille to your rescue today 111 ¡°You¡¯reing home with me today!¡± Chapter 56 Chapter 56 Chapter 56 Leaving ¡°Let go of me, you scum. If you dare to touch me, my father won¡¯t let you go!¡± Eileen desperately shouted, hoping her words would deter Thomas. But Thomas onlyughed arrogantly in response, ¡°Your father? Your father is nothing but a piece of shit. Even if hees here, he¡¯ll be my dog.¡± Eileen called for help, ¡°Help! Help!¡± Thomas responded with disdain, ¡°Shut up, you annoyingdy! And what kind of underwear are you wearing? Allcy! Disgusting!¡± He pped her across the face. Eileen¡¯s face was pped to the side, and in retaliation, she tried to bite him. But Thomas grabbed her hair and pulled it forcefully, causing her to cry out in pain. Just then, another man came down from upstairs. Seeing a potential savior, Eileen desperately pleaded, ¡°Help me, please¡­ help me¡­¡± The narrow corridor now crowded with three people. Thomas aggressively warned the neer, ¡°Let me tell you, stop meddling in my own business.¡± The neer was taller than Thomas, with a cold and fierce demeanor. He red at Thomas and commanded, ¡°Let go!¡± Thomas stubbornly refused, ¡°Get out of here!¡± The neer¡¯s voice turned even colder, ¡°I¡¯ll say it onest time, let go!¡± ¡°What can you do if I don¡¯t let go? Do you know who I am? I can kill you right here!¡± Thomas retorted, pointing a finger at the neer¡¯s face. Without warning, the neer delivered a swift kick that sent Thomas tumbling down the stairs, resulting in screams of pain. Laleen was startled by the sudden turn of events, witnessing Thomas lying unconscious on the ground, blood dripping from his forehead. Covering her mouth to suppress her emotions, she retrained from crying out loud Before i dern could thank the man who had helped her, he had already lett the scene Leen rushed back upstairs and fumbled for the key in her pocket Due to the pante carhet, 14 she dropped the key on the ground, but there was no time to retrieve it. She quickly locked the door, grabbed her clothes from the closet, and packed them into her suitcase. In the past, she had been shielded from the dangers of the outside world by the dealer, and she had no idea how harsh and difficult life could be without her identity and financial resources. Suffering for half a minute seemed like nothingpared to the uncertain and challenging life thaty ahead. Could it be that she was destined to be trapped in this life forever? Was this the path her life was meant to follow? Feeling overwhelmed with powerlessness, Eileen sat on the ground, contemting her fate. Perhaps it was Will¡¯s debt, and now it was her turn to pay it off. Eileen collected her clothes from the balcony and identally saw Elm wearing a ck vest, hugging and kissing Vera on the balcony. He lowered her head and raised his eyes, he caught a glimpse of Eileen packing her things and entering the house. The clock now showed four o¡¯clock. Eileen had left a letter on the table before departing, knowing that when Sharon returned, she would already be in Lumiose. Upon reading the letter, Sharon would understand everything-the reason for her sudden departure. With her luggage in tow, Eileen left the apartment, leaving Thomas lying unconscious on the stairs. When he eventually regained consciousness, Thomas would not let her go easily. As she dragged her luggage away. Thomas weakly shouted after her, ¡°You wench¡­don¡¯t think you can escape from me!¡± But he soon fell unconscious again. Fileen arrived at a convenience store, where she spent two hundred dors borrowed from Mr. Samuel¡¯s wife to purchase a bus ticket to Lumiose, using her ID card for verification. The bus journey would take 16 hours, making it a lengthy trip. Luckily, she managed to secure thest urket for the might, departing at 8:30 in the evening As she had an hour to spare before the bus to the west station departed. Eileen waited anxiously at the convenience store Sudded, trumbled in the sky apanied by lightning signaling an approaching stona 24 C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. Concerned about the weather, Mrs. Samuel suggested, ¡°Miss, it looks like it¡¯s going to rain today¡­ Maybe you should consider going tomorrow instead. It¡¯s quitete now, and the bus might be dyed.¡± Eileen, eager to leave, responded, ¡°Mrs. Samuel, is there any way you can help me get there? I¡¯ll pay you extra for it.¡± Mrs. Samuel hesitated at first but eventually refused, saying, ¡°No way! It would take two hours and the road might not be safe in heavy rain.¡± Eileen persisted, ¡°What about a hundred dors more?¡± Initially tempted, the Mrs. Samuel quickly shook her head with an embarrassed expression, ¡°No, your life isn¡¯t worth a hundred¡­¡± ¡°How about two hundred dors? If you won¡¯t go, I¡¯ll find someone else,¡± Eileen proposed. The Mrs. Samuel epted the two hundred yuan, quickly stashing it in her pocket, and then said, ¡°Wait a minute, let me call my husband. He can take you there.¡± Eileen replied, ¡°Thank you, it¡¯s kind of you.¡± Soon, the boss arranged for a van to take Eileen to her destination. The Mrs. Samuel held Eileen¡¯s bag and reminded her, ¡°Miss, you have to be careful traveling alone to such a far ce. Don¡¯t let yourself get kidnapped by bad guys. You are so good- looking; human traffickers would be particrly interested in someone like you.¡± Eileen noticed something in the Mrs. Samuel¡¯s eyes, a subtle expression she could not quite understand. As she was about to take the luggage handed over by the Mrs. Samuel¡­ Eileen¡¯s instincts told her that something was wrong as she saw the boss sitting in the driver¡¯s seat with a smirk on his face. Looking around, she noticed other people in the car as well. In an attempt to buy some time, Eileen calmly said, ¡°Wait a minute, I have something in your store that I didn¡¯t take. I¡¯ll go and get it¡± But the boss hurriedly pushed her into the car, insisting. ¡°Get in the car first, I¡¯ll get it for you! Thinking quickly Eileen replied. I put it on the floor of the refrigerator next to it At the two forord around to check Firen to be opportunity to escape and can directly is Me Samur- Restaurant The tuns iralized what had happened and shouted, ¡°It¡¯s not good, the girl ran away! Chase Hearing this, Thomas, who was in the car behind, became furious. He pressed the window down and shouted, ¡°Damn it If I don¡¯t teach he lesson today. Fll have her surname Thomas had initially nned to wait for an opportunity to catch her, but Eileen proved to be clever and saw through their deceit Previously, Thomas had fainted on the stairs, and Morgan found her son with a bleeding forehead. She panicked and immediately sent in to the clinic As soon as Thomas was out of the clinic, he searched the streets to find Eileen and settle the The van quickly turned around and began chasing after Eileen. Eileen ran with all her might, the thunder roaring above her, and the electric light reflecting off her panicked face. Raindrops started falling, and the cold rain soaked through her clothes, The rain caught her by surprise, and in the dark street, the bright headlights behind her seemed like a menacing predator, relentlessly pursuing her. The water quickly umted on the ground, and Eileen identally stepped into an uneven surface, causing her to lose her bnce and fall in a state of panic. Chapter 57 Chapter 57 Chapter 57 That¡¯s Only the Beginning, Eileen Five people came out of the car, and Eileen instinctively put her hands on the ground, retreating in fear while casting them disgusted res. ¡°What¡­what do you want¡­¡± she stammered, her voice trembling with apprehension. ¡°No¡­stay away!¡± Eileen pleaded, hoping her words would deter them. ¡°I can give you money, all the money you want,¡± she offered, hoping it would buy her way out of the situation. Thomas, wearing a lecherous smile, advanced towards Eileen, tauntingly remarking, ¡°I almost broke my bones chasing after you¡­Now I see where you were trying to go¡­¡± Hispanions joined in, making crude suggestions, ¡°Let¡¯s take her straight to our ce and have some fun with all five of us!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! Last time, I wanted to have my way with this girl. She¡¯s not worth much more than the women who sell themselves for a few dors on the streets. I bet it won¡¯t take more than three days to break her spiritpletely. From now on, she¡¯ll serve us and even bear us some children.¡± Eileen managed to stand on trembling legs and bravely spoke, ¡°You guys are breaking thew, do you know that!¡± Their response was wildughter, filled with disdainful sarcasm, ¡°Breaking thew? Do you even know where you are? Here, we are thew. ¡°This is madness¡­you are all crazy¡­¡± The thought of falling into their hands terrified her. She could not bear the idea of experiencing the tragedy of her previous life again. Her cries and screams echoed in the empty warehouse, while the faces of those men seemed like demons, haunting her like a never-ending nightmare. She desperately did not want this to happen again In the dark, a ck car was parked in the nearby parking lot. The man inside the car wore a Blueworth, headset and reported. ¡®Mr Snow Ivesent the picture Do you wat kotake action how? Those people aleply wanted to 4tuar her ¡°Don¡¯t rush, I¡¯ll handle it. Follow them closely!¡± The wiper lever moved back and forth, making a creaking sound. On the car¡¯s disy screen, a dim video showed a group of tall men bullying a defenseless eighteen-year-old girl. Eric watched the surveince footage thoughtfully, his eyes filled with darkness. Eileen, you were so eager to escape from the Swan family, but now you see the consequences¡­ Sometimes the wrong decision leads to a heavy price. You¡¯re a princess, don¡¯t you know that this world can be filthy and cruel. Wouldn¡¯t it be better to stay sheltered in the greenhouse? Eileen, all of this is only the beginning! In the video, Eileen was struggling with the men, her coat torn to shreds and she was covered in mud! Her eyes reflected despair, yet she still fought back even though she was overpowered. It seemed like they were toying with a helpless kitten. Eileen bore numerous bruises on her body. When she fell to the ground, one man grabbed her face and forcibly pulled her into the car. In her desperation, Eileen grabbed a stone and hurled it at her assant with all her might. A deafening thud resonated through the air. Seizing the moment, Eileen quickly got up from the ground and fled¡­ ¡°No, she ran off!¡± ¡°Hurry up and chase her!¡± A group of people sought shelter from the rain under the caves, and Elm, wearing a ck jacket, covered his head to shield himself from the downpour. Vere stood beside him and noticed his ck short-sleeved shirt, ¡°Aren¡¯t you cold? You should wear this jacket instead¡± Tim replied Im not cold, just wear it Jasmine stood beside Vera rubbing her an Ayoutwo togedier nu Progress seems Vera blushed and said, ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense, we¡¯re just friends.¡± ¡°That¡¯s it? Just friends? Don¡¯t pretend!¡± Pa teased, rolling his eyes. Taylor chimed in, ¡°What terrible weather! It starts raining as soon as we gather. It¡¯s like the heavens have no respect for us.¡± Pa retorted, ¡°Respect? Who do you think you are? Do you expect the heavens to show respect to you? Aren¡¯t you afraid of getting struck down?¡± Their banter continued, and theyughed together. Amidst the chatter, someone suddenly heard a cry for help. ¡°Did you guys hear that? Someone is calling for help!¡± ¡°Nah, you must have misheard something.¡± ¡°No, I swear I heard it too! Someone is really calling for help, and there are several other voices as well.¡± Elm narrowed his eyes, listening carefully. The faint voice of a woman calling for help. echoed in the back alley, apanied by several male voices. ¡°Help! Is there anyone¡­¡± ¡°Stupid girl, where do you think you¡¯re running off to!¡± Taylor recognized the voices and said, ¡°I¡¯m telling you, that¡¯s Thomas and his gang. Once you hear it, you know they¡¯re forcing some poor woman again.¡± ¡°Pa, do you hear that woman¡¯s voice? She just arrived not long ago and talked back to them.¡± Pa replied, ¡°I can tell that Thomas is a despicable person, not worth anything. That young girl had just turned 18¡­ Elm, should we go and check it out?¡± Elm nonchntly took out a cigarette from his pocket, sniffed it between his nose, and said. ¡°Since when did you guys be so interested in meddling with people¡¯s business?¡± Vera hesitated, ¡°Elm, I thought I heard Eileen¡¯s voice. Is she¡­. here too?¡± Fim nced at her, his lips curling. It¡¯s none of your concern, Pa. You stay here, Tavlor and I will buy an umbre. The rain seems like ¡®ll continue for a while, don¡¯t catch a cold going back With that, Elm left my the rain, and Taylor and hired and green hat followed unt 31 As they walked, they realized they were going the wrong way. C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. ¡°Elm, the convenience store is over there, we¡¯re going the wrong way.¡± On that rainy night, Elm¡¯s eyes turned red, ¡°One more word, and I¡¯ll stuff the umbre in your mouth when we get back.¡± The three of them exchanged nces and followed behind obediently without saying anything more. Elm eximed, ¡°Elm, look quickly, that young girl is up there.¡± Elm followed his gaze and saw that the rain showed no sign of stopping. The lighting here and all they could see was the dark and turbulent sea with huge waves crashing, and Eileen standing in a high ce with no escape. was poor, She was being forced back, and there were reefs beneath her feet. If she fell and was swept away by the waves, there was no chance of survival¡­ ¡°Mr. Snow, this is bad. Ms. Swan is forced to the edge of the sea and might jump in.¡± At that moment, on a bridge overlooking the sea, a ck Audi with its high beams on was observing the scene below. ¡°Lionel, do you think¡­ will she dare to jump, or not?¡± Lionel, his loyal subordinate, replied, ¡°I¡¯m not sure. But¡­ if we don¡¯t do anything, something bad might happen to Ms. Swan.¡± Soft music yed in the car, teasing lightly, while fingers tapped on the steering wheel. Chapter 58 Chapter 58 Chapter 58 She¡¯s Dead ¡°Why don¡¯t you run anymore?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t resist. You¡¯d better go with us obediently Eileen nced at the turbulent waves. The stones under her feet got swallowed when they fell. Was she scared at this moment? Maybe she was afraid. Was she afraid of death? She did not know Eileen had experienced the most tormenting and most ufortable illnesses. All the rtives around her died unexpectedly, betrayed by the person she loved the most, and all the best things about her left her. She thought she could be the happiest person in the world. Later, she realized that everything was due to a beautiful dream created by one person. It was all false. That dream broke. It only left the endless dark abyss, pain, and torture. She thought that in this life, as long as she did not attach to those things, she might be able to escape all the tragedies that happened in her previous life. However, she was wrong! It had been her tragedy since she was born. God gave her the retribution owed by Will. She also wanted to live a good life in peace and stability. She had worked hard to change. everything. She thought she would have a good ending. Unexpectedly, in the end, her efforts were in vain. She had already died once. Death was not scary to her. Even if she was gone, the only one who might be sad was Jasper. It was a pity that she still had not seen him. Taylor said nervously, ¡°Is she going to jump? If she jumps, we won¡¯t be able to save her¡­¡± Elm walked faster and finally broke into a run. ¡°Stop!¡± Elm¡¯s voice died away in the thunder. No one heard but them. ¡°Eileen! Don¡¯t jump!¡± ¡°Sh*t! If she dies, we¡¯ll be in disaster when the policee!¡± ||| 1/4 ¡°B*tch, don¡¯t pretend! Do you dare to jump? If you have the guts, just jump!¡± ¡°Just be obedient. Don¡¯t risk your life for a trivial matter.¡± Eileen suddenlyughed sadly. She spread her arms, looked up at the night sky, and let the rain ssh her face. If this is my ending, I won¡¯t make the same mistakes! Eric, I¡¯m tired! As for Dad¡¯s hatred and the debt of these two lifetimes, let¡¯s write them off, okay? Can you treat me better in the next life? I want to be your sister. I also envy Vera to have a brother like you. And Jasper, goodbye. C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. While leaning back, she felt that the wind was like a knife. It hurt while blowing on her face. Elm yelled, ¡°Eileen!¡± Lionel said anxiously, ¡°Mr. Snow, Ms. Swan is in danger!¡± Eric¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Eileen!¡± ¡°Thomas, she jumped into the sea! We killed her! What should we do?¡± ¡°It has nothing to do with me! It¡¯s not my fault! I didn¡¯t do anything!¡± Thomas looked at Eileen, who was nowhere to be seen below. He was so frightened that he fell to the ground, and the others had already fled in fright.. Then, a person came. Without a word, Elm took off his shirt and jumped into the sea. Taylor shouted, ¡°Elm!¡± Eileen hit the reef. Her blood spread in the seawater, the cold seawater seemed to freeze her limbs, and her consciousness was confused. She felt like she was constantly falling, like a star about to disappear, then fell to where she should be. It¡¯s so dark, Mom. I¡¯m so cold. Taylor looked anxious on the beach. ¡°Hurry up! Call the police!¡± One person took out the PHS, ¡°I can¡¯t get through! It¡¯s raining. There¡¯s no signal.¡± Taylor scratched his hair impatiently. ¡°F*ck¡­¡± Another person asked hastily, ¡°What should we do?¡± Taylor roared, ¡°How can I know? You two hurry up and call some people who can swim. Find O 2/4 a ce with a signal and call the police.¡± Pa and the others waited until the rain stopped. They did not see Elm and the others returning. They felt something was wrong, so they went to the beach. Soon, they found Taylor. ¡°Taylor, where¡¯s Elm?¡± Taylor said hesitantly. ¡°Just now, Elm jumped into the sea to save that girl.¡± Pa¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. She stepped forward and grabbed Taylor¡¯s cor, and kicked him to the ground. ¡°Why don¡¯t you stop him? The tide is high now! He¡¯ll die!¡± Vera covered her mouth with tears. ¡°Elm¡­¡± ¡°Another person jumped into the sea just now. We don¡¯t know who it is.¡± Pa¡¯s eyes turned red anxiously. ¡°Elm, you b¡±stard! If you die, I won¡¯t let you go!¡± Suddenly, one of them pointed in a direction in surprise. ¡°Pa, it¡¯s Elm!¡± Everyone looked in that direction and saw Elm holding a person in his arms. He walked from the sea, and the ocean behind him became his background board. They walked over while Elm put Eileen on the ground, pinched her mouth, and did artificial respiration for her. ¡°Elm¡­¡± Pa and Vera immediately ran to Elm. Elm stood up and started doing CPR. ¡°Stay away from me.¡± Seeing Eileen, Vera froze in ce. She did not expect that the person who had the ident turned out to be Eileen, who had been missing for nearly three months. Eileen was in this fishing vige. For ten minutes, Eileen showed no sign of waking up. Pa could not bear to say, enough. She¡¯s dead.¡± ¡°Get lost! Shut up!¡± Elm¡¯s eyes were gloomy and cold. No one dared to speak anymore. No one had ever seen Elm so angry. ¡°Elm, Elm gave Eileen a few more breaths. ¡°Eileen, you have taken advantage of me! How can I ask you for compensation if you die? Eileen, wake up!¡± ||| O 3/4 After a moment, Eileen finally responded. Cough! Eileen spat out some water, but not long after waking up, she only saw the man vaguely and passed out again. Elm breathed a sigh of relief. He was finally not so tense and soon picked Eileen 1. Suddenly, a few ck cars drove up and surrounded them. A dozen bodyguards in ck suits. got out of the cars. Chapter 59 Chapter 59 Chapter 59 Are You Teaching Me How to Do Things? Gavin left the car with an umbre and walked to the rear co-pilot. The door opened, and a man dressed in ck walked out of the car. The man was handsome, and his falcon eyes were full of danger. Seemingly intimidated by his powerful aura, everyone automatically made way for him when they saw him approaching. Elm held Eileen in his arms while meeting the man¡¯s eyes. An unknown air pressure spread between them when they looked at each other. Eric walked over while Gavin held an umbre by his side. ¡°Mr. Elm, I owe you a favor. Thanks for saving Eileen. Eric reached out, but Elm did not seem to hand Eileen over. After a moment, Elm responded, ¡°I¡¯ll ept this favor.¡± Then, Eric took the unconscious Eileen from Elm. Clinic at Peach Fishing Vige. On the way back to Hulbury, there was a road copse. The only road was still getting repaired, and it would take a few days to pass. ¡°Eric, I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t mean to hide it from you. I felt stressed about the exam, so I went to have fun with my friends. I worried you would be unhappy, so I didn¡¯t tell you.¡± Vera was like a child who had done something wrong, lowered her head, and dared not to speak. Jasmine worried Vera would get scolded by Eric, so she exined to Eric, ¡°I insisted on inviting Vera out. It has nothing to do with her. If you want to me, just me me.¡± Eric asked Vera without me, ¡°Where did you live these days?¡± Jasmine rushed to say, ¡°We live at a friend¡¯s house.¡± Eric told Vera, ¡°Move out of your friend¡¯s house today. Live in a homestay first. I¡¯ll send back to school in a few days.¡± Vera nodded. ¡°Okay, Eric.¡± you ¡°You go back first. It¡¯s almost dawn. Go back for a rest.¡± Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. ||| 1/4 How about you?¡± Ill wait for Eileen to wake up¡± Vera said nothing more. Then I¡¯lle to see you tomorrow You should rest early. Don¡¯t get tired¡± After Vera left, the examination room opened, and an elderly doctor came out. ¡°Are you the patient¡¯s family Eric asked, ¡°Yes. How is she?¡± The doctor answered, ¡°The situation isn¡¯t optimistic. Her abdomen was injured. Luckily, the bleeding has stopped. I can only give her a simple examination here. When the road repair is over, you¡¯d better take her to a hospital for treatment to see if there are any other internal injuries¡± Thank you.¡± Gavin followed the doctor to take the medicine. Eric walked into the humble ward. Eileen was bloodless on the bed. Her eyes were closed, and she was as quiet as if she had died. The light in the ward was dim while shining on her pale face. He stared at her. Eileen. you have hundreds of ways to survive, but you find the stupidest way. When are you not even afraid of death? Eric suddenly found Eileen like a stranger. Eileen usually had a perverse personality but was timid. This time, it was indeed beyond his expectations. The moment Eric watched Eileen jump, he did feel a little mercy toward her, even though he did not know where the mercy came from. Eric tucked her exposed hands under the quilt. The rain outside stopped for a while and then started again. ¡°Don¡¯te here¡­¡± Suddenly, Eileen sobbed. Eric sat beside the bed and touched her face. He only had not seen Eileen for three months, but she had lost weight. The next day, a ray of dawn rose from the sea. 24 Eileen¡¯s throat felt like it was on fire, and she felt very painful. She slowly became sober and smelled an unpleasant smell of disinfectant. She stared at the ceiling above her head in a daze. Was she dead? Her memory was nk, and soon she remembered what happenedst night. She moved her fingers lightly and felt a little cold. Looking at the infusion bottle beside the bed, she realized she was still alive. ¡°Mr. Snow, thepany meeting has been postponed. Mr. Swan asked when will you go back. The road repair is over.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll go back when Eileen wakes up. Do you all catch those people?¡± ¡°Yes, we caught the person who escapedst night. Those people are local hooligans. Because there¡¯s no one in the jurisdiction, they¡¯rewless. I¡¯ve contacted several government officials to strengthen management here. How should we deal with those hooligans?¡± ¡°Where are they now?¡± ¡°It¡¯s outside.¡± The conversation outside stopped abruptly, and Eileen heard the sound of opening the door. She quickly closed her eyes again. Eric nced at Eileen inside, then turned and left. At the entrance, more than a dozen luxury cars worth hundreds of thousands were in front. of the clinic. All of which had never appeared in the local area. The people here had never seen such a scene and did not know what happened. Many people gathered around to discuss. People outside were unallowed to see the doctor, but the entire Peach Vige had only at clinic. ¡°This car must cost tens of thousands!¡± ¡°It¡¯s more than tens of thousands. I¡¯ve only seen this car on TV.¡± ¡°What happened? I¡¯m still waiting to get the medicine!¡± Five men wearing ck hoods were tied up and came out of a van. Their mouths with tape. got covered Someone recognized one of the men immediately. ¡°Hey, isn¡¯t that Morgan¡¯s son? How did he get caught?¡± ¡°He must have messed with the underworld! They¡¯ll be miserable.¡± O 3/4 Gavin came out after Eric. The bodyguards kicked Thomas and others to make them kneel on the ground. Eric stood on the steps. He was as intimidating as a king. Then, he signaled the bodyguards to tear off the tape on Thomas and the other¡¯s mouths. With fearful eyes, those hooligans begged Eric for mercy. ¡°Sir, this matter has nothing to do with us! It¡¯s Thomas¡¯ idea! He has been thinking about that. girl for a long time. We haven¡¯t touched her!¡± Several other people also started to put all the me on Thomas in fear. ¡°F*ck! You all agreed with my idea at that time! Don¡¯t try to deny it!¡± Eric looked at the people below. He seemed to be looking at a group of dead people without emotion, only cold-blooded. Eric reached out, and the person on the side handed him a stick. Gavin stepped forward. ¡°Mr. Snow, you don¡¯t need to deal with them. We can wait for the police.¡± If things got serious and affected thepany, Will would me Eric. ¡°Are you teaching me how to do things?¡± Eric looked at Gavin coldly. Chapter 60 Chapter 60 Chapter 60 I Lost My Purse Gavin immediately bowed his head. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare.¡± The bodyguards swiftly subdued the group. in that moment, Eric appeared like a demon from hell, emanating a terrifying aura. Upon hearing that her son was in trouble, Morgan rushed over. Seeing him pinned to the ground, she cried out. ¡°Thomas¡­¡± Thomas pleaded, ¡°Save me, Mom! Save me!¡± Morgan rushed forward but was stopped by a bodyguard. ¡°Stop! Stop it now!¡± Eric had never been known for his kindness, as everyone in the underworld was aware. ?n the contrary, he was infamous for his ruthlessness. At that moment, he was merely teaching the group a minor lesson. In the would have been floating in the sea by now. past, their bodies Inside the ward, Eileen¡¯s skin crawled at the sound of the screams. She knew it was Eric taking action. He was there to forcefully take her back, but she didn¡¯t want to go. Eileen removed the needle from the back of her hand, threw off the covers, and attempted to stand. However, as soon as her feet touched the ground, her legs gave way, and she copsed onto the floor. Using the bed for support, she managed to stand up again, albeit with great difficulty. Just then, Eric entered the room. Eileen looked at him in terror, stumbled, and fell. For a moment, she froze. Sitting on the ground, she was too scared to move. Their eyes met, and Eileen had never seen him look so intimidating. His neck and fingers were stained with blood that dripped from his fingertips onto the floor, creating a vivid red ssh that was both savage and chilling.. It was as if he had emerged from hell itself. As he approached, Eileen recoiled in fear. ¡°I can get up on my own,¡± she said. Eric¡¯s hawk-like eyes watched as she casually removed the needle from the back of her hand, causing blood to seep out. His eyes narrowed as he said, ¡°When will you ever learn?¡± Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. ? < 1/4 Ignoring Eileen¡¯s words, he stepped forward and lifted her into his arms before heading. outside. ¡°I don¡¯t want to go back! Let me go!¡± Eric appeared angry as he walked out, forcefully shoving her into Gavin¡¯s car. Sitting in the car, she could feel the countless gazes fixed upon her, a feeling that she detested. As Eileen looked out of the car window, she saw the pool of blood on the ground, a sight that made her stomach churn. When Gavin noticed that the blood on Eric had stained Eileen¡¯s clothes, he discreetly ced a pack of tissues in front of her, knowing that she was a clean freak. Eileen wiped the blood off her body, while Eric opened the front passenger seat door for Vera. Vera got in. Once Eric settled into the car, the atmosphere inside became oppressively heavy. Eileen said, ¡°I don¡¯t want to go back.¡± Eric retorted, ¡°Have you not learned your lesson during these three months. home? Eileen, there should be a limit to your stubbornness!¡± away from Eileen was afraid of him. In fact, she was more afraid of him than she was of Will. As she was rted to Will by blood, she knew there was a limit to what he would do to her. However, the same couldn¡¯t be said for Eric. His attitude towards the Swan family and her¡­ was quite indifferent. He wouldn¡¯t hesitate to harm her. Eileen lowered her gaze, tearing at the tissue in her hand. She knew Eric very well. Speaking to him about these matters now would only further irritate and anger him.. He was unconditionally forgiving towards Vera, but when it came to her¡­ The fact that he hade at that time was already the limit of his patience. Eileen tactfully refrained from continuing the conversation. Instead, she changed the subject, her voice somewhat soft as she said, ¡°I¡¯ve lost my purse.¡± Eric ordered, ¡°Drive.¡± Eileen¡¯s heart was already in knots. If possible, she didn¡¯t want to trouble him either. ||| < 2/4 ¡°Inside, there¡¯s a photo of my mom. It¡¯s very important to me.¡± Eric replied, ¡°I¡¯ve got it.¡± With his assurance, Eileen knew that Eric would definitely help her retrieve it. Meanwhile, Morgan was chasing after the car, crying and causing a scene. Not long ago, Thomas and the others had been taken away by the police. The people there were equally frightened after witnessing Eric¡¯s ruthlessness. He had almost taken a life with just a few strikes. The pool of blood on the ground stubbornly refused to be washed away. No one dared to discuss the horrifying incident, as they didn¡¯t want to get involved with a of neighborhood hooligans. It was clear to them that Eric and his men were not to be trifled with. group At that moment, Hannah was hiding behind a tractor, still in shock with her legs trembling. Soon after, she overheard a conversation among the group of people. Ss asked, ¡°Elm, what¡¯s the deal with that young girl? Who are those people? Are they powerful?¡± ¡°Pa, those cars are worth at least hundreds of thousands. Elm, do you about them?¡± know anything Elm casually slid one hand into his pocket, ying with a metal lighter. Upon pressing it, a blue and red me ignited. ¡°From now on, you guys should keep your distance from her. And as for that Eric guy, avoid him if you can Eileen might seem easy to bully, but the Swan family is not to be messed with. Eric¡¯s methods haven¡¯t changed since the old days. ¡°This guy is unbelievably ruthless. I could even hear bones cracking from here. Damn, that must have hurt!¡± Ss said with a grimace. Elm closed his lighter, his narrow eyes fixed on the trembling figure not far away. He then began to approach. As Hannah stared at the approaching figure, fearpelled her to flee. However, her legs felt heavy and refused to move. ¡°Hand it over,¡± Elm demanded, extending his hand. Hannah¡¯s family wasn¡¯t wealthy, and she wasn¡¯t particrly attractive either. Sometimes, she ||| 3/4 found herself being bullied by others. When encountering local ruffians like these, she never dared to provoke them. Hannah wasn¡¯t sure what she had done that day to give Elm a reason to look for her. She was too scared to even make eye contact. She stammered, ¡°W-W-What¡­¡± ¡°Do I even need to remind you? Wasn¡¯t it you who took Eileen¡¯s purse? Stop pretending in front of me.¡± Elm smirked, his eyes glinting with ice. ¡°Being unattractive is one thing, but you can¡¯t even control yourself!¡± Hannah quickly responded, ¡°I didn¡¯t take her purse. I found it!¡± ¡°You know it¡¯s hers, yet you¡¯re not returning it! How is this any different from stealing?¡± With trembling hands, Hannah pulled the purse out of her pocket. Her face flushed red with embarrassment. Gritting her teeth, she found herself at a loss for words. Elm opened the purse and took out Eileen¡¯s ID to examine it. She looked reasonably presentable in the photo. Her student ID card was also still inside. ¡°Where¡¯s the money that was inside?¡± ¡°I-I¡¯ve spent it¡­¡± With a look of disdain, Elm reluctantly took out money from his own wallet. After confirming that there were about a thousand dors in notes, he stuffed them into Eileen¡¯s. pink purse. ¡°If I catch you stealing again, I won¡¯t hesitate to treat you like Thomas. Now go away!¡± Startled, Hannah quickly ran off. Somewhat annoyed, Pa said, ¡°You didn¡¯t take the money, so why are you paying it back?¡± ¡°I have so much money that I don¡¯t even know where to spend it, alright!¡± No one understood the Swan family better than him. Whatever amount Eileen was short of, the Swan family would ensure it was fully repaid, down to thest penny. Chapter 61 Chapter 61 Chapter 61 Are You Scared Now The bumpy journey reopened Eileen¡¯s abdominal wound, causing her immense pain. ¡°Ouch, it hurts!¡± she eximed. Despite the pain, she fought to stay conscious and refused to copse. As her vision blurred and she felt herself slipping into a daze, she clenched her teeth and remained silent. She didn¡¯t want to burden him any further. Suddenly, Eileen leaned forward, catching Eric¡¯s attention. He opened his eyes and quickly reached out to support her. As soon as he touched her, he felt a burning sensation emanating from her body, prompting him to pull her into his arms. Eric furrowed his brow and asked, ¡°How much longer until we reach the hospital?¡± ¡°The road repairs are causing some congestion. It¡¯s going to take at least an hour,¡± Vera replied, startled. Eric uncovered Eileen, revealing her blood-soaked clothing underneath. ¡°Why didn¡¯t she say anything?¡± he wondered. ¡°Stop the car by the road, Gavin, and get the first aid kit, Eric instructed. Gavin pulled over and swiftly retrieved the first aid kit from the trunk. Inside, it was stocked withmonly used medicines. Eric began to undress Eileen, carefully removing the bandage from her abdomen and discarding it. He then worked to stem the bleeding. By the time he finished dressing the wound, Eileen had already lost consciousness. ¡°At this rate, she¡¯ll lose too much blood and go into shock,¡± Eric thought to himself. Vera watched the scene unfold through the rearview mirror, gripping the hem of her skirt. tightly. Her head was lowered, and her eyes were filled with indescribable emotions. After the roadblock was cleared, they arrived at Serene Hospital in less than thirty minutes. ||| 1/4 Eileen was immediately rushed into the operating room, with Gavin staying behind to keep her company. Eric then escorted Vera home, as he needed to retrieve some documents for a meeting at the office. Vera stood outside the door as Eric emerged from the study¡¯s bathroom, freshly showered. His damp hair glistened, and droplets of water clung to the ends. He was drying himself with a towel. As usual, he was dressed in a ck shirt and pants, exuding an aloof and restrained aura. His piercing gaze could intimidate anyone who looked at him. It was like staring into a dark abyss that instilled fear. The dim light in the room made it difficult to discern his emotions. ¡°Is there something you need?¡± Eric asked, his appearance striking Vera with terror. While sitting in the car, Vera had suddenly felt a sense of insecurity for reasons unknown. She was terrified that Eric would abandon her just like that. Vera stepped forward and embraced Eric, wrapping her arms around his waist. ¡°Eric¡­¡± Eric paused his hand that was stroking his hair. His gaze deepened as he responded to her actions, ¡°Did I frighten you?¡± Vera nodded, holding onto him even tighter. ¡°Mm-hmm.¡± Eric gently stroked her back. ¡°I¡¯ll be more careful in the future.¡± Vera released her grip and looked up at him. ¡°Eric, please don¡¯t do that again.¡± Eric¡¯s broad and rough hand gently caressed her hair. His eyes no longer held their previous. coldness. ¡°I understand,¡± he said. Eric knew what she was afraid of. When he had taken action earlier, he hadn¡¯t considered the consequences. The situation with Eileen had caused him to lose his sense of propriety. In his mind, the same image kept reying. The fact that Eileen had jumped into the sea without hesitation was beyond his expectations. It was as if she had be a different person. ¡°What could have caused such a change in her? Or perhaps she has learned something?¡± Eric O 2/4 pondered. Ever since Eileen retaliated against the Gates family, Eric had sensed that something was amiss. If that was indeed the case, he couldn¡¯t keep her by his side, let alone allow her to be involved with the Smith family. Vera watched as Eric took the documents and left. He hadn¡¯t shown any interest in her affairs in Peach Fishing Vige. The more he acted that way, the more Vera felt that Eric simply didn¡¯t care about her. It wasn¡¯t until she saw the stack of photos on Eric¡¯s desk that Vera¡¯s mind was blown away. ¡°So, when Eileen left the Swan family, Eric didn¡¯t ignore her. On the contrary, he has been keeping a close eye on her. If Eileen hadn¡¯t encountered trouble this time, Eric wouldn¡¯t have personallye to Peach Fishing Vige. They have grown up together, experiencing all kinds of hardships. They are like family to each other,¡± Vera realized. During her years abroad, Vera had noticed that Eric was bing increasingly distant, unlike his former self. She was truly terrified of losing him. After thepany meeting. Eric left the conference room and received a call from Gavin. Gavin had just finished settling the medical bill and was holding the receipt in his hand. He reported, ¡°Ms. Swan haspleted her blood transfusion, and her abdominal wound has been stitched up. Apart from that, there are no other internal injuries. However¡­ she has developed a high fever of 39.8 degrees and needs to be hospitalized for a week.¡± Gavin silently prayed that he wouldn¡¯t be tasked with taking care of Eileen. Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. If that were the case, he would prefer death. Eric entered the elevator, ncing at the time. It was already half past four in the afternoon. ¡°Find a caregiver to watch over her twenty-four hours a day,¡± Eric instructed. ¡°Understood.¡± After hanging up, Gavin had a nagging feeling that he had forgotten something important, but he couldn¡¯t quite remember what it was. In the end, he dismissed the thought. After finding a caregiver, Gavin hurriedly drove back to the office. O 3/4 Inside the hospital, the scent of disinfectant filled the air, but there was an overwhelming coldness that lacked any warmth. Eileen had a dream. In her dream, she saw herself lifeless, her soul detached from her body. She wandered through the corridors, but no matter how far she walked, she couldn¡¯t escape the pitch-ck hospital. She observed gurneys moving back and forth and people passing by her¡­ It felt as if she was trapped. Suddenly, Eileen was abruptly awakened by a searing pain in her throat, apanied by a throbbing headache. She had lost count of how many times she had fallen ill, each time. waking up in the same manner. The hospital room was enveloped in darkness, devoid of any presence. After coughing. harshly for a while, she felt a chilling sensation on the back of her hand. Eileen quickly removed the needle. If she hadn¡¯t woken up early, she feared that the IV bag might have been filled with her own blood by morning. Using her hand for support, she sat up on the bed. Just as she reached out to turn on the bedsidemp, the light flickered on with a ¡®pop¡¯. The ring ke light was so intense that she struggled to adjust to it. When Eileen looked at the person standing by the door, she was startled. When did Eric enter the ward? Why didn¡¯t I notice him at all? ¡°Eric¡­¡± Her voice sounded hoarse. Ignoring the needle on the floor, Eric approached Eileen and gently touched her forehead with the back of his hand. She still has a slight fever. Shouldn¡¯t he be with Vera at this hour? Eileen coughed a few times, avoiding his intense gaze. ¡°Eric¡­ why are you here at this hour?¡± ¡°Eileen, what is it that makes you so determined to leave the Swan family? Or is it¡­ Eileen, have you discovered something and you¡¯re unwilling to tell me?¡± An invisible pressure weighed down on her, causing Eileen to suddenly struggle to breathe. She gasped for air, her face turning pale. Chapter 62 Chapter 62 Chapter 62 Where Is Your Family His gaze was so intense that it seemed like he wanted to devour her. Eileen looked away, sitting on the edge of the bed with her head hanging, too afraid to meet his eyes. In a soft voice, she said, ¡°You¡¯ve always protected me so fiercely since I was little, which is why I wanted to see the outside world. Eric¡­ I¡¯m sorry¡­ I won¡¯t run away again, and I won¡¯t throw tantrums anymore.¡± Arguing with Eric right now would be unwise. Eric was already twenty-six, and Will was considering early retirement. Will was waiting for the right time to fully hand over thepany to Eric. Thus, she felt trapped, like a mouse in a trap, unable to escape. At the end of the day, she could never outsmart Eric. Eileen should have realized it from the beginning. Since she couldn¡¯t escape from the Swan family, she could only ept her fate. As long as she didn¡¯t marry Eric, the tragedy of her past life wouldn¡¯t repeat itself. ¡°My dad wants me to get married as soon as I finish college, and I¡¯ve agreed to it, no matter who the person is. But, Eric, could you help me tell my dad that I want to choose who I marry? I don¡¯t want to spend the rest of my life in an unhappy marriage.¡± A shadowy look appeared in Eric¡¯s eyes, but suddenly, he startedughing. He reached out and gently stroked her head. ¡°Eileen, you¡¯re still young, there¡¯s no need for you to worry about these things. Right now, just focus on recovering. As for the future¡­ we¡¯ll talk about it.ter¡­¡± If she could, Eileen really wanted to p him across the face and yell at him, ¡°Isn¡¯t all of this your fault? Why are you pretending to be the good guy in front of me? You¡¯vepletely. ruined all my ns.¡± Just as she had gained a sense of independence, he took it away from her decisively. At that moment, there was a knock on the door. ¡°Mr. Snow, the check-up isplete. Ms. ke is fine now. She can leave once the bill is settled.¡± Eileen saw Vera, looking pale, standing next to the nurse. Vera was frowning and clutching her stomach as if she was in great pain. After briefly ncing at Vera, Eileen looked away. It turned out that Eric hade to the hospital to apany Vera for a medical check-up. ||| L 1/4 Eric didn¡¯t say a word as he left the ward. However, Eileen could hear their conversation at the door. ¡°You¡¯rectose intolerant, so you should avoid drinking milk in the future.¡± Vera said, ¡°It was prepared by Sharon. She said it would help me sleep if I drank it at night. I didn¡¯t expect that I wouldn¡¯t be able to drink it. But¡­ Eric, the food that Sharon makes is really delicious! Can I always cat the food made by Sharon?¡± Eric agreed, ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°But Sharon needs to go back and take care of Eileen, so let¡¯s forget it! However, I can ask Sharon to teach me how to cook, so I can make it myself in the future whenever I feel like it.¡± ¡°No need, Sharon won¡¯t be going back for now. Whatever you want to eat, you can ask her to make it for you anytime. I¡¯ll go and talk to Eileen about it.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that a bad idea?¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing wrong with it.¡± As their voices faded, Eileen could no longer hear what they were saying. She clutched the quilt tightly as her chest felt unbearably heavy, as if she couldn¡¯t breathe. Apart from Sharon, she had no one else, and now they were even trying to take Sharon away from her. As the gentle moonlight filled the room, its previous tranquility returned. Eileen¡¯s fever had not yet subsided, and in her hazy state, she felt a sense of destion. This feeling was reminiscent of a past life, where she was alone in a cold hospital room, dying in solitude. All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. Haunted by nightmares that night, Eileen clutched her pillow and began to weep uncontrobly. Her sobs echoed throughout the ward, unheard by anyone. As loneliness filled the air, even the faintest glimmer of light was swallowed by the darkness. It felt as though she was the only person left in the world. The next day, Eileen¡¯s body temperature didn¡¯t drop and instead rose even higher. Her body burned as tears hung from her longshes. She was so distressed that she started to talk incoherently. If the nurse hadn¡¯t noticed her condition early enough, Eileen would have been driven to madness by her fever. The caregiver that Gavin had arranged for only arrived at noon. Sharon, who was used to taking care of Eileen, came early in the morning with fresh clothes for her. Seeing Eileen in such difort, Sharon couldn¡¯t help but wipe away her tears. If she had known earlier, she ||| 2/4 would never have let her stay in such a ce. This child has never experienced hardship since she was young. Sharon simply couldn¡¯t express the regret that overwhelmed her. After receiving the acetaminophen injection, Eileen¡¯s temperature significantly decreased. However, she still showed no signs of waking up. Since Sharon had to return home and couldn¡¯t be at the hospital to care for Eileen, she informed the nurse about everything to be mindful of while taking care of her, including what she should eat and what she should avoid. Eileen had almost slept for an entire day and night before she finally woke up. The nurse, a woman in her thirties, held a bowl of pumpkin oatmeal and fed it to Eileen. After only a few bites, Eileen suddenly felt her stomach churn, causing her to vomit. everything she had eaten. As the oatmeal and pumpkin were prepared on the spot, the pumpkin was still not fully cooked. Eating it half-raw made Eileen feel ufortable all over. The caregiver quickly handed her the trash bin to vomit into, patting her back with a hint of disgust in her eyes. Once the moon over the manor was shining brightly, the nurse poured her a ss of water to rinse her mouth. ¡°Do you still want to eat the oatmeal?¡± Eileen was retching so hard that her stomach cramped. Her face was pale as she weakly shook. her head. ¡°I don¡¯t. Just throw it away.¡± Other than the meals cooked by Sharon, she just couldn¡¯t get used to food from anywhere else. She figured that her stomach was probably too spoiled. She suddenly craved the chestnut pie made by Sharon. However, she had no idea what Sharon was up to these days, as it felt like it had been a long time since Sharonst visited. her. Matilda, the caregiver, felt it was a pity to waste the oatmeal since she had spent money on it. If Eileen didn¡¯t eat it, she nned to save it and reheat it at home. She just couldn¡¯t bear to let it go to waste. Afterwards, Matilda took the afternoon off to attend to some matters at home, so Eileen let her go. ||| 3/4 r Most of the time, Eileen was alone in the hospital room, used to the solitude except for the asional visit from a nurse. As she looked at the clear, cloudless sky outside, she thought it was a perfect day for shopping. However, Eileen sat on the bed, spending most of her time staring into. space. In her mind, Eileen recalled the doctor¡¯s words of caution. The doctor looked solemnly at the medical report in the file and asked, ¡°Where is your family? Isn¡¯t anyone apanying you?¡± Eileen replied, ¡°They are all very busy, doctor¡­ Is there something wrong? Please tell me directly.¡± The doctor informed her, ¡°We have discovered that you have a congenital uterine malformation that requires surgical treatment. If you don¡¯t undergo surgery as soon as possible, your chances of getting pregnant are very slim. If you do manage to conceive before your uterus is stabilized, there is a high risk of miscarriage and you may not be able to carry the baby to full term. In more severe cases, this condition could even develop into. uterine cancer. As your doctor, I strongly advise you to have the surgery as soon as possible. The medical facilities in Hulbury are quite advanced now. The sooner we perform the operation, the lower the surgical risks.¡± ¡°I understand. I would like to discuss this with my family first, and then I will get back to you. Is that okay?¡± Chapter 63 Chapter 63 Chapter 63 Heartache This news hit her hard. ¡°Is it because of my uterine abnormality that I can¡¯t conceive?¡± Eileen leaged to have a child of her own with Eric. If they had a child, he wouldn¡¯t seek other women anymore. However, after waiting for so long, that child finally came into the world, but she was restrained on the operating table by men under Eric¡¯s instructions and injected. In her previous life. Eileen had no knowledge that she had been in a car ident, lying in at hospital bed for over half a month. After recovering, she underwent a full body check-up, and the medical report ended up in Eric¡¯s hands. Eileen suddenly had a thought. ¡°Why did Eric tell me that my physical condition was perfectly normal? If Eric hadn¡¯t kept me in the dark and had taken me to the hospital earlier, perhaps the child I was carrying wouldn¡¯t have died!¡± Eileen felt a chill creeping into her hands and feet when she realized Eric¡¯s intentions. At that moment, her whole body trembled with cold. ¡°He didn¡¯t marry Sarah because he needed an heir! It was simply because Eric had always wanted a child with Sarah. The initial cause of my gastric cancer was the cancer cells from my uterine cancer spreading to my stomach. By the time they discovered it, I was already in thete stages of stomach cancer. So, everything makes sense now. Eric actually knew everything! He knew I wouldter be diagnosed with cancer and suffer a painful death in the hospital. Even after death, no one would bother to collect my body! He simply wanted to see me live a life of unbearable pain. Hence, in his past life, he announced his wedding date with Sarah on our anniversary, which fell on Valentine¡¯s Day. He also revealed their child to the world, all to taunt me! Eric was utterly heartless!¡± Every time Eileen recalled fragments of her past life, it felt as if her heart had been sliced by over a thousand knives as she endured a torment worse than death. Even in her current lifetime, Eileen still couldn¡¯t let go of the pain she carried over from her past life. Clearly, being reincarnated with memories of her previous life brought her so much pain. that she wanted to end her life. Right then, a nurse happened to pass by and saw Eileen clutching her chest in the ward. Thinking something else had happened to Eileen, the nurse hurriedly stepped forward to check on her. ¡°Ms. Swan¡­ what¡¯s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?¡± That wasn¡¯t the first time Eileen sat alone, lost in thought, then cried in solitude, nursing her 1/4 own heartache. Every time the nurse questioned Eileen, Eileen would just shake her head and cry, remaining silent. If things were to continue like that, she could end up developing severe depression. When Eileen heard the nurse, she quickly wiped away her tears. ¡°I can stop crying now, but what about my heart? I might as well just die of sadness! In my past life, I was foolish and couldn¡¯t understand Eric¡¯s thoughts. But now, whenever I think about it, my heart will bear an additional wound that can never heal.¡± Despite her efforts, tears kept falling from her eyes. Yet, she didn¡¯t let out a single cry. With a nk expression, Eileen wiped away her tears. ¡°I¡¯m fine. A bug just flew into my eye.¡± The nurse gave Eileen a strange look. ¡°How could there possibly be bugs in a ward? This person must have gone mad!¡± The nurse didn¡¯t say anything more. Seeing that half of the nutrient solution was still left, she slowed down the infusion rate. Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. After helping Eileen close the door, the nurse quickly exined Eileen¡¯s mental condition to the attending doctor. Meanwhile, something else was happening in Monarch Entertainment Club, a venue established in the early 1980s. It was originally a dance hall from thete twentieth century. and still maintained the style of the 80s and 90s. In a private room on the second floor, a slender man stood by therge floor-to-ceiling window, gazing down at the singer on the first floor. She was performing a nostalgic song, ¡°Fly Me to the Moon¡±. On stage, she was dressed in a cherry-red satin gown draped with at ke fox fur shawl. Her wavy long hair was adorned with a pearl hairpin. The soft light highlighted her delicate features, casting a gentle glow all over her. Her face was as beautiful as a lotus, her bright eyes sparkling. The singer was none other than Elsie. On the couch, Zachary was embracing two beauties, both dressed in gowns and adorned with enchanting makeup. His floral shirt was unbuttoned, revealing a suggestive mark on his chest as if stained by a woman¡¯s lipstick. ¡°I haven¡¯t even made a move yet, and your girlfriend already seems to be on the verge of losing her mind. Don¡¯t you feel any sympathy for her? During these days at the hospital, my men have been watching her every day. She would stay alone in her room, never stepping out, secretly wiping away her tears. When I heard that, my heart almost broke! I guess you¡¯re the only one who could remain so indifferent!¡± Zachary, eating the grapes fed to him by hist 2/4 ||| O < beauty, smirked and nodded before saying, ¡°Oh! I forgot you don¡¯t have a heart to begin. with.¡± ¡°If you can¡¯t speak properly, then keep your mouth shut.¡± Eric turned around, cing the cup. in his hand on the table. A woman beside him tried to pour wine into his ss, but she recoiled at his nce. ¡°Hey¡­ Why are you scaring my beauty? You really don¡¯t understand romance.¡± Zachary straightened up, buttoning up the loose buttons on his chest. He waved at the morous. women in the private room, and they quickly left, walking out with seductive strides. Afterward, there were only the two of them left in the private room. Zachary said, ¡°You don¡¯t need to do anything to Eileen. She will be discarded by Will like a useless chess piece.¡± ¡°What are you trying to say?¡± Eric asked. ¡°Eileen¡¯s medical report has been released, so you have aplished your goal. That batch of medicine was somewhat effective¡­ Eileen will never be able to conceive in her lifetime. Regardless of her beauty, she is unable to bear children. What do you think Will will do with her? Will he send her to apany his business partners, or use his own daughter¡¯s body to solidify his position in the capital? You should be aware that Eileen has inherited the beauty of the most beautiful woman in Hulbury from back in the day. Once Will learns about this. news, he will exploit this advantage. Eighteen is such a captivating age! Can you imagine how many people would be tempted? When the timees, you won¡¯t even have to lift a finger¡­¡± Zachary responded.. With a chuckle, Zachary pped his hands, his eyes revealing an unmistakable excitement. and madness. Eric appeared lost in thought, his gaze fixed on the liquid in his cup. His eyes were deep and indifferent, leaving one to wonder what he was contemting. Observing this, Zachary thought he had be weak. He approached, cing his arm over Eric¡¯s shoulder, a wicked smirk ying on his lips as he said, ¡°Don¡¯t you want to witness the noble Ms. Swan¡¯s downfall and her entrance into the ordinary world? Before we proceed, how about I experience her first? Regardless of the circumstances, she is still an enticing woman. Being intimate with her must be absolutely enchanting¡­¡± With an indifferent expression, Eric removed Zachary¡¯s hand, stood up, and patted the spot he had just touched. He then nced sideways with piercing eyes. ¡°Stop making that repulsive face.¡± Zachary reclined, his hands spread out on the back of the couch. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Are you ||| 3/4 feeling sympathy for her? You administered the medicine, and now you have achieved your goal. Why are you pretending? Wasn¡¯t Eileen just a pawn in your n? You have defeated her. Now, you get to witness as Will personally condemns his own daughter to a miserable fate, step by step.¡± Chapter 64 Chapter 64 Chapter 64 Involving Eileen ¡°If you want to join in, I¡¯ll let you have a go at her first¡­¡± Zachary smirked cynically, adding, ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, we can do it together. After all, we¡¯ve been friends for so many years. It¡¯s okay to share a woman. All these years, I¡¯ve never seen you touch a woman. It really makes. me wonder if you¡¯re incapable down there!¡± In response, Eric red at Zachary and warned, ¡°If you say one more word, I¡¯ll make you mute.¡± Zachary¡¯s slender, phoenix-like eyes were slightly red, and his lips, as if stained with blood, curled up in a very enticing manner. He burst intoughter, his shoulders shaking. ¡°Are you angry? How interesting. I¡¯ve never seen you like this in all these years, Eric.¡± Thinking of Eileen, Eric suddenly felt like things were slowly slipping away, eluding his grasp no matter how hard he tried to hold on. Somewhere deep within his heart, it felt as if there was an empty hole, and he didn¡¯t know how to fill it. For him, it felt like something was missing. ¡°After all, it has been ten years. Is there really not a shred of emotion? How about we make a bet? Let¡¯s bet on whether you will fall in love with Eileen. The stake is ten percent of the shares in Monarch Entertainment Club. If you win, I will work under you in the future, and you can order me around as you please,¡± Zachary suggested. Eric picked up the suit jacket from the couch and put it on. While fiddling with the cor button with his well-defined fingers, he asked, ¡°Don¡¯t you have anything better to do?¡± ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Are you scared?¡± Zachary asked. Dressed neatly, Eric cast his deep and piercing gaze upon him. ¡°Who do you think has more worth living, you or Eileen? If you want to mess with her, I won¡¯t stop you. However, don¡¯t blow our cover. If Will finds out, who do you think will end up worse off, you or me?¡± After saying those words, Eric left. Every step he took was a risky move. Suddenly, he stopped at the door, ncing at Zachary sideways. ¡°Drop those absurd. thoughts. Otherwise, I won¡¯t mind taking you to the seaside to clear your head.¡± Eric was there to apany Will to meet a few clients. Will only decided to bring Eileen back from Peach Fishing Vige after they secured a partnership with Smith Corporation. ||| O 1/4 Therefore, all her movements and actions were known. However, every time, Eileen would still surprise him. After finishing her song, Elsie ascended the stairs. She saw Eric, who had been ignoring her, brush past her and leave. With her eyes beautifully made up. Elsie nced at his retreating figure. It¡¯s been three months since I saw him! Yet, he ignored me. What a heartless jerk. Elsie quickly entered a private room, taking in the decadent scene within. A handful of men were intimately embracing and kissing their femalepanions. A nauseating smell wafted over, causing a wave of nausea to rise in her stomach. Upon hearing the sound, many men¡¯s gazes were fixed directly on the mature yet charming and enchanting woman. With a suppressed smile, Elsie walked in and sat next to Will. Almost immediately, Will wrapped his arm around her waist. His hand ventured toward the thigh revealed by the slit in her gown. Elsie shyly pretended to pull away, her face flushed with embarrassment. ¡°What are you doing? So many people are watching!¡± At this moment, someone joked, ¡°Will, you¡¯ve got a good eye! I heard she used to be a teacher. How did you get your hands on her?¡± Even though Will was wealthy, he couldn¡¯t shake off his uncouth, ruffian-like demeanor. In front of the group of his unsavory friends, his true nature was revealed instantly. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter how good- looking they are. If they don¡¯t say yes, just pin them down on the bed and nail them. They¡¯ll behave then.¡± A joke was made, but Elsie¡¯s face didn¡¯t reveal any emotion. With a hooked corner of her mouth, she suppressed the displeasure in her eyes. Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Elsie leaned in and whispered something into Will¡¯s ear. ¡°Eric?¡± Elsie nodded. ¡°Yes.¡± Will gently caressed the delicate, smooth leg, lost in thought. ¡°Let him be! He¡¯s in charge of most things at thepany. It¡¯s not a big deal if he takes some time off to rx now and then. Why have you suddenly taken an interest in him? What¡¯s brewing in that little head of yours?¡± Will was naturally suspicious. Elsie said with a yful pout, ¡°I¡¯m just telling you about his presence at Monarch Entertainment Club so that you won¡¯t me me for hiding it from when he mentions it in the future! You¡¯re always so suspicious.¡± you ||| 2/4 Will¡¯s brows rxed, and he hugged her, nting a kiss on her neck. ¡°All right, don¡¯t be mad¡­ How about we go shopping tomorrow? You can buy whatever you want.¡± ¡°Hey, what are you two whispering about over there? Is there something we¡¯re not supposed to hear?¡± ¡°What else is there to talk about? It¡¯s all about those things in bed. You¡¯re not getting any younger. Be careful not to hurt your back in bed.¡± ¡°Hey girl, when you have some free time, buy some supplements to help this old guy out. If he can¡¯t keep up,e find us. We guarantee to make you feel like you¡¯re in heaven, unable to leave the bed the next day.¡± Usually, there would be a grain of truth in every joke, and Will knew his friends well enough. to know what they meant. Meanwhile, the wound on Eileen¡¯s abdomen had already scabbed over, though it would itch from time to time. The inability to scratch was what made Eileen most ufortable. The doctor said there would be a scar, but she didn¡¯t mind. After she was able to get out of bed, she let Matilda go home. At that moment, Eileen didn¡¯t really need anyone to take care of her. Aside from Eric¡¯s visit, no one had visited her since. To them, her existence was insignificant. However, Sharon would visit her every night. Knowing that Eileen wasn¡¯t ustomed to the food outside, Sharon would prepare meals at home and bring them over. Although Eileen was supposedly recovering in the hospital, she didn¡¯t gain weight. Instead, she even lost a few kilograms. Upon hearing a knock on the door of the ward, Eileen, who was engrossed in reading a book. on the balcony, shifted her attention from the pages to the entrance. Without standing up, she uttered, ¡°Please come in.¡± The door swung open, revealing a bodyguard dressed in a sleek ck suit. In his hand, he held a delicate pink lunchbox. ¡°Ms. Eileen, your meal is ready.¡± Eileen offered a gentle smile as she rose from her chair. ¡°Just leave it there for now. I¡¯ll eatter.¡± ||| 3/4 ¡°Mr. Smith anticipated your response, so he instructed me to ensure that meal before leaving.¡± It was an order from Jasper. you finish your ¡°I¡¯m not particrly hungry. Can I set it aside for now?¡± Eileen inquired. I no longer have control over my own life, and now, I don¡¯t even want the right to decide whether or not to eat to be taken away from me. Deep down. Eileen remained a rebel. She was unwilling toply with others¡¯ instructions. The bodyguard added, ¡°Inside, there are roasted chestnuts personally prepared by Mr. Smith, as well as sweet and sour pork¡­ If they are left untouched for too long, their taste will be affected. Did he really prepare the food himself? Eileen had never consumed a meal cooked by anyone other than Sharon. Even Eric had never cooked. Chapter 65 Chapter 65 Chapter 65 Reading Eileen set her book down and walked over. The bodyguard opened the lunchbox, revealing threeyers inside. The firstyer contained roasted chestnuts, the secondyer had just a few pieces of sweet and sour pork, and the thirdyer held a nutritious savory oatmeal with vegetables. Ever since that night when Eileen learned about her illness, she had spent most of the nights. alone in the small pavilion downstairs of the inpatient department, wiping away her tears. His voice carried a hint of amusement as he helplessly asked her, ¡°Why do you always seem to be crying whenever I see you?¡± Eileen¡¯s eyes glistened with tears, a few droplets clinging to her long, dark eyshes. When she looked at him, she saw the pain in his eyes. He gently wiped away her tears, He was the kindest person she had ever encountered, even though she didn¡¯t know who he was. Eileen never imagined that she would find warmth in thepany of a stranger she had never met before. Since then, he would visit her from time to time. Even her three meals a day would be delivered punctually. What was truly astonishing was that it seemed like he knew exactly what she liked to eat. Eileen didn¡¯t know why he was being so kind to her. The bodyguard exined, ¡°The roasted chestnuts dish is a recipe Mr. Smith learned from your housekeeper, as is the sweet and sour pork¡­ This is the first time Mr. Smith has cooked, so please don¡¯t be too critical, Ms. Eileen. If the food tastes really bad, you don¡¯t have to force yourself to eat.¡± ¡°Why are there only three pieces?¡± Eileen asked. ¡°Ms. Eileen, your serious injury hasn¡¯t healed yet, so you shouldn¡¯t eat too much meat. Once you¡¯re fully recovered, Mr. Smith promises to make up for it.¡± I see¡­ Eileen took the fork handed over by the bodyguard, ate the whole thing, chewed a few times, and then suddenly paused¡­ Her face didn¡¯t show much emotion. She just continued to eat slowly, savoring every bite. ||| O 1/4 Eileen didn¡¯t want to criticize his effort because aside from Sharon, no one else had ever cooked for her. Eileen had already finished eating the oatmeal and the sweet and sour pork. The remaining roasted chestnuts could be eatenter. When someonees bearing gifts, I can¡¯t let them leave empty- handed. With that in mind, Eileen gave him some of the pastries she made in her spare time, asking him to take them with him. He should be able to enjoy these pastries, right? After the bodyguard had left, Eileen clutched her chest and quickly ran to the bathroom. She rinsed her mouth and drank a lot of water. Fortunately for me, there were only a few pieces of sweet and sour pork instead of a whole te! Otherwise, I might suffer from food poisoning and have to stay in the hospital for another ten days to two weeks. Eileen had juste out of the restroom when she saw that the bodyguard, who supposedly had already left earlier, was on the phone. ¡°Yes. Ms. Eileen has finished eating.¡± The bodyguard handed the phone back to Eileen. ¡°Mr. Smith wants to talk to you.¡± Eileen picked up the phone. ¡°Hello¡­¡± ¡°Sorry. Are you okay?¡± The voice was warm and gentle, like a spring breeze by the ear, pleasing to listen to. Eileen nervously clutched her clothes, suppressing the difort in her stomach. ¡°I¡¯m fine¡­ You really don¡¯t need to apologize. I¡¯m already grateful that you cooked for me. No one hast ever cooked for me before¡­ I really appreciate it.¡± She brought the phone to the balcony, resting her hand on the railing as she admired the view outside. Meanwhile, outside the ward, a striking couple was walking down the hospital corridor. Their affectionate demeanor was quite a sight. ¡°Eric, do you think Eileen has already eaten?¡± Vera came over, holding Eric¡¯s arm while carrying a bouquet of flowers in her other hand. The rather heavy lunchbox was held by Eric. ¡°No. She hasn¡¯t,¡± Eric answered. Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Ever since Vera got injured, she moved out of the school and had been resting at home for a long time. That day, Eric had a rare day off, so Vera insisted on going out to have some fun with him, and they decided to visit Eileen at the hospital along the way. Staying cooped up at home all the time would surely drive one crazy. They hadn¡¯t visited in a long time because it was mostly Sharon who did. ||| 2/4 They even specifically asked Sharon to prepare a variety of dishes to bring to the hospital. Having been cared for by Sharon over the past few months, Vera¡¯s initially thin cheeks had gained a bit of baby fat. This time, Vera had made a special effort to dress up. Her face was bare, without makeup, and her hair was styled in a twisted braid resting on her shoulder. She wore a light-colored knee-length skirt. Walking beside him, to outsiders, they didn¡¯t seem like a couple but more like an uncle and his niece. As the two reached the entrance of the ward, they noticed an unfamiliar face inside. Had it not been for the familiar silhouette on the balcony, Vera would have thought they were about to enter the wrong ward. Catching a glimpse of a figure outside the door from the corner of her eye, Eileen felt a touch of panic. She quickly said, ¡°Sure. If you like it, I¡¯ll make an extra serving of pastries for you in the future and bring it over. If there¡¯s anything you can¡¯t eat, just send me a message to let me know.¡± ¡°I will always enjoy whatever you make.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll hang up now. My brother hase to see me.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Eileen hung up the phone, stepped out from the balcony, and handed the phone back to the bodyguard. ¡°Sorry for the trouble of making you run an extra errand.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all right.¡± After he left, Eileen finally turned her gaze to Eric and Vera. Her eyes were indifferent, devoid of any emotion. Even the smile tugging at the corner of her mouth seemed perfunctory. ¡°Eric, Vera, why are you guys here?¡± Upon seeing that Eric remained silent, Vera felt a sense of unease as she approached, extending the carnation in her hand. ¡°I apologize, Eileen, for onlying to visit you now. I¡¯ve been preupied with mock examstely, constantly solving problems, and Eric¡­ he also finishes work veryte. I hope you don¡¯t mind.¡± Eileen epted the bouquet, a smile appearing on her lips. ¡°It¡¯s alright. I¡¯ll be discharged from the hospital in a few days. Thank you foring to see me. Let me get you some water.¡± Eileen spoke with an unfamiliar and distant tone, treating them like unfamiliar guests. ¡°No need. I¡¯ll be leaving with Eric soon, so I won¡¯t disturb your rest,¡± Vera replied. 3/4 Feeling the intensity of Eric¡¯s gaze, Eileen did her best to avoid looking at him. She awkwardly brushed her loose strands of hair behind her ear. ¡°Then I won¡¯t keep you. Have a good time.¡± ¡°You haven¡¯t eaten yet, have you? Eric brought some food prepared by Sharon-¡± Suddenly, a gust of wind blew in through the door, scattering the sheets of drawing paper. across the table. Eileen quickly rushed over, using the drawing board to hold down the remaining drawings. A sketch floated down to Eric¡¯s feet. He bent down to pick it up and saw that it was a drawing of a man. There were multiple drawings like this. Eric suddenly asked, ¡°Is this what you¡¯ve been doing all this time in the hospital?¡± There seemed to be a hint of displeasure in his tone. Eileen picked it up, dusted off the painting, and said, ¡°I didn¡¯t know what to do, so I just. painted randomly.¡± Vera nced over. ¡°Is this the man Eileen is interested in?¡± Little did Vera know that Eileen wasn¡¯t interested in anyone at that moment because she had learned a painful lesson. Eileen exined, ¡°He¡¯s a friend I recently made at the hospital. He had some free time, so I asked him to be my model.¡± Vera noticed that the table was covered with books about sketching, along with a set of paintbrushes. ¡°The university entrance exam is approaching, and this is what you¡¯re studying?¡± Eric questioned. Chapter 66 Chapter 66 Chapter 66 Predetermined Apart from these actions, she had no other choice, as her fate had already been predetermined by them a long time ago. A surge of emotion welled up in her chest, leaving Eileen unsure of how to release it. She tightly clenched her fingers into her palm and kept her eyes downcast, maintaining silence. Vera sensed the heavy atmosphere in the ward, emanating from Eric. Trying to lighten the mood, she smiled and said, ¡°Eric, didn¡¯t we buy movie tickets? Isn¡¯t it almost time for the movie? If we don¡¯t leave soon, we¡¯ll bete.¡± She shook her head at Eric, signaling him not to continue speaking. She remained unaware of what had transpired between them. Eileen, who had always deeply. loved Eric, suddenly became indifferent towards him, asionally even hurling harsh words at him. At times, Eric¡¯s anger could even terrify Vera herself. Eric tore Eileen¡¯s sketch, his eyes gleaming with a cold, mysterious light. ¡°Seems like you¡¯ve be comcent. Haven¡¯t you learned your lesson after three months?¡± Vera quickly pulled Eric away, and they walked towards the door. Just then, Eileen picked up the torn painting from the ground and called out to the man, causing them to halt in their tracks. ¡°Eric, I just want to do what I love. Can you stop interfering in my affairs? I have alreadypromised on everything you wanted me to do. Whether it¡¯s going to Hulbury University. or getting married right after graduation¡­ For the remaining three years, can you please stop meddling in my affairs?¡± He despises me, so why did he feelpelled to destroy my painting? Eric, beyond our inconsequential familial ties, there¡¯s nothing else binding us. After they left, only silence remained in the room. Does this count as aplete fallout with Eric? Well, what do I have to fear when I¡¯ve already experienced death once? Eileen finished all the food in the thermal lunch box. Surprisingly, half an hourter, someone brought more food. Concerned that she might still be hungry, they had ordered from another restaurant for her. 1/4 Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Despite already feeling quite full, Eileen¡¯s hand, holding the spoon, mechanically brought more food to her mouth. She didn¡¯t understand what was happening to her. Unable to find an outlet for her emotions, Eileen resorted to excessive eating and drinking. It seemed like this was the only way she could prevent herself from overthinking. Normally, she didn¡¯t eat much, but now she consumed six times her usual portion. When the nurse entered to change Eileen¡¯s dressing, she heard noise from the bathroom. ¡°Miss, are you alright?¡± The nurse stood at the door, observing the person slumped on the floor inside. ncing at the messy takeout boxes on the table, the nurse¡¯s eyes showed concern. ¡°Get out,¡± Eileen snapped. ¡°It¡¯s time to change your dressing.¡± ¡°I said, get out!¡± Startled, the nurse hastily ced the medicine on the table and quickly left, fearing to provoke Eileen. ¡°I¡¯ll leave the medicine here. Do remember to take it,¡± the nurse reminded before making a swift exit. A curious colleague passing by sneaked a peek inside and wondered aloud, ¡°She¡­ hasn¡¯t really gone mad, has she?¡± The nurse who exited Eileen¡¯s ward took her colleague aside to a secluded area. She whispered, ¡°I think that might be the case. Perhaps I should talk to Dr. Xenos! I suspect she¡¯s suffering from depression. If she contemtes suicide, her family might cause a scene. I think it¡¯s better to mention it anyway. It¡¯s not about fearing the likely, but the unlikely.¡± The bodyguard monitoring Eileen reported her situation to Jasper, who resided in the VIP ward upstairs. The entire fifteenth floor had been reserved by the Smith family. Jasper was gradually taking over Smith Corporation, and he was beginning to make appearances in the media. After a long period of silence, the heir to Smith Corporation. reappeared in the public eye, creating a buzz online. After his first cooking experience, Jasper developed an interest in the culinary arts. On one side were pastries made by Eileen, and on the other was a cookbook purchased by Richard. Engrossed in reading, Jasper reached for snacks, prompting Richard to gently remind him, ¡°Mr. Smith, you¡¯ve finished all your food.¡± ||| 2/4 As Jasper looked over, he saw only crumbs remaining from his feast. ¡°Are you nning to learn how to cook, Mr. Smith?¡± ¡°What do you think?¡± Richard was genuinely surprised. ¡°Is it for Ms. Eileen?¡± It seems likely¡­ Jasper pondered his own condition, doubting anyone could love a man with crippled legs. Yet, he held onto the hope that if Eileen enjoyed his cooking, he could continue to prepare meals for her in the future. For some unknown reason, a smile unknowingly curved up at the corner of Jasper¡¯s mouth. Observing Jasper¡¯s actions, Richard couldn¡¯t help but think he was behaving like a rogue, going to great lengths and using all means to win Eileen over. But Ms. Eileen is still young. Isn¡¯t it still too early to be doing this? Just then, the bodyguard entered the ward. ¡°Mr. Smith.¡± ¡°Speak,¡± Jasper responded. The bodyguard efficiently conveyed every word he had heard, ensuring no detail was missed. Jasper¡¯s eyes hardened, and a subtle hint of ruthlessness emanated from his gaze. ¡°Is this the kind of life she¡¯s leading in the Swan residence?¡± ¡°Mr. Smith, how about we have Ms. Eileen stay in the adjacent room? It could prevent some unwanted disturbances,¡± Richard suggested. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t that be too contrived?¡± ¡°Well, Ms. Swan can be discharged from the hospital in a couple of days.¡± After some thought, Richard proposed, ¡°Ms. Eileen is currently emotionally unstable. Instead, we should consider how to make her feel better.¡± Curious, Jasper asked, ¡°Do you have an idea?¡± ¡°Ms. Eileen enjoys painting, so she likely enjoys attending art exhibitions. I recall that Mr. Edward will be hosting an art exhibition in Hulbury soon.¡± Samuel was one of the most influential painters internationally, with one of his pieces, ¡°Ember,¡± once fetching a staggering price of over fifty million. The art exhibition took ce once a year, each time in a different region, and tickets for the O < 3/4 Jasper tapped his fingers rhythmically on his wheelchair¡¯s armrest. ¡°Fabian, contact Edward. Ideally, the tickets should be delivered by tonight.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll take care of it right away.¡± Smith Corporation coborated on this art exhibition, making it easy to secure a few tickets. Jasper, always prioritizing efficiency in his work, had Edward¡¯s domestic studio send someone to deliver the tickets to Serene Hospital in under three hours. Eileen held two tickets in her hand, somewhat in disbelief. ¡°Are you saying these tickets are for me?¡± The staff member, a woman dressed professionally, revealed a courteous smile and said, ¡°Yes, Mr. Swan. We have selected five fans of Mr. Edward from Instagram. You are fortunate to have been chosen by our studio, and there is also a catalog with Mr. Edward¡¯s autograph. Since 1984, his personal paintings have beenpiled into a catalog, which is also the prize this time.¡± Eileen couldn¡¯t believe it; it felt like a dream. Edward Watts, once my mother¡¯s favorite painter-even she had never attended his art exhibitions. Eileen¡¯s face lit up with a rare smile, expressing a joy that words couldn¡¯t capture. ¡°Ms. Eileen, make sure to attend when the timees. Who knows, there might be an unexpected surprise.¡± Chapter 67 Chapter 67 A gleam appeared in Eileen¡¯s eyes. ¡°May I know what the surprise is?¡± she asked. Aisha responded, ¡°Ms. Eileen, you¡¯ll find out when the timees. Also, with the extra tickets, you can invite your friends toe along.¡± Eileen held two tickets in her hand, along with a valuable catalog that even bore Edward¡¯s personal signature. With no friends around and uncertain about whom to give the extra ticket to, she suddenly thought of someone. I wonder if he would be willing to go with me¡­ At nine in the evening, the night breeze gently swept in. On the fifteenth-floor ward, Jasper was in a video conference when he heard a noise from outside, and the door to his room was left slightly open. ¡°Ms. Eileen, please wait a moment. Mr. Smith is in a meeting; it will be over soon,¡± Richard informed her. Eileen replied, ¡°Since he¡¯s busy, I won¡¯t disturb him. Richard, please give him this ticket.¡± Upon seeing the ticket, Richard smiled, feeling a touch of surprise. Eileen didn¡¯t realize she hade at an inconvenient time. Anxious about broaching the subject, she handed the ticket to Richard, conveniently asking him to pass it on. At that moment, Fabian emerged from inside, holding a notebook in his hands. He opened. the door and said, ¡°Ms. Eileen, Mr. Smith¡¯s meeting has ended. You may go in now.¡± Eileen gripped the ticket tightly, unintentionally causing a slight crease. She hadn¡¯t anticipated there being others. Mr. Smith? Hisst name is Smith? Lost in thought, Eileen heard Fabian calling, ¡°Ms. Swan?¡± She quickly regained her senses and, after some hesitation, decided to enter. It appeared that Jasper had just finished a task, tidying up the documents in his hands and setting them aside. His eyes, as clear as water, were fixed on her. Perhaps due to his busy. schedule, there was a hint of fatigue in his gaze. ||| 1/5 Jasper rolled down his sleeve, covering the tattoo on his forearm. ¡°I heard you were looking for me. What can I do for you? Why are you standing? Please, have a seat,¡± Jasper said. Eileen walked over and took a seat next to him, saying, ¡°I just came to ask if you¡¯re free a week from now. I¡¯d like to invite you to an art exhibition.¡± She pulled out the ticket, adding, ¡°If it¡¯s not convenient for you, it¡¯s okay.¡± ¡°Sure! I won¡¯t refuse anything that concerns you,¡± Jasper swiftly responded. Eileen didn¡¯t expect him to agree. ¡°Where do you live? I¡¯ll send a car to pick you up when it¡¯s time,¡± he offered. Eileen quickly declined, ¡°No need to pick me up; we can just meet directly at the art. exhibition hall.¡± Jasper nodded. ¡°All right, but¡­¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Eileen asked. The man smiled and said, ¡°I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll have to trouble you to take care of me,¡± ncing at his own legs. ¡°How could it be a bother? You¡¯ve had someone take care of me in the hospital for so many days. It¡¯s only right that I take care of you this time,¡± Eileen dered. Jasper, seemingly pondering something, nodded. ¡°Then let¡¯s meet here a week from now; no excuses for not showing up.¡± ¡°All right. See you then.¡± After handing over the ticket to him, Eileen left. Richard escorted her to the elevator. In the ward, he returned to find Jasper still examining the exhibition ticket. ¡°It¡¯s evident that Ms. Eileen is in good spirits. She doesn¡¯t appear to be bothered by your leg ailment, Mr. Smith. Why didn¡¯t you just tell Ms. Eileen the truth?¡± Richard asked. With a gentle smile in his eyes, Jasper replied, ¡°She has always been very intelligent; how could she not figure it out?¡± He then instructed, ¡°Fabian, reschedule all meetings ted for the twenty-fifth.¡± ¡°Certainly, Mr. Smith.¡± 2/5 O §¤ Two dayster, Eileen efficientlypleted her discharge procedures at the hospital, and the chauffeur promptly returned her to the Swan residence. Upon entering, she noticed Sharon¡¯s continued absence. Instead, a new face greeted her- Mary Walker, a woman in her fifties, the recently hired housekeeper. ¡°Ms. Eileen, you¡¯re back,¡± Mary said. Eileen responded with a faint hum. Right then, amotion ensued from upstairs. ¡°You¡¯re so naughty! My back was about to break,¡± a voice echoed, ¡°Aren¡¯t I making it up to you by taking you shopping, Darling?¡± Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Eileen observed as Elsie, adorned with a limited-edition bag and linked arm-in-arm with Will, descended the staircase. Noticing the youngdy, Elsie quicklyposed herself and brushed away the restless hand. ¡°Eileen, you¡¯ve been discharged? Your dad and I were just about to go shopping. Should we get you anything?¡± Eileen replied expressionlessly, ¡°No, thank you.¡± Then she called out, ¡°Father.¡± ¡°Mm,¡± Will responded indifferently. As they prepared to leave, he stopped in front of Eileen, his cold gaze fixed on her. ¡°Did you have a disagreement with Eric?¡± How did he find out? Surprised, Eileen stammered, ¡°No¡­ not at all.¡± ¡°Make sure that¡¯s the truth. Now that you¡¯ve returned, dedicate yourself to your studies. Don¡¯t go out and bring shame upon me again. Catch up on the extracurricr sses you¡¯ve neglected. If you can¡¯t excel in your studies or anything else, you¡¯ll only expose me to mockery, with people iming the Swan family has raised a good-for-nothing.¡± Eileen lowered her head, ¡°I understand, Father.¡± ¡°Ms. Eileen, it¡¯s time to eat,¡± Mary interjected. Ignoring her, Eileen headed straight upstairs, paying no attention to anything else. With a disdainful sneer, Mary remarked, ¡°You¡¯re acting as if you¡¯re deaf. I won¡¯t coddle you if you don¡¯t eat. Whether you eat or not, I¡¯ll eat by myself.¡± O 3/5 Upon her return, she immediately locked herself in her room. Noticing the familiar limited. edition wallet adorned with pink diamonds on the table, Eileen rushed forward with excitement, eager to open it. Determined to find something, she emptied its contents-her ID card, student card, and even her bank cards were present, but there was a noticeable absence in the form of a missing photo. Picking up the new ID card, Eileen examined it closely. It was wless, and the bank card had a different number than before. None of these items belonged to her originally. ¡°What¡¯s the point of having all these!¡± Eileen eximed, sweeping everything off the table in frustration. Returning to her home left her unsure of what to do. The most important person in her life. had been taken away by Eric. In the aftermath of this loss, what did she truly possess beyond this empty house? What else belonged to her? The room¡¯s light remained on throughout the night as Eileen curled up in a corner, hugging her knees, grappling with the emptiness that consumed her. Drifting off to sleep in a daze, Eileen felt no hunger at all. If Sharon were here, she would undoubtedly coax Eileen into eating properly, and seeing her in this state would undoubtedly break Sharon¡¯s heart. However, Sharon was no longer present, leaving Eileen without the one person she cared about. The next morning, Eileen was awakened by the faint sound of the wind outside, her eyshes trembling as she regained consciousness. Observing the dazzling sunlight, she leaned on the bedside table to stand up, her legs numb and almost giving way. With tired steps, she made her way to the bathroom. As she looked at herself in the mirror, dark circles reflected the exhaustion in her eyes, as if she had been struck by an unknown force. Pulling back her clothes, she noticed that the wound on her abdomen had scabbed over, and new skin tissue had formed. Eileen applied light makeup to conceal her worn-outplexion, tied up her long hair, and packed her things. With her bag slung over her back, she descended the stairs. It was only half past seven in the morning when she finished. ? O 4/5 Upon descending the stairs. Eileen noticed a person sitting on the sofa. Long hair cascaded down their shoulders, and they were dressed in the Petalburg High School uniform. The figure bore a striking resemnce to Vera. Mary brought over a cup of coffee. ¡°Thank you.¡± Chapter 68 Chapter 68 Chapter 68 Seventy Points Higher The voice-it was unmistakably Vera¡¯s. Eileen pondered, It makes sense. Vera was being bullied at school. Why would Eric continue to allow her to endure such mistreatment? Turning around, Mary noticed her and greeted, ¡°Ms. Eileen.¡± Vera quickly stood up upon hearing this. ¡°Eileen.¡± She shed a beautiful smile. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you in your school uniform? As soon as I heard you were discharged, I came to go to school with you. From now on, we¡¯ll be at the same school, Eileen. Please take good care of me in the future.¡± The situation had Eileen pondering whether it was fate. In her previous life, Vera also attended Petalburg High School. everyone. Eileen had always believed that changes in this life would alter the fate of However, she realized that, regardless, everything seemed to follow the same path as in her previous life. So, will Vera still meet the same fate? And will I also¡­ Or perhaps everyone¡¯s destiny is predetermined from the very beginning, unable to be altered¡­. Noticing her silence, Vera questioned, ¡°Eileen¡­ what¡¯s the matter? Are you feeling unwell?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Eileen responded indifferently. Just then, Mary informed them, ¡°Ms. Eileen, Ms. Vera, we can start the meal once Mr. Swan arrives.¡± Exiting the kitchen, Eileen poured herself a ss of cold milk. In a haze, it felt like she could hear Sharon¡¯s voice in her mind, ¡°How could you drink something cold first thing in the morning? I¡¯ve already warmed up a cup of milk for you.¡± Will and Eric, both dressed in ck suits, descended the stairs one after the other, still engaged in a conversation. ¡°This project demands our close attention. We cannot afford any. mistakes, the former cautioned. ¡°Yes, Father.¡± ¡°Ms. Eileen, Sharon has advised me before that drinking cold things in the morning will upset your stomach. The milk is already heated; why don¡¯t you opt for something warm instead?¡± Mary suggested. 1/4 Upon hearing thement, Eric swiftly cast a nce with his deep, hawk-like eyes and then. quickly averted his gaze. Eileen closed the refrigerator door, saying. ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± Following that, she took a seat at the dining table. Once Will settled, he delved into business discussions with Eric for a while. It was only then that he noticed Eileen. ¡°Why are you dressed like this? Where¡¯s your uniform?¡± Will asked her sternly. Eileen took a spoonful of oatmeal, sipping it gently before responding, ¡°I¡¯ve decided not to go to school for a while. I want to catch up on the lessons I¡¯ve missed from my extracurricr sses.¡± Will nodded. ¡°That works too.¡± It was then Mary suddenly approached and said, ¡°Oh, by the way, Mr. Swan, Ms. Eileen¡­ not long ago, I received a call from the school. They want Ms. Eileen to participate in apetition at school.¡± ¡°Apetition? What kind ofpetition?¡± Will inquired. ¡°My memory isn¡¯t the best, but it seems like¡­ something about a mathpetition. And also¡­ they mentioned something about Ms. Eileen¡¯s report card and some prizes. The person who delivered them said that since Ms. Eileen didn¡¯t attend the school assembly, they sent the prizes back home.¡± ¡°What a mess of prizes, nothing but useless stuff,¡± Will stated, dismissing his daughter¡¯s achievements as mere nonsense. Eileen had long grown ustomed to her father¡¯s disparaging remarks. She kept her head. down, remained silent, and continued eating her meal. Mary chimed in, ¡°No, Mr. Swan. The prize is a small statuette, seemingly made of gold. It¡¯s simply exquisite! Allow me to fetch it for you to inspect.¡± Mary quickly brought over the items, which included an unopened document. She handed it to Will, who hesitated for a moment before setting down his utensils and opening the document. Within, a very thin sheet of ke paper revealed the scores for each of Eileen¡¯s sses. Will squinted at the scores, his eyes grim, and the emotions on his face mysteriously unpredictable. ||| 2/4 The medal, a golden knight on horseback wielding a spear and shield, was ced on the table, carrying some weight. ¡°Who knows if it¡¯s all a sham. With her mind, I can¡¯t even tell. All she ever thinks about are men. Will casually discarded her report card. Eileen tightly gripped the spoon in her hand as the discarded report cardnded right next to Eric¡¯s feet. Bending down to pick it up, Eric examined it, revealing that almost every subject had scored full marks. If his recollection was urate, thest time Eileen¡¯s average score for each subject ranged from forty to fifty points. If her grades were genuinely this impressive, she wouldn¡¯t require Will¡¯s assistance; she could choose from any university in the country. The question persisted-did she attain this through her own efforts, or did she utilize some clever tricks? Nevertheless, Eileen was the only one who knew the answer to that. Vera surreptitiously took a nce and was astonished. Eileen¡¯s scores in every subject. surpassed hers. Such results, even at Cloudburg Public School, would ce her at least in the top three of the entire grade. A sense of unease started to permeate Vera¡¯s heart, as she was unaware of when Eileen¡¯s grades had be so remarkable. ¡°You performed well on the test, scoring seventy points higher than Vera,¡± Eric remarked. Eileen couldn¡¯t discern from his tone whether he was genuinely praising her or sarcastically doubting, implying that her achievement might be the result of cheating. Nevertheless, she cared little. After all, in their eyes, she was utterly devalued, treated as if she were mere trash. Eileen remained unaware of the new housekeeper¡¯s name. She looked at her and stated, ¡°If the school calls again, inform them that I won¡¯t be returning for a while. Henceforth, I¡¯ll be concentrating on my extracurricr sses. As for thepetitions, I¡¯m not interested and don¡¯t want to participate.¡± Eileen ced the spoon she held back down and stood up, saying, ¡°I¡¯ve finished eating, 111 3/4 The oatmeal was a touch too thick that day. Eileen had only a few bites, leaving more than half of the bowl untouched, but the milk had already been finished. Mary nodded nkly in response to her words. ¡°A-All right.¡± Internally, however, she wasining, ¡°What is wrong with this family? What kind of father would belittle his own daughter like this? And that man over there¡­ his tone is so sarcastic. Her grades were outstanding. If myzy son could achieve this level of sess, I would treat him like a king!¡± ¡°Tsk¡­ with such impressive grades, and she¡¯s also beautiful. Where else can you find a girl like her? She¡¯s exceptional¡­ but she doesn¡¯t pay much attention to others. I knew working for this wealthy family would be challenging. If I had known earlier, I wouldn¡¯t have agreed toe here. It would have been better if I had stayed working as a do, but the pay was too tempting to resist!¡± Eileen sat in the car, closing her eyes to rest, feelingpletely exhausted. The previous night had brought her restless sleep. Among all the extracurricr sses, painting was the only one that sparked her interest. Unfortunately, her father strictly forbade her from picking up a paintbrush. ¡°Where are we going today, Ms. Eileen?¡± the driver asked. ¡°To Primas za.¡± The golf course at Primas za was located in the ¡°Golden Triangle, epassing Hulbury, Seatown, and Juxshire. Spanning nearly two thousand acres, it featured vertical sand traps, uniquely designed greens, meandering rivers andkes, beautiful pavilions, and scattered. exotic flowers and nts, creating a captivating setting for a leisurely stroll. This destination was highly valued by many affluent individuals, and the annual cost of using the golf course could reach up to a million dors. All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. Some business deals were negotiated withughter while watching a golf ball sink into the hole, effortlessly transacting billions. In her previous life, Eileen had witnessed this happen when Eric reached a cooperation agreement with an overseas colleague in just a few minutes, securing a project valued at several billion dors. Chapter 69 Chapter 69 Chapter 69 Rx Eileen changed into ke sportswear, tied her hair into a high ponytail, and wore a sun hat. for shade. Her slender and impressive figure stood out on thewn, attracting many eyes. Since junior high, Eileen had developed well. Her ample chest, which used to be the subject of ridicule, was always a burden to her during running, making it a torturous experience. In the past, Eric¡¯s favorite pastime was to y around with her breasts. The medicine most used in her home was to alleviate bruising on her chest. Her golf coach was a former champion of the national golfpetition. Now retired, he spoke with elegance and carried himself with the grace of a gentleman. It was said that his family situation was not good. In his earlier years, he was sold to Primas to work off his father¡¯s debts. Later, due to his involvement in golf, he began receiving professional training. Many well-known and respected businesspeople would travel great distances just to watch one of his matches. Booking his lessons took a lot of effort on Will¡¯s part. Quinton Wright hugged Eileen from behind, holding the club. ¡°Pay attention to your wrist, don¡¯t exert too much force, and don¡¯t be too nervous. Rx.¡± Eileen bit her lip, rxed her body, and maintained a reasonable distance between them. With his guidance, she swung the club, and the ball went into the hole urately. ¡°Not bad. You¡¯ve improved,¡± Quintonmented. Eileen said, ¡°Mr. Wright, you¡¯re ttering me. If it weren¡¯t for you, I probably wouldn¡¯t be able. to get the ball in the hole, ever.¡± Quinton handed her a bottle of water. ¡°I remember your schedule is three sses a week. You skipped twelve sses. Were you not feeling well?¡± Eileen unscrewed the cap and took a sip. Looking down, she shook her head. ¡°No, it¡¯s about school.¡± Quinton nodded. ¡°Right. Schooles first. If it¡¯s inconvenient, we can make missed sses next time.¡± up for the Eileen gave a slight smile. ¡°Won¡¯t this interfere with your other sses? I remember your schedule is booked for years toe. I wouldn¡¯t dare monopolize a top coach like you.¡± 1/4 Quinton was well into his thirties, but he didn¡¯t look his age. He appeared to be in his twenties and had the type of charm that women liked. Conversing with him was always easy. He nced at the time on his wrist. ¡°We have an hour left. Do you want to rest a bit more, or continue practicing?¡± Eileen ced the water on the nearby table. ¡°Let¡¯s continue, Mr. Wright! Honestly, you¡¯re quite expensive.¡± Quintonughed. ¡°Sure, let¡¯s continue.¡± Eileen rarely smiled, but Quinton gave her the feeling of an older neighbor. He charged fifty thousand for an hour. If Will found out Eileen came here just to drink water for an hour, he might scold her relentlessly. Eileen had little talent in sports. Even the simplest running made her breathless after less than two kilometers. On the third-floor shooting range, on the balcony, someone was looking at the two figures not far away. Zachary had his arms around a waitress in a short skirt as he walked over. ¡°I was wondering. what you were looking at. Turns out it¡¯s a youngdy. Well, I must say, she does have a pretty smile. She was always frowning when she was in the hospital. Do you think she¡¯s moved on so quickly? As far as I know, Quinton has quite a few wealthy women vying to be his sugar mommy. He¡¯s a proud one! He doesn¡¯t seem to fancy anyone. Maybe, he¡¯s just like me, preferring youngerdies. After all, the older they are, the more they like the younger ones.¡± As Eric remained silent, Zachary wondered what he had in mind. Eileen was still young, so her features were delicate and childlike. However, as an adult, her beauty would be unmatched by anyone. Eric really doesn¡¯t know what¡¯s good for him. I can¡¯t believe he¡¯s letting such a great opportunity slip past his hands! If I were in his shoes, I would¡¯ve had Eileen beneath me on the bed, making her experience the throes of ecstasy, tasting her intoxicating allure. An hour passed quickly, and Eileen¡¯s hands were so weak that she couldn¡¯t lift the water bottle. Eileen waved her hand, and Quinton came forward to massage her arms. ¡°Long periods without exercise can lead to this. You¡¯ll get used to it in the future.¡± Eileen didn¡¯t reply. 2/4 ¡°Feeling better now?¡± Eileen withdrew her hand. She was unsure if it was her own thoughts or because Eric had controlled her too tightly, but every time she had physical contact with a man, she felt at sense of fear. ¡°I¡¯m fine now. Thank you.¡± Quinton caught the hint of difort in her eyes. ¡°I apologize if I¡¯ve offended you,¡± he said. ¡°I just noticed you seemed a bit ufortable. I hope you don¡¯t mind.¡± Eileen shook her head, remaining silent. Quinton suggested, ¡°There are ten minutes left, and it¡¯s also time for lunch. Ms. Eileen, would you do me the honor of joining me for lunch?¡± Eileen hadn¡¯t eaten anything before leaving her house. She was already hungry when she arrived earlier. ¡°I¡¯m not very hungry.¡± As she spoke, Eileen¡¯s stomach inconveniently growled. A wave of embarrassment washed over Eileen¡¯s face. Quinton¡¯s warm voice, with a hint of a smile, said, ¡°Shall we go? Youngdy, there¡¯s a new dessert today that I think you¡¯ll like.¡± The golf caddy had already put away the clubs. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Wright.¡± Eileen followed Quinton. Apart from golf, Primas za was an all-epassing entertainment hub, offering everything from dining to lodging. As long as one had money, this ce could provide almost any service. ¡°Do you feel like having Clusian cuisine or Epean cuisine?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s have Clusian cuisine,¡± suggested Eileen, who had never dined here before. ¡°Okay.¡± Quinton took out a card and booked a table in the restaurant on the second floor at the front desk. The two of them stepped into the elevator, and Quinton pressed the button for the tenth. floor. O 3/4 r The elevator ascended swiftly. Upon reaching the tenth floor, Quinton gantly held the elevator door open, saying, ¡°After you.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± The two of them strolled down a serene corridor. The floor was adorned with a luxurious. Panderan- style carpet that felt velvety beneath their feet. As they entered the restaurant, a waiter promptly greeted them, saying, ¡°Mr. Wright, your table is ready. It¡¯s your usual spot.¡± Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. ¡°Mm.¡± Quinton acknowledged. Seated by the window, one could admire a sprawling greenwn that extended as far as the eye could see. The view was truly captivating. A gentle and melodic tune filled the air, creating a tranquil ambiance. Eileen found it quite delightful. The waiter presented them with two menus, which did not include any prices. Judging by the enticing pictures, all the dishes seemed delectable. Take a look and see if there¡¯s anything that catches your fancy.¡± Quinton suggested. Eileen pointed at a picture curiously and inquired, ¡°What is the ¡®Plentiful Harvest?¡± The waiter exined, ¡°It¡¯s a chicken butternut quinoa stew. All the ingredients are freshly air- shipped today. Miss, you might want to give it a try. The chicken stew is infused with herbs, which are beneficial for enhancing beauty and nourishing the skin. It¡¯s highly suitable for you.¡± Quinton chimed in, ¡°Why not give it a try? It¡¯s truly delicious.¡± Eileen nodded in agreement. ¡°Then let¡¯s order a serving. ¡°Of course, Miss.¡± Quinton also ced an order for his favorite dishes. Chapter 70 Chapter 70 Chapter 70 Harmonious Atmosphere ¡°What would you like to drink?¡± Quinton asked. Eileen replied, ¡°Just a cup of warm water, please.¡± Suddenly, a familiar voice broke the silence. ¡°Well, well, if it isn¡¯t Eileen! Long time no see!¡± Eileen turned to see Eric approaching with a sharp gaze and a dominating presence. She felt a wave of dread wash over her, and her panic almost made her blurt out an exnation. In her past life, even if Eric didn¡¯t love her, his possessiveness was disturbingly extreme. Eileen scolded herself inwardly, ¡°Eileen, oh Eileen! How weak can you be? You¡¯re just ordinary siblings now, and yet you¡¯re so afraid of him! Can¡¯t you have some dignity?¡± Trying topose herself, Eileen stood up and nodded. ¡°Yes, Mr. Wright brought me here to cat right after I finished my lesson.¡± Quinton stood up and extended his hand to Eric. ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Quinton Wright, Eileen¡¯s golf coach.¡± Eric briefly shook hands with Quinton. ¡°Eric Snow, Eileen¡¯s brother.¡± Eileen couldn¡¯t help but think, ¡°His surname is Snow, but mine is Swan.¡± Quinton didn¡¯t inquire further. ¡°Since we¡¯ve run into each other, why don¡¯t we have a meal together? Eileen and I just arrived as well.¡± Eric looked at Eileen and abruptly said, ¡°No need, I have ns.¡± Zachary, eager to stir up trouble, chimed in, ¡°Eric, don¡¯t be like that! It¡¯s rare for me to have a meal with Eileen. Besides, Vera will be here soon. What¡¯s the rush? Right, Eileen?¡± Petalburg High School had a lunch break of over two hours, so they had plenty of time. Suddenly, Eileen remembered something. Today was Vera¡¯s birthday. Eileen¡¯s own birthday was next week on the twelfth, exactly one week apart from Vera¡¯s. Her birthday celebration was usually simple. Every year, Sharon would make her a cake and her favorite pasta. With Sharon taking care of Vera, Eileen didn¡¯t expect anything this year. ||| 1/4 Will would probably just give her money. She hadn¡¯t even used the gift card he gave herst time. Eric showing up at this time meant he was nning a birthday party for Vera. A waiter appeared at the perfect moment and said, ¡°Mr. Snow, the birthday cake you reserved. is ready. Should we bring it into the private room now?¡± Zachary observed Eileen¡¯s reaction, hoping for some drama. Seeing her indifferent expression and nonchnt demeanor, he felt a bit disappointed. Zachary teased, ¡°Eric, don¡¯t tell me you didn¡¯t invite your sister to Vera¡¯s birthday.¡± The atmosphere became awkward. Eileen regretted agreeing to this meal in the first ce. She quickly exined, ¡°He did invite me, but I declined. There¡¯s a misunderstanding between me and Vera, so if I were to show up, things would be awkward. Eric, you need to worry about me. After lunch, I have other sses to attend.¡± don¡¯t ¡°After you finish eating,e find me in the private room. I¡¯ll give you a ride,¡± Eric insisted. Eileen declined again, ¡°No need, n will give me a ride. ¡°n went to pick up Vera and will also give her a ride back. Who else will give you a ride?¡± Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. At that moment, Quinton spoke up, ¡°Hold on, I can give her a ride. It¡¯s not easy to find a taxi around here. Where are you goingter?¡± Eileen clenched her fists. ¡°Skyline Building.¡± Quinton smiled. ¡°Perfect, it¡¯s on the way.¡± ¡°Thank you, Mr. Wright.¡± ¡°You¡¯re wee.¡± Eileen was about to say something to Eric, but he coldly interrupted, ¡°Up to you.¡± With that, he turned and left. Quinton noticed Eileen¡¯s nervous expression. ¡°Sit down, we have plenty of time to there. It¡¯s not far.¡± get Feeling somewhat uneasy, Eileen took her seat. The waiter then brought over the dessert. 2/4 Sensing that something was off from the previous conversation, Quinton decided not to bring it up again. Instead, he talked to Eileen about other things. He introduced her to all the entertainment options in Primas za and shared some amusing stories to cheer her up. Eileen was an open book, and Quinton could easily guess what she was thinking. Meanwhile, Vera¡¯s birthday celebration was in full swing. Many ssmates from their school. hade to celebrate. What Vera hadn¡¯t told Eileen was that she had transferred to Eileen¡¯s ss, ss Six. Naturally, Elm and others were among the attendees. Surrounded by a group of girls, Vera entered the private room,pletely unaware that Eileen, sitting conspicuously by the window, was chatting andughing with an older man. Walking behind Vera, Elm immediately noticed Eileen. Albert and Charlie, who hadn¡¯t seen Eileen in a while, were surprised to see her there. ¡°Speak of the devil!¡± Charlie eximed. ¡°Isn¡¯t Vera her sister? Didn¡¯t she invite her to the birthday party? I can understand, though. With Eileen¡¯s annoying personality, how could anyone like her?¡± ¡°Wait, now that I think about it, I can¡¯t believe Eileen actually ranked first in the exam. In ss One, she¡¯s in the top five. Did she cheat?¡± Charlie casually remarked, ¡°Don¡¯t forget how badly Eileen was bullied in ss Six! It¡¯s normal for her to change sses to improve her grades.¡± Both of them stared at Elm, who was idly ying with a lighter in his hand, wondering what he was thinking. Noticing their gaze, Elm smirked and said, ¡°Why bother with all that?¡± As they entered the room, Eileen and Quinton were almost finished with their meal. ¡°Have you eaten enough?¡± Albert asked.. Eileen nodded. Albert nced at the older man sitting across from her. ¡°Isn¡¯t he a bit too old for her? Could it be that Will has given Eileen away so soon? This guy looks old enough to be her father.¡± Charlie slipped his hands into his pockets, a faint smile ying at the corners of his lips. ¡°I actually think Eileen really likes him. They make a great couple and their chemistry is perfect. If they have feelings for each other, what¡¯s the harm in being together? Right, Elm?¡± ||| 3/4 Elm chuckled. ¡°Seems like you guys have nothing better to do, huh?¡± Quinton picked up his coat from the chair, draped it over his arm, and grabbed his car keys. I¡¯ll go settle the bill first.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go. Eileen nodded. They both stood up simultaneously and headed to the front desk to pay the bill together. Catching sight of the people standing at the entrance, she gave them an indifferent nce and quickly averted her gaze. While settling the bill at the front desk, the cashier handed over the check. Quinton handed his coat to her. ¡°Could you hold this for me?¡± Eileen took his coat from him. Quinton¡¯s slender fingers pressed on one side of the check, and with the hand holding the pen, he signed his name. Seeing the total amount, Eileen was surprised. They had only ordered a few dishes, bill exceeded a thousand dors. yet the The strawberry dessert alone cost over two hundred. Isn¡¯t this a bit excessive? Eileen said somewhat sheepishly, ¡°I¡¯m sorry for making you spend so much.¡± ¡°Well, since you feel bad, how about buying a few more lessons from me next time? I¡¯ll give you a discount.¡± Quinton took the coat from her hands and put it on. ¡°Sure, no problem.¡± The two of them stepped outside and coincidentally walked past Elm and his group. Chapter 71 Chapter 71 Chapter 71 Doing Quite Well ¡°It¡¯s been quite some time since west met. You seem to be doing well!¡± Elm nced at the metal lighter in his hand, the red and blue mes reflecting in his dark pupils, his emotions unreadable. The elevator was already on the twelfth floor and would arrive soon. Quinton pressed the button to go down. ¡°Do you know him?¡± ¡°Not really.¡± Eileen lowered her gaze and followed him into the elevator. Charlieughed heartily. ¡°Elm, Eileenpletely ignored you.¡± Albert patted Elm¡¯s shoulder. He smiled quietly and walked directly into the private room. Elmughed arrogantly and closed the metal lid of the lighter in his hand. ¡°How heartless.¡± The private room on the tenth floor was lively, filled withughter, fireworks, balloons, cake, and candles. Originally, the birthday party was scheduled for the evening, but Eric had to go overseas to expand the market tonight and had to leave before midnight. Therefore, the birthday celebration had to be arranged at noon today. After singing the birthday song. Vera cut the first piece of cake. With all eyes on her, she walked to Eric, who was standing by the floor-to-ceiling window. ¡°Eric, this first piece of cake is for you. Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to celebrate my birthday today.¡± Eric had never been fond of sweets, but he epted it. He averted his gaze, watching as Eileen got into the car. A trace of displeasure flickered in his eyes as he turned around, his face devoid of expression. ¡°I¡¯ll have n send you back tonight. I need to go back to thepany.¡± Eric grabbed the keys and was about to leave. He left the cake on the table. Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. ¡°Eric¡­ Vera called out. She nced at the cake on the table with a hint of disappointment in her eyes. Soon, a girl came over tofort her. Vera cut the second piece of cake and gave it to Elm. The man lounging on the sofa had an air of entitlement about him, his feet casually propped 1/2 up on the coffee table. As Vera approached, Elm lowered his feet and took a bite of the cake with his fork. He nearly spat it out. ¡°You women always enjoy these strange things. It¡¯s too sweet. I won¡¯t eat it, so take it away.¡± Vera stood awkwardly in ce, not knowing what to do. It seemed to her that Elm was angry, but she didn¡¯t know why he was upset! Charlie took the cake from Vera to ease the awkward situation. He then plopped down next to Elm. ¡°Elmmy, it¡¯s Ms. Beautiful¡¯s birthday. How can you refuse to eat the cake?¡± Charlie leaned in teasingly. ¡°Come on, take a bite.¡± ¡°Get lost!¡± Elm impatiently shoved him away. Charlie almost dropped the cake in his hand. The next moment, a pink diamond-studded purse was thrown onto the tea table in front of them. ¡°You! Help me return it to her!¡± It was an order directed to Vera. After tossing that purse, Elm left. Vera was at a loss. As Elm had left, Charlie and Albert naturally followed suit. A few other girls who hade for Elm left as well. They were here for Elm, and with him gone, they had no reason to stay. The originally spacious private room now became sparse, with only a few people left. The private room,rge enough to amodate nearly twenty people, suddenly felt empty. Walsh walked over to Vera and stroked the sses on her nose. ¡°Vera, when is Eileening back to school?¡± Vera¡¯s hand clenched tightly at her side, her body trembling. It seemed that Eileen¡¯s name had struck a nerve. Her innocent look disappeared, reced by a cold look. ¡°If you¡¯re curious, go ask her yourself! Don¡¯t ask me! Get lost!¡± Chapter 72 Chapter 72 Chapter 72 You Have Arrived ¡°I apologize, I struggle with controlling my emotions,¡± Vera quickly softened her gaze and looked at Walsh with an innocent and apologetic expression. ¡°I¡¯m truly sorry. I didn¡¯t mean to speak so harshly. We¡¯re not living together anymore. I will pass on your message to Eileen. I hope you don¡¯t mind.¡± Walsh gave her a strange look in response. His initial fondness for Vera hadpletely. disappeared at that moment. Not good at controlling emotions? That¡¯s a polite way to put it. Doesn¡¯t it simply mean she can¡¯t pretend anymore? When she first came to ss, she was kind to everyone. Her gentle and submissive nature made others feel protective of her. After Walsh left, the private room was empty. The once lively atmosphere had vanishedpletely. Everything was fine at first, so Vera couldn¡¯t understand why things had turned out this After leaving Primas za, Eileen began learning the harp, calligraphy, and eventually dancing. way. It seemed like Eileen had been blessed with an incredibly flexible body. However, shecked coordination and couldn¡¯t keep up with the beat. Whenever she caught a glimpse of her reflection during anding, she felt like she was dancing like a monster. But the most painful part was the stretching, as she hadn¡¯t practiced for three months. It was around half past eight in the evening when she left the practice room. Eileen was so exhausted that she copsed on the ground, almost considering calling an ambnce. She even thought about spending the night right there. Since n had gone to pick up Vera, Eileen had no choice but to take a taxi homete at night. Wrapped in a thick ck coat with her hands tucked into the pockets, she closed her eyes,y down in the car, and quickly drifted off to sleep. The driver turned his head and asked, ¡°Hey, Miss! You haven¡¯t told me where you want to go! Miss¡­¡± ¡°Head to the Unde Mansion,¡± Eileen said as she leaned against the car window, on the verge of falling asleep. Meanwhile, at Caerulus Corporation. 1/3 ||| O < ¡°Mr. Snow, your business ss ticket to Mocset, departing in an hour and a half, has been booked. We can set off in about half an hour.¡± Gavin had prepared all the necessary documents. Eric was always thest one remaining in the company. Due to the time difference in Mocset, they had to leave at this time. After sending thest email, Eric quickly unplugged hisputer, packed it into hisptop. bag, and said, ¡°You go ahead.¡± ¡°Understood, Mr. Snow.¡± Just as Eric picked up his suit jacket and prepared to leave, his phone suddenly rang. Seeing the caller ID, Eric quickly answered the call. ¡°Vera?¡± ¡°Hello, may I speak to Mr. Snow?¡± The voice on the other end of the line wasn¡¯t Vera¡¯s, but a man¡¯s. After the other party exined the situation quickly, Eric frowned and put down hisptop. bag. ¡°Keep an eye on her; I¡¯ll be right there.¡± Eric walked away briskly, while Gavin remained clueless about what had just happened. Meanwhile, at Blue Bar, Vera had passed out after gettingpletely drunk. The bartender patted Vera on the back. ¡°Mr. Snow will be here soon, so please hold on a little longer.¡± ¡°Get away! Don¡¯t touch me!¡± Vera pushed the person away with all her might, nearly losing her bnce in the process. Suddenly, she crouched by the roadside, spotting a dazzling high beam in the distance. Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Its license te number was familiar. ncing sideways, she quickly noticed the car pulling up in front of her. Eric got out of the car secondster. As soon as Vera saw him, she immediately stood up with joy, ran towards him, and jumped onto him in an instant. ¡°What took you so long, Eric? I¡¯ve been waiting for you for so long.¡± O 2/3 As he caught her, Eric¡¯s vision suddenly blurred, and he saw Eileen¡¯s face along with her. unreasonable demands. ¡°You¡¯re sote! I¡¯ve been waiting for you for a long time! Your punishment is to carry me on your back all the way home!¡± Chapter 73 Chapter 73 Chapter 73 Will You Marry Me Eric lifted Vera and settled her into the passenger seat, securing her seatbelt. The waiter handed him her bag. ¡°Sir, is thisdy your girlfriend? I noticed she¡¯s been drinking alone and almost got harassed. Your girlfriend is very attractive, so please make sure not to let her go out alone in the future.¡± Eric took a few bills from his wallet, left them as a tip without a word, walked around the front of the car, got into the driver¡¯s seat, and drove off quickly. Upon arriving at Euphoria Condominium, Eric stepped out of the car. He nced at his watch. There was still over an hour left, so he was on time. As Eric helped Vera out of the car, she weakly copsed into his arms. ¡°I don¡¯t want to go home. I want to drink more¡­¡± ¡°Stop fooling around, Vera. You have school tomorrow.¡± Suddenly. Vera pushed Eric away with newfound strength. She staggered back a few steps and almost fell over. Eric looked at her intently and asked, ¡°Vera, did something happen. today?¡± Vera shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes as she looked at Eric. ¡°Eric, should I not havee back from abroad? No¡­ I shouldn¡¯t have been saved in the first ce. I wouldn¡¯t be in so much pain then. Why is it that no matter where I go, nobody seems to like me? Is there something wrong with me? I feel like I¡¯m just a burden, unable to help you with anything. Vera sobbed, her hands covering her face as tears streamed down relentlessly. ¡°You don¡¯t need to do anything, and you shouldn¡¯t worry about what others think. All you need to do is what you believe is right. You¡¯re still young, Vera. I will give you what she has and what she doesn¡¯t. I won¡¯t leave you alone anymore.¡± ¡°Oh, Eric!¡± Vera stepped forward, throwing herself into Eric¡¯s arms as she continued, ¡°I¡¯ve realized that you¡¯re all I have now. Promise me you won¡¯t abandon me in the future? If you don¡¯t want me, then I will have no family left.¡± Eric held her tightly, responding. ¡°How could I not want you, Vera? I¡¯m just waiting for you to grow up.¡± Vera looked up at him, her eyes as pure as raindrops on crystals. ¡°Eric, will you marry me in the future?¡± ||| 1/5 ¡°You¡¯re still young, Vera.¡± ¡°You¡¯re changing the subject again. You clearly like me too, so why won¡¯t you admit it? Once I get into university next year, let¡¯s be together, okay? Please, Eric! I¡¯ve wanted to marry you since I was a little girl!¡± Suddenly, a voice echoed in the darkness. ¡°Hey,dy! Could you hurry up? My shift is almost. over!¡± The car horn also started ring. Eileen had just left Eric¡¯s condominium unit, her hands tucked into the pockets of her ck coat. A bag of potato chips and chestnut pie hung from her wrist. With her head lowered, she seemed half-asleep until the sound of car horns woke her up. Her eyes squinted with sleepiness as she saw two people embracing each other by the taxi. A gentle breeze blew, causing the fallen leaves on the ground to rustle. Eileen blinked, ncing at Eric, then at Vera. The confusion in her eyes seemed to clear up a bit. Then, she raised a corner of her mouth into a sleepy smile. ¡°Eric, Vera, what a coincidence! Sharon asked me toe over and pick up some things.¡± Content held by N?velDrama.Org. Eileen was about to head back when she received a call from Sharon. Originally, Sharon was supposed to deliver something to her, but since the Unde Mansion was quite far from Euphoria Condominium, she didn¡¯t feelfortable letting Sharon go out sote at night. Therefore, she decided to make the trip herself. She didn¡¯t want toe over at first because she feared she would run into them. She only went over when Sharon told her that Eric wasn¡¯t home yet. Looking at the condominium unit, she saw traces of their life together. Two pairs of matching slippers, two toothbrushes in a cup, and two sets of cutlery. The more Eileen looked, the more upset she became. Taking her things, she left quickly. Letting go of a man she had loved for decades was not as easy as it sounded. Right now, he¡¯s probably celebrating Vera¡¯s birthday with her¡­ She didn¡¯t expect to run into them right under their condominium building. It was such a coincidence. Eileen lowered her head and hunched her shoulders as she walked to the taxi. Just as she was about to open the door, she thought of something and turned to Vera with a smile. ¡°I forgot to tell you something, Vera. Happy birthday!¡± O 2/5 Vera nodded. ¡°Thank you.¡± Eileen settled into the car, her eyes closed, and said wearily. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Upon leaving Euphoria Condominium, the image that filled Eileen¡¯s closed eyes was of them embracing each other. They truly are a perfect match! In fact, she had heard most, if not all, of what they said. It¡¯s not that Eric doesn¡¯t want to be with Fera, but he has been waiting for her to grow up. It turns out that my liking Eric from the very beginning was a mistake. Those two are in love with each other. It was me who drove Vera to her death in my previous life. That¡¯s why Eric hated me to the core. I¡¯ve been bringing it upon myself all along. It was all my fault¡­ As Eileen found herself unable to sleep, she gazed out at the scenery through the car window. A gust of wind suddenly blew in, causing her to shiver and wrap her coat tighter around. herself. Time flies by so quickly! More than half a year has already passed before I even realized it. In just over a month, it will be time to celebrate the New Year. The driver nced at Eileen through the rearview mirror and pressed a button to roll car window. Half an hourter, they arrived at the Unde Mansion.. up the Standing downstairs, the entire mansion was enveloped in darkness, devoid of any light. Beneath the dim glow of a streetmp, a few insects fluttered about. In the past, no matter howte she came home, there was always someone who left a light on for her, waiting for her return. That person would also prepare a bowl of steaming hot pasta for her, which happened to be her absolute favorite dish. However, the person who had always awaited her return was no longer present. At times, Eileen felt incredibly lonely, as if she were the only person in the entire world. Fortunately, she had already be ustomed to this situation. Eileen sped her hands together, took a deep breath, and retrieved a key from her bag. She unlocked the door and entered the chilly home. ||| 3/5 In recent days, Eileen had been leading a simple life, centered around eating, sleeping, and attending training sses. She often returned homete and rarely saw Will. She heard that he had gone on vacation to Thymion with Elsie. Ene was also on a business trip abroad. Almost every time Eileen returned home, it was around ten o¡¯clock at night. Without even realizing it, Eileen had grown ustomed to her current level of study intensity. Even in dance, which she wasn¡¯t particrly skilled at, she could now easily bend at the waist. She could also effortlessly perform splits and straddle jumps. Indeed, a person had the potential to influence the rate at which she made progress. After the training, the next steps were thepetition and the certification examination. There was a mountain of tasks waiting for her to tackle. She didn¡¯t even have time to attend the midterm mock exam at Petalburg High School. The phone rang in the living room. It was a call from the school. Mary, who was busy cleaning, answered it, ¡°Hello, who is calling?¡± ¡°Excuse me, is Eileen avable?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll get her, hold on!¡± Eileen was justing downstairs when she picked up the phone. It wasn¡¯t clear what was said over the phone, but Eileen responded, ¡°I¡¯ve been really busytely. I¡¯ll be there for the final exam, but I really don¡¯t have time for anything else. I¡¯m sorry, teacher.¡± She then hung up the phone after saying that. The person on the other end was simply reminding her toe back and take the exam. Leaning against the wall in the foyer, Eileen took out a pair of leather boots. But then, as if remembering something, she switched to a pair of ke sneakers. ¡°Where are you going, Ms. Eileen?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going out for a bit. Don¡¯t wait for me for dinner.¡± ¡°Mr. Swan will be returning with Ms. Field tonight. What should I tell him if he asks about you?¡± and 415 Before Mary could eat anything else Fileen had already put on her shoes and walked out She nced at the items in her bag Sensoren mollet plener by an Forthing in rends nasn¡¯t avable today en een had on chow but to take to the International Exhibition Center Chapter 74 Chapter 74 Chapter 74 Beware Of Eric Today marked the day of the art exhibition. Eileen hain¡¯t forgotten, so she intentionally woke up earlier to freshen up. She dressed herself in a ke cashmere coat, a ck knitted long skirt, and warm fluffy thermal leggings underneath. The weather that day was gloomy, with temperatures hovering around zero degrees. The weather in Hulbury had been as unpredictable as a roller coaster ridetely. Frost had already formed in the flower beds of the mansion, and the maple leaves, which were green. just yesterday, had turned red overnight. Theyer of ke frost covering everything was so chilling to behold. With her head bowed, Eileen buried her face in her scarf, her cheeks slightly flushed from the cold. I wonder if it will snow today. As soon as the taxi arrived, Eileen hastily opened the door and got in. Eileen disliked keeping people waiting, so she set off half an hour early. By the time she arrived, a long line had already formed at the entrance of the exhibition hall, with everyone clutching a ticket in their hand. Within ten minutes of Eileen¡¯s arrival, a Cayenne pulled up. From the car, Jasper looked out the window and saw Eileen, dressed in ke, hopping in ce on the steps. A smile tugged at his lips. ¡°Stop here!¡± Fabian responded, ¡°Understood, Mr. Smith.¡± Eileen grumbled to herself. If I had known it would be this chilly, I would have worn an extra pair of socks. My feet are freezing! ¡°Ms. Eileen¡­¡± A familiar voice called out from behind her. Eileen turned around to see Richard and a person sitting in a wheelchair. Jasper smiled slightly. ¡°I apologize for keeping you waiting.¡± Eileen hurriedly replied, ¡°No, no, I just arrived as well. Shall we go inside then?¡± ¡°Ms. Eileen¡­¡± Richard called out to her. ¡°We won¡¯t be going in. Could you please help take 1/5 care of Mr. Smith?¡± Fabian tactfully pretended to answer a phone call, then turned and left. Richard followed suit, leaving Jasper behind. ¡°I¡¯m sorry to have to trouble you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Aren¡¯t you cold dressed like that? It might snow today! Are your hands cold?¡± Eileen fussed like a mother hen as she touched his hand, which felt as cold as ice. ¡°I knew you. wouldn¡¯t wear gloves. I brought an extra pair for you.¡± Eileen pulled out a pair of ck leather gloves from her bag. She had originally nned to give them to Eric, but Vera had beaten her to it. In her frustration, Eileen had thrown them. into her wardrobe, never expecting that they woulde in handy today. Jasper¡¯s hands were slender and well-defined. Eileen opened the glove and he slipped his hand in. She helped him adjust each finger into ce, and it fit perfectly. ¡°Here, this is for you too,¡± she said. ¡°What is this?¡± Jasper had never been taken care of proactively before. So far, everyone would only act upon his words. ¡°This is for keeping your hands warm. If your hands are cold, just slip them in like this, and they won¡¯t be cold anymore.¡± Jasper nodded. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen this before. But now that you¡¯ve given me this, what about you?¡± Eileen showed him the fluffy, adorable gloves in her hand. ¡°I have one too. Sit tight; we¡¯re lining up to go in.¡± ¡°All right.¡± Eileen pushed him from behind when she suddenly stopped. ¡°I almost forgot.¡± She pulled out another scarf and wrapped it around Jasper¡¯s neck. ¡°I invited. you the temperature has dropped significantly. I wouldn¡¯t want you to catch a cold.¡± here, and In her previous life, Eileen devoted all her thoughts and efforts to Eric. She was always worried about him getting tired or cold. Whenever he was about to leave for work, she would. check how manyyers of clothing he had on, and if she thought it wasn¡¯t enough, she would insist on him wearing more. She would iron each piece of clothing he was going to wear the next day and hang them up so he wouldn¡¯t have to rush to find them in the morning. ||| 2/5 He had a habit of carelessly miscing things, and then he couldn¡¯t find them. How could he? After all, she was the one who tidied up the entire house. When it came to his affairs, Eileen would handle everything personally. She worried for over a decade about a man who didn¡¯t love her, and like a doting mother, she made sure to attend to every minute detail. Even now, her habit of taking care of others hadn¡¯t changed at all. Sometimes, she feared that she might talk too much and be annoying. The exhibition hall was air-conditioned, so it wasn¡¯t too cold. As she looked at the paintings. Eileen didn¡¯t want to miss a single detail with every nce. Beyond surprising her, Edward left her mostly astounded. These paintings were not lifeless; instead, they exuded a certain warmth as though they were alive. Whether it was the scenery or the portraits, they were all very lifelike. Each painting was framed and guarded. No one was allowed to approach, as any of these paintings could potentially be extinct, and their prices at an auction would be incalcble. ¡°Every painting he creates is remarkable, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°You admire his work that much?¡± ¡°When I was eight years old, I yfully climbed onto my mother¡¯s bookshelf. The bookshelf toppled over, burying me in a pile of books. That¡¯s when I saw a photo that had fallen out of one of the books. It was a painting by Mr. Edward, and I still vividly remember it was titled. Fantasia. It depicted the most beautiful aurora I¡¯ve ever seen, its light streaking across the night sky, a dazzling dream in a frigid world. It¡¯s difficult for a paintbrush to capture such a scene in the icy Arctic air, but he managed to do it. He truly is amazing! It¡¯s quite a shame. that I¡¯ve only seen it in photos, though, never with my own eyes. I believe it must be truly breathtaking.¡± Jasper said, ¡°You will see it one day. As long as you desire something, you will achieve it.¡± Eileen quickly snapped out of her thoughts. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter anymore. So much time has passed since then. Just being able to attend his art exhibition and see his paintings with my own eyes has already made me very happy.¡± They finished exploring one floor, and there were still two more to go. r 3/5 Feeling tired, they sat in the lounge for a while to rest. ¡°Do you need to use the restroom?¡± Jasper asked. Jasper¡¯s teasing remark left Jasper momentarily speechless. ¡°If you want to assist me, I wouldn¡¯t mind,¡± he replied. Eileen blushed. What was she saying? Quickly, Eileen stammered, ¡°I-I can¡­ have the staff help you¡­¡±Content held by N?velDrama.Org. How embarrassing! What am I even saying! ¡°No worries, I was just joking. I don¡¯t need to use the restroom yet, so go ahead,¡± Jasper reassured her. ¡°Then wait for me here and don¡¯t wander off. I¡¯ll be back soon,¡± Eileen instructed. The amusement in Jasper¡¯s dark eyes grew. ¡°Alright.¡± The ce was vast, and Eileen had to walk a considerable distance, asking several people for directions before finally locating the restroom. The line for the women¡¯s restroom was quite long. Suddenly, she felt a heavy pat on her shoulder. Turning her head, Eileen noticed something on her shoulder, causing her to quickly move away in fear. ¡°Hahaha! I can¡¯t stopughing! Look at how scared you are! You look ridiculous!¡± Charlieughed, holding a glove shaped like a frog¡¯s head that he had acquired from who knows. where. Upon seeing the three of them, Eileen was somewhat surprised. It¡¯s not the weekend, so why are they here? Nevertheless, Eileen had no intention of entertaining them. ¡°How immature.¡± Charlie remarked, ¡°Elm, she called you immature.¡± Elm casually approached with a beautiful woman on his arm, his expression carefree. ¡°Fool. If you touch her, you¡¯ll have to watch out for Eric, the mad dog who will throw you into the sea.¡± Charlie patted his chest in mock fear. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m so scared.¡± Eileen pursed her lips, wondering when the three of them had developed an appreciation for art. Of all the luck, I had to run into them here. Chapter 75 Chapter 75 Chapter 75 There Is Only Her Eileen exited the cubicle and turned on the faucet to wash her hands. She couldn¡¯t help but think about the new woman she saw with Elm. There was something familiar about her, as if Eileen had seen her somewhere before. isn¡¯t Vera with Elm anymore? Why does he have a new girlfriend? No, that¡¯s not right. Based on what I sawst night, Vera and Eric must be together now. That means Elm was dumped. Thinking back to their time in Peach Fishing Vige, Eileen remembered seeing them. kissing. Elm lived right across from her. Actually, she wasn¡¯t entirely sure if they were kissing or not. From where she was standing at the time, it looked very simr. Eileen didn¡¯t know if something else had happened between them. But it doesn¡¯t matter. These things no longer concern me, so I won¡¯t get involved anymore. Eileen quickly washed her hands, grabbed two napkins to dry them, and threw them into the waste bin. After that, she headed to the lounge. When she reached the doorway of the lounge, she noticed a group of people gathered around Jasper. Why are they here? It was none other than Wendy and her friends from Petalburg High School. Several attractive young women were chatting with Jasper, and he had a smile on his face as he spoke. Wendy spotted Eileen and eximed with delight, ¡°Eileen! What a coincidence! Why are you here? I heard from the vice homeroom teacher that you weren¡¯ting to school this term, right?¡± Eileen noticed Jasper looking at her intently. Despite feeling unsure of what to do, she walked over anyway. ¡°Indeed, what a coincidence! I didn¡¯t expect to run into you guys here.¡± ||| < 1/5 Besides Wendy paying attention to Eileen as she approached, many quickly hid their expressions, avoiding direct eye contact with Eileen. Eileen greeted Vera, who was standing quietly on the side. ¡°Vera.¡± Vera thought about the awkward situation from yesterday and wasn¡¯t sure how to face Eileen. She must have heard everything I said to Eric yesterday! Vera smiled charmingly and asked, ¡°Eileen, did youe here alone today?¡± Eileen shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m with a friend.¡± Vera asked, ¡°Who is your friend?¡± Eileen was about to answer when a group of men outside the door came over,ughing and joking. ¡°Elm, you¡¯re so heartless,¡± one of them said. ¡°She skipped ss just to apany you. to this art exhibition and confessed her feelings, but you told her to get lost. That¡¯s really heartbreaking.¡± Albert said, ¡°Elm prefers someone quiet and gentle. Everything about her seemed fake, like she was pretending. She clearly isn¡¯t as pure and innocent as she appears. There¡¯s no way he could like her.¡± ¡°Can you stop talking?¡± Elm¡¯s eyes shed with defiance. However, when he saw the people. inside the lounge, he quickly restrained himself and put the lighter back in his pocket, his pupils narrowing. Charlie and Albert also noticed the same thing, causing them to shut their mouths and avoid speaking. It felt as if they were frozen in ce, sensing an invisible pressure weighing down on them. Jasper¡¯s demeanor suddenly became stern. His eyes, as cool as the moon, shimmered with a cold, bright light. The atmosphere in the room instantly quieted down, and Eileen didn¡¯t know what was happening. She nced at Elm, then turned her gaze to Jasper. What is the connection between these two? Do they know each other? Jasper was the first to speak. ¡°Eileen, it¡¯s a bit crowded here. Let¡¯s go to the second floor.¡± Eileen nodded. ¡°Alright.¡± 2/5 She stepped forward, leading Jasper away from the strange atmosphere. At that moment, Elm seemed like a roaring lion, but upon seeing a tamer, he turned into at kitten being gently stroked. Jasper rarely appeared in public. Even though he had started to take control of Smith Corporation, he remained a mysterious figure who never showed his face to outsiders. Others might not know who the person in the wheelchair was, but Charlie and Albert did. That was Jasper, the heir groomed by the Smith family of Hulbury. A few years ago, a car ident left him in a wheelchair, causing him to disappear from the public eye. The Jasper of the past was just as remarkable as the current Elm.. These two individuals were truly simr ¨C both well-behaved yet arrogant and domineering, showing no respect to anyone. But now, Jasper was different from before. He seemed even more terrifying than in the A single nce was enough to put Elm in his ce. past. Elm was Jasper¡¯s half-brother from the same father, but in the Smith family, no one except their father recognized Elm¡¯s identity. After all, Elm¡¯s biological mother was just an ordinary woman who used to be a burlesque performer. Being born into a family of performers, the Smith family looked down on women with such backgrounds. Charlie and Albert had witnessed how ruthless Jasper could be. Previously, when something happened to Eileen, Jasper believed that Elm was behind it. So he had someone cripple Elm¡¯s hand in the private room of the bar, then dragged him into the car. Content held by N?velDrama.Org. At that time, only Charlie, Albert, and Elm were in the private room. Even now, the memories of that event were still vivid for Charlie and Albert. Only after they had walked far away did Charlie dare to speak. ¡°How did Eileene to know him?¡± ¡°Elm, are you just going to let thest incident go?¡± 3/5 Though they spoke sofily, the others in the lounge sensed that something was happening. However, they couldn¡¯t understand what was being discussed. Elm¡¯s hand was in his pocket as he twirled his lighter. He lowered his head and chuckled. ¡°This is interesting.¡± After they finished touring the art exhibition, it was already one in the afternoon. Eileen nced at the time and suddenly remembered that they hadn¡¯t eaten lunch. yet. She apologized, ¡°I¡¯m so sorry! I forgot to take you out for a meal. You should have reminded me.¡± Jasper gave a slight smile. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I didn¡¯t want to disturb you while you were so focused on taking notes. What were you writing?¡± ¡°Allow me to show you,¡± Eileen said, sitting down beside him and eagerly retrieving a notebook from her bag. ¡°I have documented here the locations and times when Mr. Edward. goes to paint. I have recorded all the most breathtaking ces he has painted. One day, I will definitely see them with my own eyes. She had been confined for far too long. Once she had the freedom to leave her current home, Eileen desired to explore the most exquisitendscapes in the world. The aurora, grasnds, canyons, mountains, and flowing rivers¡­ She longed for all these magnificent sights.. ¡°Will you invite me again then?¡± Eileen remained silent, not uttering a word. She quietly put away her notebook. ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­ The future is filled with too many uncertainties. Perhaps I will embark on this journey many years from now, or maybe it will be tomorrow¡­¡± Eileen didn¡¯t want to disclose to him that her future ns only included herself, with no room for anyone else. He was her first opposite-sex friend, and Eileen was unsure how long this friendship would endure. Now, she had be wiser, realizing that her past naivety and excessive trust in others had been her downfall. Those were the reasons she had gradually fallen into disgrace and had been treated as a joke, bing nothing more than a ything in their hands. Besides herself, Eileen didn¡¯t believe in anyone else. The only one who could provide her with a sense of security was herself¡­ Chapter 76 Chapter 76 Chapter 76 Why The art exhibition concluded at three in the afternoon. Vera nced at the familiar car parked outside the International Exhibition Center. She quickly opened the passenger door and got in the car. ¡°Eric¡­ when did you arrive? Why didn¡¯t you call me? If you had informed me of your arrival, I would havee out earlier so you wouldn¡¯t have had to wait so long. Gavin had a copy of her schedule, so Eric knew she had an off-campus activity today to visit an art exhibition. Eric had just gotten off the ne and happened to be passing by, so he came to pick her up on his way back. Eric replied, ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± Vera asked. ¡°Eric, how did your negotiation go?¡± ¡°The contract has been signed.¡± ¡°Congrattions! Eric, you¡¯ve been working hard on this project for over a week, and now you can finally take a good rest.¡± The car started moving, and a voice reminded, ¡°Vera, fasten your seatbelt.¡± Vera paused for a moment, then obediently said, ¡°Ah, I forgot.¡± She quickly fastened her seatbelt. In the past, he was always the one who helped her with it. Observing his exhaustion, Vera sat quietly without saying a word. Eric made a U-turn with his car, just in time to see someone crossing the road. ¡°Isn¡¯t that a familiar figure, Eileen?¡± She bent over, tidying up the clothes and scarf of the man seated in the wheelchair. Her waist-length hair, slightly curled, fell over her shoulders. She unscrewed the cap of a mineral water bottle and helped him take a sip. Eric¡¯s gaze was sharp as a de as he observed her every move. His thin, cold lips pursed, and his strong features suddenly took on a chilling air. An unusual atmosphere descended in the car, and it was clear Eric was displeased. Vera also noticed Eileen and said, ¡°The school organized a trip to the art exhibition today, 1/5 and Eileen came with her friend. But his leg¡­ It seems he has a disability.¡± Eric looked at Eileen, who was standing not far away, and suddenly felt a little dazed. For some inexplicable reason, he felt that Eileen had once treated him the same way with meticulous gentleness and consideration, just like a virtuous wife. Thinking of that dream, Eric suddenly felt suffocated. The traffic light across the street turned green, and Eileen pushed the man in the wheelchair across the road. ¡°I can only join you for lunch. In the evening, I have to attend my dance ss at the training center¡­¡± ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll have Gavin take youter.¡± ¡°Sure, that works.¡± His legs were still in the recovery phase, so he couldn¡¯t eat anything too spicy. Thus, Eileen found a restaurant that served good stew. Eileen also preferred lighter vors, a taste preference they both shared. After the meal, Eileen headed to Skyline Building. Her lesson only ended at half past eight in the evening. Eileen stepped out of the building. At this hour, it was hard to hail a cab, so she would need to walk a distance. The streetlight shone down on her, casting a long shadow behind her. The sound of footsteps gradually grew closer and closer. A bad feeling rose in Eileen as she knew she was being followed. Eileen didn¡¯t dare to look back. There was not a soul outside now. The damp, cold wind. seeped in through her cor, making her quicken her pace. The person trailing behind her was closing in, running to catch up with her. Eileen ducked into an alley. A masked figure approached her, hands tucked into their pockets while their eyes revealed at chilling intent to kill. O 2/5 Eileen fearfully nced back again. ¡°Go on, then! Run! I¡¯d like to see where you can run to now¡± Eileen pressed herself against the wall in fear. ¡°No¡­ Don¡¯te any closer!¡± In the darkness, a powerful high beam pierced into the alley. The blinding light made Eileen squint her eyes, shielding them with her hand. She couldn¡¯t make out who was sitting in the car ¡°Miss, if you must me someone, me yourself for offending others. Don¡¯t hold today¡¯s events against us!¡± ¡°Shaggy, why waste words on her? Finish this woman off quickly so we can finish work early¡± ¡°Behave and don¡¯t resist, or you might find my knife slipping.¡± Eileen¡¯s fingernails dug deeply into the wall, her gaze fearless as she stared directly into the intense light. Perhaps it was because she had adapted, or maybe it was because of the voice in her head. telling her that the person sitting in the car could very well be Eric. ¡°Did he hire these people? Why? Is he making a move so early because I¡¯ve already begun my revenge?¡± In their past life, they had at least made it to the point of marriage. Yet, now¡­ Eric had no intention of letting her live. ¡°Could it be that he¡¯s also behind that incident back in Peach Fishing Vige? ¡°If it is him, why would he still help me teach a lesson to those who bullied me?¡± ¡°Who is he putting on an act for now?¡± ¡°So, is he here today to watch me be humiliated before I die?¡± ¡°If that¡¯s the case, why didn¡¯t he just let me die in the seast time? Why did he rescue me?¡± ¡°Eric, what on earth did Will do to you!¡± ¡°Why are you taking out all the hatred you have toward him on me?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t even do anything!¡± The men¡¯s hands began relentlessly tearing at Eileen¡¯s clothes. O 3.5 Her ke fur coat had already been taken off. To them, Eileen¡¯s resistance was nothing more than the helpless struggles of a kitten. The two men began to shower her neck with kisses. ¡°Tsk, two grown men here engaging in voyeurism¡­ Eric, don¡¯t you have any reaction?¡± Zachary¡¯s gaze fell on Eric¡¯s lower body before a sleazy smile spread across his face. His lips. seemed to be smeared with ayer of blood-red, making him look incredibly seductive. ¡°What a pity¡­ After tonight, this young girl will be a woman! But you did well. If Eileen had managed totch onto the Smith family, our n would only have be more difficult to execute. Women like her are a dime a dozen. There¡¯s no need to find it a pity Content held by N?velDrama.Org. Eric¡¯s eyes were as ck as obsidian, as dark as the night itself. But things didn¡¯t go as they had expected. With a powerful shove, Eileen managed to push the men away. One of them drew a dagger, prepared to use it as a threat. However, she swatted it aside with her hand. The dagger fell to the ground, but in the process, her arm was sliced open. Blood gushed out, and clutching her arm, Eileen fled into the darkness. The two men pursued her. Before long, they received a phone call. ¡°No need to chase her.¡± Eileen didn¡¯t know how long she had been running. It was only when she looked back in panic and saw no one pursuing her that she stopped. A momentter, she identally tripped and fell in the middle of the road. A deep cut appeared on her forearm, and blood continued to flow from between her fingers, covering her entire hand. The pain was already numbing her. Eileen¡¯s mind was filled with tension, her body trembling as she attempted to rise from the ground. However, her knees were so weak that she had no strength at all. Just then, the phone in her pocket began to ring. Eileen took out her phone and nced at the iing caller ID that appeared. 4/5 The phone slipped from her trembling hand and fell to the ground. She hesitated, not daring to answer the call. But the phone continued to ring, again and again. In the end, Eileen still answered the call, though she remained silent. Perhaps, he is watching me from somewhere nearby andughing at how disheveled I am. From the other end of the phone came Eric¡¯s deep, emotionless voice. ¡°Does it hurt?¡± Upon hearing his voice, Eileen felt as if her heart had shattered into pieces. It¡¯s really him! Eileen stared at the empty street, her eyshes trembling as tears streamed down her cheeks. ¡°Why?¡± Why¡­ Eric, why would you do this to me? Chapter 77 Chapter 77 Chapter 77 Why Are You So Naive? As night fell, the moonlight flickered intermittently under the cover of the overcast clouds. The thick clouds, much like Eileen¡¯s emotions, were oppressive and suffocating, making her feel breathless. She felt like a cat that had just been bullied and abandoned, wandering the streets, unsure of where to go. Despite the vastness of the world, Eileen didn¡¯t know where she truly belonged. He emerged from the darkness. Eileen didn¡¯t receive his response; all she heard was the sound of the wind through the phone. Hearing the steady and strong footsteps, Eileen looked in the direction of the sound. Her eyes were filled with tears, and through them, his ck silhouette seemed somewhat indistinct. Her phone was still pressed to her ear until he approached. At that point, Eileen¡¯s strength waned, and the phone slipped from her grasp. The blood flowing from her arm was slowly starting to dry. Having lost too much blood, Eileen¡¯splexion turned pale. Now, her whole body radiated. despair. Eileen clutched his suit pants, her breathing fast as she demanded, ¡°Why? Eric, what exactly did I do wrong for you to treat me like this?¡± I love you so deeply, so why do you keep making me sad and upset? ¡°Eileen, sometimes it¡¯s not Swire to be too clever!¡± Eric bent down, gripping her face with one hand. ¡°Were you nning to use the Smith family to escape the clutches of the Swan family? Why are you always so naive?¡± ¡°Eric, I know you don¡¯t like me, so I¡¯ve already let go. What else do you want from me? If you wanted me dead from the start, why did you save me that time? I¡¯m really in a lot of pain¡­. I¡¯m begging you, please stop tormenting me, okay?¡± Eric narrowed his sharp eyes, his tone icy. ¡°Call me brother!¡± ¡°You¡¯re not my brother! All the kindness you showed me before was fake! You¡¯re not worthy to be my brother!¡± Eileen screamed hysterically. The fear had passed, and now there was only grief and indignation in her heart, along with a sense of helplessness against fate. ¡°You are forbidden from approaching anyone from the Smith family in the future. If you 1/4 disobey¡­ You know the consequences.¡± On her long eyshes, tiny pearls of tears glistened. Seeing her current state, one couldn¡¯t help but feel immense pity. Eileen, clutching her arm, leaned on the nearby railing and shakily rose to her feet. She dared not meet his gaze, her eyes cast down to the ground. With her uninjured left hand, she wiped away the tears from both eyes. ¡°I understand,¡± she said. ¡°Today, Jasper was just apanying me to the art exhibition. There¡¯s nothing between him and me. I won¡¯t tell. Dad about what happened tonight. After today, I¡¯ll act as if nothing ever happened. Are you satisfied now?¡± ¡°Call me brother!¡± His tone was harsh and upromising, his gaze cold. ¡°Eileen, don¡¯t make me repeat myself.¡± Eileen sneered, ¡°Brother? Do you think what you¡¯ve done to me is what a brother would do? I treat you like my brother, yet time and again, you¡¯ve tried to take my life! I¡¯ve said it before that I really don¡¯t like you, and I wasn¡¯t joking. Also, all this about using the Smith family? I¡¯ve never thought about doing that. From the moment I decided to go to Lumiose, I never nned oning back. Eric, I stopped wanting you a long time ago. I don¡¯t need or want Dad, and I don¡¯t need that family either. That¡¯s why you should stop picking on me!¡± Eileen¡¯s tone was like a petnt child¡¯s. Her voice was soft and gentle, devoid of any intimidation. The result was that it made others want to bully her more. Eric quietly watched as she turned around, heading in the opposite direction of Unde Mansion. She walked with a limp, and he had no idea where she was going. On this pitch-ck road, there was no one else but her. Eileen was wearing a thin ck sweater. One of her hands waspletely covered in blood, and her phone had been left on the ground. Eric stood still, his dark and deep gaze like the night itself as he watched her retreating figure. In less than half a minute, he noticed the figure in front of him copse to the ground. As if it was expected, he didn¡¯t rush to pick her up. He was like a beast prowling in the darkness, moving toward his prey. You fool! 2/4 Even if Will knew, what difference would it make? It¡¯s all toote now! Eric picked up Eileen, who had fainted from the excessive blood loss. She was so light she was almost weightless. The moment he lifted her up, a ke of icy-cold kended on Eric¡¯s nose, melting under the warmth of his skin. He looked up, unaware of when it had started to snow heavily. The snowkes lingered on the ground for a while before melting. The first year Eric joined the Swan family, eight-year-old Eileen had eximed, ¡°Brother, look quickly. It¡¯s snowing!¡± Three yearster, eleven-year-old Eileen had suggested, ¡°Brother, shall we go outside and build a snowman? I like you the best!¡± Content held by N?velDrama.Org. Another few yearster, eighteen-year-old Eileen had said, ¡°Brother, if it snows in Hulbury this year, I will confess my feelings to you. Will you be with me then?¡± Eileen, you¡¯ve done nothing wrong! The only mistake you made was that you were born into the Swan family. What you¡¯re experiencing now is just the beginning¡­ Eileen wandered aimlessly in the darkness, unaware of how long she had been walking. She felt like a soulless puppet, devoid of her own thoughts as her body was manipted. Suddenly, a light appeared before her, and she walked toward it. Gradually, consciousness began to return to her. The person lying on the bed gasped. As the person stared at the grey ceiling above, a scent both strange and familiar filled the air- the subtle fragrance of camellia. Eileen looked to her left, where a man in a ck woolen sweater sat by the bed. He had a calm demeanor, handsome features, and soft lines that defined his face. There was a mysterious aura about him that made her wonder if she was imagining him. Why am I here? ||| 3/4 ¡°Mr. Snow, what happened to Eileen? How did she suddenly get injured? She was perfectly fine just yesterday.¡± It was Sharon who spoke. ¡°I¡¯m awake¡­ Sharon approached with a bowl of soup, her eyes filled with concern as she gazed at Eileen. ¡°Are you alright, dear? Please don¡¯t move! Mr. Snow is tending to your wounds.¡± Eric was stitching up her wound without any anesthesia. Vera held down her other hand, fearing that she might move recklessly. ¡°Eric, maybe we should take Eileen to the hospital.¡± Eileen¡¯s hand clenched tightly into a fist as the pain intensified. It felt as though the flesh on her arm was being torn off. Eric replied, ¡°I¡¯ll be finished soon.¡± Eileen remained silent, patiently waiting for him toplete the task. Even though he could have taken me to the hospital, he chose to bring me here instead¡­. What is he nning? Vera held Eileen¡¯s cold hand and expressed concern, ¡°Eric, Eileen¡¯s hand is so cold. Could you please bring the nket from my room for her?¡± Eileen closed her eyes. Perhaps due to excessive blood loss, she felt dizzy and nauseous. Sharon felt heartbroken. ¡°Are you still feeling unwell, Eileen? Have some soup. It might provide some relief.¡± The spoon was brought to Eileen¡¯s lips, and she opened her mouth to swallow the soup. Looking at Sharon, she said, ¡°I apologize for causing you worry, Sharon. Rest assured, I¡¯ll be fine. I just need some rest.¡± ¡°What did you do to end up like this, you foolish child?¡± Chapter 78 Chapter 78 Chapter 78 Growing Old Together ¡°Look at the size of that wound! If Mr. Snow hadn¡¯t noticed that you hadn¡¯t returned home sote and went out to fetch you out of concern, what would you have done if something had happened to you outside?¡± Eileen smiled in response. ¡°I slipped and fell.¡± ¡°What? How did you fall? It¡¯s such a big cut!¡± ¡°While I was practicing my dance, I identally cut myself.¡± Sharon immediately frowned and said, ¡°No, this is uneptable. I need to inform Mr. Swan and have him move you to a different ss. What kind of irresponsible teacher is this? You got hurt and she just ignored you! I wonder how she even became a teacher.¡± A warmth spread through Eileen¡¯s heart. Whenever she was hurt, Sharon was always the first one to think of her. ¡°Sharon, I¡¯m really okay. Please help me call n toe pick me up!¡± Vera said, ¡°Eileen, it¡¯s already quitete. Why don¡¯t you stay here for the night and leave tomorrow? Eric and I can¡¯t help but worry if you go out alone.¡± Eileen had drunk half a bowl of soup and was already feeling much better. ¡°That¡¯s right! You, my dear, are always up sote and constantly skip dinner. You must be starving now. Let me cook you a te of pasta.¡± Eileen sat up to lean against the headboard, only to realize she was in Eric¡¯s room. ¡°I¡¯m not very hungry, so there¡¯s no need to trouble yourself.¡± Vera smiled warmly and said, ¡°Eileen, you don¡¯t need to be formal here. Just treat this ce as your own home. It¡¯s only right for Eric and me to take care of you. Or is it that you don¡¯t want to eat pasta and would prefer something else? Should Eric and I go buy something else for you?¡± Eileen was getting a bit of a headache from all the noise. This was Vera and Eric¡¯s home, not hers. She would only feel increasingly suffocated if she stayed here. Eileen lowered her gaze, her long hair loose around her shoulders. She looked down to see herself dressed in pajamas that belonged to Vera. 111 1/5 She didn¡¯t know when her clothes had been changed. Her wallet and phone were both ced on the bedside table. ¡°I just need a moment to rest; I¡¯ll be fine. You don¡¯t need to worry about me.¡± Eric spoke in a stern tone. ¡°Vera, Sharon, let her rest properly. Boil some water and have her take the painkillers first.¡± ¡°All right then!¡± Still feeling worried, Sharon urged, ¡°Eileen, if you feel unwell at any point, make sure to speak up. Don¡¯t bear it in silence!¡± Eileen nodded. ¡°Understood.¡± After Vera and Sharon left, Eric took onest look at Eileen, who was sitting on the bed. gazing out the window. She appeared as quiet and well-behaved as a ragdoll. Following that, he left and closed the door behind him. Even though the door was fully closed, Eileen could still hear theughter from the living room, where Vera was pestering Sharon to teach her how to make ravioli. There was also the sound of the television. Eileen surveyed theyout of the room. The grey and ke tones of the room gave off a warm feeling. On the bedside table was a photo of Eric and Vera. Everywhere bore traces of Vera¡¯s presence her left-behind hairpin, the toy rm clock she had ced on the table¡­. Content held by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Sharon, you¡¯re truly amazing! You know how to do everything! I can¡¯t even make the simplest ravioli. I¡¯m so stupid.¡± ¡°When Eileen was little, her favorite food was the ravioli I made by hand. She wanted to learn too, and in the end, she ended up with her face covered in flour¡­¡± Eileen was thinking that if Sharon was doing well by Eric and Vera¡¯s side, then there was no need for her to insist on Sharon leaving the Swan family with her. Sharon is getting on in years, so staying on at the Swan residence is actually not a bad idea. With Vera around, Eric probably wouldn¡¯t make things difficult for Sharon due to thetter having spent most of her life serving the Swan family ||| 2/5 In that case, Eileen had nothing holding her back. anymore. Eileen was captivated by the winter scenery outside. Barefoot, she walked to the window, opened it, and stretched out her hand. Before the snowkes couldnd in her palm, they had already melted. In her previous life, when she had gone to City Hall with Eric to get their marriage certificate, the weather had been the same, with heavy snowfall. Holding his arm while standing in the snow, she had said, ¡°We¡¯re together in this snow, and we¡¯ll be together until our hair turns ke. We¡¯ll grow old together, I¡¯m sure of it.¡± But in the end, we didn¡¯t grow old together. In fact, not even a trace of the love you once had for me was left behind. The only memento I have is that when it snows, I remember you. She was just an ordinary girl, and her desires had always been simple to marry him and be his wife. But before bing his wife, Eileen¡¯s only mistake was driving Vera to her death. She used to be arrogant and domineering, willful and unruly, but not anymore. Even the sharpest thorn would one day be worn down. The suffering she endured now was no less than how she used to bully and oppress Vera in her past life. That was why, no matter what happened to her, she endured it all. This was the cycle of cause and effect, the wheel of karma. Eileen closed the window. From then on, she would no longer watch the snow, nor would she find joy in it. Hugging her arms, Eileen curled up on the small couch, staring nkly at the corner of the wardrobe wall. Finally, at midnight, Eileen received a text message. Jasper: Happy birthday, Princess. This was the first time she had received a text message. Eileen was taken aback. How did Jasper know that today was her birthday? 3/5 Not many people knew about her birthday, not even Eric. The birthday on her ID card was incorrect. Her actual birth date was the 26th of December. The dark clouds in Eileen¡¯s heart were quickly swept away as a beam of light pierced through, dispelling the gloom. Eiicen quickly replied to the message: How did you know today was my birthday? Jasper: That¡¯s a secret. What do you want for your birthday gift? Eileen: I want a huge, oversized, pink, limited edition Nini teddy bear, However, she refrained from sending that message as Eric¡¯s warning echoed in her mind. You are not allowed to approach anyone from the Smith family in the future. If you disobey¡­ You know the consequences. Eileen quickly deleted the text. The living room had fallen into silence, indicating that everyone must have gone to sleep. Eileen hurriedly called n, asking him toe and pick her up. Sharon had probably taken her clothes to wash, so Eileen had no choice but to retrieve a neatly folded nket from the bottom of Eric¡¯s wardrobe. She was familiar with Sharon¡¯s tidying habits, so she knew exactly where to find what she needed. In truth, in her previous life, Sharon had taught her many things, including how to be a good wife. As a result, many of her housekeeping habits were the same as Sharon¡¯s. Eileen wrapped herself in a nket and, before leaving the room, left a note and some money. The money was for purchasing a nket, slippers, and pajamas. Eric didn¡¯t like others touching his belongings, so he would discard anything that others had touched. No matter what it was, Eileen didn¡¯t want to owe him anything. Eileen closed the door to the room. In the living room, the glow of aptop screen illuminated the couch. 45 Eric was still working on documents. She had assumed that everyone was asleep. Eileen moved quietly, not wanting to disturb him. Just as Eileen reached the entrance and rested her hand on the doorknob, Eric¡¯s serious, displeased voice resounded. ¡°Where are you going?¡± Eileen¡¯s grip tightened. Tm sorry, but I can¡¯t stay with you any longer. If you want Sharon to stay here, then let her stay! Eric¡­ please be kind to Sharon. She hasn¡¯t done anything wrong- She would get ustomed to being alone. ¡°Goodbye.¡± Eileen spoke softly, her tone noticeably distant. Eric could clearly perceive her deliberate. attempt to distance herself from him. The door opened, allowing a rush of cold wind to enter. Eileen braved the cold wind as she departed. The house remained silent for about ten seconds. Eric¡¯s expression was grim. An unintentional brush of the fingerster, and the chat window from one of the surveince systems appeared on theputer screen. The chat history was from five minutes ago. Message content: Happy birthday, Princess. Chapter 79 Chapter 79 Chapter 79 Spend The Night ¡°Mr. Snow, was that Eileen who just left?¡± Sharon¡¯s voice reached Eileen as she closed the door. The condominium was nearly empty at the moment, and Eileen hurriedly took the elevator downstairs. She feared that Sharon would follow her, trying to persuade her to go back. Eileen had a soft heart and couldn¡¯t resist Sharon¡¯s pleas. A little begging from Sharon was all it took for Eileen to give in. She would end up returning to Eric once again. Tonight, Eric had finally revealed his true intentions to her! He nned to seek revenge on the Swan family until they werepletely destroyed. Only then would he be satisfied¡­ His desire was not simply to take everything from the Swan family. Upon reflection, Eileen realized that she had never truly understood Eric. He was like a ck hole, capable of devouring and destroying everything that came near him. Meanwhile, she was like a dodder, only able to thrive by clinging to him. The cold wind bit at Eileen as she stood beneath the condominium, wrapped tightly in at nket. It would take n at least half an hour to arrive from Unde Mansion, assuming there was no traffic. Even under the best conditions, it would still take him a good fifteen to twenty minutes. Her ankles turned red from the cold, and her arm throbbed with pain. Eileen lifted her nightgown to examine the simple bandage where blood had seeped through. She guessed she wouldn¡¯t be able to attend the tutoring ss tomorrow. Instead, she would need to go to the hospital. After all, she didn¡¯t feelfortable with anything Eric did to her. When others were around, his meticulous and considerate behavior towards her was all a facade. In the past, Eric would at least pretend to care about her when they were alone. I suppose he won¡¯t bother in the future¡­ The snow continued to fall relentlessly, covering the stone statues by the fountain and the leaves on the trees with ayer of pristine ke. Hearing a noise behind her, the sound of an elevator door opening, she turned around. It was 1/4 Eric, dressed in a ck coat, stepping out of the elevator. His gaze was sharp, fixed on her. Eileen calmly looked away to hide the panic in her eyes. Why did he come down? Eric walked past her, heading towards the snow. He pulled out his car keys from his pocket, opened the car door, and got in, all in one smooth motion. Then, the car pulled up in front of her, and the person inside lowered the window and said, ¡°I¡¯ve already called n. He won¡¯t being. Get in.¡± Eileen was quite stubborn, her tone cool and detached as she replied, ¡°Thank you, but I don¡¯t want to trouble you. I can take a taxi home by myself.¡± Walking on the soft snow in her fluffy slippers, the snow quickly soaked through, leaving the soles of her feet icy cold. ¡°Eileen, I¡¯ll only say this twice; get in the car!¡± His tone was harsh and impatient, leaving no room for refusal. A few snowkes fell,nding on her shoulders and neck, bringing a touch of coldness. But none of thispared to the coldness in her heart. Eric wasn¡¯t even pretending anymore. Eileen, with her calm eyes, stared at the ground for a few seconds. Then, she slowly moved forward and tried to open the back seat of the vehicle. It was locked ¨C she couldn¡¯t open it. ¡°Come over here, up front.¡± She had no choice but to do as he said. Without saying much, Eileen walked around the front of the car, got into the passenger seat, and buckled her seatbelt. The car started moving, leaving the residential area behind. Eileen focused on looking at the scenery outside the car window, not speaking to him. She wasn¡¯t sure if Eric did it on purpose, but the car window was half open. The weather was already cold, and now Eileen felt like she was in an ice cer. However, she refused to speak up, stubbornly maintaining her silence and determined not to talk to him. She had always been stubborn as a mule. In her previous life, she knew full well that Eric had hidden motives for choosing to marry her, yet she remained adamant. This was just like how, despite knowing she was heading in the wrong direction to go home, she refused to turn. ? 2/4 back and kept going. Eric wasn¡¯t faring much better; half of his coat was already soaked. In less than twenty minutes, not a word was spoken between them, and Eileen shivered from the cold. Eventually, they arrived at the entrance of Unde Mansion. Eileen stepped out of the car, noticing a sliver of light peeking through the gap in the living. room curtains. She vaguely saw a fair hand pressing against the curtain, its shape reflected in the ss. Eileen walked over and heard certain soundsing from the living room. A woman was delicately panting and moaning without restraint. ¡°I-I can¡¯t take it darling¡­ Daddy¡­ you¡¯re so amazing¡­ Please stop!¡± anymore, ¡°Baby, you¡¯ve had your fun, but I¡¯m not done yet! Hold on a bit longer¡­ D*mn, you¡¯re really tight!¡± ¡°Ah! Be gentle. If Eileen hears us, it¡¯ll be trouble.¡± ¡°So what if she hears us? It¡¯s not like she can stop me, can she?¡± How absolutely absurd and disgusting! In that instant, Eileen didn¡¯t need to enter the door at all. Eileen turned around and walked to a spot where she could squat and avoid the snow. It was very quiet here, free from any disgusting noises. The sound of shoes crunching on the snow rang out as Eric approached her. ¡°nning ont spending the night here?¡± All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. She no longer knew where to go. Eric had watched as she was bullied but had not intervened. Yet now, seeing her pitiful and homeless, he was extending a helping hand. His moods were unpredictable. When he wanted. to be kind to her, he was very kind. But when he didn¡¯t, he always seemed to want to make things difficult for her. Every time she encountered Eric, she ended up getting hurt. ¡°This is my home. I have nowhere else to go¡­ Eric, can you stop hurting me while pretending to pity me? If you¡¯re going to be like this, it would have been better if you never 3/4 showed up in the first ce. Thank you for bringing me home. You can go back now. You don¡¯t have to worry about me.¡± No matter how badly she had bullied Vera in her previous life, she had already paid it all back. All that remains now is the debt I owe her. Eric gazed intently at the pitiful woman huddled in the snow. ¡°What a fool.¡± Eric started the car and drove away. Before long, he reached for his phone and dialed a series of numbers. In the middle of the night, Mary was awakened by a phone call. Upon recognizing the voice on the other end, she quickly left through the back door of the servant¡¯s quarters. d in rose-colored thermal underwear and a cotton jacket, she braved the freezing weather. Squinting, she spotted a pitiful figure huddled in the corner. Trudging through the heavy snow, Mary hurriedly woke Eileen and assisted her to the servant¡¯s quarters. Located at the rear of the mansion, the servant¡¯s quarters consisted of a small and narrow room. Mary swiftly fetched a quilt for Eileen, draping it over her, and then brought a heater for her to warm her hands. ¡°Ms. Eileen, it¡¯s quitete already. Why don¡¯t you rest here for the night? Who knows when Mr. Swan will be finished.¡± Eileen sipped her hot tea, surprised that others could so easily voice things that were so disgraceful. She almost choked on the tea. ¨C Mary nced at her and chuckled. ¡°Miss, I¡¯m a countrywoman through and through. That¡¯s just how I speak straightforward and without beating around the bush. I¡¯m not like Sharon, who¡¯s meticulous in everything she does and always makes things easier for others. I¡¯m a straight shooter and say what I think. I hope you don¡¯t mind!¡± Eileen nodded, looking at the steaming tea in the cup. ¡°It¡¯s okay, I don¡¯t mind.¡± Chapter 80 Chapter 80 Chapter 80 Your Brother Will Feel Unhappy ¡°Look, I can¡¯t sleep anymore since you arrived. Shall we have a chat for a bit?¡± Eileen asked, ¡°What does ¡®shoot the breeze¡¯ mean?¡± Mary pped her thigh. ¡°Oh my, you don¡¯t even know this! Let me exin. ¡®Shoot the breeze means to have a conversation.¡± Eileen nodded thoughtfully. ¡°What would you like to talk about?¡± Mary whispered, ¡°When I went out earlier, I overheard something. Oh my, that scream was as intense as the rumors of secret affairs in our vige. It was so thrilling. Mr. Swan, your father¡­ he¡¯s in great shape. I assure you, your father can still have children. You¡¯ll have a little brother soon.¡± Listening to Mary¡¯s ent, which had a dialect from an unknown region, Eileen found it. quite intriguing. Mary sounded bold and straightforward, seemingly unbothered. Yet, the things she spoke of¡­ Will had multiple rtionships with quite a few women, but he would never abandon his own child. Even if there were any, he would make sure to handle it properly. Once, a woman in her twenties came to the door, causing amotion with a child in her arms. Eileen heard nothing about her after that. The whereabouts of that child were also unknown. That had only happened once. A deskmp glowed on the table. The scent of burning charcoal filled the room. Mary¡¯s snoring was loud, and the pain in Eileen¡¯s arm fromst night¡¯s incident kept her awake. She took a short nap on the narrow bed. When she woke up, the sky outside had brightened. Eileen carefully got out of bed, making sure not to disturb Mary. Wrapped in a nket, she quietly closed the door and stepped outside. It had snowed all night, and a thickyer had already umted outside. The cotton slippers had also been dried sincest night. Slipping them onto her feet, she felt somewhat warm. She sneaked out the back door, as they must not find out that she had returnedst night. 1/4 The front door was wide open while the housekeepers were busy cleaning up inside. The housekeepers called out in unison, ¡°Ms. Eileen.¡± the mess Eileen nodded, stepping into the foyer, where an unpleasant, musty smell immediately struck her. Furrowing her brows at the smell, she quickly ascended the stairs. She went to the bathroom and washed off the dirt from her body while avoiding her wounds. constantly rubbing the marks on her neck. When two men tried to assault her, Eric just stood by and watched, not lending a hand. Just because she went to an art exhibition with Jasper, he misunderstood, thinking she wanted to rely on the Smith family to escape her current predicament. That was his way of teaching her a lesson. If there really was something going on between her and Jasper, Eileen didn¡¯t know what Eric would do. Will he drug me and ruin my life again? Eric would never give her a chance to escape. Even if wings grew from her back, he would pluck each feather out. Eileen sank into the bathtub, her injured hand resting on the edge. Half of her face was submerged in the water, and it wasn¡¯t until she was on the verge of suffocation that she slowly. emerged. She had escaped once, so she could escape a second time. She couldn¡¯t just sit and wait for death toe. With a ssh, Eileen emerged from the bathtub, water dripping off her body. She reached for the bathrobe and put it on. Firstly, she needed to have money in order to leave the Swan residence. It was nearly six o¡¯clock by the time she emerged from the bathroom. In the end, she didn¡¯t go back to sleep. Instead, she changed into her Petalburg High School uniform, put on a cashmere coat over it, wrapped a red scarf around her neck, and quickly descended the stairs with her backpack. Her injured hand prevented her from attending her training sses. Therefore, she decided to take a day off and go to school instead. She was determined to get into a university, and not just any university, but to earn her ce at the best university, Hulbury University, with her own abilities. Even if I can¡¯t go to Lumiose or change any of the oues, I don¡¯t want to repeat the mistakes I made in my past life by giving up everything for a man. 2/4 Eileen mentioned she needed to go to the hospital but didn¡¯t expect n to bring her to Serene Hospital. ¡°We¡¯ve arrived, Ms. Eileen.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Eileen got out of the car, registered at the reception, and headed to the emergency TOOM. The nurse unwrapped the bandage that Eileen had carefully wrapped and asked with at puzzled look, ¡°Do you feel any difort? If we remove the stitches, there¡¯s a risk of wound infection.¡± Eileen answered, ¡°The wound feels a bit itchy. I want to check if there is a reason for it, like if it¡¯s starting to get infected.¡± The nurse spected, ¡°It might be. Please bear with me since the gauze is sticking to the flesh.¡± A voice echoed from behind. ¡°Eileen? What¡¯s wrong? Are you hurt?* Looking over her shoulder to nce at the neer, she saw Zachary, looking every bit the yboy scion that he was. His hands were tucked into the pockets of his ke coat. Eileen felt uneasy about his gaze. Since he¡¯s in cahoots with Eric, he¡¯s not a good person either. Zachary pulled his hands out from his coat, taking the staple remover from the nurse. His smile was even more charming than a woman¡¯s. ¡°Leave this to me. You may go ahead with your other work.¡± Overwhelmed by his charms, the nurse kept staring at his face. Blushing, she muttered something under her breath and then left the emergency room. Zachary¡¯s warm fingers pinched Eileen¡¯s fair, slender fingers. Her nails were round and shiny. ¡°Eileen, how could you be so careless? The wound is infected. Your brother would¡¯ve been very worried if he was here.¡± Eileen had never liked him in her previous life either. Not even a bit. He had a habit of making unwee advances toward her, a despicable trait he just couldn¡¯t seem to shake off. His thumb gently caressed the back of her hand like an animal in heat. Eileen wanted to withdraw her hand but didn¡¯t dare to move recklessly. He tended to her wound, but his movements were gentle. Once everything was taken care of, a meaningful smile graced Zachary¡¯s face. ¡°A delicate hand like yours shouldn¡¯t bear a scar. Eileen, remember to keep it away from water.¡± | O 3/4 After wrapping the bandage, Eileen quickly withdrew her hand, avoiding any further conversation with him. ¡°Thank you for the reminder,¡± Eileen replied, annoyance evident in her voice. Zachary chuckled as he squeezed some alcohol-based hand sanitizer and wiped his hands. He nced down at her andughed. ¡°Someone should have informed you about the situation earlier. Have you discussed your illness with your family? If you decide to undergo surgery, there are risks involved. You shouldn¡¯t keep it a secret from your family.¡± It wasn¡¯t surprising that he was aware of her illness. Eileen hurriedly walked away. If she chose surgery, the only option would be to remove her uterus. Alternatively, she could spend money on treatment, but the process was extremely lengthy. There was a chance that it could develop into cancer, and the treatment might not be effective at all. In this lifetime, I still won¡¯t be able to be a mother. I won¡¯t have my own child. Eileen was well aware of Will¡¯s traditional views. To him, women were merely vessels for childbirth. If Will had spent so much money raising a daughter, only to discover that she couldn¡¯t have children, what would he do? He would be even more heartless than Eric. Trembling all over, Eileen left the hospital. A sense of helplessness engulfed her as she sat in the car. All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. + Chapter 81 Chapter 81 Chapter 81 Is He Bullying You? Eileen arrived at school early, but upon entering the ssroom, she was confused about where her seat was. Previously, everyone had their own desk, but now they were paired up. Eileen had to search for her desk partner one by one, not knowing who was unlucky enough to be paired with her. Eileen usually sat in thest row. After searching for a while, she realized her seat was still in its original position. The things in her desk drawer hadn¡¯t been moved, but more items had been added. Among them was a pink letter with her name written on the envelope over a pink heart. Curious, Eileen put down her backpack. She was indeed attractive and had received quite a few confessions before. However, all the boys who confessed to her would inexplicably be bullied by others. Over time, no one dared to like her anymore. Eileen had never been in love or dated before. After graduating from university, she married Eric. He was busy with his career and was almost always upied during their marriage. By the time he finished work, it was already the early hours of the morning. She had ustomed to waiting for him to come home every night. grown Their interactions were simple. She had never experienced what it felt like to be in love. Even simple things like holding hands, eating meals together, watching movies, or strolling around the street, she had never experienced any of those things. Eileen didn¡¯t open the letter, nor did she look inside it. Instead, she tucked it into her book. The seat next to her was empty. Eileen didn¡¯t know who it was meant for. Perhaps it was just for show. Around half past eight, Eileen stretched out one hand on the table, burying her face in the crook of her right arm. She heard the noise of others entering the ssroom, and with a flutter of her eyshes, she quickly woke up. ¡°Who is the person sitting at the back?¡± ¡°Oh my gosh! Don¡¯t tell me it¡¯s Eileen Swan! I heard she stoppeding to school. Why did. shee back?¡± ¡°Why else? She must have been forced to return. Obviously.¡± ¡°What rotten luck.¡± ¡°If you can¡¯t say anything nice, then don¡¯t speak at all. No one will think you¡¯re a mute!¡± O 1/4 Eileen raised her head in a daze, and a cold smile curved her lips. Also, the want to badmouth someone, don¡¯t do it to their face. I¡¯m not deaf.¡± She may not like to argue with them, but that didn¡¯t mean she didn¡¯t have a temper. The two girls who walked in were frightened and didn¡¯t dare to say anything more. Students in the nine o¡¯clock ss began to arrive one after another. Every seat was taken aside from a few who rarely showed up. ¡°There¡¯s only half an hour left,¡± Vera said as he walked into the ssroom surrounded by a group of people. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry. I received all the birthday gifts you gave mest time. It really like them, thank you all.¡± ¡°Actually, we were in the wrongst time too. We hope you won¡¯t take it to heart, Vera. Vera responded with a slight smile. ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± ¡°By the way, I bought a bottle of perfumest weekend. Can you tell me what you think of the scent? Also, can you help me choose a lipstick shade? I¡¯ve been trying to decide for a while now, but I¡¯m not sure which one to use.¡± ¡°Sure!¡± Vera noticed the seat on thest row at the corner of the ssroom. ¡°Eileen?¡± Vera quickly walked over. When the girls by Vera¡¯s side saw that it was Eileen, they disdainfully rolled their eyes and sneered coldly. Eileen felt a bit dizzy, unsure if it was because she had caught a cold from being out in the snow yesterday. Upon hearing Vera¡¯s voice, she lifted her head to see her approaching. ¡°Eileen, I thought you were resting at home. Nothing happened between you and Ericst. night, right? Why did you leave? Do you have any idea that Sharon was worried sick about. you?¡± ¡°Can you ask Eric to send Sharon back?¡± Eileen¡¯s clear eyes watched the light dimmed in Vera¡¯s eyes. The answer was already quite clear in her hesitation. Sharon could do a lot at her ce, such as washing clothes, cooking, and cleaning. Every day. after school, Vera could even enjoy meals personally prepared by Sharon. How could she bear to let Sharon leave? Eileen coughed a few times, her voice sounding a bit hoarse. Vera skillfully changed the subject. ¡°Eileen, stop talking. Your throat is hoarse. How about I go and buy some medicine for you? Wait a moment. I¡¯ll pour you some water to drink.¡± 2/4 Vera quickly put down her backpack and ran outside to fetch her a cup of water. Every ssroom was equipped with a water dispenser and disposable cups. ¡°Eileen, have some water,¡± she said. ¡°Put it there. I don¡¯t feel like drinking anything right now.¡± Eileen slumped on the table. Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. ¡°Wait for me. I¡¯ll go to the infirmary and get you some medicine.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to go through so much trouble. I¡¯ll be fine in a bit. It¡¯s probably because I didn¡¯t get a good night¡¯s restst night, so don¡¯t worry about me.¡± Vera crouched beside Eileen, her voice soft as she asked, ¡°Eileen, can you tell me what happened after Eric left with you? Did he bully you? How did you get sick?¡± Eileen knew she was worried something might¡¯ve happened between her and Eric because Vera was aware of how much she liked Eric. How could Vera be at ease with her being alone. with Eric? Yet, she was bringing up Eric and the nightmare that urred the night before. She snapped, ¡°If you want to know it so badly, why don¡¯t you ask Eric yourself what he did to me? I¡¯m not feeling too good right now, so I don¡¯t want to talk about what happenedst night.¡± Vera choked on her words, her eyes reflecting her dissatisfaction. She felt a tightness in her chest, deeply troubled by the events of the previous night. Eric¡¯s expression was dark when he came back the night before. He didn¡¯t tell her anything. when she asked him about it. The feeling of uncertainty made her feel uneasy. She was also afraid that Eric would break his promise because of Eileen. She was aware of how much Eileen used to adore Eric. Eileen had wished she could spend every minute of the day with him. Vera felt just the same. She returned to her seat with countless thoughts and doubts swirling in her mind. Her desk mate asked with concern, ¡°Vera, are you alright?¡± Vera smiled and replied, ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± The first lesson began with a brief math quiz. Eileen approached the test with determination. The test paper was only half a page long and consisted of questions created by the teacher herself. It included five multiple-choice questions, worth ten points, followed by fill-in-the- ||| 3/4 nk questions and a few application problems. The final question proved to be quite challenging, taking Eileen approximately ten minutes to solve. Shepleted the entire paper in less than half an hour. Putting her pen down, she started to drift off to sleep once again. When it was time to collect the papers, the math teacher noticed that Eileen was still asleep. He sighed and shook his head. ¡°Don¡¯t think that just because you happened to do well on thest exam, you can ignore this one. Even if your family is wealthy and influential, leaving school without knowledge will only bring shame upon you. Vera, you performed excellently.st time. From now on, you will be the math representative of our ss. After ss, remember toe to my office to collect the papers from the previous two International Mathematical Olympiads. If there¡¯s anything you don¡¯t understand, feel free to visit. my office anytime.¡± Vera nced at Eileen, who was lying on the table, and nodded. ¡°Alright, sir. Eileen seems to be feeling a bit unwell. I can bring her papers to the officeter.¡± The math teacher responded with a rather indifferent acknowledgement and then continued, ¡°Very well, let¡¯s proceed with the lesson. Everyone, please take out your quizzes from thest ss. We¡¯re going to discuss the questions.¡± Chapter 82 Chapter 82 Chapter 82 Misunderstanding The morning consisted of two math sses, but Eileen, feeling the onset of a cold and fever. left for the infirmary. Vera, intending to collect the test paper from her, found that she had already left before he could reach her desk. Vera noticed the untouched cup of water he had fetched for her and decided to exchange it for a fresh, hot one. While observing the test paper still spread out, he noticed discrepancies. in two of Eileen¡¯s multiple-choice answerspared to his own. While Vera had chosen the second and third options for the final two questions, Eileen had consistently chosen A. Doubt lingered in Vera¡¯s mind had she made an error? Vera encountered Yvonne, the second-ranked student and ss monitor, who had consistently held the top position before Eileen¡¯s rise to second ce. Despite Yvonne¡¯s wealth and her family¡¯s ownership of a conglomerate, her grades, with over a sixty- point difference from Eileen¡¯s, made her dream of entering ss One increasingly improbable. To secure that coveted spot, she needed a significant improvement during the uing final exams. The prospect of being surpassed by a girl from the countryside with no notable background left her feeling uneasy. Vera approached Yvonne and inquired, ¡°Yvonne, may I ask what you chose for thest two multiple- choice questions?¡± Yvonne adjusted her thick sses on her nose. ¡°The exams are over; discussing the answers now won¡¯t make any difference. Aren¡¯t you the ss representative for math? Why are you. asking me?¡± Despite Yvonne¡¯s distant and slightly disgusted tone, Vera maintained a smile and responded, ¡°I¡¯m not sure either. Myst score wasn¡¯t as good as yours, so I thought I¡¯d ask. If you don¡¯t want to talk about it, that¡¯s fine too.¡± Yvonne stored her pen in her pencil case. ¡°I¡¯ve recalcted the fourth question several times, and I believe the answer should be A. As for the fifth question, I wasn¡¯t sure, so I chose the one closest, which is B.¡± Vera responded, ¡°Is that so? It seems the answers are somewhat different. No worries¡­ I¡¯m heading to the office now.¡± 1/4 Yvonne noticed the test paper in Vera & Ba who cheats to get first ce in an exam, I don¡¯t see much of a future for them.¡± Vera stood 1. for Eileen. ¡°Eileen has always been diligent at home. As the ss monitor. I hope you don¡¯t speak ill of her if you don¡¯t have evidence to prove that she cheated¡± Yvonne¡¯s tone was full of disdain. ¡°If you don¡¯t believe me, show me her test paper. I guarantee, not a single answer is correct.¡± Quite a few people overheard their conversation and, like bees to a hive, many came over. ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s have a look. I¡¯m curious too, to see what kind of masterpiece Eileen can produce on her test paper.¡± ¡°Who knows, she might have just scribbled nonsense. As if she could cheat her way into the top five of the entire grade, I simply don¡¯t believe it.¡± ¡°I wonder how she managed to get the answers. If I had her grades, my dad would have been over the moon. He¡¯d throw a feast in Primas za, celebrating for three days and three nights.¡± Vera, finding it difficult, said, ¡°No, this is Eileen¡¯s test paper. Without her permission, we can¡¯t just look at it.¡± Before the words had fully left his mouth, someone snatched the test paper from Vera¡¯s hand and ced it in front of Yvonne. ¡°We¡¯re just looking at a test paper that belongs to one of the top five students in this whole grade, not yours.¡± ¡°Exactly! Yvonne, can you check if Eileen really knows what she¡¯s doing, or if she¡¯s just pretending?¡± ¡°Ah, that¡¯s not allowed¡­ Vera reached out to grab it, but someone stopped him. ¡°Yvonne, take a quick look.¡± Yvonne pulled out a piece of draft paper, then took out a pen. ¡°Well, let me take a look then!¡± The weather was gloomy, with the snow on the ground still melting. It was damp and cold. A gust of wind blew droplets of water from the leaves onto her nose, causing Eileen to shiver from the cold. Eileen tucked her neck and buried half of her face in her scarf. Upon reaching the infirmary. she took her temperature, which read thirty-seven point eight degrees Celsius. ¡°You do have a bit of a fever. Are there any other diforts? Do you have a runny nose?¡± Eileen nodded. ¡°A little,¡± ¡°Wait a moment, I¡¯ll prescribe some medicine for you. Take it for a few days, and if your temperature doesn¡¯t go down, remember to go to the hospital.¡± ¡°All right, thank you, teacher.¡± Eileen, carrying a bag of medicine, had her hands tucked into the pockets of her school uniform, her head lowered in deep thought. Suddenly, a dark voice interrupted her, apanied by a pair of ke sneakers appearing in her line of sight. ¡°H-Hello¡­¡± Looking up, Eileen saw a rather sturdy boy blocking her path. His hair, sticky and drooping, suggested it had either not been washed for days or was wet. Standing at around one hundred. and eighty centimeters, he was on the heavier side. Eileen, maintaining herposure, inquired, ¡°Is there something you need?¡± He stammered, his gaze fixed on Eileen as he chuckled foolishly. ¡°Hehe¡­ You¡¯re so beautiful! Would you be my girlfriend?¡± Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org. ¡°Hahaha¡­¡± Laughter erupted from the nearby basketball court. Eileen turned to see a group of students. from an unfamiliar ss causing a ruckus. She then redirected her attention to the boy, her voice gentle as she offered some advice, ¡°Fellow student, exams areing up, shouldn¡¯t you be studying?¡± ¡°No need, my family owns an oilpany, my dad is loaded. Even if I don¡¯t get into college, my dad will just pay for me to get in. Hehe¡­. will you be my girlfriend? I¡¯ll give you whatever amount of money you want, and I¡¯ll bring you snacks every day, and buy you pretty clothes¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I¡¯m not interested in dating right now,¡± Eileen calmly turned him down. Her rejection wasn¡¯t based on his looks or his foolish demeanor; instead, it stemmed from the fact that her current life stage didn¡¯t allow her to entertain such thoughts. ¡°Hey kid, there are plenty of beautiful girls in our school. I¡¯m not the right one for you. Please, find someone else!¡± she advised. The boy quickly pleaded, ¡°But I really like you. None of them are as beautiful as you. I¡¯m most attracted to you; you¡¯re the one I want.¡± Eileen took a deep breath. Instead of getting angry, she found it amusing. ¡°I don¡¯t know who sent you to say these things to me. And you don¡¯t truly like me; you¡¯re just attracted to the idea of me. That¡¯s why you ¡®like¡¯ me!¡± ¡°Do you even know what it means to genuinely like someone? Do you even know me? We¡¯re meeting for the first time, and yet, we¡¯re having this conversation¡­¡± 34 ¡°Some words, once spoken, must be taken seriously!¡± The guy looked utterly confused, scratching his head. ¡°I don¡¯t understand what you mean. If I spend more time with you, get to know you better, does that mean you¡¯ll be with me? Don¡¯t worry, my dad will definitely agree, you don¡¯t have to worry, we¡¯re very wealthy Eileen, who already had a headache, now felt it even more intensely. This school was filled with children from affluent families. They either came from wealthy. households or their parents held high-ranking positions. No one would be interested in the Swan family¡¯s wealth. Not to mention, if the authorities. were to investigate Will¡¯s actions, he would have faced severe consequences multiple times. In the realm of criminalw, he hadmitted nearly half of all possible offenses, most of which were frowned upon. Eileen didn¡¯t fully understand the details of these matters, but she knew that many powerful and influential people had a mutually beneficial rtionship with Will, like grasshoppers tied to the same string. If Will were to get into trouble, there would be no shortage of people wanting him dead. Chapter 83 Chapter 83 Chapter 83 Perhaps Eric Is His Biological Son Eileen was constantly bothered by him until just before ss started, and only then did he leave. If she had known it would be like this, she wouldn¡¯t have returned to school. No sooner had Eileen settled into her seat than the vice homeroom teacher called her to the office. Inside the office, the vice homeroom teacher was rummaging through the drawer. ¡°Please have a seat!¡± Eileen pulled a stool from the side and sat down. Soon, the teacher pulled out an aspiration form. ¡°You haven¡¯t been to school for such a long time, and you¡¯re not answering your phone, Eileen. Has something happened at home?¡± The vice homeroom teacher was the Clusian teacher of ss Six. After Elsie resigned, Xenia became the homeroom teacher in charge of ss Six. Most of the ss affairs were also managed by her in the past. Eileen had a fairly good impression of her. She wasn¡¯t opportunistic and treated everyone equally. At least she wasn¡¯t like Elsie, who approached her with insincere ttery and hidden motives. ¡°Everything¡¯s fine, Ms. Carter. Did you need me for something?¡± Xenia handed Eileen a form. ¡°All your ssmates have already filled out their aspiration. forms. Last time I visited your house, there was no one there. Now that I¡¯ve finally caught you at school, I thought I¡¯d have you fill out your form. You¡¯re the only one left in our ss who hasn¡¯t done so. The higher-ups are also urging me to hurry up.¡± ¡°Your dad didn¡¯t attend the parent-teacher conference for this mid-term mock exam either.¡± Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Eileen hung her head low, clutching at the hem of her clothes, at a loss for words. Will never cared about her. Sometimes, she wondered if she really was his biological daughter. His concern for Eric far exceeded hers, to the point where she even thought that Eric was his biological child instead of her. ¡°I understand where you¡¯reing from. Just know that your future is in your hands. It would be a shame if you go along with this setup. You¡¯re beautiful, and I appreciate that, but relying solely on your looks for attention won¡¯t get you far. I prefer students who are intelligent and knowledgeable. I¡¯ve said my piece, but don¡¯t let it bother you. You¡¯re my 1/4 student, and it¡¯s my job to guide you. I know about your grades, and you¡¯ve genuinely improved this time. I believe these are your real results. I know what others might say, but don¡¯t let it get to you.¡± Nowadays, it seems like the affluent kids, regardless of their academic prowess, choose to study abroad. Once they¡¯re back, they often rely on family enterprises, sustaining their opulent lifestyles. Only a handful venture into creating their own paths. ¡°Ms. Field mentioned you¡¯re thinking about heading to Lumiose for education. Yet, I¡¯d prefer if you considered Hulbury University. And, if you can, aim for that top schr position at Hulbury.¡± In the past, these were things she didn¡¯t even dare to dream of. Eileen lifted her head to look at her. ¡°Do you also wish for this?¡± Xenia was puzzled. ¡°Hulbury University is an aspiration for many students. You¡¯ve got the capability, so why not? Eileen, education is the simplest way to alter one¡¯s fate; no one else can determine it for you. I hope you consider it thoughtfully. Will you persist in your diligent studies at school or carry on with your external courses? I wouldn¡¯t want to lose such a high- achieving student. If you keep putting effort into your abilities, a bright future awaits you, sure.¡± Eileen fell into deep thought. Almost all of Eileen¡¯s affairs were decided by Will. What she was to do next, or which university she was to attend, she rarely had a chance to make her own decisions. for Regardless of this life or the previous one, it seemed that Eileen could always see the end of her journey. After obtaining a university degree and graduating, a marriage intertwined with business awaits her. After marriage, without a career of her own, she would be a full-time housewife. The value she held in Will¡¯s eyes was just that. She contemted that only by leaving the Swan family, by not relying on all the material conditions that Will provided for her in life, would she be able to break free from the fate that had been arranged for her. ¡°Once you¡¯re in Hulbury University, you¡¯ll have the opportunity every year to qualify as an exchange student abroad. When you¡¯re good enough, you won¡¯t have to rely on your family.¡± ¡°Abroad?¡± 2/4 Eileen pondered that perhaps going abroad was the only way to sever her ties with the Swan family. In this way, Eric would not harm her while seeking revenge on Will. At this moment, it seemed as if Eileen had figured something out. She had never left Hulbury city before, always kept like a caged canary, trapped in a marriage. that was already an empty shell. Her thinking was narrow, and shecked deep insigh This could be her only chance. Eileen has filled out her preferences, with Hulbury University as her top choice. She had made up her mind. Before she graduates from university, she would go abroad as an exchange student behind Will¡¯s back and return after three to five years. Even if Will cut off her financial support, by that time she would have already been able to support herself. Perhaps by the time she returned, Will would have long forgotten about this daughter of his. Will might even be dead by then and the Swan family would have fallen into Eric¡¯s hands. Regardless of the oue, she¡¯d either find herself in Fandar or delighting in the northern lights along the Ordano River. In her previous life, Xenia had never uttered such words to her, but it made sense that history didn¡¯t have to repeat itself. Perhaps her destiny had already taken a turn. Just like Vera, without her intervention, Eileen would continue to thrive. Ultimately, she¡¯d be with Eric, get married, and start a family, easing the regrets and pains of Eric¡¯s past life. She had to endure for three years and then persist for another three. In her past life, Eileen had endured decades of pain, so these three years were but a fleeting moment for her. Eileen returned to the ssroom. The forty-five-minute lesson was almost over. Thest row, initially quite empty, now appeared very crowded with Elm and his group¡¯s arrival. Just as she settled into her seat, Eileen noticed that her desk had been tampered with. The draft paper from the previous ss was scattered all over the desk, turned upside down in aplete mess. ? O < 34 In her absence, it was unclear what had transpired. But none of that matters anymore. Soon, she would be switching to another ss. This was the condition she presented to her homeroom teacher. She could select Hulbury University as her top choice, or even achieve the highest score in this year¡¯s college entrance. examination in Hulbury City. Her only request was to switch sses, Life has been challenging since Eric began oppressing her. If Elm continues to harass her at school, she will undoubtedly lose her sanity, She noticed that Elm was seated behind Vera. Between her and Elm, there was Albert and an aisle. Before Eileen had a chance to open her textbook, the bell signaling the end of ss rang. The math teacher didn¡¯t have a habit of going over time, so as soon as ss ended, Walsh hurried over to Eileen, curiously asking, ¡°Eileen, why were you absent for so long? What did the homeroom teacher say to you?¡± Eileen opened her bag and took an ibuprofen. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, just discussing matters about our aspirations.¡± ¡°Is this enough to talk about for an entire ss? There must be something else.¡± Walsh¡¯s question attracted quite a few bystanders, all of them appearing to be quite interested in the gossip. Chapter 84 Chapter 84 Chapter 84 Heartless. ¡°I¡¯m transferring to ss One, Eileen mentioned casually as she stood up and walked over to the water dispenser to pour herself a cup of water to take her medicine. As soon as the words were spoken, the ssroom quickly erupted into a lively discussion. Among the crowd, someone questioned mockingly, ¡°Is that for real? How long do you think. she can last in ss One if she gets in by cheating? The workload in that ss is intense. I guarantee she¡¯ll be back here in three days.¡± ¡°Who can argue with that? Cheating to this extent just to switch sses surely isn¡¯t easy!¡± ¡°I¡¯d rather die than do that.¡± Infuriated by the snide remarks, Walsh defended Eileen. ¡°Who said Eileen cheated? Did any of you see her cheat? Don¡¯t forget, all of you saw Eileen¡¯s math test paper just now. She scored perfectly! using someone else of cheating just because you performed badly is such a shameful act! I think you should be ashamed of yourselves! You just can¡¯t stand to see others. doing well.¡± My math test paper? Eileen¡¯s gaze turned to focus on Vera, who was seated in front of Elm. Vera was looking at her with an innocent expression, trying to hide her guilt. Without saying a word, Eileen simply returned to her seat. After all, she was about to be moved to another ss, so she couldn¡¯t be bothered to argue any further. Walsh should have minded her own business. I don¡¯t need anyone else to protect me. Eileen packed up her things, carried her textbooks, and left the ssroom. ¡°Eileen!¡± Vera stood up, wanting to chase after Eileen, but her deskmate held her back. ¡°Don¡¯t mind her. ss is about to start.¡± Content held by N?velDrama.Org. Charlie was lounging with his foot hooked on the table. Leaning back to look past Elm at Albert, he whistled, catching thetter¡¯s attention. Albert turned his gaze towards Charlie. upon hearing the sound. Charlie raised an eyebrow. ¡°Is she really going to ss One?¡± Albert shrugged, ¡°You¡¯re asking me? How would I know?¡± ¡°What¡¯s all the fuss about!¡± 1/5 All of a sudden, Elm let out a roar of anger as he was roused from his sleep by the scat. With a forceful kick, Elm sent the stool flying as he shot up from his seat. He then mmed his fist against the door before storming out. ¡°Elm, where are you going? ss is about to start!¡± Charlie stood up to chase after Elm, but Albert grabbed him. ¡°Why are you grabbing me?¡± Albert spoke up. ¡°Don¡¯t meddle in things that don¡¯t concern you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m meddling? What is there for me to meddle with? The three of us are in this together. Elm has already left. What¡¯s the point of attending sses?¡± Charlie retorted. Albert stated nonchntly, ¡°If you go, you¡¯ll just get beaten up. Whatever. I won¡¯t stop you.¡± Upon hearing that, Charlie plopped down in Elm¡¯s seat, ¡°What exactly do you mean? Exin it to me. I don¡¯t get it.¡± Albert shook his head and scoffed. ¡°Idiot!¡± Just as the ss bell rang, Eileen had already reached the first floor. Suddenly, a person emerged from the corner, blocking her path.. Eileen stood on the steps of the corridor. The ssroom was originally air-conditioned, yet he seemed unfazed by the cold when he stepped out. He took off his school jacket, leaving only a ck sweater on. His neck was fully exposed, truly showcasing the vigor of his youth. Eileen took a step to the side, thinking she was blocking his way. She descended the steps, passing by him. ¡°Eileen Swan, you sure are quite capable!¡± Elm took out a cigarette from his pocket, put it in his mouth, and lit it with a red-blue me. Holding it between his fingertips, he exhaled a puff of ke smoke before casually asking. ¡°Do you think everything¡¯s over?¡± Eileen slowed her steps and came to a halt. ¡°Isn¡¯t it better if I leave ss Six and stop being a thorn in your side? I don¡¯t owe you anything, Elm.¡± Elm lowered his head and chuckled, ¡°Indeed. It¡¯s not you who owes me, it¡¯s Eric. Since you¡¯re III 2/5 in cahoots with him, how could I possibly let you off the hook? Since you¡¯ve already transferred sses, you might as well just drop out!¡± Is he out of his mind? ¡°It won¡¯t be much longer, Elm. Soon, you won¡¯t see me anymore.¡± Eileen¡¯s voice was filled with mncholy. Quickly, she added, ¡°Our exams are around the corner. You should hurry back and study.¡± Eileen stepped onto the tiled floor covered with square patterns. The snow had melted by now. A cold wind blew, tickling her throat. It wasn¡¯t long before Eileen started coughing again. Walking into the library, Eileen sat down at her usual spot. At the moment, her only ticket out was getting into Hulbury University and earning the opportunity to be an exchange student abroad. Perhaps Will might change his opinion after seeing her efforts. Eileen wanted to prove that a daughter was not merely a tool for marriage alliances.. daughter could also support her family. Outside the grand floor-to-ceiling window, a heavy snowstorm began to fall again. Eileen bowed her head, engrossed in her writing. Her image reflected on the ss window. Her long hair falling gently over her shoulders. It was a serene and graceful scene. After working on a few test papers, she started to feel a bit hungry. ncing at her phone, she realized it was just about time for a meal. Just then, a message notification popped up on her phone: Eileen, I have a gift prepared for you. I hope you¡¯ll like it when you see it. Keeping Eric¡¯s advice in mind, Eileen did not respond to Jasper¡¯s messages. She had even deleted all of their chat history. If she hadn¡¯t gone through all that she had gone through, perhaps they could have been good. friends. She should have recognized him the first time they met. Jasper Smith was truly a wonderful person. At the very least, she had no regrets about saving him. ||| 3/5 At least his life did not end there and then. Saving him was the greatest fortune of her life. Jasper had given her a lot of warmth, at least that was how she perceived it. He had chatted with her, showed up whenever she was feeling down, apanied her to art exhibitions¡­ And not to forget their little secret¡­. Eric was narrow-minded and sinister, resorting to ruthless methods. He would hold grudges and never let any offense go unpunished. In the past, when he and Will were involved in underground activities, he carried the burden of countless lives on his shoulders. He was willing to do anything to achieve his goals. After much difficulty, Jasper finally healed his leg injury. Despite being the head of the Smith family, a prominent household in Hulbury, Eric could easily undo Jasper¡¯s healing without. leaving a trace. After all, Eric was always meticulous and never revealed his true intentions. Eileen did not want to harm another innocent person. Jasper, I don¡¯t think we will ever meet again in the future. Goodbye, Jasper. Eileen stood up to stretch her limbs. After Sharon left, the meals prepared by Mary imitated Sharon¡¯s cooking. However, her culinary skills were far from Sharon¡¯s. Over the past few days, Eileen ate very little at home. Sometimes, she preferred not to eat at all. There were still some snacks and bread in her backpack, so Eileen made do and ate some. She was nibbling on a piece of bread when suddenly, a brand-new book was thrown onto the table in front of her with a loud thud. Startled, Eileen looked up, widening her eyes in surprise at the person standing before her. When she realized who it was, her expression darkened as she stopped chewing. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Elm leaned back in his chair casually, gestured towards the book in front of him with his chin, and said, ¡°It¡¯s almost exam season. Tutor me.¡± Eileen looked at him as if she had heard the funniest joke in the world. Elm, who despised her to the extreme, was approaching her voluntarily, asking her to tutor him? ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m busy. Go find Vera instead!¡± Eileen bowed her head and continued to work on the practice questions in front of her. Lifting her gaze, she noticed Elm ring at her with his arms crossed and a gloomy 4/5 expression on his face Pursing her lips. Eileen said, ¡°Elm, I¡¯ve been deliberately avoiding you I know you don¡¯t like seeing me, so I¡¯ve transferred to another ss. We won¡¯t be in the same ss anymore, so we ll encounter each other less. For the next six months, I have a lot of things to do. If you truly want to improve your studies, you can go to Vera. Don¡¯te to me if it makes you ufortable. Besides, I don¡¯t have the energy to teach you either.¡± With a slight raise of his eyebrows, Elm sneered coldly. ¡°What a heartless person you are, Eileen. You¡¯re indeed just like Will.¡± He stood up, picked up his book, and turned to leave. Eileen stared at Elm¡¯s retreating figure in confusion, utterly bewildered. What is he up to now? Chapter 85 Chapter 85 Chapter 85 Be Careful Not To Get Lost School was finally out at half past five in the afternoon. Eileen¡¯s cold had improved significantly, but she still felt dizzy and had a congested nose. The only thing she was grateful for was that Will wouldn¡¯t ask her about her affairs at school. Eileen didn¡¯t leave the school gates until around six o¡¯clock. At the entrance, she ran into Vera and Gavin. Gavin said something to Vera, and she got into the car. With an impatient look in his eyes. Gavin kept ncing at his watch until he noticed Eileen. Upon seeing her, Gavin strode over. At the same time, Eileen walked towards him as well. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Mr. Walsh?¡± Gavin was a loyal employee of Eric. In Eileen¡¯s previous life, he was the one who handed her the divorce agreement. Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org. ¡°n is not around, so Mr. Snow instructed me to pick up Ms. Vera, and you as well. I seem to remember that both you and Ms. Vera are in the same ss, so why did youe out sote?¡± After working for Eric for so many years, Gavin had learned how to conceal his emotions. Nothing on his face would betray his true feelings. Even if he despised someone in his heart. he would always maintain a poker face. Even for Eric, knowing his schedule, Eileen would foolishly try to please his assistants. Only now did Eileen realize how foolish she was. Eileen had a nagging feeling that Gavin was not actually busy. Rather, Eric had intentionally sent Gavin away to divert his attention. What exactly is Eric¡¯s purpose in doing this? No matter what, Eileen refused to ride in Gavin¡¯s car. Eileen pursed her lips and spoke softly, ¡°Eric had instructed you to pick up Vera, not me. There¡¯s no need to go out of your way. I can take the bus home by myself. I¡¯m sorry to have kept you waiting for so long, Mr. Walsh.¡± Furrowing his brows slightly, Gavin stretched out his arms to stop Eileen in her tracks. ¡°Ms. Eileen, Hulbury has been rather unsafe recently. If you were to encounter any danger while you were alone, I wouldn¡¯t know how to exin it to Mr. Swan. Please, get in the car.¡± His tone was assertive, leaving no room for refusal. 1/5 In Gavin¡¯s mind, he couldn¡¯t help but think that Vera was far superior to Eileen. Eileen¡¯s temperament had not changed over the years. It was truly off-putting If it weren¡¯t for Mr. Snow¡¯s instructions, Gavin wouldn¡¯t have bothered to pick her up, wasting a good half hour on her. ¡°Ms. Eileen.¡± Just then, another gentle voice called out to her from not far away. Eileen turned towards the sound and to her surprise, she saw Richard approaching her with a kind and amiable smile. on his face. With a nod, Richard greeted, ¡°It¡¯s been a while, Ms. Eileen.¡± ¡°Richard, it¡¯s been a while. What brings you here?¡± Eileen asked. Ignoring her question, Richard turned to look at Gavin on the side. ¡°Could this be Gavin, Mr. Snow¡¯s personal assistant from Caerulus Corporation?¡± Gavin was quite astonished that the other party recognized him. Naturally, Gavin knew who the man was as well. The man was the same person who was standing beside the CEO of Smith Corporation the other day. They had a brief encounter in the elevatorst time. As a sign of respect, Gavin extended his right hand. ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Gavin Walsh.¡± Richard greeted him with a simple handshake. ¡°Hello. Releasing his grip, Richard shifted his gaze back to Eileen. ¡°Ms. Eileen, I may need a bit of your time. Mr. Smith has something to tell you.¡± Gavin protested, ¡°That¡¯s-¡± ¡°Mr. Walsh, I believe I¡¯m talking to Ms. Eileen,¡± Richard interrupted. True to being from the Smith family, Richard carried an air of grace. While his face seemed. to wear a smile, his eyes held a hint of concealed sharpness, like hidden knives. Everyone knew about the Smith family¡¯s status in Hulbury. The Smith family would have the final say in Hulbury. It remained uncertain whether Jasper could change the fate of the Smith Corporation being taken over by Eric in the future. At that moment, Eileen stepped forward and said, ¡°Mr. Walsh, you can go ahead! Richard will send me home safe and sound.¡± 2/5 A hint of displeasure flickered across Gavin¡¯s eyes. ¡°Alright, Ms. Eileen. Remember toe home early.¡± Richard was working for Jasper. Gavin was aware that every word and action of his would be representing Caerulus Corporation in Richard¡¯s eyes. Given the current situation, it would be unwise for Gavin to stir up conflict with Eileen! Richard¡¯s gaze darkened as he looked at Gavin. ¡°This way, Ms. Eileen.¡± ¡°Thank you. Walking slightly behind Eileen, Richard gently advised, ¡°Ms. Eileen, as the eldest daughter of the Swan family, it¡¯s better to be a bit more assertive. Otherwise, some people might take advantage of you, which could put you at a disadvantage.¡± Richard¡¯sment hit right where it was hurting. Nothing could escape his keen eyes. A faint smile curled up at the corner of Eileen¡¯s mouth. ¡°You¡¯re right, Richard.¡± ¡°Mr. Smith and I both hope that you can take good care of yourself and avoid any further harm. Ms. Eileen.¡± Upon hearing that, Eileen¡¯s heart suddenly tightened. What does that mean? Could it be that he already knows? Meanwhile, Vera watched Eileen climb into the expensive Cayenne from the rearview mirror. She noticed that the license te was a string of ones. Not everyone could afford at car like that in Hulbury. Once Gavin settled into the driver¡¯s seat, Vera asked, ¡°Isn¡¯t Eileening back with us?¡± Gavin fastened his seatbelt and said, ¡°Ms. Eileen had to leave due to some matters. I¡¯ll take you home first.¡± ¡°Thank you for your help, Gavin.¡± ¡°No problem.¡± If Ms. Eileen were as considerate as Ms. Vera, she wouldn¡¯t be disliked by so many people, and it would have spared Mr. Snow some worries. In the meantime, Eileen had been sitting in the car for nearly twenty minutes, and it was almost half past six. By then, the sky had darkened, causing the streetlights along the roadside to illuminate. As she looked at the serene streets, Eileen sensed that something was wrong. 3.5 ¡°Richard, where are we going?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll be there soon, Ms. Eileen. You¡¯ll find out shortly.¡± Before long, the car came to a stop. The driver walked around the front of the car to open the back door for Eileen. Richard instructed, ¡°Ms. Eileen, just keep walking straight from here. You¡¯ll understand soon.¡± They arrived at the bustling pedestrian za, a lively ce filled with people in the heart of Hulbury. It was a haven for various delectable street foods. Eileen didn¡¯t know what to do. After she stepped out of the car, she watched as it drove. away. She felt lost and unsure of her next move. All she could do was follow Richard¡¯s advice and take one step at a time. After approximately eighteen steps, a little girl holding a rose in one hand and her mother¡¯s hand in the other ran up to Eileen cheerfully, ¡°Pretty Miss, happy birthday.¡± The little girl¡¯s mother joined in, saying, ¡°Ms. Eileen, happy birthday.¡± Eileen was taken aback. An indescribable sensation welled up in her heart. This feeling was both wonderful and touching, an emotion she had never experienced before, neither in her past life nor in her present one. It felt as though her heart was overflowing. ¡°T- Thank you¡­¡± The little girl¡¯s voice was as cheerful as ark. With her small hand, she pointed ahead. ¡°Pretty Miss, that¡¯s the way to go! Be careful not to get lost.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Eileen carefully observed the child. She appeared to be about five or six years old, with two adorable braids and dressed in a princess dress. Eileen grew fond of the girl. Following the instructions, Eileen aimlessly wandered in the indicated direction. Every eighteen steps, a mother and her child would approach Eileen to present a rose. What Eileen pondered was not these flowers, nor whaty ahead. Instead, she wondered if she could have given birth in her previous life, had she not died. She wondered if her 415 < children could have been as lively and adorable as the ones she encountered along the path. She wondered what it would be like to be called a mother. But what else could be done? She could never have her own child in that lifetime! As she reached the end of the street, Eileen had received exactly eighteen roses. The further she walked, the quieter it became as the crowd thinned. Just then, the melodious sound of a piano caught her car. Chapter 86 Chapter 86 Chapter 86 Warm And Cozy Eileen only noticed a familiar figure in the open-air square restaurant. Seated at the piano under the lights, that person was ying a melodious and soothing tune. Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. From a distance, she could clearly see the tattoo on the back of his hand and the one hidden under his cor. His features were gentle and warm. His tall, slender body stood straight, radiating a handsome and vibrant aura. Every movement he made exuded innate nobility. His aura was different from that of an ordinary person. Everyone¡¯s gaze would be drawn to him first, even in a crowd. At that moment, a waiter approached. ¡°You must be the guest Mr. Smith has been waiting for! We have reserved a spot for you. Please, follow me.¡± Eileen held a vibrant bouquet of roses in her hands. She saw a small space enclosed by a ss cover, much like a private booth. Through the ss, the snowy scenery outside could still be enjoyed. ¡°Please wait. Mr. Smith will be here shortly.¡± ¡°Eileen.¡± A clear, deep voice came from behind. Eileen stopped in her tracks, her back to the voice. Slowly, she turned around. Bathed in moonlight, he walked toward her, one step at a time. The waiter tactfully made his exit. Eileen¡¯s heart involuntarily began to race. At that moment, she found Jasper incredibly handsome. Eileen¡¯s heart was unknowingly stirred. He can stand and walk again¡­. In truth, she had guessed it long ago¡­ During those days in the hospital, as he was undergoing treatment, Eileen knew he would recover. Eileen was so nervous that she was at a loss, unsure why her heart was beating so fast. She had rarely felt that way before. She wondered what could be the reason. Could it be because I¡¯m sick today? ¦§ ¡°I¡­ I¡­ Thank you¡­¡± After struggling for a while, Eileen finally managed to utter those words. Jasper extended his hand, lightly touching her forehead with his fingertips, Hist filled with affection as he said, ¡°Go inside. Don¡¯t catch a cold.¡± She knew he was the Jasper she had saved. eyes were Before that, Eileen had no idea how many times she had embarrassed herself in front of him. 1/4 Eileen sat across from him, her head bowed as she fiddled with the fresh flowers in her hand. ¡°Did you seek me out for something?¡± she asked. Jasper asked, ¡°Eileen, am 1 very scary?¡± Eileen shook her head. ¡°Yes¡­ I don¡¯t know what to say to you.¡± When Eileen came over, she was actually prepared to tell him they shouldn¡¯t see each other again in the future. However, she found it hard to utter those words at that instant. Jasper gave a lightugh. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Eileen. Don¡¯t be nervous. Just treat me like before, as a friend. We¡¯ve had many conversations in the past, haven¡¯t we? Or could it be that you don¡¯t enjoy meeting me this way? If I¡¯ve caused you any difort, I¡¯m truly sorry, Eileen!¡± Eileen was fiddling with the petals but didn¡¯t realize she was using too much force and identally plucked one off. What a pity. ¡°No, that¡¯s not it.¡± She quickly set it aside. Eileen looked into his warm and charming eyes. ¡°Actually, I¡¯m very happy. That¡¯s because no one has ever prepared these for me, and no one knew that today was my birthday. Actually, you don¡¯t have to do all this for me. Receiving your birthday wishes alone has already made me very happy. You¡¯ve done so much for me. I don¡¯t know how to respond.¡± Jasper said, ¡°You don¡¯t have to do anything. In fact, you¡¯ve already done plenty of things. You were the one who pulled me back from the abyss of despair. Some things couldn¡¯t be rushed at that moment as she was still too young. Jasper tried his best not to disturb her life and decided to wait a few more years. He wanted to watch her grow up with his own eyes. The dishes on the table were all Eileen¡¯s favorites. The presentation was excellent, butpared to her own cooking, the vorcked finesse. Eileen¡¯s culinary skills could already rival those of a Michelin-starred chef. Aside from meals made by Sharon, she only enjoyed the food she cooked herself. Eileen was rather particr in that respect. The two of them focused on eating their meal. Eileen was filled with suppressed emotions, her inner struggle leaving her unable to speak. Jasper also noticed her distraction, but he didn¡¯t ask further. After dinner, the two of them strolled down the street. As they watched couples yfully 2/4 passing by, the silence between them was strangely abnormal. She blurted out, ¡°What happened to your leg?¡± Jasper narrowed his eyes, an indiscernible emotion shing in their depths. ¡°Because of a car ident.¡± His response was very concise. Eileen nodded, earnestly advising, ¡°Then remember to be careful when you drive in the future.¡± Jasper¡¯s voice was deep as he uttered a single word, ¡°Okay.¡± Eileen¡¯s motherly habit of showing concern for others kicked in again. ¡°You¡¯ve been walking. with me for so long. Aren¡¯t your legs tired? Why don¡¯t we find a ce to sit down? If you¡¯re ufortable, you must tell me right away.¡± Jasper¡¯s lips curled up slightly. ¡°All right.¡± Eileen bit her lip. ¡°Jasper, how can you agree to everything?¡± Eileen dared not look at his face anymore. She turned her body, pointed to a certain ce, and said stiffly, ¡°I want to eat that. As Christmas was approaching, there was a candied apple stall in front of which a person was dressed up as Santa us. Eileen rarely indulged in such treats before. ¡°Let¡¯s go, I¡¯ll take you to eat.¡± Jasper naturally took her hand like this. His hand was very soft and comfortably warm. He didn¡¯t notice the surprise in Eileen¡¯s eyes behind him. She was looking at the hand he had taken, her heartbeat irregr, her face flushing. Having lived two lifetimes, Eileen was not oblivious to Jasper¡¯s affection for her. She didn¡¯t point it out, nor did she reject it. She fathomed it was not appropriate to continue in that ambiguous rtionship with him. There were numerous obstacles standing between them, including Eric and Will. However, the most significant obstacle was Eileen herself. In her past, she had been deeply wounded, causing her to refrain from engaging in romantic rtionships and to be unwilling to entrust her heart to another person. She believed that Jasper¡¯s feelings for her were merely a passing fancy. As they spent more time together, those feelings gradually faded, simr to her previous experiences. 34 Furthermore, Jasper was a naturally gifted individual, proud and superior, far beyond her reach. She pondered, ¡°His journey is still long, and he will encounter girls who are more beautiful. than me. Eventually, I will age, and many young girls will be drawn to him in the future. I cannot take a risk on this rtionship.¡± Even if Eric had not expressed those words to her, Eileen would still maintain her distance. due to her own feelings of inferiority, fear, and timidity. ¡°When I be unable to conceive, there will be no future for us. The mindset of this era does notpare to that of the future.¡± To ensure her survival, Eileen had already made up her mind. She was preparing for a hysterectomy. A woman without a womb, unable to bear children, would have no hope of finding happiness. Shecked the courage to cross that threshold and be with him. Eileen¡¯s ns would never change for anyone again. In her ns, there was always only space for herself, never for anyone else. ¡°Even Jasper is not an exception. If he wants to hold my hand, so be it. I will forever cherish this beautiful memory of today. We may not see each other again in the future.¡± By half past nine, the night had grown dark and somber. Eileen paused by the fountain in the square. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. I should head back. I have ss. tomorrow.¡± The journey back to Unde Mansion by car would take at least forty minutes. If there was heavy traffic, it might even take over an hour. Jasper said, ¡°Just wait a little longer¡­¡± Chapter 87 Chapter 87 Chapter 87 No ident ¡°What?¡± Eileen eximed. Then, Eileen witnessed Jasper retrieving a small ck velvet pouch from his pocket. From within, he revealed a stunning ke, crescent-shaped transparent pendant. The thin silver chain it hung from sparkled like a constetion of stars. He approached slowly, but Eileen pushed him away. ¡°No, I can¡¯t ept it. It¡¯s too valuable.¡± Jasper¡¯s gaze remained fixed on her, a hint of destion in his voice. ¡°Eileen, this ne is a gift I personally designed for you. Today is not only your birthday but also the anniversary of our first formal meeting. If we are still friends, please don¡¯t reject me, okay?¡± The ne was truly exquisite, wless in every way. It was so beautiful that no one could resist admiring it upon seeing it. His gaze was intense, and Eileen simply couldn¡¯t bring herself to reject him. In a soft voice, she said, ¡°But I have nothing to give you.¡± ¡°No worries. I¡¯m already very happy that you coulde today.¡± Eileen¡¯s eyshes fluttered, her hands tightly clutching the hems on both sides of her dress as she nodded. She agreed. Jasper constantly reminded himself not to be overly anxious and to take things slowly. Yet, he couldn¡¯t control the desire within his heart. Jasper thought, ¡°This girl before me is mine.¡± He leaned over, personally cing the ne around her neck. He brushed her long hair to one side, bringing him closer to her exposed, delicate, swan-like neck. Moreover, a sweet scent of strawberries emanated from her, which he found intoxicating. Eileen was very sensitive. Perhaps it was a sense of self-protection, but she didn¡¯t like people. getting too close to her. It could also be a trauma from her past life. His hot breath spread across her neck, causing Eileen to shrink back a little in difort. ¡°A- Are you done? I¡¯m a bit cold.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Jasper fastened the silver sp, and the crescent pendant rested on her chest. It was as pure as her, as luminous as the moon, much like the beam of light that illuminated him, when he was in darkness. 1/4 Unlike the sun, which was bright and blinding, the glow was subtle and gentle, capable of calming him down. Even the darkness within his heart could be dispelled. On the way back, there weren¡¯t many people around. It was almost nine o¡¯clock now. Generally, she must be home by around half past eight, noter than nine. That was the curfew Will set for her. After all, as Gavin said, there were too many enemies targeting the Swan family. She was indeed at risk when she was alone. Seeing her lost in thought, Jasper asked, ¡°What¡¯s on your mind? I can speak to your uncle if you¡¯re worried about being scolded when you return. Or are you tired? You can take a nap. I¡¯ll wake you up when we arrive.¡± Regaining herposure, Eileen shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Jasper noticed something off about Eileen at that moment, as if she was burdened with heavy thoughts. ¡°Did something happen to her?¡± ¡°Eileen, if you ever have any problems, feel free toe to me anytime. No matter what, I¡¯ll always be there to help you.¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Eileen looked at him, her clear eyes carrying an emotion that was hard to decipher. ¡°Can I really tell him? Can Jasper help me break free from the Swan family and forever leave that evil ce?¡± The Swan family was nothing but an ant in front of the Smith family. A singlemand from Jasper could cause the Swan family¡¯s downfall. However, she wondered what would happen if he disagreed with her request. ¡°If Will were to find out that I sent Jasper to deal with the Swan family, not only Will but Eric would also not let me off the hook. Then, what reason should I use to bring up this matter? The more I spoke, the more suspicious Jasper would be. If he were to thoroughly investigate the deeds of the Swan family, it would surely be the end of them. And I will be destined to stay by Jasper¡¯s side.¡± Eileen felt it was simply not worth it for her to perish alongside Eileen. With Eric¡¯s ability, even without the Swan family, he could establish a footing on his own. Eileen figured she might suffer a life worse than death. Eric was unscrupulous and would go to any length to achieve his goals. If she could leverage Jasper¡¯s connections to pave her way, she could go study abroad right ||| 2/4 after high school graduation. She wondered if it would be better that way. For one, she wouldn¡¯t have to wait for the annual foreign exchange student program in Hulbury. ¡°Jasper¡­¡± Eileen wasn¡¯t sure how to approach the subject with him. They hadn¡¯t spent much time together, and their rtionship wasn¡¯t at the stage where they could ask anything of each other. Content held by N?velDrama.Org. Jasper raised an eyebrow. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Just as Eileen was about to voice her thoughts, a blinding light suddenly shone in their direction. ¡°Watch out, Mr. Smith!¡± Fabian quickly turned the steering wheel while Richard gripped the handle above the passenger seat tightly. Eileen saw a several-ton truck driving toward them. In the split second before the impending collision, Eileen thought she was about to die. She closed her eyes in fear until a strong and powerful hand pulled her away. Eileen found herself shielded beneath him. Jasper¡¯s deep voice came from above. ¡°It¡¯s okay. Don¡¯t be afraid.¡± His voice was like a soothing balm. Eileen rested her head on his chest, listening to Jasper¡¯s heart pounding at that moment. In truth¡­ he was also afraid. Despite facing the same dangers, he, like Eric, protected her in the most perilous moments. Eileen remembered it vividly. When she was little, the Tibetan Mastiff had lunged at her. Eric had protected her with his life, getting bitten in the process. Even now, deep bite marks were still visible on his arm. In Eric¡¯s embrace, Eileen could hear his heartbeat. It was extraordinarily calm, steady, and rhythmic, just like always. Eric seemed never to feel fear, no matter what he did, and no vulnerability could threaten. him. In the past life, everyone in Hulbury knew Eric, the prestigious man who could make things happen with a flick of his hand, couldn¡¯t care less about his wife. Someone once joked that she lived a life even worse than the dog kept by Eric. 3/4 However, Jasper was different. His heart was beating rapidly. It seemed like he was also afraid. ¡°Eileen¡­¡± Upon hearing the sound next to her ear, Eileen was pulled back from her memories. To avoid colliding with the approaching truck, Fabian swerved and crashed into the guardrail, resulting in his million-dor Cayenne beingpletely wrecked. However, Eileen appeared to be in a state of shock, still visibly shaken. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­ Eileen¡¯s fear was evident. If thatrge truck had actually hit them, they would have all perished. Tears began to flow uncontrobly. Jasper¡¯s smile faded, and cold sweat trickled down his forehead. He endured the pain and reassured Eileen, ¡°It¡¯s not your fault. Why are you apologizing?¡± Eileen lowered her head, watching her tears fall incessantly. She apologized because she knew it wasn¡¯t an ident. She knew who was responsible, but she couldn¡¯t bring herself to say it. Caerulus Corporation was her mother¡¯s life¡¯s work, and if thepany failed, her mother¡¯s lifelong efforts would be in vain. The impact was significant, causing Fabian¡¯s hand to twist slightly, but it was not a serious injury. Richard, on the other hand, sustained severe injuries, with blood streaming from the corner of his forehead. Inside the Audi, Vera sat in the passenger seat, cradling arge pink teddy bear, and asked, ¡°Eric, is there an ident up ahead?¡± ¡°I feel like I¡¯ve seen this car somewhere before.¡± Chapter 88 Chapter 88 Chapter 88 Be Good As the car approached, Vera was shocked to see that it was Eileen, apanied by an unfamiliar man. However, there was something vaguely familiar about him. ¡°Eric, let¡¯s pull over quickly. It¡¯s Eileen.¡± Eileen looked at the car and noticed the familiar license te number. Her face instantly turned pale. Just as smoke started billowing from the car¡¯s hood, Eileen hurriedly got out. However, as soon as her foot touched the ground, her body went limp. Fabian quickly grabbed a spare fire extinguisher and put out the fire. Jasper walked over, his face filled with concern as he checked on Eileen. ¡°Are you hurt? Can you stand up?¡± She wasn¡¯t hurt. Jasper had protected her well during the incident. Eileen didn¡¯t want to admit that she had fallen because her legs had given out from fear. Whenever she thought about the puppeteer behind the scenes, Eileen¡¯s heart couldn¡¯t find peace. Apprehension constantly loomed over her. Wiping the blood from his forehead, Richard said, ¡°Ms. Eileen, you must have been frightened.¡± A cold glint of murderous intent shed in Jasper¡¯s eyes, but he gently reassured her. ¡°It¡¯s okay, don¡¯t be afraid. I¡¯ll handle this. Can I help you up?¡± Eileen spoke softly. ¡°Are you hurt?¡± The corners of Jasper¡¯s mouth lifted into a smile. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± That¡¯s great. I¡¯m d he¡¯s okay. Jasper helped Eileen up, her legs still a bit weak. As she stood, she noticed something off about Jasper¡¯splexion. ¡°Why is your face so pale? Are your legs injured?¡± ¡°Lift it up, let me have a look¡­ Jasper held her hand. ¡°I¡¯m fine, don¡¯t worry.¡± Fabian said, ¡°I¡¯ve already contacted the mansion. They¡¯ll be sending a car soon. Please bear with it a little longer, Mr. Smith.¡± 1/4 He and Richard knew the inside story. Jasper¡¯s legs hadn¡¯t fully recovered. If Jasper hadn¡¯t insisted, Fabian would never have allowed him to get out of bed. Today is Ms. Eileen¡¯s birthday. She¡¯s a very special woman to Mr. Smith. No one expected this to happen. Just as the car was making a sharp turn at high speed, it crashed into the guardrail, and Jasper banged his legs. Vera hurried over, his face filled with anxious concern. ¡°It¡¯s really you, Eileen! What happened? Are you hurt?¡± Eileen noticed that Vera was holding a pink teddy bear. It was the same one that Jasper had asked her if she wanted as a birthday gift. Eileen was surprised to find that Vera also liked it. ¡°Eric,e here quickly.¡± Upon seeing the approaching man, Eileen¡¯s eyes shed with anger. She quickly averted her gaze, not wanting to look at him. He sure arrived at the right time. Did hee to check if we were dead or not? I¡¯m truly sorry for letting you down, Eric. Eric approached with a sharp look in his eyes. ¡°Mr. Smith had a car ident? Are you seriously injured?¡± Eileen noticed that as Eric and Jasper locked eyes, there seemed to be an invisible tension. enveloping the surroundings, creating a somewhat oppressive atmosphere. Jasper didn¡¯t reply to Eric. He had investigated the background of every single one of the Swans, and none of them came out clean. But Eileen is different, she is kind and beautiful, yet unfortunately born in such a filthy ce. If it weren¡¯t for Eileen, the people of the Swan family wouldn¡¯t even have the privilege to see him. Jasper didn¡¯t pay attention to Eric. Jasper turned to Fabian and asked, ¡°How much longer until the person arrives?¡± Fabian replied, ¡°It¡¯ll take about fifteen more minutes.¡± ¡°Did you get a good look at the car that just sped by?¡± Fabian lowered his head. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Smith. I didn¡¯t get a clear look.¡± Jasper¡¯s voice suddenly turned cold. ¡°Then go investigate. I want the culprit caught within three days.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Smith,¡± Fabian said. ||| 2/4 Vera stepped forward, taking Eileen¡¯s hand with warm concern. ¡°Eileen, are you okay? Eric and I were nning to celebrate your birthday at home. If it weren¡¯t for Sharon, we wouldn¡¯t have known that I missed yourst birthday. This time, I¡¯ve prepared a gift for you but you didn¡¯t show up. Next time, I want to host a birthday party for you again.¡± Eileen¡¯s face turned cold as she withdrew her hand. ¡°No need to trouble yourself. You and Eric should go back first! We¡¯ll handle everything here.¡± She could feel Eric¡¯s gaze on her every move. Eileen didn¡¯t want to meet his eyes. ¡°How can we casually trouble others with our own affairs, Eileen? Have you forgotten what Father said? If you encounter any trouble or mishap outside, just let me know. You and Vera get in the car first, I¡¯ll have a few words with Mr. Smith, then I¡¯ll take you home.¡± Eric¡¯s voice was like the calm after a storm. He had warned Eileen that he wouldn¡¯t let her off easily if she met with Jasper privately. Jasper pulled her behind him. ¡°Ill ensure Eileen¡¯s safe return. Mr. Snow, there¡¯s no need for you to worry.¡± Eric smiled slightly. He didn¡¯t pay any attention to Jasper. Instead, his gaze fell on Eileen. ¡°Eileen, be good, okay?¡± Eileen took a step from behind Jasper. ¡°Jasper¡­ I want to go home with Eric first.¡± She wouldn¡¯t be able to escape Eric as long as she was still with the Swan family. A hint of mncholy shed in Jasper¡¯s eyes. His hand rested on her head, his voice carrying a tone of indulgence. ¡°When you get home, remember to call me.¡± Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org. Eileen quickly responded, nodded, and left, taking a seat in Eric¡¯s car. She tactfully took a seat in the back, right behind the co-driver¡¯s seat. Vera said, ¡°Eric, I¡¯ll wait for you in the car¡­¡± Eileen sat in the car, gazing out the window, unable to make out what they were saying. Vera turned to Eileen and asked, ¡°Eileen, it seemed like that person had feelings for you. Are you two dating?¡± ¡°This is my personal matter¡­ Eileen closed her eyes, feeling apprehensive. What will Eric do to me when I return? At the moment, she had no power to confront him. She simply couldn¡¯t defeat Eric. Vera smiled, a hint of embarrassment on her face as she tucked her hair behind her ears. ¡°I¡¯m ||| 34 sorry! I was just worried about you.¡± Eileen didn¡¯t respond. She heard the driver¡¯s seat door open and close again. Vera was whispering something to Eric. She didn¡¯t bother to pay attention. The car slowly started moving, and soon they arrived at Unde Mansion. Ericmanded, ¡°Get out of the car!¡± Eileen opened her eyes. She hadn¡¯t said a word during the journey. Even when Eric asked her something, she didn¡¯t hear it clearly. her head, Upon entering the mansion, the living room lights were on. Mary was propping up on the verge of falling asleep. The table was filled with a variety of dishes, and in the middle. there was a cake that was almostpletely eaten. Upon hearing the noise, Mary quickly woke up. She yawned, wiping the drool from her chin. ¡°Oh my, Ms. Eileen, what time is it? Why are you just getting home now? There¡¯s a whole. table of food here. I¡¯ll warm it up for you. It¡¯s been ready for quite a while.¡± Eileen¡¯s face remained expressionless. ¡°No need. I¡¯ve already eaten. I¡¯m going upstairs to rest first.¡± ¡°Halt!¡± Eric, like the master of the house, tossed his car keys at the entrance and walked straight in. emanating a chilling and dangerous aura. Chapter 89 Chapter 89 Chapter 89 Mercy ¡°Vera, please go upstairs and rest for a while.¡± Vera nced at Eric, then at Eileen, ¡°Eric, Eileen just had a fright. Please don¡¯t intimidate. her.¡± Vera didn¡¯t like it when Eric was alone with Eileen. Sometimes, she couldn¡¯t help but wonder if Eric truly had feelings for her. If he doesn¡¯t like me, then what about the things he said to me? Vera had never truly heard Eric express his affection for her. This made her feel incredibly insecure. Vera went up the stairs. Seeing the tense atmosphere, Mary stammered, ¡°Sh-Should I leave as well?¡± Eric shot her a sharp, icy nce, which frightened Mary so much that she immediately turned around and ran away. Until there were only two people left in the living room. An oppressive chill hung in the air, so heavy that it left Eileen struggling to breathe. ¡°Do my words mean nothing to you?¡± Eric approached her steadily, emitting a chilling aura. Even without looking at him, Eileen could sense the expression on his face in that moment. His demeanor was a stark contrast to when Jasper had shown concern for her just a moment. ago. He was inplete control of his emotions, like a demon who had just emerged from hell. ¡°I haven¡¯t forgotten, Eileen nervously wiped the cold sweat from her palms, too uneasy to meet his gaze. She further exined, ¡°Richard came to pick me up today. I couldn¡¯t refuse him. I took this opportunity to rify things with him. Eric, what more do you want from me? I¡¯ve done everything you asked. What else do you expect me to do?¡± ¡°Look up,¡± his voice wasmanding, issuing orders. Eileen lifted her head, staring into his dark, piercing eyes. There was an intimidating aura about him. Eric chuckled lightly. ¡°Do you know where your biggest w lies, Eileen? I don¡¯t appreciate it when you lie to me!¡± ||| 14 Having spent so many years together, over a decade passing in the blink of an eye, he knew her inside and out. He knew what she loved to eat and what she liked. A single nce from her was enough for him to understand what was on her mind. Eileen had wanted to pour out her heart, but when the words reached her lips, she could only manage to say, ¡°I understand. If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯d like to go back and rest.¡± All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. Eileen was about to go up the stairs when Eric¡¯s voice stopped her once again. ¡°It¡¯s not yet. midnight. Come over.¡± Eric pulled out two chairs. He sat in one, legs crossed, watching her with a calm andposed demeanor. Eileen didn¡¯t understand. What does he want to do? She didn¡¯t move. ¡°Are you waiting for an invitation?¡± he asked coldly. Without further dy, Eileen slowly made her way over and took a seat beside him. ¡°Don¡¯t you love the dishes made by Sharon the most? If you don¡¯t eat the food on the table today, it will go to waste.¡± Eileen stared at him in disbelief. The food on the table had already gone cold, and with her sensitive stomach, she couldn¡¯t eat cold food. ¡°Are you trying to make me sick?¡± After all, Eric was well aware of her condition. ¡°Eileen, if you don¡¯t behave, there will be consequences. That¡¯s the rule.¡± ¡°These are your rules, not mine!¡± Eileen kicked the stool and stood up. ¡°You¡¯re just a child my father adopted. You have no right to dictate what I should do. Whether you believe it or not, there¡¯s no possibility between him and me. Neither you nor Jasper, from now on, will I ever fall for anyone again. Enjoy your meal. If you want to eat, eat it yourself.¡± As Eileen turned to go up the stairs, a sharp pain shot through her scalp. Eric dragged her to the dining table. With a forceful shove, Eileen found herself sprawled on the cold marble floor. As she tried to get up, a hand mped around her delicate neck. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you to behave?¡± His gaze was terrifying. In that moment, Eileen almost believed he would truly harm her. His grip tightened. The pain was suffocating, and she could hardly breathe. The chill from the ground seeped into her entire body. + 2/4 Eileen furrowed her brows, not uttering a single word. Eric wasn¡¯t holding back. His hawk-like gaze was fixed on her, relishing the pleasure brought by her pain. He had expected to hear her cry and beg for mercy, but there was none of that, not even a single plea for mercy. Seeing her in this state. Eric¡¯s frustration grew more intense. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Can¡¯t even beg for mercy now?¡± Eric scoffed. Eileen knew him well. If Eric truly wanted to harm her, he wouldn¡¯t be foolish enough to do it here. Perhaps due to the events of tonight, he wanted her to beg for mercy, to surrender, but she simply wouldn¡¯t. Tears welled up in Eileen¡¯s eyes, shimmering like pearls. The tears that had gathered soon fell, painting a picture of pitiful vulnerability. She resembled a delicate flower ravaged by the rain, its petals torn and scattered. Anyone who saw her in this state would undoubtedly feel a pang of heartache. Eileen pushed him away forcefully. ¡°Even if I die, I will never beg you for mercy in this lifetime. You¡¯ll surely go to hell after you die.¡± With so many lives on his hands, Eileen felt that it was unfair that fate still allowed him to live. Hell? I have already be a demon from hell. ¡°Then I¡­ will take you to hell with me.¡± If Eileen truly wanted to be a part of the Smith family, Eric was determined to destroy her. Eric swiftly grabbed the girl who was attempting to run away. Suddenly, in the next second, Eric pulled her up like a chick, his hand gripping her neck, pinning her body against the wall. His eyes were as red as a raging fire, staring at her, and he kissed her forcefully. As he kissed her passionately, his hands held her tightly. Eileen felt a sense of suffocation, as if she was being deprived of oxygen. In her daze, she felt her thin lips being forcefully bitten. by him. A sweet, metallic taste filled their mouths. Her hands struggled against him, leaving numerous scratch marks on his face and neck¡­. Eileen had no chance to catch her breath. She could only let him have his way with her. < 34 Eric hadpletely lost control. In the corridor, Vera, feeling uneasy, quietly descended the stairs until she witnessed this scene. Taken aback by the sight before her, her mind went momentarily nk. She stared at them. astonished by everything unfolding before her. Eric sensed something. He lifted his icy gaze to nce at the person standing on the stairs. Vera locked eyes with him, her heart aching like a knife wound. She couldn¡¯t bear the harsh reality. Quickly, she ran back upstairs. Upon hearing the footsteps, Eileen seized the moment when Eric was distracted. As soon as she had a chance to catch her breath, she forcefully pushed him away. Her palmnded squarely on his face without any hesitation¡­ The crisp sound of a p echoed through the living room. The only sound in the hallway was her heavy, gasping breaths. Tick, tock. In the room where the lights remained off, the clock continued to tick away tirelessly. It was half past twelve in the early hours of the morning, Eileen clutched her throat in the restroom, vomiting everything she had eaten from her stomach. In the end, all that was left to vomit was bile, and a ringing sound could be heard in her ears. Half an hour ago. Her resistance only fueled the tyrannical streak within Eric. He watched her eat and did not let her go until after midnight. < Chapter 90 Chapter 90 Chapter 90 What Does She Mean To Him. Moonlight streamed through the window, casting a gentle glow on the bathroom door. Eileen, with her disheveled long hair, wore a resentful expression. She resembled a ghostly figure, her eyes hollow and numb. She watched as the ke light from the phone on the bed continuously illuminated the room. Its pleasant ringtone echoed throughout the room. It was an iing call from Jasper. Eileen observed as the call was repeatedly cut off automatically, only to ring again. She made no move to answer it. After a while, she finally approached the phone, removed the battery, and tossed it aside. The pendant of the crystal crescent moon ne stilly in the corner of the wall¡­. The wound on her hand hadn¡¯t fully healed yet. After a few days, it had started to scab over. As long as she kept it dry, it wouldn¡¯t reopen. In the morning, Eileen descended the stairs to find Will and Elsie already having breakfast downstairs. Eric and Vera were also present. At the dining table, Will seemed oblivious to anything unusual. As usual, he was discussingpany matters with Eric. Listening to Will, it seemed that he had gradually entrusted all the important affairs of thepany to Eric. Most of the significant projects were now in thetter¡¯s hands. Will was now so infatuated with Elsie that he no longer cared about thepany. ¡°This evening, you¡¯ll apany me to a banquet. Ms. Yvette from the Friedman family. wishes to personally thank you for what you didst time. Choose a gift carefully and put some thought into it. The youngdy has particr preferences. ¡°Yes, Father.¡± The Friedman family? The name sounded familiar to Eileen, but she couldn¡¯t quite recall it. After eating half a bowl of oatmeal, Eileen put down her spoon and silently stood up. ¡°Father. I¡¯m off to school now.¡± She spoke up, and only then did Will shift his gaze to her. ¡°Have youpleted all the 1/5 courses in the training ss?¡± Eileen replied, ¡°I¡¯ve caught up with the three months of sses I missed. Father, rest assured, I won¡¯t fall behind.¡± The tension on Will¡¯s face finally eased, and he nodded in satisfaction. ¡°Go ahead, be careful on your way.¡± As soon as Eileen took her school bag from Mary, Will quickly called out to her. ¡°Wait a moment.¡± Eileen halted, turning around with an expressionless face. Will asked. ¡°How¡¯s the injury on your arm?¡± Eileen said, ¡°It¡¯s not too serious. It will be better in a few days.¡± No matter what, she is my own flesh and blood. These past few days, I¡¯ve indeed been too engrossed in my business and have neglected her. ¡°Don¡¯t push yourself too hard. If you really can¡¯t handle it, take a few days off before returning to school.¡± Will noticed the wound at the corner of Eileen¡¯s mouth. His gaze deepened slightly, but he didn¡¯t ask for more details. In the morning, Eileen couldn¡¯t escape her fate. She found herself sharing a ride with Vera in Eric¡¯s car. There were three people in a confined space, but no one mentioned what happenedst night. It was as if it had never urred. The air inside the car was stifling, almost suffocating. She closed her eyes, utterly perplexed as to why Eric had kissed her so passionately at that moment. Coincidentally, Vera had also seen it¡­. Doesn¡¯t he care about Vera? He loves Vera so dearly, preserving his chastity for her. Over these many years, he hasn¡¯t been with other woman. Isn¡¯t it because he¡¯s waiting for Vera to grow up so he can marry her? There were many things that Eileen suddenly found herself unable toprehend. any Upon reaching the entrance, she didn¡¯t utter a word. Instead, she simply got out of the car and walked into the school. If it were in the past, Vera would happily chat with Eric, asking him to slow down while 2.5 driving. ¡°Eric, I¡¯m off to school. ¡°Hmm,¡± he responded, his tone indifferent. Vera slowly unbuckled her seatbelt. As she was about to open the car door, she couldn¡¯t help but speak up, ¡°Eric, don¡¯t you have anything you want to say to me?¡± Eric looked through the car window until Eileen¡¯s figure disappeared from sight. ¡°Vera, your exams are coming up, so don¡¯t think about these things.¡± If the man were to turn around, he would surely see her eyes brimming with tears, her lips. bitten in distress. The words she wanted to say remained unspoken, and Eric offered no exnation. Even if he just said one sentence, she would ept any kind of exnation. Yet, he simply wouldn¡¯t speak up. Vera stepped out of the car, a look of disappointment on her face. What does he really think of me? Eileen didn¡¯t return to the ssroom. Instead, she went straight to the office to find her homeroom teacher. After the shift change waspleted, Eileen returned to the ssroom. She tidied desk, which consisted of textbooks and exercises. up her It was almost time for ss. The moment Eileen walked in, the previously quiet ssroom instantly erupted into noise. ¡°No way! Is Eileen really here?¡± ¡°Look, the ss teacher is still waiting for her outside¡­ Eileen actually left!¡± Several disdainful voices chimed in, ¡°How about this. Let¡¯s bet on how many days she canst in ss One. I¡¯ll be the bookie.¡± ¡°I bet three hundred that she won¡¯tst more than three days.¡± ¡°I bet one day¡­ H Eileen paid no mind to the whispers around her. She simply shouldered her bag and left the ? 3.5 ssroom. ¡°Ms. Hayes, I¡¯m ready. Let¡¯s go¡± Content held by N?velDrama.Org. Jennifer was the finest teacher in Hulbury, and every student she had taught was exceptional. Eileen was unsure if she could keep up with the pace of ss One¡¯s studies. Jennifer walked ahead, holding her textbook, and exined the rules to her. ¡°Once you¡¯re in ss One, you have to follow its rules. I don¡¯t need to mention dating. Also, I don¡¯t want to see you bringing anything unrted to studies into school, especially in thest six months leading up to the university entrance exam. ¡°We still have forty-five minutes of evening self-study left. For lunch dinner¡­ you¡¯ll head to the cafeteria half an hourter. The level of intensity in this ss is higher than you might expect. If you feel overwhelmed, you still have the option to withdraw now. However, if your academic performance falls behindpared to the previous assessment, or if you fail to rank within the top thirty students in your grade, you will be expelled. Do youprehend?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Typically, a ss consisted of thirty students, and ss One had secured all the top thirty spots in the grade. During the previous assessment, only Eileen represented a different ss among the top thirty students. After Jennifer introduced Eileen to the ss and gave a brief self-introduction. Eileen was assigned to the third seat in the front row. The seating arrangement was based on academic performance rankings. Eileen noticed that the atmosphere in the ss was filled with intense studying. Everyone was deeply engrossed in their revision, which was a stark contrast to ss Six. In that ss, the girls were discussing cosmetics and handbags, while the boys were boasting about their sneakers. Once the teacher left, the first subject was Calculus¡­ Eileen attentively listened to every ss, diligently taking notes. For her, this kind of rigorous studying was rtively easy, as most of the material wasprehensible to her. The only drawback was that there were still two evening study sessions after school. Because of this, she simply couldn¡¯t keep up with the sses at the training institute. O < 43 Even the amount of homework had doubledpared to before. After several morning sses, she ended up with a stack of eight test papers in her hands. Everyone was so engrossed in their own test papers that they didn¡¯t even have time to go to the bathroom after ss. She only managed to stay focused when she was passionately engrossed in reading and writing. Chapter 91 Chapter 91 Chapter 91 He Cares Deeply About His Sister The top students in the ss were all busy reviewing and reading, their daily schedule was so packed that they had no time to worry about anything else. She really enjoyed this kind of learning atmosphere, where everyone was striving for excellence. Even though every student at Petalburg High School came from exceptionally wealthy family backgrounds, and even if they came from the best families, they never cked off. Just then, the table shook slightly. Eileen looked up at the person half-sitting on her table. She had a long ponytail of chestnut-brown curls, a slender figure, and was about the same height as Eileen. However, she was staring right into Eileen¡¯s chest. ¡°Hey girl, what did do to get so busty?¡± All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. you ¡°I remember you¡¯re the new student who just transferred today. Your name is¡­ Eileen, right!¡± When Eileen was introducing herself, everyone else was busy with their own work, and not a single person looked up at her. Unexpectedly, someone still remembered her name. ¡°My name is Yvette Friedman. Let¡¯s be friends!¡± Err¡­ ¡°Let¡¯s go for lunch together at noon! What would you like to eat? It¡¯s my treat.¡± Yvette Friedman? In her heart, Eileen silently recited her name. It is such a familiar name. Where have I heard it before? Friedman? Could it be that the Friedman family mentioned by Father at the dining table today is rted to Yvette? Is she the youngdy of the Friedman family? It¡¯s rare for Father to pay such close attention to the Friedman family, and even got Eric to work on it? Hmph! With just a wiggle of my toes, I can tell what kind of mischief Will Tumer is up to. Throughout his life, Will never approved of her marriage to Eric. This was something she could not understand. Why is that so? 1/4 ceremonies, and no flowers¡­ just a marriage certificate. Eileen was quickly pulled back from her memories, turning to Yvette with a smile tugging at her lips. ¡°Sure!¡± Why did Eileen agree? In fact, Eileen also remembered something just now. Yvette was the heir trained to take over the Friedman Group, and she was Jasper¡¯s half-sister of the same mother but different. fathers. She knew Will¡¯s thoughts. He nned to match Eric with Yvette, relying on the Friedman family to rapidly rise to power. Once the time was ripe, Eric might strike back and swallow the entire Friedman family. Thus, he was not only able to win over the Friedman family, but also take revenge on the Swan family. In the end, he managed to bring both families under his control. This was the best oue for Eric. He was a man who wouldn¡¯t stop until he achieved his goal¡­ If Eric really married Yvette, it might not necessarily be a bad thing¡­ The Friedman family and the Smith family were equally powerful. Perhaps she could achieve her goals without getting close to Jasper. Eric would be mindful of the Friedman family and would not act recklessly towards her again. Secondly, by ying matchmaker for her and Eric, it could alter her fate of marrying Eric. Three¡­ If she relied on her rtionship with Yvette, perhaps Eric wouldn¡¯t make things. difficult for her anymore. In her past life, her best friend had climbed into her husband¡¯s bed and even bore him a child. This most painful betrayal made her lose faith in the so-called friendship, Currently, Eileen barely had any social circle of her own. She had grown ustomed to being alone, reading books or watching dramas when she was bored, doing things she enjoyed¡­ Without any social interactions, there was no room for suspicion or unpleasant incidents among friends. She didn¡¯t know what purpose Yvette had in getting close to her. ?? 2/4 However, Eileen thought the answer woulde soon. Cafeteria in Building Five. As Yvette mentioned, the ce they often visited was a popr revolving hotpot restaurant. Eileen couldn¡¯t handle spicy food, so she ordered a mushroom soup. Yvette¡¯s pot of extra spicy red oil had Eileen shaking her head in disbelief. She dipped some vegetables into the pot. ¡°Eileen, you know my family is throwing me at birthday party today, right? I want to invite you and your brother toe!¡± The steam from the pot fogged up, obscuring her eyes. Yvette¡¯s eyes were quite captivating. They were slender with double eyelids. When she closed her eyes, a tiny mole could be seen in the middle of her eyelids. Her beauty was subtle and restrained, the kind of subtle charm that grew over time. Unlike Eileen, she mostly inherited her mother¡¯s looks, who was known as the most beautiful woman in Hulbury. She was stunning at first nce, and capable of capturing people¡¯s attention instantly. As expected, her target was Eric. Although Eileen didn¡¯t know what had transpired between Yvette and Eric, having lived two lifetimes, she was rather experienced in understanding women. From her perspective, it seemed that Yvette had developed an interest in Eric. I¡¯ve also brought you an invitation. Remember, it¡¯s at half past seven tonight. You muste, and there will be lots of delicious food. My dad has even invited some celebrities from the entertainment industry. Make sure youe!¡± Eileen looked at the pink, gold-embossed invitation. ¡°There are two more evening study. sessions tonight. I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t be able to make it.¡± Yvette had eaten quite a bit, her mouth already swollen from the spice. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about. such a small thing, juste with me after ss.¡± After saying that, she added a reminder, ¡°My father has invited quite a few business partners. Well, you know, those old stubborn ones who pay special attention to etiquette. Remember to wear a formal dress when youe.¡± Eileen lowered her eyes, lost in thought. She nodded, ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Eileen, can you tell me about your brother? Last time when I went to the bar with my girlfriends, we ran into a bunch of thugs. We almost got into serious trouble, but then he showed up out of nowhere and single-handedly knocked down more than ten people. He¡¯s simply amazing 34 Eileen looked into her eyes. They were filled with admiration, reflecting the image of a young girl in love. But it was only a fleeting moment. She quickly put on a face full of disgust and said, ¡°If it weren¡¯t for the fact that he saved me once, I wouldn¡¯t bother arguing with him about his order for me to leave. Unless¡­ the gift he gives me tonight can satisfy me.¡± Noticing that the person next to her had been silent the whole time, while she did all the talking, Yvette said, ¡°Come on. I¡¯ve been doing all the talking. Isn¡¯t it time you said something?¡± ¡°Tell me more about him!¡± Eileen¡¯s eyes were so clear that Yvette couldn¡¯t understand what she was thinking. As expected, she approached me just because of Eric. However, if it weren¡¯t for the person she cherished in her heart, she would probably just treat me as if I were invisible. ¡°What would you like to know?¡± Eileen asked, her tone devoid of emotion. ¡°Just tell me what he usually likes to eat and what he loves to do. Basically, all these little details. While enjoying her meal, Eileen spoke as she recalled Eric¡¯s preferences and habits. ¡°He wakes up at six-thirty in the morning for a jog, then after breakfast, he drives to work at seven- thirty¡­ He doesn¡¯t like onions, and he has a sensitive stomach, so he can¡¯t eat cold foods. He¡¯s often so busy with work that he forgets to eat, which leads to him drinking on ant empty stomach at evening social events, causing stomach pain. The worst time, he had a gastric bleed and had to go to the hospital¡­ His habits, which Eileen desperately wanted to forget, made her realize that everything about him was already deeply ingrained in her memory when she spoke of them. Even though she knew she couldn¡¯t forget them, she would spend three years, five years, or even a decade trying to erase them from her mind. One day, she would forget everything. ¡°And¡­ he also has a sister he deeply cares about¡­¡± Chapter 92 Chapter 92 Chapter 92 Know Your ce Yvette rested her head on her hand, silently taking note of the information. ¡°I know the person he cares about is Vera. I heard she transferred to this school from Cloudburg Public School after an incident there,¡± Eileen took a few bites. The clear broth seemed nd,cking vor, but the surroundings were pleasant, and the ingredients were fresh. The only downside was that the bone brothcked proper seasoning, leaving the final taste a bit dull. ¡°Eric has moved out from home and is living with Vera. If you want to know about him, Vera knows him better than I do.¡± Eileen¡¯s words carried a hint of curiosity, wanting to gauge Yvette¡¯s reaction. Yvette, twirling her long hair, shook her head disdainfully. ¡°I feel like she¡¯s too fake. You wouldn¡¯t happen to¡­ like Eric, too, would you?¡± Eileen immediately denied, ¡°He¡¯s always been like a brother to me. I would never have feelings for my brother.¡± Yvette, originally cautious, visibly rxed. She patted her chest. ¡°You scared me there. I thought you were into Eric like Vera. Well, in that case, you¡¯re my best friend! Who knows, maybe we¡¯ll be family in the future, and I¡¯ll call you my sister.¡± Eileen faintly smiled but remained silent. Should she reveal Eric¡¯s true nature to Yvette? If she continued to get involved, she would only be giving Eric more opportunities. Yvette was bound to be hurt. Falling for him would have only made her increasingly unlike herself, trapped in a gilded cage, forever unable to touch freedom. Eventually, she would find herself living in hell. Forget it, I can barely keep myself afloat. Why bother about her? Whoever Eric wants to marry has nothing to do with me. After the meal, Yvette bought her a cup of smoothie. Someone behind them called Yvette¡¯s name. Yvette waved at them. Tll be right there.¡± Soon, she turned back to Eileen and said, ¡°Busty, I 1/4 need to prepare for direct admission to Hulbury University. Busty, remember our agreement. We¡¯ll meet at Hulbury University.¡± By the time Eileen received her smoothie, Yvette had gone with them, Yvette was truly exceptional. She was cheerful and lively, not at all like a spoiled princess. She treated everyone with at friendly demeanor, and it seemed like there was no one who didn¡¯t like her. As Eileen turned around, a basketball suddenly flew toward her. Startled, she dropped the smoothie she was holding. Looking toward the basketball court, she saw the person wiping the sweat off his face. ¡°Hey, Eileen, throw the basketball to me.¡± there Eileen thought it was a shame for the spilled smoothie; she had never gotten a chance to drink it. Ignoring him, she turned to leave. If it wasn¡¯t for his presence, she might have kicked the ball over. But since it was him, that wasn¡¯t something she wanted to do. Cayden turned to Elm. ¡°Well, well, Elm, it hasn¡¯t even been half a day, and she already doesn¡¯t care about you.¡± ¡°Should I bring some guys over to confront her? Teach her a lesson?¡± Elm suggested. Cayden replied, ¡°Got nothing better to do?¡± You¡¯re heartless! I should¡¯ve left you to die. In the past, they used to follow Elm¡¯s lead, only daring to snub and exclude Eileen with Elm¡¯s silent approval. They couldn¡¯tpare to Elm; everyone knew he was an illegitimate child, but no one dared to point fingers and curse at him. The one who dared to confront Elm before had vanished in Hulbury. In Hulbury, the Smith family held sway, and everyone praised and feared them. Even the dogs raised by the Smith family, ced in a poor vige, were treated like emperors by the locals. Such was the hierarchy of the world; there was no such thing as equality for everyone. Under the influence of wealth and power, everyone was mere bugs, easily squished. < 2/4 Surprisingly, Elm is no longer targeting Eileen. It was strange. In the end, Elm lost interest in the game, picked up the nearby bottle of water, and left the field directly. Completing a math test within half an hour was indeed challenging, especially since the questions went beyond the textbook knowledge. Some even delved into topics typically covered in university. For her, it wasn¡¯t too difficult, but solving them required a bit of time. As the bell for thest ss rang, Jennifer packed up her textbooks. ¡°I have good news to share with everyone. Today is Yvette¡¯s birthday, and while we wish her a happy birthday, we won¡¯t keep you for evening self-study. I know most of you have received invitations to Yvette¡¯s birthday party, right? I wish you all a fun time.¡± Yvette, one of the most lively students in the ss, shouted, ¡°Thank you, Ms. Hayes! I love you, Ms. Hayes!¡± Her eyes instinctively nced at Eileen, who was still working on problems. ¡°You¡¯re wee.¡± It was a rare asion for the ss not to have evening self-study. Just as Jennifer left, Yvette rushed to Eileen¡¯s side. ¡°Lenie¡­ Busty! stop writing. Let¡¯s go together!¡± Yvette¡¯s unique nicknames always puzzled her. Eileen finished thest word and quickly closed the book. ¡°I¡¯m done. Let¡¯s go.¡± Yvette praised her, saying, ¡°You did well on those problems! I checked, and they¡¯re almost all correct. It¡¯s a shame you¡¯re not on our Olympiad Math team. Who knows, we might even secure admission to Hulbury together.¡± Eileen paused in her actions. ¡°Can I¡­ really?¡± ¡°Of course! Why not?¡± ¡°This year¡¯s International Mathematical Olympiad ranks based on total scores. It¡¯s not just. students from Petalburg High School but also those from Cloudburg Public School participating. If you can break into the top ten nationwide at the International Mathematical Olympiad, Eileen¡­ it¡¯s a matter of great pride!¡± ¡°Great! If I make it, what procedures do I need to go through?¡± ||| 3/4 The boy behind Eileen, with thick sses and an inexplicably strange expression on his face, clutched his backpack, wanting to say something to Yvette. But he was a step toote. He watched them leave, arm in arm. After digesting the information, Eileen realized that joining the Olympiad Math team at this point would mean discing someone else and depriving them of the opportunity for admission. Noticing Eileen¡¯s hesitation, Yvette reassured her, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we don¡¯t randomly kick people out. When the timees, I¡¯ll have the tutor prepare a test paper, and the who scores higher will stay! How does that sound? It¡¯s fair, isn¡¯t it?¡± Eileen wouldn¡¯t do it if it meant sacrificing someone else to make room for her. Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org. person However, if it was based on her own merit, she was more than willing to give it a try. They said goodbye at the school gate. Eileen got into the car, and n said, ¡°Ms. Eileen, please wait a moment. Mr. Snow wants me to give Ms. Vera a ride as well.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± So, she waited. Eileen sat in the car, observing as Vera greeted Walsh with a smile before walking away. T Vera approached the passenger seat and opened the door without hesitation. ¡°n, let¡¯s go! Eileen might not be home untilte.¡± Vera, seemingly familiar with n, fastened her seatbelt,pletely unaware of the person sitting behind her. n felt she was being a bit presumptuous. ¡°Ms. ke, Ms. Eileen is already in the car. Please understand your role. I¡¯m here to drive Ms. Eileen. Giving you a ride is just a convenience,¡± n asserted, noticing Vera¡¯s sense of entitlement. If it weren¡¯t for Eric¡¯s instructions, she wouldn¡¯t even be eligible to ride in this car. Chapter 93 Chapter 93 Chapter 93 No Need To Worry Vera bit her lip, quickly turned around, and noticed the person in the back seat. Her voice was soft, with a hint of sadness. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Eileen. I checked your schedule today, and I thought you had evening self-study, so I¡­¡± Eileet in the mood to discuss these matters and didn¡¯t care about Vera¡¯s embarrassed expression now. Still feeling a bit unwell, she closed her eyes and said, ¡°It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s my fault. n, let¡¯s go! First, drop Vera off.¡± ¡°Sure thing, Ms. Eileen.¡± n was a trusted member of the Swan family. He was sincere, honest, and dedicated. Otherwise, Will wouldn¡¯t have kept him around for so long. Vera¡¯s expression turned sour. ¡°n, just take me to Eric¡¯spany. I¡¯ll wait for him there, and we have some things to discusster.¡± n didn¡¯t directly respond to Vera. Instead, he looked at Eileen through the rearview mirror and asked, ¡°Ms. Eileen, do you want to change the destination?¡± He wanted Eileen¡¯s approval. Eileen mumbled a vague ¡°yes¡± without saying more. Vera seemed embarrassed as she kept her head down and remained silent. In the past, when Eileen still had feelings for Eric, she used to go to hispany after school, waiting for him to finish work, and then they would leave together. Those were the days when Eileen insisted on going to thepany. She and Vera were always different. However, Eileen couldn¡¯t help but wonder-who would Eric choose between Yvette, who was powerful and influential with a strong background and potential benefits for him, and Vera, his beloved first crush whom he had been through thick and thin with? She was once a participant in thispetition, but now, she was merely a member of the audience. Eileen hoped that Vera and Eric would be a couple aspensation for what she owed Vera in her past life, But what she owed Vera had already been repaid when she decided to take the plunge. ||| < 1/4 It was rush hour, and the journey to Caerulus Corporation, which usually took half an hour, now took a whole hour. In thepany¡¯s lobby, Eric spoke fluently in Uprian with a few foreign researchers in suits, blonde hair, and blue eyes. They were all led by a person speaking somewhat awkward Clusian. ¡°We are satisfied with the proposal you presented, Mr. Snow. We hope for a perfect coboration in the future.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Eric watched as the business partners got into their ck Bentley and drove away. Another familiar vehicle came to a stop. Eric¡¯s sharp gaze fell on the closed rear passenger door, the shaded window preventing a view inside. Soon, the door opened, and Vera stepped out. ¡°Eric,¡± she said, her voice shaky as she exited the car, feeling a bit nauseous from the ride. Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. Eric asked. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Not feeling well?¡± Shaking her head, Vera replied, ¡°It¡¯s nothing: just a bit queasy. It¡¯ll pass. Eric, will myte arrival dy the banquet?¡± Eric checked the time on his watch. ¡°We¡¯re still on time, so there¡¯s no need to worry.¡± ¡°I hope so.¡± A voice came from inside the car, ¡°n, since we¡¯re on the way, let¡¯s make a quick stop at the mall.¡± ¡°Sure thing. Ms. Eileen.¡± Vera followed Eric into the CEO¡¯s private elevator, arriving at the executive office. In the adjacent meeting room¡¯s lounge, a door swung open, revealing a group of people. A woman in a professional ck suit with a tight-fitting skirt walked out. ¡°Mr. Snow, everything is ready. Is this youngdy with you tonight?¡± Vera looked puzzled, ¡°Eric, what¡¯s going on?¡± Eric didn¡¯t answer, only stating, ¡°You have thirty minutes.¡± ¡°No problem, we¡¯ll make sure you¡¯re satisfied.¡± 111 2/1 Vera, still unsure about the situation, was quickly ushered into the room. A team of people surrounded her, preparing to style her hair and do her makeup. In front of the dressing mirror, an elegant ke evening gown hung on the rack. It looked expensive, luxurious, and elegant, instantly capturing Vera¡¯s attention. It was a beautiful princess dress that every girl dreams of wearing. Was Eric taking her as hispanion to the banquet tonight? Thinking of this, Vera nervously sped her hands, her heart filled with anticipation. Eileen went to the mall to pick out a gift for Yvette. Since she was attending the banquet, it was only fitting to bring a gift and not arrive empty-handed. Considering they were more like acquaintances than close friends, Eileen didn¡¯t spend much time choosing and settled on a scarf. Unexpectedly, even a simple scarf cost her over eight hundred dors, and she considered returning it. However, the tag had already been removed, and she couldn¡¯t return it. Luckily, Will had provided a shopping card with a fifty percent discount, bringing the cost down to four hundred dors. Still, it was a significant price, and Eileen felt the pinch. Returning to her room at Unde Mansion, unsure of what to wear to Yvette¡¯s birthday banquet, Eileen discovered a ke box at the bottom of her closet drawer. Opening it revealed the dress she was looking for a backless, strapless ck gown. Perfect. As it was her first time attending a banquet, Eileen didn¡¯t have many dress options. The ones she had were outdated and not up to her standards, let alone suitable for a public event. Though the style and color of the ck dress were simple, they were timeless and wouldn¡¯t go out of fashion. Eileen bit her lip, unsure if she could pull it off. ¡°Why not give it a try?¡± She quickly stood up, headed to the bathroom, and changed into the gown. As she looked at herself in the full-length mirror, she examined both sides. It fitted just right. If she were skinnier, the fabric by her chest area would sag. If she were fatter, she would look round in the dress, and the flesh by her chest would appear to overflow from her attire. With her current figure, no one would believe she was a high school student. ||| 3/4 At half past eight, the banquet officially began. Yvette wore a custom-made gown worth a million and opened the evening with a dance alongside a popr male celebrity. The performance was stunning and graceful, exuding the elegance of a socialite. The attendees were influential figures from the political arena and prominent figures in the business world. Below the stage, guests raised their sses in a toast, engaging in lively conversations. For a few minutes, Yvette appeared slightly distracted, continuously ncing towards the entrance, her expectant gaze hinting at someone she was eagerly anticipating. Her distraction ceased when the usher introduced the guests. Yvette noticed the man, apanied by the conspicuous figure of Vera. The slight upward curve of Yvette¡¯s mouth quickly faded. However, she could feel the man¡¯s gaze fixed upon her. Amidst her twirling dance, Yvette shot a re at Eric standing in the crowd. Nevertheless, she swiftly regained herposure, maintaining an elegant posture as she concluded the dance. Feeling uneasy, Vera refrained from looking around too much, as many faces in the crowd were unfamiliar to her. She noticed a person in a tailcoat ying a ke piano-perhaps the world-renowned pianist, Mike? Vera marveled at the scene. Was this the epitome of power? Standing at the pinnacle of the pyramid, enjoying the privileges bestowed by wealth. It seemed like something everyone would find difficult to resist-to have whatever one desired! The effortlessly acquired possessions surpassed what anyone else could attain. There was no need to live ording to the whims of others. Chapter 94 Chapter 94 Chapter 94 If We End Up Having A Falling Out After the dance, Yvette epted the coat brought by a servant and walked over to Jacqueline. ¡°Mom.¡± Jacqueline noticed a hint of unhappiness on her daughter¡¯s face. She patted Yvette¡¯s hand, expressing concern. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? It¡¯s your birthday today, and you don¡¯t seem happy. I¡¯ve brought your favorite singer for you. Don¡¯t be upset, my little darling. Mom will introduce. you to some gentlemen.¡± Content held by N?velDrama.Org. Yvette¡¯s eyebrows furrowed again. ¡°Can I not meet them? I want to hang out with my ssmates. It¡¯s always the same old faces here. Every time we meet, it¡¯s just questions upon questions. I¡¯m getting tired of it.¡± Soft music yed in the hall, and Yvette spoke in a low voice, audible only to Jacqueline. ¡°Well, you¡¯ll have to get used to this. Heirs and heiresses have to uphold habits appropriate to their status.¡± As the hosts of the event, both mother and daughter couldn¡¯t avoid socializing. Yvette reluctantly followed Jacqueline to meet several business partners of the Friedman family, except for the uninvited Smith family. ¡°Mom, is Jasper still refusing toe?¡± Jacqueline experienced a twinge of heartache, yet she managed to curve the edges of her lips. Jasper recently assumed control of Smith Corporation; he¡¯s quite upied. Please avoid disturbing him, Yvette. I¡¯ve already extended an invitation, and when your brother finds a moment, he¡¯ll naturally join us.¡± There was a time when she could at least catch a glimpse of him in that household, but now she didn¡¯t even have the privilege of setting eyes on him. Even now, he refused to acknowledge her. Eventually, Yvette approached the man. Jacqueline closely examined the person before her. ¡°I heard you¡¯re the one who rescued Yvie?¡± Eric, d in a sleek ck suit, stood tall with a sturdy and well-defined physique. In contrast to his usual demeanor, today he emitted a more subdued aura, a touch gentler. ¡°It was a simple effort.¡± Jacqueline shifted her gaze to Yvette¡¯s side. ¡°Yvie, haven¡¯t you properly expressed your gratitude?¡± Her tone remainedposed and courteous, but it carried a subtle sense of 1/4 detachment. Individuals with such exceptional skills were rare. If he could be enlisted for her service, preventing incidents like the one with Yvette and ensuring her protection, Jacqueline would. feel more at ease. Unfortunately, he worked for Will. Individuals of his caliber were excessively unscrupulous, employing dark and cunning methods. No matter how adept he might be, she couldn¡¯t risk keeping him by her side. A wolf raised by Will, even under new ownership, would forever remain untamed, a perpetual potential threat. Will¡¯s notorious past actions were widely recognized. A dog that bites its owner¡­ Will hadmitted such deeds on more than one asion. She looked down upon the Swans and bore even more distaste for him. Yvette rolled her eyes at Eric dismissively. ¡°I¡¯ve already expressed my gratitude; otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t have allowed him toe. Hey, Mr. Snow, why did you bring her here? Where¡¯s Eileen? I sent her an invitation. Why didn¡¯t shee with you?¡± Indeed, the Swan family, being of lower status, didn¡¯t qualify for such events. Inviting him had already granted him enough respect. Eric responded without a change in expression, ¡°She was dyed by something. She¡¯ll bet here a bit later.¡± ¡°Oh, I see. Then give her a call to remind her. I have something good to give her.¡± Eric nodded, ¡°I will make sure to convey the message.¡± Before long, Yvette intentionally led Jacqueline to a different location, leaving him stranded on the sidelines. It was all because he had brought another femalepanion to irk her. Vera, meanwhile, was entirely overlooked, not even given a passing nce. To everyone¡¯s surprise, Eileen actually received an invitation personally handed to her by Yvette. Arriving at the banquet venue, Eileen was notablyte. 2/4 It was almost nine o¡¯clock when she made it, and she wasn¡¯t certain if the event had concluded by then. This time, the banquet took ce at the Friedman family¡¯s mansion. Eileen presented her invitation to the weing staff at the entrance, and they promptly ushered her inside. ¡°If you¡¯re a friend of Ms. Friedman, just follow this path. Keep walking straight, and you¡¯ll find it at the end.¡± Eileen graciously nodded. ¡°Thank you.¡± The weing staff couldn¡¯t help but keep their gaze on Eileen. They had never encountered such a stunning youngdy before, pondering which family she hailed from and why she hadn¡¯t attended earlier. Adorned in a coat to ward off the cold, Eileen lifted her skirt as she followed the indicated direction. Meanwhile, since Yvette had exchanged pleasantries with the guests in the main hall, she swiftly escaped to the pool party in the backyard. This was her territory. The majority of attendees were her ssmates and a few close friends. Sinking into a chair, Yvette felt thoroughly fatigued. She sprawled there, reluctant to move at all. ¡°I¡¯m so tired¡­ I really don¡¯t understand why those lecherous old men bother with greetings. If it weren¡¯t for my mom, I wouldn¡¯t even bother.¡± ¡°Why else? Isn¡¯t it because you¡¯re the brilliant heiress, the future owner of the family fortune?¡± A guy in a shy floral shirt sitting beside her chimed in, and it was none other than Charlie. Yvette, grappling with a headache, eximed, ¡°I¡¯ve said it before, why not just let Jasper handle all these properties, thepany¡­ everything! Depending on Jasper is better than being a big shot like me and ending up as drained as my mom, right?¡± Charlie remarked, ¡°This is the first time I¡¯ve heard someonein about having too much money.¡± Grabbing a ss of champagne from the side, Yvette took a sip and surveyed the surroundings. ¡°Hey, did you see her?¡± Charlie asked, ¡°See who?¡± Yvette wondered, ¡°Eileen! What if she didn¡¯t show up?¡± J 3/4 Charlie widened his eyes. ¡°You invited her? Seriously, are you crazy? You actually invited her? All right, this marks the end of our friendship.¡± Frowning, Yvette yfully hit Charlie. I¡¯m telling you, I won¡¯t mind your affairs with Eileen anymore. If you dare speak ill of her in front of me in the future, don¡¯t me me if we end up having a falling out.¡± Charlie responded. ¡°Do you know what kind of person Ms. Friedman is? Why would you befriend her? Do you have so few friends?¡± ¡°Why does it matter to you? I like her¡­¡± Just then, a servant hurried over and whispered something in Yvette¡¯s ear. Yvette¡¯s expression instantly changed, bing tense and nervous. ¡°Is it true? I need to go there right away!¡± ¡°But Mr. Jasper and Mrs. Friedman have already gone into the study for what seems to be a business discussion. It might take some time.¡± ¡°No problem, I¡¯ll wait.¡± As Yvette hurried away, Charlie called after her, ¡°Where are you rushing off to? Is there an emergency?¡± Albert, dressed in a ke suit, approached gracefully with a subtle smile. ¡°Stop staring; she¡¯s already gone.¡± Charlie stubbornly replied, ¡°Who¡¯s staring? It¡¯s not like she¡¯s a sight for sore eyes.¡± Adjusting himself to a more rxed position, he continued, ¡°By the way, where¡¯s Elm? Isn¡¯t he showing up for his sister¡¯s birthday?¡± Albert shrugged. ¡°He arrived early, but who knows where he disappeared to.¡± Charlie teased, ¡°That yboy probably slipped away somewhere for a secret rendezvous with another woman!¡± Eileen found herself lost in the woods, and the more she walked, the more disoriented she became. The surroundings grew darker, making it challenging to see the path beneath her feet. Suddenly, a stone came from behind, and with her slim three-inch high heels, Eileen stepped on it at just the wrong angle. She let out a scream and slipped into the bushes. A figure appeared, slightly leaning forward, emitting a low, hearty, and somewhat mockingughter. ¡°Idiot¡­¡± Chapter 95 Chapter 95 Chapter 95 Are You A Fool Eileen¡¯s mesmerizing eyes, sparkling like rippling water, gazed at the person before her who was laughing wildly and reveling in her misfortune. ¡°You scoundrel! Do you find it amusing. to y pranks on others?¡± Eileen held her twisted ankle, tears welling up from the pain. Elm leaned slightly forward, his narrow eyes gleaming with amusement as he focused on her. ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t it be fun? Eileen¡­ you truly deserve it!¡± Encountering Elm here was an unexpected surprise for Eileen. In her opinion, his background didn¡¯t justify his presence in such a ce. Every time I run into him, nothing good ever happens. Eileen felt unbearable pain throughout her body. She staggered up from the ground, brushing off the dirt on her skirt. Fortunately, she wore a ck skirt, so it didn¡¯t show much. ¡°I must be unlucky to run into you,¡± she mumbled. Without engaging in further argument, Eileen prepared to leave. Suddenly, Elm¡¯s impatient voice echoed from behind, ¡°Hey!¡± Limping with an odd posture, Eileen didn¡¯t turn back despite Elm calling out to her, her injured ankle drawing his attention. ¡°There¡¯s no way forward from here. Where are you nning to go?¡± Eileen gradually slowed her pace, realizing she had taken the wrong path. No wonder the way ahead waspletely shrouded in darkness, and she hadn¡¯t seen a single person pass by. Given her stubborn nature, if it weren¡¯t for Elm¡¯s unexpected appearance, Eileen might have. persisted down the incorrect path, choosing to continue despite knowing it was a mistake. rather than turning back. Quickly turning around, her gaze cold and indifferent, Eileen didn¡¯t spare him a nce as she walked along the small path paved with stone bricks, each piece following the other. She maintained a stoic silence, not uttering a word to Elm. As she was about to pass him. Eileen suddenly noticed movement from the person beside her. In the next moment, she was effortlessly lifted into the air, hoisted up by his single hand. Before she could react, Eileen found herself lying sideways on his shoulder. ¡°What are you doing! Put me down! Elm!¡± Eileen eximed, feeling dizzy as she hit his back. The light still illuminated the third floor, where a man stood tall by the floor-to-ceiling window. His demeanor exuded nobility, his speech refined. However, his eyes held an 1/4 indescribable coldness. ¡°If you agree to cooperate with me, then¡­ it would be more than perfect. Name your price, whatever you want.¡± Jacqueline eximed, ¡°Richie, if you want that project, I can hand it over to you. I don¡¯t need a penny from you. I¡¯m your mother, after all.¡± Jasper casually brushed off her words and replied, ¡°Mrs. Friedman, it seems you¡¯ve forgotten. that this project was agreed upon by the Smith family three years ago. If it weren¡¯t for your husband¡¯s underhanded tactics to snatch the project contract, I wouldn¡¯t have had to personallye here today. Considering our past rtionship, I¡¯m willing to split the project. fifty-fifty. This is the most significant concession I can make.¡± Jacqueline looked heartbroken as she gazed at the son she had carried for months and given birth to. Unexpectedly, he was so cold towards her, and every word he uttered cut into her heart. ¡°Richie, do you really have to speak to your mother like this?¡± ¡°Fine¡­ Even if you don¡¯t acknowledge me as your mother, what about Yvie? You¡¯ve been her favorite person since she was little,¡± Jacqueline continued. Jasper observed the figures disappear into the darkness, a slight frown creasing his brow. Tve said all that needs to be said. I hope you will give it some thought, Mrs. Friedman. Now, if you¡¯ll excuse me.¡± ¡°Richie!¡± Jasper paid no heed to the woman calling out to him. After all, he was representing the Smith family, and his purpose was to safeguard the reputation of his family, not to reunite with his mother. If that piece ofndcked value, Jasper wouldn¡¯t have bothereding here. He was at businessman, and his gaze was fixed solely on profit. Additionally, the property originally belonged to him. Exiting the study, Jasper was met by a young girl who had been leaning against the wall, counting ants. Suddenly, she stood up, gazing at the handsome and dashing man before her and obediently calling out, ¡°Jasper!¡± Standing upright, she felt a nervousness in his presence that surpassed the anxiety she experienced when encountering the person she liked. Jasper paid no heed to her and directly reached out to take the coat handed over by Fabian. He draped it over his arm and headed straight for the stairs to leave. The girl¡¯s eyes revealed a hint of disappointment, as she didn¡¯t even receive a nce from him, not even a simple birthday wish. Despite sharing the same mother, she wondered why her half-brother seemed to dislike her. 2/1 Walking along the corridor behind his boss, Fabian inquired, ¡°How did it go, Mr. Smith?¡± ¡°Have the legal department prepare a contract, granting Friedman Group fifty percent of the profits, Smith Corporation will have full responsibility for this project, and no one from Friedman Group is allowed to interfere.¡± Fabian nodded slightly. ¡°Understood, sir.¡± Jasper descended from the upstairs, and a guest holding a ss of wine intended to step. forward and offer a toast. However, to their surprise, Jasper simply walked past them at the doorway. At the doorway, Jasper had a thought and instructed Fabian, ¡°Tell the Friedmans¡¯ housekeeper to prepare medicine for sprains and bruises and take it to the backyard.¡± ¡°All right,¡± Fabian replied, though he didn¡¯t know what had happened. Before leaving, he had the housekeeper take something to the backyard. The atmosphere at the swimming pool was lively with music. Suddenly, Charlie noticed a familiar figure approaching from a short distance away. He rubbed his eyes to get a clearer look. Isn¡¯t that Elm over there? And he¡¯s carrying a woman on his shoulders? Charlie was surprised, thinking, Wow, they start engaging in such shy activities as soon as they grow up? No way he¡¯s losing his virginity that quickly! Upon hearing Eileen¡¯s voice, Charlie was even more shocked, eximing. ¡°Holy sh*t!¡± Elm tossed Eileen directly onto the chair, saying. ¡°D¡±mn, you¡¯re as heavy as a pig. Can¡¯t you cat a little less?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like I¡¯m eating your food!¡± Eileen retorted before she could stop herself. Suddenly, a wave of nausea washed over her, causing her to abruptly turn over. With a retching sound, everything she had eaten that day came spewing out, apanied by a sour, bitter bile. Not feeling particrly hungry when she arrived, she had skipped dinner. As she vomited, Eileen felt a painful cramp in her stomach. ¡°Oh! Eileen, you vomited on me? I¡¯m going to kill you for this!¡± Charlie eximed. Content held by N?velDrama.Org. Charlie shut his eyes, fearing he might vomit on the spot if he continued to look.. It¡¯s repulsive, absolutely disgusting. Elm watched until Eileen finished vomiting, then grabbed her by the back of her neck, lifting her up with a look of disdain in his eyes. 34 ¡°Why are you still sitting there? Go away! Your presence is making me sick,¡± he scolded Charlie. Charlie, infuriated and speechless, retorted, ¡°You¡¯re ming me?¡± ¡°Go away!¡± Charlie hurriedly went to clean up. At that moment, a housekeeper approached, holding medicine. ¡°Miss, may I ask if you are the one who needs the medicine?¡± Having just vomited, Eileen felt a twinge of apology. She didn¡¯t want to end up in this state, but she was already feeling much better. Eileen shook her head. ¡°I¡­ never asked for it¡­¡± ¡°A gentleman instructed me to give this to you, saying that you¡¯ve twisted your ankle,¡± said the housekeeper.. However, Eileen still shook her head, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I did sprain my ankle, but it might not be meant for me. You should ask someone else!¡± Elm, standing aside, picked up the bottle of safflower oil and said, ¡°You refuse to use the medicine that was personally delivered to you. Are you a fool or something?¡± He had noticed a certain man in the backyard garden earlier. Who else would care for her, if not him? What can I say? Eileen is truly capable. She could even handle a difficult person like Jasper. Surprisingly, Eileen witnessed Elm humbling himself, kneeling in front of her. ¡°What are you doing!¡± she eximed. Chapter 96 Chapter 96 Chapter 96 A Grudge Against Elm Before Eileen could retract her foot, he had already seized her ankle. ¡°Can¡¯t you see I¡¯m applying medicine for you?¡± Elm raised his head, his tone still defiant, causing Eileen to doubt if she had heard him correctly. He¡¯s applying medicine on me? Anyway, she didn¡¯t believe it; she never did. How could I trust someone who almost choked me to death at school and is now generously applying medicine for me? Who knows if the medicine is even clean? Some lessons were learned only once; otherwise, she risked appearing truly foolish, embracing it with an open heart upon detecting even a hint of kindness. Elm had already dispensed the medicine onto his palm, poised to apply it to her swollen ankle. At that moment, Eileen hastily withdrew her foot. ¡°I¡¯m fine; there¡¯s no need for the medicine.¡± Eileen harbored uncertainty about Elm¡¯s potential ulterior motives. As she prepared to rise, hand on the recliner, Elm arched an eyebrow, rose from his crouched position, and casually grabbed a tissue from the side to wipe his hands as he observed the girl. She had just taken a step when a sharp pain shot through Eileen¡¯s ankle, causing her to stumble back down. ¡°I¡¯ve encountered stubbornness before, but never to this extent. If you don¡¯t appreciate my kindness, so be it!¡± Elm discarded the crumpled tissue in his hand, a cold glint flickering in his eyes. Just then, a clear voice echoed from nearby, ¡°Elm? What are you doing here!¡± Eileen turned toward the sound to find Yvette, adorned in an elegant gown, approaching swiftly. She couldn¡¯t help but notice the disdainful and contemptuous look Yvette directed at Elm, akin to the disdain she had once experienced from her ssmates in ss Six. She never expected to see that same expression directed at Elm one day, considering hist proud and unruly nature. Yvette, expressing concern in her voice, inquired of Eileen, ¡°Are you okay? Did you get hurt?¡± Eileen shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s nothing¡­¡± 1/4 Before the words fully left her lips, Yvette assumed the demeanor of thedy of the house. arms crossed, staring down Elm. ¡°Elm, I¡¯ve told you before, you¡¯re not wee in our home. Please leave immediately!¡± Upon witnessing the unfolding scene, Albert promptly halted his conversation with a few friends, set down his wine ss, and approached to pull Yvette away. ¡°Mrs. Friedman was the one who invited Elm to the banquet,¡± he rified. ¡°How could my mom possibly invite such a person to my birthday dinner?¡± Elm, wearing a teasing smile that belied a frosty undertone in his narrow, almond-shaped eyes, responded, ¡°Why are you looking at me like that?¡± ¡°But I just love it when you¡¯re annoyed with me, unable to do anything, and you¡¯re all flustered and frustrated,¡± Elm continued, his voice slowly pouring out. ¡°That¡¯s right! I can¡¯t stand the sight of you. In fact, seeing you makes me sick! Where did you get the audacity to show up here, huh? Get out of here right now!¡± Meanwhile, Jacqueline had just descended from the upstairs study. The butler was poised to intervene, mindful of the potential embarrassment in front of the guests. Jacqueline, however, dismissed the need for mediation. ¡°It¡¯s just some kids messing around, no need to intervene. Go ahead with your work!¡± ¡°Very well, Mrs. Friedman.¡± Remaining in ce, she observed the unfolding drama, her gaze indifferent as it fell on Elm. The resemnce in those eyebrows and eyes was unmistakable. Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org. Albert frowned. ¡°Yvette, enough is enough!¡± ¡°Release me!¡± Yue Yao fought to extricate her hand from his firm grasp. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Did I say something wrong? If my words weren¡¯t clear, I¡¯ll repeat them for you. Pay attention! Our family does not ept the son of a homewrecker and burlesque performer! You¡¯re just as contemptible as your unwell mother! All you do is shamelessly cling to others and refuse to leave! Get out of my sight!¡± The final sentence reverberated in the tense air. A hush settled in, apanied by a chilling aura emanating from Elm. Every onlooker held their breath, refraining from even the slightest heavy exhale. Time inched forward gradually-one second, two seconds¡­ The sole individual bold enough to voice such sentiments was Yvette, and everyone awaited. 2/4 Elm¡¯s potentially explosive response. Surprisingly, he defied expectations by releasing a low, eerieugh, his eyes gleaming a malevolent red. Witnessing this, Yvette couldn¡¯t help but shiver in fear. With an unconcernedugh, Elm retorted, ¡°She¡¯s no better than the rest! Do you really think. your mother is some kind of treasure?¡± ¡°What do you mean!¡± Yvette countered. Leaving behind a thought-provoking remark, Elm turned around and departed without a backward nce. Eileen seemed like an invisible presence, head bowed, lost in her own thoughts. ¡°Stop! Stop right there, you damned bastard!¡± As Yvette continued yelling at Elm¡¯s departing figure, Albert observed thetter¡¯s departure with a hint of unease in his gaze. Not far away, Jacqueline stood for a moment, letting the breeze clear her thoughts. Soon, she regained herposure. Every word from the recent exchange had reached her ears without. missing a beat. Could it be¡­ he knows something? Jacqueline¡¯s eyebrows furrowed deeply. Descending the stairs in her high heels, she addressed Yvette, ¡°Yvie! Why are you making a scene in front of your ssmates?¡± Recognizing the familiar voice, Yvette immediately quieted down, lowering her head in fo of reprimand. Jacqueline had enrolled her in numerous etiquette and socialite courses, but the knowled seemed lost on her. The money spent on those courses appeared to be in vain. Yvette, sounding like a child who had erred, spoke softly. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, Mom.¡± She downyed the incident with a few casual words. Following this, Jacqueline turned her attention to the person seated on the chair beside her daughter. ¡°Who is this?¡± Sensing the gaze upon her, Eileen began to respond, ¡°I¡­¡± Before she could continue, Yvette quickly took control of the conversation. ¡°Mom, I¡¯m going to my room to open the gifts. You guys have fun¡­¡± She was eager to discover the contents of the gift from the old man. Jacqueline chuckled, shaking her head. Her words carried a gentle reprimand. ¡°When will 34 you ever change your ways? You don¡¯t even know how to greet your ssmates properly when they arrive,¡± Just then, the butler approached, whispered something in Jacqueline¡¯s ear, and was promptly dismissed. The spectators, initially captivated by the scene, gradually dispersed as if the entire incident had never happened. Albert¡¯s soft voice echoed from above, ¡°Are you alright?¡± Eileen shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°Are you still holding a grudge against Elm?¡± he asked, already aware of the answer. Eileen remained silent. ¡°Getting involved with anyone from the Swan family is truly frustrating. Eileen, don¡¯t deceive yourself into thinking you¡¯re innocent. Reflect on what you¡­ and your family have done. Elm is simply responding in kind; you are not meless.¡± Albert reached into his pocket, hist fingertips lightly brushing against the bottle of safflower oil. ¡°You¡¯ve hurt your foot; remember to have the housekeeper apply the medicine. Chapter 97 Chapter 97 Chapter 97 What It Means To Like Someone Eileen used to be ruthless and willful, often leading the bullying of others. However, with the arrival of Elm, she gradually found herself isted and oppressed, bing the one subjected to bullying. Eileen acknowledged her wrongdoing. She couldn¡¯t justify her past actions, nor could she find the words to exin. Overall, this banquet was far from enjoyable. Even if her connection with Yvette was only superficial, whether she leveraged her rtionship to get close to Eric or yed matchmaker for Yvette and Eric, using her departure from Eric and the Swan family to her advantage-none of it mattered. Eileen still wanted to maintain this rtionship. As the sky darkened and the temperature dropped, her shawl was no longer sufficient to ward off the chill. Eileen had the Friedman family¡¯s housekeeper fetch another bottle of safflower oil, which she used to massage her ankles. It took over half an hour for the swelling to finally subside. At that moment, someone approached. ¡°Miss, is this your phone?¡± ¡°Yes, it is. Could you please put it on the table for me? It¡¯s rather inconvenient for me right now. The housekeeper noted, ¡°Your phone has been ringing non-stop.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Eileen¡¯s dresscked pockets, making it inconvenient to carry a phone. Typically, phones would be stored in the deposit box at the entrance when they arrived. Eileen was curious about who would call her at this hour. Wiping her hands, she picked up her phone just as the call came through again. She chose not to answer, allowing it to disconnect automatically. More messages followed. Why haven¡¯t you gone back yet? Is your foot feeling any better? Do you need me to send Fabian to pick you up? Eileen¡­ return the message. ||| r 1/4 Looking at the messages, Eileen felt nothing. While others might feel touched by the sender¡¯s concern, for her, it felt as if she were constantly being observed. She could even imagine the tone and expression Jasper would have when saying these words to her. Their rtionship hadn¡¯t reached the point where she must report to him at any time or follow his every wish, and Eileen didn¡¯t particrly like this situation.. Most of the people around had already left one by one. Yvette had only made a brief appearance, going upstairs and not returning. Carefully slipping her feet into her shoes as it grewte, Eileen prepared to leave. As it approached eleven o¡¯clock, the crowd in the hall had mostly dispersed, and Jacqueline was seeing off guests at the door. ¡°I really appreciate your gift. Considering the gift, I won¡¯t hold a grudge about what happenedst time. But if you¡¯re free, how about treating me to a meal tomorrow? What do you say¡­ old man?¡± The girl wore thetest high-end perfume of the year, its scent overpowering and somewhat diforting. However, this perfume happened to be the birthday gift that Gavin had. chosen for Yvette-a limited edition for the year, with a set costing over a thousand, certainly not cheap. Eric nced at his wristwatch, his eyes as deep and inscrutable as a bottomless abyss, devoid of any emotion. ¡°As long as you¡¯re pleased, Ms. Friedman,¡± he replied. Noticing Vera covering her mouth and yawning out of the corner of his eye, he inquired, ¡°Tired?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine, Vera responded. Eric remarked, ¡°Ms. Friedman, whenever you have the time, feel free to join me for a meal. It¡¯s getting late¡­ I should take Vera home now. Excuse me.¡± Yvette pursed her lips, casting a nce at Vera without uttering a word. ¡°All right then! I¡¯lle find you after school tomorrow. Remember, you promised to treat me to a meal, so not backing out!¡± The man nodded slightly. ¡°Of course.¡± Vera, holding onto Eric¡¯s hand, left the banquet hall with him. The gentle breeze lifted the hem of her skirt, bringing a quick chill. She wrapped herself tighter in the coat Eric had given her. ¡°Eric¡­ why do I get the feeling that she likes you?¡± Vera scrutinized him closely, eager not to miss any trace of emotion on his face. But he 2/1 concealed his feelings too well, with joy and anger never showing. Sometimes, Vera couldn¡¯t even fathom his true thoughts. Eric coolly replied, ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it; get in the car.¡± He opened the passenger door. As Vera observed him, she also spotted Eileen, who had just emerged from the main entrance. She really came! Limping along. Eileen took each step with difficulty, supported by a housekeeper at her side. Eric circled around to the front of the car, settled into the driver¡¯s seat, and awaited the start of the car. Seizing the opportunity, Vera pressed the window button, closing it. Meanwhile, Eileen thanked the housekeeper, saying, ¡°You can head back, ma¡¯am. My driver¡¯s just around the corner.¡± ¡°Please be careful on your way back.¡± ¡°All right. Thank you,¡± Eileen replied with a smile. Her coat remained in n¡¯s car. Shivering in the cold wind, she hugged herself and stared at her own toes. Suddenly, in the blink of an eye, a figure appeared in front of her, and she was now wearing an overcoat. A thick, ck coat enveloped her. Eileen looked up at the figure with surprised eyes, her eyshes trembling slightly. After a brief pause, she stammered, ¡°W-What are you doing here?¡± ¡°I saw a clumsy girl who twisted her ankle while walking and was cursing in frustration, so I couldn¡¯t resisting back to check on her, and to my surprise, I found her shivering in the cold by the roadside.¡± His gentle amber eyes regarded her as if understanding everything. So, he saw everything. However, at that time, Eileen hadn¡¯t seen him. ¡°Did you also have someone else send that bottle of safflower oil?¡± she inquired of him. ¡°Is your foot feeling better?¡± Jasper naturally took her hand, which was stiffened from the cold. Eileen bit her lip, feeling at a loss. She pulled her hand away, cing it behind her. ¡°I¡¯m much better now. You really didn¡¯t have toe. n will be here soon,¡± she said. 3/4 As if on cue, a car approached from not too far away, and Eileen felt a sense of relief, as if she had just spotted her savior. Speak of the devil. ¡°I¡¯m heading back now; you should also go home and get some rest!¡± As Eileen was about to leave, she suddenly felt a firm grip on her wrist. Turning to look at Jasper in rm, she saw pain in his eyes. ¡°Eileen, it¡¯s been so many days. You haven¡¯t been responding to my messages or answering my calls. Are you avoiding me? Can tell me why?¡± Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. you n¡¯s car had already stopped, but Jasper insisted on an exnation, refusing to let go. With a stoic expression, Eileen replied, ¡°I wasn¡¯t avoiding you. I¡¯ve been busy catching up on my studiestely, and I haven¡¯t had much time to check my phone.¡± You¡¯re lying! Despite this thought, Jasper didn¡¯t directly confront her. He observed her as if she were worried or afraid of something, and he loosened his grip. ¡°Has someone threatened you? Did they do something to you, or¡­ say something?¡± ¡°No.¡± Eileen¡¯s heart tightened, and panic filled her eyes. She couldn¡¯t be certain if it was her imagination, but she had a persistent feeling that a pair of intense eyes watched her from the shadows, like a venomous snake lurking in the dark night. Although she couldn¡¯t sense its presence, she keenly felt its oppressive existence. ¡°Jasper, can we stop lingering here? It¡¯s really cold. If you want to discuss something, can we do it next time? I¡¯m under significant stress from studying, and I don¡¯t want to divert my attention elsewhere.¡± She couldn¡¯t understand Jasper¡¯s motives. Does he have feelings for me? Is this what it means to like someone? Feeling an almost pathological desire to possess, a constant need to keep someone close, wanting to know their whereabouts and activities? Does the other person have no freedom at all? Do I not even have the right to ignore phone messages I don¡¯t want to respond to? Moreover, our rtionship is just that of ordinary friends now. Believing it was necessary to rify certain aspects, Eileen began, Jasper¡­¡± Chapter 98 Chapter 98 Chapter 98 Not A Dream Before Eileen could even speak, he interrupted her, ¡°Eileen, I¡¯m just concerned about you. Did I do something to upset you? Please tell me. I am willing to change!¡± A tattooed hand gently caressed her head as his gaze fell upon her. She wasn¡¯t sure if it was just her imagination, but she thought she saw a hint of panic in his eyes. Whenever he wore such an expression, Eileen couldn¡¯t help but feel sorry for him. She felt that she shouldn¡¯t have said things that upset him. Eileen¡¯s gaze flitted around, unsure of where to rest. She knew it was because she was overly sensitive to everything around her, and her self-defense mechanism was too strong. ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± Eileen stammered and brushed her hair aside. ¡°I should go now. You should also go back and rest early. Good night.¡± Eileen didn¡¯t know how to tell him that it wasn¡¯t his fault. He was amazing! She was the problem.. Before Jasper had a chance to say goodnight to her, he watched as she hastily retreated as if fleeing from a flood or a ferocious beast. Her ck, flowing dress formed a beautiful arc as she moved away swiftly. Eileen took a deep breath and tried to calm her emotions. When she regained her Thinking of him, Eileen felt a whirlwind of emotions. Holding her phone, she was at a loss. She didn¡¯t know what she could do to lessen the hurt her words had just inflicted on him. A few minutester, her phone began to vibrate. She unlocked her phone and saw that it was a message from him. It was a simple two-word phrase. ¡°Good night.¡± Her heart sank. The better he treated her, the more she condemned herself inside. The ck Cayenne trailed slowly behind the car, maintaining a safe distance. Jasper waited for a few minutes, but his phone did not light up. His thin lips were tightly pressed together, and a sense of loss weighed heavily on his heart. A suffocating feeling washed over him as if the past was creeping back. He was afraid he would not be able to control himself¡­ In another Audi, Vera gently reminded, ¡°Eric, when are we leaving?¡± ||| 1/4 The car window was rolled down again, allowing the wind to blow in through the opening. It dispersed the heat and left her feeling somewhat cold. Eric¡¯s mysterious eyes were devoid of emotion. Quickly, he stepped on the elerator, maneuvered around the car in front, and sped away. ¡°Give me the medicine,¡± a deep voice trying to suppress the pain rang out. Swiftly, Richard took out a ke medicine bottle from the car¡¯s glovepartment, along with a bottle of water. He then asked, ¡°Mr. Jasper, do we need to contact Dr. Collins again tomorrow? It¡¯s been quite a while since yourst visit.¡± Yannick Collins was Jasper¡¯s psychiatrist. Jasper suffered from severe bipr disorder. Sometimes, his condition red up and made it difficult for him to control his actions. It would even lead him to do some unpredictable things. ¡°No need.¡± Jasper poured out two pills and swallowed them before closing his eyes to feel the pain radiating from his legs. He used this pain to numb his inner turmoil. He could sense that Eileen was avoiding him. For reasons unknown, even though they had only met a few times, Jasper couldn¡¯t figure out what exactly had caused them to end up like this. Jasper tried his best not to overthink the reasons behind it¡­ When it was almost midnight, Eileen finally arrived at the Unde Mansion and was awakened by n. Eileen woke up groggily with a man¡¯s jacket draped over her arm as she got out of the car. As she walked into the foyer, the tantalizing aroma of food wafted toward her. ¡°Eric, the ravioli are almost ready.¡± It was Vera¡¯s voice, who was busy in the kitchen. Eileen hung her head low as her eyes were fighting off sleep. Usually, she would be fast asleep. before eleven and rarely stay up thiste. She had not expected that attending a banquet would be so tiring. Vera, holding a te of freshly cooked ravioli, turned around only to find that Eric was no longer in the hall. In just a moment, he had disappeared without a trace. Eric went to answer a phone call¡­ Vera happened to see the person who had just returned. ¡°Eileen¡­ I¡¯ve just finished making ravioli. Would you like some?¡± 2/4 Eileen shook her head and replied in a listless voice, ¡°No, thanks. You guys go ahead and eat! I¡¯m going to sleep.¡± Leaning on the corridor railing, she returned to her room. After closing the door and ensuring it was securely locked, she slipped off her shoulder straps. Her silky long dress fell to the floor. Barefoot, she stepped onto the soft carpet and headed into the bathroom for a bath. Half an hourter, stepping out of the bathroom, her long hair was only half-dried. She quickly slipped into her pajamas and flopped onto the bed. Her clothes were still lying on the ground. It was a mess¡­ A man¡¯s overcoat was neatly hung on the coat rack. Her phone on the bedside table lit up in the middle of the night. In her sleep, she seemed to see a blurry silhouette with deep and indifferent eyes¡­ At the break of dawn the next day, Eileen woke up promptly at seven-thirty, as dictated by her biological clock. Brushing her teeth in the bathroom, she was reminded of her arrival the previous night. She began to rey the scene of her walking through the door¡­. She was too tired. After taking off her dress, she left it on the floor and didn¡¯t bother to tidy up at all. But this morning when she woke up, her dress was gone, along with her undergarments¡­.. ¡°Perhaps, it wasn¡¯t a dreamst night?¡± Eileen didn¡¯t know what had crossed her mind, but she suddenly felt a wave of nausea. Rushing to the toilet, she began to vomit uncontrobly. Mary, who was carrying a basket of dirtyundry, passed by and heard some noises from inside the room. She pressed her ear against the door and listened to the sounds within before knocking gently. ¡°Ms. Eileen? Ms. Eileen¡­ Are you all right?¡± After about ten minutes, the door was finally opened. ¡°Is there something you need?¡± The voice was cold and detached. Upon seeing the bloodshot eyes of Eileen, Mary was taken aback. ¡°Oh my! What happened to you? Didn¡¯t you sleep wellst night? Breakfast is ready. Come down and eat before it gets cold.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need you to call me anymore, Eileen said as she mmed the door shut. 3/4 Mary was greeted with a chilly reception. She clicked her tongue, shook her head, and muttered to herself, ¡°What is happening now? Everyone in this family has such peculiar personalities!¡± Eileen stood upstairs, looking out the window. It was only after Eric and Vera had left that she descended the stairs. Once downstairs, Eileen instructed Mary to contact a locksmith to install a separate lock on her sliding door. She had been tolerating Eric¡¯s repeated boundary-crossing into her room. What is he trying to achieve? Eileen rushed back to the ssroom just in time for ss. Everyone had returnedte from the banquet the previous night. The next day, it seemed like she was the only one with dark circles under her eyes, while everyone else energetically tackled their assignments and tests. The intense study atmosphere was palpable. Eileen quickly took a seat and began working on the remaining problems from the previous day. Yvette walked over to her and said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Eileen! I was so busy yesterday that I couldn¡¯t take good care of you. Did you still have a good time?¡± Eileen¡¯s lips formed a faint smile. ¡°No worries. It wasn¡¯t boring at all, and the dessert was quite delicious.¡± To that, Yvette said, ¡°If you¡¯d like, I can bring you some more tomorrow. Which kind do you prefer? Never mind, I¡¯ll just bring you a variety tomorrow!¡± Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°No need to trouble yourself. We can do it another time,¡± said Eileen as she changed the subject. ¡°You came to see me so early in the morning, so there must be something you need!¡± Eileen knew what was on Yvette¡¯s mind. Her kindness couldn¡¯t possibly be without reason. If there was nothing going on, Yvette wouldn¡¯t havee to find her. Yvette found it difficult to speak while standing, so she squatted down. ¡°Actually, there are two things. The first one is about Mr. Gardner. Our teacher from the Olympiad Math team. has seen your grades and decided to give you a chance to join the team, provided you pass the test. The second thing is¡­ you have to join me and your brother for dinner tonight!¡± What? Chapter 99 Chapter 99 Chapter 99 He Will Not Answer Eileen delicately held her pen, lost in thought about her uing dinner with Eric¡­. Yvette pleaded once again, ¡°Eileen, pleasee with me! Otherwise, I won¡¯t know what to talk about with him, and it will be so awkward! You¡¯re his sister, and with you there, the atmosphere will be much more rxed. How about this? If you agree toe with me, I¡¯ll help you get into the Olympiad Math team.¡± Ring¡­ The ss bell rang. Eileen replied, ¡°Let me think about it! My brother is usually very busy. I¡¯m not sure if he has any free time.¡± 1. Yvette reassured her happily, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. If I ask him, he won¡¯t dare not show Let¡¯s leave it at that for now. Join us for dinner tonight. I¡¯m heading back first!¡± The look in Yvette¡¯s eyes revealed an undeniable fondness and admiration for Eric. Eileen stared nkly at the test paper on the table. Her mind was empty, and she did not know what she was thinking. Suddenly, she felt something hit her back, snapping her back to reality. Turning around, Eileen saw that it was a book from her desk mate behind her that had fallen. Eileen bent down, picked it up for him, and handed it back after dusting it off. ¡°Why are you so nosy!¡± Hector¡¯s tone was a bit harsh. Eileen slightly furrowed her brows and remained silent.. After finishing four morning sses, Eileen was once again dragged by Yvette to the cafeteria. for lunch.. Eileen ate slowly and deliberately. In the past, she usually brought meals prepared by Sharon and rarely ate in the cafeteria. She picked a few of her favorite dishes, but they tasted nd. in her mouth. Even so, Eileen forced herself to eat a little, although not much. Yvette seemed obsessed with Eric and kept sending messages on her phone. ¡°Why isn¡¯t he replying? What would he usually be doing at this time, Eileen? It¡¯s already noon. He should be taking his lunch break!¡± Eileen tasted the meatloaf. After a bite, she put down her fork. She still couldn¡¯t get used to it. She took a tissue to wipe her mouth. Tm not sure about his work at thepany. But I guess my brother should be in a meeting at this time. Let¡¯s eat quickly. It won¡¯t taste good when it gets cold.¡± 111 1/4 Meanwhile, at Caerulus Corporation, Eric was sitting at the head of the table, listening to the summary reports from various departments. His sleeves were rolled up, revealing his forearms. His well-defined fingers twirled his signing pen in his hand. His sharp gaze was deep and mysterious, exuding a chilling aura. As he listened to the report from the marketing manager, he lifted his eyes. The other party immediately fell silent. ¡°What I want to hear are the key points¡­¡± He tossed the document in front of him. ¡°If the next report is the same, you won¡¯t keep your position¡­¡± The marketing manager trembled because of his gaze. ¡°Yes, yes, yes¡­ it immediately.¡± ¡°Continue.¡± I¡¯ll go back and change Ever since Eric took over thepany, everyone, from top to bottom, had been following his lead. Each half-hour meeting would take the senior management a week to digest. Hardly anyone could keep up with his pace. The air inside the room felt stuffy. Loosening two buttons on his shirt, he was halfway through the presentation when suddenly, a phone on the conference table started to vibrate. Eric picked up his phone and nced at the iing number. There were no names. attached to the number, and he quickly hung up. Upon opening the message box again, he found a dozen or so new missed call notifications. With a casual nce, he switched the phone to silent mode. After leaving the cafeteria, Yvette waited in vain for a message from Eric. Frustrated, she kicked a stone at her feet. ¡°What on earth is he doing? He hasn¡¯t replied for so long. Even a big meeting should have ended by now. Eileen, give me your phone!¡± Eileen said softly, ¡°He won¡¯t answer. ¡°How will we know if we don¡¯t try? Come on! Let me use yours to call him!¡± Eileen couldn¡¯t resist and reluctantly handed over her phone. In truth, she didn¡¯t want to be part of their dinner. If she could y matchmaker for them, Eileen would have to grit her teeth and reluctantly agree. Yvette held the phone to her ear while anxiously twirling a strand of hair with her fingers. To her surprise, after only a few seconds, a deep, maic voice sounded from the other end of the line, ¡°Eileen, what¡¯s up?¡± Yvette listened to the voice, and her heart sank a bit. ¡°It¡¯s not your sister. It¡¯s me!¡± she said somewhat angrily. ¡°Ms. Friedman? Can I help you with something?¡± 2/4 She could tell that the tone of the voice had suddenly be cold. It was clear that she was being treated differently. ¡°Eric, did you or did you not see the message I sent you? Weren¡¯t we supposed to go out for a meal?¡± Yvette spoke before she heard another woman¡¯s voice from her phone. ¡°Mr. Snow, have you. finished your meeting? The meal I ordered for you has been delivered to your office.¡± Eric gave a slight nod while Gavin was reporting the uing work tasks on the side. One after another, they walked into the elevator. ¡°I understand. What time are we meeting in the evening? Yvette bit her lip. It seemed she had misunderstood him. She had thought he was intentionally not answering her calls. Her voice carried a hint of apology as she said, ¡°You haven¡¯t eaten yet? Then you should eat first! Have you finished work? I¡¯lle find you with Eileen tonight! We can decide where to eat then.¡± ¡°All right.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll hang up now. See you¡­. tonight!¡± ¡°Okay.¡± After she hung up the phone, Eric asked Gavin about the ns for the rest of the evening. Gavin replied, ¡°At seven in the evening, you have a dinner meeting with the CEO of Jenson Group. ¡°Cancel it.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Thest ss in the afternoon was a self-study period. Eileen went to the ssroom in the professional training workshop. The person in charge of the Olympiad Math team was a man in his thirties named Jacob Gardner. As soon as Eileen arrived, she was called into a separate ssroom. After a short while, Jacob called someone over. It was none other than Hector, who was sitting behind Eileen. He took the first seat by the door, and Jacob walked up to the podium. He pulled out two exam papers from his file and said, ¡°Let me rify the rules and conditions. for you. It¡¯s quite straightforward. Whoever scores higher stays. The exam questions have been modified from those of the previous two years. Do your best.¡± Eileen replied, ¡°I understand, Mr. Gardner.¡± ||| 3/4 Jacob distributed the test papers, along with two sheets of draft paper. He then sat down to supervise. The desk and drawer were spotlessly clean. The examsted for an hour and a half. However, to save time, Jacob only handed out half of the test paper, which mainly consisted of major questions for scoring. Eileen habitually tackled the major questions first as she found the earlier ones rtively. Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. easy. In reality, she did not necessarily have to join the Olympiad Math team. However, given the current situation, having more options was advantageous. At least, she still had the right to choose. After spending an hour and fifteen minutes on the task and taking five minutes to check her work, Eileen handed in her test paper. It was hard not to notice Yvette, who was constantly peeking in from the doorway. If it were not for her, Eileen would have almost forgotten. about the dinner engagement. Chapter 100 Chapter 100 Chapter 100 What Is She Here For Eileen contacted n to pick up Vera first while she took Yvette¡¯s private car directly to Eric¡¯s Compared to the Friedman family¡¯s Friedman Group, the Swan family was merely an inconspicuous nouveau riche. The Friedman Group building, worth several hundred million, was located in the city center and owned by the Friedman Group. Its value was expected to increase by dozens of times in the future. Whether it was Eric marrying into the family or Yvette entering the Swan family, Eric would. always be the winner. The driver in the car raised the partition. Yvette had already changed out of her school uniform and was applying lipstick in front of the mirror. Letting her hair down, she turned to Eileen and asked, ¡°Do I look good?¡± A mncholic veil shrouded Eileen¡¯s eyes, making her emotions inscrutable. She felt an indescribable sense of strangeness in her chest. Tentatively, she asked, ¡°Do you¡­ truly like my brother?¡± Yvette nodded without any attempt to hide her feelings. Her eyes were bright, radiating light. ¡°Of course I like him. Why else would I go to such lengths to find him?¡± ¡°He¡¯s eight years older than you, doesn¡¯t that bother you? By the time you graduate from college, he¡¯ll be nearing thirty, while you¡¯ll still be in your prime. Perhaps¡­ in these years. you might meet someone better than him¡­ I think you should reconsider this. Don¡¯t give your heart away so quickly!¡± Yvette expressed her disdain with a scoff. ¡°That¡¯s true. He¡¯s quite old. But he¡¯s only eight years. older, which isn¡¯t too bad. My parents have a twelve-year age gap, and they get along just fine. My dad listens to my mom in everything, a perfect example of a henpecked husband. But I haven¡¯t thought that far ahead. I like him for now. Who knows if I¡¯ll still like him in the future? And I¡¯ve never met a man who pays me so little regard.¡± She grabbed Eileen and said, ¡°Eileen, do you know? He¡¯s the first person who dared to scold me. Even though he knows. I¡¯m from the Friedman family, he never fawns over me like others do, always agreeing with me. You have no idea how fed up I am with all the people I¡¯ve known since childhood, all of them insincere, either after my status or the Friedman family¡¯s money.¡± Eileen was rendered speechless. Yvette asked, ¡°Do you think this dress looks good on me? Will it be a bit cold?¡± Eileen gazed thoughtfully at the innocent and lively Yvette. She really didn¡¯t understand Eric. How would I know if all of this wasn¡¯t his n? It¡¯s possible that even their encounter was orchestrated by Eric himself. ||| 1/4 The art of ying hard to get isn¡¯t just a game women know how to y; it seems that he, too, is quite adept at these mind games. One by one, these women devoted themselves to him wholeheartedly. After giving their all, they were trampled upon at his whim. He simply doesn¡¯t know how to love someone. Perhaps his heart has long been given to someone else. Falling in love with him will inevitably lead to an abyss of hell¡­ This was her decision to make, and Eileen couldn¡¯t interfere. Even if she told her everything. Yvette simply wouldn¡¯t listen. She would only think that Eileen was trying to sow discord¡­ Falling in love with someone has nothing to do with being rational. Even if one knows it¡¯s wrong, one will still blindly follow one¡¯s heart into the darkness. Eileen said, ¡°He doesn¡¯t like¡­¡± ¡°Hmm? What is it?¡± Yvette continued to fix her hair in front of the mirror. ¡°Your makeup is too heavy. Eric won¡¯t like it.¡± Since it¡¯s all about making use, for her sake and for my own, she wants to be with Eric, so I¡¯ll help her. Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Huh? What should I do, then?¡± Yvette quickly wiped off her lipstick with a piece of also toning down her eyeshadow. ¡°Come, let me help you.¡± paper, Eileen wiped off the makeup from her face and reapplied it with a light and elegant touch. In truth, she was quite a sight to behold, with a dignified and impressive appearance that wasforting to look at over time. Heavy makeup didn¡¯t suit her. Instead, a lighter touch of makeup was more fitting for her. ¡°Will he really like it this way?¡± Eileen capped the eyebrow pencil and handed it back to her. ¡°My brother is a bit slow to warm up and doesn¡¯t know how to make girls happy. He¡¯s like a block of ice that needs to be melted by someone¡¯s warmth. Yvie, if my brother does anything wrong, please don¡¯t be with him.¡± angry ¡°Don¡¯t worry! If it¡¯s something I want, there¡¯s nothing I can¡¯t get, including your brother.¡± Eileen hoped that Yvette would have all her wishese true. Skyline Building Caerulus Corporation¡¯s office space spanned the 32nd and 33rd floors. Eric¡¯s office had ||| 2/4 already moved to the 34th floor, which included a lounge and a meeting room. In total, there were over a hundred employees. In the past, Eileen would oftene to bother Eric. She was so familiar with thepany that she could navigate it with ease. The receptionists would be terrified whenever they saw Eileen, as she was notoriously difficult to deal with. The receptionist said, ¡°Ms. Eileen, are you here to see Mr. Snow? He¡¯s currently in a meeting. so you might need to wait a bit.¡± ¡°Pour me a cup of in boiled water, thank you!¡± Eileen had already sent Yvette to the 34th floor, deciding not to be a third wheel. So, she went to the nearby rest area, ¡°All right¡­ okay.¡± The receptionist stammered in surprise. Thank you? The fact that Eileen. thanked her was downright terrifying, to the point where she even doubted whether there. was something wrong with her ears. Eileen sat on the couch, pulling out a beauty magazine from the side, and began to flip through it out of boredom. Gavin was attending to some matters on the 32nd floor when the receptionist stopped him. ¡°Mr. Walsh, there¡¯s a document here that needs to be given to Mr. Snow.¡± Gavin picked up the courier document bag and, out of the corner of his eye, noticed a figure in the adjacent reception room. Who else could it be but Eileen? If Eileen is here, then who just went upstairs? Gavin¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°What is she doing here?¡± The receptionist nced discreetly and whispered, ¡°I¡¯m not sure. She just came in and sat down! Mr. Walsh, do you think something else has happened?¡± ¡°Pay less attention to these matters. Focus more on your work.¡± ¡°Alright then.¡± With that single sentence, the receptionist didn¡¯t dare to ask any more questions. She simply stood there, infatuated, watching Gavin disappear into the elevator. After an unknown amount of time, Eileen had lost track of how many cups of hot water she had consumed, and she had also finished all the test papers in her hand. Putting away her pencil case, Eileen looked out at the darkening sky. The exhibition banquet should have ended by now. ncing at the time, it was already half past seven. Not only was Eileen feeling drowsy, but Yvette, who was sitting in the CEO¡¯s exclusive chair, 3/4 was also struggling to stay awake¡­ Eileen waited another twenty minutes. It was almost eight o¡¯clock. She didn¡¯t n on waiting any longer. She packed up her bag, stood up, and informed the receptionist who was still on duty, ¡°If anyone asks for me, just tell them I¡¯ve already left.¡± The receptionist nodded. ¡°Alright, Ms. Eileen. 34th floor CEO¡¯s office Eric had just finished discussing the coboration project. As he stepped out, he nced at his wristwatch. ¡°Where is the person?¡± Gavin replied, ¡°In the office.¡± Upon opening the office door, he saw Yvette, who was sound asleep at his desk. His piercing gaze scanned the surroundings once more, only to find her alone. Eric paused, his gaze lingering. After a moment, he turned around, one hand in his pocket as he walked away. ¡°Wake her up. Tell her to wait on the first floor.¡± Gavin responded, ¡°Understood.¡± ¡°From now on, no one is allowed in the office without my permission,¡± he said, clearly displeased. ¡°Noted!¡± Chapter 101 Chapter 101 Chapter 101 Your Family Is Quite Strict Eileen had already left Skyline Building. At this hour, there were hardly any buses around. Standing in front of the bus stop sign, she stomped her feet to ward off the cold. The approaching bus came to a halt before the traffic lights at the zebra crossing. it was currently rush hour in Hulbury, and the streets were somewhat congested. Just as she was about to stand up and search through her bag for change, she caught sight of a ck car stopping in front of her from the corner of her eye. Eileen looked up to see the car window rolling down, revealing a handsome face with deep-set features. The man coldly said, ¡°Get in!¡± Why isn¡¯t Yvette in the car? Where is she? After thinking for a few seconds, Eileen decided to sit in the back seat. She closed the car door. Being alone with him in the car always created a somewhat oppressive atmosphere. ¡°How did youe to know Yvette?¡± he asked her, looking through the rearview mirror. Eileen said in a soft voice, ¡°She has changed sses. She is now in the same ss as me.¡± He didn¡¯t say anything more. The car turned around and drove back to the front of the building. Yvette¡¯s figure quickly appeared. She was wearing a thin dress and ck leggings. In such cold weather, she couldn¡¯t bear it, yet Yvette was truly enduring. Her constitution was naturally cold, so when winter came, it was normal for her hands and feet to be icy cold. Yvette quickly ran over, opened the passenger side door, and swiftly got in. ¡°I was waiting for you in the office. How did youe down so quickly?¡± ¡°What should we eat?¡± While gripping the steering wheel, Eric was driving attentively, not responding to her question. Yvette had tasted every delicacy in the world, and she was already tired of her favorite restaurants. Suddenly, she found herself at a loss for what to eat next. After all, as long as I¡¯m going out with the person I like, any ce will do. ¡°Eileen, what would you like to eat? Do you have any good restaurant rmendations?¡± She tossed this challenging question to Eileen. A momentarily dazed Eileen, upon hearing the voice, responded, ¡°Let¡¯s go to Blissorzo.¡± ¡°Blissorzo? Where is this restaurant? Howe I¡¯ve never heard of it? Why don¡¯t we go for some crab instead? We can have some wine to keep ourselves warm. I¡¯m freezing!¡± Eric stated, ¡°Address.¡± Yvette mentioned a ce name. ¡°Mr. Snow, could you be a gentleman and lend me your coat? I¡¯m a bit cold.¡± Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. Eric didn¡¯t agree, instead, he said, ¡°Eileen, there¡¯s a nket in the spare box in the car. Get it for her.¡± Yvette was at a loss for words with him. Her intentions were already so tantly clear. Was he incapable of understanding humannguage? Fifteen minutester¡­ They quickly arrived at the seafood restaurant that Yvette had mentioned. The decor was distinctly Japriumian, and in addition to crab, they served a variety of other seafood dishes. As soon as they walked in, they were greeted by a warm breeze. She had heard of this restaurant before. It was quite pricey, but the food was indeed delicious. Typically, a reservation needed to be made a week in advance. Yvette was no ordinary person. She was the heiress being groomed by the Friedman family. The Friedman family owned severalpanies and had made substantial investments in the catering industry, including this one. Plus, she was a regr there, so there was no one who didn¡¯t know her. A server quickly approached, ¡°Ms. Friedman, wee! Are you dining with your friends this time?¡± ¡°Three of us. Please arrange a private room for us.¡± ¡°All right, please follow me this way,¡± Eileen walked at the back, leaving space for them. The waiter opened the door to reveal a room with woven mats. With underfloor heating, it was essentially impossible to feel cold while sitting. Eileen took off her scarf from around her neck and hung it on the coat rack by the door. ¡°Go ahead and order some food! I need to use the restroom.¡± ¡°All right, off you go!¡± Yvette, holding the menu, had already moved next to Eric. ¡°Let¡¯s order together. What do you feel like eating? I won¡¯t be polite this time.¡± Eric responded, ¡°As you wish.¡± In the midst of their conversation, Yvette had quietly taken a seat next to Eric. She ordered a few of their usual set meals, saying, ¡°Let¡¯s just have these for now. We can order more when she gets back.¡± Eileen returned from the restroom, noticing that each private room had its own dedicated waiter. She hadn¡¯t ordered yet, so the waiter handed her a menu at the door. Eileen wasn¡¯t sure what to eat. She wasn¡¯t particrly fond of seafood, so she ordered some vegetarian spaghetti. Also, she wasn¡¯t a big eater. Lately, she hadn¡¯t had much of an appetite, yet her weight hadn¡¯t decreased. Upon entering the room, she sat down across from the duo. The table wasn¡¯t particrlyrge; a simple stretch of the leg could reach the other person. In front of her, a steaming cup of rose tea was brewed. Eileen held the ss teacup in her hands, warming her hands as they were a bit cold from just being washed. Yvette was chatting away with Eric, her enthusiasm quite evident. Her voice filled the entire private room. asionally, Eileen would respond to Yvette¡¯s words. That was just her nature, dull and uninteresting. Most of the time, she preferred to be alone, gazing out of the floor-to-ceiling window at the night sky. The clouds were thick, covering the canopy of the sky, and the weather was so gloomy that it seemed like it could snow at any moment. ¡°It¡¯s Christmas tomorrow, Eileen¡­ Do you have any ns?¡± Eileen turned her head, identally meeting Eric¡¯s gaze. She quickly looked She quickly looked away, saying, ¡°There¡¯s nothing going on. If I don¡¯t have evening self-study, I still have to attend another extracurricr ss.¡± ¡°I see! Around what time do you usually finish ss?¡± Eileen replied, ¡°Around nine o¡¯clock. I¡¯ll be home by ten.¡± ¡°Is it tough? Do you even have time to do your own things?¡± ¡°I¡¯m doing well,¡± Eileen replied, apanied by a faint smile. Even if she didn¡¯t have time. for anything else, it didn¡¯t bother her. Staying busy was her only way to distract herself. ¡°Christmas is tomorrow. Our ss organizes a Christmas party every year, and we exchange greeting cards. You shoulde and join us.¡± Eileen lowered her head to gaze at the blooming rose tea in her cup. ¡°No, I can¡¯t miss my extracurricr ss. Otherwise, I won¡¯t be able to catch up. I haven¡¯t attended for several days, so my father will scold me.¡± ¡°Your family is quite strict.¡± Yvette had initially intended to invite Eileen, but after hearing her response, she remained silent. In truth, Eileen felt envious of Yvette. Apart from the unavoidable responsibilities she carried, such as taking over the family business, there seemed to be nothing else holding her back. Yvette had a harmonious family and loving parents who supported her in all her endeavors. She could live freely and unrestrained, resembling a princess from a television show. Eileen didn¡¯t eat much during the meal. She also didn¡¯t enjoy eating crabs, finding them too troublesome to deal with. Yvette sipped on some wine infused with mulling spices. The aroma was rich and fragrant, the sweetness mild, and the alcohol content not too high. However, it was easy to get tipsy after consuming it. Yvette was clearly drunk, leaning heavily against Eric and swaying slightly. Eileen had only had a little to drink and felt a bit dizzy, but fortunately, she remained sober. Upon leaving, Eileen suddenly found herself in the passenger seat. By the time she realized what had happened, it was toote; the car door was already locked¡­ ¡°Um, where¡¯s Yvette?¡± she asked. Chapter 102 Chapter 102 Chapter 102 Truly Disgusting Yvette had consumed too much alcohol, and Eric left her in the private room. The restaurant staff would ensure she made it home safely. Given her status, even if she ended up staying the night there, it wouldn¡¯t be a big deal. Eileen leaned against the wheelchair, feeling dizzy and weak. She had only had three drinks, yet she was already intoxicated. She hadn¡¯t nned on drinking, but the fragrant wine with added mulling spices was too tempting, causing her to indulge in a few more cups. If she hadn¡¯t been cautious around him, she might have ended up as drunk as Yvette. She opened the car window slightly, hoping to get rid of the lingering scent of alcohol from her body. However, it wasn¡¯t long before she closed it again. ¡°What are you doing? Roll down the window, hurry up¡­ open it¡­ open it¡­¡± Her hands were pping against the car window, her voice sounding as if it was coated with cotton candy, yfully reproachful yet soft. ¡°Stop fooling around and sit properly.¡± ¡°You¡¯re so annoying! You won¡¯t even roll down the car windows. How petty! Fine, don¡¯t open them. Next time, I won¡¯t ride in your car again.¡± Eileen curled up, hugging her knees, her face buried in the crook of her arm, and in an instant, she fell silent. Eric¡¯s gaze fell on the person next to him. Is she throwing a tantrum? When did she be so well-behaved? Where did her previously wild, fierce, and indulgent nature go? ¡°It¡¯s cold outside, and you might catch a cold.¡± The words were a rare disy of tender concern. Her muffled voice rang out. ¡°I refuse to believe your empty words about caring for others. You only know how to hurt me. The person I despise the most¡­ is you. Besides Jasper, no one else will ever be kind to me¡­¡± As the words fell, Eileen leaned forward sharply, her eyes dazed and wide. ¡°Why have we stopped?¡± ¡°What did you say?¡± The man¡¯s voice was as cold as ice, a wave of cold air surrounding her. Meeting those dangerous, hawk-like sharp eyes, Eileen instantly felt her mind go nk. Even the strongest sense of drunkenness would quickly fade away. Only then did Eileen realize how dangerous her recent remarks had been. The car was parked by the roadside, and she was surrounded by danger. ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m drunk¡­¡± She didn¡¯t know why she was apologizing. Perhaps she was too scared. Before he could make his next move, Eileen quickly said, ¡°It¡¯ste, you¡­ you don¡¯t need to take me home. I can take a taxi by myself.¡± She tried to unlock the car door, but no matter how many times she tried, the door remained stubbornly shut. ¡°Have you fallen for someone so quickly? When will you change this habit of falling in love with everyone you meet?¡± Eric¡¯s words were sharp and direct, not giving her any respect at all. Eileen gave up on the idea of getting out of the car. Her slightly narrowed eyes shifted. Lowering her head, she didn¡¯t know how to respond to his words. In his eyes, she was just that kind of person-she would like anyone who treated her well. However, Jasper was truly different. His kindness toward her had no hidden motives. It was pure affection. Eileen¡¯s fondness for him was the kind of fondness found between friends without any romantic feelings. Suddenly, a hand reached out. With a strong force, her back felt as if it was pressed against a wall. His body was burning hot. Eileen was so frightened that she stiffened, not daring to move at all. ¡°What are you doing? Let me go!¡± Her voice was filled with unmistakable panic. ¡°Answer me.¡± His warm breath cascaded down her neck. Eileen stated awkwardly, ¡°You¡¯ve misunderstood! My feelings for Jasper are just those of ordinary friends, not what you¡¯re imagining.¡± Resisting the urge to push him away, her hands clenched tightly at her side. After everything that had happened, Eileen¡¯s inner resistance and on toward Eric grew stronger with each passing day. ¡°Really? I thought you moved on so quickly, no longer liking me.¡± Eric¡¯s hand slipped around her waist, pulling her even closer to him. Eileen gripped his wrist, her voice somewhat icy as she said, ¡°Let¡¯s hurry back! Vera is still waiting for you at home¡­ I¡¯m also tired and want to rest.¡± At that moment, Eric suddenly pinched her cheeks, leaning over to whisper in her ear like a devil, ¡°You¡¯re still young. You don¡¯t understand what it means to truly like someone. If you want to fall in love, I won¡¯t stop you. I¡­ can even help you find someone better.¡± Eileen closed her eyes. Now is not the time to argue with him. She forcefully suppressed the anger welling up from the bottom of her heart. ¡°I¡­ I understand.¡± It seemed that she really couldn¡¯t have a drop of alcohol in the future. After three sses, who knew what unpleasant words she might utter? This time, Eileen waspletely sober. Throughout the journey, she remained extremely quiet, not daring to speak again. It was almost eleven o¡¯clock when she arrived home. way into the The hallway was pitch ck. Eileen followed behind Eric, slowly making her foyer. She felt for the light switch on the wall, flipped it on, and instantly, the room was illuminated.. Eileen wanted to quickly go upstairs first, but suddenly, the man behind her spoke up. ¡°Go and prepare some food.¡± Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. Eileen, who was about to step onto the staircase, heard such an impolite request. ¡°I¡­ I¡¯ll go and call Mary.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you understand what I¡¯m saying?¡± Eric sat on the couch, leaning back, looking somewhat ufortable. Eileen slowly turned around. Looking at his condition, she knew his stomach illness must have red up again. His fear of colds and drinking on an empty stomach during social asions were his recurring issues. Tonight, he had eaten so much seafood, crabs¡­ It would be strange if he weren¡¯t in pain. Resigned to her fate, Eileen turned and walked into the kitchen. She opened the refrigerator to see what ingredients were left. It was alreadyte, and Eileen didn¡¯t want to waste any more time there. She was truly exhausted. Even though he had the option to go back, he insisted on returning here. Recently, he had been coming home more frequently. Eileen couldn¡¯t understand why he had moved out in the first ce. Eileen wished she could see him every day of the year, but unfortunately, she couldn¡¯t. She washed the pot, boiled some water, and chopped the vegetables. The pasta was leftover handmade pasta, and she only cooked a single portion. After pouring the pasta out of the pot, she ced the te on the table and grabbed a fork, setting it down. ¡°The food is ready. I¡¯m going to rest now.¡± Eileen, holding her warm cup of milk, wearily trudged back to her room after a long day. Before leaving, she had asked Mary to install a new door lock. Now that it was installed, she immediately locked it from the inside, ensuring that no one from outside could open her room door. Walking to the walk-in closet, she opened the wardrobe to find her ck evening dress hanging there. Eileen took it out and examined it. The fabric was smooth, and there was a familiar scent ofundry detergent. She thought about the basket of dirty clothes Mary was holding this morning. Had she misunderstood something? However, she distinctly remembered locking the door from the inside. If she didn¡¯t rule out the possibility of Eric entering her room, then perhaps this dress was indeed taken for washing by Mary. But I can¡¯t be med for misunderstanding him! It¡¯s evident that Eric has no sense of appropriate boundaries between men and women. He casually sneaked into my room and even told me to change my habit of falling in love with everyone I meet. Ah, why doesn¡¯t he change these bad habits of his? How irritating! Chapter 103 Chapter 103 Chapter 103 Not A Trace Of Gentility The next morning, Eileen had a restful night¡¯s sleep after a dreamless night. Before leaving, she made sure to lock her room to prevent anyone from entering. After having breakfast, Eileen arrived at the ssroom promptly at eight o¡¯clock. As soon as Yvette entered the ssroom, she spotted Eileen. ¡°Eileen¡­ why did you leave with Eric so early yesterday? As soon as I got home, my mom was furious. She gave me such a headache with her yelling and even set a curfew for me.¡± Perhaps due to drinking too much the previous night, Yvette woke up early today with a severe headache. She hadn¡¯t rested well, with dark circles under her eyes. She felt disoriented, her head spinning and throbbing. Softly, Eileen replied, ¡°Yesterday¡­ I drank too much¡­ I don¡¯t know what happened, but before I left, my brother specifically instructed the staff to ensure you got home safely. Did anything happen on your way back?¡± Yvette, feeling a bit dizzy, shook her head. ¡°Nothing really happened, but how could he just leave me alone in the shop? That¡¯s too much! He only cares about you, his sister, and doesn¡¯t care about me at all! What if something had really happened to me? What then? He doesn¡¯t have a shred of gentlemanly behavior.¡± This was something Eileen hadn¡¯t anticipated-that Eric would leave her alone at the restaurant. Eileen tried to defend him. ¡°Eric¡­ He¡­ has always been like this, quite straightforward¡­ He was focused on work, and it was alreadyte. If Eric had sent you home alone, it would have caused gossip. As a single woman, if the media were to catch wind of this and make baseless spections, it wouldn¡¯t be good for your reputation.¡± Yvette found her words reasonable and nodded. ¡°That¡¯s true. If that¡¯s what he thinks, then so be it¡­ But next time, when I see him, I will definitely not forgive him¡­¡± The campus bell rang. Yvette quickly returned to her seat. The morning hours flew by quickly. Thest ss was extended by an additional forty-five minutes for an exam. By the time they finished, they only had fifteen minutes for lunch and one remaining hour. They still needed to go to the professional training workshop. Eileen would also go along. The results of yesterday¡¯s Math Olympiad were out. She sat in the first row with Yvette. Yvetteforted her, ¡°Rx and believe in yourself. Everything will be fine.¡± Jacob, wearing a red windbreaker, walked in from outside, holding a thermos in one hand and a textbook in the other. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re quite early,¡± he said. Upon reaching the podium, he handed a textbook directly to Eileen. ¡°Take this textbook and try working through it at home. If you don¡¯t understand something,e and ask me. I¡¯ve already told the others, so I won¡¯t repeat it just for you.¡± Then, he turned to the ss. ¡°All right¡­ Today, we¡¯re going to learn something new¡­¡± Eileen was still somewhat disoriented. She turned to look at Yvette beside her, ¡°What¡­¡± Yvette told her, ¡°Mr. Gardner has invited you to join the elite group. I told you so! With me around, you are bound to get in. Congrattions! From now on, we can go to sses together.¡± With her around? What does that mean? Didn¡¯t I get in here based on my own merits? Eileen seemed absent-minded, her face devoid of much emotion. She even seemed unable to muster any joy. Her gaze drifted to the empty seat beside her. This was originally Hector¡¯s spot. His absence implied that he had been kicked out¡­ There was an inexplicable sense of guilt in her heart. An hour wasn¡¯t exactly fast, nor was it particrly slow. For the first forty-five minutes, Jacob taught the ss. In the remaining fifteen minutes, he assigned new homework. Upon ncing at those assignments, Eileen indeed found quite a few of them challenging. In the final minute, Jacob had already packed up his things and left the ssroom. Eileen quickly picked up her book, swiftly saying to Yvette, ¡°You go ahead. I have something to deal with.¡± Yvette wanted to say something more, but seeing that Eileen had already run off and disappeared, she just shrugged. Eileen quickly caught up with Jacob. ¡°Mr. Gardner, please wait a moment.¡± Jacob paused. ¡°S-Eileen?¡± ¡°It¡¯s me, Mr. Gardner¡­ I wanted to ask about the results of thest exam.¡± Jacobughed and said, ¡°You¡¯ve attended all the sses, so why worry about the grades? It¡¯s clear that you¡¯ve already been selected.¡± Eileen still seemed a bit unsure as she said, ¡°Whether I can do it or not, just look at my results.¡± ¡°What¡¯s so interesting about this? Your test paper isn¡¯t with me right now, but you did perform exceptionally well, especially on thest major question. You used three different methods to solve it. The second one involves knowledge of advanced university Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org. mathematics. I was genuinely surprised that you could write out the form.¡± Jacob stated, his eyes filled with satisfaction. ¡°But¡­¡± ¡°Mr. Gardner!¡± Eileen was halfway through her sentence when a teacher walking down from the other side called out to him. Jacob responded vaguely, ¡°Let¡¯s talk about this next time.¡± The more Jacob acted this way, the more uneasy Eileen felt in her heart. She feared that her opportunity to join the Math Olympiad team this time was due to Yvette¡¯s connections, who had secured this spot for her. If that¡¯s the case, wouldn¡¯t it be too unfair for Hector? This Yvette¡­ I don¡¯t necessarily have to join. Eileen returned to the ssroom, intending to find Hector and clear things up. When she hurried to the ssroom, she didn¡¯t see him there. Eileen asked her desk mate, Keh. Keh replied, ¡°He didn¡¯te in this morning. He must have taken a day off.¡± Yvette then brought her to the restroom. Yvette was washing her hands in the sink. She nced at her reflection in the mirror, then turned to the person beside her. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? You¡¯ve seemed unhappy all day.¡± ¡°Can you tell me why the teacher didn¡¯t announce my grades? Did you say something to Mr. Gardner that caused me to be included in the group? So, I¡­¡± Eileen looked at her, trying to decipher something from her subtle expressions. Yvette shook the water off her hands. ¡°I¡¯m not sure about that¡­ But I did rmend you to Mr. Gardner, and I also submitted yourtest performance data to him. He was very pleased after reviewing it. As for why your scores with Hector weren¡¯t announced, I really don¡¯t know. Babe¡­ why worry about all this? What¡¯s done is done. There¡¯s no need to dwell on it. As long as the goal is achieved, that¡¯s all that matters. Rx!¡± She was perceptive by nature. She wondered if he was angry with her because she had taken his spot. No wonder,tely, he¡¯s been looking at me with eyes full of resentment. Eileen was aware of his family situation, which she had heard was not good. His mother was sick at home, and he had gained admission to Petalburg High School through his own efforts. He was truly dedicated to his studies. However, he only ranked sixth in the Olympiad Math team selection test. Otherwise, Jacob wouldn¡¯t have allowed him topete for a spot on the Olympiad team. Before seeing the results, Eileen always felt a bit uneasy deep down. Returning to the ssroom, Eileen noticed a glow from her drawer. Upon unlocking it, she found dozens of messages in her inbox, all sent by Jasper. These past few days, Eileen had rarely checked her phone. She didn¡¯t expect that recently, Yushu had been sending her messages more frequently. She didn¡¯t dare to read every message he sent. Chapter 104 Chapter 104 Chapter 104 I Am Her Son The morning hours flew by quickly as Eileen was engrossed in diligent studying. It was herst ss. Other sses were having meetings, arranging their own time for activities, watching movies, and ying games. The ss still had two more evening study sessions to go, which wouldst until nine-thirty. Being in the top-performing ss, they hardly had any leisure activities, as most of them were busy with their own study ns. However, there were also surprises. Everyone received a Christmas cherry. Eileen couldn¡¯t attend the evening self-study session. She had two test papers for homework, which she could only take home toplete at night. She had to pack up her things and rush to her piano and dance sses. The ss was on the sixth floor. As Eileen took the elevator, she happened to pass by ss Six just as they were finishing. Vera was tidying up and happened to see her. ¡°Eileen¡­¡± she called out. Eileen paused. ¡°Vera.¡± The two of them greeted each other through a window. Vera shed a faint smile. ¡°Today is Christmas. I was just about to look for you, but I didn¡¯t expect to see you here. This is the card I¡¯ve made for you. Merry Christmas.¡± Eileen nced around the ssroom. There was a massive Christmas tree, ribbons, balloons¡­ The Christmas spirit was palpable. Everyone was holding a gift, presumably exchanged with each other. ¡°I have something for you too.¡± Walsh pulled out a greeting card from the drawer and handed the gift to Eileen. Eileen epted it, feeling a bit embarrassed as she hadn¡¯t prepared anything in return. After pondering for a moment, she opened her backpack and took out two wrapped Christmas cherries. They were packaged in a paper box with two golden bells hanging on it. The bells were made of pure gold, making them quite valuable. ¡°I don¡¯t really have much to offer you, so consider this as a token of my gratitude.¡± Conveniently, there were two items; one was a gift from Yvette, and the other was a beautifully crafted greeting card. One for Vera, and the other for Walsh. This was the first time Walsh received a gift from Eileen. ¡°Wow, this is so beautiful! Thank you, I really like it.¡± Vera noticed the Olympiad Mathematics exercise textbook in Eileen¡¯s bag. She said, ¡°Today is a festival. Eric will also be going home for dinner. Let¡¯ster!¡± go back together Eileen nced at her wristwatch, realizing she was almostte. ¡°I won¡¯t be going back,¡± she said, ¡°I have other sses to attend. I¡¯ll be leaving now.¡± ¡°Is that so¡­ All right. I¡¯ll tell Ericter,¡± Vera said, sounding somewhat disheartened. Eileen nodded, then left. Walsh nced at the Christmas cherry in her hand. ¡°I remember this Christmas cherry. ss One gives it out every year, and it must cost quite a bit!¡± Charlie overheard their conversation. ¡°How on earth has she managed to stay in ss One for so long with grades earned through cheating? I even lost hundreds on thest bet.¡± Albert responded, ¡°Cheating? Did you see it? Or did you catch her?¡± Charlie clicked his tongue. ¡°I¡¯m just surprised. The perennial second-tost, managing to squeeze into ss One. If she didn¡¯t cheat, I wouldn¡¯t believe it. Who knows what tricks she used this time.¡± Walsh retorted, ¡°That¡¯s not true! You just don¡¯t know how hard Eileen has been working. She used to be thest one to leave, always engrossed in solving problems. Just now, I saw Olympiad Math textbooks in her bag. She must have joined the Olympiad Math ss. Given Eileen¡¯s grades, she might even be the top scorer in this year¡¯s university entrance exam in Hulbury.¡± Charlieughed. ¡°If she bes the top scorer in the university entrance exam this eat my hat.¡± ¡°Vera, look at him.¡± year, I¡¯ll Vera smiled, but her eyes didn¡¯t/share the amusement. ¡°If they hold prejudices against Eileen, it¡¯s because they don¡¯t understand her. Someday, someone will recognize her efforts.¡± Walsh responded, ¡°Exactly. You all are just jealous¡­¡± Charlie let out a chuckle. ¡°Me, jealous of Eileen? That¡¯s trulyughable.¡± The usually reticent Albert suddenly spoke up. ¡°If you can¡¯t do it yourself, don¡¯t always deny others. Eileen has changed. At least she¡¯s not as annoying as before. What do you think, Elm?¡± Elm tossed the apple in his hand, still wearing his ck short-sleeved shirt. The blue tattoo on his arm gave him a mysterious and rebellious vibe. ¡°Stop mentioning her in front of me. It¡¯s disgusting!¡± he spat out. No one dared to speak again until a strange atmosphere gradually began to spread. Eileen stepped out of the school gate just as n arrived. The road wasn¡¯t too congested. Upon arriving at the rehearsal room, Eileen was still a few minuteste. After she was done with her two hours of piano lessons, the next two hours were the most difficult for her. She had been idle for the past few days. Now, as Eileen started her warm-up stretches, she felt as if she was getting back into the swing of things. Halfway through the jump, a sudden pain surged in her lower abdomen. She could feel a warm flow between her legs, slowly trickling down. It was a familiar sensation, apanied by a faint scent of blood. She hurried to the restroom, took off her pants, and looked at the bloodstains. Eileen quickly put on a clean set of clothes she had taken from the locker room, grabbed a sanitary pad, and rushed back to the restroom. After cleaning up, Eileen sat dazedly on the toilet bowl. She knew that girls usually have their first period between the ages of thirteen and fifteen. In her previous life, she had her first period when she was a freshman in college. At that time, she thought there was something wrong with her body, so she went to the hospital for a full body check-up. The results came back normal. The doctor told her that everyone¡¯s body was different and that it was normal to startter. She continued to drink herbal concoctions to regte her body and didn¡¯t worry too much about it. Eventually, her uterine abnormality turned cancerous and spread to her stomach. She was diagnosed with advanced gastric cancer, and not long after, she passed away. Only now did she realize what was considered normal! The medical report was a sham. The medicine was fake, and consuming it would only make her health deteriorate over time. What Eric wanted was her life. A dyed menstrual cycle could be a negative reaction caused by an abnormality in the uterus. Whenever her period came, Eileen had to rely on pain relievers to alleviate the difort. The most severe episode resulted in her fainting from the pain at home. If Sharon hadn¡¯t discovered her that day, she might have passed away unnoticed. Eileen didn¡¯t attend the next ss. She sat in the car, her body curled up, herplexion pale from the pain. Despite the air conditioning being turned up to the highest temperature, she still felt her hands and feet were freezing cold, shivering uncontrobly. n couldn¡¯t bear to watch any longer, so he fetched a nurse and had her rushed to the emergency room using a medical transport vehicle. Eileen was lying in bed, breaking out in a cold sweat, with an IV drip hanging from the back of her hand. Upon hearing the nurse¡¯s instructions, n hurriedly went out to buy two hot packs. With a hot pack and the pain relievers she had just taken, the pain was slightly reduced¡­ Her period was the most dreaded urrence for her. Taking pain relievers had be a regr routine for her. Over time, due to excessive consumption, her body developed a tolerance to them, making them ineffective. Each time, she had to take double or even triple the dosage despite the medication¡¯s side effects. n made a phone call back home, informing them about Eileen¡¯s hospital admission. All he received was a cold and perfunctory response from Will. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. Mary rushed to the hospital overnight. When she arrived, she even brought along some ginger tea sweetened with brown sugar. Eileen didn¡¯t like anything with ginger because the taste was too strong. Even after reluctantly taking a few sips, she ended up vomiting it all up¡­ Chapter 105 Chapter 105 Chapter 105 What Are You Doing This For The intense reaction caused Eileen to vomit everything she had eaten that night. Her lower abdomen was in even more pain, and she tightly clutched the bedsheet. The needle in the back of her hand was drawing blood, which frightened Mary into quickly calling a nurse. Upon seeing the situation, the nurse had no choice but to administer the IV to Eileen¡¯s other hand. Anxiously, Mary asked, ¡°Will there be any problems? Look at how much pain she¡¯s in. Isn¡¯t there any other solution?¡± The nurse adjusted the flow rate of the IV drip and said helplessly, ¡°Severe reactions during menstruation are something we encounter several times a day in the hospital. We¡¯ve done everything we can, but there¡¯s really no other solution. She can only drink more brown sugar water, or perhaps massaging her lower abdomen might alleviate the symptoms.¡± After the nurse left the room, Mary, with a hint of mncholy, suggested, ¡°Should I go buy a bag of brown sugar?¡± Eileen wanted to get some water, but Mary quickly handed it over to her. After rinsing her mouth, Eileen weakly copsed onto the bed. ¡°It¡¯s alright, Mary. You should go next door and rest for a while. Dawn is breaking soon, and you still have work to do. Don¡¯t tire yourself out.¡± ¡°How can I sleep when you¡¯re in this state? Let me give you a massage.¡± Mary reached her hand into the nket and massaged Eileen¡¯s stomach through the fabric. ¡°Does this feel any better?¡± Eileen closed her eyes and nodded slightly. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m feeling better now.¡± ¡°Then you should go to sleep. When you wake up, the pain will be gone.¡± ¡°All right.¡± Soon, Eileen fell asleep. After all themotion, it was already five in the morning. The sky was almost bright. Looking at Eileen, who was sound asleep, Mary withdrew her hand and stood up, her fingers numb. However, as soon as she paused, the woman on the bed winced in pain, furrowing her brows. Mary couldn¡¯t even take a break, not even for a moment. If this continued, her hands would surely give out. Poor child¡­ Just then, Mary saw someone appearing at the door. She felt as if she had seen her savior. The man walked in, carrying a thermos in his hand. It was unclear what was inside it, but he ced it by the bedside table. ¡°Mr. Snow¡­ what are you doing here?¡± Mary looked at him with round, curious eyes. She thought he wasn¡¯t a good man at first nce. She could see right through his character. Eric¡¯s sharp gaze fell on the extremely restless figure sleeping on the bed. ¡°What did the doctor say?¡± Mary walked over and said softly, ¡°Oh dear, don¡¯t even mention it. Ms. Eileen is really suffering! She passed out from the pain, and the painkillers didn¡¯t help even after she took a few more. Those pills have side effects, but there¡¯s nothing we can do! I just gave her a massage, and she finally managed to fall asleep.¡± The man¡¯s gaze grew increasingly somber as he looked up at the nutrient solution hanging on the rack. There were still three bottles left; it would take at least an hour or two to finish administering them. Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. ¡°You can go rest now. I¡¯ll keep watch.¡± Mary was so excited she almost pped her thigh. ¡°All right then, Mr. Snow. You better watch out. This IV bag is almost empty¡­¡± ¡°I will.¡± Mary quickly left, but before she did, she couldn¡¯t help but notice something off about the way the man was looking at Eileen. Eileen slept until midnight, always half-asleep, half-awake, with intermittent pain. Butter, the pain disappeared. She felt as if she was lying on a huge, soft cotton ball, her body warm and cozy. She slept very peacefully until she heard the sound of a phone ringing. The call was cut off after just two seconds. Eileen regained her consciousness, feeling a stirring in her lower abdomen. The pain she had felt before had disappeared. She could smell the disinfectant of the hospital and slowly opened her eyes. When she saw the person sitting beside her and met his eyes, her heart gave a little jolt. ¡°How do you feel?¡± The man withdrew his hand from under the nket, twisting his wrist. The woman was so sensitive, bing extremely restless the moment he stopped. He had been massaging her all night. Eileen quickly propped herself up from the bed and moved back a bit. ¡°W-What are you doing here? Where¡¯s Mary?¡± He took in every emotion in her eyes-the rejection, the resistance, and the fear. ¡°Don¡¯t you want to see me?¡± Eileen clutched the nket nervously, not looking at him, and said indifferently, ¡°You don¡¯t need to put on a show. Even if you didn¡¯te to the hospital, Will wouldn¡¯t me you. Mary being here is enough.¡± Eric didn¡¯t take her words to heart. He stood up, opened the thermos he brought from home, and said, ¡°This is brown sugar water that Sharon prepared for you.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to drink. You should go back!¡± Her tone was icy cold. Eric casually served a cup to Eileen, bringing it to her lips, leaving no room for refusal. ng! The cup fell straight to the floor, rolled around a few times, and ended up off to the side. Eileen looked at him and snapped, ¡°There¡¯s no one else here. You don¡¯t need to put on an act in front of me.¡± Unexpectedly, Eric didn¡¯t get angry. Instead, he took out a ke handkerchief from his pocket and wiped the drink off his body. ¡°Are you losing your temper?¡± I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s because of my period, but seeing him now just makes me angry. Eileen closed her eyes, suppressing her emotions. ¡°What else do you expect from me? Should I smile and act as if nothing has changed even though you¡¯re constantly tormenting me, drugging me, and trying to take my life? Looking at you only makes me feel sick!¡± Eric dropped the handkerchief in his hand, leaning slightly forward. His cold, hawk-like eyes met hers at eye level. His voice was low as he said, ¡°You¡¯d better behave while I¡¯m still being patient with you. Whether you like it or not, keep it to yourself.¡± He reached out, gently tucking the stray hair behind her ear. ¡°Eileen, after all this time, why haven¡¯t you learned? Children who cry and make a fuss don¡¯t get rewarded. If you behave, maybe I can make your life morefortable.¡± Eileen brushed his hand away. ¡°So, should I kneel and thank you for your mercy? I don¡¯t need that¡­ Eric, it was my mistake to provoke you in the past. Now, I beg you¡­ please stay away from me and stop doing these things.¡± Eric saw the cold eyes filled with hatred and felt frustrated. ¡°I¡¯m giving you a chance. Take back what you said.¡± Noticing the fleeting sh of murderous intent on his face, Eileen swiftly removed the IV needle from her hand, threw off the covers, and got out of bed. The man furrowed his brows, firmly grasping her hand. ¡°Where are you going?¡± Eileen stood still, her eyelids trembling slightly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± Her voice quivered. ¡°I take back what I just said¡­ I shouldn¡¯t have said those things to you¡­ I shouldn¡¯t have made your timeing to see me late at night. It¡¯s all my fault. Are you happy now?¡± Eileen shook off his hand and walked to the door. you waste ¡°Eric, stop pretending. If you want to be a viin, then bepletely cruel to me. Don¡¯t be kind to me and hurt me at the same time! Why are you doing this?¡± Chapter 106 Chapter 106 Chapter 106 I Do Not Like It Eric should have clearly understood that when he chose to reveal his true self and be honest, it was inevitable that we would end up in a situation like today. He does his own thing, and I live my own life. We don¡¯t interfere with each other. By the time he fully takes control of the Swan family, I may have already left Hulbury. ¡°What good wille from arguing with me?¡± Eric looked at the cup on the ground. It didn¡¯t shatter. ¡°I don¡¯t want to repeat myself. Go back to bed!¡± Eileen stood motionless at the door. The cold wind blew in from outside, filling the wide folds of her clothing, making her feel a bit chilly. A wave of pain began to emanate from her lower abdomen once again. Just then, the nurse¡¯s voice broke the tense and strange atmosphere between them. ¡°Why did you get out of bed? Are you not in pain anymore? I heard you two arguing from the hallway. As an older brother, can¡¯t you be more considerate of your sister? Girls tend to be short-tempered during their periods. Hurry up and clean the floor. The doctor will be here soon for a check-up. If everything¡¯s fine, you can be discharged from the hospital.¡± Eileen said softly, ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Please lie back down. We don¡¯t want you to get sick again.¡± Eileen brought in a mop from outside and cleaned the floor. She didn¡¯t expect him to do such things. Truth be told, she wasn¡¯t in that much pain anymore. It was just the first day that was particrly tough to endure. After the doctor examined her again, he called for Eric toe over. Inside the office, the doctor pointed at Eileen¡¯s CT scan with a grave expression. ¡°Since you¡¯re a family member of the patient, I won¡¯t sugarcoat this. During yesterday¡¯s examination, we discovered an abnormality in the patient¡¯s uterus. If we perform surgery now to restore it to its original state, it¡¯s unlikely to be sessful. We suspect that the patient¡¯s uterus could potentially be diseased, possibly even cancerous. Fortunately, we¡¯ve detected it early, so we can still perform surgery to remove it. If we wait any longer, the cancer cells might spread and metastasize. At that point, the patient¡¯s treatment might involve more than just a hysterectomy. Considering her health condition, our rmendation is to proceed with the surgery as soon as possible. However, you should be aware that this might result in her being unable to conceive in the future.¡± There wasn¡¯t much emotion visible on Eric¡¯s face as he said, ¡°I understand.¡± ¡°Then discuss with the patient and schedule the surgery.¡± Eric didn¡¯t give the doctor any reply. He just got up and walked out directly, his face gloomy. As he stepped into the ward, he heard the joyful voice of a young girl. ¡°The soup that you make is the most delicious in the world, Sharon.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve only been away for a few days, but I can tell you haven¡¯t been eating properly. You look thinner than when I left.¡± ¡°No way. You must be mistaken. I¡¯ve always been like this. Being skinny is the beauty trend now.¡± Sharon scolded, ¡°To me, you look good no matter what. From now on, you¡¯re not allowed to be picky with your food.¡± Leaning on Sharon¡¯s shoulder, Eileen enjoyed the soup fed to her. ¡°I¡¯m not picky. Mary¡¯s cooking is as delicious as yours. I can eat two bowls every day.¡± ¡°You should eat more. It¡¯s good for you. All you do is make me worry when I¡¯m not around.¡± Sharon was well aware of her situation at home. It was she who had introduced Mary to the Swan family. They were from the same hometown, straightforward in character. Whatever happened at home, Mary would tell her everything without holding back. Eileen didn¡¯t eat much to begin with, but now that Sharon had left, she was eating even less. Sometimes, she wouldn¡¯t even have dinner. Sharon watched her grow up. How could she not worry whenever Eileen fell ill or got hurt? In this lifetime, she never had a child of her own. In her heart, she had long since treated Eileen as if she were her own. ¡°Should I tell Mr. Snow to let mee back and take care of you?¡± Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. ¡°No need to trouble yourself. There are too many rules at home. It¡¯s not asfortable as Eric¡¯s home. It¡¯s the same with Mary. Most of the time, I eat at the school cafeteria. I rarely eat at home.¡± Sharon let out a sigh. ¡°Every time youe home from school, you have to eat a bowl of the raviolis I make¡­ I¡¯ve already taught Mary how to make them. Even if I¡¯m not around, you¡¯ll still be able to eat them. You won¡¯t have to go hungry in the middle of the night.¡± Eileen nodded. ¡°Your culinary skills are always the best. I will never get tired of the raviolis that you make. I can eat them for a lifetime.¡± ¡°You¡¯re such a sweet-talker!¡± Not long after, Sharon left. Eric handled the hospital discharge procedures. Sitting in the car, Eileen held a hot pack against her lower abdomen, gazing out the window. ¡°Could you do me a favor and just drop me off at school? Thank you.¡± Her tone was indifferent and distant. After a while, Eileen realized that this was not the way back to school at all, but the way to Unde Mansion. She furrowed her brows. ¡°Even if you take me home, I¡¯ll return to school on my ownter. Instead of wasting your time on me, you might as well save yourself the trouble.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t get to decide if you want to cut ties with me.¡± Eric gave her a cold look. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to suffer, you¡¯d better behave. I don¡¯t have that much patience for you.¡± The car turned at the traffic light. Eileen held the hot pack in her hand, looking down and remaining silent. ¡°Please, don¡¯t tell Father about my health condition yet. Once I get into Hulbury University, I¡¯ll have the surgery myself. I¡¯ll tell him when the timees.¡± Eric remained silent. Eileen added extremely humbly, ¡°Consider this as a favor I owe you, all right?¡± If Will were to know earlier that she was infertile, she might not even have the chance to attend university. She would be regarded even more as a useless burden, and her fate would be even more tragic. Indeed, if that were the case, Will would tightly restrain her with chains, and her life as she knew it woulde to an end. ¡°Are you pleading with me?¡± Eileen nodded. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re requesting a favor, you should have the appropriate attitude¡­ What will I gain if I assist you?¡± ¡°You can decide, as long as it¡¯s something within my capabilities.¡± ¡°Does that include your physical self?¡± he yfully teased. Eileen widened her eyes, her face filled with shock, her heart trembling uncontrobly. ¡°Eric¡­ do you realize what you¡¯re saying? I¡¯ve just reached adulthood¡­ I¡¯m your sister!¡± ¡°That wasn¡¯t what you said when you were trying to win me over before. Are you afraid now?¡± Eileen was trembling with anger all over. She clenched her teeth and remained silent. When they arrived at the entrance of Unde Mansion, Eric parked the car, leaned over, and released her seatbelt. Eileen moved back slightly but couldn¡¯t avoid him. His deep, captivating voice echoed in her ear. ¡°Remember to remove the lock. I don¡¯t like it¡­¡± With a gentle touch, his hand glided over the fullness of her chest. She felt as if an electric current was coursing through her body. Chapter 107 Chapter 107 Chapter 107 Regret ¡°Eric!¡± Eileen raised her hand in anger, aiming to p his face, but he anticipated her move and firmly grabbed her wrist. The man taunted lightly, ¡°Trying to hit me, huh? You¡¯re being naughty again!¡± Eileen struggled to pull her hand back from his grip, her gaze unwavering. ¡°I won¡¯t submit to you. Do whatever you want! From now on¡­ I won¡¯t beg you anymore.¡± She found her own naivetyughable. Eric¡¯s purpose was to watch her suffer and helplessly try to survive in the Swan residence. Who would have thought that I would actually consider pleading with him! I must be out of my mind! Walking into the living room, she saw Will and Elsie dining. ¡°Father, Aunt Elsie!¡± Without lifting his head, Will responded, ¡°Where¡¯s Eric?¡± Eric greeted, ¡°Father.¡± ¡°Perfect timing. I¡¯m having a meal with Elsie. Come join us.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all right. I still have to go to the office. I have a meetingter.¡± Will put down his fork. Seeing this, Elsie handed him a handkerchief. Will wiped his mouth and tossed it aside. ¡°Thank you for your hard work. What did the doctor say? What illness is it this time?¡± Eileen lowered her head, feeling somewhat suffocated. ¡°Father¡­ I¡­¡± ¡°This doesn¡¯t concern you. If you¡¯re not feeling well, go upstairs and rest.¡± ¡°Alright, Father.¡± Will had always treated her this way, and she had long since grown ustomed to it. In this household, she didn¡¯t have much say. Eileen walked to the staircase when suddenly, Will¡¯s voice echoed from behind. ¡°I heard you¡¯ve switched sses?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Now that you¡¯ve switched sses, settle down and focus on finishing thest half year studies.¡± of ¡°Alright.¡± Eileen returned to her room, anxiously lying on the lounge chair in the balcony. Every emotional wave made her stomach hurt even more. The hot pack in her hand was no longer as warm. Thinking about his words, Eileen was so angry that she threw the hot pack. It happened to hit the pot of Devil¡¯s Ivy, knocking it over. The soil inside spilled all over the ground. What on earth did Eric say to Will? What should I do if he knows everything? That day, the weather was simply splendid. The sky was clear, the sun was shining brightly, and the warmth of the sunlight was quiteforting. But to Eileen, all these were harbingers of an impending storm. The sound of leather shoes hitting against the wooden marble floor rang out right then. ¡°I really thought your temper had changed.¡± Eric looked at the room, which was inplete disarray. Carefully avoiding the shattered vase pieces, he walked toward the balcony, from where he could see the mountainous landscape. Does she live here? This room is far less refined than the original one, with its ke-washed walls devoid of any decoration. The sound of a leaking faucet from the bathroom is audible, and a few paintings are hung on the wall. The floor isn¡¯t soft enough¡­ She usually prefers to walk barefoot, stepping on the carpet, but now there¡¯s only the cold floor tiles¡­ Yet, it can¡¯t change her habits. She¡¯s not at all picky about where she¡¯s living now. Eileen was in so much pain that she couldn¡¯t get up. ¡°It¡¯s none of your business!¡± After being scolded, Eric didn¡¯t actually get angry. Eileen didn¡¯t want to see him. She stood up, the pain unbearable. It wasn¡¯t because she was cold, but she waspletely infuriated.. Walking up to the table, she opened the medicine she had brought back from the hospital and poured out a few painkillers. The doctor¡¯s advice was to take one, but habitually, Eileen poured out an extra one. The medicine was procured by Eric, so he knew how much should be taken. Yet, seeing the situation, he did not stop it. Eileen took her medicine, washing it down with the half ss of water left fromst night. It was already cold, but she had no choice but to gulp it down. ¡°I¡¯ve already distanced myself from you. If you¡¯re still not satisfied, I can apply to live on campus in the second half of the year. If you¡¯ve seen enough, remember to close the door when you leave. I need to rest now.¡± Her voice was weak and feeble. Even climbing into bed was an arduous task. It seemed that Eric hadn¡¯t told Will about her health condition yet; otherwise, Will would have sent someone to drag her downstairs by now. Surprisingly, Eric was acting like a decent person for once. Eileen had no idea what kind of mischief he was plotting in his heart. She didn¡¯t get much restst night, only getting a few hours of sleep. She nuzzled against her pillow, drowsily burying herself in thefort of her nket. He can stay here for as long as he wants. Eric looked over and noticed two coats hanging on the wooden rack. They were extremely out of ce among the other women¡¯s clothes, strikingly conspicuous to the eye. The man frowned in displeasure. Eileen didn¡¯t know when Eric had left. She also hadn¡¯t clearly heard what he had said. As soon as Eric descended the stairs, Mary came out from the kitchen. ¡°Mr. Snow, has Ms. Eileen taken her medicine? This medicine is particrly effective for menstrual periods. My daughter-inw also takes this when she has her period. Oh, you wouldn¡¯t know. It¡¯s such a torment for girls during this time. They suffer so much. I just bought it this morning. It absolutely has no side effects!¡± The man simply walked away without uttering a word. Mary watched the aloof figure leaving and rolled her eyes at his retreating back, her face showing a hint of disdain. ¡°He ignored me. What kind of person is this!¡± She nced upstairs, shaking her head. ¡°This¡­ won¡¯t do¡­¡± The more I look, the less he seems like a good person. He¡¯s actually quite handsome, though. What a waste of a good-looking face. Eric pressed the key button, opened the car door, and sat in the driver¡¯s seat. His deep gaze thoughtfully fell on a corner not far away as his index finger rhythmically tapped on the steering wheel. Eileen¡¯s anguished expression shed through his mind. She was clutching her abdomen, causing his thoughts to be chaotic. Just then, the phone on the side rang, and Eric picked it up with one hand. ¡°Who is it?¡± A lightughter came from the phone. ¡°Getting old? You ask that every time.¡± ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Zachary said, ¡°I¡¯ve reviewed the CT report you sent over. I have good news and bad news. Which one would you like to hear first?¡± ¡°Do you think I have a lot of free time?¡± ¡°Right, you¡¯re a busy man. I won¡¯t beat around the bush, then. You were the one who wanted to administer the medicine. The problem now is something we anticipated. Eric, don¡¯t tell me you¡¯ve changed your mind so quickly! Perhaps¡­ Eileen is truly innocent¡­ It¡¯s just that Eileen has been ruined, that¡¯s all¡­¡± ¡°I want to hear the result.¡± The man¡¯s voice was low and somewhat icy. ¡°Alright, then. I¡¯ll tell you! The good news is, Eileen doesn¡¯t need to undergo a hysterectomy. The bad news is, even without the hysterectomy, she still won¡¯t be able to conceive. We can only rely on medication to gradually restore her health, but the deformity in her uterus is irreversible. It¡¯s toote for regrets now¡­ I¡¯ve told you that there¡¯s no room for remorse after doing such things. Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯ve actually fallen for Eileen?¡± Zachary didn¡¯t receive a response before the call abruptly ended. Never did I imagine that you would one day regret it, Eric! After returning from the hospital, Eileen hardly ate anything. By the next day, she had mostly recovered and returned to school. Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. Since she had taken a day off yesterday, she had to make up for the sses she had missed. Fortunately, even though Yvette only had a superficial rtionship with her, she didn¡¯t refuse when Eileen asked for her notes. As usual, she spent her morning studying. When Eileen and Yvette passed by ss One after thest ss in the afternoon, Vera saw them and called out, ¡°Eileen¡­¡± Chapter 108 Chapter 108 Chapter 108 Tragedy Maker Eileen received a box of medicine from Vera, which was given to her by Sharon. She only epted it because it was personally handed to her by Sharon. Since Vera was with Eric, Eileen wondered what kind of medicine it was. After expressing her gratitude, Eileen left with Yvette to go to the cafeter¨ªa. Before Walsh could start a conversation with her, she had already left. He couldn¡¯t help but sigh and think to himself, ¡°Eileen is bing more and more impressive. If only I had half of her grades, my dad wouldn¡¯t scold me every day, saying that having a daughter like me is embarrassing for him.¡± Vera lowered her gaze, lost in thought. With a slight smile, she said, ¡°Really? If you¡¯re willing to work hard, you might be just like Eileen. Who knows, you might even make it into ss Six.¡± As usual, Eileen had to attend Jacob¡¯s ss. It had to be said that Jacob¡¯s teaching was indeed good. He would create a study n based on each student¡¯s weaknesses. However. Eileen realized that the problems Jacob gave her were much harder than those given to others, even exceeding the scope of what she had learned. In thest set of workbooks he gave her, Eileen could only solve half of them. For the rest, she had to rely on resources from other extracurricr books. Upon reaching the professional training workshop, Eileen asked, ¡°Why hasn¡¯t Hector beening to school recently? Is there something going on at his home?¡± Yvette casually replied, ¡°I¡¯m not sure; probably something came up at home! But if I were to guess, he must have gone to take care of his mother.¡± ¡°Is his mother sick?¡± After some thought, Yvette said, ¡°I¡¯m not sure. Why are you suddenly concerned about him?¡± Eileen chuckled and echoed, ¡°Just making casual conversation.¡± Without thinking too much about it, the two of them entered the professional training workshop. Night had fallen, and it was already half past nine. The living room light was still on. Sharon prepared somete-night snacks and brought them into Vera¡¯s room. Seeing that Vera was still studying, she didn¡¯t disturb her. She quietly stepped out and closed the door. Just then, the door opened with a soft click. Seeing the person who had returned, she said, ¡°Mr. Snow, have you been out socializing again? Do you need me to make some hangover remedy?¡± Eric, who reeked of alcohol. rubbed his tired brow. ¡°No need.¡± He noticed lighting from under another door and nced at his wristwatch. It was almost ten. ¡°Has Vera not gone to bed yet?¡± Sharon replied, ¡°Vera is still studying. I just made her ate-night snack and brought it to he By the way, Mr. Snow, how is Eileen doing with her studies at school? It¡¯s gettingte. I wonder if she has made it home yet.¡± Eric tossed his suit and keys onto the table in the foyer. ¡°I¡¯ll go take a look.¡± Eric knocked a few times, then opened the door. Vera turned around and quickly broke into a smile. ¡°Eric, you¡¯re back!¡± Eric walked over, pulled out a chair, and sat beside her. ¡°I¡¯ve noticed you¡¯ve been staying upte recently. You must have a lot of schoolwork.¡± Vera shook her head. ¡°No¡­ I just want to get good grades at the end of the term. Maybe I can even get a schrship. That way, I can buy you a birthday present before your birthday.¡± Eric replied, ¡°I don¡¯t want any birthday gifts. You don¡¯t need to put too much pressure on yourself. Get some rest early.¡± ¡°Oh well, being in ss One isn¡¯t really that stressful. Most of the time, I¡¯m just hanging out with my ssmates. I¡¯ve been cking off a lot recently. I¡¯m not as diligent as Eileen, who got into the Olympiad Math ss. She might even get a guaranteed admission to Hulbury University in the future. As her older sister, I should set a good example. I can¡¯t fall too far behind her.¡± Vera pulled out a math workbook. ¡°There are some things I don¡¯t understand. Eric¡­ could you teach me?¡± ¡°All right.¡± Eric adjusted his position and helped her with the question. Under the moonlight, by the windowsill, a soft voice hummed gently, emanating from the room. The man¡¯s well-defined fingers fluttered over the ke paper, writing out beautiful numbers and forming a simple and easy-to-understand form. The young girl by his side nodded in agreement from time to time, creating a harmonious and beautiful scene¡­ It was eleven o¡¯clock at night. As the ringtone of a phone sounded, Eric paused. The moment he took out his phone, the call abruptly ended. Eric¡¯s eyes dimmed as he checked the missed call that had been hung up. His eyes, deep as obsidian, darkened even more. At the police station, Eileen abruptly ended the call that the police officer was about to make. Unbeknownst to her, the call had already rung for a few seconds on the man¡¯s phone. ¡°Officer, this was just a joke between me and my ssmate. See, I¡¯m perfectly fine! It¡¯s sote already. There¡¯s no need to call my parents¡­¡± ¡°A joke? Do ssmates joke around by stabbing each other?¡± The policeman¡¯s gaze fell on Eileen¡¯s bandaged hand. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for someone showing up in time, you would already be in the hospital for emergency treatment! This matter is serious. We must call your parents to take you home.¡± He added, ¡°And you lot! Don¡¯t think you¡¯re off the hook. You were just released not long ago, and now you¡¯re back in here again.¡± This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. In the corner, a line of people stood-one with red hair, another with green, both incredibly conspicuous. The rebellious young girl in the middle was the most noticeable, dressed in leather from head to toe and adorned with tattoos. At a nce, it was clear she had spent a long time being in a gang and learning all the wrong things. These individuals were none other than those whom Eileen had met in Peach Fishing Vige. She knew one of them was named Pa. Considering their good behavior this time, they were all free to go. Ss and Nigel, the one with red hair, nodded and bowed. ¡°Certainly, officer. We appreciate your advice. In the future, we will strive to be responsible citizens and do what is right.¡± ¡°If you want to be upstanding citizens, I suggest you dye your shy hair back to its natural color. None of you look presentable at all¡­ He continued, ¡°However, you cannot leave. Both sets of parents muste here. Otherwise¡­ you will have to remain at the station.¡± He directed this statement towards Eileen. After all, Eileen was injured. If it came down to it, Hector might actually end up in jail. After finishing her piano lesson, Eileen suddenly had a craving for roasted chestnuts, so she joined the queue to buy some. However, she did not expect that while peacefully walking down the street, someone would suddenly rush out and forcefully grab her neck, intending to harm her¡­ That was when a few individuals managed toe to her rescue. Yet, to their surprise, Hector had brought a knife. Realizing he was losing, he resorted to threatening them with the knife. Taking advantage of the moment when he was distracted, Eileen pushed him away, identally injuring the back of her hand in the process. Another person unintentionally got their stomach shed by the knife and is currently in the hospital. She nced at the person locked in the detention room. Eileen never expected that the one who harmed her would be Hector, who had been absent from school for a long time. Eileen couldn¡¯tprehend why he wouldmit such an act. If it was solely for the purpose of securing a spot on the Olympiad Math team¡­ There was absolutely no need to go to such extreme measures. When Pa walked out, she was still filled with frustration. The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. Halfway through her journey, she returned to Eileen and spoke irritably. ¡°Hey, no offense, but are you some kind of trouble ma? Why does misfortune always seem to follow you? Last time, Elm almost didn¡¯t make it back after jumping into the sea to save you. And now, because of you, George is injured¡­ Eileen, you really bring bad luck!¡± George said, ¡°Pa, I¡¯m fine!¡± Pa clicked her tongue. ¡°Don¡¯t interrupt me.¡± Eileen¡¯s heart trembled uncontrobly. ¡°What¡­ did you just say?¡± Chapter 109 Chapter 109 Chapter 109 Not Going To Work Pa revealed the truth to her. It turned out that the person who had saved her from the sea wasn¡¯t Eric, but Elm? Eileen was well aware of how much Elm despised her. Whenever she was bullied at school, he was always the first one to target her. That¡¯s why she had to switch sses. If that was really the case, then Elm¡¯s strangements to her before would make sense. No wonder¡­ Pa soon left, leaving only Eileen and Hector behind. It wasn¡¯t until a female police officer emerged from the detention room that Eileen was called in as well. Hector, handcuffed, sat across from her. The policewoman sternly began, ¡°Start talking. Why did you resort to violence?¡± ¡°It¡¯s all her fault¡­ She¡¯s the one to me!¡± Hector¡¯s emotions suddenly surged. His ferocious feelings seemed as if they wanted to tear her apart. ¡°Quiet down! Sit down now.¡± Eileen feigned calm as she looked at him, a murderous intent lurking in her eyes. ¡°We¡¯ve never had muchmunication between us. If this is all about joining the Olympiad Math ss, you could have just told me. I didn¡¯t necessarily have to join. You had a bright future ahead of you. Look at what you¡¯re doing now. You¡¯re destroying yourself with your own hands!¡± ¡°Shut up! What do you know! It¡¯s all because of you¡­ If you hadn¡¯t suddenly joined ss Six, I wouldn¡¯t have been kicked out. All I needed was to get this schrship, and my mom could have been saved! Now, the schrship is gone, and so is my guaranteed admission to Hulbury University. My mom got the call¡­ She was so overwhelmed that she died of shock¡­ I didn¡¯t even get to see her onest time.¡± Eileen was instantly stunned.. ¡°Eileen! You¡¯re a menace. It¡¯s all your fault! Why did you have toe! Why did you have to take everything from me? My life ispletely ruined now! It¡¯s you. It¡¯s all you! What that person just said is right-you are indeed a tragedy maker!¡± It seemed as if all of Eileen¡¯s strength had been drained from her body. When Mary came to pick her up, Eileen seemed as if her soul had been sucked out, leaving only an empty shell. She had no idea how she left the police station. Once she arrived home, the scolding voice of Will echoed in her ears, but she didn¡¯t take in a single word. She stumbled back into her own room, a room dark as pitch without the lights 1. Eileen, in a daze, didn¡¯t even bother to take off her clothes before she crawled directly into bed. The balcony window was still open, letting in the chilly wind. That night, all that filled Eileen¡¯s mind were the hysterical words Hector had said to her! Was it really her fault? She clearly hadn¡¯t done anything wrong. She was just doing what she believed was right. She never thought of taking away someone else¡¯s belongings. She simply wanted to rely on her own efforts to achieve what she desired. Inside, it felt as if a wall had suddenly copsed. Eileen was injured, and naturally, Will couldn¡¯t pretend not to see it. He couldn¡¯t hide it from him either. It was now the weekend. The people from the police station came knocking on the door. At the moment, Eileen couldn¡¯t hide it even if she wanted to. Going by Will¡¯s way of doing things, no matter how good Hector¡¯s grades were, if he didn¡¯t have a strong backing, he might spend his entire life in prison. Moreover¡­ in jail, he would likely endure inhuman torture. Elsie came by to see her, reaching out to touch her forehead. ¡°Did you leave the window openst night?¡± ¡°When I arrived this morning, I noticed all the doors were open. I called out for quite a while, but Ms. Eileen didn¡¯t respond. I thought she might be sick, and s, she really is,¡± Mary said, pulling a thermometer from her pocket. ¡°Her temperature is so low. Should we call a doctor toe and see her, Ms. Field?¡± Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. Elsie replied, ¡°Wait a moment. First, prepare a few hot packs for her, cover her hands and feet, then add anotheryer of nket for her. Then, set the air conditioning to twenty-eight degrees. That should be fine. Don¡¯t make it too hot.¡± ¡°All right, I¡¯ll go now.¡± Mary walked out, muttering to herself, ¡°What on earth happened? Something¡¯s been off since she came backst night, and now she¡¯s sick. Oh dear, I hope she hasn¡¯t run into any trouble again.¡± Mary looked up, startled by the sudden appearance of a person she hadn¡¯t noticed before. ¡°Oh my, Mr. Snow, are you here to see Ms. Eileen? She¡¯s ill at the moment, I¡¯ll go fetch her a hot pack.¡± ¡°Last night, at the police station?¡± His tone was icy. Mary nodded, finding the man too intimidating to hide anything from. She spilled everything about the events of the previous night to him. ¡°Last night, around eleven¡­ Ms. Eileen called me, asking me to pick her up without mentioning anything. When I arrived there, her hand was injured. Upon returning home, she was scolded by Mr. Swan. Then she went upstairs to rest. This morning, out of concern, came to check on her, only to find her in such a state. I suspect she must have been frightened.¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t you just call me?¡± With a troubled expression, Mary said, ¡°This¡­ was¡­ ordered by Ms. Eileen. Ms. Eileen said. that since you¡­ aren¡¯t very familiar with each other, she shouldn¡¯t bother you.¡± I Bother? Hasn¡¯t she caused me enough trouble with the messes she¡¯s made? So it¡¯s settled then she wants to sever ties with me? The rtionship between them wasn¡¯t something she could simply dismiss. Eric went to the room to take a look at her, sizing up the area on her hand. His gaze then fell on the long scar on her forearm. The wound had healed and scabbed over, leaving behind an ugly centipede- like scar. The area around the wound was still a bit red. ¡°Feeling heartache?¡± Elsie¡¯s voice echoed from outside the door. That day, she was dressed in a vintage red gown, swaying her slender waist as she walked over and sat by the bed. In her hand, she held a box of ointment, a small container made of transparent moonstone. Elsie opened the lid, dabbed a bit with her index finger, and applied it to the scar on Eileen¡¯s arm. ¡°She¡¯s precious-her body cannot have a single scar. Will has been relying on her for a long time because the Swan family¡¯s future position in Hulbury depends on her!¡± Eric asked, ¡°What are you trying to say?¡± Elsie¡¯s red lips curved upward. ¡°Don¡¯t you know better than I do? She is involved with the Smith family¡¯s heir; Will has known about it for a while. Last time, she got into a fight at school over Vera, causing the company to lose tens of millions in business. However, the CEO of Smith Corporation promptly sent over a billion. Isn¡¯t the purpose clear? Will is also interested. He is trying to bring the two together. In the future, Eileen might be part of the Smith family. Eric¡­ your n, it¡¯s not going to work!¡± With the Smith family¡¯s intervention, things would be even more difficult to navigate. The person on the bed let out a groan of difort, immediately silencing the voices of the two people. The wound was healing, sprouting new skin tissue, which was a bit itchy. Ufortably, Eileen withdrew her hand. Jeez, what n are they talking about? Why did I hear something I shouldn¡¯t have again? What are these two up to? What should I do now? Mary¡¯s eyes darted around. Filled with fear, she turned her head and retraced her steps the staircase, pretending she had just ascended. She entered with the hot pack. ¡°Ms. Field, the hot pack is ready.¡± ¡°Give it to me.¡± Elsie took it from her hands and personally tucked it into the quilt. down Chapter 110 Chapter 110 Chapter 110 Where Do I Stay When Eileen woke up, it was already the weekend of the following day. It felt as if she had experienced a catastrophe in her dreams. The pajamas she wore were almost soaked, and her body was burning up like a furnace. Mary, breathing heavily, carried the oatmeal upstairs. Climbing up to the fifth floor was no easy task for an old woman like her. When she saw Eileen sitting on the bed, lost in thought with a vacant look in her eyes, she couldn¡¯t tell what Eileen was thinking. Eileen hadn¡¯t even noticed when Mary entered. It was only when she heard Mary¡¯s voice that she turned around. ¡°Ms. Eileen, you¡¯ve been asleep for a whole day and night. Please eat something!¡± Mary said. Eileen looked at Mary with teary eyes. ¡°What did the police say to Dad when they came yesterday?¡± Mary replied, ¡°I didn¡¯t understand what they were saying either! But they assured me that they would handle the situation for you. Mr. Swan¡¯ won¡¯t let the man who threatened you with a knife get away with it.¡± Eileen looked away, her eyshes trembling as she nced at the bandaged gauze on the back of her hand. Without much thought, she had already guessed Hector¡¯s fate. Dad will surely make him pay a thousandfold. Even if he ends up in prison, he will be in utter despair. But there¡¯s nothing I can do about it. Eileen carefully sipped her oatmeal. She couldn¡¯t apply too much force with her hand as it would strain her stitches, making eating a bit of a struggle. As Mary left the room, Eileen noticed that a significant amount of furniture was missing. The paintings that once adorned the walls were gone. ¡°Mary, where are my paintings?¡± Eileen asked. Mary suddenly remembered something. ¡°Since you moved in, there have been frequent dangerous situations. The gentleman said it¡¯s because of the poor feng shui of the house. Wel need to renovate the room in a few days.¡± Eileen¡¯s hand, holding the bowl, visibly trembled. ¡°If the room is being renovated, where am I supposed to live?¡± ¡°You might have to stay at Mr. Snow¡¯s house for a few days,¡± Mary answered. ng! Mary didn¡¯t expect such a strong reaction from Eileen. The bowl of oatmeal she was holding, barely touched, was thrown, shattering into pieces on the floor. Eileen had initially thought it was just a joke from Will, but she didn¡¯t expect it to be true. During lunchtime, Mary had already packed Eileen¡¯s suitcase. Sitting at the dining table, surrounded by a feast of delicious dishes, Eileen could only eat the oatmeal in her bowl. She lowered her head, took a few spoonfuls, and said, ¡°Dad, does it have to be Eric¡¯s house? I could stay in Vera¡¯s room. Or I could move to Mary¡¯s room. I can manage for a few days.¡± Will lifted his eyes slightly, his expression turning serious. ¡°During this period, Elsie and I need to go out for a while. With me not at home, there won¡¯t be anyone to look after you. If you stay at Eric¡¯s ce, there will be someone to watch over you, which will ease my worries a bit.¡± ¡°I-I can take care of myself.¡± ¡°How are you going to do that? It¡¯s precisely because no one has been supervising you that you¡¯ve been acting recklessly, even changing sses without permission. I haven¡¯t even dealt with that issue yet! You better behave yourself during this period and stop causing trouble for Eric. That¡¯s final. Someone wille to pick you upter.¡± There was nothing Eileen could do to change the situation. Elsie, trying to mediate, said, ¡°Alright. There¡¯s no need to be so harsh. Eileen simply doesn¡¯t want to leave home: She didn¡¯t want any of this to happen. Eileen, when we return, the house renovation should be almostplete. Then your father and I wille to pick you up.¡± With a mncholic nod, Eileen didn¡¯t say anything more. Around one in the afternoon, Gavin came to pick her up, Mary had packed all her belongings, filling severalrge boxes, andpletely emptied her room. Eileen didn¡¯t bring much with her, only some everyday skincare products and clothes for changing. Unexpectedly, even those items required fiverge suitcases, and pulling them all at once was quite strenuous. Eileen would rather stay at school, but there was a holiday the following week. After Christmas, New Year¡¯s Eve would be next. Arriving at Euphoria Condominium, Eileen saw Sharon and Vera waiting downstairs since early morning. As soon as the car stopped, Sharon hurriedly approached and opened the back passenger door. When Eileen stepped out of the car, Sharon grabbed her injured hand, her face full of concern. ¡°Let me see! You poor thing. How did you get hurt again?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine. It doesn¡¯t hurt at all. It¡¯s just a little scrape, and it¡¯ll heal in a few days,¡± Eileen replied. Vera walked over and said, ¡°Eileen, your room is ready. However, I hope you don¡¯t mind sharing a room with me. I¡¯m not sure if you¡¯ll like how I¡¯ve arranged it¡­¡± She affectionately took hold of Eileen¡¯s wrist as she spoke. ¡°Alright.¡± Eileen¡¯s face showed no particr emotion. From childhood to adulthood, she had always been alone in her own room. She was not ustomed to living with others. Entering the condominium, Vera told Eileen the door lock code. They saw that an additional bed had been added to Vera¡¯s room. The bed sheets and duvet covers were all purchased by Sharon ording to Eileen¡¯s preferences, all in soft, pastel colors. There was also a pink teddy bear on the head of the bed, a birthday gift she had wanted. Vera also had an identical one, ced in the same position. Living under someone else¡¯s roof, Eileen didn¡¯t have the right to express her dislikes. ¡°Thank you. I really like it.¡± Vera cheerfully said, ¡°I¡¯m d you like it. Sharon and I were worried that you might not. You¡¯re still not well, so you should rest. Sharon and I can take care of the luggage.¡± Eileen¡¯s lips curved into a faint smile. ¡°I¡¯m fine now. I can take care of myself.¡± ¡°Let me assist you!¡± Eileen nodded without refusing. It seemed impolite to refuse. Once everything was organized, Eileen¡¯s clothes upied more than half of the wardrobe, leaving barely any room for the/books. Eileen apologized, ¡°I brought too much. I¡¯ll just put the rest on the floor for now!¡± ¡°Alright! When the timees, I¡¯ll have Eric buy a bookshelf and bring it over.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not necessary,¡± Eileen politely replied. ¡°It¡¯s absolutely necessary! You don¡¯t know how much I wish I had a sister. We could share all Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org. the good things together. We could watch movies together, share good books¡­¡± After spending over two hours, everything was finally organized. Eileen wasted no time. She spread out her books and began studying. She hadn¡¯t had the chance to work on the workbooks that Jacob had given herst time. Vera sat next to her, also starting to work on her homework. Whenever they encountered problems they didn¡¯t understand, they would ask each other for help. Sharon was cooking, and it wasn¡¯t until she entered the room and saw the two of them working hard that she felt an indescribable sense of satisfaction, as if she had two daughters at the same time. ¡°It¡¯s time for Eileen to eat.¡± Eileen nced at the time. It was just before six o¡¯clock, yet outside, the sky had already turned completely dark. ¡°Sure. You guys start eating! I¡¯ll join you as soon as I finish this question.¡± Vera nced at Eileen, then turned around and said to Sharon with a gentle smile, ¡°We¡¯lle in a little while.¡± Chapter 111 Chapter 111 Chapter 111 Your Phone Call Not wanting to disturb them further, Sharon decided to let them study in peace. At half-past six, Vera closed her book and put down her pen. ¡°Eileen, did Mr. Swan pressure you? Coming from a good family like yours, you don¡¯t have to work so hard.¡± Eileen¡¯s hands stopped moving as her train of thought was interrupted. ¡°It has nothing to do with my father. I just set high standards for myself and always feel like I should try harder.¡± Eileen didn¡¯t want to stop. She didn¡¯t want to be like her past self, relying on money to get a degree. She wanted to be independent and self-reliant like Sarah, not needing anyone¡¯s help. Even if she were to leave, she could support herself. ¡°I understand. There¡¯s a lot of pressure in ss One. Just make sure you don¡¯t overwork yourself. I¡¯m going to grab something to eat. Don¡¯t stay up toote studying,¡± Vera advised. Eileen nodded. After Vera left, Eileen finished the rest of her homework and then joined the others. Most of the dishes prepared by Sharon were Eileen¡¯s favorites. Eileen preferred lighter dishes, while Vera and Eric enjoyed spicy food. There were also tes of hot wings and shakshuka. Eileen decided to skip the spicy dishes and reached for the sweet and sour pork with her fork. As she tasted it, she found the vor to be just as delicious as always. The dining table was rtively quiet. Will had set a rule for Eileen to not speak while eating or before going to bed, so she rarely talked during meals. Vera, on the other hand, was free to do as she pleased. ¡­ ¡°Sharon, please sit down and join us for dinner!¡± Vera invited. ¡°No need. You guys go ahead and eat,¡± Sharon declined. While enjoying her food, Eileen casually suggested, ¡°Let¡¯s eat together. We¡¯re not at home, so there¡¯s no need for so many formalities.¡± Sharon smiled and said, ¡°I¡¯ve made chicken stew, just wait a moment¡­¡± There was an indescribable emotion in her eyes. She hadn¡¯t been home for a few days, and Eileen seemed to be growing more and more mncholic, not smiling as much as before. Seeing Eileen in that state saddened Sharon. Eileen nodded. Eileen ate an extra bowl of food than usual. After finishing, Vera helped Sharon clean up the table and wash the dishes. Feeling like an outsider, Eileen didn¡¯t know what to do. She decided to sweep the floor, but it still didn¡¯t feel clean enough, so she mopped the entire living room. She had mysophobia, so she couldn¡¯t stand anything dirty. It was one of her weaknesses¡­ She also neatly arranged the shoes in the foyer. After completing these tasks, she felt a bit more at ease. By then, it was almost eight o¡¯clock. It seemed that she couldn¡¯t change her habits. However, she felt the need to do something in return for living under someone else¡¯s roof. Even staying with close rtives couldn¡¯tpare to thefort of one¡¯s own home. Even if it was allowed, freeloading could still make one feel uneasy. As Sharon walked into the bathroom, she took the mop from Eileen¡¯s hands. ¡°Why are you doing all this? Let me handle it from now on.¡± Eileen replied, ¡°It¡¯s okay. I can¡¯t just eat and drink here without contributing anything.¡± ¡°Look at what you¡¯re saying. Mr. Snow treats you like his own sister. It¡¯s only right that you don¡¯t have to do anything while you¡¯re staying here for a while.¡± Eileen didn¡¯t say anything. Really? I never considered him as family. She knew one thing for certain, anything given by others that wasn¡¯t originally hers must be returned. Eileen took a bath in the bathroom. Emerging with a misty aura, she dried her damp hair, water droplets clinging to her strands. As she closed the door behind her, she heard voices from the living room. It was a familiar voice. Eric had returned. Eileen walked to the door, gently closing it behind her. She then retrieved her hairdryer and stepped into the bathroom to blow-dry her hair until it waspletely dry. Gavin helped the drunken Eric back home, with Vera quickly stepping forward to lend a hand. They settled him onto the couch while Sharon was still in the kitchen preparing a hangover remedy. ¡°I¡¯ll leave Mr. Snow to you,¡± Gavin said. ¡°Sure. I will take good care of Eric. Be careful on your way back,¡± Vera replied. Gavin nodded slightly and quickly walked out. Eric was sprawled out on the couch, reeking of alcohol. Drinking to that extent had be a habit for him, and Vera had grown ustomed to taking care of him. ¡°Eric, are you still feeling unwell?¡± Vera asked as she massaged his temples. ¡°I¡¯m okay,¡± Eric answered. ¡°Don¡¯t drink so much next time. You know your stomach can¡¯t handle it.¡± Sharon brought the hangover remedy and quickly served it. ¡°Vera, please feed Mr. Snow quickly.¡± Hearing themotion outside, Eileen didn¡¯t want to get involved. She put on her headphones and continued silently reciting Uprian vocabry until half-past nine in the evening. Vera returned to her room exhausted. She nced at the ringing phone on the bedside table that had been charging for quite some time and reminded, ¡°Eileen, your phone.¡± Eileen didn¡¯t respond. ¡°Eileen?¡± Vera walked over and looked at the iing call on the screen. Her eyes dimmed slightly when she saw the phone number. She unplugged the charger and ced the phone in front of Eileen. Eileen took off her headphones. Vera said, ¡°Your phone is ringing.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Eileen replied as she looked at the iing call. Shortly after, the call had already hung up automatically. Without much thought, Eileen put the phone aside. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to return the call?¡± Vera asked. Eileen nonchntly said, ¡°The person must have called me by mistake.¡± Vera nodded thoughtfully without saying anything further. She picked up her change of clothes and headed to the bathroom. Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org. Upon hearing the door close, Eileen picked up her phone again, ncing at the numerous unread messages. Suppressing her emotions, she turned off her phone abruptly. Eileen always went to bed before eleven. Concerned, Vera went to Eric¡¯s room to take care of him. up After an unspecified amount of time, Eileen heard the sound of people talking. She woke groggily for a moment but quickly fell back asleep. Her sleep was always light, and she would wake up at the slightest disturbance. It was only after Vera returned to her room that she finally fell into a deep sleep. The next morning, the rm clock promptly rang at six o¡¯clock. Causing only a slightmotion, Eileen quickly finished washing up. She tied her hair into a ponytail with a hairband, slung her backpack over her shoulder, and left without disturbing Vera, who was still sound asleep. ss Six had an early self-study session that started at seven o¡¯clock. Supposedly, she could reach there on time because the condominium wasn¡¯t far from the school. At that time, Sharon was still preparing breakfast. Sharon was shocked when she saw Eileen walking out. ¡°Why are you awake so early? Don¡¯t you only have ss at nine?¡± Eileen was changing her shoes at the door when she answered, ¡°I¡¯ve switched to ss Six now, and we have morning self-study starting at seven.¡± ¡°At least have breakfast before you leave!¡± Sharon urged. ¡°No need. I¡¯ll miss the bus if I wait any longer.¡± Sharon quickly took out a lunch box from the refrigerator. ¡°Take your lunch with you first. Regardless of the ss or the location, it¡¯s all the same. Now, you¡¯re even skipping breakfast. Why are you in such a hurry? Aren¡¯t you going to wait for Vera? You could let Mr. Snow drive you to school.¡± ¡°I woke up early, so I won¡¯t disturb her.¡± Eileen took the lunch box and put it in her backpack, then hurriedly left. After a while, Sharon suddenly remembered that she didn¡¯t have a driver. She hurriedly went outside, but Eileen was already gone. The bus stop was right outside the door. Conveniently, and fortunately, Eileen managed to catch the earliest bus. At such an early hour, she was the only person on board. Just as the bus door was about to close, it opened again. Eileen saw a person with a backpack slung over one shoulder, an air of defiance about him, wearing a ck headband and a pair of ke headphones hanging behind his ear. It was only when he turned around after dropping in his coins that Eileen got a clear look at his face. Chapter 112 Chapter 112 Chapter 112 Confess To Eileen However, he acted as if he saw nothing, sitting by the bus door with headphones on, legs crossed, engrossed in his phone, chatting with someone unknown. Eileen recalled the words Pa had told her the other day. Even now, I still find it hard to believe that the person who risked his life to save me would be him! It was pouring heavily at that time, with the sea waves churning violently. By the time she jumped into the sea, she had already lost consciousness. All she could see was a blurry face, and she thought it would be Eric because he still had use for her. Among everyone else, the only one who could save her, in Eileen¡¯s mind, was him. After all, no one would risk their own life for someone insignificant. At least, they wouldn¡¯t. If she were to die, Eric wouldn¡¯t know how to exin it to Will: The school was just four stops away. The bus started and stopped intermittently, and before long, it was filled with people. Most of them were ke-cor workers rushing to work. Eileen noticed an elderly woman boarding the bus. The seats were already filled, but unexpectedly, Elm stood up, offering his seat to the old woman. Who would¡¯ve thought he would do something like that? With a wickedly innocent smile on his face, anyone who didn¡¯t know better would truly believe he was the model student at school. Suddenly, Elm¡¯s gaze pierced through the crowd andnded on her. His eyebrows raised slightly as if he had caught her doing something naughty, which made Eileen feel embarrassed to look at him. Eileen got off the bus when it arrived at the final stop. Eileen slowed her pace. There really weren¡¯t many who could arrive at Petalburg High School that early. Across the street, one could hear the resonant recitation from the morning self-study session at Cloudburg Public School. Suddenly, Eileen remembered something. Thest time I left ss One, Elm came over with his books, asking me for a tutoring session. I still remember what he said after I ruthlessly rejected him. Elm was right. I was really heartless. Before, his gaze toward me was only one of indifference. Now, in addition to indifference, his gaze seems to be criticizing me and using me of being heartless. When Eileen saw him enter the school gate, she quickened her pace, wanting to catch up. However, it was as if he had eyes on his back, deliberately not letting her keep up, and he walked into the ssroom at an incredibly fast pace. Eileen wanted to call out to him, but a group of people swarmed around him. Eileen could only give up, deciding to find another opportunity in the future. Thest ss that morning was a physical education ss, a rarity arranged by the homeroom teacher. If Eileen¡¯s memory served her right, that ss was supposed to coincide with ss One. This is my perfect opportunity. What could have been easily resolved with a phone call becameplicated. She didn¡¯t have Elm¡¯s contact number, and she had already left the previous ss group chat. Inside thedies¡¯ changing room, Yvette reminded her, ¡°What are you daydreaming about? Change your clothes!¡± Eileen quickly gathered her wits, pulled out a tracksuit from the closet, and walked into the dressing room. Soon, she emerged in a ke tracksuit. During the physical education ss, the gym teacher simply had them run fourps to warm up before allowing them to engage in free activities. The academic pressure in ss Six was immense, and they might only have one gym ss a month. Coincidentally, she happened to encounter it. The boys from ss One and ss Three were ying basketball. Among them was Elm, who impressively scored a beautiful three-pointer in the game. Eileen thought that the only thing the girls in ss Six cared about was studying. Little did she know that quite a few of them were actually obsessed with good looks. Most of the girls by the basketball court were there for Elm. In school, Elm was quite popr. In fact, he was known to have different girlfriends all the time. Vera and Walsh stepped out of the equipment room and greeted Eileen. Yvette was indifferent to Vera. Sensing the atmosphere, Vera briefly chatted with Eileen before taking her leave. Yvette then said to Eileen, ¡°Stay away from him in the future!¡± ¡°What did you say?¡± Eileen asked. ¡°Elm!¡± Eileen asked in confusion, ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Has he offended you too?¡± Yvette said, ¡°He has offended my entire family. You don¡¯t need to know the reason. Just remember what I¡¯ve said.¡± Eileen vaguely said, ¡°We¡¯ll see.¡± you Then Yvette changed the subject. ¡°By the way, I almost forgot about something. How did get to know Jasper? He never talked to me, but he surprisingly spoke to me for the first time, and it was about you.¡± Eileen kept mum. Yvette, looking as if she was enjoying the show, nudged Eileen. ¡°He also said, if he has time, he wants me to bring you out for a meal¡­ Come on, spill it¡­ Is there something going on between you and Jasper?¡± Eileen grew slightly anxious. ¡°You¡¯ve misunderstood. He and I are just ordinary friends. You¡¯re overthinking! At my age, my family doesn¡¯t allow dating. They want me to focus on my studies.¡± Yvetteughed and patted Eileen¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I must say that you¡¯re quite something! Do you have any idea how popr my brother is in Hulbury? So many women are falling over themselves to get into his bed. Even those who hang out with me are hoping to get close to my brother through me. You¡¯re the first one who wants to sever ties with my brother! But you know, you¡¯re not exactly young anymore. I remember my mom was engaged to her first husband, Jasper¡¯s biological father, when she was just sixteen. You do know that Jasper and I have the same mother but different fathers, right? They got married when they were eighteen. Back then, there were no marriage certificates or anything like that. It was all decided verbally, and once both families agreed, they were considered married. Things are different now¡­ When my mom was at your age, she was already married. It¡¯s high time for you too! But given how beautiful you are, there must be plenty of people pursuing you! Why don¡¯t you tell me if you have someone you like? What¡¯s your type? I promise I won¡¯t tell anyone!¡± As she spoke, Yvette even raised her finger to swear. Yvette was definitely up to something. From the moment she began to speak, Eileen knew what was going on. Yvette is probing and testing the waters. Did Jasper ask her to inquire about these questions? Why would Jasper do something like this? Although Yvette said so, Eileen could already tell from her eyes. The contemptuous, unappreciative look she gave Eileen was evident. However, because of Eric, she didn¡¯t express it explicitly. Logically speaking, it was indeed she who had aimed too high by associating with the Smith family. Eileen answered softly, ¡°I don¡¯t have anyone I¡¯m fond of. Right now, all I want to do is focus on my studies.¡± Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. Yvette looked into her sincere eyes and believed her. Yvette was nowhere to be found after the physical education ss ended. Eileen knew that Jasper had instructed Yvette to keep an eye on her. Now, my presence has be a tool for Yvette to mend her rtionship with Jasper. Eileen headed to the cafeteria alone. On her way, she happened to run into Elm, who was walking with two others. He was holding a basketball in his hand. Gathering her courage, Eileen approached them. Charlie looked at the person who suddenly appeared, feeling somewhat surprised, ¡°What are you doing? Why are you blocking our way?¡± Albert lowered his head and let out a soft chuckle. Elm twirled the basketball in his hands, a mischievous smirk ying on his lips. ¡°Can you speak? If you can, why are you keeping quiet?¡± Eileen didn¡¯t mind his annoyance towards her. She looked at Elm with a serious expression and said, ¡°Regarding what you asked me¡­ I agree.¡± Albert and Charlie were speechless. The ball in Elm¡¯s hand slipped away unnoticed, rolling into a patch of grass on the side. Eileen continued, ¡°Apart from ss time, I only have free time during the evening self-study. I¡¯ll wait for you at the library at half-past seven in the evening. I¡¯ll only wait for you for half an hour. If you don¡¯t show up¡­ I¡¯ll take it as a rejection. After that, I won¡¯t wait for you.¡± After saying that, Eileen turned around and left, heading towards the cafeteria. ¡°Oh my God! What just happened?¡± ¡°Did you confess your feelings to Eileen?¡± Chapter 113 Chapter 113 Chapter 113 A Million Times Better Eileen arrived at the library before seven o¡¯clock, knowing that it would close at ten. There were still a few people scattered around the library at that time. She sat at her favorite spot next to the window and opened her workbook. As time passed, the lights in the library gradually dimmed. Eventually, a librarian approached her and politely said, ¡°We¡¯ll be closing soon.¡± He didn¡¯t show up, but she wasn¡¯t surprised. On her way back home, Eileen momentarily forgot about the ongoing renovations at her residence. All the servants and drivers had already gone home, and thest bus of the evening had already left by thiste hour. In the end, Eileen had to hail a taxi to get home. It was close to one in the morning when she arrived at her condominium. Looking up, she noticed that the lights on the twelfth floor were off. It seemed that the residents were already asleep at thiste hour. She entered the elevator and tried to input the door¡¯s lock code, but it was incorrect. She tried three times, but the passcode was still wrong. How can it be wrong? It¡¯s clearly a series of numbers from one to six. Could it have been changed? In her moment of confusion, Eileen instinctively reached for her phone, only to remember that Sharon didn¡¯t have a mobile phone. She didn¡¯t know thendline number for the living room, and her phone¡¯s contact list was minimal, with only a few names, including Vera. As she scrolled through her contacts, her eyesnded on thest set of numbers. After a few seconds of silence, the lights in the corridor, controlled by sound, turned off, leaving her in darkness. The only source of light came from her cell phone. Faced with this dilemma, Eileen hesitated for a moment and ultimately decided not to disturb them. It¡¯s already eleven o¡¯clock. I should stay at a hotel tonight. Eileen retraced her steps and headed towards the elevator. As she stood by the elevator, she pressed the button to go down. Just as the elevator was about to arrive, her phone vibrated faintly in her pocket. Taking out her phone, she nced at the caller ID and hesitated for a moment before deciding to answer. After hovering her finger over the ept button for about ten seconds, Eileen finally took the call. Putting the phone to her ear, she heard a cold, deep voice from the other end asking, ¡°Where are you?¡± Eileen held her breath and replied, ¡°I¡¯m at the door¡­¡± Shortly after, she heard the unmistakable sound of the door being opened. Eileen hesitated before turning to enter the living room. There, she saw a man in dark striped pajamas standing by the kitchen¡¯s refrigerator, pouring himself a ss of water. As she prepared to retreat to her room, the man¡¯s displeased voice echoed from behind, asking, ¡°You¡¯re homete. Where have you been?¡± Eileen felt a cold, piercing gaze on her back as she retorted, ¡°That¡¯s my business. I don¡¯t have to exin it to you.¡± After finishing her sentence, she entered the room and softly turned on the deskmp. Vera, awakened by themotion, looked confused and asked, ¡°Why are you justing back now?¡± ¡°There¡¯s something going on at school.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± Vera mumbled before turning over and falling back asleep while clutching his pink teddy bear. After putting her backpack down, Eileen noticed two cups of milk on the table. One had gone cold, and the other was only half-consumed. Eileen quickly took a shower before going to bed. The next morning, as the rm clock broke the silence, Eileen, feeling disoriented and congested, realized that she had barely slept. Dark circles under her eyes had deepened to a somewhat rming extent. Theck of rest from the previous night seemed to be taking its toll. Knowing that Eileen had an early morning study routine, Sharon would start preparing breakfast at four-thirty. When Sharon saw Eileening out of her room, she was taken aback. ¡°Goodness, child, what have you been up to? What time did youe backst night?¡± Eileen squinted her eyes while scanning the contents of the refrigerator and replied, ¡°Almost eleven o¡¯clock. Do we still have milk, Sharon?¡± ¡°Breakfast is almost ready. Take a seat. Mr. Snow has gone for a morning run; he¡¯ll be back shortly,¡± Sharon informed. Eileen took a sip of cold water, trying to reduce the puffiness of her eyes. ¡°I won¡¯t be eating breakfast; I¡¯m in a rush.¡± ¡°Why are you so disobedient? I woke up at four-thirty to make breakfast for you. Be good. You¡¯re still growing. You can¡¯t skip breakfast,¡± Sharon said. ¡°You don¡¯t have to go through so much trouble. I¡¯m fine with just eating whatever,¡± Eileen said. ¡°What are you talking about! I¡¯ve watched you grow up since you were little; do you think I don¡¯t know you well enough?¡± Sharon eximed. Eileen walked over and hugged Sharon from behind, resting her chin on Sharon¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You¡¯re the best, Sharon.¡± The door swung open. It must be Eric, who had returned from his morning run. Eileen let go of Sharon, who carried the oatmeal to the dining table. ¡°Come, sit down and eat!¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Despite her reluctance to face Eric, Eileen didn¡¯t want to waste the food that Sharon had spent time preparing. Seated at the dining table, Sharon set a few sets of cutlery and served two bowls of oatmeal. Eric, after a refreshing shower and a change of clothes, came out of the room. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. Sharon asked, ¡°Should we wake Vera up?¡± Eric pulled out a chair and sat at the head of the table. ¡°No need. Let her sleep a little longer.¡± Eric had barely sat down when Eileen stood up. ¡°I¡¯m full. I¡¯m heading to school now.¡± ¡°Why are you eating so little? You haven¡¯t even finished your oatmeal. There¡¯s still time. Finish eating before you leave.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. I still have to catch the bus.¡± In amanding tone, Eric insisted, ¡°Sit down and finish your meal!¡± He then added, ¡°I spoke to your homeroom teacher; you didn¡¯t attend the evening self-study session yesterday. Where were you?¡± Eileen asked, ¡°Does that have anything to do with you?¡± Even Will didn¡¯t bother to ask. What right does he have to interrogate me? If he understands, he¡¯ll know I¡¯m avoiding him. Every single thing he did to me was to ruin my life! I can¡¯t believe he¡¯s putting on an act to pretend to care for me now. What right does he have to ask? ¡°If you were absent because of the Olympiad ss, it onlysts until eight-thirty at thetest. Add half an hour for the return trip, and it¡¯s noter than nine,¡± Eric exined, each word and sentence clear, without once lifting his head. ¡°If you don¡¯t exin everything clearly, there¡¯s no need for you to attend the ss.¡± Eileen replied, ¡°Whether I attend or not, it¡¯s not for you to decide.¡± Sharon interrupted, ¡°Eileen, Eric is your older brother; you shouldn¡¯t talk to your brother like that.¡± ¡°Brother?¡± Eileen let out a cold, sarcastic snort. ¡°What kind of brother does he think he is?¡± Elm is a million times better than him. At the very least, he risked his life to save me. What about him? All he knew was to resort to such despicable tactics, drugging me, allowing those thugs to tarnish my reputation. He is indeed a ¡°great¡± brother! Sharon had no idea what was going on between the two. In the past, Eileen loved Eric and followed him everywhere, but now, when she wasn¡¯t actively avoiding him, she treated him like a sworn enemy. With everything that had happened in the past swirling in her mind, Eileen felt a surge of anger welling up within her, intensified by the irritability of her period. Her face vividly disyed impatience. ¡°Let¡¯s be completely honest now,¡± she dered. Eric fixed his hawk-like eyes on her, his gaze icy-cold. Eileen continued, ¡°There¡¯s no point in pretending; what¡¯s done is done. I can¡¯t continue to grovel and fawn over you like I used to. You¡¯ve always despised me. Now that I¡¯m living here, it¡¯s only going to make both of us miserable. Your fake behavior disgusts me even more. So just drop the act. Yes, I am afraid of you, but that doesn¡¯t mean I will pretend as if the things you¡¯ve done to me never happened. Nor does it mean I can sit at the same table with you and have a peaceful meal. I will move out from here before school ends today. And please, stop interfering in my affairs!¡± she warned him. Otherwise, just end my suffering quickly and don¡¯t prolong it! Chapter 114 Chapter 114 Chapter 114 Threaten Suddenly, a strong force gripped her wrist, causing Eileen to stagger and almost fall. Eric pulled her towards the study and threw her in, his movements swift and decisive, closing the door and locking it from outside. Sharon hurried over, questioning, ¡°Mr. Snow, what are you doing?¡± Knocks echoed from within the study. ¡°What are you doing? Let me out, Eric, you jerk! What right do you have to lock me up?¡± Eric secured the door and withdrew the key, his expression grim. ¡°Without my orders, no one is to bring her food,¡± he dered. He then said to Eileen, ¡°You¡¯ll be let out as soon as you¡¯ve realized your mistakes! I¡¯d like to see how you¡¯re going to stop me from interfering in your affairs!¡± Vera was awakened by the noise outside. Pressing herself against the back of her room door, she listened intently to themotion. Are Eric and Eileen quarreling? When it was seven-thirty, Vera emerged from her room, taking a seat to eat breakfast. The atmosphere in the living room was tense. As she sipped her porridge, she looked up and asked, ¡°Eric, isn¡¯t today a workday? Don¡¯t you have to go to work today?¡± Eric, still in his loungewear, was engrossed in thetest financial newspaper, emitting an intense aura. ¡°I¡¯m working from home today. I¡¯ll have Gavin drive you to school in a bit.¡± ¡°Oh¡­ okay.¡± As Vera left, she cast a nce at the tightly shut door of the study. Eric has always been gentle-tempered, humble, and polite to others, rarely losing his temper. What exactly happened between him and Eileen? Sharon was about to say something when she emerged to clear the dishes from the table, but Eric spoke up first. ¡°I¡¯ll be home, Sharon. You can take the day off today.¡± Is Mr. Snow determined to keep Eileen locked up for a whole day? This child has never suffered much since she was young. How can she possibly take this? Trying to reason with Eric on Eileen¡¯s behalf, she began, ¡°Eileen is still young and ignorant-¡± Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org. However, she was interrupted by Eric. ¡°Still young? She¡¯s eighteen now. She should have the judgment of an adult.¡± Eric didn¡¯t say anything further before putting down the newspaper in his hand and standing up with one hand in his pocket. He then returned to his bedroom. Sharon cast a worried nce toward the study. I can¡¯t believe this child¡­ How can she lose her temper at Mr. Snow? Eileen remained locked up throughout the morning, enduring the confinement until three in the afternoon. Finally, the door to the study was opened. The room was dim, with the lights off and curtains drawn, enveloping it inplete darkness. Eric reached for the switch on the wall, illuminating the room. To his surprise, the entire study remained tidy, devoid of any signs of disorder. His gaze fell on the person curled up on the couch, the bandage on the back of her hand soaked with blood, which was dripping onto the floor. She resembled a lifeless doll, unmoving. The man approached, his deep-set eyes prating as he looked down at her. ¡°Have you calmed down?¡± Regaining herposure, Eileen sat up on the couch, attempting to escape his gaze. However, in his presence, she felt as if she was suffocating, unable to breathe. Suddenly, the man seized her, his rough palm gripping her wrist. Instinctively, Eileen shook off his hand in response. ¡°Get lost! Don¡¯t touch me!¡± Her eyes were red, as though she had been crying, and herplexion appeared worn out, carrying a hint of sickly pallor. She left the study, quickly collecting several books and stashing them into her backpack. Stepping into the hall, she efficiently arranged the books in her bag, slinging it over her shoulder, readying herself to leave. Eric had already stepped out of the study, positioning himself in front of her, blocking her way. I can¡¯t spoil her. She¡¯ll forget who¡¯s in charge. Eric stated, ¡°Now, you have two choices. First, go back to your room and calm downpletely before talking to me again. Second, I can take you back to school, but from now on, you must be home by nine. If you¡¯re going to beter than that, you need to let me know.¡± Eileen retorted, ¡°Just focus on taking care of Vera! I have nothing to say to a hired killer.¡± She walked past him, her hand reaching out to turn the doorknob. As she opened the door, a sudden hand shot out, forcefully shutting it. The neighbor across, who was about to step out, was startled by the abrupt action. Eric gripped her shoulders, forcefully pinning her against the wall. His eyes were dangerously intense, almost as if they could tear through her. Eileen could feel the restrained fury emanating from his gaze. She suddenly chuckled, ¡°What? Are you upset? Did I say something wrong? You¡¯ve been drugging me for years, and you even had someone attack me¡­ And now you¡¯re ying the role of an older brother figure. What¡¯s this supposed to mean? Are you showing concern or pity? I¡¯ll say it again, get lost!¡± The man in front of her leaned in suddenly, and she felt a soft sensation against her lips. His kiss was dominant, his tongue sweeping past every inch of her mouth like a hurricane. He kissed her passionately and vigorously, as if he had lost his mind. Eileen felt her hands forcefully pinned against the wall as she gasped for breath. The kiss persisted until she bit down hard on his lips. The man winced in pain, and they both tasted the metallic sweetness in their mouths. After a brief pause, his actions intensified, and he persistently bit down on her soft lip, enduring the pain. Eileen struggled hard in pain. Her scent was like poison, addictively intoxicating. If the first kiss was part of his n, then what is this? Is he kissing me out of anger? Why is he angry? Even Eric himself had no idea where his anger came from. Is there anything wrong with what she said? Every word she said was true, without a shred of falsehood or nder! He was well aware of the fact that she was averse to him and deliberately distancing herself from him, even avoiding himpletely. At the same time, he also knew what he was doing. Some of the things he did were beyond his expectations, yet he couldn¡¯t seem to control himself and still crossed the line. After an unknown period of time, a wave of dizziness washed over Eileen. She leaned against the wall, trying to prevent herself from falling. Her long, dark eyshes fluttered, and her expression conveyed innocence yet vulnerability. This delicate appearance, easily influenced, only served to fuel darker desires in the man¡¯s heart. p! In response, Eric received a p on his face-neither too gentle nor too forceful. ¡°If you dare touch me again, Eric, I will tell Will and have him cut off your hands.¡± Eileen¡¯s voice trembled with a sobbing tone. She¡¯s even threatening me now. Excellent. The tall man in front of her tilted his head,ughing softly. His thumb gently caressed her enticing lips, his gaze dropping, then settling on her vulnerable eyes. Whenever she threw a tantrum, she resembled a wild rose growing in the wilderness, adorned with thorns, capable of pricking anyone who approached too closely. When bullied, however, she trembled with fear, as harmless as a little rabbit. Her eyes were red, giving her an extremely innocent appearance. ¡°Call me your big brother!¡± he said, his tone authoritative. Eileen remained silent, challenging hismand with her gaze. Eric applied more pressure to her injured lips. Eileen winced in pain. ¡°Call me big brother!¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t make me repeat myself. Call me ¡®big brother¡¯, or I can¡¯t guarantee what I might do next.¡± His voice, devilish, echoed through the living room. His gaze deepened, bing increasingly intense and dark. In that moment, a chill enveloped her, so cold it sent shivers down her spine. Eileen was gripped by fear, unsure of what he might do next-something unimaginable. Alone in the spacious room and within his reach, escape seemed impossible for her. Eric always did as he pleased, unconcerned about the consequences. He might even make her his right then and there. Chapter 115 Chapter 115 Chapter 115 She Surrenders ¡°B-Big bro¡­¡± Ultimately, she gave in. So what if I did? Does he think that by having me call him that, he can erase all the harm he¡¯s caused me and pretend like nothing ever happened? What on earth do you want, Eric? He smiled. She knows full well that she¡¯s asking for trouble by going against me. Why doesn¡¯t she ever learn? She just has to make me teach her a lesson. ¡°Don¡¯t let me hear you say that a second time. I can¡¯t deny those things, but I don¡¯t like hearing about it! Understand?¡± he said. Eileen remained silent. Eric pinched her chin, forcing her to lift her head and meet his eyes. ¡°Answer me!¡± Eileen had no intention of yielding. If the issue wasn¡¯t resolvedprehensively, the status quo would persist, and the same problems would likely recur in the future. ¡°Big bro¡­ I¡¯m just reminding you, what you want is to ruin me, unlike what you¡¯re doing right now. You¡¯remitting indecent, lewd acts with a teenager.¡± Eileen chortled, her eyes filled with icy resentment. ¡°You used to not let me touch you. Don¡¯t tell me that your actions. toward me now mean you¡¯ve fallen for me.¡± Eric¡¯s gaze grew even more unfathomable. In the end, Eileen still didn¡¯t go to school. Eric made a phone call to apply for leave on her behalf. Around four in the afternoon, Eric pulled her into the car. They had run out of gauze from the medical kit at home, so he drove her to the hospital. Eileen upied the passenger seat, having changed back into her usual clothes. Her school uniform, stained with blood, had already been sent for dry cleaning. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. Gazing out of the car window, she remarked, ¡°I don¡¯t want to go to Serene Hospital.¡± She harbored a distrust for Zachary, the effeminate man who was Eric¡¯s aplice. I might just die if we go to his hospital. Eric didn¡¯t say a word, but at the uing traffic light, he changednes and took a different direction. Upon reaching General Hospital, he queued up for registration. Eileen then proceeded to the consultation room to have her wound treated. The blood had already coagted, sticking to the stitches. As the doctor removed the stitches, the pain caused her to furrow her brows. ¡°Don¡¯t move. It has solidified. I¡¯m going to clean it with alcohol, and it might hurt a bit, so bear with it.¡± The doctor picked up a cotton ball soaked in alcohol with a pair of tweezers and said, ¡°Hold your girlfriend steady. Don¡¯t let her move around.¡± Eileen exined indifferently, ¡°We¡¯re not in that kind of rtionship. He¡¯s my brother.¡± The doctor chuckled. ¡°You young folks sure love joking around. No brother would bite their own sister¡¯s mouth till it bleeds. You¡¯re no better than her, young man.¡± Eric, wearing a harmless smile, looked every bit the gentleman. He said with augh, ¡°She¡¯s still mad at me, so don¡¯t mind her.¡± The doctor seemed to only believe Eric¡¯s exnation. Eileen really didn¡¯t get it. They stubbornly choose to believe in their own assumptions rather than the truth I just told. The sun was already setting, casting a dusky hue outside when they left the hospital. The car began to move, and on the road, Eric picked up a call. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°Eric, the fridge is out of strawberries. Could you get some? I feel like having some.¡± ¡°I got it. Anything else you want?¡± ¡°That¡¯s all! Thank you, Eric. The teacher¡¯s here. I have to hang up now.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± The phone wasn¡¯t soundproof, allowing Eileen to hear everything clearly. There was a noticeable contrast between the way Eric treated her and the way he treated Vera. Eric made a quick trip to the supermarket, but Eileen chose not to leave the car. He called her name, but she ignored him, steadfast in her refusal. Seated in the car, she adjusted the rearview mirror. From her backpack, she retrieved the concealer gifted by Yvette, exactly what she needed at the moment. Although she couldn¡¯t find the same concealer anywhere online, the price of this particr brand was exorbitant. It seemed custom-made, unavable in regr stores. The one she held in her hand likely started at least in the four figures. She dabbed some concealer on her lips to cover the swollen and reddish parts. Then, avoiding the wound, she applied anotheryer of lipstick. Otherwise, it would be hard to exin when she got home. Half an hourter, Eileen grew impatient from waiting. Finally, the man emerged from the supermarket entrance, carrying tworge bags brimming with items. He stowed all his purchases in the trunk of his car, then took the passenger seat and headed home. Vera had also returned home, perhaps alerted by the sound of footsteps; she hurriedly opened the door. ¡°Eric, let me take it,¡± she offered. ¡°No need. It¡¯s a bit heavy.¡± ¡°All right then.¡± Eileen had no interest in witnessing their disy of sibling affection. In the presence of others, it would be immediately apparent that she was the one who was out of ce. Eric moved to the refrigerator to put the things away, with Vera trailing behind him. ¡°Eric, did Sharon take a day off today? What are we having for dinner? I can cook.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve ordered takeout, and it¡¯ll arrive soon. Go do some homework. I¡¯ll let you know when it¡¯s here.¡± Eileen, with her backpack on and dressed in a fresh set of clothes, emerged from her room and was about to leave when Vera stopped her. ¡°Eileen¡­ are you leaving? It looks like it¡¯s going to rain outside. Take an umbre with you.¡± Eileen replied, ¡°I brought it.¡± Eric took out a box of fresh milk from the bag and put it in the refrigerator, asking in a deep voice, ¡°Where are you going?¡± ¡°To an extracurricr ss. Be back by ten. Go to sleep and don¡¯t wait for me.¡± With that, Eileen closed the door and left, leaving Vera and Eric alone. The atmosphere once again stiffened. She had only been gone for about two minutes when the meal they ordered from Fancy Parlor arrived. The portion was meant for three people and upied almost the entire dining table. Vera had been attempting to lose weight recently, and the two of them simply couldn¡¯t finish all the food. Initially, they had nned to eat the leftovers the next day, but the refrigerator was already filled with snacks and fruits Eric had purchased from the supermarket. In the indoor golf course at Primas za, after an hour of practice, Quinton handed Eileen a bottle of water. They settled in the rest area, where the air conditioner softly hummed. Feeling a bit warm, Eileen took off her jacket. Underneath, she wore a ck, semi-high cor sweater that hugged her body, entuating her perfect curves. She exuded both the vibrant beauty of a young girl and the allure of a mature woman. In short, she was a stunning beauty. ¡°It¡¯s umon to see a figure like yours at your age.¡± Eileen was surprised, then btedly understood what he had just said. ¡°What did you just say?¡± Quinton gave a slight smile. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. You seem preupiedtely, is there something on your mind? Did you have a disagreement with your boyfriend?¡± Eileen furrowed her brows. ¡°Do you think that¡¯s what happened, too?¡± Quinton raised his hand and pointed to the same spot on his own lips where her wound was and said, ¡°Here. It¡¯s hard not to think that way.¡± Eileen feltfort and peace when talking to Quinton. He was the kind of friend with whom she could have deep heart-to-heart conversations. ¡°So¡­ it¡¯s not?¡± Eileen looked down. ¡°It¡¯s swelling because of inmmation. It¡¯s not what you¡¯re thinking.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Eileen didn¡¯t understand why he was apologizing, but she still replied, ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± This ss was added by her on a whim, a deviation from Quinton¡¯s usual schedule. Eileen made this spontaneous decision solely to avoid encountering Eric. Today, she found it difficult to concentrate; her mind wandered no matter what she did. At nine o¡¯clock, Quinton drove her back to Euphoria Condominium. Eileen checked the time but instead of rushing back, she chose to sit at the base of the apartment building. She didn¡¯t feel like going back. Chapter 116 Chapter 116 Chapter 116 Just ying Around ¡°Stop right there!¡± There were fifteen minutes left. Eileen was about to head upstairs when she heard a roar echo from somewhere. Shortly after, two people walked out from the entrance of the residential area. Elm had a cigarette in his hand, and chasing behind him was a stunning youngdy who had styled her hair in long, wavy curls and was wearing a knitted maxi dress. The youngdy caught up with Elm and pped him across the face. ¡°Elm, you¡¯re nothing but scum! What gives you the right to break up with me? Do you think you can send me away with just a text message? What do you take me for? A ything you can summon and dismiss at your whim?¡± Instead of getting angry, Elm smiled. He tossed away the cigarette in his hand and slipped his hands into his pockets. ¡°I¡¯m just fooling around. When I¡¯m bored, I quit.¡± Under the streetlights, the ke light sprinkled on Elm¡¯s head. As the gentle breeze blew, the stray strands of hair on his forehead covered his attractive, almond-shaped eyes. Half his face swelled up quickly, and a handprint appeared almost instantly. ¡°To be honest, I¡¯m not interested in women who throw themselves at me. Maybe you should look for someone else!¡± The elegantly dressed youngdy pulled out a bottle of water from her bag and furiously poured it over Elm¡¯s head. ¡°Just you wait. My dad won¡¯t let you off easily.¡± Then, she threw the bottle aside and left quickly, leaving behind the disheveled Elm. He shook the water off his head and swept his hair back. I don¡¯t think his girlfriend looked like this when I saw her the other time¡­ Eileen was enjoying the show before her when, unexpectedly, the man looked in her direction. His gaze seemed to ask if she enjoyed what she saw. She calmly met his gaze for a few seconds. Then, she turned around, stepped into the elevator, and pressed the button to go upstairs, all while feigningposure. ¡°Entering 810214, the password lock indicated a sessful entry. That string of numbers for the door lock was Vera¡¯s birth date. She had memorized it after seeing Eric enter it once earlier that day. Opening the door, she noticed the lights in the living room were still on, yet no one was around. They must¡¯ve been left on for me. Eileen closed the door. A wave of fatigue quickly reced the excitement within her when she saw the couch, which reminded her of the soft andfortable bed. She walked to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator, intending to drink a ss of milk. But at the thought that she was still on her period, she ultimately decided against it. Just then, her phone in her pocket vibrated. When she nced at the screen, she found a text message from a familiar contact. Jasper texted: You moved? Eileen saw the messages sent on different dates. She grabbed a washed cucumber from the refrigerator and started munching on it as she casually crafted a message: My house is being renovated. At this moment, a singlemp stood illuminated in Unde Mansion and the Swan residence. Before Eileen clicked on the send button, she deleted the original text in the dialogue box and reced it with one word: Yeah. The screen disyed that the message had been sent sessfully. Wearing gray-striped pajamas, the man sat on his bed. A book on how to suppress emotions. and treat mental illnessy on the nket, spread open. A faint smile graced Jasper¡¯s face upon seeing the response he received. She¡¯s finally willing to talk to me. Richard nced at the man on the bed, his hands holding medicine and a ss of water. Then, he knocked on the door. ¡°Come in,¡± Jasper uttered. Richard worriedly said, ¡°Mr. Jasper, you should get some rest now. Here¡¯s your medicine.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Jasper set his phone aside. He hoped he would receive another message from her when he picked up his phone again. He then took the sleeping pill and washed it down with water. Richard took the him and asked, ¡°Mr. Jasper, are you still waiting for Ms. Eileen¡¯s message?¡± cup from ¡°What do you think¡­ she¡¯s doing right now?¡± Richard answered, ¡°At this hour, Ms. Eileen should¡¯ve just returned from her extracurricr ss. She went to Primas za to practice golf today. Mr. Wright was the one who sent her back.¡± ¡°Who is he?¡± Jasper frowned slightly. ¡°Never mind. Send me all his information tomorrow.¡± ¡°Got it, Mr. Jasper.¡± ¡°You can leave now. I want to rest.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± After Richard left, Jasper picked up his phone again. Sadly, all his hopes were dashed. Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. In a fit of frustration, he threw the book in his hand out, sending it crashing toward the painting on the wall. The masterpiece, an original work of a famous artist worth millions, shattered instantly. Hearing amotioning from the room, Richard let out a sigh. If things continue like this, Mr. Jasper will inevitably end up in a bad state sooner orter. He¡¯s finally taken control of thepany¡¯s affairs. If it copses now, it would be detrimental to him! Mr. Jasper can sit securely in his high position not only because he has the support of Old Mr. and Mrs. Smith but also that of ex-Mrs. Friedman. Nothing must go wrong at this juncture. Richard looked at the ss of water in his hand. No matter how good the medicine is, it¡¯s not comparable to having Ms. Eileen¡¯spany. Perhaps it¡¯s time I do something. Mr. Jasper¡¯s illness has red up again. Hopefully, he doesn¡¯t do things that will harm himself again like he did in the past. Meanwhile, Eileen cited her busy study schedule as an excuse to brush off Jasper. By the time she hung up the phone and finished her nightly routine, it was almost midnight. She turned off the desk When she woke up at six in the morning, Sharon had already finished preparing breakfast. Eric also woke up earlier than usual and came out of his room. Eileen and Eric sat at the dining table, quietly enjoying their meal. They both didn¡¯t say a word, yet the atmosphere was strangely harmonious. Sharon poured the warmed milk into a ss bottle and ced it in front of Eileen, along with the lunch for the day. ¡°The milk is still hot. Remember to drink it.¡±¡± ¡°Mm-hmm.¡± ¡°Did you bring the painkillers? Does it still hurt?¡± Sharon mentioned Eileen¡¯s menstrual cramps. ¡°It¡¯s much better now,¡± Eileen replied. ¡°Remember to call me if it bes unbearable.¡± ¡°There¡¯s a clinic at school. I¡¯ll be fine.¡± Noticing that it was almost time for the bus to arrive, Eileen quickly set aside her half-eaten bowl of oatmeal. ¡°I need to catch the bus. I¡¯m not eating anymore.¡± ¡°Hey, grab your things.¡± Eileen turned to grab her thermal bag and hurried out, reaching downstairs just in time. This child¡¯s habit of being forgetful hasn¡¯t changed at all! Someone was already on the bus, and it was Elm. How strange. Given his arrogant attitude, he can go to school whenever he wants, regardless of the time. But look at him now, waking up so early to go to school? Has he turned over a new leaf? Throughout the bus ride, the two of them had no interaction. He didn¡¯t even nce at her once. It was as if nothing had happened the night before. The things I said to him before, and how he didn¡¯t show up at the library¡­ If he¡¯s not willing, then so be it. I can focus better this way, too. She sat by the bus window, and after about ten minutes, the bus arrived at the school. Eileen walked at a distance that was neither too far nor too close to Elm. At the school gate, several men and women dressed in dark-colored clothes and holding wreaths were seen crying uncontrobly. ¡°Oh, my poor nephew! He was imprisoned at such a young age, and my sister was killed. Everyone, come quickly and seek justice for me! This is so unfair!¡± The street, which was mainly filled with schools, was crowded with parents sending their children to school at that hour. The crowd was significant, but since they were mostly affluent or privileged, hardly anyone stopped or lingered to watch themotion and instead took a different route. Unfortunately, the security personnel couldn¡¯t chase away those men and women. Left with no other option, they had to seek permission from their superiors to open the gate for the cars to enter, so as not to startle the other students. Seeing this, Eileen felt a growing sense of unease. Who are those people¡­ What on earth happened? Chapter 117 Chapter 117 Chapter 117 Who Informed Eric To prevent such incidents from negatively impacting the school¡¯s reputation, the higher-ups of Petalburg High School quickly intervened. Unintentionally, Fabian learned about the incident that urred at school, and coincidentally, Eileen was involved. Fabian knocked on the CEO¡¯s office door and immediately reported the matter to Jasper. The man, busy working on some documents at his desk, became visibly gloomy upon hearing the news. ¡°She¡¯s injured? Why wasn¡¯t I informed immediately? What is the current situation at the school?¡± Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. Fabian replied, ¡°The school authorities have taken charge and are handling the situation at the moment.¡± Jasper put down his expensive signature pen and closed the file. ¡°Postpone the uing meeting. Contact the school and inform them to wait for me toe and resolve the matter.¡± Fabian nodded. ¡°Understood, Mr. Smith.¡± Although Petalburg High School is Smith Corporation¡¯srgest investor, there is no need for Mr. Smith to personally get involved. School matters are trivialpared to corporate affairs. Mr. Smith seems overly concerned for an eighteen-year-old girl. When ites to matters involving Ms. Eileen, he always loses his sense of propriety¡­ Butpared to that woman, Ms. Eileen¡­ Perhaps Ms. Eileen is the only one who can pull Mr. Smith out of the abyss he has fallen into and help him forget his painful past. Meanwhile, at Petalburg High School. During the morning self-study session, Eileen was summoned to the principal¡¯s office for a discussion. Yvette was supposed to join, but due to the prominent status of the Friedman family, the principal naturally did not dare to summon her. Eileen had a vague idea of why she was being called. That¡¯s why she didn¡¯t ask anything. Walking ahead of her, Jennifer solemnly adjusted her sses. ¡°This matter has already reached the shareholders. Rest assured, the school will protect you. You don¡¯t have to say anything when you¡¯re inside; someone will handle it for you.¡± Eileen followed behind with her head down, not uttering a word. She couldn¡¯t understand why she felt such immense unease when she was the victim. With a heavy heart, she entered the conference room with Jennifer. Upon seeing Eileen¡¯s arrival, Hector¡¯s rtives erupted in anger and began hurling harsh words. ¡°You troublemaker! It¡¯s all because of you that my sister died, and my nephew was driven to desperation and ended up in jail¡­¡± ¡°Do you even sleep at night? Do you realize you¡¯ve ruined two lives?¡± ¡°Do you think you¡¯re special just because you¡¯re rich?¡± ¡°Does having money give you the right to harm others as you please?¡± Jennifer swiftly moved and shielded Eileen. Having experienced many situations, she remained unfazed despite the outburst and said, ¡°Please don¡¯t get agitated. This won¡¯t solve anything.¡± Only then did Hector¡¯s rtives calm down slightly. Jennifer added, ¡°We will gather more information before continuing the discussion.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t harm anyone!¡± Eileen, who had been silent, suddenly blurted out. She regained her courage, stepped out from behind Jennifer, and fearlessly faced the crowd. A silence fell over the conference room for a few seconds. ¡°I¡¯ll repeat, I didn¡¯t harm anyone. I¡¯m a victim too,¡± Eileen reiterated. She removed the bandage on her hand, revealing a gruesome scar that had yet to heal. The wound stretched from her wrist to her thumb and was stitched up with seven or eight sutures. ¡°The other day when I was heading home, it was Hector who held a knife against my throat¡­ And my friend who got hurt, he was also stabbed. If you don¡¯t believe me, I can ask him toe over.¡± Eileen didn¡¯t know how her father and Eric resolved the issue. Such matters were beyond her control. ¡°I¡¯m truly sorry about what happened to Hector¡¯s mother. I never thought that my transfer would cause harm to all of you. But I was only doing what I wanted to do¡­ You can¡¯t me me just because of your own issues.¡± A fierce and menacing man in his fifties stood up and mmed the table. ¡°What do you mean? Are you saying that my sister deserved to die?¡± ¡°What about me then? Do I deserve the pain I¡¯ve suffered? Shouldn¡¯t I stand for up my rights? And what about the person who was stabbed by Hector and is still lying in the hospital? Do they deserve it too?¡± Of course, Eileen had a temper too. They are not in the right just because someone died. Of course, I¡¯m not disrespecting the deceased, but I¡¯m stating facts. Hector¡¯s rtives were born in the sixties and seventies, a time when educational resources were scarce. Coupled with their rural upbringing, Eileen figured they had limited legal knowledge, making it nearly impossible for her to reason with them. Despite this, she knew it wasn¡¯t fair to judge everyone the same way. Her grandmother also lived in the countryside, and during their time, even having enough food was a challenge, let alone being literate. Her grandfather won her grandmother¡¯s hand in marriage with just a sack of rice. At sixteen, her grandmother started a family with her grandfather. Her grandfather was a local troublemaker and a good-for-nothing in his youth. Having offended some people, he was beaten to death in his forties. Even in the face of early misfortunes, her grandmother never harbored resentment towards anyone. Instead, she used her modest abilities to help others. ¡°If they hadn¡¯te to rescue me that night, I might be the one who¡¯s dead now! Just because someone dies doesn¡¯t make them right.¡± Jennifer nodded. ¡°I think my student is right about that. We have already contacted the police, and they will be bringing Hector over shortly. The victim at the hospital is unable toe forward, but his friend wille overter. They were also witnesses to the incident that night.¡± A middle-aged woman pulled the man aside, and they started discussing something, although it was unclear what. A few minutester, the man suddenly said, ¡°We don¡¯t want to make a big fuss either. After all, it¡¯s a matter of life. Give us fifty thousand, and we will drop this matter.¡± ¡°Whether or not to pursue this matter is not for you to decide.¡± A voice filled with hostility rang out. Eileen¡¯s back stiffened as Eric approached, his hand casually tucked in his pocket, emanating an overwhelming aura of hostility. Gavin followed closely behind. Noticing the ruthless glint in Eric¡¯s eyes, Hector¡¯s rtives were filled with terror. Eric scanned the room, his gaze sweeping across the crowd. ¡°Mr. Snow,¡± Timothy greeted. Eric gave a slight nod in response. ¡°Gavin, take Eileen out of here first,¡± hemanded. Gavin nodded in understanding. ¡°Got it.¡± Eileen pursed her lips, realizing she hadn¡¯t considered inviting Eric to join them. Who informed Eric about this? After Eileen left, Gavin closed the door to the conference room. Turning around, she stared at Eric, who pulled up a chair and sat down. This issue could have been resolved smoothly, but with Eric¡¯s involvement, things will take a different turn. Eileen worried that Eric might believe dealing with Hector alone was not enough and would target his rtives as well. Eric sat with his leg propped up, hands resting on his knee, exuding an intense ruthlessness. ¡°Whatever it is, you can discuss it with me¡­¡± Shortly after Eric¡¯s arrival, Timothy received another message: The CEO of Smith Corporation has also arrived. This time, no one could remain seated¡­ It¡¯s as if one Grim Reaper isn¡¯t enough, and now another one has arrived. This family must have offended the wrong group of people. Things will not be as simple as they seem now that Smith Corporation is involved¡­ Chapter 118 Chapter 118 Chapter 118 Did The Discussion Not Go Smoothly Eileen sat in the lounge, holding a ss of hot water in her hands. She asked Gavin, ¡°What did Eric do about Hector¡¯s situation?¡± Gavin paused at the door upon hearing her voice behind him. ¡°Ms. Eileen, it¡¯s better for you not to know, Mr. Snow has his own way of handling things. Rest assured that everything will be taken care of.¡± After some time, a suddenmotion erupted at the door. It seemed that someone had arrived. Eileen wanted to step out and see, but she decided against it to avoid causing more trouble. Suddenly, the door to the lounge swung open. Seeing the person before her, she was so shocked that she couldn¡¯t find words. Jasper, dressed in a smoky grey suit and exuding an air of nobility, stood right in front of her. ¡°Why are you here?¡± she stammered. Richard, who followed behind him, exined, ¡°Smith Corporation is the school¡¯srgest investor, and we rushed over as soon as we heard that something had happened. However, the main reason is you, Ms. Eileen.¡± ¡°Richard, you talk too much,¡± Jasper scolded. ¡°My apologies, Mr. Smith.¡± Eileen looked away, her uneasy eyes falling on him. Her hands nervously clutched the hem of her skirt. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for troubling you. Eric will handle this matter well. It won¡¯t cause any trouble for the school.¡±¡± ¡°Eileen, there¡¯s no need for such formality between us. Your concerns have be mine. Is your hand hurt? Let me have a look.¡± Jasper extended his hand, but Eileen hid hers behind her back. ¡°I¡¯m fine. It¡¯s much better now.¡± ¡°Ms. Eileen, you should let Mr. Smith take a look. He has been exceedingly worried about you these past few days,¡± Richard interjected. To an outsider, those meaningful words seemed to suggest an unspeakable rtionship between the two. Fortunately, there was no one else there. Eileen slowly extended her hand. In the next moment, Jasper pulled her over to sit down. Seeing that, Richard tactfully stepped out and closed the door behind him. Eileen had always been sensitive to being alone in a room with a man. Her body stiffened slightly, and she felt ufortable. ¡°Eileen? Are you afraid of me?¡± Jasper noticed her expression. Every time they were alone together, she acted overly cautious, as if afraid he might harm her. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. ¡°No.¡± It was her own issue. After being driven out of her home in her previous life, she once tried to find a job to support herself. But unexpectedly, someone tricked her into a small hut and vited her. Fortunately, she managed to escape in the end. However, the trauma remained, regardless of who the other person was. Eileen quickly changed the subject, asking, ¡°Why do you look so pale? Are you sick?¡± Jasper¡¯s lips curved slightly. ¡°I just caught a cold. It¡¯s nothing.¡± ¡°Remember to drink plenty of warm water, then. Oh, there¡¯s some right here. Let me pour you a ss.¡± As Eileen spoke, she withdrew her hand, stood up, and walked over to the water dispenser to get a ss of water for him. ¡°It might be a bit hot. Be careful.¡± Jasper¡¯s gaze remained fixed on her, never leaving her. The look in his eyes was intense, filled with longing and desire. Yet, he had to be cautious and maintain a distance between them. ¡°Okay.¡± Jasper ced the water on the table before taking out an exquisite emerald bottle from his suit pocket. ¡°Come here.¡± ¡°What is this?¡± Eileen asked. ¡°Salve.¡± Jasper moved closer to her. He knew she was vignt, but he didn¡¯t mind. In fact, he found it quite good. From now on, I am all she needs. ¡°This is the salve I brought. It can help with your injury.¡± Jasper carefully unwrapped her bandage, a pained expression crossing his face at the sight of the wound. ¡°Does it still hurt?¡± ¡°It¡¯s still bearable, only hurting a little bit,¡± Eileen answered truthfully. ¡°It might sting a bit at first. Just bear with it.¡± Eileen nodded. In truth, he was a very gentle person. He set aside hispany affairs to help her with her troubles. Eileen was well aware of his status in Hulbury. His intervention wasn¡¯t necessary for such a matter, but he still came. The more he acted this way and the better he treated her, the more burdened she felt psychologically, as she couldn¡¯t reciprocate his feelings. Both of them were still young, and the future held many possibilities. No one knew what the future would bring. There were plenty of women who willingly offered themselves to Jasper. She certainly didn¡¯t matter in the grand scheme of things. If it was only because her actions back then pulled him back from the brink of hell and saved his life, then he had already repaid that debt of gratitude. The birthday gift and everything he prepared for her were the biggest surprises she had ever received in both lifetimes. From the beginning, Eileen had no intention of gaining anything from him. Jasper was someone outside of her ns, and it was impossible for her to be with him. He also had a deep obsession with her. Even if he had great power and could rescue her from the clutches of the Swan family, she would still be confined in another prison. She didn¡¯t dare to stake her life on another person again. Admittedly, there might have been a moment when she was tempted. ¡°Feeling better?¡± The man gently held her fingertips and brought them close to his lips. The cool wind he blew on her wound provided soothingfort. With his fingertips outstretched, she saw the tattoo on the back of his hand clearly for the first time. It was somewhat simr to Elm¡¯s, but it had a different design. ¡°Does this design have any symbolic meaning?¡± Eileen asked. Jasper replied calmly. ¡°There¡¯s no symbolic meaning. It was just a spur-of-the-moment thing.¡± Despite these words, Eileen didn¡¯t feel that it was a spontaneous decision as he imed. Perhaps there was a story behind it. However, she didn¡¯t inquire further. In less than an hour, Fabian emerged from the meeting room. He had personally handled the matter, as per Jasper¡¯s request. Nevertheless, his role was not significant. He finally grasped the true nature of the Swan family. Eric appeared benign but was actually ruthless. Every word he spoke left no room for argument, cornering others. The parents who came to cause trouble fell to their knees on the spot, but he remainedpletely unmoved. An eighteen-year-old boy even fainted right then and there because of a few words spoken by him. Indeed, it was as expected of the adopted son raised by Will. Upon closer investigation, the actions of the Swan family had never been clean. Therefore, it was uncertain whether they would even make it home after leaving the school. Richard rarely saw Fabian with such an expression. ¡°Did the discussion not go smoothly?¡± Fabian shook his head. ¡°Everything went smoothly. Is Mr. Smith still inside?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s wait a little longer! It¡¯s rare for Mr. Smith to have the opportunity to meet Ms. Eileen.¡± Gavin had no idea what had gotten into Eric that day. They were just a few insignificant people, yet he had backed them into a corner. Furthermore, the other party was just a child, so it was really too harsh. If Hector were to join forces with Smith Corporation, he could forget about surviving in Hulbury in this lifetime. Chapter 119 Chapter 119 Chapter 119 This Minor Injury Won¡¯t Kill Me Upon receiving a call from the school, Eric immediately canceled his meeting and rushed over. In reality, Gavin could have handled the matter on his own. There was no need for Eric to personally show up. Gavin hesitated before saying, ¡°Do you really want to expel Hector from school and sentence him to ten years in prison? As far as I know, all of this was caused by Ms. Eileen.¡± Eric stared at him intently before looking out the window. A cold aura surrounded him. ¡°Do you think it¡¯s her fault too?¡± Suddenly, Gavin realized he had said something he shouldn¡¯t have. He lowered his head and murmured, ¡°I would never dare.¡± ¡°After all these years, don¡¯t forget who you¡¯re working for!¡± Eric asserted firmly as he stood up from his chair. He gave the man a cold and sharp gaze before turning and walking away. Just as he reached the door, Gavin dered, ¡°I serve only you.¡± The moment he decided to keep me by his side back then, my life was destined to be his. He was the one who gave me a second chance at life. Eric stopped in his tracks. ¡°I¡¯m not the one paying your sry!¡± She¡¯s bing increasingly disobedient now. I¡¯ve never interfered with her school matters, and self- improvement is good. But if she wants to spread her wings and escape from the Swan family, it¡¯s a delusion! She has be smarter, but she has misced her priorities. So, all she will receive is a harsher punishment. In the lounge, Eileen stood up, avoiding Jasper¡¯s gaze. ¡°Eric should be done discussing things. I¡¯ll go and take a look,¡± she said. She opened the door, barely faltering in her steps. In her other hand, she held the salve given. by Jasper. Eric was smoking on the balcony while waiting for her. Apart from social obligations, Eileen rarely saw him smoke. Gavin alerted him to her presence, and Eric extinguished the half-smoked cigarette on the guardrail. Eileen watched him approach. Her gaze then shifted to Jasper, who also exited the lounge. For some reason, she felt guilty, as though she had been caught doing something wrong. Eric reached her, and she found herself sandwiched between the two men. There seemed to be a strange tension between them, making her feel oppressed. It was as though a silent battle was taking ce in the air. Eric was the first to speak. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time, Mr. Smith.¡± Jasper simply nodded in response. He was a few years younger than Eric, but his presence was in no way inferior to Eric¡¯s. However, he was different from Eric. Eric had been navigating the business world for many years, experiencing danger and violence. He had climbed his way to the top, using any means necessary to achieve his goals. Crafty by nature, he was exceedingly cunning. Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. On the other hand, Jasper had always relied on his powerful family. From a young age, he had lived a sheltered life of luxury. Even after inheriting the Smith Corporation, he still had the Smith and Friedman families as his strong backers. If these two men became real enemies, Eileen couldn¡¯t even begin to imagine the bloodshed and chaos that would ensue. When it came to ying dirty, Jasper couldn¡¯t match Eric. In truth, Eric was the one behind the truck ident back then. Jasper said to Eileen, ¡°I¡¯lle and pick you up tonight.¡± Eileen dared not look at Eric. She nodded slightly. ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Is something wrong?¡± Eric asked Eileen. Feeling his intense gaze on her, Eileen exined, ¡°Mr. Smith helped me today, so I invited him to dinner.¡± Eric nodded. ¡°Indeed, that¡¯s only fair. But all things considered, as your brother, I should be the one extending the invitation. I will take care of everything for tonight. Mr. Smith, would you mind if I bring my sister along?¡± ¡°Mr. Smith!¡± Richard interjected. Jasper waved his hand, cutting Richard off. He chuckled lightly and said casually, ¡°Of course not.¡± ¡°See you tonight,¡± he said, looking at Eileen with a gentle expression. Eileen nodded. ¡°Sure.¡± Afterwards, Jasper left. He sat in the back of the car, his mood somber. ¡°Have you found anything about the car ident back then?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Smith. We¡¯ve checked all the vehicles from that night. When we found the truck, it was in a junkyard, but the driver¡­ was nowhere to be found. Moreover, we can¡¯t find any information about him. It¡¯s as though someone is deliberately concealing it. Anyway, this incident doesn¡¯t feel like an ident to me,¡± Fabian answered. Jasper closed his eyes. ¡°There¡¯s no need to investigate further. It¡¯s not worth our time to pursue someone like that.¡± The hidden meaning in his words struck Fabian, and the answer seemed to surface within him. Meanwhile, Eileen followed Eric down the stairs, both of them remaining silent. At the doorway, she saw Vera and Yvette descending the stairs. Yvette approached Eileen. ¡°Are you okay? I¡¯m so sorry! I shouldn¡¯t have gone to Mr. Gardner. It¡¯s all Hector¡¯s fault for misunderstanding things. He¡¯s the one with ulterior motives. It has nothing to do with you. Also, I got the test paper from Mr. Gardner. You did amazing, Eileen!¡± She excitedly pulled the folded test paper out of her pocket and continued, ¡°Do you know you ranked second in the exam? My goodness¡­ Eileen, you¡¯re truly incredible.¡± Eileen stared nkly at the test paper, unable to utter a word. So¡­ I got into the school based on my own abilities and not because of Yvette¡¯s connections. After learning that, it felt like a huge weight had been lifted off her shoulders. ¡°Thank¡­ Thank you¡­¡± ¡°And besides¡­¡± Yvette nudged Eileen with her elbow. ¡°My brother told you not to feel guilty. Hector is mentally unstable, and her mother¡¯s uremia is already in thete stages. Even if her mother had the money for treatment, she wouldn¡¯t survive the surgery. It¡¯s not your fault, Eileen. This time, my brother punished me too. I have to copy a book three hundred times.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Why is sheughing so happily despite being punished? ¡°Yeah. The second thing he said made me happy even though I was being punished.¡± ¡°I¡¯m d everything has been resolved. Eric, is Hector going to prison?¡± Vera asked. ¡°Most likely. We just have to wait for the court¡¯s decision,¡± Eric replied. He might receive a prison sentence of six to ten years. In fact, it could be even longer than that. If they intervene, Hector could potentially be sentenced to life imprisonment. Initially, they demanded fifty thousand. Not only did they fail to receive a single penny, but they also ended up losing everything they had. Realizing that they had provoked someone they couldn¡¯t afford to offend, they all distanced themselves and fled, one after another. Their sole motive was simply money. Unfortunately, they picked the wrong person to mess with. Suddenly, Eileen noticed a group of familiar figures up ahead. Among them, Nigel and Ss stood out. Elm was also among them. There was also a boy in a wheelchair, likely ¡°George,¡± whom Pa often mentioned. He was only sixteen years old, an orphan who grew up in a fishing vige, relying on the kindness of others to survive. They don¡¯t seem as terrible as I imagined. When I had a knife against my neck, he was the one who rushed forward and tightly grasped Hector¡¯s hand, giving me a chance to escape. Pa smacked George on the head. ¡°I told you there was no need toe, but you insisted. Look, all that effort was for nothing! Not only did you not receive anypensation, but she doesn¡¯t even bother to spare you a nce.¡± ¡°Pa, as long as everyone is okay, that¡¯s all that matters. This minor injury won¡¯t kill me.¡± George had lived in her house since he was a child, so Pa considered him her own brother. The thought of ungrateful Eileen made her seethe with anger. Ever since George was hospitalized, Eileen never visited him even once. She didn¡¯t even say a simple ¡°thank you.¡± It would be better if he had just let her die! Chapter 120 Chapter 120 Chapter 120 How Did You Know All That ¡°You took a knife for her, but she doesn¡¯t appreciate it at all,¡± Pained. No sooner had her words been spoken than a figure appeared before them. Upon seeing the person, Pa sarcastically said, ¡°Speak of the devil.¡± The trio at the door watched as Eileen suddenly left. They had no idea what she was up to. All they saw was her bowing deeply, too far away to hear what was said. Eric¡¯s eyes suddenly darkened. Everyone gaped at Eileen, astonished by her action. ¡°Thank you!¡± The sincerity in her voice was evident. Eileen then straightened up. ¡°I¡¯m truly sorry for not visiting you in the hospital all this time. Are you okay?¡± Scratching his head sheepishly, George said, ¡°I¡¯m fine. The doctor said the wound wasn¡¯t deep. A few days of rest, and I¡¯ll be fine.¡± Infuriated, Pa cursed, ¡°Bullsh*t! Your guts were spilling out. Yet, you¡¯re iming the wound wasn¡¯t deep? Why are you pretending to care now? Buzz off and get out of our way.¡± George tugged at her sleeve lightly. ¡°Don¡¯t say that, Pa.¡± ¡°Was I wrong? I wonder who acted all high and mighty previously. Elm, does she also behave like this at school? What a hypocrite!¡± Pa turned to Elm. Elm chuckled. ¡°You¡¯ve mellowed! You used to have quite the temper.¡± ¡°I admit, I was somewhat prejudiced against all of you previously,¡± Eileen confessed falteringly. She was at a loss for action. ¡°I¡¯m used to being alone. Sorry, but I don¡¯t know how to interact with all of you. Allow me to reintroduce myself. I¡¯m Eileen Swan.¡± She extended a hand. George slowly extended his hand shyly. ¡°I¡¯m George Caddel.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± The two of them shook hands. It was the first time Eileen took the initiative to get to know someone. She also invited them to join her for dinner that night. That was actually a ploy of hers. If dinner that night was just the three of them, she¡¯d probably be burnt to ashes. When there were many people, the atmosphere would also be somewhat awkward. They then left. As Eileen and Yvette were on their way back, thetter asked, ¡°What did you say to them?¡± ¡°I was just thanking them. I also took the opportunity to invite them to dinner together,¡± Eileen replied. ¡°Is Elm going as well?¡± Eileen nodded. ¡°Perhaps.¡± Yvette¡¯s expression instantly changed. ¡°Eileen, I¡¯ve told you that Elm¡­ the kind of person he is simply doesn¡¯t deserve to sit at the same table with us, much less worthy to appear before Eric!¡± She sounded incredibly angry and aggressive. She continued, ¡°Then, there are those riff-raff friends of his! They¡¯re nothing but society¡¯s parasites. Eileen¡­ For people like them, you can just pay them off with money. There¡¯s absolutely no need to go to such lengths.¡± ¡°That¡¯s your family¡¯s business!¡± Eileen rebutted, looking at her calmly. ¡°Yvette, I don¡¯t understand your situation, just as you don¡¯t understand mine. I can¡¯t empathize with you. To me, it¡¯s just a meal. Their identities, circumstances, and birth¡­ are not things they could choose. In my eyes, they are just ordinary people like me. George saved me, and so did Elm.¡± She had never felt that her wealth and the fact that she was born into the Swan family made her superior to others. In the end, she added, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Yvette! I know that what I said might have upset you. It¡¯s gettingte. Let¡¯s go to ss.¡± It was only after getting the test paper and asking Jacob that Eileen learned it was the other teachers who researched and solved the questions after he had collected the test paper. When it was thest ss of the day, Eileen left. At half past four in the afternoon, she arrived at the police station and sat in the visiting room. Hector, his head now shaven, sat in the detention room in prison garb. Only a thinyer of ss separated them. His eyes had lost their sparkle, leaving only dullness behind. She came here secretly all by herself behind Eric¡¯s back without anyone else knowing about Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. 1. She picked up the phone hanging on the wall and held it to her ear. Hector did the same, his gaze never once falling on her. After the police had left, Eileen started, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. No one knows about my visit.¡± Hector had already experienced a tragedy. As he listened to her voice, his gaze gradually hardened. It was as though he wanted to skin her alive. ¡°Are you here to mock me? Are you satisfied now that I¡¯m in such dire straits? Eileen, you¡¯re only high and mighty because your family is rich and powerful. In truth, you¡¯re nothing at all! You¡¯ve ruined me. It was all because of you! If it weren¡¯t for you, I would never have done that! All I wanted was money for my mother¡¯s treatment. It was all your fault! My mother is dead, and my entire life is ruined. I truly regret not killing you!¡± Eileen stared at him with clear eyes. ¡°Hector, I¡¯ve never felt that I¡¯ve done anything wrong. You say I ruined you? What right do you have to think that way? I know you¡¯ve long since known that even if you had the money, your mother wouldn¡¯t have been able to survive the surgery. You were merely resentful to lose to me.¡± She noticed the dtion of his pupil and the fleeting surprise that shed across his eyes. Perhaps, she hadid bare the resentment in his heart. She continued, ¡°It was all because I was once the worst student in the worst ss, and I chose to join ss One when I was bullied. Rumors from ss Six imed that I only got the opportunity because I cheated. Even when I made it into Olympiad Math, you felt it was due to Yvette¡¯s connections. That was why you¡¯re dissatisfied, jealous, and even found it unfair. There was a time when I also doubted myself, wondering if all of this was my fault. I questioned whether I should not have joined the ss at all. Later¡­ I finally understood that I did nothing wrong. I was merely trying to change all the misfortunes I had experienced. And in that process, I never hurt anyone.¡± She continued, ¡°It wasn¡¯t me who did something wrong, but you! You me the world and everyone else, constantlyining about everything. You¡¯re just searching for an excuse to release your own resentment. These past three years at Petalburg High School haven¡¯t been easy for you. The high tuition fees and loans have suffocated you. You¡¯ve been behind on your tuition fees for two years. Out of desperation, you turned to loan sharks. The day you took action against me was the final deadline they gave you. If you couldn¡¯t repay the money, they would go to the school to collect it. Then, everyone would know that you couldn¡¯t even afford your tuition fees. At that point, after causing such a negative impact on the school, you would have no choice but to leave.¡± That was also the day that shattered Hector¡¯sst bit of sanity. Eileen noticed the trembling of his body and the paleness of his lips. She added, ¡°Originally, Cloudburg Public School would have been a better choice for you. But¡­ because of your vanity, you chose to attend Petalburg High School. You knew very well that you wouldn¡¯t be able to afford the high tuition fees, yet you still made that decision. You had plenty of opportunities to change your life. But you chose the wrong path. As a result, your mother worked four or five jobs a day just to earn enough for your tuition fees, exhausting herself. She could have saved the money for her own medical treatment, but she chose to spend every penny on you instead, causing her health to gradually deteriorate. You were born ordinary, yet you never epted your own mediocrity. One misstep led to every subsequent step being a mistake.¡± Even though he knew it was wrong, he still insisted on continuing down the same path. Just like in her previous life, she knew very well that Eric had ulterior motives towards her and the Swan family. But she was still determined to marry him and be his wife. It wasn¡¯t until the moment of her death that she finally regained her senses. Hector was no different from her. The only difference was what they desired. Hector¡¯s eyes turned red-rimmed, and he found it hard to breathe. With his throat hurting, he asked in a choked voice, ¡°How did you know all of that?¡± Chapter 121 Chapter 121 Chapter 121 Does What We Talked About Still Hold? her Eileen left, Hector received his exam paper, revealing an almost perfect score¡­ He looked at the marks on the paper. His entire being started trembling as if he had fallen into an icy cold cer. strong! It¡¯s all my fault! I should have listened to Eileen¡¯s advice. Pursuing a ce in Petalburg High School out of vanity was a huge mistake. I shouldn¡¯t have borrowed money from the loan shark and caused my mother¡¯s death. I¡¯m the one who ruined everything. In the detention room, an eighteen-year-old boy tightly gripped his exam paper and wept in Sorrow. Regardless of one¡¯s actions, taking full responsibility for one¡¯s mistakes and paying the price was crucial. That was an unwritten rule. When Eileen exited the police station, she saw a remnant of the sunset casting its glow at the end of the old alley. Right then, snow began to fall from the sky. Suddenly, she caught sight of a slender young man from the corner of her eye. He wore the same ck uniform as her, leaning against the wall with one side of his pants rolled up, revealing his fair skin. A bag hung casually over his shoulder, and he tilted his head back to observe the falling snowkes. One actuallynded on the tip of his nose and melted right away. His handsome profile resembled a striking sculpture. His arrogant and defiant silhouette had significantly softenedpared to his usual demeanor. He seemed to be a pleasant guy when he was quiet. Eileen was the first to break the silence. ¡°Why are you here?¡± Elm straightened his back and walked toward her, tilting his head. ¡°Aren¡¯t you treating me to a meal?¡± ¡°That¡¯s why you¡¯ve been waiting here all this time?¡± ¡°Mind your own business! Who do you think you are?¡± That was his true nature. He could never utter a few kind words without getting irritated, O 1/5 Chapter 121 Does What We Talked Abou Still Hold showing her a long face. Eileen turned around and walked away, ignoring him. Elm strode forward and trailed behind her leisurely. After walking in silence for a while, neither of them spoke until he eventually asked, ¡°Does what we talked aboutst time still hold?¡± Eileen knew exactly what he was referring to. ¡°The deadline has passed, so it¡¯s no longer valid.¡± ¡°Fine, you heartless creature!¡± Actually, Eileen was walking at an extremely slow pace, and he appeared to have deliberately matched his speed to hers. ¡°Onest time!¡± Elm said nothing. ¡°Elm, this is thest time. If you don¡¯te tomorrow, I won¡¯t wait for you anymore.¡± He rubbed the back of his neck and hummed. ¡°Okay.¡± And so she had the final say! The gathering at night was held at Blissorzo. The interior decor exuded elegance, showcasing an ancient architectural style. The atmosphere was tranquil, rather than noisy. The wooden door was embellished with intricate carvings, leading into a private room that could amodate around ten people. Eileen arrived quite early and ordered a spread ranging from mild to spicy. She had inquired about Pa and the others¡¯ preferences, and most of them favored spicy food, with only a few opting for something else. Elm was initially with her at the door, but somehow, he disappeared. She sent him a message, but he did not reply. The attendance was notplete that night. Ss eximed, ¡°Pa, there¡¯s an array of dishes that I¡¯ve never tried before. I¡¯m definitely 2/5 Chapter 11 Does What We Talked Abour Still Holdr going to eat a lot tonight Pa rolled his eyes at him and chided, ¡°Don¡¯t act like you¡¯ve never seen the world before, you¡¯re making a fool of yourself.¡± Jasper took the seat next to Eileen and said, ¡°No worries, it¡¯s my first time here too. I haven¡¯t ried the food here yet, but their presentation certainly whets the appetite.¡± Eileen had assumed that Jasper would look down on them, considering their difference in social status. It appeared she was mistaken. Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. As the attendance was iplete, nobody began eating. Nigel stood up and poured some lemonade for his friends. ¡°By the way, where¡¯s Elm? Why isn¡¯t he here? He promised he woulde to keep uspany.¡± Pa replied, ¡°Who knows where he¡¯s off gallivanting now. Let him be. If he dies, it¡¯s none of our business.¡± Upon mentioning Elm¡¯s name, Eileen cast a cautious nce at Jasper. His face remained expressionless, showing no signs of joy or anger, leaving one to wonder about his thoughts. Perhaps he did not want to hear Elm¡¯s name being brought up. Instantly, the atmosphere fell into total silence. Eileen sensed that something was wrong. It turned out she was in a difficult situation. She stood up to pour Jasper a drink, saying, ¡°They serve really good coffee here. Do give it a try.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± The corners of his lips curved up slightly. No one could tell if he was annoyed. Eileen wasn¡¯t sure if he would enjoy the drink, considering it was just regr coffee, likely not as good as what he was used to. Will also loved coffee. He always chose the finest quality, with prices reaching four or five figures. Suddenly, the phone in Eileen¡¯s pocket vibrated. She took it out and saw that she had received a message from Elm. It was a short message: Something came up, and I won¡¯t being. ||| O 3/5 Chinter 121 Does What We Talked About Still Hold? Eileen got up and announced, Tm going to make a phone call.¡± Go ahead. Jaspers tattooed hand gently rubbed the cup as he spoke. He had probably guessed what happened, but he did not say a word. Eileen walked to a quiet corner of the hallway before calling Elm. Meanwhile, the music red loudly at Blue Bar. Elm was there in the smoky venue, surrounded by stunning campus belles from the art school. Some of them were singing while others were ying cards. On the table before himy a pack of cigarettes alongside a lighter, with loose change and notes visible underneath. Elm casually tossed out a card. Suddenly, his phone rang. He nced at the person beside him and subtly gestured toward his pocket. The campus belle immediately understood his intention and reached into his pocket to retrieve his phone. The campus belle pressed the answer button and then held it up to Elm¡¯s ear. ¡°Who¡¯s this?¡± Upon hearing the deafening noise in the background, Eileen could tell Elm¡¯s location right away. At that moment, it seemed that Eileen had anticipated his absence. She was concerned that he might not hear her clearly, so Eileen decided to end the phone call and send him a message instead. Are you busy? I owe you a meal, and I¡¯ll make it up to you next time. After quickly reading the message that appeared on his phone screen, Elm flipped his phone over and continued ying cards with a cigarette hanging from his mouth. Eric and Vera arrivedst, around seven thirty in the evening. However, by Eric¡¯s standards, it was considered early. Originally, it was meant to be just the two of them, but another person joined them, and it was none other than Yvette! Yvette walked in gracefully, wrapping one arm around Eric, while Vera followed behind them like their personal attendant. The moment she entered, Eileen noticed a fleeting expression of jealousy and hurt sh across Vera¡¯s face.. It seemed that Vera had found her match. ||| 4/5 There would always be someone interfering in the rtionship, even without Eileen doing anything about it, Actually, being in love was very simple. It all depended on whether the other person was willing to make sacrifices. Overall, it was a friendly gathering. They also had red wine. The alcohol content was not very high, so it was unlikely for anyone to get drunk. Eileen wondered if the dishes didn¡¯t suit Jasper¡¯s taste because he barely took a few bites and kept serving her instead. Yvette was quite assertive in pursuing Eric, creating the illusion that they were a couple, with Vera appearing as the third wheel. Feeling too full to eat any more, Eileen came up with an excuse to use the restroom in order o give herself time to digest. s she washed her hands in the bathroom, she gazed at her reflection in the mirror,identally leaving the faucet running. tender image of Yvette and Eric appeared in her mind. She ced her hand on her chest nd found it surprisingly calm. as everything truly ended between Eric and me? Chapter 122 Chapter 122 Chapter 122 If Only This Lasts Forever Just as Eileen was about to leave the restroom, someone appeared. Ms. Ellen! This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. Richard? Eileen could tell from his approach that he had something to say to her. ¡°May I have a quick word with you?¡± As expected! The voice-activated lights illuminated the emergency exit, while the floor below remained. dark. Eileen hesitated before asking, ¡°What is it, Richard?¡± ¡°Ms. Eileen, please take a look at this.¡± Richard handed her a piece of paper. Eileen unfolded it and realized it was a psychological medical report indicating severe depression. The report had beenpleted just over a week ago. Eileen scrutinized the name column several times to confirm that it was Jasper¡¯s. Her heart skipped a beat. ¡°W-what¡¯s this?¡± He seems perfectly normal in private and at school, as if nothing is wrong. ¡°As you¡¯ve observed, Ms. Eileen, Mr. Smith hasn¡¯t fully recovered from his illness. No matter how much we urge him to take his medication, he consistently declines, citing his busy work schedule. Mr. Smith also has a bad temper. Just a few days ago, he struck a shareholder who opposed his project proposal during the shareholders meeting. This type of incident has happened repeatedly. If this pattern continues, other shareholders may propose removing Mr. Smith from his position.¡± Eileen asked, ¡°So, Richard, what would you like me to do?¡± He pleaded, ¡°For the sake of the many times Mr. Smith has helped you, please persuade him to receive treatment. Right now, you¡¯re the only one who can convince him.¡± Eileen furrowed her brows and hesitated. ¡°Richard, you¡¯ve been by his side for so many years, and you haven¡¯t been able to persuade him. I¡¯ve only met him a few times¡­¡± Chapter Lay It Enly this Laus Forever chard responded. Ms. Eileen, you¡¯re a smart woman. Mr. Smith has done so much for you; rapossible for you to understand his feelings. Last time, he had a surgery nned, bin he let the operating theater iminiediately and hurried to the school when he learned that you were in trouble. Mr. Smith explicitly instructed everyone not to disclose this to you, Unfortunately, I now find it necessary to share this with you.¡± He has actually done so much for me! What else has Jasper done in addition to all of this? Awhileter, Eileen returned to the private room and sat next to Jasper. As she lifted her head, her gaze met his. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you not feeling well?¡± His voice was very gentle. He held her hand, and she could feel his warmth. ¡°Why are your hands so cold?¡± Upon witnessing their intimate behavior, a hint of inexplicable sorrow shed in Eric¡¯s eyes. ¡°I washed my hands a moment ago.¡± Eileen rose from her seat, retrieved the bowl in front of him, and served him some vegetable soup. She had specifically ordered the dish for him, yet he had not even tried a spoonful. All eyes in the private room turned toward her. Yvette remarked yfully, ¡°Eileen, why are you being so kind to my brother, going as far as serving him soup? What about me? Are you showing favoritism?¡± Eileen lowered her head as she could sense a burning gaze fixated on her. She pretended not to care and said, ¡°I can serve you too if you¡¯d like to try some.¡± Yvette looked at Jasper and smiled. ¡°Forget it. I wouldn¡¯t dare topete for favor with my brother. Jasper, you should eat more today.¡± ¡°Stop being cheeky, Yvette.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Eileen sat down and ced the bowl in front of him, saying, ¡°Try it and see if it¡¯s cold. If it is, I¡¯ll ask the kitchen to make another bowl of soup.¡± Jasper smiled and replied, ¡°Sure.¡± Yvette felt like she had just witnessed a public disy of affection and then turned to look at the person beside her. ¡°Mr. Snow, let me serve you some food. You should have more lentil stew. It¡¯s great for your skin, and no one will know that you¡¯re already over thirty years old.¡± Chapter 1321 Only This Lasts Forever Pu, who was eating, let out a chuckle. Yvette asked, What are youughing at?¡± Pa quickly denied, ¡°No, I wasn¡¯tughing. I got choked.¡± Yvette ignored her and continued serving Eric. ¡°Hurry up and try it to see if it¡¯s cold. If it is, Tll tell the kitchen to make you a new bowl.¡± Clearly, she was imitating Eileen. Eileen lowered her head, a faint blush coloring her ears as she felt a hint of embarrassment. She did that only because of what Richard had told her about Jasper. His condition had worsened, his depression medication had run out, and he hardly ate anything each day. Jasper had been a great help to her, and for that, Eileen was immensely grateful. She couldn¡¯t bring herself to reject him, even if it was done in front of Eric. Every individual had a unique personality. She couldn¡¯t simply continue being a puppet, yielding to his everymand. When the clock struck half past nine, Vera said, ¡°Eric, I¡¯m feeling a bit tired. I think I¡¯ll head back first.¡± Eric checked his watch. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s gettingte. Let¡¯s go.¡± He sounded indifferent, yet his tone was colder than usual. Vera barely ate. Her mind waspletely elsewhere, lost in her thoughts. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte, and you have sses tomorrow. Let me take you home.¡± Jasper told Eileen. Yvette quickly chimed in, ¡°Jasper, you should take Eileen home. I came with Mr. Snow, so I want him to take me back!¡± Instantly, she wrapped her arms around Eric¡¯s. Jasper looked at Eileen, seemingly waiting for her response. She caught his gaze and stammered, ¡°O-Okay.¡± Yvette dered, ¡°Perfect, everything is well-arranged!¡± Shortly after, Eileen announced, ¡°Pa, I¡¯ve requested a driver to take you all home. Be 3/4 +5 Free Coins Chapter 122 If Only This Lasts Forever careful and stay safe on you: way back!¡± Pa was so full that he lounged in his chair with the others. ¡°Okay! Enough with the lectures Eileen left with Jasper, and they had to wait at the entrance for Fabian to retrieve the car from the underground parking lot. The night wind was a bit chilly. A jacket was quickly draped over Eileen¡¯s shoulders. She turned around and gazed at the gray suit. ¡°You have plenty of clothes at my ce. I don¡¯t feel very cold, so you should wear it.¡± Jasper¡¯s lips curved up, and he cast a warm smile at her. ¡°It¡¯s not a problem. You can give them back to me whenever you want.¡± Eileen didn¡¯t say anything else. She felt something in the pocket and reached inside to check. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± she asked. She pulled out a pack of cigarettes and a metal lighter from the pocket. That lighter seemed to be the same model as Elm¡¯s, but in a different color. ¡°Have you fully recovered? You should cut down on smoking. I¡¯ll hold onto these for now and return them when you¡¯re in better health.¡± ¡°As you wish.¡± Jasper came to realize that identical words, when spoken by different people, could evoke different emotions within him. The person standing before him would always hold a special ce in his heart. Finally, she could look him in the eyes without averting her gaze! If only this moment couldst forever, Eileen. How I long for her to show me affection, and only me. ¡°Are you still taking medication? Why don¡¯t you carry it with you?¡± Chapter 123 Chapter 123 Chapter 123 You Were Never Like This Before forgot. I¡¯ll definitely bring it next time.¡± Eileen got into Jasper¡¯s car. The air conditioning inside wasn¡¯t too cold. She still had her coat draped over her. It was a bitte when she headed back. Eileen leaned against the car seat, already asleep with her eyes closed. Seeing this through the rearview mirror, Fabian dimmed the lights inside the car. It was so quiet that her shallow breathing could be heard clearly. Jasper took out a nket he had prepared and gently covered her. Eileen adjusted her posture comfortably. Feeling the movement, she slowly opened her eyes. Her vision was a bit blurry until she recognized the familiar face. ¡°Sorry for waking you up,¡± he said gently. Eileen nced down at the nket on her body, shaking her head slightly in a sleepy state. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Have we arrived?¡± ¡°It will take a little while. Keep sleeping. I¡¯ll wake you when we arrive.¡± ¡°Mm-hmm.¡± Eileen was about to go back to sleep when she suddenly felt a warm hand pulling her closer. Half of her body leaned against Jasper¡¯s, her head resting on his shoulder. Eileen¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Her mind instantly cleared. The position was intimate, appearing to outsiders like a couple deeply in love. Nevertheless, Eileen couldn¡¯t bring herself to push him away and had to let him hold her. She actually didn¡¯t like it. She couldn¡¯t exin why; it just felt a bit strange. Is it because things are moving too fast? Maybe that¡¯s it! Eileen was a bit slow to warm up, and she felt things were progressing unusually fast. Eric had arrived before them and should¡¯ve gone up by now. Eileen had arrived at Euphoria Condominium quitete, so the car was moving at a slow pace that even an adult running could easily catch up. Asprey Ive you Won Naver Like This Before elow the condominium building, Eileen said, I can go up by myself as it¡¯s alreadyte. You should head back quickly! Remember to call me when you get home!¡± Jasper responded with a light smile. ¡°Okay¡± Eileen was actually quite smart and knew what he was thinking. She had seen through his cos today Jasper didn¡¯t push his luck further. After saying goodbye, he watched her figure disappear before leaving. Eileen took the elevator upstairs. When she got home, Sharon was cleaning the kitchen. She stopped when she heard the sound. ¡°Why are you back sote?¡± Feeling tired, Eileen changed into a pair of cotton slippers at the entrance. ¡°I fell asleep and waited downstairs for a bit.¡± Sharon held a cup of hot milk and handed it over with a heating pad. ¡°I bought this today. Stick it on, it¡¯ll keep you warm. You¡¯re still on your period. Remember to wear more and don¡¯t catch a cold.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Eileen picked up the milk and took a sip.. Sharon asked again, ¡°Why didn¡¯t Mr. Snow and Verae back with you?¡± ¡°They had something to do and didn¡¯te with me. Sharon, you don¡¯t need to wait for them either. You should rest soon.¡± ¡°Okay, you should remember to rest early too.¡± She nodded. Eileen took off her suit and put it aside. After finishing the milk, she went to the room to grab clean clothes and take a shower. Half an hourter, she came out of the bathroom and wiped her hair with a dry towel. She was about to go back to her room when her phone started vibrating. It was a call from Jasper. Eileen paused in her actions, quietly watching as the call was automatically ended. She withdrew her gaze and sat on the edge of the bed, feeling a heaviness in her heart as if someone was slowly piling stones on her chest. In truth, she had numerous opportunities to reject Jasper¡¯s advances. Tonight, she had nned to rify things with him. However, she hadn¡¯t expected Richard to disclose his illness to her. If this were to continue, she feared it would only cause him greater harm in the end. thought, Eileen decided to send him a message. Sorry, I was taking a shower and phone ringing lied Can I hear your voice? Just say goodnight to me. minuteter, in a room where the lights remained off, Jasper received the phone call. Her clear voice echoed, ¡°Have you reached home?¡± ¡°Min-himin.¡± There was a moment of silence on the phone. Neither knew what to say. Eileen broke the silence. ¡°I-I asked Richard, and he said you¡¯ve been taking your medicine on time recently. Have you been feeling any bettertely?¡± ¡°I feel better now.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re feeling unwell, remember to go to the hospital promptly.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Outside, Richard heard the phone ring in the room with the medicine and a ss of water in his hands. He paused at the door, not wanting to interrupt. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. After waiting for about four to five minutes, the call ended. The call ended. Richard finally turned on a dim bedsidemp and walked over. ¡°Was that Ms. Eileen?¡± Jasper turned around, his voice slow. ¡°Yes, it was her. Did you tell her everything about me?¡± Richard denied, ¡°It was Ms. Eileen who asked me about it. I just informed her briefly about the situation. She really cares about you. She isn¡¯t doing well at home. For her sake, you have to take care of yourself, persuade the shareholders, and secure your position to save Ms. Eileen.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right¡­¡± Jasper turned around and looked at the brightly lit street. His gaze deepened. ¡°The only way to gain power and bring her back to me is to gainplete control of Smith Corporation.¡± He wouldn¡¯t be powerless knowing that she was being mistreated. The incident at the shareholders¡¯ meeting had already attracted dissatisfaction from most of 3/4 Now You Were Never Like This Before Ahareholders. His current position might be unstable, wasn¡¯tpletely resolved, how could those people truly submit to him? Mr Jasper why not heed Ms. Eileen¡¯s advice and take your medicine on time to recover from your illness? After taking his medicine, Jasper quickly fell asleep. He also heard her say goodnight. In the middle of the night, Eileen felt a bit thirsty. She went to the kitchen to pour herself some water, but it was already cold. She had no choice but to boil some more, mixing the cold and hot water together. Holding the cup of water, she prepared to return to her room. Suddenly, the sound of the door opening caught her attention. Vera was the first to enter, her eyes slightly red as if she had been crying. ¡°Vera, can we discuss this tomorrow?¡± No matter how much trouble Vera caused, Eric always had endless patience tofort her. Eric stepped into the house and closed the door. Eileen quickly hid behind the refrigerator. ¡°Eric, are you serious about being with Yvette? You promised me that you would never abandon me. If I have to watch you be with someone else, then you shouldn¡¯t have brought me back in the first ce.¡± Eric responded, ¡°Vera, you know I don¡¯t appreciate this behavior from you.¡± ¡°Eric, this isn¡¯t like you! You¡¯ve never acted this way before!¡± Hearing that he disliked her behavior made Vera upset. Tears were always a woman¡¯s most powerful weapon. Hearing Vera¡¯s cries, Eileen already knew what Eric would do next. As she had expected, Eric walked up to Vera and embraced her, their reflection visible in the ck tiles¡­ Simultaneously, he cast a sharp gaze towards a corner. uldn¡¯t have tofort you every time. Vera, this is thest den was buries in Ene¡¯s chest, tears wetting his shirt. Her voice was broken and filled sorrow as she spoke ve been through so many years together, and I¡¯ve never left your side. You promised you wouldn¡¯t leave me, Eric. Please don¡¯t fall for someone else! If you abandon me, what should I Eric and Vera grew up together in the orphanage, experiencing so much together. Their bond was extraordinary. However, Eric¡¯s ambitions surpassed what their shared history could fulfill. He now had everything he desired. If initially, all he wanted was the Swan family, now there was Yvette. Eric couldn¡¯t give up the power and status in front of him. Compared to the Friedman family, the Swan family was insignificant. While some might not be swayed by money, no one would reject power. With authority, one could control capital, just as he did in his previous life, using every means to gain control of the Smith family. ¡°Vera, I never intended to break my promise to you. I won¡¯t leave you.¡± With a few words, Ericforted Vera. After wiping away her tears, he escorted her back to her room. Upon hearing the sound of the door closing, Eileen decided to wait until he had left before returning. Just as she was about to take a step, the man silently appeared in front of her. Her heart skipped a beat as she met Eric¡¯s cold and terrifying gaze. ¡°Did you find our conversation interesting?¡± The overwhelming pressure bore down on her. Eileen couldn¡¯t help but tighten her grip on the now cold water in her hand. Calmly, she averted her gaze and exined, ¡°I just came out to pour some water. I didn¡¯t mean to eavesdrop. Your private matters have nothing to do with me, and I won¡¯t spread rumors.¡± Eileen took a step forward but was abruptly pulled back by Eric, who harshly threw her 1/5 at the wall. The water hom the cups she wake hajatinal you doing him feeling dissatisfied, Sharon and Vera were at home. Eileen didn¡¯t believe ild do anything to her watched the water cup from her hand and forcefully ced it on the nearby counter. gave her a cold and fierce look. ¡°So you enjoy ying these little games!¡±. I don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re talking about. Let go! I want to go back to rest.¡± In the next second, he grabbed her wrist and dragged her out of the door, all the way to the exit of a safety passage at the end of the corridor. Eileen shook him off forcefully. She didn¡¯t know what had gotten into Eric. It was nearly midnight, and she was only wearing a thin cotton nightgown. The freezing temperature made her shiver. Even Will never dragged her out of the house in the middle of the night. ¡°What are you doing? It¡¯s past midnight!¡± She crossed her arms, feeling the cold wind seeping into her dress. Eric gripped her cheek with one hand, his eyes fierce as he pinned her against the wall. ¡°Have I been too kind to youtely, huh?¡± ¡°Kind? Do you not know what the word ¡®kind¡¯ means, Eric? I never wanted you toe to dinner today. You insisted oning. If you really like Vera, you shouldn¡¯t have given Yvette a chance to get close to you. Clearly, you¡¯re just too greedy! Mm¡­¡±, It hurts! He increased the force, and her facial bones were slightly sore. ¡°So, you want to have a secret meeting with him? Hmm?¡± Eileen winced in pain, closing her eyes momentarily. ¡°I really don¡¯t know why he woulde over. If you think today¡¯s events caused you trouble, I apologize, and you canpletely ignore me. Just like before, you¡¯re wee to turn a blind eye to me. Don¡¯t take your frustrations out on me just because you can¡¯t handle your own personal affairs.¡± Should I say he¡¯s too ruthless, or should I say he¡¯s petty? It¡¯s just a meal. He knows the reason clearly! Chapter 124 Chapter 124 Chapter 124 He Really Did Tore His Temper ¡°Now, although I am staying under someone else¡¯s roof, it doesn¡¯t mean I have nowhere else to go. If you¡¯re really bothered by my presence, Lean move out right now! You know well that I can still survive without the help of the Swan family,¡± She was no longer the person who would be left helpless without shelter. This was also thanks to Eric; if he hadn¡¯t pushed her, Eileen wouldn¡¯t know how much she could endure. She could live in an ordinary house and wear ordinary clothes. Even if she had to sleep on the streets, she could still survive. People can change. Eric knew that she wasn¡¯t joking. Eileen had indeed changed, from an ignorant little princess who knew nothing about the world to someone who dared to contradict him. Eric let go of her. ¡°Having confidence is a good thing, Eileen, but don¡¯t forget that yourst many name is Swan! Do you know what the Swan family has done behind the scenes or how enemies they have? Once you lose the protection of the Swan family, do you think you can survive? Do you want to be sold as a prostitute to anyone who can afford it, or do you want to be sold off after your body is used up?¡± Eileen¡¯s face changed instantly. It would be a lie if she were to im she wasn¡¯t afraid. He was never gentle with her. Even for Will, if she died, it wouldn¡¯t be any loss to him as she was just a tool. ¡°Do you think having Jasper around makes you safe? You¡¯re nothing but a ything for him to pass the time. Do you really think you can join the Smith family? Don¡¯t overestimate yourself! Think it over outside, thene back in.¡± Eileen never thought she could have a rtionship with Jasper. As Eric¡¯s figure disappeared down the corridor, the sensor light above went out, leaving Eileen concealed in the darkness. Eric didn¡¯t know what he was doing. He had indeed lost his temper. Watching her being intimate with another man felt like something that belonged to him was being taken away. Eileen! 3/5 He Really Did Lose His Temper Che didn¡¯t want her, he wouldn¡¯t allow anyone to covet her. If her heart didn¡¯t belong to him, he wouldn¡¯t allow her to give her heart to someone Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t mind ruining her! At half past midnight, Eileen sat alone downstairs in the condominiumplex, her mind nk. She didn¡¯t know what she was thinking. It felt as though a thread had been broken, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn¡¯t mend it. Shortly after, she noticed a pair of ck sneakers in her lowered line of sight. A defiant voice came from above, ¡°Oh, have you been kicked out?¡± Eileen didn¡¯t need to lift her head to instantly recognize the voice. Seeing her looking disheartened, dressed so thinly that her hands had turned blue from the cold, Elm dropped the cigarette from his mouth. He took off his ck windbreaker and ced it directly over her head. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± ¡°Shouldn¡¯t I be asking you that? I was walking on the road, minding my own business, when I thought I saw a ghost. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that you promised to tutor me, I wouldn¡¯t have even bothered.¡± Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. Eileen shifted her body slightly, took off his jacket, and set it aside. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me. Just go back!¡± ¡°Pfft. If you die, I¡¯ll end up as a suspect!¡± Elm sat down beside her and crossed his legs. A faint scent of tobo mixed with the aroma of alcohol, stimting her sense of smell. Thebination of these two smells was truly unpleasant. He had returnedte. Eileen really didn¡¯t know if agreeing to tutor him was the right decision. ¡°You¡¯re a Swan but got bullied by an outsider. Eileen, you used to be quite something. Howe you¡¯ve be so weak? If you ask for my help, I might reluctantly let you stay for a night. Chapter 125 Chapter 125 Chapter 125 I Pose No Threat To You Em sat beside her for a while and smoked half a pack of cigarettes. Unable to bear the smell of his smoke any longer, Eileen reluctantly got up and left. She stood up and took the elevator upstairs. The living room lights were off. It was almost one in the morning. In the room, Vera turned over. Eileen wasn¡¯t sure if she hadn¡¯t slept or if she had woken her 1. Eileen quickly got into bed, reaching out to turn off themp by her bedside. Perhaps it was Eric¡¯s words that made her mind race even with her eyes closed. Those words kept her awake all night. At half-past six in the morning, Vera stepped out of her room, her gaze falling on the figure sitting on the sofa, engrossed in a financial newspaper. For a moment, she was unsure how to approach him. In the past, she would have certainly greeted him good morning. This time, she walked straight to the dining table and sat down. Sharon came out of the kitchen carrying a bowl of oatmeal and noticed Vera was alone. ¡°Vera, where¡¯s Eileen? Is she still getting ready in her room?¡± Vera said. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen Eileen! When I woke up this morning, she was already gone.¡± Sharon immediately frowned with concern. ¡°Could this child not havee back all night? Mr. Snow, did you see Eileen?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t bother.¡± He stared at the words in the newspaper. Despite being familiar with every single one of them, he couldn¡¯tprehend any word. After a while, Sharon went to tidy up Eileen¡¯s desk as usual. Eileen stayed upte studying every day, and her books were always piled up messily on the desk. ording to her habit, Sharon would arrange them neatly. When Sharon entered the room and saw the empty desk, her eyebrows furrowed. Something was off. Quickly, she opened the wardrobe and found that Eileen¡¯s clothes, which used to be ced with Vera¡¯s, were now gone.¨C Chapter 1261 Pose No Threat to You Everything was gonel Sharen hurriedly can to the living room, a worried expression on her face. ¡°Mr. Snow. Aileen¡¯s clothes and luggage are gone. Could she have left?¡± Erie¡¯s Pace suddenly darkened, his expression indescribably gloomy. His gaze turned to Vera. Vera said, ¡°I slept too soundlyst night and didn¡¯t hear any movement. But I vaguely remember that Eileen woke upte at night. I didn¡¯t pay much attention and fell asleep again.. She quickly rose to her feet in disbelief and walked into the room. Soon, she came out, ¡°She back?¡± took all her things and left behind the little bear! Eric, did Eileen go Eric stood up, the wooden chair making a harsh sound as he pushed it back. He walked to the balcony and was about to dial a familiar number on his phone, but inadvertently noticed the unread message in his inbox. He clicked into the message. ¡°Eric, I won¡¯t deny what you said. So what if my surname is Swan? Should all Swans be condemned to death? What you said might happen. If that day reallyes, maybe I won¡¯t have the courage to live. I¡¯ve died once already. I¡¯m not afraid of dying a second time. I know you want the Swan family. I won¡¯t compete with you, and I won¡¯t stop you. But you have no right to interfere in my life, including my right to choose to live. I know what I want to do! I¡¯m only eighteen now, and there is a long way to go. I don¡¯t want to rely on anyone, either Will or you! What I want in the future will be obtained through my own efforts! I¡¯m also grateful for what you said, which made me understand some things. Without the Swan family, I am indeed nothing. However, my future life is my own, and it has nothing to do with others. I¡¯m not Vera or Yvette. They can do whatever they want, but I can¡¯t! Eric, I only see both you and Jasper as brothers. I pose no threat to you at all. After thinking all night, since we both dislike each other, it¡¯s better for me to leave. Please tell Sharon not to worry as I will take care of myself. Regards, Eileen.¡± What a fool! Eric¡¯s face gradually turned ugly as he made a call. An electronic sound told him, ¡°The user you are trying to reach is currently on a call.¡± Eileen had set her phone to automatically end his calls. Did you block me? Eileen, you¡¯ve grown bold, huh? ¡°Eric, how did it go?¡± Vera walked to the balcony, asking with concern. A trace of gloom darkened Eric¡¯s eyes. He pocketed his phone. Without a word, he walked 2/4 Chapter 125 I Pose No Threat To You out. I¡¯ll take you to school first.¡± But it¡¯s still early.¡± She hadn¡¯t even finished her breakfast yet. Seeing Eric¡¯s angry expression, Vera didn¡¯t say anything more. Vera picked up her backpack and followed Eric out of the condominium. The road wasn¡¯t too congested at this time. In just over ten minutes, they arrived at the school. In the car, Vera asked hesitantly, ¡°Eric, did you have a fight with Eileenst night?¡± Throughout the journey, Eric exuded a chilly and icy aura. He hardly spoke to her. Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. Eric rarely got mad in front of her, and she had never seen him this angry. Is it because of Eileen¡¯s departure? She was actually a bit jealous. She didn¡¯t like it when the person she liked showed too much concern for others. Vera tried to convince herself that Eileen¡¯s identity was different from theirs. She was the daughter of the Swan family, and her status was indeed nobler than ordinary people like them. She had lived a privileged life that everyone wanted since she was a child. She could also see that Eileen had really given up on Eric. Now that Eileen left without saying a word, in case something happened again, it wouldn¡¯t be easy to exin to Will. ¡°Eric, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll persuade Eileen toe home. If she¡¯s notfortable with me sharing a room with her, I can move to the study, or even stay somewhere else if needed.¡± A touch of darkness swept across Eric¡¯s eyes, ¡°I will handle this matter. Just focus on your studies. You don¡¯t need to worry about other things.¡± Vera bit her lip. ¡°I understand, Eric.¡± She was interfering where she didn¡¯t belong! After stepping out of the car, Vera trudged towards the school with a gloomy expression. Late at night, Eileen lugged her suitcase to a rtively affordable house near the school. It was slightly old andcked an elevator. However, its convenient location was its only wintage Inownstairs there were beeiling snack shore The kutuan, fving room, and tatoom facibules were rtivelyplex Peping room for three bondred dors we considered inexpensive in this area, as many students opted to Additionally, there was a south-facing balcony with water pipes where she could cultivate core nts. It exceeded her expectations. After organizing her belongings, Eileen hurried back to school for her sses. Once the afternoon sses concluded, there was a two to three hour break With no time to visit the library, she could only grab her bag, take the notes she had previously written, and head to ss One In the back row, near the window, Elm was still sound asleep, sprawled across his desk. Eileen approached him and woke him up directly Elml¡± advantage. Downstairs, there were bustling snack shops, and once the windows were CUL no noise could be heard. The kitchen, living room, and bathroom facilities were rtivelyplete. Renting a room for three hundred dors was considered inexpensive in this area, as many students opted to rent a ce there. Additionally, there was a south-facing balcony with water pipes where she could cultivate some nts. It exceeded her expectations. After organizing her belongings, Eileen hurried back to school for her sses. Once the afternoon sses concluded, there was a two to three-hour break. With no time to visit the library, she could only grab her bag, take the notes she had previously written, and head to ss One. In the back row, near the window, Elm was still sound asleep, sprawled across his desk. Eileen approached him and woke him up directly. Elm!¡± Chapter 126 Chapter 126 Chapter 126 No One Dares To Disobey You Wow does he have a death wish! She actually dared to wake Elm up!¡± Let¡¯s just sit back and enjoy the show! Waking up Elm will definitely get her into trouble.¡± It Elm was sech sleeping in ss, no one would dare to disturb him. The chatter in the ssroom would be quieter than usual. However, something quite surprising happened that day. Usually, Elm would either not show up for ss or only arrive in the afternoon. Therefore, no one expected him to be the first one to arrive. Elm Elm!¡± Eileen gently patted his shoulder, calling out several times. Vera had just returned from lunch with Walsh when he saw Eileen. ¡°Eileen? What brings you here?¡± She then nced at the person lying on the table. ¡°Are you here to see Elm? He seems to be a bit sick. What do you need from him?¡± Sick? I see. Eileen pursed her lips and replied, ¡°Never mind then. I¡¯ll talk to him next time!¡± I¡¯ll let him have a good rest, as yesterday was indeed quite cold. Elm had given her his coat, then sat on a stone bench in his ck short-sleeved shirt, as if to show off his youthful vigor. Eileen had also inhaled secondhand smoke for more than an hour. It would be surprising if he didn¡¯t catch a cold in such weather. There was no need for him to act this way, which only made her more puzzled by Elm¡¯s actions. He clearly despises her, yet¡­ Suddenly, the person sprawled on the table stirred. Elm sat up, squinting his eyes. The hair in front of his forehead was a bit messy. As he leaned back, he gave her anguid look. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± His voice sounded hoarse and weak, a clear indication that he was really sick. Eileen ced her notes on his desk. ¡°These are notes on geography and history. You have an Chapter 126 No One Dares To Disobey You tam next week, right? These shoulde in handy. If you memorize them all, getting a seventy or eighty score shouldn¡¯t be a problem.¡± When Elm flipped the book open, it was filled with pages rustling one after another. The handwriting on it was clear and elegant. Her handwriting is quite good. All of it? Upon hearing these words, everyone in the ss began to wonder if they were seeing things! Is Elm with Eileen? Seriously? Aren¡¯t they enemies? From the moment they first met, the two couldn¡¯t stand each other. Now, it was surprising that Elm would even spare Eileen¡¯s notes a nce, let alone start studying them. The sight came as a shock to everyone present. ¡°Yes, note everything down. No cking off. I will check.¡± Elm scratched the back of his head and caught his breath awkwardly. ¡°Understood.¡± Studying had never really mattered to him, and now, he had to memorize so much. He suspected this was a form of self-punishment. D*mn it! Why did I go looking for trouble. After Eileen left to attend her Olympiad Math ss, Charlie stared at Elm in disbelief. ¡°Have you lost your mind? How did you get involved with Eileen? And you¡¯re studying her notes now? Elm, have you seriously lost your marbles?¡± Elm retorted, ¡°Get lost!¡± Vera said, ¡°Elm, if you need notes, I can lend you mine. Eileen is busy studying and attending her extracurricr ss, so she¡¯s pretty busy.¡± Elm continued to lie down and fell asleep without paying them any heed. To case Vera¡¯s embarrassment, Charlie joked, ¡°He¡¯s just pretending. Don¡¯t mind him. How about lending me your notes to look at?¡± Vera chuckled. ¡°Alright then!¡± Mon: 11 Dec Chapter 126 No One Dares To Disobey You What Charlie said was also in jest. With his current grades, his family had already written him off as a lost cause, with no hope of him bing sessful. His father was all set to have him join the military as soon as he graduated. The blond hair that he originally dyed had also been shaved off by his father. Charlie received the notes given by Vera. Flipping through a page, he found it packed with detailed information. Truth be told, he wasn¡¯t serious with what he said. He didn¡¯t really n on reading it, but since it was given to him, he couldn¡¯t bear to waste someone else¡¯s good intentions. In the evening, there¡¯s a self-study periodsting over two hours. No teacher was supervising. so it was all down to one¡¯s self-discipline. Eileen had already missed several evening study sessions due to her previous illness. Now she must make up for everything she had fallen behind in. In just a few days, there were already over a dozen test papers. Even though they were only two-sided, one side covered knowledge from the textbooks, while the other side went beyond the sybus, featuring rather difficult questions. Eileen was engrossed in her test paper when she suddenly felt something was missing from her day. As she pondered on what it was, she heard familiar voices. It was Yvette chatting with another girl after returning from the restroom. I almost forgot about Yvette. She didn¡¯te to see me at all today. No wonder, it¡¯s so quiet. It must be because of what I said to herst time. It must have made her feel uneasy. That¡¯s why she¡¯s ignoring me in school today. It¡¯s for the better I guess. At first, Eileen indeed nned to introduce Yvette to Eric. However, after that dinner. Eileen felt that Yvette didn¡¯t need her help. Yvette is lively and carefree. With such a strong background, there really is no need to behave pretentiously. Without Yvette, Eileen didn¡¯t feel out of sorts. ¡°Yvette, who are you texting?¡± ¡°Who else? That stubborn old man.¡± Yvette was seated in the third seat from the end of the second row. Her voice was neither too loud nor too soft. As the ssroom was quiet, her voice was clearly heard by Eileen. Chapter 126 No One Dres To Probey lou Lam Why are we looking for him? Sure, he¡¯s handsome and well-mannered, but his ag time we had a social gathering there were so many young guys. You can¡¯t possibly tell me you didn¡¯t like any of them? Didn¡¯t you add several of them to your contact?¡± Yvette expressed her disdain. ¡°Them? Absolutely not. They are all inexperienced and clingy. I prefer someone mature, someone who is not easily attainable. Only then does it feel like a challenge.¡± Another girl offered her a suggestion. ¡°Didn¡¯t you mentionst time that your families have a business partnership? Why not have him pick you up after ss? You are, after all, highly regarded by the Friedman family. No one would dare to disobey you.¡± Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. ¡°Of course. If he dares to disobey. I will ensure that he regrets it.¡± Eric ising over? Eileen nced at her watch. There was still thirty minutes left until the end of the self-study session. The distance from Euphoria Condominium to the school was not very far, just a ten- minute drive away. I should leave quietly. Considering Eric¡¯s unpredictable temper, who knows what he might do when he sees me. Eileen didn¡¯t dwell on it any further. After solving thest problem, she still had fifteen minutes to spare. She packed her things and slung her bag over her shoulder. Without hesitation, she left the ssroom. By then, it was almost nine o¡¯clock. Except for ss Six, all the lights in the school were turned off. After walking through a long corridor, she took the elevator down to the first floor. There, she noticed that the lights in one of the ssrooms were still on. She walked over and peered into the farthest corner of the ssroom. There was a slight crack in the window, allowing a gentle breeze to blow, causing Elm¡¯s hair to sway. He had one hand stretched out, while the other was bent, resting in the crook of his arm. He appeared to be asleep. Eileen quietly approached and discovered that her notebook was still under his hand. Chapter 127 Chapter 127 Chapter 127 I Cannot Thank You Enough There she noticed another book pressed under his hand, which were the notes he had copied. Eileen tilted her head to look at the words he had written on the notebook. His handwriting was neat and elegant. She had expected his handwriting to be as ¡®wild¡¯ as his personality, but to her surprise, it was even more beautiful than hers. In truth, she had intended to give him the notebook. Eileen didn¡¯t expect him to copy her notes, so she simply decided to do it for him. It¡¯s good that he has copied it all over again. It will help him remember it better. down Eileen attempted to wake him up. If he continued sleeping, he would be locked inside the school. After a while, she remembered that he was sick. Right then, Eileen noticed something. At the top right corner of his desk, there was a pink thermos and a pill. Elm hadn¡¯t touched them. Eileen called out several times, but he gave no response. It wasn¡¯t until she brushed aside his messy bangs to check his temperature that he reacted. He has a high fever! The next moment, the sleeping Elm suddenly opened his eyes. Eileen looked at him. indifferently, their eyes locked for a few seconds. The atmosphere was eerily silent until Eileen withdrew her hand and spoke first. ¡°I just happened to be passing by. Do you want me to take you to the hospital?¡± ¡°Why are you such a busybody?¡± The voice was deep and husky, devoid of warmth. Eileen didn¡¯t disagree with him. As he wasn¡¯t wrong, she didn¡¯t feel angry. She nodded and said, ¡°The school is about to close. Remember to go back early.¡± Eileen turned around and left the ssroom without a second nce. ¡°Damn, such melodrama!¡± Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. Elm wasn¡¯t sure if he was talking about himself or about Eileen. A few minutester, Elm clutched the strap of his backpack and slung his bag over his shoulder. Three buttons of his school uniform were undone, revealing a ck short-sleeved 44 Mon, 11 Duc Chapter 1271 Cannot Thank You Enough shirt underneath. He no longer had his previous air of confidence and enthusian. Now he looked defeated like a dog that had fallen into the water, with his ears drooping. In the wa he followed behind Eileen at a leisurely pace. At that hour, the lights in all the school buildings along the main street had been turned t leaving only the streetlights on. The street was rather deste at night, with hardly anyone around, and all the shops had closed for the day. ¡°You don¡¯t need to follow me anymore. You can take a taxi back on your own.¡± ¡°Take me to the hospital.¡± Huh? ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Do you not understand what I¡¯m saying?¡± Didn¡¯t he just use me of being nosy? Now, he needs my help, yet he still puts on airs? Eileen heaved a deep sigh, ultimately choosing not toment. She couldn¡¯t understand his attitude towards her and was truly puzzled. How could someone who despised me so much be willing to go all out to save me? ¡°Button up your clothes. It¡¯s quite chilly tonight. Don¡¯t let your condition worsen.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t be bothered. Cut the crap. Let¡¯s go,¡± he said, his tone feeble, yet his words were undeniably harsh. With a sense of resignation. Eileen picked up her backpack and reached out to fasten his buttons. Under the streetlight, Elm slightly lowered his head. A fleeting emotion shed through his rebellious gaze. He wrapped his scarf around his neck again, a scarf that still held her sweet lingering scent. After all was done, Eileen said, ¡°Going to the hospital is too much of a hassle. Let me take you somewhere else.¡± Eileen didn¡¯t think much of what she was doing, as she was used to it. Learning how to take care of someone meticulously wasn¡¯t a big deal. However, in Elm¡¯s eyes, it was entirely different. To him, it seemed like an unspoken message, one that caused his heart to throb. ¡°Mm-hmm.¡± he responded. per 127 [Cahner Thank yo Kiteerd How could she do this to my brother! How dare she mingle with this bastard! I can¡¯t tolerate this. Ineed to get out of the car¡­ cro the street, not far from the school gate, a ck Audi was parked. Yvette sat in the passenger, looking at the scene with indignation. Entry up and follow them. I¡¯m curious to see what they are going to do next!¡± Erie couldn¡¯t stand Yvette¡¯s fuss. However, partly due to his own intention, he followed the pair by stepping on the elerator slowly. Watching the pair in front of her, Yvette captured the scene with her phone as evidence. Soon, the pair disappeared into a narrow alley. It was pitch ck inside, so narrow that a car couldn¡¯t make its way through. Yvette was upset and said, ¡°I can¡¯t believe after how well my brother treated Eileen, she¡¯s actually together with Elm. No wonder she defended himst time. There must be something going on between those two!¡± ¡°Not that it¡¯s my business, Mr. Snow, but she is your sister. She¡¯s in a rtionship at such a young age. Don¡¯t you think you should interfere?¡± When she looked at Eric, she felt a terrifying and eerie aura emanating from him. His obsidian-like eyes radiated a sharp glow, like a fierce beast prowling in the dark night eyeing its prey. A chill ran down Yvette¡¯s spine. She had never seen Eric with such a gloomy expression before. He was simply unrecognizablepared to his usual self. Eric retracted his icy gaze. ¡°This is a family matter of mine. You should mind your own. business, Ms. Friedman.¡± Yvette could sense the displeasure in Eric¡¯s tone. She reined in her temperament and chose not to say anything more. Eric stepped on the gas, quickly leaving the street behind. Meanwhile, the pair walked through the pitch-ck corridor, the path chillingly illuminated by the flickering me of Elm¡¯s lighter. ¡°There used to be streetlights here, but it seems like they¡¯re broken,¡± she exined. Elm extinguished the me of his lighter, and in an instant, he could no longer see anything in front of him. ¡°What a setup! Just the two of us. Alone in the dark! If you have feelings for me, Eileen, just They haven¡¯t closed yet. Hurry up.¡± They entered a clinic. Eileen said, ¡°Just bear with it for now! If we can¡¯t get an appointment at the hospital, we might have to wait for a long time.¡± Expecting Elm to dislike the ce, Eileen was surprised when he remained silent. Instead, he casually settled himself in a chair by the side. Tapping his leg, he ced his backpack down. The shop was filled with the strong aroma of herbs, but there was no one in sight. Eileen craned her neck and called out, ¡°Is anyone here?¡± Upon witnessing this, Elm couldn¡¯t help but let out a snortingugh. He then shifted his gaze to the side, a faint dimple appearing at the corner of his mouth. Eileen didn¡¯t understand what he found so amusing. Elm thought to himself, ¡°She¡¯s so naive.¡± Soon, a response came from the back. A sixty-year-old man, wearing reading sses and sporting a long beard, emerged. The doctor took Elm¡¯s pulse and determined it was just amon fever. At the same time, the doctor also hinted at something else indirectly. Eileen, who was waiting nearby, struggled to hold back herughter. Elm¡¯s face had turnedpletely dark, but he restrained his anger, refraining from causing a scene in the shop. In the past, he might have burned it down. Eileenmented, ¡°Don¡¯t worry! I will keep your secret.¡± ¡°Shut up,¡± he said with a scowl. You¡¯re still so young, yet you¡¯re already experiencing kidney problems. Be careful, or you might have difficulties conceiving in the future. I¡¯ll write you a prescriptionter, make sure you take it properly when you get home.¡± Chapter 128 Chapter 128 Chapter 128 Where Was Elm Last Night? After an hour and a half, Elm shook her leg. ¡°Hey, wake up. Let¡¯s go.¡± Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. On the contrary, she sleptfortably. Eileen had slept so soundly that when she woke up, Elm had already finished the IV drip and was applying an alcohol swab to the back of his hand. Checking her phone, she was surprised to see that it was almost one o¡¯clock. In response, she yawned. ¡°Did you remember everything I just told you?¡± ¡°Why are you still thinking about this at this hour? Let¡¯s discuss it tomorrow.¡± Elm picked up his bag, walked to the counter, paid the bill, and received some medicine. The elderly doctor looked at Elm through his reading sses. ¡°Young man, you need to take good care of your kidneys. I¡¯m not joking. If it bes serious, you might actually be infertile.¡± ¡°Come on, when will you stop, old man?¡± Elm said, somewhat fiercely.. Eileen scolded him, ¡°You must not be rude to the elderly. Doctor, I understand. Rest assured, I will make sure he takes his medicine.¡± ¡°Look at that, this girl is so sensible.¡± When Eileen spoke to the doctor, she didn¡¯t seem like she was lying. Carrying arge bag of medicine, Elm left the clinic with her. ¡°Did you hear what the doctor just said? You should cut down on smoking and drinking. Elm¡­¡± ¡°Whatever it is, just tell me!¡± ¡°I just noticed the scars on your back and stomach. Where did theye from?¡± ¡°Do you care about me?¡± His voice was deep and soft, like a pleasing melody in one¡¯s ear. Elm looked at her with a raised eyebrow. His gaze was deep and affectionate, as if he was flirting with her. Chapter 198 Where Was Elm Last Night? Eileen had long since be immune to all that. She had lived two lifetimes, and if her agr was added up, she could easily be his mother. Even if she cared for him, it was nothing more than maternal love. How are you nning to get back?¡± ¡°If I can¡¯t find a taxi at this hour, I¡¯ll have to stay at a hotel. What about you?¡± I¡¯ve rented a house nearby. It¡¯s just up ahead.¡± Elm patted his pocket and pulled out his wallet. With a furrowed brow, he said, ¡°I forgot my ID. Can I stay at your ce tonight?¡± Eileen narrowed her eyes at him. She couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that he had nned everything in advance. Fine, I¡¯ll just take it as doing a good deed. Eileen led him into the room she had rented. After entering, he made himselffortable, sprawling out on the couch. The couch was a bit old, so she had bought a nket to cover it. However, it wasn¡¯t quite long enough. Elm, being a tall man of over 1.8 meters, had his feet sticking out. After boiling some water, she went to the room and fetched two quilts. ¡°Get up. I need to spread the quilts over the couch before you sleep.¡± Elm stood up to make room for Eileen. After sheid out the quilt, Elm stood behind her and asked, ¡°When did you be so kind- hearted?¡± Eileen replied, ¡°I always have been.¡± As for why, both of them knew it in their hearts. They just didn¡¯t say it out loud. Eileen took out the unused toiletries from her room. She had kept them as a backup, never expecting to need them that day. After the water was ready, she got him to take his medicine. The herbal medicine could only be consumed the next day, as it was toote at night. Elm came out of the bathroom to find that Eileen had already poured some water and ced it on the coffee table. ¡°Remember to take your medication first.¡± After taking care of his needs, she was so tired that she couldn¡¯t bear it any longer. She went 123 Where Avas Fine Last Night. be bathroom for a quick shower. Wher she returned to her room, she almost fell asleep immediately. She didn¡¯t have any dreanis that night. By the time she woke up naturally, it was seven o¡¯clock. Although she only had half an hour, it was more than enough for Eileen. With her hair tied up in a ponytail, Eileen opened the door and stepped out. She nced at the couch and saw that the nket had already been neatly folded and ced on it. From the looks of it, she assumed that Elm had already left. Suddenly, the door swung open. It was Elm, dressed in a ck windbreaker, a hat on his head, and a few snowkes on his shoulders. He brushed them off before stepping inside. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re awake, Ms. Eileen.¡± Eileen asked. ¡°Where have you been?¡± Elm held up two bags of breakfast for her to see. ¡°Breakfast, I bought them downstairs especially for you. The milk is still hot.¡± ¡°But I¡¯m runningte.¡± ¡°Oh, then I¡¯ll just throw it away.¡± The reply was indifferent. ¡°You really know how to waste food. I¡¯m going to brush my teeth and wash my face, then I¡¯ll eatter.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Elm ced the breakfast on the table. He had also bought two bowls of oatmeal, pretzels, and pasta. He wasn¡¯t sure what she wanted to eat, so he simply bought a bit of everything. After the two finished breakfast, there was still half left. They stored it in the refrigerator forter. They didn¡¯t leave together. After taking a bite to eat, Eileen left first. Elm still needed to drink his herbal medicine to nourish his kidneys, so she let him use the gas stove. She wasn¡¯t worried about what he would do at home. Firstly, she didn¡¯t have as much money as him, and secondly, she didn¡¯t have many belongings. There was nothing really worth stealing. Walking down the street, Eileen took out her concealer, dabbed a bit with her finger, and applied it under her eyes. The sleepless nights over the past few days had deepened her dark clex thisinued, not only would her period be prolonged, but she would also ually exhaust herself. Since the supervisors weren¡¯t there so early in the morning, the study session was entirely up to their own mitintive. At that point, she was alreadyte, so she might as well Jater. ¡°Mr. Smith. It¡¯s Ms. Eileen.¡± Fabian spotted Eileen not far away. She was looking into a mirror and seemed to be applying makeup. Her appearance was visibly tired. Jasper gazed in the direction she hade from, his amber eyes deep and serene. He tightly held her phone, his face devoid of expression. ¡°Should we call out to her?¡± Jasper remained silent. Fabian had suspected it for a while. Mr. Smith and Ms. Friedman had always been at odds, but today he had unusually taken the time to drop her off at school. However, he lingered around afterwards, making his intentions obvious. He simply wanted to see Ms. Eileen, nothing more. Jasper asked, his tone devoid of emotion, ¡°Where was Elmst night?¡± Fabian replied, ¡°He didn¡¯t return to his condominiumst night. He must be at a bar or a club. However, his exact location is unclear at the moment.¡± Jasper knew that Elm had spent the night with Eileen. A restless, suffocating feeling began spreading across his chest. Jasper hung his head, gently caressing the screen of his phone with his thumb, while his eyes darkened. ¡°Did he ignore my instructions? From now on, cut off all his financial resources. Without my permission, don¡¯t give him a single penny.¡± I don¡¯t care who he associates with, but if he approaches Eileen with his own desires, I won¡¯t just stand by and do nothing, especially when ites to Eileen. She¡¯s just like her filthy mother, only capable of using disgusting methods. Suddenly, a cold, ruthless glint shed in Jasper¡¯s eyes. Fabian replied, ¡°If he asks about it¡­¡± ¡°Just say it¡¯s my decision. He wouldn¡¯t dare object.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Smith.¡± Chapter 129 Chapter 129 Chapter 129 What¡¯s Wrong With You Richard halted Eileen, who wondered why Jasper was at the school at this hour. Unable refuse, she reluctantly took the seat behind the passenger seat. The car¡¯s air conditioning was pleasantly warm. Sitting in the car, Jasper appeared pale and weak. He coughed a few times, covering his mouth with a clenched fist. His breathing sounded irregr, as if he was in difort. Silence filled the car. After a while, Eileen broke the eerie silence. ¡°Why are you here today? If you¡¯re not feeling well, why didn¡¯t you go to the hospital?¡± she asked with concern. ¡°It¡¯s just amon cold, nothing serious,¡± Jasper replied. Eileen nodded in response. Then, Jasper asked softly, ¡°Yesterday, I heard from Yvette that you weren¡¯t here when she came to pick you up. Where¡­ where did you go?¡± ¡°Pick me up?¡± Eileen was somewhat puzzled. Isn¡¯t he here to pick up Yvette? Jasper nodded. ¡°Yvette was worried because school endedte, so she called him. Didn¡¯t you run into him?¡± Jasper gazed at her, as if trying to discern something from her very being. So that¡¯s what Yvette said! Eileen never called Eric toe and pick her up. He knew she had already left the condominium. Eileen felt it was better to avoid unnecessary trouble. To her, this wasn¡¯t a big deal at all. Yvette was probably only using her as a shield, an excuse to avoid confronting Jasper. Eileen responded calmly, ¡°My phone ran out of battery, so I didn¡¯t receive any calls. Yesterday, I apanied a sick friend to the clinic after school. I must have missed it!¡± Did hee here to ask me these questions? But it shouldn¡¯t be the case. It¡¯s such a trivial matter, not enough for him toe and question me. Perhaps Yvette knew something, or maybe she saw something Did she see me leaving the school with Elm and then tell Jasper about it? Did Jaspere looking for me Chapter 120 What¡¯s Wrong because of that Is your friend feeling better now?¡± Much better replied Eileen with a faint smile. Although she wore a smile, she felt uncorortable as it seemed like Jasper was interrogating her. The way he spoke made Eileen feel like she had done something unforgivable. The pressure was overwhelming, making it difficult for her to catch her breath. Thank you for your concern. Oh, by the way, my ss is about to start. I need to go. You should probably head back. Don¡¯t forget to take your medicine,¡± she said.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. Jasper nodded, his eyes filled with tenderness. ¡°Okay.¡± He continued to gaze at Eileen¡¯s retreating figure. You¡¯re saying thank you? It¡¯s only been a few days. Have we be so distant? Eileen¡­ Why are you hiding things from me? Are you so desperate to hide your affairs with Elm from me? There are some words that I want to hear straight from you, or is it that¡­ you have fallen for him? As Eileen got out of the car, the smile on her face vanished in an instant. Upon entering the school, Eileen couldn¡¯t stop the constant throbbing in her head. Her heart thumped, making her feel restless. After Eileen entered the ssroom, she caught Yvette¡¯s gaze. It was only a nce before she quickly started chatting with the person beside her. Perhaps she was overthinking that day, as nothing happened. She was on her own as usual, attending sses by herself. Her efficiency inpleting homework had significantly improvedpared to usual. Let¡¯s not bother Elm today! Eileen decided to let Elm rest for the day since he was sick. The results of the test that Jacob arrangedst time were out. As expected, Eileen came second among the six people. The person in first ce was a slender boy with thick sses, often seen holding a workbook. He sat beside her and was usually quiet. 9/5 vente ranked third However, Yvette¡¯s restit was quite impressive. Although she rarely did her homework and ramonally skipped sses, she managed to perform well. I was as if she made no effort yet still did well in the test. Perhaps this was a stroke of luck. She didn¡¯t attend the Olympiad Math team¡¯s meeting again today. Jacob began discussing problems on the ckboard as if he had grown ustomed to her absence. A ss meeting was held during the final period. Jennifer announced some news. There would be a parent-teacher conference this Saturday, and all parents were required to attend. In addition, a winter camp would be held during the winter break. Those who wished to participate would need to sign up. Not only their ss, but the entire Petalburg High School would organize these activities. Eileen stuffed the documents into her drawer. Attending the parent-teacher conference was out of the question, as Will had never attended one. In the past, she insisted Erice as her parent. However, this time, there might not be anyoneing. As for the winter camp, perhaps she would consider it. The end of the camp coincided perfectly with the day before New Year. She felt it wouldn¡¯t matter whether she was at home during New Year. After thest ss, without the privilege of ending ss early like other sses, Eileen went to the cafeteria to have dinner. Walking on the path, she wore a long ke wool jacket, her cute face slightly red from the cold, hidden under her hat. She was walking along just fine when suddenly, a hand lifted her hat. Eileen turned her head to see no one. When she returned to her senses, someone was standing beside her. Upon seeing him, Eileen wasn¡¯t overly surprised. ¡°Where are you going?¡± To eat, Eileen replied as she lowered her head. ¡°School¡¯s over. Aren¡¯t you going home yet?¡± Chapter 120 What¡¯s Wrong With packets: Elm had his hands fucked in his per kets Alsh, his hackpack wasn¡¯t with him. Could he be to the infeteria tou All of a sudden, Eileen didn¡¯t feel like going anymore Are you going to this winter camp? Is he asking me that? Just because of that? Eileen muttered, ¡°I¡¯m not sure.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not sure? Do you want to go, or¡­ do you not want to go? Or is it because you know I¡¯ go, that¡¯s why you won¡¯t?¡± Is he doing a tongue twister? Eileen, who was walking steadily, slowed her pace. ¡°Elm¡­¡± ¡°Here I am!¡± Eileen pursed her lips, lifted her head, and looked at him, her eyes revealing no discernible emotion. ¡°Apart from tutoring you, please maintain your distance from me, just like before.¡± Elm chuckled. ¡°What¡¯s the matter with you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m doing this for your own benefit.¡± Furthermore, she was not ustomed to this. ¡°How is that beneficial for me? Ms. Eileen, blink if you¡¯re being threatened!¡± Elm raised an eyebrow as he ced her cap back on her head. Then, he nonchntly put his hands in his pockets and walked away. She was being sincere. On that day, she felt restless. Her hunger overwhelmed her racing thoughts. She ordered a serving of non-spicy casserole and a bowl of soup. From behind her, Elm said, ¡°I¡¯ll have the same, please.¡± ¡°Of course, young man.¡± AIR Elm had his hands mcked in his pockets. Also, his backpack wasn¡¯t with him. Could he be to the cafeteria too? All of a sudden, Eileen didn¡¯t feel like going anymore. Are y going to this winter camp? Is asking me that? Just because of that? Eileen muttered, Tm not sure You¡¯re not sure? Do you want to go, or¡­ do you not want to go? Or is it because you know I¡¯ll go, that¡¯s why you won¡¯t?¡± Is he doing a tongue twister? Eileen, who was walking steadily, slowed her pace. ¡°Elm¡­¡± ¡°Here I am!¡± Eileen pursed her lips, lifted her head, and looked at him, her eyes revealing no discernible emotion. ¡°Apart from tutoring you, please maintain your distance from me, just like before.¡± Elm chuckled. ¡°What¡¯s the matter with you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m doing this for your own benefit.¡± Furthermore, she was not ustomed to this. ¡°How is that beneficial for me? Ms. Eileen, blink if you¡¯re being threatened!¡± Elm raised an eyebrow as he ced her cap back on her head. Then, he nonchntly put his hands in his pockets and walked away. She was being sincere. On that day, she felt restless. Her hunger overwhelmed her racing thoughts. She ordered a serving of non-spicy casserole and a bowl of soup. From behind her, Elm said, ¡°I¡¯ll have the same, please.¡± ¡°Of course, young man.¡± 4/5 With Chapter 190 What¡¯s Wronk Wid: Vini The cafeteris was spacious, with only a few people present Eileen hu her fork, silentlyining, ¡°Why do you have so much, white 1 only have a few He had arge te of chicken with only a few pieces of potatoes. Looking at her own te, the only had a few chicken pieces apanied by eight pieces of potatoes, Elm nced at her. She appeared as if someone owed her millions. Here, you can have them¡± Elm used his untouched utensils to pick out a generous portion for her. Chapter 130 Chapter 130 Chapter 130 Managing Eileen Ms. Eileen, are you satisfied now?¡± That¡¯s not what I meant,¡± Eileen said, looking at the abundance before her, and she knew she couldn¡¯t finish it all. ¡°You¡¯re still not satisfied even after I¡¯ve given it to you? Tsk. You¡¯re really hard to please.¡± Eileen simply wanted to express her dissatisfaction. After they finished eating, on their way back, he suddenly felt like studying and asked her to tutor him. Normally at that hour, he would be at the bar, partying with the campus belle, singing and dancing the night away, surrounded by admirers. However, at that moment, he was actually taking the initiative to study. The sky quickly faded into darkness at six o¡¯clock. As they arrived at the ssroom building, Eileen said, ¡°Let¡¯s continue studying tomorrow! You¡¯re still not well. Take a day off and we¡¯ll see.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll wait for you for ten minutes. If you don¡¯te down by then, I¡¯ll personally go up to get you.¡± Eileen believed that he would do as he said. In the end, she still gave in. Eileen returned to her seat to pack up her things. With her backpack on, she was ready to leave. Suddenly, Yvette appeared in front of her. ¡°Are you heading back? Perfect timing! I just called Eric. I¡¯ll go back with you,¡± Yvette said. ¡°I¡¯m not going back. I¡¯m going to the library to do some research.¡± Yvette tugged at her arm, saying, ¡°Don¡¯t. I¡¯ve already talked to Eric. We¡¯re going to have dinner together tonight. I¡¯ll y the mediator, helping to ease the tension between you two. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll be there tonight. I¡¯ll make sure to teach him a lesson so that he won¡¯t dare to bully you again. You should consider moving back. It¡¯s dangerous for you to be out there on your own. If Jasper knows about this, he¡¯ll definitely be worried about you.¡± Has the rtionship between the two progressed so quickly? Did Eric tell her everything? Eileen was puzzled because her rtionship with Eric was not as simple as that. Chapter 180 Managing Eileen Eileen brushed off Yvette¡¯s hand and said, ¡°Yvette, you¡¯ve misunderstood. There¡¯s no conflict between Eric and me. My house is still under renovation. It¡¯s inconvenient to stay at Eric¡¯s ce, so I found a ce outside to stay temporarily Besides, my studies are intense right now, and the ce is close to school, so I don¡¯t have to get up early. I¡¯m just doing this for convenience. Whether Jasper knows about this matter isn¡¯t important, and there¡¯s no need for him to worry about me, I don¡¯t want to cause him any trouble. Evening study is about to start. I should get going now.¡± Yvette seemed a bit impatient, but she was trying hard to keep her cool. ¡°Eileen!¡± She grabbed her and continued, ¡°Eric is about to arrive. You won¡¯t refuse to have dinner together, right? You said you two didn¡¯t have a fight, so consider it as keeping mepany, okay?¡± ¡°Sorry! I¡¯ve already eaten. Maybe next time!¡± Eileen replied. If it weren¡¯t for Eric, Yvette wouldn¡¯t have paid me any attention at all. If she was merely using me to get close to Eric at first, she probably wouldn¡¯t need me anymore now. Yvette had her own unique way of getting what she wanted. Yvette had lost her patience. Looking at Eileen¡¯s retreating figure, her eyes were filled with dissatisfaction. ¡°Why are you so entangled with that illegitimate child? Jasper is back now, and he can¡¯t stay in the Smith family for long. That illegitimate child will be driven out of Hulbury sooner orter. Who is more important. Eileen? How can you not understand? Whether you¡¯re after money or power. Jasper is someone worth your allegiance!¡± Eileen paused, turned around, and, from a distance, said to her, ¡°I think you¡¯ve misunderstood. I¡¯ve never considered clinging to anyone, including Jasper. No matter what I do with Elm, none of you have the right to interfere!¡± Yvette asked, ¡°If you had to choose between Elm and Jasper, who would it be? Don¡¯t you know you¡¯re leading both of them on?¡± They were at school and the entrance of the ssroom. Although the dozens of people present weren¡¯t looking at the two of them, they were definitely pricking up their ears to listen. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Why have you gone silent?¡± Yvette walked toward Eileen, step by step, her aura completely transformed. Yvette was a straightforward girl. Whatever she thought, she would say it directly, without beating around the bush. She did whatever she wanted. Even if she made mistakes, she knew there were people behind her who would cover for her. However, Eileen was different. She could only rely on herself to break free from Will, to change her future. Every step I take now is shaping my future. You¡¯re not nning to string Jasper along while also entangling yourself with Elm, are you? Eileen, what exactly are you scheming? It would be better if you just came out and said it,¡± what she was thinking? Did Jasper also think so when he found out I was with Elmst Does he think I¡¯m stringing him along with being with Elmt Elleen looked at Yvette calmly aid, Now, I¡¯ll rify all these things you¡¯ve mentioned. Who I¡¯m with and what I do are private matters! No one can tell me otherwise! I know Jasper has helped me before, and I am truly grateful. He likes me, but I don¡¯t have to follow your wishes and distance myself from Elm! That is your family matter. It has nothing to do with an outsider like me. If you insist on making me choose, I would still make the same decision as I have now.¡± After all, she owed Elm that much. Even if she didn¡¯t owe Elm anything, no one had the right to tell her to distance herself from Elm. Setting aside the past, Elm was actually a really kind person. He would feed the stray cats at school and be polite/to others. In fact, in the morning, when the elderlydy who set up her stall with a cart got the wheel stuck in a puddle, he would help push the cart from behind, and then casually walk away as if nothing happened. He wasn¡¯t as bad as people imagined. ¡°I¡¯m not afraid. You can ry all of this to him. Yvette, I have my own life n, and no one can hinder me. My goal is to get into Hulbury University. I won¡¯t fall for anyone, nor will I waste my time on emotions. I will find the time to exin everything to Jasper. As for dinner, you should just go eat with Eric! I won¡¯t be a third wheel.¡± With that, Eileen left, and this time, Yvette didn¡¯t try to stop her. When Eileen reached the ground floor, Elm was leaning against the door, gazing down at the tips of his shoes. N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Eileen said. Elm silently followed her. At half past seven in the evening, Yvette got into Eric¡¯s car and sat in the passenger seat. Her anger hadn¡¯t subsided yet. She didn¡¯t know where the anger wasing from, but she was feeling extremely upset. She vented her frustrations to Eric, recounting the words that Eileen had said to her. ¡°Are you going to take action or not?! If Eileen continues to get close to Elm, and Jasper finds out, he might terminate all business coborations with yourpany. You better act before Jasper Rice was cold be reped. did one here to live to this Where is she? How we know? Forget about a Let¡¯s got something to eat to starving Yvette teren of her seatbeh A abadow of gloom douded Eric¡¯s eyes, mining a chilling aura In the sent moment, he unavened the seatbelt opened the car door, and stepped out of the can. Te. I definitely need to take action Where are you going? Yeme asked finds out.¡± Eric¡¯s tone was cold as he replied. ¡°I didn¡¯te here to listen to this. Where is she? ¡°How would i know? Forget about it. Let¡¯s grab something to eat! I¡¯m starving Yvette fastened her seatbelt. A shadow of gloom clouded Eric¡¯s eyes, emitting a chilling aura. In the next moment, he unfastened the seatbelt, opened the car door, and stepped out of the car. Yes. I definitely need to take action ¡°Where are you going?¡± Yvette asked. Chapter 131 Chapter 131 Chapter 131 It Does Not Matter To You In the library, Eileen handed Elm a math paper she had prepared herself, instructing him toplete it without looking at his textbook. The questions were all very basic, covering only half a page. Knowing that it would take around half an hour toplete, Eileen proceeded to practice writing Uprian and do Uprianprehension exercises. Eileen refrained from checking on him because she didn¡¯t want to pressure him. After half an hour had passed, regardless of whether he had finished or not, his work was collected. Eileen looked at the paper and noticed that he was unable to recall even the most basic mathematical forms. In the end, he only scored twenty points. It was marked in the upper right corner of the paper. She gave him twenty points due to their rtionship. Additionally, he wrote a glossary and his work was neat. Eileen sighed repeatedly, growing more confused. ¡°No¡­. Elm, what have you been doing these past two years?¡± Elm tossed his pen aside, kicked back with one leg over the other, and fell back into his chair. He tilted his head and said with a grin, ¡°I¡¯ve been having fun!¡± Eileen then said, ¡°But you can¡¯t be this careless. You should at least pay some attention during ss! Haven¡¯t you noticed? The problems I¡¯ve given you are exactly the same as the ones in the first lesson of the math book. Don¡¯t tell me you haven¡¯t even flipped through the book.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve been ssmates for two years, haven¡¯t we? Don¡¯t you know me?¡± Eileen reached out, intending to poke his forehead. Meeting his gaze, she said nothing more, her eyes filled with a certain unspoken emotion. Elm softened his expression, extending his left index finger to touch hers. ¡°There¡¯s still half a year left. It¡¯s enough time. You teach, and I¡¯ll do my best to remember.¡± For her, those two years, aside from the unpleasant events, the remaining happy moments. seemed to have blurred into a haze of forgotten memories. III O 1/4 pter 191 It Does Not Matter To You ung her head low, concealing the emotions in her eyes. Now is not the time to dwell on the By the time the actual exam day arrives, it¡¯s likely there won¡¯t be muchmunication between us Eileen then uttered tly, ¡°Who do you think you are? It¡¯s not that easy. If you can¡¯t even do this I don¡¯t expect you to get into Hulbury University. It would be quite an achievement if You could get into any second-tier university.¡± She didn¡¯t even have time to attend her extracurricr ss because she was busy tutoring him. Eileen knew that if Will were to find out about it, he would surely reprimand her. I¡¯m not sure if he¡¯ll come home for the New Year this year. It¡¯s been quite a while since hest celebrated it at home. We only bring Grandma home for a visit on the second and third days of the New Year. If the house hasn¡¯t been renovated yet by then, there might still be a chance to avoid trouble. ¡°You really don¡¯t believe me?¡± Elm asked. ¡°What do you think?¡± Eileen retorted. I¡¯d believe in ghosts before I¡¯d believe him. Eileen picked up a crystal blue pen again. ¡°I¡¯ll do it while you listen. I¡¯ll exin it to you now, and you need to remember everything when you go home. Also, don¡¯t leave your workbook empty anymore. Remember to do your homework on time and send me a photo to check after you finish.¡± Elm had always disliked troublesome matters, and the thought of having to report daily made him click his tongue in annoyance, feeling as if he had a toothache. In response, Eileen said, ¡°Elm, are you listening to me? I¡¯m doing this because it¡¯s my responsibility!¡± ¡°Responsibility? What responsibility, Eileen?¡± A cold and piercing voice echoed in the library. The tone was calm, yet every word seemed to pronounce her death sentence. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. The sudden arrival of Eric, followed by Yvette, caught Eileen off guard. She stood up, her presence dwarfed by the man before her. Eileen knew him best. The calm expression on Eric¡¯s face at that time was a sign that he was getting angry. The faint chill in the air was emanating from him. Yvette looked at Elm with disdain. ¡°You said you were tutoring him, but what kind of tutoring is this? It looks more like you¡¯re dating. Eileen, don¡¯t tell me you¡¯ve actually fallen for this guy. Why don¡¯t you ever listen to what I say?¡± She was so angry she almost stomped her foot. III O 2/4 Chapter 131 Does Not Matter To You Theb After that, Yvette¡¯s gaze fell on the test paper on the table and sneered, ¡°Twenty points? You¡¯re unerly ipetent! Whether it¡¯s in the Smith family or at school, Elm, you are destined to he Stepped on by Jasper for the rest of your life, serving as a stepping stone, without a shred of sess. Elm slid his hands into his pockets, toying with the lighter inside, and said with a smile, ¡°At the very least, I won¡¯t rush to fawn over others, or pay them for the privilege.¡± ¡°How audacious!¡± Yvette suddenly appeared before him and swung her arm. A crisp sound echoed. p! The pping sound echoed through the library. There were still people in the library at that time. Hearing the sound, they all turned to look. ¡°What do you think you are? How dare you speak to me like that? You¡¯re nothing but a burlesque performer¡¯s illegitimate child.¡± Yvette¡¯s eyes were fierce, and she exuded an air of superiority. ¡°He¡¯s simply being himself!¡± Without much hesitation, Eileen furrowed her brows and pulled Elm behind her. This is a library. You¡¯re not only disturbing me but also others. Leave the library immediately!¡± ¡°Do you like him that much? Why are you protecting him? Elm, what kind of spell did you cast on her?¡± Yvette asked. ¡°I will protect him!¡± Eileen¡¯s hand was still clutching Elm¡¯s sleeve, her nervous hand trembling slightly. That was the first time she had bravely stepped forward to defend someone. Yvette said, ¡°Do you realize that your actions have not only offended me but also the entire Smith family? If it weren¡¯t for Eric, the Swan family would have copsed long ago. In other words, you wouldn¡¯t be who you are now! I really don¡¯t understand you. What on earth are you thinking?¡± Eileen responded calmly, ¡°When I was on the verge of death, he was the one who saved me. Isn¡¯t that a valid reason?¡± Yvette was clearly shocked. Eileen remainedposed amidst the chaos, bravely recounting those terrifying memories, sharing them with everyone present. ¡°It was pouring rain at that time, with a dozen people by the sea, but only he risked his life to save me. The others knew that going in meant they might nevere back. Yvette! You dislike Elm, and that¡¯s your prerogative. But why must III O < 3/4 our drag me along and force me to follow your lead? You have no right to control someone¡¯s thoughts, even if you are wealthy and powerful! And what about you, Eric?¡± Eileen smiled at Fric. You know best why I wanted to escape from this family in the first ce. I know you were there. Didn¡¯t you also stand by and do nothing? My life meant nothing to you! Until the veryst moment. I hoped you woulde and save me. What were you doing then, Eric? You just stood there and watched as I almost got assaulted. Were you hoping to witness my death? Am I disappointing you by being alive? My own brother couldn¡¯t care less about me, yet a stranger risked his life to save me. Why shouldn¡¯t I protect him?¡± From start to finish, Eric remained silent because he couldn¡¯t speak. He had no right to defend himself because she was speaking nothing but the truth. She wasn¡¯t falsely using him, that was clear. Chapter 132 Chapter 132 Chapter 132 Robbing A Bank Eileen spoke without hesitation, although she wasn¡¯t sure how many people had heard her. She was unsure about what Elm had been through, but in that moment, she was on Elm¡¯s side. Elm had risked his life to save me, so I should at least find the courage to stand up and protect him. Besides, he was innocently pped by Yvette. At the same time, Eileen knew that Elm had always been a proud individual. Eileen packed up her books and left the library with Elm. ¡°Stop right there!¡± Yvette yelled. However, neither Eileen nor Elm turned around. ¡°Are you finished?¡± Eric¡¯s voice suddenly turned icy. Yvette looked at him and saw his deep eyes filled with absolute coldness. The once warm library seemed to have dropped in temperature, as if the air around her had be colder. She had never encountered such a terrifying aura. ¡°What?¡± Without saying a word, Eric left with measured steps. He walked quickly, so Yvette had to jog to keep up. Watching him get into the car, Yvette was afraid that he might leave without her. She quickly climbed into the passenger seat. She fastened her seatbelt, but Eric didn¡¯t start the car. His eyes, deep and inscrutable, seemed lost in thought. ¡°I¡¯m here to help you. Why are you getting angry at me when you¡¯re the one who didn¡¯t bring the person back?¡± Yvette said, feeling somewhat wronged. That was the first time she had spoken to someone in such a manner. In his presence, she simply couldn¡¯t hold back her emotions. ¡°Eric¡­ Is everything Eileen just said true?¡± she asked softly, unable to resist ncing at his handsome, sculpted profile. / ¡°Do you want to know the answer?¡± He nced sideways, locking eyes with her. Yvette¡¯s heart skipped a beat, her heartbeat unusually erratic. His deep, maic voice resonated, and Yvette was instantly captivated by his gaze. At that O 1/5 moment, her heart was racing. She shook her head and said, ¡°I don¡¯t want to know anymore. It¡¯s your family matter. It has nothing to do with me. Eric, it¡¯s sote. Hurry up and take me home. I¡¯m exhausted.¡± Yvette covered her mouth, sneezing lightly, a flicker of something unusual quickly passing through her eyes. Upon returning home, Eileen took an egg out of the refrigerator, boiled it, and had Elm roll it over his face. The p that Yvette gave him was not light. She didn¡¯t have any medicine on hand, so that was the best she could do. ¡°Come over once you¡¯re done.¡± After tidying up the dining table, she took out my backpack and spread out the books. There was still plenty of time, so she thought she could learn a few more Uprian words. Elm stood up and walked over. ¡°You really love studying, don¡¯t you?¡± Eileen sat down and looked up at him. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°What do you mean? I¡¯m eating the egg!¡± He had already swallowed half of it while the other half was still in his mouth. ¡°I gave it to you so that you could roll it over your cheek!¡± Eileen said. Elm pulled out a chair and sat down next to her. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m not that dramatic.¡± Eileen looked at his smiling face, feeling a strange sensation in her heart. How is he still able to smile now? Seeing him like that, Eileen didn¡¯t say anything else. ¡°Where were we?¡± he asked. ¡°Your paper,¡± she reminded. Eileen took out the paper, discussing the topic while writing the process and answers. She exined as thoroughly as possible. In truth, Elm was really intelligent, but he just didn¡¯t want to study. By the time she posed another question, Elm waspletely capable of solving it. It showed that there had been some progress, so at least the effort wasn¡¯t in vain. Gradually, they forgot about what had just happened and began to fully immerse themselves. THI 2/5 their studies Before they knew it, it was almost midnight. Let¡¯s call it a day. Elm closed the pen cap. By the time she lifted her head again, Elm had already conscientiously moved to the edge of the couch, spreading out the nket. Eileen looked at him, her thin lips parting as if to say something, but the words were swallowed back down. Forget about it. I¡¯ll just let him stay here one more night. With that in mind, Eileen asked, ¡°Do you want to take a bath?¡± Elm straightened up, raising an eyebrow. ¡°What are you up to?¡± ¡°Put away your dirty thoughts. I¡¯m afraid you might stink!¡± Eileen responded. What exactly goes through his mind every day? Heading to the room, she fetched a bathrobe for him. ¡°It¡¯s new. I¡¯ve never worn it before.¡± Elm took it and said, ¡°Oh¡­ It¡¯s pink.¡± Eileen went to freshen up because she had already showered at school earlier that day. She didn¡¯t shower the day before because he was there. After she was done with everything, she let him use the bathroom. When she arrived in the room and was about to close the door behind her, she heard Elm saying, ¡°I also want to take the Hulbury University entrance exam.¡± Eileen¡¯s lips curled up slightly. ¡°Understood. Go to bed early. Good night.¡± ¡°Good night,¡± Elm replied. The next day, early in the morning, Eileen, having tidied up, came out to see a slender figure standing in the kitchen. He had one hand tucked in his pocket, the other holding a fork. Considering his pampered life, Eileen thought he wouldn¡¯t know how to cook. This is my first time seeing a man cook in the kitchen. In the mindset of some men, cooking in the kitchen is something that women should be doing. Well, even that person has never once cooked a meal for me. ¡°Come bring the noodles,¡± he said without turning his head. Eileen set down her backpack and walked over. Upon closer inspection, the p mark on his face had faded slightly, but there were still some red marks elsewhere. O 3/5 Chapter 182 Robbing A Bank ¡°What did you cook?¡± You have nothing here. What am I supposed to cook?¡± Elm asked. As it turned out, he ate thest egg she had the night before. The only things on the noodles were green peppers and tomatoes. Eileen took a bite and found that the tomato soup mixed with the noodles gave the dish a slightly sour taste, but it was also fragrant and appetizing. She had never tried such a dish before! ¡°Not bad. It¡¯s really delicious,¡± Eileenmented. ¡°That bowl will cost you eight dors,¡± the server said. Eileen was taken aback. ¡°Would you like me to rob a bank instead? Here, take it back. I won¡¯t eat anymore.¡± Elm took off his apron and approached. ¡°I was just joking. Let¡¯s eat.¡± Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. Before he could even sit down, Elm¡¯s phone started ringing. He picked it up and nced at it. Eileen noticed his serious expression. Without saying a word, he walked to the balcony with his phone in hand. Eileen stopped eating and observed his facial expression. She immediately guessed who was calling. However, the phone call ended quickly. In just a few seconds, Elm returned and sat down in front of her. Neither of them mentioned the call. After finishing their meal, Eileen waited for him so they could leave together. On the way to school, Eileen already anticipated the situation she would face that day. As they walked, people passing by gave them strange looks. ¡°Have you heard? Eileen was sexually assaulted by several men.¡± ¡°Really? I heard from others that it didn¡¯t happen.¡± ¡°It¡¯s true! Her brother was there and didn¡¯t do anything to help! If you don¡¯t believe me, check out the posts on the forum. There¡¯s even a photo. It¡¯s all over the ce now.¡± Chapter 133 Chapter 133 Chapter 133 I Am Waiting For That Day It was raining at the time. Eileen found herself surrounded by four or five men, and her clothes were almost torn to shreds, exposingrge patches of skin. Her face was barely recognizable, but there was no denying that the person in the photo was her She had no idea where the photo hade from. The situation escted quickly. Soon, everyone in the school knew about it, and they all believed that she had slept with multiple guys. As she walked back from the restroom, even if those she passed by didn¡¯t make anyments, they kept their distance from her as if afraid of catching a disease. ¡°No wonder she left school three months ago¡­ Look at her. She¡¯s dirty!¡± Enduring the swirl of rumors, Eileen returned to her ssroom. Jennifer summoned her to the office not long after she sat down, and even the teachers gave her strange looks when she walked in. When they were alone in the lounge, Jennifer cut straight to the chase and said, ¡°You¡¯ve heard the rumors and gossip going around the school, haven¡¯t you? Do you have anything to exin to me?¡± Eileen remained silent. ¡°So, it¡¯s all true?¡± ¡°Even if I exin now and say that it¡¯s not true, would it make any difference?¡± Eileen asked. They only believe in what they want to believe, so any exnation is basically useless. Jennifer fell silent for a moment. After a while, she said, ¡°You¡¯ve been getting into one trouble after another recently. Before the school¡¯s administration discusses how to handle the public discourse, we¡¯ve decided to suspend you from school for a while. Mr. Gardner from the Olympiad Math team will find someone else to join. Do you have any objections to this decision?¡± Eileen replied, ¡°I have no objections.¡± Alright. I¡¯ll contact your parents now and ask them toe pick you up.¡± That won¡¯t be necessary. I can go back on my own.¡± Eileen returned to the ssroom and began packing her things. No one paid much attention O < 1/4 Chapter 133 I Am Waiting For to her as they were all engrossed in answering their test papers. Yvette hadn¡¯te to ss that day. All the sses were in session by the time Eileen left. As she walked past a ssroom, all the students swarmed toward her,pletely disregarding the teacher giving the lesson. ¡°What are you all doing? Come back and pay attention to the lesson!¡± the teacher barked. However, those words fell on deaf ears. Several male students blocked Eileen¡¯s path and teasingly said, ¡°Isn¡¯t this the talenteddy? I heard you¡¯ve been with quite a few people. Is it true?¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you tell us how it felt?¡± another added. Frowning, Vera stepped forward. ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing? Stop spewing nonsense. Eileen is nothing like how you¡¯re portraying her.¡± ¡°Vera, you should stop meddling in things that don¡¯t concern you. The Swan family adopted you, but Eileen has never truly considered you as family. You should stay out of it.¡± As Walsh quickly pulled Vera aside, another studentughed and called out, ¡°Yeah. Go ahead and tell us.¡± ¡°Move aside,¡± said Eileen. She took a step forward, only to be blocked by someone. ¡°Why the rush to leave? We haven¡¯t finished chatting yet. If you¡¯re too shy to tell us, why don¡¯t you just name a price? How much for a night? Spend one night with us, too, and let us have a taste.¡± Angered, Vera stepped forward and snapped, ¡°You guys had better not go too far.¡± Eileen should have been angry, but looking at the boys¡¯ disgusting faces, she felt likeughing instead. ¡°Three thousand for one night. That¡¯s not too expensive, is it?¡± ¡°That cheap? I spend nearly a hundred thousand just for a night out.¡± Eileen¡¯s eyes curved as she smiled, exuding a charm that was enchanting yet not overly seductive. She was undeniably beautiful. Even whenpared to all the other girls in the school, she was second to none. Suddenly, someone handed her a bank card. ¡°There¡¯s two hundred thousand in there. You¡¯re mine for the year.¡± She vaguely knew the person who gave her the card. His family was in the mining business and was quite wealthy indeed. She couldn¡¯t remember his name, though. Eileen took the bank card with a smile. ¡°Even if I agreed, would you dare toy a finger on 2/4 +15 Free Coins Chapter 138 I Am Waiting For That Day me? Have you forgotten? I¡¯m from the Swan family, the family that unscrupulous and dishonorable.¡± you all say is Walking forward, she lightly tapped his face with the bank card and continued in an icy tone, Go ask your father if he dares to offend the Swans. Don¡¯t forget what happened to those three people who offended me.¡± She spoke slowly and clearly, emphasizing each word. Indeed, they had almostpletely forgotten about that. The Gates family was now on the brink of bankruptcy. Teresa¡¯s past deeds had also been brought to light, and not long after that, she was sentenced to five years in prison. As for Lany, there had been no news of her. Meanwhile, the Sheppards and the Hunts were also no better off. Rumor had it that they had fled, leaving behind a debt of tens of millions. No sooner had Eileen said that than many of the others instantly paled. They all belonged to the same elite circle, and everyone knew about it if someone¡¯spany went under or one of them ended up in jail. Perhaps it was because most of them had business dealings with those families and had been affected to some extent, so it was impossible for them not to know. The person who had started the teasing immediately said in a jesting tone, ¡°We were just joking with you. It¡¯s no fun if you take it seriously. All of us used to be your ssmates, so don¡¯t be so petty.¡± Some people were just that way, thinking that being well-off made them better than others. ¡°So, you feel proud just because you¡¯re a Swan?¡± A cold voice rang out from among the group of students, and Eileen watched as Charlie approached, the crowd parting for him. ¡°Sooner orter, I will personally bring down your family!¡± N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. How many people have died because of what Will Swan has done? Even if he was pped with the death penalty, executing him by firing squad ten times over wouldn¡¯t be enough! ¡°I can¡¯t wait for that day,¡± she replied eagerly, eagerly anticipating the day when Will would no longer be a part of Hulbury. In her mind, Charlie¡¯s family was like the immune system fighting against the Swans, who were like a cancer. Eileen walked away from him, and in front of everyone, she defiantly tossed the bank card she had been holding into the trash can. She couldn¡¯t help but feel relieved knowing that Will was away on vacation and wouldn¡¯t be back for a while. She decided to stay home for a few days, enjoying the freedom of having no one to restrict her. 374 Chapter 188 1 Am Waiting For That Day During those few days, she didn¡¯t go anywhere and simply spent her time idling at home, passing the time. Suddenly, a knock reverberated through the quiet house. She had no idea who it could be, and she had no desire to find out. The knocking persisted, growing louder with each rap. Reluctantly, she went to open the door. However, when the door swung open, she was taken aback to see Eric standing there. Her expression froze, and then she narrowed her eyes and turned to go back into the house. She sat cross-legged on the floor and resumed her drawing. There was a soft cushion and nket on the floor, keeping her warm. As he entered the house, he nced around. Despite the living room and kitchen appearing old, they were impably clean. There were a few unwashed dishes in the sink, though. Sunlight streamed in through the window, casting its rays on Eileen. She was wearing a ke fleece pajama set with a hood that had two small pointed ears. Her sleeves were rolled up, and she held a paintbrush in her hand. Paint stters adorned her hands, clothes, and even the floor. ¡°You got expelled from school, and this is how you spend your time?¡± he asked, his voice devoid of any emotion. 4/4 Chapter 181 Not As Easygoing Chapter 134 Not As Easygoing ¡°If you¡¯re asking me to go back, there¡¯s no need. I¡¯m doing quite well here on my own.¡± Eileen said as she painted a field of sunflowers under a deep blue sky. The sunflowers stretched as far as the eye could see, bathed in golden sunlight. These flowers, reaching towards the light, were filled with hope and brightness. One¡¯s state of mind is most evident when painting. Some people, when in a bad mood, would depict a night sky filled with dense clouds and raging storms. However, Eileen only painted the light she hoped for in her heart. She was indeed a talented painter. With such skill, she was definitely capable of getting into the art academy she wished to apply to. Will explicitly forbade her from touching the paintbrush, yet Eric was unaware of those restrictions. How is she still able to paint at such a level? Oh right, I almost forgot, she never follows the rules. Eric sat down on the couch, noticing a piece of paper on the table. ¡°Will youe back with me now, or should I have someonee to fetch you?¡± It was a notice for a parent-teacher conference, along with a registration form for a winter camp. She had already filled in the information, including her own name. All that was missing was a parent¡¯s signature. Upon seeing that, Eric furrowed his eyebrows, a sharp glint shing across his eyes. ¡°If I return, aren¡¯t you afraid that I¡¯ll bully your precious Vera?¡± Eileen gazed at the painting on the flower rack, always feeling as if something was missing. She scrutinized it carefully and waited for Eric¡¯s response, but he did not speak. There was no need for her to look to know what expression he would have on his face. ¡°Without your presence, I live better than ever before.¡± These were her heartfelt words. At that moment, she didn¡¯t understand what Eric was truly thinking. He despised her, wishing she were dead. Yet, when she didn¡¯t want to get close to him, he kept showing up in front of her, time and time again. No one but Eric would stir up trouble at school or deal with the photos. As a result, in the eyes of all teachers and students, she had be something dirty that had Chapter 134 Chapter 134 Chapter 134 Not As Easygoing been humiliated. She was suspended from ss and expelled from the Olympiad Math team. She even felt that if she had done nothing from the start and if she hadn¡¯t gone to ss One, perhaps none of what followed would have happened. After returning from school, she indeed felt lost. What could she possibly do next? She wondered if she would continue neglecting her studies like that. Only when it became clear what she had to do did Eileene to terms with everything. After all, she made a promise to someone, to help him get into Hulbury University. Suddenly, at that moment, the lock on the door outside turned, and the door was pushed open. Elm appeared, carrying tworge bags. Seeing the person on the couch, he acted as if he hadn¡¯t noticed them, and started stuffing the groceries he had just bought into the refrigerator. He even had a cucumber hanging from his mouth. Eric spoke with an indescribable gloom. ¡°Is this what you mean by living well? By mingling with him?¡± ¡°I never thought you would think of me this way. Then again, whatever I do is always wrong. This time, however, you really misunderstood. I was just¡­ repaying a favor to Elm. He risked his life to save me. All I did was tutor him, helping him to sessfully get into the university.¡± Finally, Eileen finished her painting, the firstplete one. She had stayed up all night toplete it. Peeling off the tape, she mounted the painting in the frame. As a sensible high school boy, Elm had already put on his apron, ready to start cooking. Elm opened the refrigerator and saw a te of leftover fried chicken from the night before. ¡°Do you want what¡¯s left from yesterday? If not, I¡¯m going to throw it out!¡± Eileen replied, ¡°It can still be eaten once it¡¯s heated upter.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Leftover food? Eric was taken aback. Eileen lived a life of luxury, never with a sight of leftovers on her dining table. In the past, she was incredibly picky about food. Even fish had to be meticulously deboned III O < 2/5 Chapter 134 Not As Easygoing for her, and even vegetables had to have their oil content strictly controlled. The list of foods she avoided was so long, it was impossible to count on one hand. Her transformation was indeed beyond what Eric had anticipated. Eric believed that no matter how well she disguised herself, there woulde a day when her ws would be exposed. However, that wasn¡¯t the case. Instead, she was epting a life without luxurious clothes and exquisite meals, without a housekeeper to serve her. ¡°Is it because of this that you¡¯ve forgotten who was hospitalized, who was choked?¡± Eric spoke openly, his tone somewhat icy. Yes, back then, she did it all for Vera. When Elm heard that, his hand trembled as he poured the oil. Eileen identally cut her finger on the ss, blood seeping out. Without furrowing her brow, she wiped it away with a piece of paper, and said nonchntly, ¡°However, he has already paid the price, hasn¡¯t he? Compared to what you did, Elm just has a bad temper. It¡¯s just a bit of roughhousing among ssmates.¡± His arms and legs were broken, and he had to lie in the hospital for several months. However, some peoplemit wrongdoings and never face punishment. She didn¡¯t want to continue the topic any further, turning to Eric with a faint smile. ¡°Would you like to stay for dinner? His cooking isn¡¯t too bad.¡± Eric looked into her eyes, curved and innocent, pure and harmless. Yet, in those eyes, he saw a hint of alienation and unfamiliarity. Rather than her calm demeanor, Eric wished for her to vent her anger hysterically in front of him. He would prefer if she didn¡¯t pretend to be fine. ¡°However, there may not be any spare bowls, so you may have to make do with a te. The other bowl was bought by Elm himself,¡± said Eileen. Eric stood up, buttoning his ck suit. Sternly, he said, ¡°I¡¯m giving you three days to pack your things. I¡¯lle to pick you up then.¡± Without a second thought, Eileen tly refused, ¡°I¡¯m not going back!¡± You have no say in this. My foster father isn¡¯t as tolerant as I am.¡± Then, Eric left. Elm nced back and said, ¡°What are you standing there for? Come and help.¡± He was washing spring onions, preparing to cook a meat dish. 375 Chapter 134 Not As Easygoing Collecting her thoughts, Eileen made her way to the kitchen. Indeed, she was destined toe back sooner orter. Every action she took would also be observed. Eileen knew what awaited her next. Once the meal was prepared, she settled at the peaceful dining table. Eileen took a bite of a spring onion. ¡°Tomorrow-¡± ¡°You haven¡¯t even finished today¡¯s meal, and you¡¯re already thinking about what to eat tomorrow? You certainly have a lot on your mind!¡± Elm intentionally changed the subject, fully aware of what she was about to say. ¡°Elm, I will definitely help you get into Hulbury University.¡± ¡°And what about yourself?¡± ¡°Me too.¡± ¡°If the goal is set, the journey is never as smooth as one hopes. Disregard the process. As long as the goal is achieved, everything is fine, regardless of the means. Eileen, trust me, everything will improve.¡± Eileen looked into Elm¡¯s eyes with an unprecedented seriousness. She had never seen him behave like that before. She nodded with a smile. ¡°All right.¡± It was indeed quite unusual for him to use the word ¡°trust.¡± Eileen didn¡¯t know what she would do if she lost that goal, what her heart was striving for. After the incident, Eileen was indeed somewhat confused. If, in the end, all her efforts still couldn¡¯t alter her own future, then what was the purpose everything she had done? She hoped that Elm wouldn¡¯t end up like her. After all, he still had a chance to live his own life. I bet he¡¯s not having a good time at the Smith residence. We¡¯re actually quite simr, expendable, and often overlooked. The ¡°trash¡± in everyone¡¯s eyes. Since we¡¯re trapped, we need an escape, thought of O < 4/5 Chapter 135 Wish Come True After dinner, Eileen helped Elm with his Uprian revision. She had noticed his improvement over the past few days. During thest geography test, Elm studied ording to his notes and managed to score a fairly good grade of eighty-nine. He lost a few points due to the analysis of thest two questions. The humanities subjects were all about memorization, so they were quite simple for him. They posed no challenge. His previous poor performance was simply due to hisck of interest in studying. As long as he was willing to learn, Elm could outperform anyone. N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. At three in the afternoon, Eileen went to her extracurricr ss. Elm also packed up his things and left for school. During the lunch break, Elm had gone to find Eileen. When he returned to the ssroom, he seemed like apletely different person. He dragged his chair, tossed his backpack straight onto his desk, and propped his long legs up on the table. His loose school trousers slid down to his calves, and he exuded a defiant and icy aura. ¡°Where is he?¡± Charlie walked over and said, ¡°Enough already! If you keep tormenting him like this, he¡¯s going to lose his mind! Maybe we should just let it go. After all, Eileen is not in any trouble, right? Besides, the school suspension has nothing to do with him.¡± Elm shrugged off the hand resting on his shoulder. Charlie¡¯s expression faltered, and he pursed his lips. Albert led him aside, shaking his head at him. ¡°Why choose to be a mute dog when you could be a decent human?¡± Elm stood up in frustration, kicking the table violently. His gaze swept over the room while everyone else bowed their heads. ¡°Remember this, the only person who can bully Eileen is me. If anyone dares to spread rumors behind her back, and I find out who, I¡¯ll take them to the school¡¯s artificialke to clear their mind!¡± What Elm was referring to was none other than David Pratt, who intended to be Eileen¡¯s benefactor. At that time, Elm wasn¡¯t at school, but it seemed like he knew everything about Eileen. David was having a tough time under Elm¡¯s oppression. The moment he arrived at school, he was like a wild dog off its leash. Regardless of whether sses were in session or not, he single-handedly dragged David out. With one kick, he sent the guy flying five meters away. Chapter 135 Chapter 135 Chapter 135 Wish Come True If it hadn¡¯t been for Charlie and Albert holding Elin back at that time, David would probably have been long gone. He was taken to the medical room and examined. Fortunately, it was just a bit of skin abrasion and a slight concussion ording to the doctor. David, who used to strut around, was a changed person. After that incident, he even kept his head down when he went to the restroom. In the blink of an eye, the unexpected happened. David fainted in the restroom, and someone witnessed it. He was found to have blood in his urine and had already been taken to the infirmary. Every time he lost his temper, Elm found it hard to control his anger. Seeing him about to leave, Charlie stopped him. ¡°You bullied me and Eileen back then. If you dare,e at me!¡± Elm¡¯s eyes darkened as he spat out two words: ¡°Get lost!¡± Elm bumped squarely into Charlie¡¯s shoulder as he walked past him. Seeing Elm like that infuriated Charlie. ¡°I knew all along that you had feelings for Eileen. Don¡¯t you dare forget what you said before!¡± Albert warned. ¡°Enough! Stop talking!¡± Elm left without even turning his head back. When everyone in the ss heard the news, their gazes, intentionally or not, all turned toward Vera. However, Vera remainedpletely unaffected, continuing to work on the test paper in her hands without even lifting her head. With so many people in the ssroom, it was not a ce to chat. Albert forcibly dragged Charlie to thekeside for a breath of fresh air to cool down. Albert¡¯s voice was calm. ¡°Is your head clear now?¡± Charlie stood with his hands on his hips, still feeling frustrated, not knowing where to vent. ¡°I just don¡¯t understand. He used to be so hard on Eileen. How did he suddenly change his tune and now treat Eileen so well? He even stands up for her. David¡¯sment was just a joke. If it wasn¡¯t for us cleaning up his mess, he would have been kicked out with Eileen a long time. ago. Also, every time he saw Eileen, he¡¯d act like a dog trying to get close to her.¡± Albert lowered his head and chuckled. ¡°Charlie, that¡¯s not how one should make a joke!¡± If the pain Eileen has endured was inflicted upon you, and everyone picked at your wounds. 2/4 Chapter 135 Wish Come True andughed, would you find it amusing?¡± Albert did his best to exin things clearly and straightforwardly, as Charlie was someone who couldn¡¯t think outside the box. Charlie didn¡¯t say a word. ¡°Moreover, the idea of a son paying for his father¡¯s debts is outdated. We live in a society governed by law now. The crimesmitted by Will will sooner orter be made public, and he will face legal punishment. Eileen hasn¡¯t done anything, yet you¡¯re cing the me for Will¡¯s mistakes on her. What kind of logic is that?¡± Elm may seem reckless, but in reality, everything he does is based on his own reasoning. He¡¯s not as much of a scoundrel as one might imagine. Sure, he appears to be an ignorant and ipetent rascal who hangs out with the popr girl, living a life of debauchery. However, have you ever seen him not return home all night with any other woman, or spend time alone with them?¡± Hearing that, Charlie could hardly believe it. ¡°Is this guy really still a virgin?¡± 1 ¡°No, I mean his rtionship with the popr girl is a sham!¡± ¡°What about Vera? Doesn¡¯t he like Vera? That night, the two of them didn¡¯t return home. They rode off gantly on their bikes. Isn¡¯t their rtionship genuine?¡± Albert smiled as he looked at theke view in front of him. The wind was teasing the loose strands of hair on his forehead. ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, he was doing it all for Eileen to see!¡± Perhaps he has had his eyes on Eileen for quite some time now. Charlie was somewhat perplexed. ¡°Why? How did you figure it out? I don¡¯t believe it!¡± ¡°Actually, when they were in the hospital, Elm had already started developing feelings for Eileen.¡± ¡°Who are you trying to fool?¡± ¡°Do you remember that time at the hospital when Elm lifted his shirt for a check-up? Do you remember the moon tattoo on his abdomen?¡± asked Albert. Charlie vaguely recalled the incident. At the time, he had yfully teased Elm for being bold enough to have such a tattoo. Back then, Elm had not offered any exnation. Does this mean that Elm had been interested in Eileen from the very beginning? Charlie wondered. ¡°Why doesn¡¯t he pursue her then? He even treated Eileen poorly. When Vera was bullied, he believed Eileen was responsible and nearly choked her. If he likes her, isn¡¯t he pushing her further away? It all seems so contradictory.¡± BW O 3/4 0 Only Elm himself knows the answer to that. I suppose he has finally achieved what he desired said Albert. This is something Elm traded his life for. Albert then patted Charlie¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Now that I¡¯ve shared all this with you, you should understand, right?¡± With his mindset and temperament, Charlie would continue to confront Elm. They never cared about Elm¡¯s identity. Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. Elm was indeed a friend worth cherishing for a lifetime. After all, they had known each other for many years. If they were to break up the group, they would undoubtedly feel regretful. Chapter 136 Chapter 136 Chapter 136 Take A Photo After learning from her previous experience, Eileen returned home before eight o¡¯clock. She also went to the hospital to have her stitches removed. The wound was healing, but there was still a noticeable scar. It had scabbed over, and as long as she didn¡¯t exert too much force, it wouldn¡¯t reopen. In the study of the Smith residence, an intangible pressure lingered. Jasper sat at his desk, waiting for the video conference to end. Only then did he lift his gaze to the person standing before him, dressed in a school uniform that was worn incorrectly. ¡°You haven¡¯t been home these past few days. What have you been doing outside?¡± ¡°What else can I do? Don¡¯t you already know?¡± Elm replied, hands tucked in his pockets, fiddling with the lighter inside, tilting his head. Jasper leaned back leisurely. ¡°You¡¯re right. I do keep tabs on your every move. I have people watching you, not because you pose any threat to me, but to ensure you don¡¯t cause trouble for me out there. Do you think just because you bear the surname Smith, you can act recklessly? Today, at the office, I received awsuit from the legal department using you of bullying and fighting on campus¡­¡± Jasper took out the documents from the table and threw them directly in front of Elm. ¡°I¡¯ve been busy with worktely and haven¡¯t been able to keep an eye on you. I thought you¡¯d behave yourself, but instead, you¡¯ve surprised me, huh?¡± Elm picked up the file from the ground with a somewhat ingratiating smile. ¡°It¡¯s just a joke among ssmates, Jasper. There¡¯s no need to take their words to heart.¡± Suddenly, at that moment, there was a knock on the study door. A beautiful woman in her thirties or forties walked in, carrying two cups of milk and some snacks. ¡°Seeing you still busy with work, I made some snacks for you. I don¡¯t know if they suit your taste.¡± Ruth was only forty that year, but her well-maintained skin made her look no more than in her early thirties. Her eyes were soft and tender, exuding the unique charm of a woman from Jacaster. Her narrow, captivating fox-like eyes were a trait inherited by Elm from Ruth. The arrival of Ruth subtly shifted the initially eerie atmosphere. Jasper never made any attempt to hide his deep-seated hatred for that woman. ¡°Who let you in? Get out!¡± Ruth wasn¡¯t angry at all, her voice soft as she said, ¡°Did Elm make another mistake? Elm, aren¡¯t you going to kneel down and apologize to your brother?¡± Elm¡¯s brows furrowed instantly, and he lowered his gaze in silence. He just quietly observed Ruth, seeing in his mother¡¯s soft eyes what seemed to be a desperate plea. Elm licked his back teeth, letting out a cold, sarcasticugh. He bent one knee and knelt III O < 1/4 Chapter 136 Take A Photo down in front of Jasper. Ruth turned around, ¡°Jasper, look, even Elm has knelt down. He knows he¡¯s made a mistake. Considering his young age andck of understanding, won¡¯t you forgive him this time?¡± Jasper said, ¡°No wonder you¡¯re mother and son, ustomed to kneeling and unable to stand. If you¡¯re so keen on kneeling, get out and kneel until this matter is resolved, then you may stand up.¡± Ruth stepped forward to support Elm. ¡°Elm, listen to your elder brother.¡± Throughout, Elm didn¡¯t utter a word. He stood up and walked out. After the study door was closed again, Ruth stared at her son with heartache. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s fault that you¡¯ve been aggrieved,¡± she said, caressing Elm¡¯s face. my From the moment Ruth entered, Elm remained silent throughout, not uttering a single word. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, go home! I¡¯ll figure something out,¡± said Elm. Ruth replied, ¡°Mr. Smith isn¡¯t here today, so I¡¯ll stay here with you.¡± ¡°What can you aplish here?¡± Ruth covered her mouth and nose, turned her head to the side, coughing. Elm asked with concern, ¡°Have you taken your medicine?¡± Ruth had asthma, a lingering consequence of an incident years ago. Despite the passage time, it had never been fully cured. However, as long as she remained cautious, it would rarely act up. of ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I did. What on earth have you done this time? Didn¡¯t I tell you to control your temper and not to cause any more trouble for Mr. Smith? He¡¯s already having a hard time at the Smith residence.¡± Ruth looked at him, her words stern, but she couldn¡¯t bring herself to me him even a little. Elm nodded understandingly. ¡°I know. You should go back to sleep.¡± After coaxing her to leave, Elm knelt on the ground at the entrance of the study until half past eleven at night. The person in the study didn¡¯t take a single step outside. Suddenly, Elm¡¯s phone, tucked away in his pocket, began to ring. Upon seeing the caller, Elm ignored the call without a second nce. O 2/4 81% Chapter 136 Take A Photo +15 Free Coins Eileen had just stepped out of the bathroom, drying her hair with a towel. A wisp of steam lingered around her. For Elm, that was the beginning of his nightlife, so she decided to make a surprise check to see what he was up to. The call had barely gone through when it was abruptly ended. Eileen furrowed her brows. Why did he hang up so quickly? Was he feeling guilty or up to something? She quickly dialed the same number again. Again, Elm didn¡¯t answer. When making the fourth call, it took Elm a long time to answer. Eileen¡¯s voice was deep as she began to speak. ¡°Why are you only answering now? Elm, what on earth are you doing?¡± Elm chuckled and said, ¡°Why do you sound like a girlfriend checking up on her boyfriend? What¡¯s the matter? Afraid I may cheat?¡± ¡°Have you been fooling around outside again? I knew it. You have no patience for studying at all. Have you done the test paper I asked you to bring home today? If this is really the case, even if I waste all my time on you, I can¡¯t save you.¡± ¡°You¡¯re so fierce. Who would dare to marry you in the future? Let¡¯s talkter. I¡¯m hanging up!¡± After ending the phone call, Eileen felt a tightness in her chest. However, as she calmed down, she noticed the absence of any background noise during the call. It was unusually quiet. He must have been afraid that I was checking up on him, which is why he took so long to answer. He probably found a quiet ce to take the call. Frustrated, Eileen threw her phone onto the bed. Just when his grades were finally improving, he starts cking off again. He is truly hopeless. Soon, the phone on the bed vibrated twice. It was a message from Elm. Elm: I have finished the test paper. Thest math problem was quite simr to a major question from last year¡¯s university entrance exam. I used two methods to solve it. Should I take a shower first and then take a picture to show you, Ms. Swan? Or would you like to see something else? I don¡¯t mind sacrificing my dignity. Eileen looked at the text, shaking her head helplessly. She felt no emotional response and chose to ignore thest two sentences. She replied: Remember to memorize five Uprian words before going to bed every day. We¡¯ll have a quiz tomorrow. Elm chuckled lightly as he typed: Okay. O 3/4 Before long, the door to the study opened, and Jasper stepped out. ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Jasper¡¯s eyes were cold as he said, ¡°If you want to continue living in the Smith residence with your mother, keep your distance from her¡± Elm replied, ¡°I¡¯m afraid I may disappoint you, Jasper. She¡¯s clinging to me so tightly that I can¡¯t shake her off.¡± Jasper towered over Elm, looking down at him. ¡°Apart from resorting to tricks like your lowly mother, what else can you do?¡± Elm tilted his head up, fearlessly meeting his brother¡¯s gaze. At least the goal has been achieved. However, she is unwilling to get any closer to you Jasper suddenly lifted his foot, stepping on Elm¡¯s shoulder, and leaned down slightly. ¡°You think you canpete with me, you worthless piece of junk?¡± Chapter 137 Chapter 137 Chapter 137 Teach Me At two in the morning, Elm returned to his room. He nced at the slightly ajar door, from which a faint, chilly light emanated. Inside, he could hear faint sounds of sobbing. The sobs were soft, as if someone was desperately holding back their emotions. He was about to push the door open but decided against it. Instead, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a pack of cigarettes. Walking to the balcony at the end of the hallway, he lit up a cigarette and began to smoke. As he stared into the endless darkness, his eyes as dark as night, he took in the chilly wind ast the me from his cigarette flickered, The next day, a hint of dawn appeared on the horizon, casting its light through the window. Eileen woke up early that day. She watered the nts on the balcony and watched as tricycles ridden by vendors passed by on the street below. There were shouts from a few people, and the aroma of food wafted in from somewhere. The ordinary yet challenging life of the people here fascinated her. She envied them. After cleaning the house and mopping the floor, she felt restless and bored. She often used these household chores to soothe her mind. ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. She believed in Eric, knowing that he was a man of his word. She was certain that he woulde to pick her up three dayster, even though she had no desire to leave. She might not have been here for long, but she was already ustomed to this ce. She nned to continue renting the ce. Even if she didn¡¯t live here, having a ce to stay would be beneficial in case she was kicked out in the future. By noon, Elm still hadn¡¯t shown up. He usually arrived by half past eleven. After waiting for the designated time, Eileen decided not to wait any longer. Instead, she spontaneously decided to go to the ski resort at Mount Bright. It was just a one-day trip. On the mountaintop, she could even witness the sunrise over the snowy mountains at five or six in the morning-something she had never seen before. After taking a bus for over an hour, she arrived at the foot of the mountain. She bought a 1/4 10:49 Mon, 11 Dec Chapter 137 Teach Me $15 Free Cors ticket and joined a group of people boarding the cable car, heading to the mountaintop. After a twenty-minute ride, they reached the summit. The temperature here made Eileen shiver uncontrobly. Cold air constantly seeped through the gaps in her clothing. Carrying her backpack, she hurriedly went to the hotel to check-in. Holding the room key, Eileen wished she could hide her entire self in a scarf instead of exposing her skin to the air. In another hallway, a woman with long wavy hair wearing a ke cloak and sunsses held the arm of a man. When he stopped, the woman looked in his direction and asked, ¡°Darling, what are you looking at?¡± Eric withdrew his gaze indifferently without saying a word. Eileen also felt as if a familiar gaze had just been watching her, but when she turned around, there was nothing but an empty corridor behind her. Perhaps she had mistaken it. Back in her room, Eileen quickly turned on the air conditioning, took out her thickest ck down jacket that reached her calves, and casually tied up her hair. After a while, there was a sudden knock on the door, and a male voice followed, ¡°Hello, Ms. Swan. I am the private ski instructor you hired. My name is Christopher Walt. Are you ready?¡± Eileen zipped up her jacket and called out, ¡°Wait a moment. I¡¯ll be right there.¡± She had paid fifty for a private lesson, and she didn¡¯t expect him to arrive so soon. This was part of the hotel¡¯s package. It was her first time skiing, and having someone guide her would prevent her from falling too hard. After getting ready, she picked up her things and went over immediately. Unexpectedly, the person turned out to be quite tall, at least one point nine meters. His muscles, not fully hidden under his jacket, suggested great explosive power. With her shoes on, Eileen was almost one point seven meters. Yet, standing next to him, she felt incredibly petite. A few minutes¡¯ walk behind the hotel led to a ski slope. Eileen put on her skiing gear, cautiously using her ski poles, and began to ski clumsily. Don¡¯t worry, move boldly, control the rhythm. If you fall, I¡¯ll catch you.¡± Eileen had hardly ever tried these extreme sports. To say she wasn¡¯t scared would definitely be a he. Even with protective gear on, the thought of getting hurt was enough to make her wince in pain. 2/4 10.60 Mon. 11 Deca Chapter 187 Teach Me +15 Free Coins But she was also excited and wanted to be like those people below, swiftly gliding down. However, she hesitated to take that step. Christopher walked beside her, teaching her how to control the snowboard. ¡°Don¡¯t always think about how painful it will be if you fall. Otherwise, you won¡¯t learn.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Eileen gritted her teeth. After over half an hour of learning, she still hadn¡¯t grasped the skill. Meanwhile, the eight-year-old boy beside her had already mastered it. There was also a delicate girl who had fallen countless times and vented her anger at Christopher. She initially came with her boyfriend, but that man had already put on his ski gear and skied away on his own. ¡°Daddy, look at how clumsy thisdy is! I¡¯ve already learned, and she still can¡¯t.¡± The little boy pointed at Eileen without reservation,ughing heartily. His father immediately covered his mouth and scolded him, ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense, apologize to the lady!¡± Lady? Eileen felt a pang in her chest as if she had been shot by an arrow. I am only eighteen this year, and they are calling her dy¡±? How rude. Eileen revealed her delicate and attractive half-face and smiled gently. ¡°Kiddo, did your father ever tell you that if you recklessly insult others, not only will your mouth rot, but you might also get carried away by the snow wolves in the mountains!¡± The little boy seemed to genuinely believe her, immediately bursting into tears. No matter how his father tried to console him, he couldn¡¯t stop crying. ¡°Mr. Walt, let¡¯s go to the other side!¡± Christopher replied, ¡°Okay¡± She refused to believe that she wouldn¡¯t be a match for a child. The top was a t area for beginners, and most people were on the slope. For beautiful women, most men were patient, especially for someone like Eileen, whose body and appearance surpassed those of celebrities. ing the returning man, the delicate woman pushed away her instructor who didn¡¯t teach Chapter 187 Teach Me well She approached Eric. ¡°Eric, could you teach me? My instructor is not very good at teaching. What kind of instructor is he? Will youe with me? I¡¯m scared. If you¡¯re by my side, I won¡¯t be afraid.¡± She spoke with a light and carefree tone. Eileen heard a familiar name. Eileen¡¯s back tensed up, and she couldn¡¯t take a single step forward. Eric? Why is he here too? Eileen didn¡¯t bother pondering his rtionship with that woman. As soon as she heard his name, she immediately lost interest in skiing. Christopher held her. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I can¡¯t learn it, so let¡¯s stop here. We can continue tomorrow.¡± ¡°What time should we meet tomorrow? How about we exchange contact information? Whenever you feel like skiing, feel free to reach out to me. I¡¯ll teach you for free.¡± Eileen nodded in agreement. ¡°Sure, that sounds good.¡± Chapter 138 Chapter 138 Chapter 138 Worthy Eileen wasn¡¯t surprised at all that Eric had a new fling. No matter how much he cared for someone, it wouldn¡¯t change his habit of ying the field. Eileen added the contact information of the ski instructor, but it was more of a formality. She doubted she would ever return to this ski resort, as she might trulyck the talent for skiing. At the peak of the snow mountain, with the temperature below minus ten degrees, Eileen still felt a bit cold even though she was dressed in thick clothing. As Eric approached his new girlfriend, Eileen decided to leave. She wore protective goggles and a face mask, concealing herselfpletely. As long as she didn¡¯t speak, Eric wouldn¡¯t recognize her by her voice. Pretending not to have seen anything was the best approach. Suddenly, someone shouted, ¡°Make way, make way!¡± Eileen lifted her head and saw a person swiftly descending from another slope. Unable to control the brakes, the person was heading straight for her. Just in time, another figure dashed forward, intercepted the person, and diverted them aside. Eileen narrowly avoided a collision. Wide-eyed, she watched as the person continued to roll down the slope uncontrobly. Onlyter did she react. When she saw the person who had rescued her, Eileen calmly said, ¡°Thank you!¡± ¡°Eric!¡± Lilian immediately walked over, pulling him away. ¡°Darling, why did you risk your life to save her? Let me check if you¡¯re okay!¡± Eric didn¡¯t spare a nce for Lilian as his cold gaze was fixed on the person in front of him. ¡°Is this how you greet your brother, Eileen? Don¡¯t you recognize me anymore?¡± A strange look shed in his eyes. It seemed there was no escaping this. With a faint smile, Eileen replied, ¡°Of course not. I just didn¡¯t want to disturb you, Eric.¡± The hostility Lilian originally held toward Eileen disappeared without a trace. Now, she approached with genuine warmth and a slightly ttering smile.. ? 1/4 10:50 Mon; Dec Chapter 138 Worthy +15 Fres Coins ¡°Oh, it¡¯s you. Eileen. I¡¯ve heard of you at school. I¡¯m one year older than you. My name is Lilian Singer, and I¡¯m majoring in performing arts.¡± She extended her hand, and Eileen shook it. ¡°Hello, Lilian.¡± Lilian suggested, ¡°Since we¡¯ve bumped into each other again, why not join us?¡± ¡°Sure thing.¡± Today wasn¡¯t even a weekend. It was indeed quite a coincidence! If she had known Eric was here in advance, she definitely wouldn¡¯t havee. Being with them would make her a conspicuous third wheel. There was no need to brave the snow anymore. Thus, the three of them headed to the restaurant upstairs. Eileen sat alone, while Lilian casually ordered some dishes. ¡°I¡¯m not sure what you like to eat, so I just ordered a few things. Your brother and Ie here often. See if you like them.¡± She handed over the menu she had chosen from. Eileen nced at it, unsure of what to eat. She didn¡¯t feel like staying with him here. ¡°I¡¯m fine with anything.¡± ¡°Sure. That will be all.¡± Lilian handed the menu to the waiter. ¡°The desserts here are really good, I¡¯ve had them several times. Eileen, why did youe alone? Isn¡¯t your boyfriend with you?¡± Eileen replied, ¡°I don¡¯t have a boyfriend yet.¡± Lilian took a bite of a snack and expressed her surprise. ¡°You¡¯re so beautiful; it¡¯s a shame you don¡¯t have a boyfriend yet.¡± At this moment, Eric interjected with a cold voice, ¡°She¡¯s still in school.¡± Lilian realized her mistake. With a smile, she broke the awkwardness, saying, ¡°Of course, when you¡¯re in school, focus on studying and not on rtionships.¡± Her voice sounded timid. It was clear she was afraid of Eric, too. Eileen lowered her gaze to the juice in front of her, stirring it with a straw. ¡°I¡¯ve been suspended from school, so I thought I¡¯d take this opportunity to rx a bit. I didn¡¯t expect to run into you guys. What a coincidence Lilian, how long have you been dating Eric?¡± With a blissful expression, Lilian came forward and hugged Eric¡¯s arm, leaning affectionately against him. ¡°It¡¯s been almost a year. Right, Eric?¡± Lilian turned to look at him. Eric lifted his cup to drink water, hiding his emotions. When he 274 1050 Mon, 11 Dec Chapter 138 Worthy +25 From Cons lowered his gaze, there were no emotions in his eyes. He didn¡¯t respond even after cing his cup down. No one knew what he was thinking. Eileen stared at Lilian¡¯s face, feeling something was amiss. Lilian seemed familiar, even to the point where she thought the person¡¯s eyes and eyebrows resembled her own. She nced at the snowy scene outside the window, calming herself down. It seemed impossible no matter how much she thought about it. ¡°I just found out for the first time that my brother has been in a rtionship for so long. If he doesn¡¯t reveal anything, how long will he keep it a secret?¡± Lilian was a bit shy. Eric met her gaze, his eyes dark. He curled his lips slightly. ¡°Are you ming me for not telling you?¡± ¡°Of course not. You¡¯re not young anymore. I¡¯m d that you found someone you love.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Eileen felt uneasy under his gaze. She picked up her phone, pretending to reply to a message. Just as the dessert was served, Eileen spoke up. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I have some other matters to attend to and must leave now. Lilian, next time, feel free to visit my home.¡± Lilian was ecstatic to hear that. She stood up with a smile. ¡°Are you leaving so soon? Let me see you off.¡± Eileen rejected her offer. ¡°There¡¯s no need for that. My friend is already here to pick me up. Eric, have a great time!¡± ¡°Then let me walk you to the elevator.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Eileen didn¡¯t refuse. Lilian apanied her to the elevator, and Eileen politely bid her farewell. The moment the elevator doors closed, the smile on Eileen¡¯s face quickly faded. She clutched her rapidly beating heart, and with a sigh of relief, leaned against the elevator wall.? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Being in the same space with him was undoubtedly a battlefield, and having a meal together¡­ if she stayed any longer, she was sure she couldn¡¯t handle it. 3/4 III Chapter 138 Worthy Lilian returned and sat down, savoring the delicious dessert that had been served. Then, a thought seemed to ur to her. She gently ced her spoon down. ¡°Eric, I used to worry that your family wouldn¡¯t ept me. We¡¯ve been together for so long, so when will you introduce me to them?¡± ¡°You? Do you think you¡¯re worthy of that?¡± A fierce glint shed in Eric¡¯s eyes, and his tone turned icy cold. Lilian felt a wave of fear wash over her. Usually, when they were alone, Eric would gaze at her absentmindedly, often causing her to make funny faces as if he wanted her to imitate someone. She didn¡¯t dare to ask or say anything more. He alwaysplimented her on her beautiful eyes. Most of the time, his face remained expressionless. asionally, his gaze would be tender, but she had never seen him look so terrifying. Lilian was frightened and couldn¡¯t find the courage to speak. Her face turned pale. Indeed, she didn¡¯t deserve it. Today, it was because of Eileen¡¯s words that she had entertained improper thoughts about Eric. She had always believed that Eric truly cared for her. Chapter 139 Chapter 139 Chapter 139 I Don¡¯t Know Him She came from a difficult background. A year ago, her father¡¯s gambling addiction led him to borrow money from a high-interest loan shark at the casino. Unable to repay the debt, he saw her as a means of repayment and sold her to the underground club under Primas za to work as a hostess. She apanied customers but did not sell herself. One time, a customer became aggressive and dragged her into a private room, attempting to force himself on her. During her escape, she ran into Eric. He helped her. Upon learning about her situation, he not only didn¡¯t look down on her but also provided her with the opportunity to go back to school. At that time, she had already dropped out of school in order to earn money. Without Eric, she wouldn¡¯t have the chance to study now. Eileen was in her room packing her bags, preparing to leave the hotel. When she went to check out at the front desk, the receptionist informed her that, due to unforeseen circumstances, a snow avnche had urred on the mountain, burying the only road out. The cable car was also out of operation, and there were widespread power outages due to multiple landslides. The hotel was running on emergency power, which could onlyst for eight hours. Emergency services were on-site for rescue operations, including those stranded in cable cars. Today was truly an unlucky day. After encountering an unpleasant person, a series of unfortunate events followed. She had no idea when the road would clear, and she didn¡¯t bring many clothes with her. Returning to the hotel room, Eileen opened the door. Suddenly, a hand behind the door pulled her in. With a forceful push against the door, she found herself facing the person. Eileen¡¯s heart skipped a beat, but she maintained a calm demeanor, looking at the person with a composed expression. There was no need to pretend they were siblings now that they were alone. Why are you here instead of spending time with your girlfriend? Aren¡¯t you afraid she¡¯ll get 111 O 175 Chapter 139.1 Don¡¯t Know Him angry Earlier, when Eric had touched her, Lilian had given her a hostile look, as if she wanted to tear her apart. Eileen didn¡¯t want to be seen as a rival. How does Eric know that this is my room? Eric¡¯s gaze fell on the suitcase she was carrying. His eyebrows slightly furrowed, and then his eyes met hers. It was as if he wanted to see through her. He raised his hand suddenly, intending to touch her face. ¡°Are you jealous, Eileen?¡± Eileen didn¡¯t let him seed, turning her face slightly. She listened to his baseless usations and merely smiled without saying a word. Jealous because of him? What is he thinking? Dragging her suitcase past him, she ced it aside. She took out her phone and nced at it, but there was no signal at all. She couldn¡¯t make any calls and could only wait for the road to clear before heading home. That persistent gaze made it impossible for her to ignore. Eileen looked at him. ¡°Why are you still here? I need to rest.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you want to ask me something?¡± Eric walked to her side. ¡°This is your personal matter, and I have no right to interfere.¡± Eileen found it unbearable to share the same space with him, tormented by the thought that just a few hours ago, he might have been intimate with another woman. Now that he was here, Eileen felt utterly disgusted. Forget it. If he wants to stay, let him stay. Remember to close the door when you leave.¡± Eileen took out a book on healing psychology from her bag. The doctor had mentioned that she had mild depression. If medication didn¡¯t help, reading more books could improve her mood. Sitting on the sofa, she took off her shoes and ced the book on herp. She then turned to the page she hadn¡¯t finished before. O 2/5 10:50 Mon, 11 D Chapter 139 I Don¡¯t Know Him +15 Free Coins After Eric left, Eileen could finally rxpletely. It was impossible for her to calm down with him in the same space. In less than half an hour, someone knocked on the door. When Eileen opened it, it was a waiter delivering food from the restaurant-a variety of desserts and cakes. This is from a gentleman who asked me to deliver it to you.¡± Eileen spoke in an indifferent tone. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I don¡¯t know any gentleman you¡¯re referring to. Perhaps he has mistaken me for someone else.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the gentleman who sat across from you today,¡± the waiter exined. Eileen decisively said, ¡°I don¡¯t know him. Sorry, please take it back.¡± As she was firm, the waiter didn¡¯t bother her anymore. Eileen closed the door and pressed the ¡°Do Not Disturb¡± button along with the room¡¯s light switch. Two men were lounging on the twelfth-floor bar¡¯s scenic terrace. ¡°I brought you out to enjoy the snow and rx, but you still have that face like someone owes you millions. What¡¯s wrong?¡± With his arm wrapped around his femalepanion, Zachary poured a cup of civet coffee for himself before pouring another cup for the person sitting across from him. He picked up the cup and brought it to his nose, inhaling a faint, refreshing aroma that was rich and unrestrained. He took a sip and then put it down. ¡°Why don¡¯t I see thedy who came with you? Did you two have a disagreement?¡± At this moment, a waiter approached. ¡°Hello, Mr. Snow.¡± Eric coldly uttered one word, ¡°Speak.¡± Looking at this imposing man, the waiter unintentionally spoke with a weak voice. The intimidating aura from him sent shivers down the waiter¡¯s spine. ¡°The desserts I was supposed to deliver to the young lady, she didn¡¯t ept them. She said she didn¡¯t know you.¡± ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. The man¡¯s already gloomy expression now seemed to be frozen over with ayer of frost. O 3/5 (3:50, Mon, 11 Dec Chapter 189 I Don¡¯t Know Him +15 Free Comms Zachary had a knowing smile. ¡°Bring the food here. We¡¯ll deliver them personallyter.¡± Okay, please wait a moment.¡± Soon, the waiter pushed a cartden with desserts. Since there wasn¡¯t enough space on the table meant only for coffee, the extras were ced to the side. It was the first time Zachary saw Eric getting rejected. It seemed that there was only one person capable of doing so. Zachary joked, ¡°She¡¯s getting smart, not eating anything of unknown origin. Didn¡¯t you make up your mind? I thought you couldst until the day Will died. I didn¡¯t expect you to soften so quickly for her. Save it. What you¡¯ve done can¡¯t be undone. Is Eileen really worth all the trouble?¡± A shadow darkened Eric¡¯s eyes. ¡°Mind your own business!¡± He uncrossed his legs and stood up, feeling irritated. Indeed, Eileen dared not eat anything of unknown origin. Once bitten, twice shy. One lesson was enough. After a brief nap, she woke up around five or six in the evening. Eileen went to the restaurant for dinner and then rxed in the hot spring. Upon entering the room, she switched on the lights and was immediately startled to see the man sitting on the couch. She distinctly remembered closing the door when she left. Without a room card, how did he get in? This is my room, Eric! Who gave you permission to enter? Get out!¡± In addition to him, there were also desserts ced on the coffee table in front of him. Are these¡­ the ones brought by the waiter? ¡°Come here!¡± His voice was icy cold,pletely disregarding her words. Driven by fear, Eileen instinctively took a step back. She knew him all too well. He was angry. If it were in the past. Eileen didn¡¯t know what he might do. Chapter 140 Chapter 140 Chapter 140 Are You Satisfied Now +15 Free Coins The stabbing pain on her scalp had not yet subsided when Eileen fell heavily onto the couch. She struggled to rise, but in the next second, Eric pushed her back down. ¡°Why did you run at the sight of your brother? Will you still run now?¡± Eileen looked at himughing, a laugh that resembled a life-stealing demon. ¡°What are you trying to do?¡± Eileen shrank into the corner of the couch, fear visibly etched on her face. Eric casually picked up a box of beautifully made ke cupcakes before sitting down beside her and opening it. ¡°Don¡¯t you love desserts the most, Eileen? How about I feed you some, hmm?¡± Eric held the spoon up to her mouth. With her eyes red-rimmed, Eileen asked, ¡°What kind of drug have you added this time?¡± She observed his reaction, waiting for his response. Eileen then raised her hand and pped it away. ¡°I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll poison me to death. Get lost!¡± After saying that, she pushed him away, unable to stop her tears from falling. Just as she was about to get up, Eric suddenly reached out and grabbed her neck. She could feel his solid chest against her back and his scorching hot body temperature as he deliberately moved closer. Eileen struggled in his hold. ¡°Eric, let me go!¡± ¡°Scared of dying now? Weren¡¯t you fearless before? Huh? If you behave while I¡¯m still not nning to harm you now, you might suffer a little less.¡± He stretched out his hand, and instinctively, Eileen flinched in fear. Eric tidied her hair, focusing on the spot he had grabbed. Parting the strands, he saw that the skin had turned red. Eileen did not know what he was nning to do. She kept her body tense, not daring to move recklessly. Despite feeling the gentle caress on her head, her heart was cold and indifferent. He offers constion after dealing with someone harshly. These are his usual tricks. Does he still think, even now, that I¡¯m the same child from before? An hourter, watching him offer another piece of cake, Eileen wrinkled her nose in disgust 1/5 10.60 Mon 11 Dec. Chapter 140 Are You Satisfied Now I don¡¯t want to eat anymore.¡± From now on, she would not take another bite of cake. Indeed, with her obedience, Eric did not do anything to her. 81%% 15 Free Coins She had eaten five, far exceeding her limit. A wave of nausea rolled in her stomach, making her feel slightly sick. Only when Eric loosened his grip did Eileen finally manage to escape. ¡°Are you going to take a shower first, or should I go first?¡± His tone was casual, as if he was discussing who should eat first during dinner. Eileen was shocked, her heart pounding fiercely. ¡°This is my room. I don¡¯t want to share it with you! Please leave now!¡± she cried, her voice filled with agitation. Eric¡¯s expression remained unchanged as he finished the half-eaten cake. He then stood up, unbuttoned his suit, and casually tossed it onto the sofa. Without ncing at Eileen, he reached to unbuckle his belt. Eileen immediately turned her back to him. ¡°If you want to stay, it¡¯s all yours.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve asked. There are no spare rooms. If you want to leave, feel free.¡± As he spoke, he had already made his way to the bathroom. Eileen cursed, ¡°Shameless!¡± While he was showering, Eileen went downstairs to ask the receptionist. Indeed, there were no rooms left. Moreover, due to the heavy snow blocking the roads, there were other tourists huddled in the hotel lobby, shivering under their nkets, without even a ce to spend the night. Eileen returned to the room upstairs in disappointment. The person in the bathroom hasn¡¯te out yet. Even if I asked him to leave today, he probably wouldn¡¯t 1. Taking out another quilt from the cupboard, she spread it on the couch. Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. There¡¯s no way Eric would agree to sleep on the couch. At that moment, the sound of water from the bathroom ceased. Soon after, the door opened, and the person inside stepped out, d in a bathrobe. 111 O 2/5 81% 10:50 Mon, 11 Dec Chapter 140 Are You Satisfied Now +15 Free Coins Eileen did not look at him as she said, ¡°The road will clear by tomorrow. For tonight, you can take the bed. I¡¯ll sleep on the couch.¡± However, he seemed as if he had not heard her. Wearing his slippers, he sat directly in front of the dressing table, closed his eyes, andmanded aloud, ¡°Come blow-dry my hair.¡± Eileen paused, not saying a word. After a while, Eric grew somewhat impatient. He opened his eyes and looked at the figure in the mirror. ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear me speak?¡± The familiar tone, still as assertive as ever. In her previous life, Eric always enjoyed buying risqu¨¦, gossamer-thin lingerie and forcing her to wear them. She would always be reluctant and dawdle, and upon losing his patience, Eric would adopt the same tone. She had figured out Eric¡¯s intentions. He would not do anything to her as long as she followed his wishes. Now, they were alone in a room, and it was inevitable for Eileen to feel a bit scared being with him. Plus, her phone had no signal. If something happened to her, no one would know. Eileen took her time to walk over and fetch the hairdryer. After plugging it into the socket in front of the dressing table, she began to blow dry his hair with warm air. His hair was neither long nor short, with stray strands obscuring his eyes. His eyes were closed, his breaths shallow, as if he had already fallen asleep. Her movements were gentle, and it took less than half an hour to finish blowing his hair dry. ¡°I-It¡¯s done.¡± Eileen put away the hairdryer while Eric got up and went to bed, lying there as if it was the most natural thing in the world. ¡°Turn off the light,¡± he said. Eileeny on the couch, her hand tightly clutching the nket. She stammered, ¡°I¡­ I¡­ I¡¯m used to sleeping with the lights on.¡± After she said that, he did not say anything more. In the end, she couldn¡¯t resist Eric¡¯s dominance. She got up to turn off the lights, leaving only the one in the corner of the wall lit. Laying down again and closing her eyes, a drowsy sleepiness began to take over her. 3/5 Chapter 140 Are You Satisfied Now At four thirty in the early morning, he heard the sound of running watering from the bathroom. She has been showering for an hour. What is she doing in there? Edern was soaked with water, and she felt an increasing itch all over her body. She had scratched her neck and other areas so much that they were marked with bloody streaks. When she looked at her face in the mirror, it was so swollen that it was almost unrecognizable, a sight too distressing to bear. Knock! Knock Knock! A series of knocks came from outside the bathroom door. ¡°How much longer are you going to be in there? What are you doing?¡± Eileen picked up a water ss from the side and pressed it firmly against the door, sobbing uncontrobly. ¡°It¡¯s all because of you! I knew you had bad intentions You¡¯re trying to harm me! Stay away from me!¡± Eric¡¯s brows furrowed, feeling suddenly annoyed Suppressing his impatience, he knocked on the door. ¡°You have five minutes toe out!¡± She felt incredibly itchy. Her whole body was itching With those wounds reopened from scratching, all Eileen could do was rub them with her hands. Hearing the crying from inside. Eric exploded in rage and irritation, and he forcefully kicked the door open with one foot. Eileen was startled by the loud bang She waspletely naked, and upon seeing the person outside the door, she cried out in fear, clutching her chest. ¡®Get out! Who let you in? Get out!¡± In her panic, she threw another ss, which Eric easily dodged. He took a big step forward and grabbed her hand, staring at the originally fair and tender skin, now covered in scratches. She always liked to keep her nails long. Did she scratch herself? ¡°Let go of me! Stop looking at me. Get out!¡± What should I do? He has seen me without my clothes on! What is all this about?¡± His icy voice contained a hint of barely perceptible panic. You¡¯re asking me! Wasn¡¯t it you who dragged the dessert? I knew you were up to no good. Are you satisfied now that I¡¯ve ended up like this?¡± Tears continued to fall down her face. She felt so unfairly treated! Eric¡¯s frown was so deep that it looked terrifying. He quickly grabbed a bath towel from the side, wrapped her in it, and immediately carried her out of the room. Chapter 141 Chapter 141 Chapter 141 Sit Properly In another room, the woman beneath the man was panting rapidly. As Zachary prepared for the final sprint, suddenly there came a loud bang. Both of them were startled. The woman even hid under the covers, too scared to poke her head out. She clutched the nket tightly. Bare-chested and with a cold look in his eyes, Zachary turned his head impatiently. ¡°Who is Fric entered and ced Eileen on the couch. ¡°Get dressed ande here immediately.¡± ¡°I¡¯m really itchy! Let me go!¡± Eileen¡¯s hands were bound by a tie. As she reached for her neck, Eric grabbed her hand. ¡°You have to endure it, no matter what,¡± he said sternly. Despite being tied up, she remained restless. Eric decided to hold her down. Zachary¡¯s face turned pale. He calmly picked up his pants from the floor. Gritting his teeth, he said, ¡°Eric, if I lose my strength this time, I¡¯ll curse you for life.¡± As he spoke, he picked up another piece of clothing and put it on. In addition to that, there was a woman¡¯s long ck skirt that had already been torn into strips, and a pair of ck silk stockings that appeared worn out. Zachary¡¯s hair was messy, and his cherry-red lips added to his overall devilishly charming and passionately wild appearance. His shirt was only partially buttoned. He walked over to the sofa. When Eric saw him reaching towards Eileen¡¯s chest, he quickly grabbed his hand. and looked at him sternly. Eileen also moved out of the way. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Inside the room, she smelled the fragrance of roses. This scent was used for seduction. Zachary muttered impatiently, ¡°Let me check her injuries.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Eric finally let go. Zachary rolled up Eileen¡¯s sleeve. Apart from the red scratches made by fingernails, there were also small red spots. ¡°You¡¯re seriously bothering me with this trivial stuff, Eric? What a joke!¡± The murderous look in Zachary¡¯s eyes was undeniable as he swore. ¡°It¡¯s just a minor allergy. Don¡¯t either of you. have common sense? Both of you, get out of here right now!¡± Eric frowned. He turned to Eileen. ¡°What have you eaten? Don¡¯t you know about your allergies?¡± 111 1/4 Was he angry and scolding her? What right did he have to scold her? Eileen sniffed. Her anger red as she retorted, ¡°I¡¯ve eaten so much food. How am I supposed to know what I¡¯m allergic to? It¡¯s clear that you¡¯re trying to harm me, telling so many lies to hide your intention.¡± Eric stared silently. Then, he asked, ¡®Do you have any medicine?¡± Zachary replied, ¡°It¡¯s the middle of the night. It¡¯spletely dark outside. Where am I supposed to get medicine for you? Both of you, get out of my sight right now!¡± The heavy snow had blocked the roads at the moment. The only solution was to wait until the roads were cleared before they could go to the hospital. Back in the room, Eric had Eileen tied to the bed. She kicked the nket away. A piece of cloth had been stuffed in her mouth, but she continued to protest. The scene frustrated him. Eric stood on the balcony, his face gloomy. He closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead. Truly, he had brought trouble upon himself. By this time, it was already dawn outside. The two of them had not been able to rest at all the entire night, yet she still seemed quite energetic. The hotel¡¯s signal had been restored. Eric made a phone call. The call was quickly answered by the other party Eric said in a deep voice, ¡°How are the preparations going?¡± Gavin replied, ¡°Everything is ready. We can leave in ten minutes. However, the altitude of the mountain top is quite high, and¡­¡± Eric¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°What is it? Tell me!¡± Gavin voiced his concerns, ¡°It might be risky. It¡¯s still snowing.¡± Eric turned back to look at the person inside. ¡°I¡¯m giving you half an hour.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Gavin understood. Eric approached Eileen and observed her face, which was now swollen beyond recognition. Gone was the beauty she had before, reced by a look of sorrow and resentment. She red at him fiercely as tears streamed uncontrobly down her cheeks. 2/4 Fier condition was bing increasingly serious. He reached out to touch her forehead. It was sill somewhat hot, likely a fever brought on by a severe allergic reaction. He looked at her sternly and said, ¡°I¡¯ve already contacted Gavin. He¡¯ll be here soon. If you want me to release you, behave yourself, understand?¡± Lileen nodded with a sob. As Eric reached out to untie her, there was a knock on the door. ¡°Come in.¡± The hotel manager entered, carrying a pail of water with ice cubes floating on top. ¡°Mr. Snow. please use this ice-cold water. It can help alleviate thedy¡¯s condition,¡± he suggested. Thank you. Give it to me.¡± Eric epted the assistance. Eileen¡¯s hands were freed, but she did not dare to show herself in her current condition. She was repulsive. Her face resembled that of a pig! Seeing that the manager had yet to leave, Eric asked without looking at her, ¡°Is there anything else?¡± Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. The hotel manager, wearing her usual smile, spoke in a very friendly tone, ¡°Mr. Xenos in room 1606 has asked for you to settle the bill. So¡­¡± Observing his extraordinary demeanor and refined elegance, one could only wonder which family the man came from. The hotel manager dared not offend him. Therefore, she spoke cautiously and courteously. Eric put aside what he was doing, took out a ck wallet from his jacket, and pulled out a bank card. The hotel manager immediately took it, still smiling. ¡°This is the hotel¡¯s purchase order. You can check the price of the room.¡± ¡°No need.¡± ¡°Alright then, I¡¯ll swipe the card for you right away.¡± The hotel manager quickly left. The hotel doors were highly secure. It was hard to imagine the amount of force required to kick one down. 3/4 Eric¡¯s deep gaze finallynded on the person hiding under the nket, refusing toe out. Arent you afraid you might suflocate yourself? Stick your hand out.¡± ¡°Please leave. I can handle this on my own. I don¡¯t need your assistance.¡± Eric¡¯s gaze intensified, ¡°Do you want me to forcibly remove you? I¡¯m not known for being gentle. If you get hurt and start crying, don¡¯t expect me to show any concern.¡± After some hesitation. Eileen eventually extended her hand from beneath the covers. Soon after, she felt a piercing coldness, followed by gentle movements. These were the acts of tenderness she had never experienced from him in her previous life. Eileen knew that he clearly despised her, so she couldn¡¯t understand why he had suddenly changed. Perhaps she still had some value to him while alive. If she were to suddenly die, it would be difficult for him to exin to Will. The ice-cold water certainly helped alleviate the itching. Thirty minutester, the helicopter arranged by Gavin arrived at the hotel entrance. Eileen changed into different clothes, put on a mask, and wrapped a scarf around her head. Following Eric, she left the hotel and boarded the helicopter. Gradually, the helicopter began to ascend. Eileen looked down at the hundreds of people still trapped in the hotel. Eric whispered in her ear, ¡°You can¡¯t even take care of yourself, yet you¡¯re concerned about those people? Sit down!¡± If he hadn¡¯t suddenly lost his mind, she wouldn¡¯t have ended up in this situation. As the helicopter continued its ascent, Eileen gazed at the snow-covered mountains. enveloped in a silvery glow. It seemed as if heaven and earth had merged into one. The view was truly awe-inspiring. However, there was one ce that held great significance to her. It was even more beautiful and awe- inspiring than this. One day, she would visit it herself. Chapter 142 Chapter 142 Chapter 142 Can I Feed You in less than an hour, the helicopter arrived at Serene Hospital. It was thest ce she wanted to be ¡°You know full well I didn¡¯t want toe here!¡± ¡°How can you still be picky with that swelling? Aren¡¯t you afraid of dying? Laleen retorted, ¡°They¡¯re in cahoots with you, and they all want to kill me. I refuse to go there¡­¡± Eric, who had stepped onto the hospital steps, suddenly came to a halt. Gavin was also present. Eileen wasn¡¯t afraid of him overhearing their conversation. Gavin was deeply loyal to Eric and had betrayed the Swan family for him. From the beginning. Gavin and Sarah were Eric¡¯s right-hand men. Their presence was crucial to Eric¡¯s rise to power, and he couldn¡¯t have done it without their help. Eric turned around and silently gazed at her with his dark eyes. Gavin spoke with a hint of irritation. ¡°Ms. Eileen, we¡¯re at the hospital now. Please stop causing a scene, as it might worsen your injuries. ¡°Don¡¯t interfere in my affairs. I¡¯ll take a taxi on my own.¡± Eileen turned around and left. Without him, she wouldn¡¯t die, at least not for a while. Eric then turned to Gavin and said, ¡°Bring the car around. We¡¯re going to General Hospital.¡± ¡°Mr. Snow!¡± ¡°Hurry up.¡± Pretending not to hear them, Eileen quickly walked away. She headed to the taxi stand by the street to hail a taxi. When one stopped in front of her, she opened the passenger door only to watch as a hand suddenly appeared to push the door. back shut. Without a word, Eric lifted her up by her waist, causing Eileen to pound his back. ¡°You, jerk, put me down!¡± ||| 15 With a smooth. fluid motion. Eric tossed her into the back seat of his car. ¡°Gavin, lock the door.¡± Thud! Gavin did as he was told. Eileen tried to open the window, but Eric pulled her back by the cor. With one hand, he grabbed her swollen cheeks and threatened with a cold glint in his eyes, ¡°Make one more sound, and I¡¯ll use you as shark bait.¡± Eileen immediately felt a chill down her spine. When he saw her finally behaving. Eric let go of his hand. However, noticing that his fingers were smeared with ointment, he wiped it off on her body in disgust. Annoyed, Eileen pped the spot he had just wiped, then moved to the corner of the seat. Upon arriving at General Hospital, Eileen underwent some tests and her allergies were identified. It turned out to be rose hip and mango. She had consumed desserts containing two different allergens, which exined why her face was so swollen. Lying in the hospital room and hooked up to an IV drip, Eileen needed at least three to five days for the swelling on her face to go down. For the time being, she had to avoid spicy food. Eric asked, ¡°Feeling better now?¡± Eileen remained silent. ¡°I¡¯ll have Sharon bring you some clothester. Once you¡¯re better, you¡¯lle home with me.¡± Eileen had alreadyid down, her head covered with a nket as she was in no mood to look at his hypocritical face. When Eric¡¯s phone rang, he stepped out of the ward to take the call, which was from the office. By the time he hung up and returned to the room, Eileen had already fallen asleep. ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. 2/5 Eric instucted Gavin. ¡°It will be a while before Sharon gets here. Stay here and watch her. Don¡¯t let her wander ofl.¡± Given her nature, she might try to sneak out of the hospitalter. As Eileen couldn¡¯t bring herself to leave Sharon, there was nothing left in the Swan family that could make her stay. But the office¡­¡± ¡°TH go back and handle it. Keep a close eye on her. If she runs away again, I¡¯ll deduct your pay this quarter.¡± Gavin nodded. ¡°Understood.¡± Sharon arrived at noon. She had made ravioli with specially hand-rolled dough before rushing over. Seeing that Eileen was still asleep, she chose not to disturb her. After Sharon took over, Gavin, who couldn¡¯t wait to leave, did so immediately. Upon entering the elevator, he caught sight of someone from the Smith family. He wondered what Jasper was doing at the hospital. Could it be for Eileen? Gavin didn¡¯t bother to interfere. After pressing the button for the basement, he left. Along the corridor, Fabian was still holding a briefcase, following behind Jasper. ¡°Ms. Swan was trapped on the snowy mountain for two days, but she is now safe.¡± Jasper ordered, ¡°From now on, report to me immediately about anything concerning her.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Smith.¡± Jasper found Eileen¡¯s ward and quietly walked in, while Fabian waited outside the door. Upon seeing the sudden arrival of the stranger, Sharon asked, ¡°Who are you?¡± She scrutinized the man standing before her. Jasper was wearing an ash-grey suit that revealed. the tattoos under his cor. Sharon became wary upon seeing the tattoos, suspecting that he might be part of a gang. After all, Eileen would never associate with such people. Jasper¡¯s tone softened a bit. ¡°I¡¯m Eileen¡¯s friend. Is she doing alright?¡± 3/5 Saaton solded ¡°Eileen aust went to sleep. Is there something you need, sir?¡± Jasper replied. ¡°Nothing artually I just missed libr, so I came to see her.¡± I¡¯m¡­ Could he be the good friend that Eileen often talks about? Are you the friend for whom deen personally made chestnut pie¡± Jasper curved lus lips into a smile and nodded Did she mention me to you?¡± Sharonughed. Tve been taking care of Eileen since she was little, and she¡¯s never had a friend by her side You¡¯re the first one! Thest time I saw her baking-which is a rare sight- I didn¡¯t expect it was for you!¡± The first one, huh? As Jasper watched Eileen sleep soundly, a gentle smile emerged on his lips. *Eileen is still asleep. If there¡¯s anything you need, you can let me know. Once she wakes up. I will inform her ordingly.¡± Jasper responded, ¡°No problem. I¡¯ll wait for her to wake up.¡± ¡°Alright, alright.¡± Sharon¡¯s keen intuition prompted her to set down her belongings and leave the ward to give them some privacy. However, Eileen continued sleeping until the afternoon when she felt a cool sensation on her lips. Her eyshes fluttered as she slowly regained consciousness. Seeing the familiar face in front of her, Eileen thought she was dreaming until she fully came to her senses. Her immediate reaction was to cover her face. She felt so unprepared that she didn¡¯t want to see anyone. Her muffled voice came from under the nket. ¡°You¡­ Why are you here?¡± Jasper had noticed that her lips were a little dry, so he moistened them with his hand, not expecting to wake her. T heard something happened to you, I was concerned, so I came to see you. You haven¡¯t responded to me for such a long time¡­ Eileen. I¡¯m really worried about you.¡± He had been busy the past few days dealing with matters from the previous shareholders¡¯ III 45 meeting. Only recently had he found some time toe over. He also sent someone to handle the issue at the school. Therefore, she wouldn¡¯t hear a single word about it when she returned. If the school couldn¡¯t handle the trivial matter, he would not hesitate to shut it down. I¡¯m time. You should leave quickly!¡± At that moment. Sharon walked in. ¡°Eileen, this gentleman has been waiting for you for five to six hours. You can¡¯t be rude to him.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it.¡± Jasper defended her. ¡°You just woke up. Would you like to eat something? Sharon made some ravioli for you. Would you like me to feed you?¡± His tone sounded as if he was coaxing a child. It even carried a hint of indulgence. Chapter 143 Chapter 143 Chapter 143 Better Than Facing Eric No one would ever expose their ugliest side to others, without exception. Eileen never expected him to suddenly approach her. Tim not hungry, and I don¡¯t really feel like eating yet.¡± No sooner had the words left her mouth than the scent of parsley wafted over, causing Eileen¡¯s stomach to growl. Sharonughed and said, ¡°Eileen is shy because she thinks she¡¯s not presentable enough to meet anyone.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong with her face? Didn¡¯t you say she was fine?¡± Jasper deliberately lied. Sharon responded, ¡°Yes, it is. Eileen, your face is better now, there¡¯s nothing to worry about.¡± Eileen touched her own face, and it didn¡¯t seem to hurt as much as before. Only then did she reveal herself. Her face was indeed a bit swollen but much better than before. There were still red spots on her neck, but they had faded somewhat. Also, Eileen was already hungry. ¡°I can eat by myself.¡± ¡°But you still have an IV in your hand. Let me feed you.¡± Jasper brought the spoon to her lips. She felt that it would be rude to continue refusing. ¡°Sorry for the trouble.¡± Jasper gave a slight smile. ¡°Not at all.¡± If possible, he would feed her every day. Nevertheless, Eileen knew such favors had to be returned in the future. She blew on the spoon gently before taking half a bite for fear that it might be too hot. She then asked, ¡°Sharon, why does this taste a bit different from what I had before?¡± Sharon exined, ¡°Vera suggested adding some pepper for a more fragrant vor. I wasn¡¯t sure if you¡¯d like this taste, so I brought it for you to try. How is it? Do you like it?¡± Eileen narrowed her eyes and softly said, ¡°I¡¯m okay.¡± ||| 1/5 She still preferred the original vor Seeing her feeling down. Jasper said understandingly, ¡°You like ravioli? I¡¯ll bring some for you next time. If you dont like pepper. I won¡¯t add any¡± Eileen asked, ¡°Will you really?¡± Edeen had inherited her mother¡¯s obsession with ravioli. Sharon went on to say that Eileen¡¯s mother used to love the ravioli from the stall next to the station. Later on, she made a special effort to learn how to make them. However, the taste was nowhere near as delicious as the ravioli Eileen¡¯s mother had at the station. The ingredients for the meat filling that Sharon used were all the same, but it still seemed tock a certain vor. ¡°Why not?¡± Jasper looked at her neck. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you wearing the ne I gave you? Don¡¯t you like it?¡± Eileen¡¯s heart skipped a beat. ¡°No, that ne is too precious. I was afraid of losing it, so I put it away. Next time, I promise I¡¯ll wear it.¡± ¡°Mm-hmm.¡± The distracted Eileen went on to eat the ravioli that Jasper fed her. Once she had finished, Jasper handed the empty bowl to Sharon. Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. After that, he pulled out a tissue to wipe the corners of her mouth. As soon as he touched her, Eileen instinctively recoiled, unustomed to the contact. ¡°Don¡¯t move,¡± he said in a gentle voice. After wiping, he threw the tissue into the trash bin. He then instructed, ¡°I would like to have a private chat with Eileen.¡± Sharon replied, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll wait outside.¡± Eileen watched as Sharon walked away. Jasper, with his attractive eyes, was gazing at her. ¡°I¡¯ve already spoken to the school authorities. You can return to school next week, and no one will bother you anymore.¡± Eileen nervously gripped the bedsheet beneath her. Does he already know? It shouldn¡¯te as a surprise, as there were quite a few people r 2/5 present at the library at that time. Back then, she really had no choice. From that day on, her rtionship with Yvette became strained. Actually, it would be more urate to say that from the very beginning. Yvette approached me to get close to Eric. Now that she has achieved her goal, she doesn¡¯t need to pretend to be my close friend anymore. After all, it was all just to fulfill her own agenda. ¡°I will bring Yvette over to apologize to you.¡± Eileen lowered her head, looking at his hand resting on the back of hers. She could feel the warmth of his palm, and her hand, which was attached to the IV drip, didn¡¯t feel as cold anymore. ¡°Yvette did what she did because of me. She knows of my feelings for you, and she was just 100 cager¡­ What Elm owes you, I will repay on your behalf. I will also not interfere with your interactions with him. The rtionship between him and me is far moreplicated than you can imagine. You¡¯re still young, and I¡¯ll exin these matters to you in time. I just wish you could make some space in your heart for me. Even the tiniest bit would suffice, as long as it sets me apart from the others.¡± Just like a bottle being filled with water drop by drop, it would eventually be full over time. Eileen gazed deeply into his eyes. In Jasper¡¯s gaze, she saw a great deal of longing and. possessiveness. However, the possessiveness was an emotion he was trying hard to restrain. He¡¯s like Eric, yet somewhat different. In her previous life, Eric was excessively possessive of her. His feelings for her were insidious and obsessive. Whenever she gave someone an extra nce, he would vent his frustrations on her in bed. relentlessly. In contrast to that, Jasper¡¯s feeling for her felt like a heavy stone weighing down on her heart, a sensation she wasn¡¯t able to put into words. She always felt as if Jasper was pressuring her, but she also understood that it wasn¡¯t his intention. In her ns, there was no room for anyone else. All she desired was to break free from her shackles, to experience the freedom of not being 3/5 controlled by others. Jasper¡¯s emotions caught her off guard, leaving her unsure of how to handle them. Moreover, no one told her what to do. Jasper simply watted for her response. ¡°T¡± Fileen lowered her head. ¡°No matter who it is, it¡¯s all the same. Jasper¡­ I don¡¯t want to belong to anyone. I am who I am and not anyone¡¯s possession. I have my own goals, ideals, and things I want to do but haven¡¯t achieved yet. Right now, I want to rely on myself and no one else. I want to get into Hulbury University andplete my studies. 1¡­ I really don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re saying, as I¡¯m still young. As for Elm¡­ my feelings for him are simply gratitude. I understand. I¡¯m d you shared these things with me. Whatever you decide, I support you completely. Jasper gently stroked Eileen¡¯s long hair. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to stay with the Swan family. I can help you leave¡­ Would you like toe with me? I¡¯ll protect you at the Smith residence.¡± Eileen fell into deep thought. Leave the Swan family? Would Will allow it? And what about Eric? She didn¡¯t know how severe the consequences would be if she were to slip out of Eric¡¯s control. However, Eric¡¯s target has always been the Swan family. It has nothing to do with me. Jasper is it really possible? ¡°If I ever decide to leave in the future, would you let me go?¡± The tender look in Jasper¡¯s eyes deepened. ¡°Eileen¡­ you are an independent individual. If you ever want to leave and pursue your own path in the future, I will respect your decision.¡± Jasper also understood that Eric wanted to take over the Swan family, and Eileen was naturally his obstacle. However, the insignificant Swan family was not worth Jasper¡¯s attention, let alone a person like Eric who was only fit to live in the shadows. Even if the Swan family was ten times more powerful, it wouldn¡¯t prevent him from bringing her back. At the same time, Eileen knew that if she were to make that decision, their rtionship would likely be even moreplicated. 4/5 Nevertheless, it was still better than staying with the Swan family and facing Eric. Chapter 144 Chapter 144 Chapter 144 No One Else But Me Around half past seven in the evening, Jasper left the hospital. Seeing the rare smile on Jasper¡¯s face, Fabian guessed that he must have had a pleasant conversation with Eileen. No medication Mr. Smith is taking can bring a smile to Ms. Eileen¡¯s face. This is also beneficial as it allows Mr. Smith to move on from that woman. Jasper pulled out a few painkillers from his pocket and swallowed them. The weather had been cold the past few days, causing his legs to act up from time to time. ¡°Tell Richard to prepare a room in the Smith residence and ensure that all the designs meet her preferences!¡± Fabian eximed in surprise, ¡°Ms. Eileen is moving into the Smith residence? How are we going to exin it to Old Mrs. Smith?¡± Jasper replied, ¡°I will discuss it with her. Now, let¡¯s drive. We¡¯re going back to the office!¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Smith!¡± Indeed, Ms. Eileen leaving the Swan family is good for Mr. Smith. Despite the humiliation of his younger sister, Eric stood by, refusing to help. Moreover, he was exposed in front of everyone. I can¡¯t believe how heartless he is. Will has indeed raised a heartless person. However, how would Will handle these matters upon his return? How would he deal with the son he has painstakingly raised all these years? At the hospital, Eileen sat quietly on the bed, gazing at the night view outside the floor-to- ceiling window. The lights reflected in her eyes as she deep in thought. She didn¡¯t know whether what she was doing was right or wrong. With every step she took, she was walking on a knife¡¯s edge, where the slightest misstep could lead to her downfall. Eric, I¡¯m leaving. You can finally get what you¡¯ve always wanted! N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. It was nearly ten o¡¯clock when Eileen finally went to bed. In the pitch-ck room, a dark figure stepped in. The man¡¯s gaze was deep and mysterious, watching Eileen sleep soundly on the bed. ¡°Who else came today besides Gavin?¡± 1/5 < Sharon replied, ¡°A gentleman by the name of Smith came to visit Ms. Eileen. They had a private conversation in the room I¡¯m not sure what they discussed, but after the gentleman. lett. Fileen just sat on the bed, lost in thought. He also mentioned that he has resolved the isste at school. By next week, Eileen will be able to return to school.¡± A turbulent rage suddenly ignited in Eric¡¯s eyes. A long while passed before he spoke again. ¡°What did the doctor say about her illness?¡± Sharon replied, ¡°She can be discharged tomorrow. However, it will take another two or three days for her symptoms to subside.¡± ¡°Mm-hmm.¡± Eric waved his hand, and Sharon left quietly. Eileen felt an itch on her face. She was in a deep sleep, having suffered from an unbearable. itch all over her body the previous night that kept her from sleeping well. She swatte i at whatever was on her face, turned over, and immediately fell back asleep. As there was arge space on the bed, Eric took off his shoes, lifted the quilt, andy down. next to her, following the contour of her body from behind. Underneath the nket, there was a sweet fragrance emanating from her apart from the scent of the ointment. Eric closed his eyes, taking a short rest. He thought he would fall asleep quickly, but surprisingly, his mind was incredibly alert. Within him, there had always been a dark beast, unseen by the light and firmly bound by iron chains. If it ever broke free from its shackles, he would cross the threshold. Thus, he had no other choice but to suppress it. Yet he didn¡¯t know how much longer he could hold on. As he breathed in Eileen¡¯s delicate scent, he pictured the alluring silhouette of her slender body in the bathroom, where drops of water flowed down her exquisite curves. Right then, Eric was lost in his impure fantasies, Unbuckling the belt around his waist, he pressed against her delicate body, his hand slowly. reaching down below¡­ With his other hand, he gently lifted her thin hospital gown, his palm touching her skin. Inside the quiet and pitch-ck room, Eric¡¯s husky andbored breathing filled the air. §º 2/5 wash and half an hourter that he finally let out a sigh After a short break, he withdrew Ins hand and pulled out a few tissues from the bedside. The next day. Fileen slept until she naturally woke up The first thing she did was roll up her sleeve to find that the red spots had significantly faded When she sat up, she realized that her waist wahore Supporting her waist, she rubbed it a bit, feeling slight pain in her skin. Upon lifting her gown to take a look, she saw a few red marks on one side of her waist. There was also a strange smell lingering in the quilt. Eileen furrowed her brows. ¡°Why does this smell so familiar¡­ Having experienced marital intimacy, there was no way she wouldn¡¯t recognize the scent. But how can this be possible, I¡¯ve been alone the entire time. No one camest night either. A jolt shot through Eileen¡¯s mind, and she was suddenly struck by a terrifying thought that stunned her. Just then, Sharon came in, holding a bouquet of flowers. She then filled the vase with water. Eileen probed, ¡°Sharon, did my brothere byst night?¡± Sharon replied, ¡°Mr. Snow dide by, but he only stayed for a few minutes. He nced at you and then left.¡± Is that so? Suddenly, Eileen began to doubt herself. She held her forehead. Am I overthinking things? Perhaps it¡¯s an issue with the nket. Eileen decided to cast the idea out of her mind. Sharon added, ¡°The doctor wille for a check-up soon. If everything is fine, you¡¯ll be able to be discharged from the hospital. Mr. Snow will being over soon.¡± Eileen furrowed her brows. ¡°Why is he doing that?¡± 3/5 Sharon replied, ¡°Today is the weekend, so he doesn¡¯t have to go to the office. He¡¯ll being to pkk you up from the hospital¡± After arranging the flowers, Sharon came over. Holding Eileen¡¯s hand, she said, ¡°Last night. I made some fresh ravioli dough, and the meat filling was also chopped this morning. I didn¡¯t ald any pepper Would you like me to cook sore for your breakfast?¡± Fileen said. Tim about to be released from the hospital, so why go through all the trouble? We can take care of it once I get home.¡± Sharon exined. ¡°Your father hired me to take care of you, so naturally, I prioritize your preferences. Vera might enjoy ravioli with pepper, but since you don¡¯t like it, I won¡¯t include it In reality. Eileen was upset. Sharon had been with her since childhood, and she didn¡¯t want Sharon to take care of anyone else but her. That was the reason for her jealousy. Eileen stepped forward and hugged Sharon tightly. ¡°You must not treat others better than me. You can only be a little kinder to others.¡± With a smile, Sharon patted her on the back. ¡°You silly girl, how can youpare yourself to others? You¡¯re the daughter of the Swan family. Everything I do is in your best interest.¡± ¡°Eileen!¡± Vera¡¯s voice suddenly rang out. Eileen looked towards the door, unaware of when they had arrived. Vera followed closely beside Eric, dressed in a ke coat and a grey scarf, which seemed to match Eric¡¯s ck one. She was also holding a bunch of sunflowers. Vera walked over. ¡°Are you feeling better now?¡± Eileen nodded, breaking into a slight smile. ¡°Much better. Thank you for your concern.¡± Vera said, ¡°Eileen, I have some good news to share with you. Eileen asked, ¡°What is it?¡± Vera was joyfullyughing. ¡°We can be ssmates again in the future! The final exam results for this term are out, and I made it into ss One. Given how well I did, you¡¯ll need to work even harder.¡± 4/5 Eileen uncerely said ¡°Congrattions!¡± All credit goes to Eric. If he hadn¡¯t correctly guessed the questions and tutored me. I wouldn¡¯t have had a chance!¡± Vera gratefully nced at Eric who was standing by her side. ¡°Ms. Eileen!¡± It was Richard. Besides him, there was also a group of bodyguards behind him. Ignoring the others, Richard walked up to Eileen. He sped his hands and ced them. respectfully in front of himself. ¡°The discharge procedures have beenpleted, you can leave the hospital at any time!¡± ?? Chapter 145 Chapter 145 Chapter 145 Do You Like It Here ¡°Discharged?¡± Sharon and Vera exchanged confused nces at Richard, while Eric remained unaffected. Eileen felt a cold aura surrounding her. Nevertheless, she ignored Eric¡¯s deep and mysterious gaze. Thetter had chosen to remain silent. Vera was the first to speak, asking. ¡°Eileen, what¡¯s happening?¡± Richard exined, ¡°Mr. Jasper enjoys the meals prepared by Ms. Eileen. Therefore, we have invited her to temporarily stay at the Smith residence to take care of Mr. Jasper. We have already discussed this with Mr. Swan, and he has agreed.¡± Sharon expressed her concerns. ¡°Take care? But Eileen is still sick, and how could Mr. Swan possibly agree!¡± Ha, how could Will possibly disagree? Even if it wasn¡¯t the Smith family today, it would be some other family next time. I was born and raised in luxury by Will, groomed to be the tool he desired. Am I not. just a bargaining chip to be used by him? The Smith family was the most influential family in Hulbury. They were truly a prestigious and powerful family, far surpassing the Swan family. Will meant nothing to the Smith family. Moreover, if Jasper were to ask Will for Eileen, there was no way Will could refuse. Even a mere word from the Smith family was enough for Will to deliver her without hesitation. ¡°A servant like you cannot speak on behalf of your employer, Richard snapped. Eileen reassured Sharon, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, everything will be fine. I¡¯ll be back in a few days.¡± Sharon nced at Eric, but he remained silent. ¡°Ms. Eileen, would you like me to arrange a wheelchair for you?¡± Eileen shook her head. ¡°No need, I can leave as soon as I change my clothes.¡± ||| r 1/5 Mr. Jasper taking all outside We 11 alt for you at the floor¡± Ideen nodded Only after Richard left did Vera dare to breathicain She realized that the butler of a prestigious family was indeed different from them. The aura he exuded was overwhelmingly sppressive From beginning to end. Eric did not utter a single word Yet even without looking at him. Fileen could see the extreme humiliation etched on his Before Eileen left, Sharon packed some ravioli f¨¹r her in a stic lunch box. Although Edeen didn¡¯t get to taste the ones personally cooked by Sharon, at least she had those After she settled into the luxurious Rolls-Royce, she noticed dozens of luxury cars following behind. ¡°Shall we go?¡± Jasper held her hand, revealing the tattoo on the back of his hand. He gave it a gentle squeeze, just enough to hold it tightly. Eileen nodded. After the car left the hospital, Eileen quietly withdrew her hand. She said softly. ¡°I¡¯m going to take a nap. Remember to wake me up when we arrive.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± The Smith residence was located in the most affluent area of Hulbury. Every inch ofnd was incredibly valuable. Ordinary people couldn¡¯t even fathom such extravagant luxury. Even the wealthiest individuals might not have the means to acquire it. The Smith residence consisted not only of the main house but also various other courtyards. The separate mansions were where the Smith family¡¯s rtives lived. The two elders of the family, when idle, enjoyed tending to flowers and nts. So, they cultivated a vast garden, filled with a variety of vibrant flowers and lush greenery. Beside the house, there was also a maple tree that had stood for five to six hundred years. 25 For a century, the Smith family had been engaged inmerce. Through the turbulent nutes and into the mid-twentieth century, the elderly couple controlled the entire capital¡¯s ommerce and trade. Even today, after a hundred years, their family wealth remained vast The Smith family had always valued tradition, insisting that unless permitted. members of the Smith family must live together. Only Jasper was allowed to break most rules. The main reason was that he was the apple of his grandparents¡¯ eyes. All things considered, he was the eldest grandson of the Smith family. Now that he had taken over the family business, the two elders cherished him even more. Apart from having the right bloodline, they wanted their heir to be someone capable of upholding the legacy of the Smith family. Jasper¡¯s mansion at the Smith residence was closest to the main residence. The two elders resided in a peaceful and elegant ce elsewhere. Eileen had expected Jasper to take her to Unde Mansion. Unexpectedly, she ended up at the Smith residence. Eileen marveled at the beautiful location of the Smith residence. It was nestled against the mountains and near water, surrounded by an elegant environment. Moreover, there were quite a few security personnel around, providing twenty-four-hour protection. The more impressed she felt at that moment, the more she felt it was a shame. In her past life, after Eric used Elm to take over the Smith family, he destroyed everything that belonged to the Smith family, even this ce. At that time, she witnessed with her own eyes how a prestigious family, with a foundation. built over thousands of years, waspletely obliterated overnight by a massive fire! It took Eric merely three years to bring down the Smith family, making them submit to him. In this lifetime, she hoped that everything from her past life would not happen again. Thinking of Eric¡¯s ruthless determination, she wondered how Eric would retaliate against her now that she had escaped from the Swan family, ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. ¡°Do you like it here?¡± Eileen looked around. This ce is at least ten times bigger than Primas za! < 3/5 Byparison, the ce she lived in probably seemed like nothing more than a shabby brick house in Jasper¡¯s eyes Eileen nodded. ¡°It¡¯s very beautiful.¡± She had once lived in a mansion that could rival the Smiths¡¯ ce of residence, one that was even bigger and more luxurious. Back then, she was Mrs. Snow! It was also a massive gilded cage that Eric built for her. Eight years into her marriage, she had not taken a single step outside of it. The only time she left was the day he personally drove her away, the day she brought Sarah and that child into their home. Thinking of all that triggered a sudden pang of pain in Eileen¡¯s heart. She gasped for breath, feeling suffocated. ¡°If you¡¯d like, Richard can give you a tour. I won¡¯t be able to join youter, as I have some business at the office!¡± Jasper observed her closely, but he didn¡¯t see a hint of happiness or joy in her eyes. This was not what he had expected. Eileen shook her head, chuckling softly. ¡°Maybe another time. I wouldn¡¯t want to frighten people with my current appearance if I went out. Jasperughed as well. ¡°I only tricked youst time to get you to eat something. Don¡¯t hold it against me.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it.¡± How could I not have known? Upon reaching his mansion, they paused at the entrance. ¡°I¡¯ve instructed everyone not to disturb you. If you need anything, just let Richard know directly.¡± While speaking, Jasper took out a small, elegant ck velvet box from his suit pocket. He opened it to reveal a crescent-shaped ne. Taking the ne out, he said, ¡°Richard. found this ne in a drawer while packing up your belongings at the Swan residence. Would you like me to put it on for you?¡± Eileen felt a weight in her chest. She had thought that leaving the Swan family would bring her relief, but now, upon arriving at the Smith family, the burden in her heart remained, unchanged. < 4/5 Perhaps this is that it feels like to live under someone he¡¯s roof ¡°Okay¡± Jasper stepped forward, closing the gap between them until they were nearly touching. Eileen caught a whit of his fresh scent Jasper brushed aside her long hair and, in front of everyone, as if asserting his possession, he ced the ne around Eileen¡¯s neck, securing the silver sp. Chapter 146 Chapter 146 Chapter 146 Uncertain Of Who She Is Fabian stepped forward at that moment and said, ¡°Mr. Smith, we¡¯re runningte.¡± After putting on the ne, he looked at the moon pendant on her chest, his lips curving into a satisfied smile. I understand. I¡¯ll head back to the office now. You should rest well at home. Wait for me toe back tonight.¡± Eileen replied, ¡°Alright.¡± She then watched as Jasper left. Richard truly hoped that Eileen would stay, especially given that Jasper¡¯s illness was cured after much effort. The Smith family had done so much, all under the assumption that he wouldn¡¯t live more than a few months. Physical ailments could be treated, but psychological wounds couldn¡¯t be healed overnight. Perhaps the only one who can help Mr. Jasper regain normality is Mr. Jasper himself. Rather than that woman, he would prefer Eileen to be the one who stayed by Jasper¡¯s side in the future. Richard said, ¡°Mr. Smith has arranged a room for you. Come with me.¡± Eileen followed Richard into the residential elevator, which took them to the fifth floor. It stopped at the entrance of a room that had its door open. ¡°This is your room, Ms. Eileen, and Mr. Jasper¡¯s room is next door. I was worried you might not be ustomed to living in the Smith residence, so I¡¯ve taken the liberty of arranging everything as it was at the Swan residence.¡± Eileen scanned the room. Indeed they are, down to the cement of the paintings. Is this everything I have from the Swan residence? The bed too? ¡°Also, if you don¡¯t like the outfits in the walk-in closet, I can have them changed at any time.¡± Eileen nodded. ¡°Thank you for your help.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the least I can do, Ms. Eileen. Please rest well. If you need anything, feel free to ask. ¡°Mm-hmm.¡± ||| < 1/5 With the Richard took is leave Ideen walked into the room, looking around. It wasrger than the room she stayed in at the Swan residence However, she was not in the mood to appreciate the scenery at that moment. Since she left, a faint unease had settled in her heart. She wasn¡¯t sure if she was overthinking IT ¡°Did you get a good look at the person just now? Is it the same individual Mr. Jasper was talking about earlier?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem likely. Her face is covered in rashes. It¡¯s unclear what illness she has. She couldn¡¯t possibly be the one who harmed Mr. Jasper so terribly and then abandoned him to go abroad. But this is the first time I¡¯ve seen Mr. Jasper bring a woman home. Previously, Mr. Jasper never brought any other women back to the Smith residence.¡± ¡°Yeah, I wonder which prestigious family she belongs to¡­¡± Who is that person? Is she the one Richard mentioned to me? Initially, Jasper risked his life for her, and she, at the perfect moment, saved him in return. It seemed as if fate had brought them together. Eileen didn¡¯t feel a hint of jealousy. Instead, her emotions were incredibly calm and steady. She saved Jasper¡¯s life, and in return, Jasper helped her break free from the clutches of the Swan family. From then on, they were considered even. As night fell, lights illuminated the entire Smith residence. From the fifth floor, one could enjoy the view from the balcony. She was staying at someone else¡¯s ce, so it was only proper to greet the host. However, half the day had passed, and Eileen hadn¡¯t been disturbed by anyone. It seemed. that Jasper¡¯s grandparents were unaware of her arrival at their home. She figured it was for the best, as she had always been one to avoid trouble. When she went downstairs for dinner, the servant brought her food. ¡°All of these were prepared ording to your preferences, as instructed by Mr. Jasper. The ||| 2/5 dishes are lightly seasoned, and there¡¯s also chestnut pie. Mr. Jasper, go ahead and give the in try.¡± leen looked at the table full of dishes. There was just too much, and she simply couldn¡¯t finish it all. ¡°Maybe make less in the future. I can¡¯t finish it all.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Ms. Eileen. If you¡¯re concerned about wasting food, these leftovers will be processed and sent to feed the farm animals. There won¡¯t be any waste at all. ¡°There¡¯s a farm here?¡± ¡°Yes! We have quite a few pigs, cows, and sheep. The meat used in the kitchen is from our own livestock. The vegetables, fruits, and wheat in the back garden were all nted by Old Mrs. Smith. The meal you¡¯re enjoying, Ms. Eileen, is a result of her efforts.¡± ¡°I see!¡± ¡°Mm-hmm.¡± Hearing this, Eileen couldn¡¯t help but feel curious. After all, Jasper¡¯s grandparents were once influential figures in Hulbury. Even after their retirement, they still seemed to lead such a leisurely and carefree life. Thus, given the opportunity, she would like to visit them. After dinner, Eileen returned to her room. She picked up her phone and nced at it. Thest message from Elm was fromst week. I wonder if he has been studying properly. Vera advanced to ss One through this final exam. I wonder how his grades are? Eileen sent a message to Elm: How did the exam go? After waiting for a few minutes, there was no response from the other side. Eileen simply didn¡¯t bother waiting any longer. The moment she put down the phone, the screen suddenly lit up. She thought it was a message from him. However, when she picked it up again to take a look, she saw a news report about the tragic death of a young girl. There was an avnche on Mount Bright, trapping numerous skiers on the mountain. 3/5 The inextient resulted in a significant number of asualties among tourists. A total of thirty two tourists were matred, eight tourists died, one was still missing and the police were still Continuing their search. The person in question was Lilian, a twenty-year-old student from the performing arts department. It anyone found any trace of her, they were to contact the police immediately. Ishan? Eileen found more photos as she scrolled to the bottom. Her eyes widened in surprise. This is the person I encountered at the ski resortst time! Eric¡¯s girlfriend of one year. Wasn¡¯t she perfectly fine when Ist saw her? How did she suddenly die? ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. The thought sent a shiver down her spine, while goosebumps broke out on her arms. With trembling hands, Eileen set her phone down. She didn¡¯t dare dwell on the matter any longer. It was ten o¡¯clock at night when Jasper dragged his exhausted body into the living room. The housekeeper immediately approached him. ¡°Mr. Jasper.¡± Where is Eileen?¡± ¡°Ms. Eileen has already fallen asleep after taking her medication.¡± Jasper waved his hand, and the housekeeper stepped back. Given that it waste, he decided not to disturb her. Walking up to the bar, he retrieved a bottle of whiskey, worth tens of thousands, from the shelf and poured himself half a ss. Now, he could only rely on alcohol to help him sleep. as he no longer used sleeping pills. At half past eleven, Jasper finally made his way back to his room upstairs. He paused for a moment outside her closed door and stared at it intently. This is perfect. Just like this, she¡¯ll always be by my side. That night, Eileen didn¡¯t sleep well due to a nightmare. She dreamt of being imprisoned, with enormous iron chains confining her in a dark room. 415 Even after managing to escape, an unseen beast continued to chase her. She woke up from the drean.. drenched in sweat ncing out the window, she realized it was already dawn. Her pajamas were soaked, so she took a bath after getting out of bed. Emerging from the bathroom, she changed into fresh clothes. Just then, someone knocked on the door. Eileen, drying her hair with a towel, stepped out. Opening the door, she was greeted by Jasper, dressed in pajamas. The mist from the bathroom gave Eileen¡¯s eyes a captivating charm. ¡°Have you forgotten that you have school today?¡± Jasper said with a smile, gently ruffling her hair. ¡°This is the school uniform they sent over. Get changed, and after breakfast, I¡¯ll take to school.¡± you Eileen asked. ¡°Is it too much trouble?¡± ¡°No, not at all. It¡¯s on the way to the office.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Actually, getting along with him is not as easy as it seems. Chapter 147 Chapter 147 Chapter 147 Stop Bothering Me The CEO of Smith Corporation rarely made public appearances. At the school gate, private cars with dedicated drivers were almost always present for pick-up and drop-off. The unique insignia on the license te signified it was an Smith family car. Upon seeing this, regardless of how congested the traffic was, everyone made way for it. Eileen stepped out of the car, and the surprise was evident on the faces of those around her. Everyone at Petalburg High School knew that Eileen was close with the Smith family¡¯s illegitimate son. However, what they didn¡¯t know was that Eileen also had connections with the heir of the Smith family. This meant that the CEO of Smith Corporation was personally driving Eileen to school, signifying that Eileen was part of the Smith family. Just for this reason alone, no one dared to offend her. Facing the gazes of everyone around her, Eileen felt extremely ufortable. ¡°I¡¯m off to school now.¡± Jasper nodded, ¡°All right. I¡¯ll pick you up after ss tonight.¡± ¡°Mm-hmm.¡± Eileen still had evening self-study, which would end around the same time he finished work. Jasper wasing to pick her up, and Eileen had no way to refuse. Seeing the same scene, Yvette was not surprised either. She just felt a lump in her heart. Because of what happenedst time, Jasper feared Eileen might sever ties with him due to her involvement. Hence, in the Friedman household, she was given a warning. She merely taught Elm, the ungrateful one, a lesson on Jasper¡¯s behalf. Her mother urged her to mend her rtionship with Jasper. Thest time she could have a good conversation with him was all thanks to Eileen. Because of Elm, she and Eileen had already fallen out. At that moment, Yvette didn¡¯t know how to start a conversation with Eileen. ¡°Eric, will Eileen return after going to the Smith residence?¡± Yvette asked. III O 1/5 Frieseves were as deep as the ckest night. This isn¡¯t something you should worry about. Godoss. Don¡¯t bete.¡± ¡°I understand. Eric.¡± As Eileen passed by the corridor of ss Six. Elm was still wearing his short sleeves, one hand in his pocket, full of spirit and rebellious charm. He casually slung his backpack over lus shoulder. He raised his chin high as if he didn¡¯t care about anyone else. It had been a few days since theyst met, but he hadn¡¯t changed at all, still appearing carefree and nonchnt. He walked over. At that moment. Elm cast a nce at Eileen as he brushed past her, paying her no mind. ¡°Elm!¡± Eileen halted her steps, turning around. Elm came to a halt. ¡°Where¡¯s the report card?¡± Eileen inquired. Vera and Yvette just happened to pass by. Impatiently, Elm slung his backpack over his shoulder, pulling out a piece of paper and shoving it into the arms of the ssmate next to him. Hisckey, with a grin on his face, handed the report card to Eileen. Eileen looked at Elm with suspicion, and then her gaze fell back on the report card. Her eyebrows twitched. Out of six subjects, his highest score was in mathematics. But the math paper was out of one hundred and fifty, with a passing score of ny-two, and he only scored sixty-seven. All his other subject scores were even lower than sixty-seven. She had been tutoring him for nearly a month, yet during this time, he hadn¡¯t passed a single subject. What on earth has he been doing all these days? Eileen was so angry that she didn¡¯t know what to say. Theckey chuckled and said, ¡°Ms. Eileen, Elm did pretty well on his exam. He¡¯s moved up seven or eight ces in ss. He¡¯s improving! He¡¯s improving!¡± Isn¡¯t he aiming to go to Hulbury University? With these scores, even getting into a decent second-tier university would be challenging. Eileen felt as if she had raised a son, pouring her heart and soul. into him, only for him to turn out unsessful. Eileen handed back the report card, her voice deepening. ¡°Elm, don¡¯t forget what you promised me!¡± < 2/5 de this rate, even if all my time is wasted on him, it would be pointless Fileen left and returned to the ssroom ¡°Elm, it seems like she¡¯s angry. Herplexion doesn¡¯t look too good. Didn¡¯t you do quite well on your test? You scored higher than me,¡± theckey said. All of theckey¡¯s scores were in single digits, and the total of the scores was a two-digit number. Eileen arrived at the ssroom as usual, and nothing was different. Aside from the Olympiad Math ss, the one who took her ce was Vera. That was indeed a headache for her. After all the effort she had put in, it all ended amounting to nothing. The pace of ss One was swift, and all the content in the textbook was covered. At that time, everyone was in the review stage. up in vain.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Eileen had been absent for so many days, not attending school. She needed to catch up on everything she had missed. At the same time, what troubled her the most was Elm. Vera had been in the ss for quite some time by then, but with the pace of learning in the ss, there was simply no time to idle. The final ss of the morning ended at noon. During the lunch break, Vera took the opportunity to find Eileen. ¡°Eileen, let¡¯s go eat together!¡± Eileen nced up at her. ¡°I need to wait a bit longer. You go ahead!¡± Vera tilted her head, noticing what Eileen was doing. ¡°Study n? What¡¯s this?¡± Eileen exined, ¡°It¡¯s for Elm. His grades aren¡¯t very satisfactory. Since I¡¯ve said I would tutor him, I can¡¯t just give up halfway.¡± ¡°Is that so? All right, then! I¡¯ll be going first! I have a sster!¡± Eileen responded with a hum. She was making a study n to give him a goal so that he knew what he needed to do. After finishing her task, Eileen headed to ss Six. 3/5 The weather was somewhat gloomy that day, with a gentle, continuous rain falling. Upon entering, she saw him face down on the table. The ssroom was already empty. Eileen stepped forward, patting his shoulder. ¡°Elin,e with me to the library.¡± Elm woke up and brushed off her hand. ¡°Stop bothering me.¡± He sounded like he was in a bad mood. Eileen took a seat on a stool beside him and reached out to touch his forehead. ¡°You don¡¯t have a fever!¡± ¡°Elm, has something happened recently? Didn¡¯t you say you wanted to get into Hulbury University? If you continue to ck off like this, you won¡¯t even have a chance to set foot in Hulbury University!¡± Ehn was jolted awake by her loud voice. He propped his head up with his hand, ran his fingers through his hair, and turned to face her. Eileen noticed the red veins in the kes of his eyes. He furrowed his brows slightly, stood up, and kicked the table in frustration. ¡°If I can¡¯t pass the exam, then I won¡¯t go. Stop bothering me.¡± Elm left with his hands in his pockets. ¡°Elm!¡± He walked away without looking back. What is going on with him? Eileen, feeling uneasy, followed him. She saw him climbing the stairs, but she had no idea where he was headed. Eventually, they reached the rooftop on the twelfth floor. Leaning against the doorframe, Elm held a cigarette in his hand. ¡°You¡¯re really persistent, aren¡¯t you? Why won¡¯t you leave me alone?¡± Eileen stepped onto thest step, pulling out a blue transparent fruit candy from her school. uniform pocket. ¡°You¡¯ve started smoking at such a young age. Have you forgotten what the doctor said? No smoking, no drinking, or you might suffer from kidney problems in the future. I wonder what¡¯s happened to you. Everyone has their own hidden worries. After eating this candy, you might feel a little more cheerful. I¡¯ll take what you just said ast something said in the heat of the moment. After school today, we have a three-hour ss at ||| 4/5 one testet spot in the library Eileen didn: Inger any longer. Instead, she tuned around and descended the stairs meer Suddenly, a voice came from belind Is the Smith residence fun?¡± Do you really want to know? Then make sure to one. I¡¯ll tell you the answer¡± She slightly turned her head catching a glimpse of his figure from the corner of her eye. After school, Eileen went to the library Chapter 148 Chapter 148 Chapter 148 A Shattered Arm He had also arrived. As expected, her words were able to capture his interest. Elm dropped his backpack, which almost slid off the table. Eileen caught it in time and ced it on the chair beside her ¡°Since we¡¯re here, let¡¯s get started¡± Elm straddled the chair and sat down, casually swinging his leg over the other. ¡°Should we study first, or chat?¡± ¡°What do you think?¡± Eileen smiled, knowing that if she didn¡¯t tell him, he probably wouldn¡¯t be interested in listening. The library was empty. Eileen took out a photo album from her bag and slid it across the table to him. ¡°Apart from me, you¡¯re the first person to see this album.,¡± she said. Elm flipped through the pages one by one. Each page was filled withndscapes drawn in pencil lines, with every location clearly marked. ¡°Not bad, right?¡± ¡°Not too bad.¡± ¡°Besides that, what do you think is missing?¡± ¡°What exactly are you trying to say?¡± ¡°All these ces truly exist, and they are all ces I want to visit. This is why I want to get into Hulbury University. I didn¡¯t color in any of the pictures because I want to see these ces with my own eyes one day and slowly fill in the colors myself. I want to go take a look. Elm, in this world, there are still many things I have yet to see. For me, emotionalpanionship is not a necessity. Even when I¡¯m alone, I don¡¯t feel lonely. On the contrary, I enjoy the freedom thates with having no friends around. Whether it¡¯s friendship, family ties, or love, I don¡¯t care. Do you understand what I¡¯m saying, Elm? I¡¯m thinking about ces. far beyond, not just what¡¯s in front of us right now! Regarding what you said about the Smith family, it¡¯s truly a ce beyond the reach of ordinary people, including your brother. He is a privileged person! He is truly wonderful. But for me, there are things far better than these, and I am gradually moving towards my future. Elm, in truth, you and I are the same, wanting to break free from everything¡­ We shouldn¡¯t be like this¡­¡± Eileen answered. Everyone should live for themselves instead of bing a walking corpse. Afterward, Eileen pushed the math workbook towards him and said, ¡°The simplest and most 1/5 enkrme at wat might now to study hard and pave the way for your future However health ? ? ??| ? ? One foundation of everything The doctor cat ou have kidney deficiency, so it¡¯s best to desiv on recuperating first¡± You won¡¯t let it go fub Why would you believe the quack doctor¡¯s words! Sooner orter smash his shop Elmesimed Foder pas bed and her hand in resprisse out Imontivating the cigarettes So now you re meddling in my affairs?¡± Elm chuckled lightly, but a lingering sadness was unmistakable in his eyes. Ive already told you everything you wanted to know. Now it¡¯s your turn to fulfill your promise Without hesitation. Elm pulled out the cigarettes from his pocket. ¡°You sure know how to meddle in my business!¡± Those two brothers were really alike. They both enjoyed the same brand of cigarettes, and even their tattoos were almost identical. They finished the tutoring session at half-past eight. Eileen closed her book. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. For now, you can stay in that room. I¡¯ve rented it for a year, and I rarely go there.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Stepping out of the library, the rain outside continued to fall relentlessly. In the chilly winter, the rain always felt icy and bone-piercing. Elm was holding an umbre, sheltering her from above. Under the streetlight, two figures, one following the other. From the darkness not far away, another slender figure emerged, holding a ck umbre Standing tall and slim, he approached, dressed in a grey suit. The two of them stopped walking. Upon seeing the approaching person, Eileen was slightly taken aback. She said to Elm, ¡°I-I¡¯ll be going first.¡± 25 ¡°Go ahead¡± Eileen moved to take shelter under Jasper¡¯s umbre. The figures of the two people gradually faded into the distance. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you call me? Does your leg still hurt when it rains?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t hurt.¡± ¡°I made it clear from the start that I would be tutoring Elm. I can¡¯t go back on my word now.¡± ¡°Sure. I understand.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you angry?¡± Jasper said in a calm and indifferent tone, ¡°I¡¯ve told you before. I respect your decision. This is between him and me. It has nothing to do with you.¡± As a mediator, Eileen wouldn¡¯t take sides with anyone. She certainly wouldn¡¯t fall for either of them. At the end of the day, she belonged only to herself. ¡°Thank you!¡± Jasper lowered his head and looked at her. ¡°What are you thanking me for?¡± Eileen met his gaze. ¡°You know what I meant.¡± Jasper gave a slight smile. ¡°Let¡¯s go back!¡± ¡°All right.¡± Stepping into the car, the air conditioning was on, instantly dispelling the chill from her body. Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. ¡°I¡¯ll ask Richard to prepare somete-night snacks. What would you like to eat?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s eat the dumplings that Sharon made! If they¡¯re frozen for too long, the taste will change.¡± ¡°Sure! What else?¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough. Eating too much at night will make me gain weight.¡± Eileen said. ||| 3/5 With a gentle sale in his eyes. Jasper nodded sally. However, the warmth of his smile didn¡¯t quire reach his eyes ¡°I liven to you.¡± he said. In the blink of an eye. Eileen had unknowingly been living in the Smith residence for almost half a month. Everything was calm, and nothing happened. Only one thing kept her restless for a long time, and that was Lilian Eileen found something, but she only found a shattered arm. The identity was confirmed only after gic testing. As expected, she¡¯s dead! Flow did she just die like that? Other than Eric, Eileen couldn¡¯t think of anyone else. After all, he had always been ruthless. ¡°Eileen?¡± Eileen, who was engrossed in the news, was startled by a sound, causing her phone to drop to the ground. Vera stooped down to retrieve the phone and handed it back to Eileen. ¡°What has captured your attention?¡± she inquired. ¡°The holiday is almost here. Are you nning to attend the winter camp? The teacher is already requesting the list.¡± ¡°I¡­ I need some time to think,¡± Eileen responded. She hadn¡¯t made a decision yet. ¡°I¡¯m going to the restroom.¡± As Eileen stepped out of the door, she unexpectedly collided with someone. ¡°Ouch!¡± he eximed in pain, clutching his forehead. ¡°After all this time, can¡¯t you learn to watch where you¡¯re going?¡± she scolded. This voice! Eileen¡¯s heart raced. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Eric. I need to use the restroom. Is the conference over?¡± The previous parent-teacher conference had been rescheduled to thest day of the holiday. Eric had his usual expression. She couldn¡¯t tell if it was a facade or if he genuinely didn¡¯t care about her presence in the Smith residence. For several days, Eric had taken no action regarding her departure from the Swan residence. ¡°The home renovation isplete. We can move back before the New Year. When do you n on returning, Eileen? It¡¯s not good to live with strangers for too long.¡± Eric whispered Èý 4/5 solily into her ear, each word deliberate. I might be angry! A hint of danger flickered in his eyes Eileen¡¯s heart tightened. Just as she was unsure how to respond, Vera approached and said, Eric. I¡¯m sorry! I can¡¯t go with you guys. I still have Olympiad Math ss, and I need to catch up on a week¡¯s worth of tutoring¡± ¡°After ss. I¡¯ll have Gavine pick you up. Eric offered. ¡°Understood.¡± Taking advantage of the situation, Eileen slipped away to the restroom. When she finally returned to the ssroom, Eric was still there. It seemed like he was waiting for her. ¡°You have ten minutes to pack your things,¡± Eric stated. ¡°I-1 can go back on my own,¡± Eileen replied. ¡°Sharon is sick. Shouldn¡¯t we go visit her?¡± < Chapter 149 Chapter 149 Chapter 149 Going To The Smith Residence. Lileen followed him, and as soon as they left the school gate, she received a call from Jasper. Eileen nced at Eric¡¯s back, hesitating before picking up. ¡°Y¡± ¡°School should be out after today, right? I¡¯ll ask Fabian to pick you up, and maybe we can have lunch together,¡± Jasper said. Eileen replied, ¡°I need to go back to my brother¡¯s ce. Sharon is sick. I need to go and see her.¡± ¡°Is that so? Well then, be careful on your way home. You can stay a bit longer. I¡¯lle pick you up tonight.¡± ¡°All right. Sure.¡± After that, she hung up the phone. As Eileen approached the car, she was about to open the rear passenger door when Eric¡¯s icy voice rang out. ¡°Sit in the front.¡± Eileen reluctantly lowered her hand and took a seat in the front passenger seat. Suddenly, the person sitting in the driver¡¯s seat leaned over and fastened her seatbelt for her. Eileen was so nervous that she dared not breathe. Her fear was etched deep into her bones, especially after learning about Lilian¡¯s death. The car slowly pulled away, and no one mentioned the news of Lilian¡¯s death on the road. Soon, they arrived at Euphoria Condominium. Eric parked his car at the entrance of the grocery store downstairs. ¡°Get out of the car. We¡¯re going to the grocery store.¡± ¡°I think I¡¯ll stay here. I¡¯ll wait for you in the car.¡± ¡°Do you want me to beg you?¡± Eric asked. Eileen didn¡¯t dare to say much more, and in the end, she got out of the car. 1/5 She used to always pested Eric to apany her to the grocery store, but he would never go However, he would patiently apany Vera on shopping trips. At that moment, she didn¡¯t dare to harbor even the slightest expectation from him. Eric pushed the cart, heading to the seafood section. He bought quite a lot of seafood and various types of vegetables and fruits. Eileen asked the person in charge of the seafood section for a bag of cooking wine and some condiments like green onions, ginger, and garlic. These seafood items were not cheap, so it was only right to give some for free. She realized that this was their first time shopping at a grocery store, and Eileen discovered that he really had no idea how to buy groceries. The groceries he picked were either not fresh or rotten. In the end, most of them were chosen by Eileen. After buying those items, Eric took her to the snack section and asked, ¡°What would to eat?¡± Eileen shook her head. ¡°I can¡¯t eat these snacks.¡± Eric was well aware of her physical condition. ¡°Let¡¯s go buy some fruit.¡± In the end, Eric bought quite a lot of strawberries and cherries. you like After spending over five hundred, they left the grocery store and put the items in the trunk. Eileen took the passenger seat, fastening her seatbelt promptly to prevent him from getting too close again. After a few minutes of driving, the car stopped at the entrance of the condominium. Eric, carrying two large bags, entered the condominium building. ¡°Go open the door.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Eileen entered the code for the door lock. With a click, it opened. Eileen didn¡¯t hesitate for a moment. She headed straight to the unit where Sharon lived. Sharon was seen lying in bed, her face pale. The room was filled with the strong scent of salve. ||| 2/5 Upon hearing themotion. Sharon opened her eyes Seeing who had arrived, she immediately propped herself up and sat upright ¡°Eileen? How did you get here?¡± ¡°Fric told me you were hurt, so I came to see you. Sharon, where are you injured? Why didn¡¯t you tell me? Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. With a frail expression, Sharon said, ¡°I went out to buy groceries, and it had snowed again. I shipped and hurt my back How have you been these days? Has anyone been giving you a hard time?¡± Eileen shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m fine, and no one is bullying me. Don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good. You¡¯ve never left home since you were little, and you don¡¯t have many friends. around. I was afraid that you might get bullied out there and wouldn¡¯t want to tell your family about it.¡± In fact, Eileen had suffered enough injustices at the Swan residence. While the Smith residence might also be a ce filled with danger, it was still better than being in the Swan residence. ¡°No. That¡¯s not the case. Jasper treats me very well. He picks me up and drops me off every day for school.¡± ¡°If that¡¯s the case, I¡¯m relieved.¡± Sharon held Eileen¡¯s hand and gave it aforting pat.. ¡°Did Mr. Snowe back with you?¡± Sharon asked. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Have you eaten? I¡¯ll make you something.¡± Just as Sharon was about to get up, Eileen gently pushed her back down. ¡°I¡¯ll handle the cooking. I used to cook when I had free time at the Smith residence,¡± Eileen said. ¡°Howe? That¡¯s not supposed to happen. You should have housekeepers cooking for you.¡± ¡°At the Swan residence, that was the case. At Eric¡¯s ce, however, it¡¯s different. I¡¯ll be done with cooking soon.¡± Eileen turned around and left the room, making sure to close the door. behind her. Heading to the kitchen, she took down the apron hanging there and tied it around her. She then pulled out some ingredients from the refrigerator, but it was toote to start cooking. then. She only had time to cook some noodles. 3/5 She then went on to slice som rens and slurer some Er head just changed his clors and came out of the room Seeing the busy figure in the kitchen his gaze deepened He had dreamt of that scene several times. Every time he turned, it was her face and that gentle smile that he saw Right after she had been discharged from the hospital after a wrist-cutting incident, Eileen seemed like apletely different person. While suppressing that touch of irritation deep within his heart, Eric walked over. ¡°Argh!¡± Eileen drew in a sharp breath. She cut her finger, and drops of blood fell onto the chopping board. In the next moment, the injured hand was seized by the man, who proceeded to rins: it under the faucet. The icy water pierced her wound, causing such pain that she recoiled her hand. Eric furrowed his brow. ¡°You can¡¯t even chop vegetables properly, and yet you think you can take care of others?¡± His strength was immense, and despite Eileen¡¯s numerous attempts to pull her hand away. she couldn¡¯t break free. ¡°He never allowed me to cook,¡± Eileen replied. ¡°So what? Aren¡¯t you going home?¡± Eric¡¯s eyes turned icy as he looked at her. Eileen asked, ¡°You already know why I want to go to the Smith residence! He would never harm me.¡± Eileen believed that only Eric would harm her. As soon as the words left her mouth, Eric suddenly became furious, grabbing her hand and forcefully dragging her to the room. The door was firmly shut, and Eric bent down to passionately kiss her. Eileen stared wide-eyed, struggling and pounding on his chest, whimpering silently. She gripped his face, leaving a mark on his neck with her nails. The man furrowed his brow, lifting her up with both hands and pressing her against the door. His left hand held her in ce, not allowing her to resist. < 4/5 Lan seemed to have lost control as he caressed her breasts with lus other hand. Fileen heard his heavy breathing. That¡¯s a sign of a man¡¯s arousal! Tears of tear suddenly streamed down Eileen¡¯s face. After a long while, Eric finally released her. His eyes were dark and intense, as if filled with venom. ¡°Has he touched the same ces i have** Eileen sobbed, her delicate face flushed. Her lips were moist from their shared intimacy. Her fragile crying and vulnerability made her even more enticing. The button on her chest was undone, revealing the ke shirt underneath. Through the opening, the lace bra worn by the young girl was faintly visible. Eric wiped the liquid off her lips. Her seemingly resistant yet inviting demeanor could effortlessly ignite primal desires in a man. ¡°I-I¡¯m your sister! You can¡¯t treat me like this!¡± Eileen trembled all over. ¡°I¡¯m talking to you!¡± His gaze was icy cold, as if he truly wanted to devour her when he was angry. ¡°No! He never touched me! Eric, I beg you, please don¡¯t do this. We¡¯re siblings!¡± ¡°Like I believe that!¡± With that, he made another attempt. As he stimted her sensitive area, Eileen became powerless. Chapter 150 Chapter 150 Chapter 150 Not Your Housekeeper It took an hour to serve the noodles to Sharon. Eric entered the room from outside and looked at the person shivering on the bed. Her school uniform was wrinkled and disheveled. In moment of forgetfulness, a button had been torn off and was nowhere to be found. Tears streaked her face, making her look utterly pitiful. Upon seeing him, Eileen casually grabbed a pillow and threw it at him. ¡°Eric, you¡¯re nothing but a beast!¡± Eric grabbed the pillow and retorted, ¡°Don¡¯t you like me that way?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like you anymore, Eric! I don¡¯t like you anymore!¡± Eileen cried out in a roar. ¡°Whether you like it or not, it¡¯s not up to you to decide. Don¡¯t think that just because you¡¯ve gone to the Smith residence, I can¡¯t do anything to you!¡± Eric walked up to her, reaching out to brush aside the strands of hair stuck together by tears. ¡°The Smith residence? Do you really think you can stay there forever? Eileen, don¡¯t forget your surname!¡± Eileen forcefully pped his hand away. The faint red marks on her neck, all left by him, were barely visible. ¡°Eric, you¡¯ll get what¡¯sing to you!¡± A glint of somber danger shed in the man¡¯s eyes, causing his heart to suddenly sink. Those stubborn eyes only served to further unsettle his mind. Her words seem to be reminding me of something. Does she already know? Impossible. If she really knew, she would only distance herself further from me. Let those matters be buried in the abyss forever, never to see the light of day again. She is just herself, and I¡¯m merely the adopted son of the Swan family. If I can¡¯t let her go, it¡¯s better to keep her by my side forever. I¡¯ll be her protector, and she¡¯ll have to rely on me for the rest of her life. ¡°If I were to descend into hell, I would surely take you with me, Eileen. For the sake of love, you would even sacrifice your life, wouldn¡¯t you? His words, like a spell, bewitched her. ¡°As long as you behave yourself, Eileen, I¡¯ll also care for you.¡± Eileen retorted, ¡°I don¡¯t need your affection. You¡¯re despicable!¡± She struggled to her feet, ready to leave. Before her feet could even touch the ground, Eric swiftly grabbed her by the cor, spinning around to hold her captive in his embrace. ¡°Eric, let go of me! Don¡¯t touch me!¡± ||| = 1/4 The mas whispered huskily in her ear. ¡°Scream! Scream louder and let her hear you. He gripped Eileen¡¯s chin, forcing her to lift her head to look at the camera on the ceiling facing the bed. ¡°Don¡¯t forget whose room this is! Don¡¯t you remember what we just did? You wouldn¡¯t want others to know that a high school student who has recently grown into an adult is shamelessly seducing her own brother! Eileen shook her head, a tremor uncontroble within her heart. ¡°No! No! It was you who dragged me into the room. I didn¡¯t want this to happen! You forced yourself upon me!¡± Who do you think would believe you? Eileen, not only my foster father, but everyone in the mansion knows how many tactics you¡¯ve used to force me to marry you in the future.¡± Eric savored her scent, his face buried in the crook of her neck, nting a kiss. Eileen was seething with rage. ¡°You b*stard!¡± ¡°Eileen, why wouldn¡¯t you listen to advice? Isn¡¯t it better to stay at the Swan residence:¡± ¡°You¡¯re the one who drove me away! You were trying to kill me!¡± ¡°So, I¡¯m giving you this opportunity¡­ The day Will returns, move back from the Smith residence, or else you¡¯ll face the consequences!¡± Eileen no longer struggled in vain nor dared to scream loudly again. Tears silently fell once. more. ¡°You clearly dislike me, so why are you doing this? Eric, if you treat me like this, I will hate you for the rest of my life!¡± Hate? So what? Eric didn¡¯t take her insignificant hatred to heart and let her go, standing up. Eileen sat on the bed like a broken, unconscious doll, her eyes vacant. The man pulled out a ck shirt from the wardrobe and tossed it onto the bed. ¡°Take off your clothes and wash up. The bed¡¯s dirty. Change the sheets and duvet cover as well.¡± Eric walked to the door, picked up the long ke socks that had fallen on the ground, and hung them on the back of the chair. Then, he closed the door and left. Eileen didn¡¯t linger in his room. She ran to the room where she had previously lived with. Vera. She took off her school uniform and threw it all into the trash can. The hem of her skirt was still stained with that filthy, dirty substance. Under the shower, she scrubbed incessantly at the sides of her legs. A look of near despair was in her eyes as scenes of being used by Eric as a tool for his desires. kept surfacing in her mind. Even though he didn¡¯t cross that ultimate line, everything Eric did to her was enough to make it an unforgettable experience in her life, bing a nightmare she could never shake = ||| 2/4 for the rest of her days. It he were to rape her that day, she definitely wouldn¡¯t be able to bear it After taking a bath, Eileen put on the clothes she had left there before She didn¡¯t want to Souch any of his belongings, as they made her feel disgusted. Seeing her emerge, Ene appeared nonchnt, as if nothing had happened. He ced a bow! of noodles on the dining table and said, ¡®Come Let seat I don¡¯t want to eat I¡¯m leaving¡± Eileen didn¡¯t look at him. Her restaner won¡¯t make a difference¡¯ Eric had always disliked repeating himself ¡°Are you defying me¡± Eric¡¯s voice deepened. Eileen was traumatized by him, and she was filled with disgust as she approached him. Eileen slowly made her way over and took a seat Eric handed her a fork, which she epted. without daring to raise her head. There was a poached egg on the te, but she didn¡¯t like eating the yolk. Eric scooped out all the remaining noodles from the pot. That was the first time they had shared a meal together at the dining table. Eileen ate slowly, enduring his asional advances. All she could do was tolerate it. ¡°I¡¯ll take you hometer, and we can stop by the mall on the way. Let¡¯s buy some clothes. You¡¯re likely to catch a cold wearing such thin clothing,¡± Eric said. With a trembling hand, Eileen¡¯s fork slipped from her grasp and fell to the ground. She quickly picked it up and said, ¡°N-No need. I already have plenty of clothes. I¡¯ll on my ownter.¡± go back ¡°How about Sharon? I remember she hasn¡¯t changed that coat for three or four years.¡± Eric took the dirty fork and fetched a new one from the kitchen for her. ¡°You care about her so much. If you truly consider her as family, shouldn¡¯t you have shown her some filial piety all these years?¡± Is he nning to use Sharon as an excuse? What is he up to? Eileen didn¡¯t know if there was anything he couldn¡¯t do. This is from N?velDrama.Org. Eileen took her time to leisurely enjoy the bowl of noodles for half an hour. That was the only time he saw her procrastinate and didn¡¯t scold her. = Phon¡¯t eat anym There¡¯s a little bit let Finish: it up. I¡¯ll wait for you.¡± Eileen lowered her head. ¡°I really don¡¯t want to eat anymore.¡± Her voice was soft and melodious. Eric nced at his wristwatch. ¡°Go to the couch and bring me my coat.¡± With his casual instruction, it was as if Eileen was instantly transported back to her past life, to the way they used to interact with each other. Whatever he said, I would do ordingly. He never needed to repeat himself. I guess that¡¯s what he wants in a wife. What rights does he have, though? He¡¯re not married! Why should I listen to him? Eileen stood her ground. ¡°I¡¯m not your housekeeper. Get your own things!¡± Chapter 151 Chapter 151 Chapter 151 Moved They got into the car and headed to the mall Fileen followed Ern, assuming they were going straight upstairs. The jewelry section was located on the first floor Eric approached a counter, and thedy behind seemed to recognize him ¡°Mr Snow, the Cartier you orderedst week has arrived. Please check if you are satisfied, she said. As she spoke, her gaze fell on Eileen, and she smiled. This beautifuldy must be your girlfriend! She will definitely look stunning wearing it Eileen quickly denied. ¡°You¡¯ve misunderstood. I¡¯m his sister.¡± Girlfriend? No way! With that thought in mind, Eileen said, ¡°Eric. I¡¯m going upstairs first.¡± Just as she took a step forward, Eric caught her wrist. He took out the exquisite and beautiful diamond ne and said, ¡°Try it on.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to!¡± Eileen struggled to free herself from his embrace. His displeased gaze deepened as he said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ve been in a bad moodtely.¡± In front of others, he always acted that way. He was one person in public and another behind closed doors. He was always polite to everyone, with a constant, subtle smile on his face. He was so assertive that he didn¡¯t give her a chance to refuse. He took off the ne, brushed aside Eileen¡¯s long hair, and ced it around her neck. The ne was simple yet elegant, pure and shiny. Eileen had seen that brand of ne in a fashion magazine. It was thetest design from one of the top ten international jewelrypanies, and it was a limited edition. Even with money, it was hard to get one. The price was around three to four hundred thousand. Given the rate of intion, it would cost several million in ten years.. Eileen had no idea where he got all that money from, but even if he had more, she didn¡¯t want any of it. Why do I feel like he¡¯s treating me as his sugar baby? He¡¯s buying me expensive jewelry after what he did not long ago! What does he think of me? Upon seeing the ne on her neck, Eric¡¯s eyes dimmed slightly. However, within a few seconds, his expression quickly returned to normal. N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Thedy at the counter immediatelyplimented, ¡°Mr. Snow, your taste is truly impable. Miss, the ne suits you.¡± Eric turned Eileen around to face him, reaching out to touch therge, sparkling diamond. < 1/4 Not had it suits you wel!!¡± You think it¡¯s suitable, but you never asked if I actually like it! Eileen unsped the ne and thrust it into his hand. ¡°You can give it to Vera or Yvette! I won¡¯t ept this. I need to buy clothes for Sharon. I¡¯m going upstairs now.¡± Thedy at the counter was like a spectator at a grand y, maintaining a smile as she stole a nce at Eric. Seeing his gloomy expression, she didn¡¯t dare to speak. His icy demeanor was truly intimidating. This man is quite handsome and refined yet surprisingly fickle. With so many women around him, it¡¯s no wonder thedy earlier was upset. In thergest mall in Hulbury, such sights weremon, attracting only the wealthy and the noble. Previously, there was a publicly listedpany owner who went to buy a ring with his mistress. Unexpectedly, he was caught red-handed by his wife. After all themotion, having seen so much, nothing could really surprise the salesperson. anymore. ¡°M-Mr. Snow, d-do you still want this ne?¡± she asked. ¡°Wrap it up.¡± ¡°All right. Okay.¡± Eileen arrived on the fifth floor, where clothing designed for middle-aged women was sold. Each piece of clothing cost around one to two thousand, which was not cheap. However, she didn¡¯t mind spending money on Sharon at all. Aside from her poor judgment of men, she did have a good eye for fashion. Eileen picked out two to three different styles of down jackets. As she was about to pay with her card, someone next to her had already taken out a card. ¡°This is something I¡¯m buying for Sharon. You don¡¯t need to pay for it.¡± She once again declined Eric¡¯s kind offer. ¡°When we¡¯re out shopping, I never let a woman pay. Take my card!¡± The shop assistant was startled and quickly took Eric¡¯s card, swiped it through the card. machine, pulled out the bill for signature, and left. His attitude had always been firm. Unable to stand her ground, Eileen eventually ended up letting Eric pay. I will pay him back. I ||| 2/4 dentical to Ge him anything. Er carried the bag, and no one mentioned what had just happened earlier. Moving to the side, Eileen took a liking to a scarf. It was handmade in silk. She nced at the price tag, and it showed two thousand. If you want it, take it,¡± Eric said. ¡°Forget it. If Sharon knew, she would definitely be reluctant to wear it. Eileen wasn¡¯t materialistic. She appreciated good things but wouldn¡¯t buy them if they were unnecessary. After some thought, Eileen decided to buy two pairs of gloves. One pair was red, and the other was ck. They cost a couple of hundred, which wasn¡¯t too expensive. They hadn¡¯t been browsing for long, barely half an hour, when Eileen, carrying tworge shopping bags, was ready to leave. She didn¡¯t buy anything for herself because she had everything she needed. ¡°Mr. Snow? Eileen?¡± A familiar voice rang out, and Yvette walked toward them, followed by four bodyguards dressed in ck suits. Yvette was dressed elegantly. She wore high heels, was d in the most fashionable Chanel camisole maxi dress, and her lips painted bold, vibrant red. While walking toward them charismatically, she said, ¡°What a coincidence! Are you guys out shopping, too?¡± Eric nodded, greeting her, ¡°Hi, Ms. Friedman.¡± Yvette naturally took Eric¡¯s arm and said, ¡°Mr. Snow, you used to avoid apanying me, but now I¡¯ve caught you! It¡¯s not dinner time yet. How about we stroll a bit longer? After a while, it¡¯ll be just in time for dinner. What do you say, Eileen?¡± Eileen, who had be a mere backdrop, wore an expressionless face, secretly hoping Yvette would cling to him. ¡°I have other things to do. You guys carry on! Eric, could you give me those ck gloves?¡± Yvette couldn¡¯t ept Eileen¡¯s refusal. She pleaded, ¡°Please, don¡¯t go! I know you want to see Jasper. He still has some time before he finishes work. If you leave now, you won¡¯t be able to see him! Let¡¯s just call him over when we have dinnerter. Besides, aren¡¯t these gloves you. bought meant as a gift for my Jasper? He will surely love them.¡± ||| 3/4 Eileen replied softly, ¡°No these gloves are for Fim. It¡¯s a gift for his tmproved performance Leen had no intention ofrg anything from anyone. Thave to leave now. I still have to attend my tutorial With that, she took something from Eric¡¯s hand, but Eric didn¡¯t let go. His face turned gloomy as he said, ¡°Let¡¯s go back together.¡± Ms. Friedman. I apologize, but I can¡¯t apany you, Eric said. Yvette watched them leave, her face gradually turning grim. He doesn¡¯t know what¡¯s best for him! The more he acts this way, the more I want him! He¡¯s an ambitious old man. I don¡¯t believe the Friedman family isn¡¯t enticing enough to win his heart! Upon reaching the parking lot beneath the mall, Eric tossed everything into the back seat while Eileen opened the passenger door. In an instant, she felt a pull on her body. Eric, with one hand on her neck, leaned down and kissed her. Eileen struggled against his chest, and that day, she had lost count of how many times he had kissed her. Her lips, which had yet to reduce swelling, throbbed with pain. With a hint of punishment and anger, he bit her lower lip. ¡°Mmm¡­¡± Eileen gasped in pain. Chapter 152 Chapter 152 Chapter 152 Nothing But Wild Ambitions. It seemed as though Eric had consumed a toxic elixir after that kiss. Once trapped, his addiction spiraled out of contro!. After eight years of marriage. Fileen had grown ustomed to his abruptness. Even during their most intimate moments, he never bothered with forey. He seemed to only enjoy the sensation of dryness and tension. The more she cried out in pain, the more he responded with contented,bored breathing. As the situation escted, Eric abruptly opened the passenger door, forcefully pushing her onto the seat No way! This is an underground parking lot! Someone coulde at any moment!¡± Then let¡¯s be quick!¡± You must be insane!¡± She didn¡¯t want to go through the same thing again. Terrified, the ideat of escaping through the opposite car door raced through her mind. The man smoothly settled into the passenger seat, shutting the car door with a menacing thud. His long arm extended, swiftly seizing her and pulling her towards him. The garage, filled with cars, heightened the tension of the moment-anyone passing by would easily spot them. Eileen was so anxious that she was on the verge of tears. ¡°Let¡¯s go back! Can we go back, please? Don¡¯t do it here!¡± Eric, impatiently, had already unzipped his pants, unleashing that terrifying thing. Eileen¡¯s ck leggings were also roughly pulled down by him. He then adjusted his position and settled into a seated posture. Tilting his head back, he closed his eyes, thoroughly savoring and reveling in the sensation. ¡°That¡¯s it. As long as you behave, I won¡¯t go in¡­¡± The low and oppressive tone of his voice left Eileen feeling humiliated, forcing her to bite her lip in an attempt to hold back tears. Half an hourter, Eric retrieved a piece of paper, carefully wiping away the remnants from Eileen¡¯s clothes. After a moment of pleasure, he cast a fleeting nce at the youngdy who had gone limp, leaning against his body. Her eyes were unfocused, her whole body feeble. Following the experience, Eric had found the most sensitive part of her body. ||| 1/4 Therme Fra marie her realize that even with just outer ourse, he could still bring her to Framade diarenly blts Feeling better?¡± Eileen felt a numbing weakness throughout her body and with a swift motion, she pped him across the face Tre Tam not your tool toeventing desires Her monst eyshes quivered and a tear tolled down her cheek Eric cabinly adjusted her clothes, enduring her hits and scolding without disying any anger TII take you to the Smith residenceter. But if I find out your ve been fooling around with other men, you won¡¯t get away with it, understand?¡± Eric felt an unexinable wave of irritation as he watched her cry, tears streaming down her checks. Pinching her chin, he forced her to look at him. ¡°I will check¡­¡± His eyes, as deep as the abyss, carried a potent, dangerous warning. ¡°Did you hear that? Speak up!¡± Tears streamed down Eileen¡¯s cheeks, staining his ck shirt. Wearing a bitter smile, she inquired. ¡°What else can you do besides threatening me?¡± ¡°Why does it have to be me that you want to sleep with? You could have done it with Vera or even Yvette. Why on earth did it have to be me?¡± She pummeled his chest, each punch apanied by falling tears. Eric tenderly ran his fingers through her hair, allowing her to rest against his chest. As he lowered his head to kiss her forehead, his eyes conveyed an intense emotion, brimming with a profound sense of possessiveness. ¡°You may not be used to this now, but I¡¯ll make you like it in the future¡­¡± Holding her hand, he nted a kiss on it, and within his gaze, hidden from her view, therey an unusual tenderness. Eileen couldn¡¯t allow this to continue between them before he took her virginity. It felt too disgusting. This has to stop. ¡°Eileen, you¡¯re still too young to understand. You¡¯ll get it when you¡¯re older. Shall we go grab something to eat? What would you like?¡± ¡°I want to go back!¡± 24 fins she want to return to the Smith reden se ball At this point, there¡¯s notes: Fm letting her be fariste Jayne Funt de o her get their hands on a ghtfully belongs to me even if it meant t There had always been a dashrata and aer installed in Erics car, meticulously Recording everything that had taken ce in the ar -¡± How about trying that restaurant you mentionedst time he suggested Pri don¡¯t make me repeat myself Im heading back to the Smith residence Teen. I don¡¯t want to get angry with you right now, so please behave Frie, seated in the dover¡¯s seat implored Like soothing a distressed child, his rough, calloused palm gently caressed her head, running through the length of her hair. Blissorze was not far from where they were. It was the same ce she suggested dining at thest time she went out for a meal with Yvette. However, they didn¡¯t go there in the end Instead, they visited a Japriumian restaurant where they indulged in plum wine. I never expected him to still remember what I once mentioned¡­ But does it matter? I¡¯m just a passing fancy for him. His current behavior is a response to my sudden disinterest, which causes him difort His actions aren¡¯t rooted in love or affection; it¡¯s his possessiveness at y. Even if his future doesn¡¯t involve Vera, there¡¯s still Yvette. Perhaps¡­ in this lifetime, he might discover love with Sarah as well. As the novelty fades. I may find myself abandoned. Regardless of how many women he encounters, how many l¡¯eras exist, I won¡¯t love him anymore. Even if it means I¡¯m destined for solitude until the end of my days, I won¡¯t have any regrets or turn back. In Blissorzo, Eric requested a private room, which made Eileen uneasy about what he migh: do to her in such an isted setting. Without much consideration, she blurted out to the waiter. ¡°No need for a private room; we¡¯ll be fine in the main hall.¡± Eric responded with a tender smile. ¡°We¡¯ll dine in the main hall, then. I¡¯ll go along with her choice.¡± ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. ¡°Please follow me.¡± Eventually, they settled by the window in the hall, with Eileen taking the seat across from Eric. ¡°Here¡¯s some sage tea. Please enjoy, the waiter said. ¡°Thank you,¡± Eileen replied. Eric casually flipped through the menu. Most of the options were simple home-style dishes, nothing special. ¡°Take a look and decide what you¡¯d like to eat. I¡¯ll let you choose since you rmended this ||| 34 ced I ileen paid no attention to him, grabbing the menu herself and selecting a few of her favorite dishes. The waiter, pen in hand, noted down her choices and then asked, ¡°Miss, are three dishes enough for two people?¡± Eileen responded nonchntly, ¡°I don¡¯t know what he would like to eat. Let him decide.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Their tastes differed, and Eric casually ordered a few random spicy dishes. After the waiter left, Eric asked, ¡°What? Are you still upset?¡± Without sparing him a nce, Eileen replied, ¡°Eric, I¡¯ve gone to the mall with you, and now I¡¯m here dining with you. What more do you want from me? I¡¯ve told you from the beginning-I don¡¯t pose a threat to you. If you want the Swan family, just take it. I genuinely. couldn¡¯t care less. Once I graduate from high school andplete university, I n to return to Friyx for further studies in art. It¡¯s possible I may nevere back in lifetime. Can you please just let me go? Consider it a good deed.¡± my Eric took hold of her hand, softly stroking the back of it. Her skin felt delicate and smooth, like a newborn baby¡¯s. He hadn¡¯t fully experienced enough of that sweet, intoxicating sensation. How could he allow her to leave just like that? ¡°You were the one who provoked me first, Eileen. You used to love me the most. Don¡¯t you feel happy now that I love you back?¡± ¡°But I don¡¯t want your love anymore!¡± This kind of love is too shallow, causing me too much pain! His love led me astray and blinded me from reality. It took my downfall for me to realize the truth! He¡¯s not genuinely interested in me; instead, his focus lies in power and status. He has nothing but wild ambitions. The only genuine love he has is for Vera, not for me! Even the minimal kindness he shows is nothing more than a facade. Chapter 153 Chapter 153 Chapter 153 Three Days A Week Do you think there¡¯s still a chance for you to turn back now?¡± Eric drove with one hand, the other tenderly cradling her hand. ¡°Go home and get some rest. I¡¯ve already canceled your winter camp for you. If you want to go out and have some fun, I can apany you.¡± ¡°Why are you making decisions for me again? Eileen forcefully shook off his hand. ¡°How many times do I have to say it? Eric, I no longer have feelings for you! Don¡¯t you understand?¡± Despite all she had done for him in the past, he never truly appreciated her efforts. After her rebirth, she gave up and sought only to distance herself from him. However, he persistently pursued her, adamantly refusing to let her go. In my previous life, he used me as a tool to gain power and acquire the Swan family. What about in this life? What am I to him? Just a ything, someone he can use for his desires whenever he wants? Eric stayed silent, but a noticeable air of gloom surrounded him. After a while, the man stopped at a red light, patiently waiting for it to turn green. ¡°When we meet again in the future, I hope you¡¯ll be wearing that ne.¡± In the future? He¡¯s actually thinking about the future? Eileen spoke with indifference, ¡°I won¡¯t be meeting you again in the future. As for today¡¯s events, I¡¯ll pretend they never happened.¡± She sneered and added, ¡°What do you think Vera would do if she found out about what we did? Keeping me close while still having feelings for Vera-don¡¯t you find yourself repulsive?¡± Eric¡¯s brow furrowed, a cold frown etched on his face. Continuing down the street, he suddenly hit the brakes, bringing the car to a stop at the roadside. Without hesitation, he unbuckled his seatbelt and climbed over the center console. After forcefully pushing her onto the passenger seat, he violently tore apart her clothes. ¡°In that case, I might as well take this opportunity and im you right now,¡± he said. ¡°You¡¯re insane! I¡¯m only eighteen, Eric. If you dare touch me and my father finds out, he will kill you!¡± Eileen tightly gripped his hand, her legs firmly mped together. ¡°Isn¡¯t that perfect? That way, I can rightfully marry you. In the future¡­ you won¡¯t need to go. to school. Just be a stay-at-home mom and do household chores for me,¡± he said. indifferently, parting his lips. ¡°Fine, I¡¯m sorry! I shouldn¡¯t have said that! I don¡¯t want to!¡± 1/4 Suddenly, he grabbed Eileen by the cor, almost lifting her up from the seat The look in has eyes was dark and cruel. ¡°You better be sorry Can youmit to spending three days a week with me¡± Eileen resembled a coerced, vulnerable rabbit, her eves filled with panic. Tears streamed down her face, trickling into her hair, as her body trembled uncontrobly. Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. She nodded inpliance. Eric, finally satisfied, released his grip on her, then removed his suit for her to wear. Defying him wouldn¡¯t bring her any advantage; it seemed wiser for her to ept the harsh reality obediently. The Smith residence nestled in a peaceful suburb, its surroundings characterized by a quiet ambiance and sparse vehicr traffic on the now-deserted streets. Wrapped in Eric¡¯s suit, Eileen sat in the car with her legs tucked in, her head hung le, not daring to make another sound. As Eric¡¯s car approached the Smith residence¡¯s courtyard, it gradually came to a stop. Eager to get out of the car, Eileen was dismayed to discover that the door was securely locked. ¡°Let me out of the car!¡± she uttered, her voice feeble and devoid of its former confidence. Eric promptly leaned over, unbuckling her seatbelt, causing a slight shiver to run through Eileen¡¯s body. It¡¯s good that she¡¯s afraid. Saves me a lot of trouble in the future. A smile appeared on his sternly outlined face as he grasped her chin, prompting her to tilt her head back. He nted a lingering kiss on her lips, whichsted for a while. With her eyes tightly closed, Eileen fought the urge to push him away until it was finally over. It wasn¡¯t until Eric caught sight of someone emerging from the house in his peripheral vision. that he pulled away from her. ¡°Remember to message me before you go to sleep, and don¡¯t try anything funny. Understood?¡± Eileen¡¯s mouth was filled with his lingering scent. ¡°Understood.¡± ¡°Go on.¡± The man reached out and wiped the liquid off the corner of her mouth. Without hesitation, Eileen opened the car door and stepped out. The security guard was patrolling in front of the gates, surveying the surroundings when he saw Eileen. ¡°Ms. Eileen,¡± he greeted. [|| r 2/4 Eileen merely hummed in response without even lifting her head, quickly scurrying off She sill had to walk at least another ten to twent mansion where Jasper resided. minutes before she could reach the The security guard pressed his Bluetooth headset, keeping an eye on Eileen as she walked away. ¡°Yes¡¯ Ms. Fileen has returned. She was dropped off by a ck Audi A6, license te number HAXXXX Jasper inquired. Did you manage to see the person in the car?¡± ¡°No That person didn¡¯t get out of the car.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± The man on the other end of the line ended the call. Eileen spent a full half-hour on a journey that should have taken just a few minutes. The concerned housekeeper rushed over when she saw Eileen appear in the foyer. ¡°Ms. Eileen, you¡¯re finally back. Mr. Jasper called several times a short while ago. He was worried something had happened to you and has been searching for you! You should call him back quickly!¡± Eileen responded listlessly, ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll call him backter. I¡¯m going upstairs now.¡± The housekeeper observed Eileen, whose eyes were red as if she had just been crying. The suit jacket she wore didn¡¯t appear to belong to Jasper either. One could tell she was evidently hiding something at first nce. However, the housekeeper dared not pry further considering her status as a servant. As soon as she returned to her room, she promptly locked the door. Turning on her phone, she discovered it had automatically shut down due to a dead battery. After plugging it in to charge, she headed to the bathroom, cleansing away all the filth from her body. Two hourster, she emerged gracefully from the bathroom, with water droplets still trickling down her shapely figure. Walking barefoot on the luxurious carpet, her long hair waspletely soaked. As she gazed at her reflection in the floor-to-ceiling window, she couldn¡¯t help but notice the love bites scattered across her body, apanied by the nail marks left by him¡ªa sight too overwhelming to take in at a mere nce. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. ¡°Ms Eileen, the chicken stew that Mr. Jasper instructed us to prepare for you is ready. I have brought it up to your room. It won¡¯t taste as good once it gets cold.¡± 3/4 Filcen quickly reached for the nearby bathrobe and draped it over herself. ¡°Alright Fortunately, all those marks could be hidden Eileen opened the door, and the housekeeper was standing right outside. Eileen reached out to take the bowl from her ¡°Thank you.¡± Of course, Ms. Lileen. Please rest well¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Eileen set the chicken soup aside, realizing that she needed to return Jasper¡¯s phone call. The call was promptly answered by the other party. Eileen spoke first, ¡°I apologize for causing you to worry. My phone ran out of battery. I have just arrived home and managed to charge it.¡± Tm relieved that you¡¯re alright. I sent Fabian to pick you up, but when he couldn¡¯t find you, I thought¡­ something had happened to you,¡± Jasper said. ¡°Is Sharon doing alright?¡± ¡°She just fell and needs to rest in bed for a while. It¡¯s nothing serious. I¡­ might not be able to join you for dinner tonight. I have already eaten.¡± Jasper spoke in a gentle tone. ¡°That¡¯s alright. Just get plenty of rest now that you¡¯re home.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Chapter 154 Chapter 154 Chapter 154 See A Psychiatrist On Jaspers desk at Smuth Corporationy an array of photographs, capturing moments of taleen and Faic leaving Bhistorzo hand in hand There were also photos of them in a shopping mall, where Eric ced a ne around her neck. These photographs, though not enough to cover the entire table, punted a vivid picture Additionally, they had spent a full hour inside the car, with its tinted windows preventing any camera from capturing the speciftes of their activities during that tune time How many projects has Caerulus Corporation recently secured? Jasper inquired Fabian responded, ¡°Not many, but these projects are crucial coborations for Carrulus Corporation. The main ones have consistently been overseen by Eric, while the others are closely monitored by Gavin ¡°It seems like he¡¯s quite free and rxed with Will¡¯s absence. Reach out to morepanies and encourage coborations with Caerulus Corporation.¡± ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. ¡°If we do this, won¡¯t we be paving the way for the Swan family?¡± Fabian questioned. ¡°It¡¯s just some insignificant coborations. This money is merely enough to keep him. upied. A project worth hundreds of thousands is inconsequential to Smith Corporation.¡± ¡°Got it. I¡¯ll get on it right away!¡± Mr. Smith is actually delivering money to the Swan family¡¯s doorstep for Ms. Eileen¡¯s sake. Four or five consecutive days passed, and the uing day marked the start of the weekend. Even the usually busy Jasper managed to find some time for rest amidst his hectic work. schedule. He began his day with a jog at half-past six in the morning, while Eileen was still fast asleep. Her biological clock woke her up around eight o¡¯clock. The previous night, she went to bed early because she needed to attend a golf ss in Primas za today. She leisurely ran her fingers through her long, slightly curled hair a few times. Holding a hair tie in her mouth, she descended the stairs to find Jasper downstairs, dressed in a ke tracksuit. She saw him tilt his head back for a sip of water and then ept a towel from a servant to wipe away the sweat on his face. Upon seeing hering down from upstairs, Jasper signaled the housekeeper by his side with his eyes. < 1/4 4 The housekeeper promptly understood and went to the kitchen, arranging all the breakfast teps on the table The breakfast spread consisted of various Clusian style dishes, including oatmeal, pretzels, and more. Eileen meticulously tied up her hair, securing it with a hairpin and elegantly coiling it at the back of her head Good morning¡± Jasper shed her a gentle smile. ¡°Good morning. Did you sleep well?¡± Eileen nodded. ¡°Not working today?¡± She rarely saw him still around at this hour, especially dressed in sportswear, indicating that he had just returned from an outdoor run. I haven¡¯t had quality time with you in quite a while. I need to make time to be with you,¡± remarked Jasper. Eileen¡¯s eyes showed little emotion. She apologized, ¡°I¡­ I have a ss to attendter. It¡¯s already scheduled, and I can¡¯t cancel it. I¡¯m sorry Quinton¡¯s sses came with a hefty price tag, and Eileen couldn¡¯t bring herself to waste. money by skipping. Jasper felt a little disappointed. ¡°I had hoped for some alone time with you¡­¡± Seated at the dining table, Eileen took a pretzel. ¡°Maybe next time. It¡¯s been a while since I attended tutorials, and people my age are already achieving more. If I don¡¯t work harder, I fear I¡¯ll be left behind soon in ss One.¡± ¡°Is the academic pressure at Petalburg High School really that demanding nowadays?¡± Jasper served her a bowl of oatmeal. Eileen chuckled, saying, ¡°I have to rely on my own diligence since Ick a natural talent in academics. If only I had the ability to remember everything at a nce, I wouldn¡¯t need to work on so many workbooks.¡± She then asked Jasper, ¡°What about you? You mentioned earlier that you were also a student at Petalburg High School. Did you have good grades too?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s leave the past in the past; there¡¯s no need to dwell on it,¡± Jasper replied. Richard¡¯s voice echoed from outside, and he stepped forward, greeting Eileen warmly, ¡°Ms. Eileen!¡± Eileen responded, ¡°Mr. Zimmer!¡± 2/4 Degoriom hantly took a sip of his oatmeal, his expression remaining impassive He rulled up has sleeve and a segment of a blue tattoo peeked from his half-exposed arm. As he ate his porridge, the movement of tax hand revealed winding veins extrding a mysterious and Captivating aura Mc Zimmer, what brings you here? It¡¯s about Old Mrs Smith This gaze shutte hesitating to continue His gaze shifted towards Eileen as he spoke, momentarily It sokay just say it. Jasper sand Richard had been quite busytely, overseeing matters at the main residence as the elderly housekeeper there had fallen ill and taken leave Old Mrs. Smith has recently caught a cold and wants to see you. And¡­ Ms. Eileen, as well,¡± conveyed Richard. Eileen, with her head bowed, was sipping her oatmeal. At the mention of these words, her expression momentarily froze, disying clear unease and a hint of confusion. Old Mrs. Smith wants to see me? Did she really catch a cold, or is there something else going on? Jasper tapped his index finger on the table, appearing deep in thought. It was unclear what was on his mind until he asked her in a gentle voice, ¡°Do you want to go see Grandma?¡± Eileen put down her spoon and immediately grabbed the hem of her clothes. After a moment of silence, she lowered her head, stuttering as she spoke. ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± She stood up, the spoon in her hand falling to the ground. Quickly, she picked it up. ¡°I¡¯ll be first.¡±te for my ss if I don¡¯t leave now. I¡¯ll go Then, Eileen slung her backpack over her shoulder. Jasper quickly rose from his seat as well. ¡°I¡¯ll drive you.¡± ¡°No need. The driver is at the door. I can go by myself. Thank you!¡± ¡°Eileen!¡± Before Jasper could say another word, Eileen had disappeared from sight. They rarely had the opportunity to sit down and have breakfast together, but now, due to his eagerness, he had unintentionally pressured her, causing her to flee in a moment of panic. Jasper felt a hint of frustration and defeat. He leaned his forehead against his hand, unsure of what to do about her. 34 She resembled a hedgehog, constantly on guardngamst everyone, even after being rescued trop, the Swan residence in the Smith residence she confined herself to her room, mersing herself in reading studying, and paiting-never venturing out, never interacting with others. Jasper simply wanted to take her out for a walk, to expose her to different ces. However, his intention only heightened her wariness, causing her to avoid him. Jasper took a deep breath. ¡°You go ahead! I¡¯ll join you shortly.¡± Richard suggested, ¡°Why don¡¯t we take Ms. Eileen to see a therapist? If she continues to iste herself like this, her condition will worsen sooner orter.¡± Suddenly losing control of his emotions, Jasper threw the bowl in his hand onto the ground beside him. ¡°Are you trying to make her avoid me even more? Leave me alone!¡± Richard remainedposed despite Jasper¡¯s outburst. He nodded without changing his expression. ¡°Yes, sir!¡± After Richard left, the housekeeper cautiously approached to clean up the mess. This isn¡¯t the first time Mr. Jasper has lost his temper. When his outbursts were worse, he had injured several housekeepers. Some were even severely beaten. Now that Mr. Jasper has returned, we are indeed afraid. But¡­ Mr. Jasper will only control his temper around Ms. Eileen. Now that Eileen wasn¡¯t present, the housekeepers were even more cautious around him and dared not say a word.. The entire hall was enveloped in a suffocating silence. Everyone carried out their tasks carefully, fearing to provoke Jasper. Eileen chose to avoid the situation not because of the Smith family, but for her own reasons. Chapter 155 Chapter 155 Chapter 155 A Painting Ideen struggled with an avondant personality, using avoidance as a coping mechanism in the face of emotional turmoil to alleviate her anxiety During moments of pain and difor she sought sce m solitude, finding prace with the tranquility of her heart or even relying on forgetfulness for relief She also desired to confront her issues, but fear held her back Both the environment and the atmosphere surrounding her could trigger psychological unease Thus, she preferred solitude. Even when Jasper attempted to approach her, coaxing her to step out of herfort zone, she just couldn¡¯t bring herself to do it. In the Smith residence, aside from mealtimes, Eileen spent most of her time alone in her room, engrossed in her hobbies, Whether it was drawing, studying, or listening to music, she enjoyed being alone and avoided. interacting with anyone. In Primas za, Quinton brought Eileen a cake from Bamboo Pce. ¡°Take a break and have something to eat.¡± Setting aside the golf club, Eileen took a few sips of water and epted the cake from his hand. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve noticed you¡¯ve been a bit off all morning. Have something sweet. It might cheer you up a bit. Quinton suggested. Eileen gave a slight smile. ¡°How did you figure it out?¡± Quinton picked up the thermal mug next to him and took a sip. ¡°It¡¯s not hard for me to tell when it comes to you. When bad things happen to some people, their emotions will show on their faces. Most of the time, they will vent their dissatisfaction through physical activities.¡± ¡°Perhaps I have been too stressed out by my studies and extracurricr ssestely that I don¡¯t have time to myself to do what I enjoy doing,¡± Eileen exined. Quinton crossed his left leg over his right, resting his folded hands on his knee, nodding in agreement. ¡°Hmm, indeed. Stress can be rough. But don¡¯t you find anything you¡¯re doing enjoyable?¡± Eileen thought for a while and said, ¡°There¡¯s nothing I particrly enjoy. My father never allows me to do anything I like.¡± ¡°Do you like drawing? I have a painting here, Would you like to take a look?¡± 1/4 Etuinton liftedx wrist to dik, his watch and realized the ss was over. Come with t Quinton guided her to his private other on the per floor, leading her into a rest area A pating, about three meters in length was concealed beneath a ck cloth Quinton moved toward to unved the artwork saying. Don¡¯t mad the mess in the room¡± Not at all In reality his room was impably dean, almost untouched, as if it hadn¡¯t been phaboned for a long time Qumion revealed the enormous painting. The moment Eileen saw it, she was utterly astounded by the masterpiece before her. This this is Night of Stars by Ira Gogh? But I thought it was lost to the world?¡± Ira Gogh stood as one of the ten most influential painters in the world. Throughout her lifetime, she created only five paintings, each possessing the ability to captivate the world. Despite her artistic brilliance, she never made public appearances, and the only fact the public knew about her was that she was only twenty-six. Unfortunately, afterpleting her final masterpiece, ¡°Night of Stars,¡± she vanished without a trace. In the decades toe, she never produced another artwork. Rumors circted widely, suggesting that she had already passed away. However, no one was aware of the actual truth. ¡°An old friend gave this to me. I¡¯m unsure if it¡¯s genuine or a replica. Could you examine it for me?¡± Quinton asked. A surge of indescribable excitement and joy welled up in Eileen¡¯s heart. ¡°May I take a longer look?¡± ¡°Of course. Go ahead.¡± Eileen gently caressed the ss picture frame, her eyes reflecting the painting that could be described as unparalleled in the world. Whether it was the colors or the imagery, it seemed as real as life itself, as if one could get lost in it. Eileen had encountered Ira Gogh¡¯s work only once before; this was the second time. Half an hourter, she concluded that it was indeed the authentic piece. ¡°It¡¯s the real deal.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± 24 sms and unlead Lab 7ally has her amic for once ¡°Looks be But Landsiske my trick didn¡¯t he to me ther all at how do you know this is the real deal 1 Filen shook her Lead Im not cutirely sure the painting feels somewhat familiari me However, Lancay with retains thor is able to eat ??(| ??? iAA:i??????? | So that¡¯s how Is Quot sand with a softugh If your say it true then Thelieve you ?????? seems that the person who gave you this painting must owe you his life (wherwise anyone who knows the value of this painting wouldn¡¯t give it away so easily Id feel ashamed ????? ? toarvept what isn¡¯t rightfully mine. If I take it, I owe someone a favor. And sooner orter this favor must be repaid ¡°Indeed, you re right¡± ¡°So it is a life-saving favor, right¡± Quintonughed softly, shaking his head. ¡°All right, that¡¯s enough talking. Let¡¯s go get something to eat. I haven¡¯t been back for a while and I heard there are quite a few new dishes. Shall we try them together?¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Eileen replied. Eileen didn¡¯t feel distant from Quinton. Perhaps it was because they had known each other for many years. She started learning at the age of thirteen and had been acquainted with him. for five years. Throughout this time, Quinton consistently maintained afortable. distance, never crossing any boundaries. Sometimes when she was in a bad mood, he would try to cheer her up in a manner that felt neither abrupt nor intrusive, just like how he shared the painting with her today. The fact that she loved to draw was actually something he had known for quite some time. The two of them took the elevator to the restaurant and settled into the same familiar old spot. The ce was bustling with activity as quite a few diners came to dine at this hour. Those frequenting the establishment were either affluent or of noble standing. Primas za wasn¡¯t a ce where just anyone could stroll in casually. After cing their order, Eileen excused herself to visit the restroom. In the dimly lit corridor outside the private room, she unexpectedly ran into Gavin. As soon 31 as echt eyes thet leen parkly looked away she had no idea at te would also be at Eileen waited for a moment, then promptly left the restroom without even using it Quinton, Emm sorry Something unexpected came up and I need to leave I wont be able to This is from N?velDrama.Org. Tim to your for dumer this time Quinton nodded. ¡°Do you need me to take you home No its not necessary The driver is waiting outsble 1 pust go I¡¯m truly sorry¡± No worries There¡¯s no need to apologize Just be careful on your way home¡± ¡°Okay¡± If she had known Eric was here, she definitely wouldn¡¯t havee. Eileen should consider herself lucky, as Eric had been too busy withpany matterstely to bother her. Just as she was about to step into the elevator to leave, her hand was suddenly grabbed by a force. A strong smell of alcohol then surrounded her. strong In the quiet escape corridor, Eileen was pressed against the wall, with the man behind her in close proximity. His hands rested on her waist, lifting her clothes and reaching inside, firmly grabbing her breasts. Eileen grabbed the man¡¯s restless hand, lowering her voice. ¡°What are you trying to do? Someone will see us.¡± His warm breath, mixed with alcohol, brushed against her neck, sending a tingling sensation. through her nerves. Eric¡¯s tall figure loomed over her,pletely enveloping her. He spoke with a captivating voice above her head. ¡°If Gavin hadn¡¯t informed me, were you nning to run away from me?¡± He lightly pinched her as a punishment, and her breathing became ragged andbored. ¡°S- Stop it! That¡¯s enough!¡± Chapter 156 Chapter 156 Chapter 156 Took Your ce Confronting him directly would not be beneficial, especially since someone mighte and see them. Enduring the strange sensation swirling within her body, she asked, ¡°Why would I interrupt you when you¡¯re busy socializing and discussing business?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you at least send a message?¡± He furrowed his brows. Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Fileen was momentarily speechless, then she said, ¡°What else will you do to me other than this? You know I don¡¯t like it.¡± As her words fell, the man nuzzled her ear, like a lustful animal that could be aroused at any time and ce. His suit carried the lingering scent of perfume, likely from another woman, its strong fragrance making her feel somewhat uneasy. The man¡¯s deep, maic voice cut through the silence. ¡°So, what do you like? Do you enjoy it when I kiss you?¡± As he spoke, he seized Eileen¡¯s chin, gently turning her head to the side, and engaged her in a passionate kiss. The remnants of alcohol on his breath overwhelmed his taste buds with bitterness. The youngdy¡¯s whimpers as she struggled only served to further ignite his beastly desires. Eileen felt his hand moving downwards, and her eyes widened in shock, her voice a muffled whisper. ¡°No¡­ Not here! Are you crazy?¡± ¡°mp it tighter! Ten minutes is enough!¡± ¡°No!¡± ¡°Be good.¡± He kissed her again, as if rewarding her. The distinct sound of a metallic zipper being pulled echoed in the quiet surroundings. ¡°Eric, you b*stard!¡± she snapped. He does this to me the moment we meet. Does he really think of me as a prostitute who sells her body for money? Half an hourter, Eileen felt as if all her strength had been drained from her body. 1/5 < wat supporting her he could copse my moment arefully wiped her clean Mier sainsfsing Hp desires he ubered up quite a bit from suddenly scooped up the eble Fileen into his armres Hecheeks sell flushed, she wrapped her hands around his neck clinging to him as she waki asked Where are you taking me Do you want to stay here and risk getting discovered Frie nced at her He camed her back to another private room, while he entertained clients in the room next Eileen was alone in the private room. After a short while, the door to the room was opened. and a variety of dishes were served. Miss, these are the clothes Mr. Snow has instructed us to give you¡± ¡°Leave it there,¡± she said. ¡°Alright. Do you need your clothes cleaned? It will take about an hour. The changing room is over there,¡± the server pointed out. Anyone with eyes could understand the situation by looking at Eileen. Primas za wasn¡¯t only famous for its luxurious entertainment centers, but also for its workforce. The individuals they catered to were not just anyone-there were high-ranking figures, affluent second-generation heirs, prominent officials, and asionally encounters with department heads, bureau chiefs, or even billionaires weren¡¯t out of the ordinary. Besides delivering exceptional service, a cardinal rule for the staff was absolute discretion: regardless of what they witnessed or overheard, they were bound to keep it confidential. Faced with such urrences, they had all be ustomed to maintaining an unwavering silence. epting the clothes. Eileen went to the bathroom. She casually rinsed them with warm water. Having changed into fresh clothes, she handed the soiled garments to them. Half an hourter, the door to the private room swung open once more. Eileen nced up momentarily but promptly lowered her head, resuming her focus on the meal. Eric approached, settling beside her and effortlessly lifting her into his arms. ¡°Is it good?¡± he asked, taking the fork she had been using. Without hesitation, he used her fork to taste some food. 25 It¡¯s not like this is the only fork Eleen mumbled and struggled boar he doin¡¯t let her escape Where are you goingter Skyline Building¡± The ce you sent someone to prte me Need me to give you a ride? ¡°No The Sunth family¡¯s driver is waiting. He will take me there,¡± Eileen replied. Knock Knock Knock! The door to the private room was knocked. ¡°Come in,¡± Eric said. Eileen didn¡¯t want outsiders to see them in such an intimate manner and wanted to get off him, but he simply wouldn¡¯t allow it. The one who entered was Gavin. ¡°Ms. Eileen¡¯s clothes are washed.¡± Eric said indifferently, ¡°Leave it there.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± After putting the clothes down, Gavin exited the room. Eileen wriggled. ¡°Let go of me! I need to change my clothes.¡± Eric held her slender waist. ¡°Sit down here and apany me for a meal.¡± Eileen turned her face to the other side. ¡°Would you like some soup?¡± He held the spoon up to her lips. ¡°I¡¯m full. You go ahead and eat.¡± ¡°Be good, okay?¡± His tone carried an underlying threat, his eyes narrowing slightly. Only then did he finally let go of her waist. His eyes traced the contours of her slender, well-defined shoulders, adorned with faint kiss marks. Gazing further down her V-neckline, he discovered even more. Satisfied with his creation, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of aplishment. 3/5 Sitter you¡¯re tull, let¡¯s- Before he could tush his sentence, Eileen scused the ill intenton in his gaze and seized the opportunity to slip away from hisp. ¡°You enjoy your meal I don¡¯t have the time to keep yourpany Clutching the freshlyundered clothes and swiftly retreating to the bathroom, she firmly locked the door Ten minutester, she reemerged after changing, Holding the worn garment, she tossed it directly onto Eric¡¯s face Unfazed, he pulled the clothes down from his face. ¡°Feeling confident now, huh?¡± He raised it to his nose, inhaling deeply. The fabric still retained the lingering warmth of the young girl and carried her sweet fragrance. Suddenly, a tightness gripped his lower abdomen. His urge grew even stronger. Eileen¡¯s ears zed a deep crimson, burning hot. ¡°Go to hell!¡± she snapped. What a pervert! Acting on her instincts, she dashed out of Primas za. Just before stepping outside, Eileen gave herself a quick once-over, ensuring that every aspect of her appearance was impable. Only then did she allow herself to rx as she settled into the car. Upon entering the car, she arrived at Skyline Building. After two to three hours of training, she spent the remainder of her time at the library. Elm had arrived earlier and, while waiting for her, he had alreadypleted several sets of test papers. Even on her days off, Eileen had no spare time for other activities. Her own progress had also been significantly dyed. Elm stopped writing and set his pen down when he saw Eileen sit across from him. ¡°You¡¯re finally here! You¡¯re certainly busy!¡± ¡°The traffic was quite congested on my way here she exined, retrieving her study materials and skillfully tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. From her belongings, she produced a gift bag. ¡°This is the reward I mentionedst time. I always keep my promises.¡± 4/5 in opened the bag, revealing a pair of sleek ck gloves. A satisfied sinile appeared on his Tipis This was also the first time he had received a gift from her. ¡°Have you been following me?¡± Eileen, who had just taken out a pen from her pencil case, looked confused. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Elin then ced the pink gift bag that was by his feet onto the table. ¡°I don¡¯t want people to say that I¡¯m dependent on others. Here¡¯s a return gift.¡± Is it also a glove?¡± Curious. Eileen opened it and took a look. Indeed, it was a pair of soft and fluffy pink gloves. ¡°Alright, thank you for your gift. I ept it. Now, let¡¯s get back to studying.¡± Elm raised his chin and asked, ¡°Why are you still working on advanced math? Weren¡¯t you expelled?¡± Eileen spoke without lifting her head. ¡°I finished the homework for winter break on the third day, so I have nothing else to do anyway.¡± ¡°As expected of you!¡± Elm was wearing only a ck sweater, with his coat draped over the back of the chair. Holding a pen, he propped his chin on his hand, fixing his captivating gaze on her. ¡°Aren¡¯t you angry that Vera took your ce?¡± Chapter 157 Chapter 157 Chapter 157 She Will Definitely Like You ¡°What was taken from you? Eileen nced at him. Elm lightly tapped her book, and only then did Edleen react. Her face remained. expressionless as she responded indifferently. ¡°Her grades are good. She was able to jom the Olympiad Math ss because of her hard work and dedication Besides, the Olympiad Math ss is meant for high achievers¡± ¡°Could you be any worse than Vera?¡± Eileen didn¡¯t want to discuss this topic. In reality, joining the Olympiad Math ss and securing admission to Hulbury University were just impressive additions to her academic record. Withdrawing from the Olympiad Math ss didn¡¯t change her ultimate goal ¡°Aren¡¯t you supposed to be happy for Vera since you like her?¡± ¡°Who started that rumor?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it true?¡± Eileen narrowed her eyes. When Vera returned from abroad and enrolled in Cloudburg Public School, rumors of a scandal between her and Elm spread throughout the entire school. He skipped sses but was always by Vera¡¯s side. They were inseparable. Weren¡¯t they kissing on the streets, in bars, and even on the balcony in that room in Peach Fishing Vige? When he found out that Vera had been bullied, how did he treat Eileen? He pinned her against the wall, grabbing her throat. His threatening words were clear, and he wanted nothing more than to devour her. If all this couldn¡¯t prove that Elm liked Vera, what could? Eileen didn¡¯t know what to say. Nowadays, young people were too carefree, not taking rtionships seriously. ¡°Of course not!¡± ¡°Okay, I understand.¡± Eileen lowered her head silently, continuing to work on her problems. ||| 1/5 know more Arent Cask me why Fileen suddenly raised her head!, her gaze calm Who you like is your business You don¡¯t mcl to tell me and I don¡¯t need to pry into other people¡¯s private matters. My promjer to you to to help you get into Fulbury University by improving your grades Everything else in relevant to me In fact emotions are very fragile We are too young now, and you will have inans more choices in the future So, instead of falling in love, we should focus on our stablies for now Do you understand Ilm¡¯s gaze darkened, and he gritted his teeth You really are a model student Eileenughed. ¡°Studying is the only way for me to change my destiny¡± 1 Im was speechless ¡°Elm, you too!¡± Elm retorted, ¡°Stop nagging, just focus on your studies!¡± The two of them casually ate something in the library. It closed at half past eight. As they walked out, a wave of people also walked out. These people were all studying for the civil service entrance examination. They came to thergest library in Hulbury, where people studied diligently every day. Some might fail, and some might seed. But these were all their choices. She had her own choices too. Just like them, she wanted to change her life. Taking the civil service entrance examination and securing a stable job might not be the only path, but for them, it was the most sessful one. Eileen was given a second chance at life. In her previous life, she knew nothing and couldn¡¯t do anything, living aimlessly without self-awareness. In this life, she must live for herself for once. She was not afraid of death. Her only fear was that her life would be as miserable as it was in her On the way back to the Smith residence, it suddenly started raining. past life. ||| 25 spe wan hed the torrential rain outside the car window as the raindrops pelted against the ss with a resounding patter It was time to return to the Smith residence once agam. She nced at her phone. There were no new messages. Could he be angry? Every day, Jasper will send me three messages. One in the morning, one in the afternoon, and one at night. Eileen hung her head low, unsure if she was overthinking or if it was due to today¡¯s weather. Ever since she left the Smith residence this morning, she felt a suffocating sensation that just wouldn¡¯t lift. She was aware that it wasn¡¯t because she didn¡¯t receive a message that she felt lost, but because of the oppressive feeling of living under someone else¡¯s roof. The Swan residence might not be great, but no matter what, it was her home. The Smith residence was different; it belonged to someone else. This morning, Elm just wanted her to visit Old Mrs. Smith, but she ran away. He must be angry. She had been living at the Smith residence for days, so it was only right to pay Old Mrs. Smith a visit. However, she just couldn¡¯t bring herself to do it. N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Whenever she encountered such situations, Eileen would always calm down and let her mind. wander. Richard reported, ¡°Mr. Jasper, Ms. Eileen is back Jasper responded with a simple, ¡°Mm.¡± The Bentley came to a halt at the entrance. Jasper, dressed in a dark id sweater that made his shoulders look broad and his figure slender, held a ck umbre. He stepped forward to open the passenger door. Eileen took shelter under his umbre, as the rain had lessened. considerably. ¡°You¡¯re back?¡± Eileen nodded. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m back.¡± < 3/5 With his arm around her shoulders. Jasper led her into the foyer. He folded up the umbre and handed it to Richard Jasper furrowed his brow. ¡°Why is your hair wet Go get a dry towel.¡± Tm fine. It¡¯ll dry in a bit. No sooner had Eileen finished speaking than she sneezed. Jasper said, ¡°Tannis, please brew some ginger tea, but don¡¯t make it too bitter.¡± Tannis replied. ¡°Yes, Mr. Jasper¡± Eileen felt overwhelmed as she had never experienced this at home. She wasn¡¯t someone who liked to inconvenience others. ¡°No need to trouble yourself. I¡¯ll be fine with some cold medicine.¡± The housekeeper quickly brought over a dry towel. Jasper ced the towel on her head and gently wiped it. Seeing the situation, everyone around them instinctively moved away, creating space for the two to be alone. Eileen nervously clutched the hem of her clothes, her body stiff. She dared not make any reckless movements. He lowered his gaze, looking into her eyes. ¡°I apologize for what happened today. I didn¡¯t think it through.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s my fault. I seldom interact with people. I¡¯m afraid that if I don¡¯t behave well, it might upset Old Mrs. Smith.¡± She had simply made up an excuse. Jasper took a deep breath and smiled with relief. Ah, I understand now. I thought she disliked it. ¡°It¡¯s alright. We have plenty of time. She¡¯s not a mean old witch. If you meet her, she will definitely like you.¡± Who would everpare their own grandmother to a wicked witch? Her hair was almost dry, so Jasper asked, ¡°I learned how to make soup today. Would you like to try some?¡± ¡°Did you make it yourself?¡± Eileen sounded surprised. ¡°After searching through recipes for so long, it¡¯s about time I tried making one myself.¡± ||| < 415 She wondered it all the men in the Smith family had the wonderful tradition of cooking for themselves. In traditional households, it was typically the women¡¯s responsibility to cook in the kitchen. Eileen sat down, and soon, a housekeeper brought a cup of ginger tea. Jasper held out the bowl to her. ¡°Try some first. It will help keep the cold away.¡± Eileen took a stiff of the tea. It didn¡¯t smell bad, so she took a sip. ¡°It tastes good¡± After drinking most of it. Eileen finally felt warmth spreading through her body. She then tried a bit of the soup Jasper had cooked earlier. ¡°It tastes a bit strange.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Jasper took a sip. The taste was rich. It was neither too salty nor too nd, and the vor was just right. ¡°It must be because you just had ginger tea. Have some more and you¡¯ll feel better.¡± ¡°Actually, it¡¯s really delicious. I was lying to you. The gentle amusement in Jasper¡¯s dark eyes deepened as he reached out to ruffle her hair. ¡°I will apany you to visit Old Mrs. Smith tomorrow.¡± Jasper said calmly, ¡°No need, she¡¯s doing fine now.¡± Eileen nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± Chapter 158 Chapter 158 Chapter 158 The Swan Family Belongs To Eileen At nine o clock. Eileen returned to her room, ready to take a shower and sleep. Suddenly, her phone, charging on the bedside table, started to ring. Drying her hair and dressed in a ke flutty pajama, Eileen walked over to pick up her phone After a quick nce, her eyes quickly turned indifferent. Frowning, she put down her phone, pretending not to see it. The caller persisted, calling again and agam. The fifth call automatically ended. Ding! A message arrived on the phone. Eileen opened it and her heart skipped a beat. A wave of coldness swept over her, and her hands trembled. The messages were vulgar and indecent. Full of resentment, Eileen gritted her teeth. When he called again, she hesitated before answering. ¡°What do you want exactly?¡± A deep, maic voice came from the phone, ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°After sending me those pictures, this is what you want to know? Eric, are you too bored?¡± li was quiet on his end, so he was probably in the study at this hour. ¡°I miss you¡­¡± His voice was slightly hoarse, filled with a hint of lingering affection. Eileen¡¯s heart skipped a beat. He had never spoken to her like this before. ¡°I miss the intimacy we shared¡­¡± I knew it! A leopard cannot change its spots! ¡°Enough!¡± Eileen said firmly. ¡°I am with Jasper now. If you don¡¯t want him to hear these words, then shut up!¡± ¡°With him? What are you doing?¡± he questioned. 1/4 aleen deliberately said. ¡°What else can he do besides tutoring me? He¡¯s not you. He wouldn¡¯t treat me so poorly He¡¯s about toe out, so I have to hang up now.¡± N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. After she finished speaking, she immediately ended the call and deleted the photos he had sent. She then decided to switch off her phone. Back at Euphoria Condominium, someone knocked on the door of Eric¡¯s study, Eric closed his camera. ¡°Come in.¡± ¡°Eric, Sharon¡¯s injuries haven¡¯t healed. I made soine supper for you.¡± She walked in, holding a workbook. ¡°By the way, there are some questions I can¡¯t figure out. Can you teach me?¡± ¡°Where?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve calcted it several times, and I can¡¯t figure out how much it should be.¡± Vera pulled a chair from the side, sat on his left side, and leaned in. As Eric looked at the problem, he felt something soft touching his arm. He nced sideways out of the corner of his eye and noticed Vera wearing a low-cut nightgown in yellow. She wasn¡¯t wearing anything underneath, revealing the fair skin below her corbone. His gaze didn¡¯t linger for long. Despite being ustomed to writing with his left hand, Eric switched to his right hand, putting the workbook in front of her. He even moved the chair a certain distance backward. On the nk side, Eric was exining the problem to her while simultaneously solving it. ¡°So, the range is -1.¡± Vera, seeming to understand, nodded. ¡°Oh, I see. Eric, you¡¯re really amazing. This won¡¯t taste good when it cools down.¡± Vera went over the problem again and then turned to the next page. It seemed like she intended to stay in the study for a while. Eric didn¡¯t touch the supper on the table but instead opened an unprocessed document. ¡°This is all knowledge from the second semester of the sophomore year. Such problems. shouldn¡¯t be an issue for you. You¡¯re already in the Olympiad Math ss. If you can¡¯t solve these problems, even if you¡¯re in the Olympiad Math ss, you won¡¯t stay for long. If you¡¯re still finding some aspects of your studies challenging, would you like me to hire a tutor for you?¡± Vera¡¯s heart sank. ¡°Eric, do you also think I can¡¯tpare to Eileen? I¡¯m not as pretty as her, and my background and grades are not as good as hers?¡± ||| 2/4 Cartes votre les amnester. ¡°I never thought that gay Vera, when did you start looking down Vera said, ¡°It¡¯s the truth. In front of her. I alway feel inferior No matter where I go, to school, everyone who sees me only knows that was adopted by the Swan family. It was thanks to Eileen that I got friends¡± In reached out and stroked her long hair ¡°You are different from Eileen. You don¡¯t need to Vera asked. ¡°What about you. Enc?¡± ¡°You go to bed first. I still have some documents to review.¡± Vera said. ¡°Eric, you haven¡¯t rested for several days now. Why are you working so hard on the matters of the Swan family? The Swan family will end up in Eileen¡¯s hands anyway!¡± Eric¡¯s expression suddenly became dark. He barked sternly, ¡°Who taught you to say. those things?¡± Vera was taken aback. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Eric. I was just worried about you. I don¡¯t want to see you so tired.¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough! Don¡¯t say these things in the future. Go back and rest!¡± ¡°O-Okay.¡± Vera hurriedly left the study and closed the door. Fear still lingered within her. The Swan family? They are insignificant. Will returned with Elsie a day before New Year¡¯s Eve. Eileen learned this from Richard. Tomorrow would be the day before New Year¡¯s Eve. Naturally, Eileen was going home. ¡°Richard, this is too much. I don¡¯t need more.¡± Richard exined, ¡°Mr. Jasper ordered us to prepare New Year gifts for you. Tomorrow, he will be going on a business trip to Seatown for a week, and he will only be able to return on New Year¡¯s Eve. This also represents the Smith family¡¯s sincerity. Ms. Eileen, just ept them.¡± 3/4 Eleen had no idea that Jasper had prepared all this The gifts took up space in there whole cars. Anyone who didnt know better would think she was returning to her parents home after marriage. Eileen silently recorded this debt in her heart. Once agam, she owed him. Richard gave her a ride back to the Swan residence Outside the mansion. Will approached with a forced smile, holding a strand of beads in his hand ¡°Mr. Zimmer, Eric has informed me about Eileen¡¯s situation. I want to express my gratitude for your care towards her during these past few days. When I have the opportunity, I will personally thank Mr. Smith.¡± Richard was not pleased with Will¡¯s demeanor and had heard about his usual behavior. He couldn¡¯t help but feel sorry for Eileen, being born into such an environment. ¡°You don¡¯t need to thank me. My responsibility was to safely escort Ms. Eileen back. Goodbye!¡± Eileen bid him farewell, saying, ¡°Drive safely, Richard.¡± Richard bowed to her and got into his car to leave. Eileen greeted her father, saying, ¡°Father.¡± Will looked at her, his face devoid of a smile. His tone was stern as he asked, ¡°You know the heir of the Smith family. Why didn¡¯t you inform me about this?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Father. I didn¡¯t know at first either,¡± Eileen lied. ¡°Tell me, what is going on?¡± Will demanded. Chapter 159 Chapter 159 Chapter 159 I Don¡¯t Need Your Lessons Eileen sat at the dining table, poking at the rice in her bowl, while recounting the entire story to Will with her head down That¡¯s how it happened Will was taken aback to learn that the heir of the Smith family had been living next door all along He hadpletely missed thus detail ¡°Remember what the etiquette teacher taught you about proper table manners. You¡¯re not allowed to keep your head down like this. It¡¯s utterly disgraceful! Don¡¯t embarrass the Swan family when you¡¯re at the Smith residence.¡± ¡°I understand, Father.¡± After being scolded. Eileen immediately straightened her baci and sat upright. Will¡¯s tone was surprisingly milder and less harsh than before. ¡°No need to be so strict at home, Father.¡± Walking behind them, Vera nced at Eileen. It had been a while since shest saw Eileen, and thetter seemed even more beautiful. Her once gaunt cheeks had gained some flesh, making her facial features more delicate. Holding two bottles of coffee beans, Eric said, ¡°These are civet coffee. You put some effort into this, right? I appreciate it.¡± ¡°As it should be.¡± After the housekeeper took away the coffee, Eric took off his suit and draped it over the back of the chair, then sat down in front of Eileen. ¡°You¡¯re here right on time. Have you had your meal?¡± Eric replied, ¡°Not yet. I just brought Vera back, and I thought I¡¯d stop by for dinner at home.¡± The housekeeper quickly brought over two sets of tableware. ¡°Perfect, let¡¯s eat together then. There¡¯s no need to be so formal at home.¡± ¡°Yes, Father.¡± Eileen calmly ate her meal, listening to Eric and Will discussing recent developments in the < 1/5 The discussion focused on Caeralus Corporation winning Smith Corporation¡¯s project, which involved developing a newmercial area in an old residential district. Listening to the geographical details, Eileen spected roughly on the location. It seemed to be the most prosperousmercial area in Hulbury in the future. Ten yearster, it might even be twenty times more valuable than its current state. It was clear that Jasper¡¯s vision was quite impressive, foreseeing the potential of this area. Previously, Eric was the one who initially noticed this piece ofnd. It was his starting point. Later, because of this piece ofnd, Eric made quite a bit of money. This time, it was taken down by the Smith family first. ¡°However, I n to negotiate with Smith Corporation and secure it at a reasonable price. When Eileen heard this, her eyshes fluttered. The food on her spoon slipped and fell to the ground. The housekeeper attending on the side quickly grabbed a tissue and picked up the fallen food, throwing it into the trash. The only one who noticed Eileen¡¯s abnormality was Eric. He nced at her indifferently, then withdrew his gaze. Will expressed his concern, ¡°I remember that location is in the suburbs, and there are quite a few old houses nearby. No one cares about it. If Smith Corporation can buy that piece ofnd, it means the local government is nning to redevelop the area. Otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t have taken it. If you want it, they won¡¯t easily give it up.¡± Eric replied calmly, ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about this, Father. I have my ways.¡± Will knew exactly what was going on but chose not to say anything more. Why is Eric so insistent on having that piece ofnd? Did he also reincarnate, and am I not the only one? During this meal, Eileen ate absentmindedly. Unable to sit still, she only spent about ten minutes eating and then went upstairs. Tomorrow would be New Year¡¯s Eve, so Eric and Vera would stay at home tonight. As she went upstairs, a housekeeper hurriedly walked out of a room she used to stay in. This < 2/5 Was Elsie¡¯s room Seving the housekeeper carrying a basin lull of fresh blood, Fiteen was rmed and asked. ¡°What happened to Aunt Elsie?¡± The housekeeper lowered her head and said. ¡°She identally cut herself. Ms. Eileen, don¡¯t worry. The doctor is already treating her.¡± Observing the housekeeper¡¯s expression. Eileen could tell that things weren¡¯t as simple as they seemed. However, she didn¡¯t ask further. Knowing too much wouldn¡¯t be a good thing Eileen went upstairs. In the past, Elsie had indeed been hospitalized at this time due to illness and recuperated for more than half a month. Eileen didn¡¯t know the specific reasons. Why is she home this time? After her reincarnation, it seemed as though some things had changed, yet it also felt as if nothing had changed at all. In the end, things still proceeded toward the same fate they were originally destined for. In such a situation, Eileen was also worried. She didn¡¯t know if Eric had drugged her again. She wasn¡¯t sure about her current health condition. Besides her uterine abnormality, she wondered what other symptoms she might have. Will it mutate into cancer cells? To prevent such situations, Eileen now went to the hospital for a physical examination every half a month. Reaching the fifth floor, she found her door had been reced with an ordinary one. A mirror was hung on the door. Opening it, she saw her wardrobe. Theyout was roughly the same as before, but the bed¡¯s position had changed. The rest of the changes didn¡¯t have much of an impact on her either. The bed she used to sleep in had been moved to the Smith residence, so this bed¡­ It was brand new, so it must have been recently purchased. The most important thing was her paintings. The housekeepers were moving her belongings upstairs when Eileen anxiously asked, ¡°Where are my paintings?¡± ¡°Ms. Eileen, we are not sure about this.¡± ||| < 3/5 The catalog that Jasper gave me¡­. Ideen hurriedly ran into the walk-in closet, finding the item hidden deepest at the bottom of the wardrobe. Seeing those crucial items. Eileen almost breathed a sigh of relief. Thank goodness, everything is here¡± Hearing footsteps in the room, Eileen quickly hid her paintings, covering them with neatly folded clothes. She closed the drawer and walked out Eric was leisurely surveying her room. The decor is quite good, but it can get windy here at night. You might catch a cold while sleeping, so remember to cover yourself with the nket.¡± Eileen ignored him. Whether she caught a chill or not was none of his business. She casually retrieved her workbook from her bag and ced it on the table. Suddenly, another thought crossed her mind. Eileen cautiously inquired, ¡°Eric, have you also returned?¡± She met his intense and intimidating gaze. Eric narrowed his eyes. ¡°What do you mean by ¡®return?¡± Hasn¡¯t he been reincarnated? He took a step forward and used the back of his cool hand to check her forehead. ¡°You¡¯re not sick!¡± Eileen immediately stepped back, creating distance between them. ¡°I apologize, I got distracted and misspoke. I need to study now, so please make yourselffortable.¡± When will he stop entering without knocking? She sat at the desk, allowing the sunlight streaming through the window to warm her hands. Eric pulled a chair and sat beside her. ¡°If there¡¯s anything you don¡¯t understand, I¡¯ll teach you.¡± Eileen tightly gripped her pen. ¡°Eric, do you realize how you appear right now?¡± She looked at him, her expressionposed. Her gaze then shifted to the hand resting on. her leg. ¡°Like a wild animal, constantly in heat.¡± ||| 4/5 sar canied her ups, mocking him sare astically Er however, didn¡¯t mind at all. Amused, he pulled her up and ced her on hisp Filting his head, he yfully looked at her. ¡°So now you know how to insult people indirectly? This is from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°You¡¯ve always been like this¡± Eileen avoided making eye contact. I still have a lot of thing to do. Please don¡¯t disturb me.¡± I said I would teach you the problems you don¡¯t know¡± I know everything I don¡¯t need you to teach me Chapter 160 Chapter 160 Chapter 160 Keep You Company ¡°Oh That night, why didn¡¯t you ask Jasper if you were unsure? Did you really not understand. or were you pretending not to know? Hm?¡± He yfully pinched her chin, holding her gaze with narrowed eyes. ¡°Or is it that you simply didn¡¯t want your brother to teach you?¡± He followed it with a yful pinch on her waist as a form of punishment. Eileen winced in pain, the area where he had pinched her waistst time still not fully healed. Despite the passing days, he continued to bring up old issues. ¡°You¡¯ve misunderstood; that question is beyond the sybus.¡± ¡°Is that so? Then show it to me.¡± Eileen rolled her eyes, her tone gradually growing impatient. ¡°Eric, this is really annoying. Can¡¯t you give me some personal space? Don¡¯t make me feel like a prisoner under constant. surveince. Don¡¯t you have anything else to do?¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be better for you to go find Vera?¡± she snapped. Eric gave a smile that didn¡¯t quite reach his eyes as he remarked, ¡°This isn¡¯t about Vera. I came here to keep youpany; why are you getting upset?¡± He could see through her lie with rity. From childhood, she found pleasure in telling lies. When she lied, avoiding direct eye contact was her telltale sign. This was her biggest w. Eileen observed the sudden frostiness in Eric¡¯s eyes. Every time they were alone, especially when Vera was mentioned, Eric¡¯s gaze would turn icy. Just like it did now. Eileen acknowledged that, even though Eric might not openly harm her while at home, the future remained uncertain. Eric was the kind of person who held grudges and sought retaliation, a man with both a dark and petty side. Engaging in an argument with him yielded no advantage. Suppressing the difort deep within, Eileen said, ¡°Then let go of me.¡± The man indeed released his grip, allowing her to take a seat at the table. She smoothed out the wrinkles in her clothes and retrieved the workbook given by Jacob, flipping it open to the ||| 1/4 designated page. It¡¯s this question, she indicated with her finger. Eric extracted a pencil from her pencil case, ncing at the topic. A university-level calculus question?¡± He picked up the textbook, inspected the cover of the Olympiad Math workbook. and remarked. This kind of advanced workbook isn¡¯t suitable for you¡± Eileen recalled that Eric¡¯s educational background wasn¡¯t particrly luigh. She knew he relied entirely on his self-taught understanding. However, the extent of his capabilities remained uncertain, as he always kept himself deeply hidden. ¡°Whether it¡¯s suitable or not is not your decision. All that matters is that I like it, Eileen asserted. Silently, the man set down the book and engaged in a profound discussion of the topic with her. His exnations were detailed without unnecessary verbosity, enabling Eileen to immediately grasp the concept. All I can acknowledge is Eric¡¯s remarkable abilities. Father¡¯s high regard for him is justified. It¡¯s no surprise how Vera¡¯s grades are skyrocketing, and she even made it into the Olympiad Math ss. ¡°I understand now. Thank you.¡± Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not stupid,¡± Eileen retorted. Eric flipped through the pages from the back and found a simr topic, pointing at it. ¡°Try the same algorithm we just used.¡± Despite marrying Eileen, he never respected her throughout their marriage. This time, she couldn¡¯t allow him to continue looking down on her. In less than five minutes, Eileen efficiently solved the problem. ¡°Not bad. Looks like you¡¯re not entirely stupid.¡± His hand gently brushed her hair, causing Eileen¡¯s nerves to instantly tense up. With a slightly embarrassed tone, she said, ¡°You go on with your own tasks! I can handle this myself. ¡°I¡¯ll watch you. Solve the rest.¡± ¡°But I like being alone¡­¡± ||| = 2/4 The way be looked at bry was unbearable She was afraid of him being by her side Just as the tension between them escted Vers vonce echoed from the corridor In the next moment, she was standing outside the door What is it Eric inquired Mr Swan wants you toe to the study, Vera ryed. Understood.¡± For Eileen, it felt like she had encountered her savior. After Eric and Vera left. Eileen promptly closed the room door and locked it from the inside. Within the study, Will surveyed his expansive estate through the floor-to-ceiling window. ¡°Father.¡± Turning around, he inquired about thepany¡¯s affairs during his absence. ¡°Do you have anything you want to say to me about these?¡± The incident in Peach Fishing Vige was due to my negligence. I didn¡¯t protect her, and I¡¯m willing to ept any punishment thates my way,¡± Eric admitted, dropping his head. ¡°Did you find out who was the mastermind behind it?¡± ¡°They were all Bruce¡¯s men. We took over his territory before, pulled some strings, and got him sent to prison. After two years in prison, he¡¯s out and targeting Eileen.¡± Will, speaking casually, suggested a n. ¡°Just like before, we should send him back to where he came from. If needed, inform the Smith family. It¡¯s better if they handle it, so we don¡¯t have to get our hands dirty.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± ¡°Getting a foothold in the capital and securing one¡¯s position isn¡¯t easy. We need to support Eileen more, ideally ensuring her smooth marriage into the Smith family. That way, when you take over, you won¡¯t have any worries.¡± ¡°Yes, Father.¡± Eric¡¯s eyes, dark as obsidian, glinted ¡°Don¡¯t just focus on Eileen¡¯s matters. Take care of your own affairs. And with the Friedman < 3/4 family, get a handle on trai ¡°Re-rassured, Father I won¡¯t let you down¡± ¡°You may get ¡°Yes¡± Also, keep your mustresses in check; don¡¯t let them interfere with your business.¡± After leaving the study, Eric spotted Vera eavesdropping at the door With an intense frown, he grabbed Vera¡¯s wrist and dragged her out to the second-floor balcony Who said you could cavesdrop outside the study? Did you think he wouldn¡¯t notice you?¡± Vera gazed at him with sadness in her eyes. ¡°If I hadn¡¯t overheard, would you have kept it a secret from me, Eric? That you¡¯re nning to be with Yvette? But you made a promise¡­ You promised you wouldn¡¯t abandon me!¡± ¡°You know very well that I care about you!¡± Her voice was filled with intensity, tears streaming down her face in sorrow. ¡°Vera, these are not matters you should be concerned about! Have you forgotten what I¡¯ve told you? Keep quiet when you¡¯re at the Swan residence. Have I been too lenient with you.tely? Is that why you don¡¯t understand the rules? You better forget everything that just happened! Do we understand each other?¡± the man reprimanded. Vera argued, ¡°Eileen has Mr. Swan, Jasper, and Elm who are always by her side. But who do I have on my side? I only have you, and now you don¡¯t even want me. Why should I listen to you? I hate you, Eric!¡± Heartbroken, the girl ran away. Eileen, holding a piece of bread and a cup of hot milk, stood at the entrance of the first-floor staircase, trying not to eavesdrop, but the loud noises made it difficult to ignore. Fortunately, Vera ran upstairs. As Eileen quietly climbed the stairs with a piece of bread in her mouth, her gaze met a pair of pitch- ck leather shoes. Her heart skipped a beat as she looked up. Chapter 161 Chapter 161 Chapter 161 A Moment Of Honesty go Eileen realized that their conversation would continue for a while, so she decided to downstairs and get some food. Little did she know that she would stumble upon an unexpected situation. Pretending not to know anything, she asked, ¡°What happened to Vera? I just saw her rushing upstairs.¡± Eric, with a gloomy expression, stared at her and replied, ¡°It¡¯s none of your business. Don¡¯t ask too many questions.¡± Geez, I was just trying to change the subject to distract myself from the guilt I felt after unintentionally witnessing something I shouldn¡¯t have. Lost in thought, Eileen held a piece of bread, and Eric questioned, ¡°Didn¡¯t you just finish eating? How are you hungry again?¡± Taking a bite of the bread, she answered, ¡°I just felt like eating.¡± way, ¡°I¡¯m going upstairs,¡± Eileen dered, taking a step forward. Eric blocked her and she stepped back, asking, ¡°What are you trying to do?¡± ¡°Come with me to the hospital.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not going!¡± Eileen firmly refused. Eric nced at Eileen, who was shrinking to one side, his eyebrows furrowed. He grabbed her hand, and they descended the stairs, all the way to the outside of the hall. Eileen, on the verge of spilling the milk in her hand, yelled, ¡°Can you not be so rough? I almost spilled my milk!¡± I almost got burned! ¡°You can finish it in the car.¡± Before Eileen could respond, Eric ushered her into the car parked outside. Bending over, he secured her seatbelt, then walked around to the driver¡¯s side and got in. Eileen cradled her milk, her head bowed low. ¡°There¡¯s no need,¡± she insisted, ¡°to go to any hospital. I¡¯ve been to every single one in the entire Hulbury. It¡¯s useless. When you drugged me in the first ce, you should have realized that acquired defects of the uterus simply cannot be cured.¡± Eileen found it perplexing. Despite Eric¡¯s history of treating her harshly, why was he suddenly showing concern? She couldn¡¯t shake the suspicion that he might have ulterior motives behind this disy of care. Furthermore, of all the times not to go to the hospital, why did he choose this moment? It was right after Will finished talking to him that he hurried to take her to the hospital. Eric remained silent, focusing on driving out of the Unde Mansion. As they sped down the street, Eileen carried her milk, looking down and saying, ¡°Actually, I¡¯ve always had a question I wanted to ask you.¡± The car came to a stop at the red light. ¡°Speak,¡± Eric demanded. Eileen hesitated, aware that her words might upset him, but she had to ask, ¡°When did you start drugging me?¡± The milk in her hand had already cooled. Eric¡¯s grip tightened on the steering wheel. ¡°So, you really want to know the answer?¡± Eileen mused aloud, ¡°This medicine wouldn¡¯t harm the human body in a short period, right? If it weren¡¯t for thest hospital check-up, perhaps¡­ I would have spent my whole life not knowing that I would end up like this. During myst hospital visit, the doctor informed me that since my condition wasn¡¯t worsening, the only option I have now is to undergo a hysterectomy to save my life. Because, ording to the medical report, there¡¯s a constant risk of cancerous changes in the uterus.¡± Casting a nce at the man in the driver¡¯s seat, she questioned him directly, ¡°So, when were you nning to tell me if I hadn¡¯t found out?¡± This man, who had once shared her bed for half a year, harbored a consistent desire for her demise. Upon deep reflection, the horrifying reality became clear to Eileen. Beyond fear, she found herself enveloped in a profound sense of helplessness, powerless to act. Despite getting a second chance at life, how could she hope to contend with a man who had ascended to prominence over a mound of bodies, hands stained with the blood of weathering storms of bullets and bloodshed? many, Eric had genuinely navigated a world of illicit activities and criminal acts with Will, casting a dark shadow over his past. In contrast, Eileen was a youngdy, raised in opulence and protected within the cocoon of privilege. Her life had been an untroubled voyage, marked only by wealth, devoid of adversities or life¡¯s storms. Her disposition, once marked by arrogance and dominance, left her ill-equipped for both arguments and physical confrontations. In her previous life. Sarah arrived at her doorstep, taunting her as a good-for-nothing waste 3 sentiment that, in truth. held uracy. Apart from being acknowledged as ¡°Mrs. Snow,¡± Eileen had no substantial identity. Observing the news coverage. Eileen witnessed Sarah apanying Eric to numerous grand banquets. Standing next to him, Sarah exuded an irresistible charm, as if destiny had paired this formidable woman with Eric. Their connection went beyond the spiritual; in the business world, they proved to be impable partners. Their shared disdain for others echoed in the way they looked down upon people, much like dismissing ants. It appeared that, by Eric¡¯s side, Eileen was relegated to the role of the most humble and unassuming presence. ¡°Five years ago.¡± Upon sharing this revtion, Eric felt as if his heart had endured a forceful blow. Five years ago, This is from N?velDrama.Org. when she was only thirteen years old, it all began. ¡°Where was the medicine administered? Was it in the food I consumed or in the water?¡± ¡°We¡¯re here. Get out of the car.¡± At the hospital entrance, the prominent sign reading ¡°Serene Hospital¡± came into view. Eric unbuckled his seatbelt, while Eileen remained motionless. ¡°You still haven¡¯t answered my question! Even if I really have to die, shouldn¡¯t I at least understand clearly why I¡¯m. dying?¡± A sudden urge for a cigarette prompted Eric to retrieve a pack from his pocket. He lit one, took a puff, and rested his hand on the car window. ¡°Even if you understand, what can you change? If you want to know, I¡¯ll tell you. The drug was mixed in the milk. It¡¯s an imported. banned drug, originally a contraceptive. Short-term use won¡¯t have any side effects, but long- term use will harm the body. Are you satisfied with this answer?¡± Why, despite the potential side effects of contraceptive pills, did I still conceive his child in my previous life? The child I had eagerly anticipated, I was unable to witness her arrival into this world with my own eyes. The doctor informed me that she was already fully developed and six months old when that urred! The inability to witness her child¡¯s birth remained a lifelong sorrow for Eileen. Upon receiving this answer, Eileen suddenly felt a sense of relief. At least Eric had been honest about this matter. ¡°Thank you for deceiving me all these years. Today¡­ you have finally revealed the truth, and it has led me topletely give up on you.¡± Eileen smiled, her gaze shifting to the window, her heart growing cold. ¡°In fact, I overheard your conversation with Vera in the hallway. It is clear that Yvette is your best choice. Your discussion with Father is not difficult to decipher; it is all about thepany. Once this examination is over, I will undergo a hysterectomy. Consider it retribution for all the wrongs the Swan family hasmitted. From now on, we owe each other nothing! However¡­ I want to reiterate that how you choose to deal with the Swans or Will has absolutely no impact on me.¡± Eileen unfastened her seatbelt. Suddenly, a hand reached into her hair. Eric leaned in and kissed her, passing her a puff of smoke. The taste of the smoke caused her to cough violently. Eileen struggled to catch her breath, suppressing her coughs until her lungs ached and her mouth was filled with a bitter taste. Hoping for an easy escape? Not in this lifetime, Eileen. Chapter 162 Chapter 162 Chapter 162 Uncertain Steps The bitter taste in her mouth, mixed with the lingering scent of smoke, which she despised the most, apanied Eileen as she was led into the examination room. As shey on the mechanical bed, Zachary, with a face as captivating as a woman¡¯s, leaned in and said. ¡°It¡¯s been a while, Eileen.¡± ¡°Why is it you!¡± Eileen immediately sat up, resisting the examination. The man¡¯s smile held a mischievous hint. ¡°Eileen, are you afraid of what I might find?¡± What do you think, creep? ¡°I don¡¯t want to do this anymore.¡± Zachary burst intoughter, covering his mouth with his fist, his eyes squinting in amusement. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± he reassured, ¡°I won¡¯t be the one conducting your examination this time. I promise, I won¡¯t even sneak a peek!¡± ¡°Miss, don¡¯t be shy. In medicine, there¡¯s no distinction between men and women. I¡¯ll be the one conducting your examination,¡± a woman in her forties interjected. ¡°Zack, don¡¯t scare the poor girl. You can leave now!¡± Upon realizing it was a woman, Eileen finally rxed. After Zachary left, Eileen¡¯s cheeks blushed slightly, feeling slightly embarrassed. She propped up her knees and a blue cloth covered the area between her legs. Sensing something unusual, Eileen shifted ufortably. When the head of the gynecology department noticed the hymen, she pped her forehead. in realization. ¡°Look at me, I¡¯ve examined so many people today that I forgot you¡¯re still a youngdy. Hold on a second. Let¡¯s perform another test instead.¡± After undergoing the ultrasound, Eileen patiently awaited the results. Outside the ward, in the smoking area, the air was filled with smoke and discarded cigarette butts littered the ground. Zachary, with his hands in the pockets of his keb coat and a stethoscope around his neck, commented, ¡°I¡¯ve told you before, no matter how many times we check, the result will still be the same. The most effective solution now is to remove the uterus. I warned you from the start not to show any weakness. Look, you¡¯ve be soft-hearted so quickly!¡± Eric gave him a cold nce. ¡°You talk too much!¡± Zachary chuckled dismissively. ¡°Not to criticize you, but I always thought you had a taste for mature, spicy older women. I never expected you to have such a unique preference, liking girls much younger than yourself. Are you a beast? She didn¡¯t even graduate from high school; you¡¯re absolutely monstrous for taking advantage of her! Hey, enlighten me, what¡¯s it like to be with a youngdy?¡± Eric gave him another cold look. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to be silenced, then shut up!¡± ¡°Dr. Xenos, guardian of the youngdy, could you pleasee over?¡± The men quickly discarded their cigarette butts and entered the office. Eileen, having adjusted her clothes, stepped out from behind the curtain. The gynecologist examined the photos with a serious expression. ¡°There¡¯s no other option but to perform surgery. Even traditional medicine won¡¯t be effective in this case, so you all should start considering your options as soon as possible. Mr. Anderson has an avable slot for the surgery next week.¡± Eric asked, ¡°After the uterus is removed, is it possible to transnt a new one?¡± Watching the interaction from the sidelines, Zachary responded as if he had heard a great joke, saying, ¡°I think you¡¯ve truly lost your mind! Firstly, our level of medical advancement is nowhere near capable of conducting a uterus transnt. Secondly, even if such a procedure were possible, achieving pregnancy would still be unattainable. A normal uterine environment is essential for conception. Even in the currentndscape of uterus transnt surgeries, no one would willingly remove their own uterus to transnt it to someone else.¡± ¡°Even if uterus transnt surgeries are avable now, no one would willingly remove their own uterus to transnt it to someone else.¡± The gynecologist nodded in agreement. ¡°Zack is right. The uterus is a unique symbol of femininity and an essential part of a girl¡¯s journey to bing a mother.¡± She then addressed Eileen, ¡°Don¡¯t be disheartened, youngdy. Even without a uterus, science and technology are advancing, and in the future, if you get married, you can consider egg retrieval and in- vitro fertilization, followed by surrogate pregnancy. This way, you won¡¯t have to experience the hardships of childbirth. Alternatively, you can also consider adoption.¡± News like this was nothing new to Eileen; her heart had long since be numb. She curved her lips into a faint smile. ¡°It¡¯s okay, I¡¯vee to terms with it. Doctor, could you please schedule my surgery for next week?¡± The gynecologist asked, ¡°Well, what do you think, sir?¡± tric¡¯s gazended on Eileen. At this moment, he would rather have her be unreasonable and throw a tantrum at him than act as if nothing was wrong, as she was doing now. ¡°Let her be!¡± With these words, annoyed and confused, Eric turned around and left. Zachary¡¯s eyes held a wistful gaze as he silently observed the departing figure, who left in a huff, with a smile. I warned him he would regret it. After all, she inherited the beauty of Hulbury¡¯s most exquisite woman. Having such beauty by one¡¯s side would tempt anyone, especially considering it¡¯s Eric we¡¯re talking about. But it¡¯s surprising: after all these years, he still hasn¡¯t seeded! As Eileen and Eric left the hospital, the day gradually turned into dusk. The cup of milk brought out at noon had already found its way into the trash bin, a method of drugging Eileen that she was now all too familiar with. In this lifetime, she reckoned she would never consume anything rted to milk again. The journey back was marked by Eric¡¯s persistent silence, creating a heavy atmosphere within the car. In an attempt to alleviate the tension, Eileen opened the car window, allowing a breath of fresh air. The breeze was short-lived as Eric promptly closed the window. ¡°The weather is cold. Don¡¯t catch a chill; you might easily catch a cold.¡± Eileen, fixated on her glossy fingernails, tapped them intermittently. ¡°Will you keep it a secret from my father?¡± she asked. ¡°It¡¯s not a big deal, really. I don¡¯t n on getting married again. Living alone for the rest of my life and doing what I want sounds pretty good to me. When I¡¯m old and unable to move around, I¡¯ll move into a nursing home. There will be people to help take care of me until the end¡­¡± Suddenly, Eric mmed on the brakes, bringing the car to a halt. ¡°So, you hate me? Eileen¡­ what right do you have to hate?¡± All you Swans deserve nothing but death! Eileen¡¯s eyes remained calm and undisturbed as she quietly looked at him. ¡°So, what do you expect from me?¡± she asked. ¡°I¡¯ve already died once. If you still hold hatred in your heart, Eric, I truly don¡¯t know what to do anymore.¡± Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Eric found himself in a state of unprecedented chaos, unsure why he was so disoriented. Annoyed, he restarted the car and quickly drove back to Unde Mansion. They arrived home just in time for dinner. When Will asked. Eric covered for Eileen, attributing her demeanor to an old hand injury. Fortunately, Will didn¡¯t have any doubts, and the family quietly enjoyed their dinner. At seven in the evening. Eileen finished her bath and checked for any new messages. Aside from a few regr greetings from Jasper, there was also one from Elm. He signed up and went to winter camp. This time, they were headed to Remdik. Elm had sent over a bunch of photos, but the resolution on Eileen¡¯s phone was too blurry, making some of them hard to make out. However, she could tell at a nce that it was¡­ Chapter 163 Chapter 163 Chapter 163 Anything Else Amidst the enchanting backdrop of Moulmore, Remdik, Elm shared glimpses of his solitary journey, capturing the ethereal beauty of the aurora and a charming selfie with a reindeer. Dressed in a ck storm suit, his hooded coat adorned with strands of hair dusted with ke frost. Elm¡¯s images elicited a gentle smile from Eileen. Her gratitude flowed through a message: It¡¯s beautiful. Thank you. Thank you for experiencing these sights on my behalf. In the distant reaches of Moulmore, Elm traversed the icyndscape alone, his tent emitting. wisps of smoke against the harsh winter backdrop. Despite a significant fifteen-hour time difference between Remdik and his home country, Elm remained unperturbed as he embarked on a solitary journey. Along the way, he crossed paths with other travelers who were also reveling in their holiday adventures. A voice in Remdikian called out from behind, ¡°Elm, it¡¯s time to eat.¡± Seeing the reply he got from Eileen, Elm chose not to respond. Instead, he stored away his phone and exited the extended tent. On the eve of New Year¡¯s Eve, thepany granted everyone time off, and Eric and Vera were busy decorating the residence with red lights that adorned the ss windows, swiftly infusing the home with a festive atmosphere. Sharon, having injured her waist, returned from the hospital to the Swan residence just in time for the New Year, although Eileen wasn¡¯t sure how long she would stay this time. Enjoying a rare day off at home, Eileen didn¡¯t want to waste her time. With a bag on her back, she descended from upstairs. Sharon emerged from the kitchen, saying, ¡°The New Year is almost here; where are you nning to go?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to the library to borrow some materials.¡± ¡°We¡¯re on holiday; why are you still studying? Take a good rest at home. I¡¯ve made some brownies; they¡¯ll be ready soon.¡± Just then, another voice rang out. ¡°Ms. Eileen, there¡¯s a letter for you in the mailbox!¡± A housekeeper held a thick stack of envelopes. ¡°In this day and age, it¡¯s strange that people still send letters, especially all the way from Remdik.¡± 1.5 When she heard the housekeeper¡¯s words, the first person that came to Eileen¡¯s mind was Elm. Eileen epted the letter, unfolding its contents, as Eric and Vera returned with their shopping spoils, each carrying tworge bags in their hands. ¡°Mr. Snow,¡± the housekeeper greeted. Eric nodded, his gaze directed at the individuals in the living room. Eileen, without needing to nce, already had a sense of what was enclosed within the envelope. Is this his way of returning the favor? Or perhaps a New Year¡¯s gift? Just then, Sharon emerged from the kitchen, cradling a tray of freshly-baked brownies. ¡°Mr. Snow, Vera, you¡¯re just in time. Come have some brownies!¡± Vera, bringing two sizable bags of groceries to the table, remarked, ¡°Sharon, why prepare so much? We can¡¯t possibly consume all of this. Gavin, Sharon, please join us.¡± Meanwhile, Mary brought a cup of warm milk and sandwiches to the person lounging on the couch. ¡°What are you looking at, Ms. Eileen? Oh my, this is truly beautiful. Where is this?¡± ¡°Indeed! This ce is truly stunning.¡± Eileen responded. Every picture Elm had sent was clear. Eileen delicately unsealed the envelopes, ensuring the seals remained intact. Inside, nearly a hundred photos awaited, along with a USB drive tucked within the envelope. Numerous eyes were drawn to the scene. Vera inquired with curiosity, ¡°What¡¯s Eileen looking at?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a letter from a friend. I recall that Eileen has a friend with thest name Smith,¡± Sharon divulged. ¡°Is it the guy from Smith Corporation? Or¡­ perhaps it¡¯s Elm? I remember, he participated in this year¡¯s winter camp, held in Remdik.¡± Speaking, Vera shifted her gaze toward Eric, whose gaze dimmed. Eileen swiftly stored the photos in her backpack, grasped the USB drive, and slung her bag over her shoulder. ¡°Inform Father,¡± she stated, ¡°I have my final piano lesson today, so I won¡¯t be home for lunch.¡± ¡°Ms. Eileen, won¡¯t you have your milk?¡± Eileen continued without pausing, brushing past Eric, ¡°No, I won¡¯t; don¡¯t bother preparing then in the future.¡± She took a bite of her sandwich and left the house with those words. The realization that Eric had been drugging her milk for five years cast a shadow over Eileen¡¯s heart, Upon entering the car, she headed to the library. Inside, freeputers awaited her use. Reaching the seventh floor, Eileen swiped her identification card, found aputer, and eagerly connected her USB drive. She clicked on the folder, unveiling a video that unfolded over three to four hours. The scenemenced with Elm¡¯s entrance into a bustling station. Amidst themotion, his voice resonated, ¡°There¡¯s a train from Hulbury to Musbane, spanning over seven thousand kilometers. Make sure you get a sleeper ticket; don¡¯t make the naive mistake of opting for a seat. It¡¯ll be a nightmare¡­¡± Augh escaped Eileen¡¯s lips, apanied by a stirring emotion that warmed her heart in an unprecedented way. The sleeper berth by the train¡¯s window captured the most enchanting vistas along the journey. While the train swiftly traversed these fleetingndscapes, Elm skillfully slowed down the frames, allowing her to savor every moment. Upon the conclusion of Elm¡¯s video, Eileen found herself yearning for more. What if we could video chat? I could see it for myself right now. With the day having progressed to two or three in the afternoon, Eileen, emerging from the library, chose to dial Elm¡¯s mobile number. Within a matter of seconds, Elm answered the call promptly. ¡°What is it, Ms. Eileen? What do you want?¡± ¡°Elm, I¡¯ve received it, and I appreciate it. The photos you captured are truly exquisite.¡± The voice on the other end, reminiscent of just waking up, responded indifferently, ¡°Mmm, got it,¡± before adding, ¡°Anything else? I¡¯m about to sleep here.¡± ¡°Can I see the original footage? The unedited version,¡± Eileen requested. With a hint of nonchnce, Elm replied, ¡°So many requests, not happening! Goodbye.¡± The call concluded with him disconnecting. N?velDrama.Org is the owner. Undeterred, Eileen decided to wait for a more opportune moment to bring up the subject when he returned. 35 Chapter 3 Anything Else The final notes of Eileen¡¯s two-hour piano lesson echoed in the air. On her way back, she decided to buy a photo album to carefully preserve the moments captured in the pictures. As she walked through the streets, halfway through her journey, the sky suddenly started to snow gently. While watching the snowkes gracefully melt into keness on the road, Eileen received an unexpected call from the housekeeper, urging her to hurry home because there were unidentified guests. Intrigued by the mystery, Eileen hurried back. When she saw a familiar car in the yard, a particr person immediately came to mind. This is¡­ As she entered the foyer, a distinct sense of rxation enveloped her. Familiar voices came from the living room, where several people were sitting on the couch. The housekeeper greeted her with a warm smile, ¡°Ms. Eileen.¡± Jasper turned his head, and everyone else followed suit. Eileen handed her bag of books to the housekeeper, saying, ¡°Please take this to my room. Be careful.¡± ¡°Yes, Ms. Eileen.¡± Jasper stood up, a smile appearing on his lips. ¡°You¡¯re back?¡± On the other hand, Will, speaking in a stern tone, scolded, ¡°It¡¯s the New Year; why are you stil going to sses? During the holidays, you should rest at home. Sharon, please tell them to prepare a few more delicious dishes.¡± ¡°Certainly, Mr. Swan.¡± Jasper replied, ¡°No need to trouble yourself; I¡¯m just here to see her for a bit. I¡¯ll leave soon.¡± Noticing the meaningful look in Will¡¯s eyes, Eileen understood his unspoken message. It was clear what he was suggesting. As she approached, Jasper graciously made way for her. Taking her seat beside him, Eileen suggested, ¡°Since you¡¯re here, why not stay for dinner? Would you like to try some chestnut pie? I happened to prepare the ingredientsst time.¡± ¡°Would that be a bother to you?¡± Jasper asked. Eileen offered a gentle smile. ¡°Of course not. I was nning to do it anyway. Now that you¡¯re here, there¡¯s no need for someone to deliver it to you. Besides¡­ it¡¯s much tastier when it¡¯s fresh out of the oven.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll help you then.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay, I can handle it. Why don¡¯t you sit with Father for a while? I¡¯ll be done soon.¡± Chapter 164 Chapter 164 Chapter 164 The Greatest Value Eileen, in high spirits, made her way to the kitchen. Donning an apron, she retrieved ingredients from the fridge, preparing to bake. Sharon offered her assistance. ¡°Do you need my help?¡± ¡°No need. I¡¯ve done it several times, and I¡¯ve got the hang of it. Sharon, you go ahead with your other tasks.¡± ¡°All right, remember to call me if you need anything.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± The process of making chestnut pie was not tooplex. Vera entered, observing the bustling activity, and couldn¡¯t resist asking curiously,-¡°Eileen, when did you start making chestnut pie? Can you teach me?¡± ¡°Sharon taught me. If you want to learn, I can give you a tutorial and the recipeter. It¡¯s not too hard to pick up.¡± ¡°Sure thing! Otherwise, I¡¯ll just be watching you work. Eric is chatting with them, but I can¡¯t understand a word, so I thought I¡¯de over and see you. Do you need any help?¡± Eileen replied, ¡°Could you help me wash these dishes? I¡¯ve already done half of them. Please be careful.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Vera nodded, rolling up her sleeves and adjusting the water temperature from the faucet. ¡°Eileen, how did youe to know Mr. Smith? I can tell, it seems like he has feelings for you.¡± Eileen, focused on mashing steamed chestnuts into a paste, didn¡¯t answer the question. Instead, she casually changed the subject, saying, ¡°How are you doing in the Olympiad Math ss? When I was there, the workbook that Mr. Gardner gave me was quite challenging. I¡¯ve only managed to finish half of it so far.¡± Vera responded, ¡°It¡¯s manageable, but the study environment in the top ss is too intense. Besides focusing on studies and doing exercises all day, there¡¯s hardly any time for personal activities.¡± She sighed deeply, ¡°There are some concepts I struggle to grasp, and my only recourse is to consult Mr. Gardner. At home, my only option is Eric. However, he¡¯s been arriving hometetely, so if there¡¯s something I don¡¯t understand, I have to let it go. Do¡­ you resent me for taking your spot? For being the reason you couldn¡¯t join the Olympiad Math ss?¡± Eileen shook her head. ¡°There¡¯s no need to me yourself. It¡¯s apetitive environment. That¡¯s the nature of our ss. As long as your grades are strong, no one will scrutinize your 1/4 choices, and you¡¯ll always find a way forward, no matter where you are. This is something Ms. Hayes advised me.¡± That¡¯s true¡­ Oh, by the way, are you still friends with Yvette?¡± Eileen nced at her. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± She¡¯s asking about Yvette. Could it be rted to today¡¯s events? Vera, washing dishes with a somewhat forlorn demeanor, began to share, ¡°Today, I overheard a conversation between Mr. Swan and Eric. He wishes for Eric to be with Ying Yvette! Eileen¡­ what should we do about this?¡± Eileen pretended to contemte, wearing a troubled expression. ¡°I¡¯m not sure, but if my brother has feelings for her, as his sister, it¡¯s only natural that I would want to support. them.¡± Perhaps Vera hadn¡¯t anticipated this response. The te in her hands slipped, ttering into the sink. She forced a chuckle. ¡°But¡­ I thought you liked Eric? Are you really going to let him be with someone else?¡± Eileen curved her lips into a smile, gazing at Vera. ¡°Yes, I do care about him, but¡­ at the moment, it¡¯s the kind of affection a sister has for her brother. Besides¡­ matters of the heart can¡¯t be forced.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go check if there¡¯s any mulling spices in the fridge.¡± Eileen preferred not to delve into unproductive discussions, especially concerning matters rted to Eric. By the time dinner was served, the chestnut pie that Eileen had prepared was ready. She had made a generous amount, enough to feed seven or eight people. The table was set. Jasper upied the head, with Will to his left. Eileen sat to his right, in close proximity, and Vera took the seat next to her. Five individuals faced a table brimming with dishes, an abundance impossible to consume entirely. With a gracious expression, Will spoke with a smile. ¡°These are just some simple home- cooked dishes. I hope you won¡¯t find them too in, Mr. Smith.¡± ¡°Not at all,¡± Jasper replied, his gaze frequently shifting toward Eileen as he spoke. ¡°Good, good. Eileen, serve Mr. Smith some food.¡± Eileen presented Jasper with a slice of sweet and sour pork ced in front of him, apanied by a freshly baked chestnut pie. ¡°Give it a try and let me know if it¡¯s too sweet. If it is, I¡¯ll use less sugar next time.¡± 24 ¡°Did you make this as well?¡± jasper inquired, holding a piece of the sweet and sour pork. Eileen nodded, strategically fibbing, ¡°I can¡¯t cook much, just these two.¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll give it a try.¡± ¡°How does it taste?¡± Jasper sampled it. ¡°Not bad.¡± All of this was a spectacle for Will to witness. In the Smith family, most of the time, Jasper was the one apanying her. ¡°At home, I don¡¯t recall you ever being this nice to me. Why are you so kind today?¡± As Jasper spoke, his unwavering gaze on her resembled a deep-sea whirlpool, drawing people in. To an outsider. this gaze wasn¡¯t entirely innocent. The home Jasper referred to was naturally the Smith residence. Eileen, inexperienced with such attention, was unsure how to respond. All she could muster was to summon her courage and say, ¡°In my home, you¡¯re a guest, so it¡¯s only natural to treat you well. Please enjoy; it won¡¯t taste as good once it cools down.¡± This turned out to be the longest meal Eileen had ever partaken in,sting for a full two hours. The group became rather intoxicated. Will produced his prized red wine, worth over a hundred thousand, along with some ke wine. The trio drank until their sses were empty. Shortly after, Will retired to his room to rest. Jasper was a lightweight when it came to alcohol. Since his leg was still recovering, his old leg ailment would still act up on rainy days, making alcohol consumption impossible. The clock struck nine in the evening. Eileen helped Jasper to the couch, and Mary brought over the hangover remedy prepared by Sharon. ¡°Eric, you¡¯ve had quite a bit to drink. Would you like some water?¡± ¡°No need, I¡¯ll go back to my room first. Remember to rest early.¡± Eric¡¯s tone was somewhat distant as he spoke to Vera, and even his gazecked its usual gentleness. Is it because of Eileen? But Eric doesn¡¯t actually like Eileen, right? I know this. Despite Eileen¡¯s deep affection for him and all the crazy things she did, Eric wasn¡¯t swayed at all. Perhaps¡­ I¡¯m overthinking 34 Okay, Eric. He just discussed such a big deal at the dinner table; isn¡¯t he happy? After all, Will and Eric, both experienced veterans of the social drinking scene, found it impossible to avoid these obligations. Eileen offered the hangover remedy to Jasper, saying, ¡°Have some; you¡¯ll feel better in a bit.¡± ¡°Are you giving me food?¡± ¡°Mmhim.¡± It was clear that Jasper was trying his best to maintain hisposure. N?velDrama.Org is the owner. Noticing that the living room was now deserted, with only the housekeepers tidying up the dining table. Eileen said to him, ¡°Actually, you don¡¯t have to agree to cooperate with my father because of me.¡± He always gave in and treated her well. It was all kindness she couldn¡¯t repay. ¡°The fact that your brother took a liking to that piece ofnd on Cutvine shows he indeed has good taste. But to me, thatnd means nothing.¡± He looked at her as if trying to see right through her. After drinking, even his voice became more alluring, as if enchanting her, ¡°The greatest value is not in it, but in you¡­ Eileen, you know what I desire.¡± His scent wafted over her face, a mixture of alcohol and his own aroma, somewhat pleasant. Eileen¡¯s heart tightened, ¡°I know¡­¡± Chapter 165 Chapter 165 Chapter 165 Forgotten About Those Times ¡°But there was absolutely no need for you to do that¡­ Even if you don¡¯t give us anything. you¡¯re still my best-¡± Thest word was friend, but before that word was spoken, the sound of fireworks rang out. In the night sky, a burst of golden light exploded¡­ Fireworks set off one after another. Soon, every household began to set off fireworks. A riot of colors lit up the sky, and the mottled fireworks fell upon Jasper¡¯s handsome face, as sharp as a sculpted de. He stared at the fireworks outside the window, lost in a trance. Eileen turned around, swallowing the words she had yet to speak. Holding the hangover remedy in her hands, she remembered the words Richard had said to her. ¡°Forget about it. I¡¯ll just wait until he¡¯s better to discuss it.¡± ¡°After finishing the hangover remedy, shall we go watch the fireworks?¡± A hint of a smile lifted the corners of Jasper¡¯s lips. ¡°All right.¡± In the backyard of Unde Mansion, under a tree, two people sat on a swing, looking up at the fireworks blooming in the night sky. ¡°In the past, my favorite thing during the New Year was to sit here, swinging on the swing, watching these fireworks. During the New Year, I would think how great it would be if I could see them every night. It was always Sharon who apanied me¡­¡± Jasper¡¯s tattooed hand unconsciously tightened around hers. ¡°In fact, I saw you a long time ago.¡± ¡°Oh? When exactly?¡± Eileen looked at him. In the back garden of the Swan residence, beyond the courtyard, was Jasper¡¯s vi. Not a single light was on, making it look deste. From a distance, it felt cold and was shrouded in loneliness and darkness. Jasper quietly looked at her. ¡°Three years ago, that was my darkest time, when I was so oppressed that I could barely hold on¡­ In the room, apart from the darkness and the sound of water, I heard your laughter. That day was also during the New Year¡­ You wereughing with such joy, and it piqued my curiosity. I wondered what could possibly make you that happy. Hence, I got up to see. I watched you holding a doll, talking to it all day. You said it was left for you by your mother. Besides eating, sleeping, and going to school every day, I could always hear you talking to yourself in the yard¡­¡± Three years prior, he had attempted suicide no less than three times. On that day, he was 1/4 ready to end it all. The shards of ss cut through his wrist, and he watched as his blood slowly drained away. Lying in a pool of his own blood, he awaited the arrival of death. Yet, theughter of a little girl seemed to possess a magical healing power for him. The onset of depression was an overwhelmingly oppressive experience, filled with thoughts of wanting topletely free himself. Living, it seemed, only brought him pain. This is from N?velDrama.Org. Jasper smiled. ¡°Do you still remember the song you sang?¡± Eileen asked calmly, ¡°What song?¡± She was unaware that at that time, Jasper was in Unde Mansion. She always thought that the house next door was uninhabited, with the curtains always drawn during the day and the lights off at night. ¡°Think about it!¡± Eileen was deep in thought when suddenly, a light bulb went off in her head. She eximed, ¡°Ah! I¡¯ve got it! Is it a song about a door and a monster?¡± ¡°You still remember! I¡¯ve almost forgotten about those times.¡± That was the only thing her mother had left her, but when her father found out, he set her doll on fire. Later on, it was Sharon who told her that the doll was hand-sewn by her mother. It was one of a kind in the whole world, and no second one could be found anywhere. ¡°It¡¯s all right. I¡¯m d I still remember.¡± Eileen looked up at the night sky. ¡°Stop dwelling on the past. If it brings you pain, then just forget about it¡­ The fact that you¡¯re still doing well now is more than enough. After all, wee into this world, each with our own purpose for living. We can¡¯t always live in the past, can we?¡± Jasper said, ¡°You¡¯re right, Eileen¡­ Thank you. It was you who gave me a new hope in life.¡± Eileen also made him understand the meaning of life. She was like that beam of light, pulling Jasper back from the depths of hell. Eileen reached out to adjust his cor, a gentle smile gracing her lips. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± she reassured him. ¡°This too shall pass, and things will only get better for you. Don¡¯t forget that you are the invincible Jasper.¡± He chuckled softly. ¡°Indeed, nothing is impossible.¡± The Smith family was the leading family in Hulbury, so she hoped he wouldn¡¯t repeat the same mistakes. ¡°Ealeen, will you always stay by my side?¡± Those amber-like eyes gazed at her, forming a vortex that deeply drew her in. A hint of panic crossed Eileen¡¯s mind. ¡°Haven¡¯t I always been here?¡± ¡°You know what I mean.¡± Eileen feigned confusion. ¡°Hmm?¡± Jasper gently ran his hand through her slightly curled long hair. His gaze filled with affection. His fingers curved, tracing down her delicate and innocent yet captivating cheek,nding on her chin. He slightly lifted it, and Eileen found herself lost in his deeply affectionate eyes¡­ He slowly approached. In the next moment, his hand covered Eileen¡¯s eyes, plunging her vision into darkness. Between her lips, she felt a hint of warmth and coolness, soft and gentle. Eileen regained consciousness, her eyes wide open, her mind aplete nk. She felt her lips being gently kissed. It was a kiss filled with passion. Every breath was filled with each other¡¯s essence, causing their hearts to flutter. Shadows on the ground were entwining and intertwining. The moonlight that night was even more gentle than ever before. Fabian brought Jasper back, who had sobered up from his drunkenness about ten minutes ago. They were just trying to be safe because, after all, it was not secure to drive ale at night. Eileen stepped into the foyer, rubbing her icy arms. Only a singlemp remained lit in the grand hall, and the housekeepers had already retired for the night. Mary was still sitting at the table, her hand propping up her chin, dozing off with her eyes closed. Eileen stepped forward and gently patted her. ¡°Mary, it¡¯s time for you to go back and rest.¡± Mary woke up suddenly and said, ¡°Oh! You¡¯re back. Alright, I¡¯m going upstairs now. You should leave.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Eileen ced her hand on the railing of the corridor, lost in thought. What just happened? I 34 should have pushed him away¡­ However, after hearing Jasper¡¯s words, her heart instantly softened, It turned out that she had unknowingly saved him time and time again. Throughout the years of his illness, Eileen couldn¡¯t believe how he had managed to endure it all by himself. When she reached the room, the door was open. She took a step forward when suddenly a hand appeared and pulled her in. Before she could react, Eileen was flipped over and pressed against the door. The man. forcefully held her face and kissed her roughly. Her pants were pulled down to her knees. At that moment, Eileen felt something hot pressing and rubbing between her legs. ¡°No¡­ No¡­ We can¡¯t¡­¡± The voice was unclear. A surge of electricity ran through her entire body. ¡°Eric, stop.¡± Eileen pushed him away, breathing heavily with her hand on his chest. ¡°Father is still here. What are you doing?¡± In the darkness, she couldn¡¯t see how terrifying Eric¡¯s gaze was. ¡°Aren¡¯t you desperate? Do you prefer Jasper¡¯s kisses, or do you prefer mine?¡± Eric asked. Chapter 166 Chapter 166 Chapter 166 Dull ¡°What nonsense are you talking about?¡± Eric lifted her into his arms and gently ced her on the bed. Eileen¡¯s head sank into the pillow, and in the soft moonlight, she looked up at the tall figure of the man standing over her. He took off his jacket and leaned closer. ¡°Did you enjoy the fireworks? Do you need me to remind you of what you did?¡± Eileen propped herself up on her hands, but suddenly her legs were pulled out from under her. She found herself lying back down with him on top of her. She felt his passionate lips. haphazardly kissing her neck. you ¡°Are you jealous, Eric? What gives you the right to be jealous? Don¡¯t forget what Will told today! At the dinner table. I can¡¯t believe you didn¡¯t notice. Father asked me to win over Jasper. If Jasper asks, aren¡¯t you afraid I¡¯ll expose you? When the timees, not only the Smith family, but Father as well, won¡¯t let you off the hook! Think about it! Your impulsive actions might ruin everything you¡¯ve carefully nned!¡± Eileen said. He paused, propping himself up, his gloomy eyes fixed on her. His mouth curled cruelly, resembling a demon, forming a slight smirk. ¡°So what? What I want doesn¡¯t interfere with what I¡¯m about to do now.¡± For a brief moment, he wanted to pin her down and ravish her mercilessly, disregarding all propriety. He wanted to see her cry in pain and beg for mercy. However, he still had a shred of sanity that suppressed the impulse. To satisfy his physical desires, there wasn¡¯t just one way. He had countless methods he could continuously demand from her. He reached out, gripping her neck with a force that was neither too light nor too heavy. Leaning in close to her ear, he whispered, ¡°If I ever find out that you¡¯ve been with Jasper, I¡¯ll make sure you won¡¯t be able to leave the bed for three days and three nights. I can back up my words!¡± ¡°Eric, you¡¯re such a brat.¡± She bit down on his shoulder. The man groaned in pain. Two hourster, Eileen¡¯s skin was flushed as if she had just soaked in a hot spring. She stood by the bed, her eyes filled with resentment as she stared at the man who was adjusting his trousers. Eric had indeed satisfied himself, but Eileen felt a tingling sensation all over her body from his teasing. That kind of physical feeling, neither here nor there, made her even more 1/4 ufortable. Eileen¡¯s legs went weak. She bent over to pick up the clothes on the floor and lifted the quilt to get out of bed, but as soon as her feet touched the ground, her legs gave way, and she fell onto the cold floor. A wave of chill swept over her, causing goosebumps to rise on her arms. She waited for the man to approach her. He bent over, his index finger hooking her ck.ce underwear on the edge of the bed. He was the epitome of a refined scoundrel. Eileen¡¯s face turned red. She stood up, snatched it away in an instant, and shoved it under the bed. ¡°Can¡¯t you be less disgusting?¡± ¡°When you were taking it off, why didn¡¯t you say it was disgusting?¡± He smirked, lifting the woman who was barely dressed, carrying her into the bathroom, and tossing her into the bathtub. Holding the showerhead, the hot water cascaded onto her snow-ke skin. Eileen hugged her knees, her chest and back adorned with the marks left by a man. Thankfully, it was winter, so the thick clothes she wore could conceal them well. The hot water soaked her long hair, cascading down. Eileen lowered her head and said. ¡°You can leave. I can wash myself.¡± ¡°Make another move, and I won¡¯t mind doing it again.¡± He took in her perfect figure, examining it from head to toe. Eric squeezed some shower gel, applying it from her back all the way to her chest. Afterward, he slowly moved downward. In their past lives, they had done such things countless times every night. Eric enjoyed the sensation of a smooth palm gliding over her skin. But gradually, Eileen began to sense that something was wrong. Grasping his hand, rm bells rang loudly. ¡°What are you trying to do?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just going in a little bit. You shouldn¡¯t hold it in. It might be harmful if you suppress it too much.¡± Eileen was both angry and annoyed. ¡°I¡¯m not like you. Take your hand back now!¡± Eric¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Do you want me to prate you? If you bleed, I¡¯ll deal with you right away. Move by yourself.¡± ¡°Eric! Aren¡¯t you ashamed to say such things?¡± ¡°Be a good girl!¡± They spent over an hour in the bathroom, arguing. Eileen felt a sense of floating and sinking, finally finding satisfaction. She waspletely exhausted and weak. The man pulled her out of the water, moved her aside, wrapped her in at bath towel, and dried her hair. Eileen¡¯s cheek touched the pillow, and she instinctively rolled to the middle of the bed. In the middle of the night, she felt a wave of intense heat, prompting her to kick off the nket to cool down. However, not long after, she felt as if she was embracing arge furnace. She was too tired to move, so she decided to just let it be. When the first light of dawn seeped in through the cracks in the curtains, she felt some movement by the bed. Eileen found it a bit noisy. Pulling the nket over herself, she curled up in her warm cocoon and drifted back into a deep sleep. Eric, dressed in his finest clothes, nced back at the figure bulging under the covers. His lips involuntarily curled up. The flight from Remdik arrived in Hulbury at eight o¡¯clock. At nine o¡¯clock, Elm disembarked from the ne and immediately rushed to a hospital. At the flower shop downstairs, he bought a bouquet of hyacinths. With the flowers in hand, he entered the inpatient department. Upon reaching the fifteenth floor ward, a nurse emerged from inside. ¡°Mr. Elm,¡± the nurse said. ¡°Is she awake?¡± ¡°Not yet. The patient fell asleep at four o¡¯clock this morning.¡± Eim nodded. ¡°I understand. You can continue with your work.¡± ¡°Okay, Mr. Elm.¡± Ruth¡¯s asthma would re up from time to time. Recently, with the cold weather, a slight carelessness would result in Ruth falling ill overnight. Upon receiving the news, Elm immediately rushed back. Elm entered the ward and settled onto the couch, passing the time by ying with his phone. Unbeknownst to him, he dozed off while lying on the couch. After an uncertain period of time, he felt a slight movement. Elm woke up. Noticing Ruth¡¯s pale and feeble face, Elm sat up. ¡°When did you wake up?¡± Ruth, draped in a shawl, had her long, silky hair flowing down, giving her the appearance of a dignified lady. She sat beside him and gently smiled, cing the fallen nket back over his legs. ¡°I haven¡¯t been awake for long. I apologize for causing you worry. This old ailment of mine acts up asionally. There was no need for you to rush back so urgently.¡± Elm casually replied, ¡°Now that everything is taken care of, we can celebrate the New Year together today. What would you like to eat? I¡¯ll prepare it for you!¡± Ruth shook her head. ¡°I¡¯ve seen the photos you took. They¡¯re beautiful. Does she like them?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Elm responded. ¡°That¡¯s all that matters.¡± Ruth looked at him, softly stroking his hair. ¡°You¡¯ve grown up, Elm. You¡¯ve be handsome and found a girl you¡¯re fond of. Remember to express your feelings to her. If you don¡¯t speak up, she won¡¯t know. You¡¯ll be graduating next year, won¡¯t you? Don¡¯t wait until then and miss the opportunity. If you do, you¡¯ll have regrets for the rest of your life.¡± Elm picked up an apple and started peeling it. ¡°Let¡¯s wait a little longer! It¡¯s too early to discuss these matters now. It could distract her from her studies. Besides, she¡¯s not exactly the brightest.¡± He pointed to his own head as he spoke, criticizing her, but whenever he mentioned her, his eyes and eyebrows were filled with joy. ¡°Have you visited the Smith residence?¡± she inquired.This is from N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 167 Chapter 167 Chapter 167 Jerk ¡°Why? Isn¡¯t the ce the same as always?¡± Elm asked, peeling an apple and preparing a fruit te for Ruth. He cut the apple into small pieces, ced them on the te, and handed her a few toothpicks. He then ate the remaining apple core himself. ¡°Regardless, Jasper is still your half-brother from the same father. It¡¯s the New Year, you should go home and visit,¡± Ruth suggested. ¡°He has already returned to the Smith residence,¡± Elm responded. Ruth¡¯s expression became somewhat tense upon hearing that. However, she chose not to say anything further. After divorcing his previous wife, John married Ruth just a monthter. However, Ruth was nothing more than amon farmer¡¯s daughter, a performer from a makeshift burlesque organization. She used to be the leading burlesque performer and met John, an educated youth teaching in the countryside, when she was just sixteen. At that time. John was twenty-three, and it was almost love at first sight with Ruth. It wasn¡¯t until the second year of their rtionship that John returned to Hulbury. She had waited for three years. During this time, John had returned once, and they had be involved. He promised that he would definitely return to marry her in three months. However, it turned out that John had already married another woman. He had been married to thedy from the Friedman family for three years, and they had a child together. That child was Jasper. The Smith family discovered Ruth¡¯s love affair with John, but she was of low status and ordinary. In the chaotic times they lived in, they couldn¡¯t possibly approve of her. In order to keep it a secret from the Friedman family, the Smith family gave Ruth a substantial amount of money, persuading her topletely abandon the idea of marrying John. 6806 Ruth didn¡¯t take the money and left in disappointment, all by herself. And she, too, kept a secret. That secret was the fact that she had a child with John. Their child was three to four years older than Jasper. Ruth was pregnant before marriage, a situation that led to her being scorned by everyone in the vige. Despite her beauty, she was seen as a worn-out shoe that had been yed with, and naturally, no one held her in high regard. Her parents had also driven her out of the house, so Ruth left her old vige alone, taking Ehn with her. They moved to a fishing vige in a remote part of Hulbury. There, she worked orid jobs every day to support the four or five-year-old child. They were barely getting by each day. Before he turned twelve, Elm had never read a book. He could only write his own name. This name was given by John, who also painstakingly taught Ruth how to write. During his childhood, Elm was not rebellious at all. In fact, he was the most sensible. among his peers. Later on, on, after John divorced from the Friedman family, Ruth was taken into the Smith. family. Elm also started to have money for education and began attending school. John told her that when he married thedy from the Friedman family years ago, he had no other choice. In fact, during the years when Ruth was away, John had visited Ruth¡¯s home. once. The Sanders family informed him that Ruth had remarried and moved to another ce. John returned to the Smith residence in utter despair and sadness. However, throughout the years of Ruth¡¯s absence, John never gave up his relentless pursuit to find Ruth. Ten yearster, on that day, John saw Ruth being bullied while selling fish on the street. He learned about everything she had been through, took her home, and this led to a dispute with the Smith family. In the end, Jacqueline found out about John¡¯s past with Ruth. Only then did Jacqueline divorce John, and Jasper was awarded to the Smith family. In truth, Ruth was already very fortunate. Even without the approval of the Smith family. even when she married John and faced opposition from everyone, at the very least, her husband always stood by her side, never leaving or forsaking her. And this child, always dutiful and sensible, had never given her a moment¡¯s worry. At first, Ruth thought that Elm wouldn¡¯t acknowledge John as his father, but to her surprise. when she married into the Smith family, Elm acknowledged this man as his father. From then on, they no longer had to brave the elements, suffering from hunger and cold. Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Aside from the status of being an illegitimate child, Ruth didn¡¯t owe this child anything else. Despite the hardships she had endured for twelve years, Ruth felt content knowing that she could provide him with aplete home. ¡°Did hee to see you?¡± Elm asked. Ruth gently nodded with a soft smile. ¡°These days, he has been tirelessly looking after everything, day and night. He¡¯s getting on in years and his health might not hold up, so I asked him to go back first.¡± ¡°The doctor said they woulde backter for a re-examination. If there¡¯s nothing serious, can be discharged from the hospital. If he dares to treat you badly, I won¡¯t let him off the hook.¡± you ¡°Alright. You should go lie down for a bit! I¡¯m going to take a stroll downstairs. Tonight, I¡¯ll cook your favorite dishes for our family dinner.¡± ¡°Have the caregiver follow along.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Elm couldn¡¯t sleep all night. After several hours on a ne, he finally made it back. Hey down on Ruth¡¯s bed for a while and quickly fell asleep. Ruth followed the caregiver downstairs and couldn¡¯t help but cough. Holding a clean ke handkerchief, she tasted a metallic taste in her mouth. Removing the handkerchief, Ruth saw the smear of blood in the middle. ¡°Mrs. Smith¡­¡± Ruth appeared rather calm, her face expressing indifference as she said, ¡°It¡¯s just an old ailment. Let¡¯s not tell Mr. Smith and Elm about it, so as not to worry them.¡± ¡°Alright, Mrs. Smith!¡± Ruth tossed the handkerchief, stained with coughed-up blood, into a nearby trash can. Eileen slept until noon. When she woke up, she felt as if her soul had left her body, her mind completely empty. After a while, when Eileen thought about what happened the night before, she felt a wave of nausea rising in her chest. That damn bastard! The bedsheets and covers from the night before were all dirty. They were changed in the middle of the night because he had mysophobia. Seeing those reced sheets and covers, Eileen immediately rolled them up and stuffed them into the trash bin. However, if someone were to find out, there would surely be suspicion. With that in mind, she took them out once again, washed away the dirty spots with water until no traces remained, and then disposed of them. Mary entered at that moment. ¡°Ms. Eileen, I¡¯vee to collect theundry.¡± ¡°Go ahead! By the way, where is Father and Eric?¡± Why is this child still fixated on that man? He¡¯s no good. Mary refrained from voicing her thoughts. Instead, she replied, ¡°Mr. Swan is ying chess with Mr. Snow.¡± Eileen nodded pensively. ¡°Did my father get angry because I woke up sote?¡± Mary uttered, ¡°During breakfast this morning, Mr. Swan didn¡¯t say much. However, something peculiar urred.¡± ¡°What happened?¡± Eileen inquired. ¡°Mr. Snow spoke up in your defense!¡± Mary answered. Upon hearing those two words, Eileen immediately felt a headacheing on. ¡°Forget about it. No need to say more. Call me when my father needs something. Carry on with your work!¡± ¡°Very well, Ms. Eileen.¡± Eileen had no desire to descend the stairs. She kept a kettle in her room to avoid having to do so when she became thirsty in the middle of the night. She then sat outside on the balcony of her room. It had snowed the previous night, so the morning weather was quite pleasant. The sun illuminated the clear sky, and its warmth permeated her body. Chapter 168 Chapter 168 Chapter 168 A Bank Card Eileen was in her room, secretly sketching. She had to do it covertly as her father disapproved. She locked the door to ensure her privacy. After half an hour of drawing, a sudden knock on the door startled Eileen. She quickly put away her sketchbook and went to answer it. Seeing the person outside, Eileen asked coldly, ¡°What do you want?¡± Eric told her, ¡°Come down for dinner.¡± Eileen replied. ¡°Got it, I¡¯ll change my clothes ande down.¡± Just as she was about to close the door, something blocked it. Eileen saw a foot wedged in the door gap. ¡°What are you trying to do?¡± she asked. ¡°Won¡¯t you invite me in?¡± he asked with a smirk. ¡°You¡¯re crazy. It¡¯s time for dinner. Why would you want toe in?¡± Seeing his intense gaze. Eileen felt uneasy but reluctantly said, ¡°Fine, do as you wish.¡± Releasing her grip on the doorknob, she turned around and went to the wardrobe. Taking our her usual cashmere long skirt, she put it on along with leggings since the house was heated. It wouldn¡¯t be too cold. She walked into the bathroom to change. She didn¡¯t forget to tie her long hair into a bun with a ha tie, letting a few strands fall around her ears. Eric sat at his desk, tapping his leg rhythmically. There was a workbook on hisp, and he was flipping through it, page by page. Seeing him so engrossed, she secretly rolled her eyes. She couldn¡¯t understand what was so interesting about it, thinking he was just pretending. Today, Eric wore a light-colored sweater, exuding a mature aura. His well-defined facial features were cold and stern, with a touch of masculinity. His eyes were like deep ck holes. hiding countless secrets. People like him were skilled at concealing their hypocrisy and desires. In the capital circle, Eileen had attended gatherings before and met handsome men, including professional models and somewhat famous actors. Compared to them, Eric was not outstanding, but he had a unique temperament. Once one locked eyes with him, one could tell that he had experienced a lot. He emitted a fierce aura that surpassed many others. In his presence, people unconsciously felt inferior. His mere presence could send shivers down one¡¯s spine. Yet, despite being such a person, he remained calm andposed, handling everything with case and grace. Even though many women knew Eric was not a good man and was extremely dangerous, they were still eager to be with him. She was one of them. Former mistresses who had been with Eric in her past life found it difficult to break free once entangled with him. However, in this life, before Vera got into trouble, Eileen rarely saw many women around him, except for Lilian, whom she had encounteredst time. In her understanding, Lilian should be his first woman. But Lilian was already dead. He must know about it. She wondered if he was upset now that his girlfriend of one year was dead. Well, Eric was ruthless, never allowing anything to disturb hisposure. He always handled things with ease. Out of the corner of his eye, the man saw her emerge to sit at the vanity, a pair of pearl earrings in her hand. He wondered what she was daydreaming about. Suddenly, Eileen¡¯s fingers loosened, and the earrings fell to her feet. As she bent down to pick them. up, Eric moved faster, picking them up before she could. ¡°Thank you,¡± she said as she reached for the earrings, but instead of giving them to her, Eric helped her put them on. She froze in ce, not daring to move. ¡°What are you thinking about? You seem so engrossed.¡± Eric stood beside her, his tall figure shielding her from the ring sunlight. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± ¡°The other one¡­¡± Eileen hastily stood up. ¡°No need, I can do it myself. I¡¯ll go down first.¡± ¡°Eileen! Eric!¡± Vera¡¯s voice echoed as she quickly appeared at the door. ¡°Eric, you¡¯re so slow! I¡¯m already done. Let¡¯s go eat!¡± Vera had never been to Eileen¡¯s room before and curiously looked around. The room was spacious and luxurious. ¡°You guys go ahead. I¡¯m almost ready. I just need to change my shoes.¡± Eileen walked over to the shoe rack, slipping on a pair of t ke cashmere shoes. They were warm and could also be worn as slippers. Downstairs, Will had already sat on the couch in the hall. Several mary gift envelopes were ced on the tea table. Following their family tradition, on the first day of the New Year, Eileen had to greet Will in order. Will did not have many rules when facing Eric, but he was strict with Eileen. As for Vera¡­ She wasn¡¯t adopted by Will but was still part of the family. Therefore, she wasn¡¯t obligated to follow the Swan family¡¯s rules. Eileen bowed to Will. ¡°I wish you good health and happiness in the new year, Father.¡± ¡°Get up!¡± Will handed over a thick envelope. Eileen epted it with both hands. The weight inside indicated there was at least ten thousand. ¡°Thank you, Father.¡± Eileen showed a genuine smile. After she received Will¡¯s mary gift, Eric took out another envelope from his suit pocket. ¡°This is for you.¡± ¡°No need. Father has already given me money. Eric, it¡¯s not easy for you to make money,¡± Eileen said. ¡°I¡¯ve given Vera hers.¡± Eileen nced at Vera. Vera smiled and said, ¡°ept it. Eric is pretty generous!¡± Eileen reached out to take the envelope, but Eric didn¡¯t release his grip on it. ¡°What about your blessings?¡± Eileen raised her eyebrows slightly. ¡°May you live a long life and find your true love soon. Chapter 168 A Bank Card Hopefully, you¡¯ll get me a sister-inw soon so that Father will get to hold his grandchild next year.¡± After she finished speaking, she unceremoniously withdrew her hand. Ignoring him, she turned around and left without a word. Touching the envelope, she felt something hard inside. It didn¡¯t seem like cash and was more like a card, After finishing her meal. Eileen returned to her room. She opened Will¡¯s envelope and counted at least ten thousand inside. As for Eric¡¯s¡­.. Eileen tipped it over, and out came a bank card. What does he mean? Disgusted, she threw it aside. She couldn¡¯t bear to use any of the money he earned. Eileen powered on her fully charged phone and nced at the messages she had received. She noticed a New Year¡¯s greeting from Jasper that had been sent exactly at midnight. By that time, she was already asleep. Eileen immediately responded to him: ¡°Happy New Year.¡± Just as she sent the message, he called. The sudden vibration startled Eileen. Eileen calmly answered the call. ¡°Did you just wake up?¡± His exhausted voice resonated through the phone. Eileen replied, ¡°No, my phone ran out of batteryst night, and I just saw your message after turning it on. How about you? Haven¡¯t you rested?¡± Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Immediately after she asked that question, Fabian¡¯s voice urged, ¡°Mr. Smith, the flight tickets have been booked. We can depart now.¡± ¡°Great. Go ahead and make the necessary preparations.¡± ¡°Understood, Mr. Smith.¡± Chapter 169 Chapter 169 Chapter 169 Health Is More Important You must be busy, so I won¡¯t bother you anymore,¡± Eileen said, trying not to interrupt Jasper¡¯s work. Jasper focused his attention on her. ¡°Won¡¯t you ask what I¡¯m doing?¡± Eileen hesitated; she didn¡¯t think it was necessary for him to inform her of his work. Besides, she didn¡¯t have the habit of prying into others¡¯ privacy. Without answering his question, she simply said, ¡°You should get back to work. Don¡¯t miss. your flight.¡± ¡°Okay. When Ie back, I¡¯ll make it up to you with a New Year¡¯s gift,¡± Jasper¡¯s voice came through the phone, void of any emotion. Eileen immediately said. ¡°No need. You¡¯ve already given me a lot; I can¡¯t ask for more.¡± ¡°Eileen, must we be so formal with each other?¡± His voice turned deep. No matter what he did, she always rejected him. He thought that the events ofst night would bring them closer than before. Jasper was initially in a good mood but suddenly felt like a storm had hit because of this phone call. Eileen tightly gripped the hem of her clothes. ¡°I¡¯m sorry! I just feel that you¡¯ve given me a lot already. I can¡¯t ask for anything more.¡± Her apology made Jasper calm down. He had been too harsh. Every time, he couldn¡¯t control his temper. Jasper tiredly pressed his temples. ¡°I haven¡¯t been taking my medicine recently. I¡¯m sorry, Eileen. I didn¡¯t mean to be so forceful. I¡¯m not doing it on purpose.¡± Eileen said with concern, ¡°Jasper, even if you¡¯re busy, you should take your medicine. Your health is important. If it¡¯s unnecessary socializing, you can skip it. Your healthes first.¡± In fact, all he wanted to hear was a simple expression of concern. They both fell silent. Afraid the atmosphere would turn cold, Eileen didn¡¯t know what else to say. Chapter 169 Health Is More Important This is from N?velDrama.Org. Looking down at the photos on his desk, Jasper said, ¡°I¡¯ll be back soon, probably in three days¡± ¡°Okay. Take care of yourself.¡± ¡°I need to go. Bye.¡± ¡°Mm-hmm.¡± After ending the call. Eileen felt considerably more rxed. She looked back at the locked door, confident that no one woulde in now. Before she went upstairs, she had instructed that no one was to disturb her unless it was important. Eileen picked up a book and walked out to the balcony. Shey down on a chair, covering herself with a thin nket. As she basked in the sun, she read her book. Not long after shey down, there was a knock at the door. Pretending not to hear. Eileen merely nced over and closed the sliding ss door, shutting out the noise from outside. The renovations in the past few months not only covered the indoors but also made soundproofing adjustments. Hearing the gradually weakening knock on the door, Eileen chose to ignore it. Outside, Eric knocked for a long time but there was no response. ¡°Is Eileen already asleep?¡± Vera nced at Eric, her voice tinged with a hint of disappointment. ¡°Let¡¯s not disturb her.¡± Eric looked at her, his gaze cold. ¡°Think carefully. Did you leave the workbook at school?¡± Vera shook her head. ¡°I distinctly remember bringing my workbook home after thest ss a few days ago and putting it on the table, but then it disappeared.¡± She pondered over it slightly and shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m not sure, Eric. I¡¯m sorry, but I¡¯ve forgotten.¡± Vera¡¯s brows furrowed tightly. Eric reached out, gently stroking her long hair. ¡°How about asking your teacher for a new one after the New Year?¡± ¡°I called, and Mr. Gardner has already returned to Saintnam. There¡¯s a task that must be done, or else¡­ I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s my fault. I¡¯m always causing trouble for you.¡± The door was tightly shut. Eric¡¯s gaze turned deep as he said, ¡°If you cannot find it, I happen to need to pay the Friedman family a visit.¡± Vera immediately grabbed Eric¡¯s clothes, looking at him earnestly. ¡°I don¡¯t want you to go And her. I don¡¯t like her. Lric brushed off Vera¡¯s hand. He raised his wrist to check the time. ¡°I¡¯ll be back after dinner.¡± Eric!¡± Vera hurriedly chased after him. s, he didn¡¯t linger, striding away without hesitation. Vera¡¯s eyes suddenly became unfamiliar, showing a hint of coldness. Her hands clenched into fists. Eileen waspletely oblivious to what was happening outside. She had fallen asleep with a book covering her face. At this moment, Eileen heard a sound, as if stones were falling. At first, she didn¡¯t pay attention, but in the next second, she heard a ttering sound. The flowerpot on the balcony suddenly fell, shattering on the ground. Eileen quickly got up to check the situation. Walking to the edge of the balcony, she suddenly felt a dazzling light directed at her eyes. Shielding her eyes from the sunlight, she squinted her eyes. She was trying to find out the person who threw stones at her flower pot and used a mirror to reflect light into her eyes. Eileen lowered her gaze, searching for a while before she finally spotted the person sitting on the wall of her backyard. The young man was dressed in a ck windbreaker with a pair of sunsses hanging behind his ears. He looked up at her, a defiant smile lighting up his face. He was also fiddling with at mirror in his hand. Eileen hurriedly ran to the backyard and looked up at the young man sitting on the wall. ¡°Are you out of your mind? Why on earth did you break my flowerpot?¡± Elm supported himself with both hands behind him, revealing the tattoos on his arms. He casually put on his sunsses. In him, Eileen saw the vigor of youth. ¡°It¡¯s New Year¡¯s Day. Why not go out? Instead, you stay at home reading books all day. You might turn into a senile dementia patient.¡± He shook his head. Eileen shielded her eyes from the ring sun with her hands. ¡°Where do you want to go?¡± Elm raised his eyebrows, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. A dimple on one side of his cheek was partially visible. ¡°You have ten minutes. Grab a jacket, I¡¯ll be waiting for you at the door!* With that. Elm jumped down from the wall and left Jasper¡¯s vi. He didn¡¯t give her a chance to respond. Eileen wasn¡¯t fond of going o stepped outside. especially considering anything could happen once she Eileen hesitated as she sat in the living room. After ten minutes, Elm would probably leave given his temperament. After half an hour of lingering, she finally put on a ke padded cotton jacket and went out. By chance, she ran into Will, who was downstairs enjoying a cup of tea. ¡°Are you heading out?¡± Will asked. Too afraid to meet his gaze, Eileen replied, ¡°I¡¯m going out for a while and will be back soon.¡± ¡°Go ahead.¡± Will said, assuming she was meeting Jasper and not stopping her. Eileen reached the doorway and spotted a sleek, cool ck motorcycle. Elm was sitting on it, his hands sped together as he exhaled onto them before rubbing them together. Why is he still here? Elm caught sight of Eileen in the rearview mirror and turned his head. ¡°What¡¯s taking you so long? I¡¯m taking you out to eat, not on a date. Why go through all the trouble?¡± Although heined. he still gave her a head-to-toe appraisal! Well, I must say she looks stunning! Chapter 170 Chapter 170 Chapter 170 Do You Want It What are you staring at? Hop on!¡± Eileen pursed her lips. ¡°Elm, I actually don¡¯t feel like going out.¡± N?velDrama.Org is the owner. ¡°Are you trying to be foolish? Hurry up and get on the bike. It¡¯s freezing!¡± ¡°Where are we going?¡± ¡°A nice ce.¡± Reluctantly, Eileen sat on the motorcycle. It was her first time riding like this. Elm turned around. furrowing his brow as he examined her face. ¡°Why are you staring?¡± Eileen was puzzled by his gaze. Elm reached out, undoing the bun in her hair. He then handed her a helmet and smoothly slid her hair tie onto his wrist. ¡°Hold onto me!¡± What? Eileen wasn¡¯t sure if it was because of his words or the weather, but her ears felt a bit hot. She gently grasped both sides of his clothes. ¡°Done. We can go now.¡± ¡°You really don¡¯t listen, do you?¡± Wearing leather gloves, Elm extended his hand backward, gripping hers and pulling it down. to his waist. ¡°Hold on tight here, don¡¯t let go,¡± he instructed. From another angle, Eileen seemed intimately close to him, and she thought it was a bit too. much. So, she moved her hands from his waist to his clothes. Lowering his head, Elm chuckled and didn¡¯t say a word. Instead, he stepped on the gas and sped off. Eileen let out a piercing scream. ¡°Ah!¡± She crashed into his back, her heart pounding. Holding onto him tightly, she asked, ¡°Elm, can¡¯t you slow down a bit?¡± Huh? What did you say? I can¡¯t hear you.¡± 1.4 I said, slower!¡± Oh Faster? Sure!¡± Eileen screamed and nearly flew out as the speed increased. As they rounded a corner, Eileen was so frightened that she didn¡¯t dare to open her eyes. She held on tightly, terrified of falling. She wondered if he was doing this on purpose. The wind roared by her ears, and she felt her ears ringing. Eileen was still in a daze when she heard a soft chuckle. ¡°How much longer do you n on hugging me? If you continue, I might have to start charging you.¡± Eileen quickly loosened her grip. ¡°Get off.¡± She removed her helmet and hopped off the bike. Her legs were still trembling. Elm dismounted the motorcycle, supporting Eileen with one hand. ¡°Can you handle this?¡± Eileen retorted. ¡°Isn¡¯t it all your fault, speeding like that?¡± ¡°You¡¯re so timid. We¡¯re fine, aren¡¯t we? Come on, let¡¯s go for a stroll!¡± Elm reached out to smooth her tousled hair. Eileen nced at the bustling old street in front of her, full of stalls. The street was lively and vibrant, filled with the bustling atmosphere of everyday life. ¡°Does a ce like this still exist? Have you been here before?¡± Her clear eyes were full of curiosity. ¡°You don¡¯t know about this ce. It¡¯s pretty crowded here, so don¡¯t get lost.¡± Elm took off his ck leather gloves and ced them in front of Eileen. Seeing the gloves, Eileen asked, ¡°What¡¯s this for?¡± ¡°Why are you even asking? It¡¯s cold. Put them on.¡± Eileen declined, ¡°No need. I¡¯m not cold.¡± Elm thought she was being stubborn and nodded cheerfully. ¡°Sure, you can endure the cold. After walking into the market, they saw someone performing a monkey show on the street side. She paused to watch for a while. Whenever someone tipped money into the bowl, the little monkey would carry the full bowl to its owner. All that money would end up in his pocket. Someone handed over a bill, which the little monkey took. It then bowed respectfully to the person with the money in hand. Eileen suddenly became interested. ¡°Elm, can it understand humannguage?¡± Elm shot her a dumbfounded look and forcibly dragged her away by the neck. Eileen protested, ¡°What are you doing, Elm? I haven¡¯t seen enough!¡± ¡°He¡¯s just a street swindler. What¡¯s so interesting about a monkey show? Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Let me watch for a while.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not interesting.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never seen it before.¡± Elm suddenly stopped in his tracks, letting go of her hand. ¡°Do you really want to watch it?¡± Eileen nodded. ¡°Yes. Just for a while!¡± ¡°Okay, I can apany you for a maximum of five minutes. Otherwise, we won¡¯t finish. browsing the market. After today, the vendors here will be gone.¡± ¡°Elm, you really are a good person. Do you have any money on you?¡± Elm knew that he wanted to reward the monkey. This youngdy truly had a heart of gold. Elm patted his pocket, feeling for his wallet. After finding his wallet, he took off his gloves and opened the wallet without looking. He pulled out two red banknotes, handing them to her. ¡°Go ahead and experience it.¡± Eileen was somewhat stunned. ¡°You¡¯re giving two hundred for an experience? Elm, do you have money to spare?¡± It was the year 2000, and the red one-hundred bills were recently issued. They were rare to see now, and he gave her two hundred at once. Clearly, he hadn¡¯t experienced financial difficulties as he was far too extravagant. Moreover, the average person¡¯s daily sry wasn¡¯t much. Eileen asked. ¡°Don¡¯t you have any change?¡± Elm carefully examined the wallet, then shook his head. ¡°Should I get some change?¡± ¡°Forget it, let¡¯s not bother. Even if you want to buy something, no one will have enough change for you.¡± Suddenly, Elm found thest remaining coin at the bottom of his wallet. ¡°Here¡¯s one coin. Do you want it?¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Eileen happily agreed, turning around to toss the money into the little monkey¡¯s bowl. Elm noticed her actions. Only someone like her would give money away foolishly. But surprisingly, she also knew how to save his money! For ordinary people, perhaps these things weremon, but Eileen had never seen them before. She was like a princess living in a castle full of danger. She was able to live a life that ordinary people desired, but the condition was that she couldn¡¯t step out of the castle. After paying, she immediately ran back to Elm. Elm gazed at her with an amused smile. ¡°You seem so delighted about giving money.¡± Eileen nodded. ¡°Yes. Where are we heading next?¡± Elm replied, ¡°You¡¯ll find out once you follow me. Just make sure you don¡¯t get lost.¡± At a pasta restaurant, the owner served two tes of pasta. Yvette took out two forks and handed one to the person sitting across from her. ¡°What are you staring at?¡± She turned her head to look out the window, but there was nothing to see. Eric averted his gaze, his face devoid of expression as he picked up his fork. ¡°Is this the extraordinary ce you were talking about?¡± Yvette nodded. ¡°Yes, this is it. Isn¡¯t it bustling? Today is the final day of the street market. If you don¡¯t apany me properly, you¡¯ll regret it! The pasta here is especially delicious. I used toe here often. You should give it a try! Thedy boss¡¯s culinary skills are exceptional. You won¡¯t find anyone else like her in Hulbury.¡± A hint of darkness seemed to cloud Eric¡¯s eyes. His voice turned cold as he spoke. ¡°After we finish eating, I¡¯ll take you back. I don¡¯t have time to hang out with you.¡± Chapter 171 Chapter 171 Chapter 171 Thinking Of Buying Yvette held her chin with both hands. ¡°Mr. Snow, is this your attitude when asking for help? Don¡¯t forget, you want me to lend a workbook to your sister! If you don¡¯t apany me, I won¡¯t lend it to you. I¡¯ll call the driver now to pick me up.¡± ¡°Suit yourself.¡± Eric stood up, ready to leave. He sounded a bit displeased. Yvette panicked. She immediately sat down next to Eric, tightly clutching his arm, refusing to let him leave. When threats didn¡¯t work. Yvette¡¯s demeanor softened. ¡°Mr. Snow, can¡¯t you just spend half a day with me? I¡¯m all alone during New Year.¡± She grabbed Eric¡¯s arm, swaying it and acting cute. ¡°Please, Eric!¡± Yvette rarely called him by his name. Usually, she addressed him as ¡°Mr. Snow¡± or ¡°old man.¡± He was around seven to eight years older than her and was indeed older. As soon as Eileen arrived, she was taken to a ce where the entire floor was filled with stalls. and food vendors. However, the environment wasn¡¯t particrly pleasant. The tables were littered with discarded stic containers, and gnawed bones were strewn on the ground. A few stray dogs were darting about by the roadside. In the air, apart from the delightful aroma of food and spices, there was a mix of other unpleasant smells. However, the majority of the unpleasant smells were masked by the aroma of the barbecued skewers. Stepping on a bone, Eileen looked down and felt disgusted, not knowing where to ce her foot. ¡°Elm, what kind of ce is this? Why did you bring me here?¡± ¡°What a drama queen.¡± Elm reached out and grabbed her wrist, ¡°Ms. Eileen, be careful not to let the crowd separate us.¡± Elm led her through the food court and into an alley. After a while, they gradually left the crowd, and the area became quieter. Away from the crowded people, Eileen felt like she could breathe fresh air again. They arrived at a ck door that was wide open. It was a clean, small restaurant. However, there were only two tables with customers at this hour. ¡°We¡¯re here!¡± Eileen asked, ¡°Are we here for a meal?¡± think? With you El raised an eyebrow and let go of her hand. ¡°What else do appearance, can you endure eating there?¡± He patted the dust off his clothes. your delicate Eileen shook her head, feeling a bit embarrassed. ¡°I¡¯m not used to it yet. I¡¯ve never been here before, and my father doesn¡¯t allow me to cat such things.¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough. Let¡¯s head in, Ms. Eileen!¡± They found a table. As soon as they sat down, Elm grabbed some napkins, wiped the table a few times, and threw them in the trash. ¡°What do you want to eat?¡± ¡°Ravioli.¡± ¡°Ms. Eileen, aren¡¯t you tired of eating ravioli every day?¡± Eileen was puzzled. ¡°How do you know I eat ravioli at home every day?¡± Elm hesitated for a moment, then quickly responded, ¡°You said it yourself. Anyway, don¡¯t overthink it.¡± He called out, ¡°Two servings of ravioli, please.¡± The owner responded, ¡°Got it!¡± Eileen looked around, seemingly filled with curiosity about the new things around her. This is from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Is Will really that strict with you? He doesn¡¯t let you eat anything. If you want to eat, no one can stop you.¡± The owner soon served them piping hot ravioli. The two of them seemed quite familiar with each other, chatting in a dialect she couldn¡¯t understand. ¡°Is this youngdy your girlfriend?¡± ¡°Not yet, but¡­ I¡¯m trying.¡± ¡°You better hurry then. Bring her over whenever you have the time.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± After the owner left, Eileen asked him, ¡°Do you know the owner?¡± Elm nodded. ¡°Yeah. I know. I used toe here often.¡± Oh, okay.¡± She thought that someone as picky as Elm wouldn¡¯te to a ce like this. Eileen didn¡¯t really mind. It was just that the restaurant was hard to find as it was located in an alley. After a few minutes of eating, the other customers had already paid their bills and left. Only the two of them remained in the restaurant. The owner was an old man in his sixties or seventies. Now idle, he wore reading sses and seemed to be mending something. The thread in his hand couldn¡¯t pass through the needle¡¯s eye, so he called Elm for help. ¡°I need your help. I can¡¯t see.¡± Elm had just finished eating. He wiped his mouth and stood up. ¡°What are you sewing? Let me see.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a top that got torn by a nailst time. With a little mending, it can still be worn.¡± ¡°Where is your wife?¡± ¡°Oh, she¡¯s out walking the dog. She won¡¯t be back for a while.¡± Eileen noticed Elm settled in the seat just vacated by the owner. He picked up an old, blue garment, which looked like it had been worn for many years. Eileen hadn¡¯t expected Elm to be skilled in sewing. After finishing his meal, she walked over and watched him threading the needle. He skillfully handled the needle and thread. seemingly experienced. Elm looked up to meet her gaze. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Haven¡¯t you seen someone sewing before?¡± Eileen nodded. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you could sew. Elm, you¡¯re quite amazing.¡± Elm chuckled and replied, ¡°It¡¯s nothing. You learn it when you do it a lot.¡± In his family, old clothes would be thrown away, and there was no chance of wearing them again. Elm seemed strange in every way. With tattoos visible on his arms and that somewhat rogue appearance, he didn¡¯t look like a good person at all. Eileen couldn¡¯t quite put her feelings into words as she watched him sew. All she could say was that he was really quite a remarkable person. When it was time to y, he would be the wildest of all. He never took things seriously at school However, when he was serious, he could learn how to sew. Eh hd such a good job mending the sleeve that she couldn¡¯t see any trace of the thread. The owner kept praising him, ¡°Good job, Elm.¡± Elm responded. ¡°You¡¯re wee.¡± When they were about to leave, the owner declined Elm¡¯s money. Ehn agreed outwardly, but when the owner went into the kitchen, he discreetly retrieved two one- hundred dor bills from his wallet and ced them in the drawer before their departure. On the main street, they engaged in various games. One involved shooting bullets, where popping a small balloon would cause a doll to fall. Elm disyed remarkable uracy, hitting the target every time. Consequently, Eileen received arge doll. They went fishing and yed hoo. All the prizes from those games were given to her. She could barely hold them with both hands. However, she couldn¡¯t possibly take them back with her. She had to ask Elm to deliver them to the small house she rented. After two hours, they had only explored half of this lengthy street. When they grew weary from ying, they would indulge in grilled squid and blue cheese from the street vendors, along with various snacks she had never tried before. Eileen remembered the half-eaten candied apple from earlier. She turned around excitedly and asked, ¡°Elm, where is the candied apple I was eating?¡± ¡°I finished it.¡± ¡°You finished it? How could you? It was mine!¡± Elm raised his left eyebrow slightly. ¡°Here¡¯s the other half of the grilled octopus balls and tuna roll. There¡¯s also a skewer, half a fried sausage, and half a crispy hash brown. Which one do you want? I already ate half of the leftovers for you. If I could have eaten more, I would have thrown them all away.¡± Eileen felt a bit embarrassed and said, ¡°Should we eat slowly then? I won¡¯t buy more,¡± Elm chuckled. ¡°Are you seriously considering buying more?¡± Chapter 172 Chapter 172 Chapter 172 Are You Happy Eileen pondered and realized it was true. She hadn¡¯t expected to buy so much. After a brief consideration, she decided not to buy more. She would eat what she had first. She didn¡¯t have much self-control when it came to shopping. In the crowd, Eileen felt an intense gaze aimed at her. When she subconsciously looked across the street, there was nothing there. She must have been mistaken. They left the market. Unfortunately, they didn¡¯t get to explore everything. It was gettingte, and the sky was gradually darkening. Firecrackers echoed one after another as families celebrated the New Year. Originally. Eileen nned to rush back home, but deep down, she didn¡¯t want to. They sat outside a closed coffee shop in the park, finishing the remaining food and watching the fireworks in the sky. ¡°Happy New Year. Elm!¡± She turned to the young man across from her. He was watching the fireworks solemnly, the dazzling colors reflecting in his eyes. Hearing her voice, Elm also turned his head to look at her. ¡°Happy New Year.¡± ¡°I should get going!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take you home.¡± Eileen smiled and declined, ¡°No need, I¡¯ll take a taxi hometer. You should hurry home too! Don¡¯t miss the New Year¡¯s Eve dinner.¡± New Year¡¯s Eve dinner? For him, every New Year was the same. It didn¡¯t hold much significance. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± The two of them cleaned up the trash on the table and walked out of the park. Suddenly, Elm spoke. ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid he¡¯ll find out we spent the day together?¡± Eileen replied calmly, ¡°You mean Jasper? Even if he knows, why should I be afraid?¡± ¡°Are you really that naive, or are you pretending to be? Even I have never been to the Smith what do you think I should think?¡± Eileen said seriously, ¡°Elm, you know well that he has a girl he¡¯s willing to protect with his life.¡± She was the reason Jasper got into a car ident and became paralyzed. Jasper had fallen in love with the girl since high school, and they dated for three whole years. Jasper¡¯s temperament then was simr to Elm¡¯s now, but Jasper could be even inore reckless. She was the only one who could cure Jasper at that time. It was Richard who told her all about Jasper¡¯s past. After that girl left, Jasper became despondent, forever shutting himself in the darkness. She left because of the Smith family¡¯s opposition. But now, things were different. Jasper could protect the one he loved. Compared to their past deep love, Eileen was iparable. They only separated due to misunderstandings, and one day, they would be together again. ¡°In this aspect, I can¡¯tpare to her. Also, Jasper might not even understand if he truly likes me.¡± Maybe he just wanted someone to fill the void in his heart. ¡°Jasper went to Atharia yesterday after he left. He wanted to find her.¡± Elm asked, ¡°How did youe to know all this?¡± Eileen exined, ¡°Richard told me over the phone after Jasper boarded the ne yesterday.¡± Elm should know everything that happened to Jasper. Otherwise, given Jasper¡¯s personality, he wouldn¡¯t let Elm approach her so easily. Just like Eric, he was controlling and possessive. Elm didn¡¯t speak. The answer was already clear as day. ¡°I went to the Smith family just hoping to seek shelter through their influence. When Jasper brought the girl back from abroad, it would be time for Eileen to leave the Smuth residence. However, Eileen knew that in Will¡¯s mind, she had an intimate rtionship with Jasper, and he wouldn¡¯t do anything for now. If heter found out she couldn¡¯t be a pawn for him to get connected to the Smith family, he would likely discard her to pave the way for the family. Elm gave her a long look. ¡°Actually, you¡¯re only half right.¡± N?velDrama.Org is the owner. Jasper did like her. Otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t have driven him out of the Smith family. Elm smiled self-mockingly. It seems that Richard didn¡¯t tell her what exactly happened between Jasper and that woman. He would never end up with that woman. Eileen looked at him. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± ¡°What do I mean? Wait until hees back, and you¡¯ll know.¡± Elm hesitated. ¡°But you should be careful. If he finds out you¡¯ve used him as a tool, well¡­ I¡¯m leaving now, you can hail a taxi yourself.¡± Elm turned and left in the opposite direction, waving at her. ¡°Ms. Eileen, see you when school starts. He really just left like that. At this hour, it¡¯s actually quite difficult to hail a taxi as most taxi drivers have already gone home for the New Year. Just as Eileen regained her senses, she saw a familiar car parked under a brightly lit streetmp. Someone in the car was ring at her menacingly. A shiver uncontrobly ran through Eileen¡¯s heart. Why is he here? She couldn¡¯t escape and had to get into Eric¡¯s car. The car was filled with a chilling, oppressive atmosphere. Eileen grabbed the seatbelt, looking out the window. Throughout the journey. Eric didn¡¯t a word, and she remained silent. say However, she noticed a workbook ced in the middle of the car. It belonged to Yvette. Is he here as well because he was with Yvette a while ago? He wasn¡¯t spying on me. It was already past six o¡¯clock, and the sky waspletely dark by now. When they were about to arrive, Eric was the first to break the silence. ¡°Do you enjoy being with other men?¡± His tone was icy cold. ¡°Do you really have to put it in such an unpleasant way?¡± ¡°Did I say something wrong? Eileen, does it feel good to toy with Jasper¡¯s feelings?¡± ¡°Eric, that¡¯s enough!¡± Eileen red at him angrily. ¡°My rtionship with him isn¡¯t as disgraceful as you imagine.¡± Elm was a million times better than him. Rather than meddling in her affairs, he should first take care of his own. He still wanted to form a marriage alliance with the Friedman family. If Yvette knew about his phndering ways, even if he relied on his good looks to rise to power, the Friedman family would never agree. Eileen didn¡¯t want to talk to him. She reached out and turned on the car¡¯s music. Instead of ying music, a news report started ying on the radio station. After the police investigation, Lillian¡¯s body was discovered in multiple locations. The investigation revealed bite marks on the severed limbs of the twenty-year-old girl, suggesting an animal attack. Eileen gazed at him calmly. ¡°Is there any connection between Lillian¡¯s death and you?¡± ¡°What do you think?¡± Simultaneously, he observed her, but she couldn¡¯t decipher his thoughts. Eileen turned her head away, refusing to meet his gaze any longer. ¡°Stop looking at me like that. I might start suspecting you¡¯re the murderer!¡± He tightened his grip on the steering wheel and smirked. ¡°Does it frighten you?¡± Chapter 173 Chapter 173 Chapter 173 You Promised To Help Me Eileen sneered, ¡°Anyone would be afraid to sit beside a murderer!¡± Is she scared? Ha! If she was scared, she wouldn¡¯t have been so disobedient, going out on dates with another man! He didn¡¯t defend himself, so it seemed this matter was indeed true. Well, what couldn¡¯t he do? Even if he were to kill someone, he could do it wlessly. Eileen said, ¡°She was with you for a year, Eric. Aren¡¯t you sad? How could you do it? She really liked you.¡± ¡°Like? Are you jealous?¡± His tone was calm and indifferent. Eileen¡¯s eyes stared at him as if he was an emotionless monster. She wasn¡¯t just asking about Lilian; she was asking for herself. She wanted to know the feeling of being responsible for the death of someone she had once loved. Did he have a moment of regret? Will he regret the decisions he made? Has he ever sincerely cared for me? Eileen took a deep breath. Forget it. He won¡¯t say, and I can¡¯t read his mind. ¡°People like you don¡¯t deserve to be liked by anyone.¡± He would face retribution. She hoped that he would spend the rest of his life alone, losing everyone around him. ¡°Really? Who¡¯s head over heels in love?¡± A wave of shyness washed over Eileen¡¯s face. She didn¡¯t respond, but she noticed his resting on her. Upon reaching Unde Mansion, the car came to a halt, and the two of them got out. Eric locked the car and took out some fireworks from the trunk. gaze When they walked into the house, Will¡¯s displeased gazended on Eileen. ¡°Why are you back sote? Eileen quickly exined, ¡°Eric and I went out to buy some things. Will stood up from the couch. ¡°Let¡¯s eat!¡±- The housekeeper went upstairs to inform Vera. Before dinner, they would set off firecrackers. Everyone sat down. Eileen sat on Will¡¯s left and started eating. Elsie didn¡¯te down. Although they knew something was amiss, no one asked. Eileen looked up and noticed the housekeeper carrying simple dishes upstairs. The thoughts about the basin of blood she saw that day crossed her mind. Is Elsie injured? But she went on vacation with Will, apanied by bodyguards. How could she be hurt? Eileen shook off the doubts in her mind. Some things were better left unthought of. The family needed to stay upte at night. Fruits were ced on the coffee table. Eileen didn¡¯t go back to her room. Sitting on the couch, she flipped through a book in boredom. Vera sat with her, watching TV. Eric was ying chess with Will. asionally, Eileen felt Eric¡¯s gaze, making her uneasy. After putting her book aside, she stood up and went to the kitchen. Opening the fridge, she saw milk inside. She was about to pour a ss when she changed her mind and took a cup hot water. Outside therge ss window, there were floatingnterns from an unknown source. Recalling that there seemed to be one in the backyard warehouse, she stealthily made her way there when no one was paying attention. In a box, she found thentern and some leftover fireworks fromst year. Exiting the warehouse with dust on her, Eileen ced the box on the ground. Taking out a lighter, she lit thentern, but the lighter failed to ignite it despite multiple attempts. ¡°Is it useless?¡± Eileen shook it. Suddenly, a metal lighter appeared from the side. Startled, she dropped the skyntern. stepping back to create some distance as she saw him. of ¡°Why do you walk without making any sound? What are you doing here?¡± Eileen asked cautiously. ¡°Use this. Eric casually put one hand into his pocket while offering a lighter to her with the othere Carefully, Eileen reached out to take the lighter from his hand. Suddenly, he grabbed her and tugged her forward. Eileen stumbled backward, pressed against his burning chest in an ambiguous posture. Struggling, she protested, ¡°What are you doing? Someone might see!¡± Eric¡¯s figure was huge, almostpletely shielding the petite Eileen from view. As he leaned down, the warm breath from his nostrils cascaded down her neck. It felt as if a current of electricity was coursing through her sensitive skin, making her feel numb. ¡°Even if someone sees, so what?¡± From behind her, Eric picked up thentern. ¡°You want to light this up, right? Take it.¡± Eileen twisted her body. ¡°Let go of me first.¡± ¡°If you move and ignite my desire, I¡¯ll use you to cool down,¡± he whispered, gently nipping at Eileen¡¯s carlobe. Eileen¡¯s heart pounded, unsure how to react. She stayed still, not daring to move. As they helped each other, Eric used the lighter to light up the wick in thentern. The reflection of the fire danced in his eyes. They watched as the heat caused thentern to expand. Once the heat was sufficient, they watched as thentern soared into the sky. ¡°Won¡¯t you make a wish?¡± His voice was deep and pleasant. Eileen replied, ¡°I wish that from now on, you will stay away from me.¡± Eric nodded. ¡°This wish probably won¡¯te true.¡± ¡°Can you let go now? I want to go to bed!¡± ¡°Are you hinting at me, Eileen?¡± Eileen¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Through gritted teeth, she said, ¡°Could you stop thinking about these dirty things all the time? Be careful not to let Vera see us.¡± With that. Eric indeed released his grip. In the end, he still cared about Vera. Once Eileen broke free from his grip, she immediately took off running. Eric watched her escaping figure, his gaze darkening. Then, he looked at a corner. ¡°Seen enough?¡± His voice was extremely cold. Terrified, Mary hurriedly walked out. Shaking, she spoke. ¡°Mr. Eric, I-I just happened to pass by! I didn¡¯t see anything!¡± ¡°Scram!¡± Mary nodded frantically. ¡°I¡¯ll scram now.¡± Eileen returned to the living room, only to find itpletely empty. It was already eleven o¡¯clock. Most likely, everyone had gone upstairs. C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. As usual, Eric would be staying up all night. Usually, Eileen would stay by his side. Eileen returned to her room and locked the door. At three in the morning, Elsie, who was running a fever, finally woke 1. She noticed someone standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling window. Her face contorted in pain, Elsie became restless even though she was connected to the IV drip. ¡°Kill him! Eric! I want you to assist me in killing him now!¡± She trembled, appearing as if she had lost her sanity. ¡°It¡¯s not the appropriate time yet!¡± Elsie removed the needle from her hand and stumbled towards him. ¡°If it¡¯s not the right time, then when is it? He took me to North Manchernius and handed me over to drug traffickers to finalize a deal. More than ten individuals took turns viting me. Look at the scars on my body. Look at me! Look at me now! The same thing happened to Xena in the past! Will did the same thing to Xena. He¡¯s nothing more than a beast!¡± Elsie grasped Eric¡¯s arm, her voice trembling. ¡°I have gathered evidence against him and those people. Now, once Will is eliminated, we can alter the will, and the entire Swan family will be yours! You promised to assist me!¡± Chapter 174 Chapter 174 Chapter 174 Eric Has Fallen For Eileen Upon seeing Eric¡¯s silence, Elsie was on the verge of a breakdown. Hasn¡¯t he taken enough lives already? Don¡¯t you also wish for his death? Why are you hesitating? Is it because of Eileen?¡± Elsie gave a deste smile. ¡°Ah, I knew it Eric, you¡¯ve developed feelings for Eileen!¡± Eric¡¯s eyes turned cold. ¡°I won¡¯t let your affairs disrupt my ns. It¡¯s not just about the Swan family anymore. If you want Will dead, heal your wounds first beforeing to talk to me!¡± He turned around and stormed out, mming the door behind him. Eric returned to his adjacent room. At the door, he became alert, noticing a faint noiseing from inside. He pushed the door handle and walked in. The sound wasing from the bathroom. His eyes narrowed as a dangerous glint shed across them. In just a few minutes, the sound of the shower ceased, and the bathroom door swung open. Vera emerged, wrapped in a ke towel, her long hair cascading over her shoulders. Fresh from her bath, her skin was flushed, while her eyes sparkled dreamily. She looked irresistibly alluring, like a fawn stepping out of the forest. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Vera covered her chest with both hands, fear and shyness evident in her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Eric. I thought you were still downstairs. The water heater in my room is broken, so I thought I could shower in your bathroom.¡± ¡°Go back and rest after you¡¯re done,¡± Eric said as he turned to leave. Just as his hand touched the doorknob, Vera rushed over and hugged his waist from behind. ¡°Eric, don¡¯t go!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already gone this far, can¡¯t you tell?¡± Vera had set aside her sense of propriety and decency to come to a man¡¯s room, actively seeking intimacy. ¡°Eric, I like you. I¡¯ve liked you since we were children. You once said that you would always be with me. You wanted to wait until I went to college to give me your answer, but I can¡¯t wait any longer. I¡¯m afraid that if I do, you might change your mind and fall for someone else. I beg you, please make me yours, will you? Only then will I truly feel that I belong to you.¡± Eric¡¯s voice was icy. ¡°So now, apart from getting into a man¡¯s bed, is there nothing else you can do? Vera¡­ you¡¯re still a student. What you should be doing is studying, not engaging in such shameless acts. But Eileen did the same thing to you, didn¡¯t she? You could ept her! Why can¡¯t you ept me? Eric-¡± Enough! Erie cut her off fiercely. Over the years, Eric had always indulged her, never losing his temper, but today was the first time he did so. ¡°I¡¯m just scared of losing you. What¡¯s wrong with that?¡± Eric turned around. ¡°Let go!¡± ¡°I won¡¯t let go.¡± Vera held him even tighter. ¡°If I let go, you won¡¯t want me anymore! When you went to see Yvette today, do you know how scared I was? I was afraid¡­ afraid that you would really be with her, and that you would marry her in the future. Eric, I don¡¯t want you to be with her!¡± Eric didn¡¯t know what to do with her, fearing that his words might be too harsh and hurt her. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°Eric¡­¡± No sooner had she spoken than Eric¡¯s hand fell swiftly,nding a palm strike directly on the back of her neck. Vera was knocked unconscious instantly. Eric scooped her up around the waist and carried her out of the room. Suddenly, there was the sound of hurried footsteps from upstairs, rapidly descending. Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. Eileen, leaning on the stair railing, hurried downstairs. On the third floor, she awkwardly ran into Eric, who was holding Vera, d only in a loosely draped bath towel. It was a sight that could be easily misunderstood. She held her breath, hastily averting her eyes, pretending she hadn¡¯t seen anything. At the same time, she felt a sharp pain in her stomach. Without a second thought, she ran down the stairs. Eileen had already made seven or eight trips to the bathroom upstairs. No wonder Father doesn¡¯t allow me to eat street food here¡­ This pain is unbearable! After Eric carried Vera downstairs, he saw someone bending over and rummaging for something under the TV cab. ¡°What are you looking for?¡± ¡°Medicine!¡± There were always spare medicines at home, put there by Sharon. Eileen finally found the one for stomachaches. After ncing at the instructions, she swallowed two pills straight away before going to the kitchen to pour a ss of water and wash them down. Eileen casually pinned up her hair with a hair clip. The loose strands falling by her ears gave off a carefree andnguid vibe. She was dressed in a ke cashmere nightgown, and the attached hood had two long rabbit ears hanging off it. Eric looked at her with a deep and mysterious gaze. His eyes were like bottomless ck holes, inaking it impossible to decipher what he was thinking. Eileen drank quite a bit of water, set down her cup, and prepared to return to her room. As soon as she turned around, she noticed him looking at her. Eileen felt a little fearful, afraid that he might lose control again and do those things to her. Eric looked at Eileen, the voice in his mind reminding him. That¡¯s exactly how Will treated Xena back then! He¡¯s nothing but a beast! Hasn¡¯t he taken enough lives already? Don¡¯t you also wish for his death? Why are you hesitating? Is it because of Eileen? Ah, I knew it! Eric, you¡¯ve fallen for Eileen! Fallen for her? She will never be more than a dispensable pawn. As Eileen swallowed nervously, she quickly ran past him, only for her wrist to be suddenly seized by his grasp. The way he was looking at her then waspletely off. Usually, Eric¡¯s gaze held desire, anger, and the wicked intentions he hid deep within his heart. Whenever he wanted to do something to her, Eric would never bother to hide it. However, the way he looked at her then unsettled her. ¡°What¡­what are you doing?¡± Suddenly, Eric grabbed her hand and pulled her directly into the first-floor bathroom. Eileen dared not call for help loudly, for if her father found out, she would be in trouble. With a swift motion, Eileen was flipped over and pressed against the wall. ¡°Eric, stop fooling around. I have a stomachache!¡± If he doesn¡¯t mind, I¡¯ll relieve myself on him. Of course, she simply couldn¡¯t bring herself to say something vulgar. Before Eric could react, Eileen suddenly clutched her stomach. This actions came to a halt. Eileen¡¯s face was somewhat pale. ¡°You need to leave quickly. I need to use the restroom! She¡¯s afraid of having an ident at any moment. Eric frowned, a hint of disdain flickering in his eyes. ¡°Please step outside for now. We can talk after I¡¯m finished.¡± Eileen gently pushed Eric out of the door. The door mmed shut shortly after. Eileen emerged half an hourter. However, it was Sharon who was waiting by the door. ¡°You poor thing. You had a stomachache when I wasn¡¯t here. Isn¡¯t Mr. Snow keeping an eye on you? Why didn¡¯t you ask him to find you some medicine? The medicine in the drawer has already expired. You should have checked it first!¡± Sharon helped the weakened Eileen to the couch, pouring her a ss of in water. Eileen clutched her stomach, curling up on the sofa. ¡°I didn¡¯t know. It hurts¡­ Sharon!¡± ¡°Just endure it a little longer. Mr. Snow has gone upstairs to get the car keys. He will take to the hospital soon.¡± Chapter 175 Chapter 175 Chapter 175 You Like To Bite Eric drove to the hospital and assisted with the registration process before taking her to the emergency room. The wait continued until the early hours of the morning. After bringing her to the hospital, Eric left to take a phone call and had not yet returned. The nurse removed the needle from her hand and cautioned, ¡°You must be careful not to eat spicy food in the future. Your stomach can¡¯t handle it.¡± ¡°I understand now, thank you.¡± When Eric still hadn¡¯t returned to the ward, it was clear that he hadn¡¯te back after taking. the call outside. As Eileen stepped out of the ward, she encountered a womaning out of the restroom. The woman stopped in front of the door across from her and held onto the door handle for support. Suddenly, without warning, she fainted, swaying before copsing. Eileen quickly caught her as she fell. ¡°Ma¡¯am! Are you okay?¡± The woman was stunningly beautiful, with soft features and a youthful charm. A faint scent of jasmine emanated from her, but her body appeared frail, as if she was a delicate beauty gued by illness. As the woman groggily opened her eyes, Eileen helped her up. Looking into her eyes, Eileen felt a sense of familiarity. After entering the ward and helping her lie down, Eileen rang the nurse¡¯s bell. The nurse quickly arrived and conducted a thorough examination of thedy. They connected her to an IV drip. ¡°The patient is fine, she just has low blood sugar.¡± ¡°Ma¡¯am¡­ Did you skip your meal again tonight?¡± Ruth coughed twice. ¡°I¡¯m fine. I¡¯ve always been like this. Thank you for your concern.¡± The nurse replied, ¡°You can¡¯t continue like this. You need to eat at least a little. Let me have someone bring you some oatmeal.¡± Ruth nodded with a faint smile. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention it.¡± With that, the nurse left. Ruth¡¯s gaze returned to Eileen. ¡°Thank you, youngdy. What¡¯s your name?¡± My name is Eileen, ma¡¯am. if you¡¯re okay, I¡¯ll be leaving.¡± Thank for your help, Eileen!¡± you for Eileen gave a slight smile. ¡°You¡¯re wee.¡± With a gentle gaze, Ruth watched Eileen as she left. ¡°Indeed, she¡¯s a very pretty girl. Elm, you have good taste.¡±. As soon as Eileen stepped out, she saw Eric talking with a nurse in the elevator lobby. However, he wore a solemn expression and exuded a gloomy aura. The nurse seemed a bit scared, shivering slightly. Eileen didn¡¯t know what had happened. Only when she approached did she hear Eric angrily saying, ¡°Didn¡¯t I ask you to keep an eye on her? Now she¡¯s missing, and you¡¯re telling me you don¡¯t know where she is? Is this how a hospital of such reputation handles things?¡± ¡°Mr. Snow, please calm down. We¡¯ve already sent someone to check the surveince footage.¡± The nurse, upon seeing Eileen dressed in a hospital gown behind her, eximed in surprise, ¡°Ms. Swan?¡± Eric furrowed his brows and looked to his side, causing Eileen to feel somewhat uneasy under his gaze. His voice was icy as he interrogated, ¡°Where have you just been?¡± Eileen, without looking at him, said, ¡°The restroom.¡± ¡°Restroom? The nurse just came out of there. There was absolutely no one. Besides, there¡¯s a private bathroom in the ward. Where else would she go to use the toilet? She¡¯s such a liar!¡± After Ericpleted the discharge procedures, Eileen got into the car. On the way back, no one spoke. Despite thete hour, she felt incredibly alert. ¡°Why is Eric angry because of my sudden disappearance? Why?¡± Lost in thought, Eileen leaned back in her seat and unknowingly drifted off to sleep. Unsure of how long she had slept, Eileen felt a ticklish sensation on her skin and neck. She shifted her body slightly, finding it hard to breathe. When she opened her eyes, she saw a head of thick, ck hair. An unusual sensation coursed through her body. The tingling feeling felt as if electricity was passing through. ¡°Eric, enough!¡± She had just woken up her voice alluring. The car had been parked in the garage for some couldn¡¯t get up. 110 what, Eileen just I¡¯ve juste out of the hospital. Can¡¯t you give me a break?¡± Eileen looked out the car window and was surprised to find herself in her own garage. Her clothes were lifted, and the cold air made her feel chilly. Eileen slid her fingers into his hair, attempting to curb his primal desires. Underneath her clothes, his rough fingers rubbed forcefully, causing Eileen to let out a sensuous moan. ¡°That¡¯s enough!¡± Eileen, clear-headed, bit down on his shoulder. Despite it being the dead of winter, he wasn¡¯t wearing much, so the flesh she bit into was firm. Unsure if he was seeking revenge, his hand suddenly moved downward, lightly touching her groin. Eileen immediately let go of her bite, her face a mix of embarrassment and irritation. ¡°Stop taking advantage of me!¡± Eric paused, tilting his head back. His eyes, filled with desire, were fixed on her. ¡°You like to bite? Now you¡¯ve really bitten my hand.¡±This is from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°You jerk!¡± Enraged, Eileen suddenly pped him across the face. Eric¡¯s expression darkened slightly. Eileen was taken aback by his response, her eyes welling up with tears of humiliation. Her voice trembled slightly as she said, ¡°All you know is to bully me¡­ even at my own doorstep. What¡­ What do you take me for!¡± She covered her eyes with her arm, sobbing softly. Seeing her in that state, Eric immediately lost interest. He withdrew his hand, his fingers sticky with her fluid, and ran them over her lips. ¡°Next time, I dare you to mess around again, hmm?¡± ¡°Who are you? Why should I listen to you? Get off me!¡± Eileen angrily pushed him away. When she put down her hands, her teary eyes were filled with determination as she red at him. ¡°If you continue to treat me like this, I¡¯ll stay at the Smith residence forever and nevere back! Never!¡± ¡°Finding your courage, are you? Not afraid I¡¯ll send the video to him?¡± ¡°I dare to do it. I¡¯ll simply inform Father that you coerced me! I¡¯ll contact the police and use you of sexual assault! If my reputation is tarnished, I would rather take my own life than endure your repeated humiliations! Eric, do not even think about crossing my threshold!¡± ¡°Repeat that!¡± Eric¡¯s eyes suddenly narrowed, his hand tightening around her throat. Eileen defiantly stared back at him. ¡°Repeating it won¡¯t change anything. Every time you force me into such situations, it truly sickens me! I would rather be at the mercy of others and mistreated by them than be associated with someone like you. Are you proud of manipting a high school student? I would rather consent to be with Jasper than have involvement with a repulsive individual like you!¡± Eric¡¯s eyes resembled an unfathomable abyss, the darkness within appearing to slowly consume her. In that moment, Eric saw nothing but repulsion in her eyes. Chapter 176 Chapter 176 Chapter 176 They Are Together Now Eric finally stood up from her and eximed, ¡°Get out!¡± Eileen, already dressed, swiftly exited the car without hesitation. She didn¡¯t even bother taking the medicine she had brought back from the hospital. Sharon was still tidying up the living room when she saw Eileen rush in from outside. Eileen. appeared as though she had been crying. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Eileen?¡± Eileen remained silent, gripping the stair railing tightly as she ran upstairs. After that night, Eric was nowhere to be seen from New Year¡¯s Day and the following four or five days. On the day they left, Eileen was chatting with rtives who hade to visit for the holidays. Vera left together with Eric. At that moment. Eileen hurried to the kitchen, fearing that her father would ask her to see them off. With that, she spent the holidays in peace. During thepany¡¯s annual dinner that year, her father personally presided over it. As the heiress of Caerulus Corporation, Eileen appeared alongside him. Eileen, dressed in a stunning attire, captivated everyone present. Besides her, there were several other bosses. whosepanies were partners of Caerulus Corporation. Rather than calling it apany annual dinner, it would be more urate to say that it was Will¡¯s attempt to find her a new suitor. If she couldn¡¯t marry into the Smith family, finding another match of equal social standing and capable of forming a mutually beneficial alliance with Caerulus Corporation was also an eptable oue. After all, the Smith family was equivalent to dozens of Swan familiesbined. For the Smith family, associating with the Swan family was indeed a step up. No man could resist the allure of Eileen¡¯s beauty, not even the most debauched young scions. Even older men of Will¡¯s age couldn¡¯t help but cast scious gazes at her. Eileen detested such asions. She didn¡¯t want to be there, but she had no choice. She mingled with several wealthy young scions, exchanging contact information with them. Will had already gone off to chat with others. Eileen, feeling alone and fearing harassment, found an excuse to go to the restroom, using it as a convenient hiding ce. She didn¡¯t return until the banquet was almost over. On the way back, Eileen sat in a car that reeked of alcohol. She had only been away for 3 short while. Yet she couldn¡¯t understand why Will looked so upset. Eileen was afraid of him. She thought her father was angry because she hadn¡¯t shown up at the banquet. With a trembling hand, Eileen clutched the hem of her dress and sincerely apologized, ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­ Father!¡± ¡°How much do you know about what¡¯s going on between Eric and Vera?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Eileen was taken aback, and after a moment, she said, ¡°I¡¯m not sure. What happened, Father?¡± Will pinched the bridge of his nose, his expression grave. He remained silent, and Eileen didn¡¯t ask any further. Eileen only found out about what happened when the school term was about to start. The start of the school year at Petalburg High School was rtivelyte,mencing after Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Jasper also returned to the country the day before Martin Luther King Jr. Day. He said that he wanted to spend the holidays with her. So, on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Jasper came to pick her up from the Swan residence, and they went out for dinner. It was half past eight in the evening inside the most expensive and luxurious Friyxian restaurant in Hulbury. Jasper served her the steak he had cut for her. Eileen savored each bite, eating slowly and deliberately, with him feeding her most of the time. The smartphone by her side suddenly vibrated. Eileen looked at the iing call disy on her phone. It was a call from Eric. Originally, Eileen didn¡¯t want to ept, but after much consideration, she excused herself from the table and went to a quiet ce to answer it. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± She didn¡¯t even want to say his name anymore. ¡°Eileen!¡± The voice on the phone wasn¡¯t Eric¡¯s. Instead, it was Vera speaking- How did Eric¡¯s phone end up in Vera¡¯s hands? He wouldn¡¯t just casually give his personal belongings to others. Vera? Is there something you need?¡± ¡°Eileen, school starts tomorrow, but Eric and I won¡¯t be in Hulbury. We might not make it back in time. Could you help me ask Ms. Hayes for a leave of absence?¡± ¡°Sure, no problem!¡± After Eileen said this, she heard Vera calling out from the other end of the phone, ¡°Eric, could you help me get my bath towel?¡± Eileen was rendered speechless. Vera said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, what did you just say? I didn¡¯t catch that.¡± ¡°I understand. I¡¯ll let Ms. Hayes know tomorrow.¡± ¡°Thank you, Eileen.¡± ¡°Is there anything else? I¡¯m having my meal. If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll hang up first.¡± ¡°Having a meal? Are you with Mr. Smith?¡± Eileen¡¯s gaze met Jasper¡¯s. ¡°Mmm-hmm.¡± ¡°I¡¯m together with Eric now!¡± ¡°Good! Congrattions!¡± Eileen¡¯s voice was so calm, it was hard to discern. any ¡°Will you bless our union?¡± N?velDrama.Org is the owner. ¡°Mm-hmm.¡± ¡°Thank you, Eileen!¡± Has he finally gotten his wish to be with Vera? An inexplicable bitterness lingered in Eileen¡¯s heart. emotion. So, it turns out Eric can really let go of everything for one person. The only person who could make him do that is Vera. Eric could have been with Yvette, ingratiating himself with the Friedman family. In the future, he could have taken over the Friedman family entirely. With his abilities, he could have easily made a name for himself in Hulbury, establishing his own business empire and standing toe to toe with the Smith family. There¡¯s no need to resort to despicable means, staining himself with dishonor. Now that he has chosen Vera, it means he can let go of everything else. I should have known this a long time ago. 345 Upon hearing the news of them getting together, Eileen had already suspected that was what ber father had asked about back then. In this life, she didn¡¯t interfere, allowing them to be together smoothly. She considered it her way of making up to Vera for what she had owed thetter in the past. Remembering her father¡¯s reaction at the time, Eileen feltpelled to warn, ¡°My father has discovered your rtionship. He¡¯s very angry. Both of you need to be cautious around him.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Eric will protect me.¡± From the way Vera mentioned protection, Eileen could imagine the joy and happiness on her face. Relieved that Eric would finally stop bothering her, Eileen said, ¡°Alright.¡± After ending the call, Eileen returned to her seat. Jasper asked, ¡°Are they pressuring you to go home?¡± Eileen put away her phone and shook her head. ¡°No, it was Vera calling. School starts tomorrow, and she asked me to help her take a leave of absence.¡± Jasper nodded, ncing at the expensive watch on his wrist. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯ll take you home now. After school tomorrow, I¡¯lle to pick you up.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± School had started, and Eileen also needed to return to the Smith residence. Now that Eric is already with Vera, do I really need to go back there? Sitting in the luxurious Cayenne, Jasper asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?¡± Eileen realized her mistake and quickly looked away. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± That night, Eileen went home, took a bath, and then went to bed. She had a dream. In her dream, she saw Eric and Vera¡¯s future. Eric was sessful in his career, Vera graduated as a top student, and after their marriage¡­ They had a blissful marriage, blessed with a son and a daughter. They grew old together, surrounded by their children and grandchildren. As for her, she was gued by illness, ultimately passing away alone in the hospital, with no one inquiring about her. With her death, the Swan family disappeared from Hulbury. Many yearster, Eric became the richest man in Hulbury, attending a dinner with a femalepanion by his side. A reporter asked about his regrets. Eric replied, ¡°The Swan family had a daughter named Eileen.¡± However, when the reporter asked about their rtionship, Eric didn¡¯t answer. Chapter 177 Chapter 177 Chapter 177 You Are Definitely Not The First As the new semester began, the studying became increasingly stressful. The school had a test on the first day and dismissed students once the test was over, around three in the afternoon, which was quite early. After the exam, everyone had gone home. Since the majority of students at Petalburg High School were locals, very few resided on campus. Even if they were from other ces, they mostly chose to rent houses outside. While Eileen was packing her bag, ready to leave, Jacob called her into his office. ¡°Mr. Gardner, did you call me for something?¡± she asked inside the office. ¡°Just wait a moment,¡± Jacob said as he rummaged through his drawer, seemingly searching for something. After a while, he pulled out a set of test papers from the bottom of the pile. ¡°Eileen, are you still interested in Olympiad Math? Thepetition is next month. If you¡¯re interested, I can apply for a special quota to get you into thepetition as a supplementary candidate. There¡¯s only one spot avable for the entire school in this examination. You¡¯re a talented student with excellent academic performance. As your teacher, I wouldn¡¯t want to see such a gifted girl like you fall behind. Otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t be able to sleep at night. ¡°If I achieve good results, will I still be eligible for a guaranteed admission to Hulbury University?¡± Eileen asked. ¡°Of course!¡± Jacob became somewhat excited upon hearing her agreement. He dragged the swivel chair around with his hand as he said, ¡°As long as you perform well, not only can you be exempt from all misceneous school fees, but you can also receive a full year¡¯s schrship! You even have the opportunity to be an exchange student for a year! If you wish to continue your studies abroad, that¡¯s also an option. It¡¯s okay to endure a bit of hardship and tiredness now. Things will be easier once you get to college. There are only four sses a day, and you can do whatever you want!¡± Eileen agreed. ¡°So, what do I need to do?¡± ¡°All you need to do is attend the special ss. This ss is a mix of students from other schools. The training starts two days before the Olympiad Mathpetition. After all, there are many people vying for this spot. All you need to do ise in first. With your abilities. being first shouldn¡¯t be a problem. The special ss training is held at our school. However, it might be a bit tough and tiring, and you might get homete in the evening. It would be best if someone from your family could pick you up.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± After Eileen returned from Jacob¡¯s office, she saw Elm leaningzily against the ssroom door with his arms crossed and his backpack slung over one shoulder. As students from other sses passed by him, they all wore expressions of admiration. Beauty truly captivated the mind. Seeing Eileen approach, Elm sounded a bit impatient as he asked, ¡°Why are you so slow? Don¡¯t you have any enthusiasm for leaving school?¡± Eileen curled her light-colored lips into a faint smile. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Elm stood up straight and walked alongside her as he asked, ¡°What¡¯s up? Why do you seem so happy?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a secret!¡± Elmughed, ¡°What secret? You could just say that it¡¯s something exciting.¡± Eileen was in a fairly good mood, but she refused to tell him. ¡°Hey, I¡¯ve noticed something about you. In the one month since west met, you¡¯ve not only put on weight, but you also got a lot more confident. Are you going to tell me or not?¡± Eileen simply quickened her pace without saying a word. C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. ¡°Hey, you¡¯re walking pretty fast for someone of your height.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have short legs!¡± Eileen retorted, and she was telling the truth. Among the girls. I stand at a height of 1.68 meters. With shoes on, I easily reach 1.7 meters! How am I short? Sure, my height is nothingpared to his towering height of 1.86 meters, but I¡¯m pretty tall for a girl! In a good mood after stepping out of the school gate, Eileen apanied him to browse the roadside booths. They then sat in front of a small booth, enjoying skewers and grilled food. Elm grabbed a bottle of cold c, took a sip, and said, ¡°We went to the market on New Year¡¯s Eve,te into the night. My mom said she saw you at the hospital. What were you doing there?¡± It took Eileen a moment before she reacted, eximing in surprise, ¡°That was your mother?¡± ¡°Of course! Well, she could be your mom too if you want. It¡¯s not impossible!¡± 2.3 She is really beautiful, and she speaks so gently. However, I feel like you¡¯ve only inherited her looks. I can¡¯t say much about everything else.¡± Elin tapped his fork against the te. ¡°Stop avoiding the question!¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing serious, my brother had a stomachache, so I apanied him to the hospital,¡± Eileen said. Whenever Eileen lied, she would lower her head as she couldn¡¯t bring herself to meet the other person¡¯s gaze. Elm knew that all too well, so he understood what was going on. She went out shopping, ate so much, and ended up in the hospitalte at night. She probably had food poisoning. With that in mind. Elm called out to the owner of the booth, ¡°Cancel the rest of the orders.¡± ¡°Why, though? I¡¯m still hungry!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll treat you to some good food.¡± ¡°Then save some for me!¡± Elm grabbed a handful and ran off, leaving Eileen with only a half-eaten sausage. Fearing they might dine and dash, the owner hurried over and said, ¡°You haven¡¯t paid yet, youngdy!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry; I¡¯ll pay right now. How much is it?¡± ¡°Ten dors,¡± The boss replied after performing a quick calction in his head. Eileen took out her wallet, paid the bill, and followed behind Elm. As if waiting for her, Elm slowed his pace so she could catch up. There were usually quite a few students hanging around this area. It was quite a sight for them to see Elm and Eileen sharing skewers together. Naturally, they assumed the two were in a rtionship. ¡°Could these two possibly be dating?¡± ¡°It¡¯s actually possible. Have you noticed that Elm was always going to ss Onest semester? They would head straight to the library as soon as school was over.¡± ¡°Indeed, they look quite perfect together.¡± But, ording to my dad, the person who connected the Swan family with the Smith family was the new heir of Smith Corporation, who took over less than a year ago. When the news. broke out that Eileen was suspended and returned to school, it was the Smith Corporation heir who brought her back.¡± ¡°No way, is this true? Eileen is really making great strides! She has the Smith family, the number one powerhouse in the empire, under her control!¡± Elm took her to an upscale seafood restaurant, where they had a wide selection of fish and various cooking methods to choose from. That meal cost over two hundred dors, and Elm paid for it. Eileen took out a hundred dors from her wallet and handed it to him. ¡°I can¡¯t let you pay for everything. Let¡¯s split the bill this time.¡± ¡°Why, you¡¯re being too formal with me, Ms. Eileen! I¡¯ll ept it, then.¡± Eileen was afraid that he would refuse, so she felt relieved when she saw him ept the money. In the shadows, a sneaky figure focused the camera, took pictures of them dining in the restaurant, and sent them to a specific email address. Meanwhile, at Smith Corporation, Jasper¡¯s expression turned sour when he saw the pictures. that were sent. ¡°Mr. Smith, we have received news from Atharia. She has escaped the hospital on her own, and even the assigned bodyguards can¡¯t locate her,¡± Fabian said. Jasper loosened his tie. ¡°Keep an eye on domestic flights. Bring her back as soon as you have any information. If she refuses toply, then withdraw all her bodyguards and let her fend. for herself in Atharia!¡± Fabian nodded. ¡°Understood, Mr. Smith!¡± Elm, haven¡¯t you learned your lesson from what happened that night? Jasper saw that Eileen was genuinely smiling in the picture. It was a type of smile he had never seen before. Just like a couple deeply in love, they ate skewers at a roadside booth and had another meal. at a seafood restaurant. Elm was seen removing fish bones for her and refilling her te with food. To outsiders, they appeared to be a perfect match. It was the first time he had seen Eileen smile so happily. Chapter 178 Chapter 178 Chapter 178 Gotten Lost Due To Dementia It was almost four o¡¯clock when they finished eating and returned. The Smith family¡¯s car arrived to pick her up. Eileen had just taken a seat in the car when her phone started to vibrate in her pocket, She received a message from Jasper that read: The weather has been getting colder recently, remember to wear moreyers. Do you need Richard to add more nkets to your bed at night? Eileen replied: No need, it¡¯s not that cold. She sent the message, but Jasper did not respond. Eileen then sent him another message: I¡¯ve finished school, so I¡¯m heading home first. Jasper: Why are you so early today? I¡¯ll have my drivere pick you up. Eileen: I just picked up some books and finished the entrance exam, and then school was over. I happened to run into Elm and went for a meal with him. Jasper¡¯s gaze deepened as he stared at the mobile screen. He then texted: Okay. I¡¯m off to a meeting now. See you tonight when I get back. Eileen texted: Okay. She then went straight to the Smith family¡¯s house. The extracurricr sses she took had already exceeded the nned time, and she hadpleted all the courses. The goal was to focus on studying in the future. After arriving at the Smith family¡¯s residence, she saw Richard training a few new housekeepers outside the courtyard. He was briefing them on some important points to note. As Eileen stepped out of the car, a dozen housekeepers greeted her in unison, ¡°Ms. Eileen.¡± Such a scene had never urred at the Swan residence as it wasn¡¯t veryrge and had only four housekeepers. Naturally, it didn¡¯te close to the grandeur of the Smith residence. Eileen was so nervous that she didn¡¯t know what to do. Richard noticed Eileen¡¯s difort and immediately said. ¡°You can all carry on with your respective tasks.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± After a group of housekeepers were taken away, Richard approached Eileen and said, ¡°You came home three hours earlier than usual, Ms. Eileen. Would you like me to prepare some snacks for you?¡± ¡°No need. I¡¯ve already eaten, so I¡¯m not very hungry. I¡¯m going to my room to do my homework now, Richard.¡± Eileen replied. Richard smiled. ¡°All right.¡± Eileen had only taken a few steps when she turned around and asked, ¡°By the way, do we have any carp fish at home?¡± ¡°Do you want to eat carp fish, Ms. Eileen?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll cook some fish tonight! I went to a restaurant today, and it tasted quite good, so I asked the owner for the recipe. I¡¯ll write down the ingredients we need in a bit. Would you mind helping me with the preparations?¡± ¡°Your cooking will surely bring great joy, Ms. Eileen,¡± Richard said. Eileen nodded in response. Cooking for Jasper was intentional, yet not quite. It was simply her interest and hobby to cook, especially when she encountered delicious food. She aspired to recreate the exact same taste as the original. The fish at the seafood restaurant indeed tasted amazing. Plus, Jasper¡¯s taste is simr to hers, so he enjoyed the food she made. Richard knew about this, but he did not tell Jasper. Instead, he wanted to surprise Jasper. Eileen jotted down the ingredients, and the housekeeper immediately went off to prepare them. This is from N?velDrama.Org. Jasper usually has no other tasks in the evenings. He typically finishes his work on time and gets home around half past six. After finishing a page of the new exercise book Jacob gave her, Eileen wondered if he had given her advanced math problems typically done by junior year university students. Why are these questions bing increasingly difficult? I spent an hour on just two questions! The pot was stewing fish, and the aroma was quite simr to that of the restaurant¡¯s. Eileen calcted the time, so she knew he would be back soon. Time flew by in the blink of an eye. Eileen made several calls, but Jasper didn¡¯t answer any of them. It was almost eight o¡¯clock when Eileen suddenly realized Richard was nowhere to be found. She was so busy and focused that she didn¡¯t even notice when he left. When she asked the housekeepers, they stuttered and hesitated. ¡°Did something happen to him? Why did Richard leave as well?¡± The housekeeper replied, ¡°Well¡­ Mr. Richard instructed me not to tell you.¡± ¡°Has something happened to Jasper?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know either.¡± Eileen knew they were tight-lipped and she wouldn¡¯t get much out of them, so she decided to call Fabian instead. After a long wait, Fabian finally answered the call. ¡°Ms. Eileen? Are you guys still working overtime?¡± Fabian looked at the person, who was hooked up to the IV drip in the ward, and said after a brief pause, ¡°The CEO is in a meeting and will bete. You don¡¯t need to wait up tonight, Ms. Eileen. You have ss tomorrow, so you should rest early.¡± His tone was noticeably off, and moreover, she could hear the faint sound of someone crying in the noisy background. At about eleven o¡¯clock that night, a housekeeper told her, ¡°You should stop waiting, Ms. Eileen! It¡¯s not umon for Mr. Jasper to be out all night. Your health will suffer if you keep waiting.¡± Eileen sat cross-legged on the floor, a pen in her hand as she worked on some problems. ¡°It¡¯s okay, I¡¯ll wait for half an hour. You can go ahead and get some rest.¡± With that, thest housekeeper left. Suddenly, an old woman with ke hair appeared at the door. She was dressed simply, but her eyes looked bright and lively. Leaning on her cane, she peered through the ss window at the people inside. ¡°Old Mrs. Smith!¡± the housekeeper eximed in surprise. Is she the young girl Richie brought home?¡± the olddy asked. ¡°Yes. the housekeeper replied. ¡°What is she doing?¡± ¡°Mr. Jasper hasn¡¯t returned yet, so Ms. Eileen is waiting for him.¡± ¡°I see. You can head on back now.¡± ¡°All right, Old Mrs. Smith.¡± Upon hearing a sound behind her, Eileen turned around and saw an elderly woman walking in, leaning on a cane. Her shoes and trouser legs were covered in mud, giving her a somewhat disheveled appearance. Eileen propped herself up using the coffee table and nced around. Apart from the streetlights illuminating the surroundings outside, everything else was shrouded in quiet darkness. Eileen had never seen this old woman before, especially not at this hour. It reminded her of a very popr horror movie. ¡°Why are you out at this hour, ma¡¯am? Are you lost?¡± Eileen¡¯s first reaction was to look at the woman¡¯s shadow on the ground, and only then did she breathe a sigh of relief. ¡°Youngdy, do you mistake me for a ghost?¡± asked the old woman. Eileen was startled. ¡°No, not at all!¡± She really takes after my grandma! Grandma enjoys staying upte at night and wandering around too. ¡°I¡¯m thirsty. Is there any water to drink?¡± ¡°Sure, sure. Just wait a moment, I¡¯ll go pour you some.¡± This olddy looks so kind and gentle, so why does she seem so fierce? Eileen went to the kitchen and poured the woman a ss of warm water. ¡°Here you go, ma¡¯am. Would you like to sit for a while?¡± Immediately after, Eileen brought out a cushion and ced it on the sofa as she continued. ¡°You can sit here.¡± 4/5 Do you find my appearance repulsive?¡± Fileen quickly rified, ¡°No, but this isn¡¯t my home. I¡¯m just staying here temporarily. The owner hasn¡¯t returned yet, and he might be displeased if he sees that the couch is dirty. You could sit wherever you like if this were my home.¡± Seeing her behave as if she owned the house, Eileen looked around and sat down, not bothering to sit on the cushion. ¡°This house is indeed beautiful, but it feels cold andcks character. What is that pleasant. smell?¡± ¡°Ah, there¡¯s fish in the pot. It¡¯s been cooking for a while. Are you hungry, ma¡¯am? Shall I serve you some?¡± Eileen replied. ¡°The aroma is quite fragrant. I¡¯ve never tasted it before.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll go serve it up.¡± Eileen walked into the kitchen, finding the old woman¡¯s behavior a bit too peculiar. She had thought the old woman was Jasper¡¯s grandmother, but her behavior suggested otherwise. Could she be a random elderly person from some random family who has gotten lost due to dementia? Chapter 179 Chapter 179 Chapter 179 First In ss But Sixtieth In Grade Ideen served La a bowl of fish soup, cing a spoon next to it, and brought it to the elderlydy. ¡°It¡¯s fresh from the pot. It¡¯s a bit hot, so please be careful, ma¡¯am.¡± ¡°The taste is quite good,¡± said La. ¡°Are you lost, ma¡¯am? Do you remember where your home is?¡± Eileen asked. Just then, the sound of a car echoed from outside the door. Eileen heard the noise and looked over, only to see a Cayenne parked outside the main gate. Jasper, who appeared a little unwell, stepped out of the car and noticed that the living room was brightly lit. Is she still awake? A momentter, the door swung open. There stood Eileen, dressed in a ke nightgown. The moonlight fell on her skin, making it seem as if it was glowing from within. Her skin looked fair as snow as she walked toward him. The moment he saw her, an indescribable emotion welled up in his chest. It felt as though his heart was warmed from within, a feeling he had never experienced before. N?velDrama.Org is the owner. Jasper gently brushed her hair behind her ear as he asked, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you asleep yet? It¡¯s sote.¡± Eileen paused for a moment, her hands subconsciously clutching the sides of her nightgown in nervousness. A faint smile curved up at the corners of her mouth as she replied, ¡°I¡¯ve made some stewed fish. It¡¯s in the pot. Would you like to try some?¡± ¡°Did you make it for me?¡± ¡°Ms. Eileen!¡± Fabian called out to her. ¡°Fabian!¡± Jasper stopped him with a look, and Fabian immediately fell silent. Eileen sensed that something was wrong. Did something happen? Since it was clear that they didn¡¯t want her to know about it, Eileen decided not to ask any further. Jasper naturally took her hand and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go inside.¡± ¡°Oh right, I forgot to tell you, there¡¯s a strange olddy who seems to have gotten lost, Eileen said. Oh Jasper walked to the entrance and saw an old woman sitting at the dining table, sipping soup Ihs expression paused for a moment. The old woman looked over and asked, ¡°Is Mr. Jasper back?¡± So, she¡¯s also a part of the Smith family? That sounds like something the housekeepers would say. get you some fish stew,¡± said Eileen as she headed to the kitchen and returned with a pot. Jasper stepped forward to lend a hand, then fetched a bowl and handed Eileen a fork. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°I apologize for the inconvenience, youngdy. I¡¯m an old servant of the Smith family. My age has caught up with me, and my vision isn¡¯t what it used to be, so I tend to lose my way often.¡± ¡°Let me take you home,¡± Eileen said. Jasper went along with it and said, ¡°I¡¯ve already made arrangements for someone to pick her up. After we finish eating, we can go back to our rooms to rest. You still have school. tomorrow.¡± As he handed Eileen a bowl of stew, Eileen noticed a drop of blood on the back of his hand. which blended in with his tattoo. If one didn¡¯t look closely, it would have been hard to spot. Did hee back sote because he went to the hospital? That exins why he looks so pale. The two looked like a perfect match whenever they were intimate with each other. La, too, couldn¡¯t help but cast a scrutinizing gaze upon Eileen. Eileen couldn¡¯t understand why La was always looking at her, though. Richard was the one who brought the olddy hometer that night. After finishing her meal, Eileen washed the dishes, and then they both returned to their respective rooms. It was already midnight by the time they got ready to go to bed. Eileen was about to sleep when she overheard a hushed conversation through the door. She walked closer to the door and listened in on the conversation. ¡°How much did Mr. Jasper eat?¡± Richard asked. ¡°This is already the second bowl that¡¯s been brought in, and Mr. Jasper only finished half of it. says he doesn¡¯t have much of an appetite,¡± replied the housekeeper. Never mind. Mr. Jasper just had some fish, so he probably isn¡¯t hungry yet. Let¡¯s go downstairs for now. Check on Mr. Jasper in half an hour and make sure he finishes his meal. Make him some light oatmeal tomorrow morning,¡± Richard said. ¡°Understood. Mr. Zimmer.¡± The conversation abruptly ceased after that. Eileen had just gotten into bed and was lying in her covers when her mind filled with. indescribable thoughts. At half past seven the following morning, Jasper was wearing a gray shirt with a vest over it, and he was carrying a suit jacket in his hand. As if he hadn¡¯t had a good rest the night before, he massaged his forehead as he walked downstairs. He was taken aback when he saw Eileen still leisurely enjoying her breakfast at the dining table. Usually, she would have already left by this time. ¡°Good morning!¡± Eileen greeted him. Good morning. Why haven¡¯t you left yet?¡± Jasper responded. ¡°I forgot to charge my phone, so the rm didn¡¯t go off, and I ended up oversleeping. But it¡¯s okay, I¡¯ve already taken the day off. Will you be having breakfast? The oatmeal looks quite good today.¡± Eileen replied calmly. Jasper lifted his wrist, nced at the time, and said, ¡°All right.¡± He then draped his coat over the back of the chair and sat down. After breakfast, Jasper drove Eileen to school. The first ss was about to start. Jasper stepped forward to help Eileen unbuckle the seatbelt. ¡°Thank you. I¡¯ll be on my way now,¡± Eileen said. ¡°Is your ss ending at the usual time? Do you need me toe pick you up?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. Mr. Gardner helped me apply for an enrichment program after I left the Olympiad Math ss. I have to attend it in the evening, but I¡¯m not sure what time it ends, Eileen told him. Jasper nodded in agreement and thought for a moment before saying, ¡°Why don¡¯t you send me a message? I might have to workte tonight, but it¡¯s on my way home. We might be able to go back together.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Eileen agreed. After stepping out of the car, Eileen turned back once more. Jasper rolled down the car window and asked, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Eileen tightened her grip on the strap of her backpack as she said, ¡°Remember to eat regrly, Jasper.¡± Jasper assumed she had forgotten something, but he didn¡¯t expect her to say that to him. Even a simple word of concern was enough to make him happy. The gentle look of joy in Jasper¡¯s eyes intensified. ¡°All right.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be on my way now!¡± Eileen waved at him. As she turned to leave, she thought she was thest one. Unexpectedly, Vera was eventer than her. Vera saw her and called out, ¡°Eileen!¡± Eileen paused, her gaze drifting to a car not far from her. She subtly avoided looking at it as Vera approached her, carrying a bag of snacks. ¡°Why are you sote today?¡± she asked. ¡°I overslept.¡± ¡°Thank you for yesterday. Eric bought me some snacks, let¡¯s eat them together!¡± ¡°We should hurry, or we¡¯ll bete for the first ss.¡± Upon arriving at the ssroom on the first day of school, the test papers from yesterday had already been graded. Eileen received a rtively high score. Her total score was over seven hundred, ranking second in the ss and in the entire grade. Compared to her grades fromst year¡¯s exam, she had moved up one ce. Moreover, she was only one spot behind the first-ce student. The subject in which she scored the lowest was Clusian, and she lost the most marks in the Clusian essay writing section. The final rankings were posted on the college¡¯s bulletin boardter that afternoon. 475 Eileen casually nced at it as she happened to pass by. The name, which used to be at the bottom now took Eileen a bit of time to find. After searching for quite a while, she finally found it. Elm ranked first in the ss and sixtieth in his grade? He made it into the threshold of ss Two. Finally, I managed to see something interesting during winter break. Well, I must say, the Smith family. truly has an exceptional lineage. They have, to some extent, a natural talent for learning. In just a few short months, he achieved what ordinary people could not. Such results are quite impressive. Chapter 180 Chapter 180 Chapter 180 Are You Not Going To Ask What Happened? A group this way. of boys, who had just finished ying basketball outside, happened to be walking Elm, wearing a ck headband and holding a basketball, was chatting with a few buddies who were trailing alongside him. His hair was still damp with sweat. The people standing in front of the bulletin board all knew the drama that was about to unfold. Elm threw the basketball he was holding, and Albert caught it steadily. Watching Elm decisively leave his friend behind and walk toward her, he muttered, ¡°What¡¯s so great about Eileen? He doesn¡¯t even go to the bar anymore, and he¡¯s even given up gaming. He¡¯s been like apletely different person sincest semester. I¡¯m starting to wonder if Elm has been possessed!¡± Charlie adjusted the sses perched on his nose, smiling quietly without a word. He¡¯s merely keeping pace with her. How can Elm dare not to work hard when the person he likes is so outstanding? If Eileen is a ray of light, then Elm is the one who follows the light. ¡°Did side. youe over because you were worried, Ms. Eileen?¡± Elm asked as he walked up to her ¡°I just came to check my own results. You did well on the test, keep up the good work.¡± Having left a word of praise, Eileen prepared to leave. ¡°You¡¯re just going to walk away like that? Don¡¯t I get a reward?¡± Elm asked. ¡°From now on, there will be morning study sessions every day as a reward. Anyway, I¡¯m off to ss now!¡± Eileen said as she turned around and left. My goodness¡­ The afternoon¡¯s exercise ss was cancelled, and the entire ss began to undergo a significant shift. Suddenly, Elm moved from the ssroom on the first floor to the one next to Eileen¡¯s ss. Eileen, who was originally engrossed in solving problems, saw a slender, attractive hand with a tattoo tapping on her desk. ¡°Shall we go for a meal, Ms. Eileen?¡± ¡°No need, you go ahead and eat. I bought some pasta from downstairs, so I¡¯ll just have some of that. I still have a few questions to solve,¡± Eileen replied without looking at him. Just as Vera returned from the restroom, he saw someone leaning against the windowsill. 1.4 What a coincidence, Elm. I heard you scored quite well on your exam. Congrattions!¡± The corners of Vera¡¯s mouth curled into a smile as he continued, ¡°Are you here to invite Eileen for lunch? Let¡¯s go together!¡± Eileen had started munching on a piece of bread. ¡°I¡¯m not going. You guys go on ahead,¡± she said in a muffled voice. Having failed to ask her out to lunch, Elm didn¡¯t go to the cafeteria with Vera either. He simply ced a bottle of milk on the table and left. After finishing their meal, the ssroom was left with less than half of the people. Eileen took a sip of water and immediately felt a sharp pain in her lower abdomen. Sensing something was wrong, she quickly grabbed a pack of tissues and rushed to the restroom. In the restroom stall, Eileen took off her pants and noticed the bloodstains on her underwear. My period isn¡¯t due for another ten days or so. Could it havee early? She then went to the ssroom to get a sanitary pad. As she approached, the cramping pain was almost unbearable. In no time, fresh blood started to seep through her tights. Before she could even step into the restroom stall, the personing out from the other side saw Eileen¡¯s appearance and screamed in fright, ¡°Aren¡¯t you Eileen from ss One? What happened to you?¡± Eileen¡¯splexion paled rapidly, she was so weak that she could hardly stand. Suddenly, she thought of something. During the New Year, there was originally a n for surgery, but it was dyed due to some circumstances. She grasped the girl who hade over to help, bearing the pain as she said, ¡°Could you do me a favor and find Elm? Tell him I¡¯m not feeling well and need him to take me to the hospital.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± The other person nodded and quickly ran out. It was precisely during ss time when that girl left. Elm rushed in momentster. Upon secing Eileen, whose lower body was covered in blood, he immediately took off his jacket and tied it around her waist to cover her up. Without asking anything, he picked her up in his arms, borrowed a car from Albert, and drove straight to the hospital. ¡°Can you hang on?¡± As if all life had left her, Eileen closed her eyes and slumped against the car seat. ¡°Go to the Serene Hospital. Once you arrive, call Eric. A family member¡¯s signature is required for the surgery.¡± 2/4 ¡°Understood. Upon arriving at the hospital, Eileen found Zachary, Before the surgery, Zachary performed a preoperative check on Eileen and discovered that her uterus was infected, which caused the heavy bleeding. ¡°How long have you dyed this surgery? It¡¯s already infected due to disease progression.¡± Eileeny on the operating table, her voiceced with icy sarcasm, ¡°Isn¡¯t it thanks to all of you that I ended up like this?¡± Zachary shed her a mischievous grin. ¡°He¡¯s already been merciful to you. If it were me¡­ Well, this dose of drug would¡¯ve been considered far too mild!¡± He nced back at the person standing guard at the door, his smile enigmatic as he said, ¡°Once you¡¯ve changed into the surgical gown, we can proceed with the operation. Think it through, though. Once the uterus is removed, you¡¯ll never be able to conceive again.¡± With a wryugh, Eileen¡¯s tears fell from the corners of her eyes, soaking into her hair. ¡°What other choice do I have?¡± she asked. The sick beauty on the bed seemed as if she could slip away at any moment due to her frailty. On her face, Zachary seemed to see the woman from years ago, who was also like this. Barely hanging on, she didn¡¯t make it past the second year. Eric rushed from thepany to the outside of the operating room, where he signed the consent form. ¡°How¡¯s the situation?¡± ¡°The current situation leaves us with no other option but to remove the uterus.¡± C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Fiddling with the lighter in his hand, Elm leaned against the wall while listening to their conversation. ¡°What have you done to her this time?¡± ¡°A Swan who is forced into a situation of despair. Well done, Eric!¡± Zachary nced at him, then at Eric. ¡°Do you two know each other?¡± Eric¡¯s eyes were deep and mysterious,cking in much emotion. Throughout the entire time, he didn¡¯t even nce at Elm once. ¡°When will the surgery be finished?¡± he inquired. ¡°In about an hour or so.¡± Zachary nced at Elm and continued with a smile, ¡°It¡¯s just a surgery for appendicitis, no need to worry. Your girlfriend will be out soon.¡± ¡°Nonsense! No one with appendicitis would bleed like that!¡± 3.4 this young man certainly has a fiery temper! After Zachary entered the operating room, bileen was brought out under partial anesthesia. As she was still conscious, she could feel the sensintion of her uterus being removed. da her previous life, she regretted not being able to witness the birth of her child with her own eyes. Now that she has lost her womb, it felt as if she had been condemned to death. From now on, I will never bear my own children again! Eileeny on the bed with her eyes closed, aware of the dried tear stains at the corners of her eyes. The nurse was setting up her IV drip. When Eileen opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was Eric¡¯s silhouette. With a nk expression, she said. ¡°You¡¯ve had a long journey, so you should head back. Elm can stay and take care of me.¡± Eric left, leaving Eileen all alone in the ward. ¡°Elm, you should head back too. I can manage on my own.¡± The school uniform that Elm had already dirtied was draped over the table. Pulling up a stool to sit on the side, he casually picked up a knife and peeled an apple. I¡¯ve requested leave from the school. As for the Smith family¡­ Well, you¡¯ll have to handle things yourself.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to ask me what happened?¡± Eileen tilted her head, a hint of red tinting the corners of her eyes as she looked at him with an icy gaze. ¡°This is your affair!¡± Chapter 181 Chapter 181 Chapter 181 My Promise To You The nurse, holding the discarded tools in her hands, walked towards the disposal room. Upon hearing an argument from inside, she was so frightened that she quickly retreated. The office was filled with a faint smell of blood. A piece of flesh, bloody and encased in an instrument, took on a peculiar shape. In several noticeable areas, infection had set in, and soon, the color of that lump of flesh began to change. That was the deformed uterus that was removed from Eileen. ¡°At first, I said there might be a chance to salvage this, but that was just tofort you. As you can see from its condition, it¡¯s already infected. It¡¯s not in its original state anymore, and it¡¯s only getting worse inside Eileen. If we didn¡¯t remove it in time, she might not have survived.¡± Zachary picked it up and casually tossed it into the trash bin. ¡°If she can¡¯t have a child, she can always adopt one. There are countless people who are devoted to someone like Eileen. Is having children really that important?¡± Zachary looked into his pitch-ck eyes, and the aura emanating from him was something he had never experienced before. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Are you having second thoughts? Are you regretting it now?¡± Zachary picked up the cigarette box on the table, put a cigarette in his mouth, and lit it. Suddenly, he startedughing. ¡°Eric, don¡¯t tell me you¡¯ve developed feelings for her. You can¡¯t joke about this. Being with her is a heinous act!¡± ¡°You¡¯re overthinking it. After uttering these words, Eric walked out but paused at the door. ¡°Don¡¯t forget to clean up. No one can know about this.¡± ¡°You still don¡¯t trust me with this?¡± Zachary looked at the figure disappearing outside the door, pinched out the cigarette in his hand, and took off his keb coat. He walked into a private lounge where a strikingly attractive womany still in her clothes. Her appearance was full of charm. She had her closed, appearing as if she was still not fully awake. eyes Zachary couldn¡¯t care less about these matters. He threw off the covers, took off his pants, and turned the mature woman over. Without any forey, he went straight into her deepest. part Awakened by his movements, she wrapped her legs around his waist, mirroring his actions. Together, they lost themselves in pleasure. 14 Zachary, clutching the woman¡¯s neck,ughed wickedly. ¡°Has Jasper ever seen you in sell There wasn¡¯t a trace of pain or suffocation on the woman¡¯s face. Clearly, the effects of the medicine hadn¡¯t worn off yet. Seeing a hint of rity in her eyes, the man intensified his actions. The woman hummed softly in response. ¡°Look at me! Look at who¡¯s taking you on today!¡± Elm peeled an apple and ced it by the bed, already cut into small pieces. ¡°I can¡¯t eat anything right now. I need to wait a few days. You should go back to school! Don¡¯t let me interfere with your studies. Someone from the Smith family will be here soon.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Elm left to go to the receptionist to pay, only to find that the bill had already been settled. When he asked to see the bill, it was listed as a routine appendicitis surgery. Half an hour after Elm left, the members of the Smith family arrived. Upon hearing the news, Jasper immediately left his ongoing meeting and rushed straight to the hospital. Just as Eileen finished hanging one infusion bottle, with two more to go, she heard hurried, chaotic footsteps echoing from the corridor. The door swung open quickly, and Eileen saw person standing outside. the Fabian consciously stood guard outside the door. After the nurse finished administering the injection, she, too, left. In the vast ward, they were the only ones remaining. Jasper sat down by her bed, his palm gently stroking her face. ¡°The school called and said something happened to you, so I rushed over,¡± he said. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Eileen merely met his gaze, then somewhat guiltily looked away. She wasn¡¯t sure what she was feeling guilty about. Is it because I remember how I had used him, or is it because I¡¯ve been keeping secrets from him? Jasper said. ¡°The hospital said it was just an appendicitis surgery. It¡¯s nothing serious. You¡¯ll recover quickly, so there¡¯s no need to worry. Just focus ea getting better in the hospital¡­ Eileen lowered her gaze leaning on the bed, looking at her hand resting on the quilt. Her long hair was scattered, and her delicate, fair face was pale from weakness. ¡°It wasn¡¯t an appendicitis surgery,¡± she said. ¡°It was a hysterectomy!¡± 111 Suddenly, a sense of heaviness descended upon Jasper¡¯s heart. After saying those words, Eileen seemed to feel much lighter, yet she still didn¡¯t dare to look at him. ¡°The appendicitis surgery was just a ruse to deceive my father. I didn¡¯t want to lie to you!¡± ¡°Why?¡± Jasper asked. Gathering a shred of courage, Eileen finally met his gaze, slowly saying, ¡°Because if my father were to know that I couldn¡¯t bear children, I might not be able to attend high school, let alone university¡­ Perhaps after graduating from high school, I would be sold off.¡± She thought she would be sold to those older men who were already married. At their age, they would already have their own children. Whether Eileen could bear children wouldn¡¯t matter to them. Her youth and beauty were her greatest assets. ¡°I don¡¯t want that to happen, so I have no choice but to keep it from him,¡± she said. Is this what the Swan family is like? Jasper held her icy hand. ¡°Eileen, if two people truly love. each other, whether they have children or not is not important!¡± Just a few words seemed to pause Eileen¡¯s heart for a second. Her eyes blinked in surprise. She smiled, but her eyes were filled with pain. ¡°You don¡¯t need tofort me. No one would. be okay with it. No matter what, it¡¯ll always be an obstacle. Jasper, the only reason I chose to go to the Smith residence was to use your influence to escape these threats. I¡¯m sorry¡­ I didn¡¯t want to deceive you, either.¡± Jasper gripped her hand tighter. ¡°I will protect you. That¡¯s my promise to you. The day I confessed my feelings to you, no matter what you be, I will still be fond of you.¡± Eileen was astonished. Never before had anyone spoken to her in such a manner. No one had ever reassured her that the inability to bear children wasn¡¯t a problem. Even Eileen herself had a deep preupation with whether she could have children. In her previous life, the chances of her getting pregnant were very slim. Consequently, she had to turn a blind eye, even when she knew Eric was being unfaithful. She convinced herself that not being able to have children was her fault, and it was understandable for him to have a child with another woman. Therefore, she allowed him to do whatever he pleased without causing a scene. ||| 34 C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. That evening, Vera finished school, and Eric went to pick her up. At that moment, Vera informed Eric about what had happened with Eileen. When the two of them visited her at the hospital, the nurse informed them. The patient has already been taken away.¡± Needless to say, they had already guessed who had taken Eileen. Vera expressed her concern by asking. ¡°Eileen hasn¡¯t fully recovered yet. How could she leave? What if something happens?¡± The nurse chuckled and replied, ¡°Youngdy, you¡¯re not aware, are you? The one who took her away was none other than the CEO of Smith Corporation, and the Smith family has a personal physician as competent as our doctors here. However, the patient herself requested. to be discharged. Besides, Mr. Smith wanted to take the patient away, so our hands were tied.¡± Chapter 182 Chapter 182 Chapter 182 Just Like A Couple Vera yed with the sunflower bouquet in her hands. ¡°What a shame. I bought Eileen¡¯s favorite flowers, but she¡¯s no longer here. But I think Mr. Smith is quite nice. Eileen must be very happy with him!¡± Vera noticed that Eric¡¯s face was expressionless. However, his eyes were like a deep abyss, filled with a chilling coldness. Without saying a word, he turned and left. After Eileen¡¯s departure, there was silence for two weeks. During that time, Jasper stayed by her side, helping her recover. He waited until she was fully recovered and able to leave her bed. Sunlight streamed in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating the bed. Eileen, dressed in a thin nightgown, her arm bathed in sunlight, looked fair and delicate. Every detail, from her hair to her fingernails, was exquisite. Her slightly curled long hair was tied into a twist braid, resting on her left shoulder. A crescent-shaped ne hung on her exposed, sensual corbone. Her face had regained its color, and her thin lips seemed to be tinted with the hue of a poppy flower, alluring. Outside the window, the branches and leaves were lush, with tender buds sprouting in several ces. The family doctor examined Eileen and removed his stethoscope. ¡°Ms. Eileen, you have fully recovered.¡± ¡°Thank you, Doctor,¡± Eileen said. The doctor nodded. ¡°You¡¯re wee.¡± Jasper sat beside her on the left side of the bed, holding her hand and gently caressing the back of it. ¡°I have already informed the Swan family, so there¡¯s no need to worry. Do you want to go to school tomorrow?¡± Resting her head on his shoulder, Eileen said, ¡°I will go tomorrow! I also want to go walk. It has been a while since Ist went out.¡± ¡°Alright. I will apany you.¡± for a In the courtyard garden, various rare flower varieties had been nted, creating a beautiful sight. Jasper mentioned that the roses were specially cultivated and bred. < 14 Even in the harsh winter, they would never wither. However, their blooming period was brief,sting less than three months. Jasper carried her to a swing, basking in the sunlight. She felt warm and cozy. Behind her, Jasper gently pushed the swing with a rope woven from vine wood. In the shadows, a housekeeper secretly captured this scene. However, forgetting to turn off the sound, a clicking sound rang out as soon as the photo was taken. Startled, she quickly covered her phone and ran away. Jasper remained calm andposed, showing no reaction. Meanwhile, Ruth, dressed in a knitted dress, exuded a gentle and elegant aura. She wore a shawl and prepared a bowl of noodles. She brought it over to the person engrossed in ying games on the couch. ¡°Today is your birthday. Mr. Smith and I have nned to cook for you at home. Is that okay?¡± Her pampering and coaxing tone brought back Elm¡¯s childhood memories. ¡°Who told him toe over?¡± Elm questioned. That person was none other than John. ¡°I asked him toe. He has been busy withpany matters for years. Now that he is free, he can spend some time with you. Please, for my sake, be kind to him. After all, he is your biological father!¡± Elm sneered without lifting his head, ¡°Father? I have been fatherless since birth. Besides, he was simply kicked out of the Smith family.¡± Elm didn¡¯t feel like saying anything more. Considering Ruth¡¯s health, he got up and prepared to return to his room. Ruth shook her head, wondering when such arrogance would ever change. If I die, he will surely be at a disadvantage because no one is watching over him. Ruth also didn¡¯t want him to return to his previous life. Upon returning to his room. Elm received a photo on his phone. The image was so ring that he flung his phone in anger. It hit the painting on the wall, causing the ss to quickly develop a crack. In the end, she chose Jasper However, perhaps it was Jasper who chose her. Wher: jasper proposed to be together. Eileen hesitated in her heart, fearing she might repeat ||| 22 A past mistakes. At the same time, she was constantly torn between leaving and staying. Yet, he said he was willing to give her time to do what she wanted. Jasper was also willing to wait for her. His careful gentleness and constant protection were slowly breaking down the defensive wall she had built in her heart. After all, she had never experienced the feeling of being loved. She felt it with Jasper. That feeling was as if, no matter what she did wrong, he would always be by her side, assuring her that everything was okay before solving all her problems. If it wouldn¡¯t interfere with her freedom, she thought it might be worth a try. Richard once mentioned to her that Jasper used to have a long-time crush, an unattainable love. However, his beloved left him after Jasper had a car ident, eloping with another man to a foreign country. Over the years, there hadn¡¯t been any news about her. Before Richard joined the Smith family, he asked her to help Jasper move on from the shadows of the past. However, her visit to the Smith family was merely to seek refuge. This is from N?velDrama.Org. Eileen was still uncertain about Jasper¡¯s feelings for her. She wasn¡¯t sure if he truly liked her or if it was just a reliance he felt towards her in his heart. Or perhaps he saw her as a substitute. Regardless of whether Jasper was investing his emotions in her or if she was using him as at tool for her own benefit, they were both benefiting from the arrangement. Soon, Eric would make his move on Will. If one didn¡¯t want to end up helpless, their only options were to either run or stay by Jasper¡¯s side. That was the reality. Eileen probably made up her mind the moment she stepped onto the surgical table. This time, she thought she would be selfish. # 34 Even during her vacation at home, Eileen did not neglect her studies. Jasper arranged lu best tutors in Hulbury to teach her. They were either math whizzes or elite graduates from the University of Quadfield who had returned from studying in Atharia. They exined everything in great detail, and Eileen was able to understand it all. It could be considered a fruitful gain. In their respective fields, they were also exceptional schrs, on par with the teachers at Petalburg High School. The following day, Jasper personally escorted her to school. During her absence, various rumors circted. It was said that she had taken several days off because she was pregnant with the child of the CEO of Smith Corporation. Unfortunately, she had slipped in the bathroom, resulting in a miscarriage. There were also suggestions that her involvement with other men may have contributed to the miscarriage. To make matters worse, someone had the audacity to confront Elm, questioning whether Eileen was carrying his child and if she had failed to keep it. As expected, Albert received a severe beating. Upon arriving at the school gate, everyone witnessed Jasper at the entrance, gently kissing Eileen¡¯s forehead, affirming his im. They finally realized that her message to Jasper could indeed be true. ¡°I¡¯ll have Fabian bring you lunch at noon,¡± Jasper said. ¡°He¡¯s usually busy, so there¡¯s no need to trouble him,¡± Eileen replied, adjusting his tie. They interacted like any other couple. Chapter 183 Chapter 183 Chapter 183 You Are Really Done For If she were a sugar baby, they would have kept the rtionship a secret. However, not only did they go public with their rtionship, but the newspapers had also reported that Smith Corporation and the Swan family¡¯s Caerulus Corporation had reached cooperation on several major agreements. For outsiders, they thought Eileen¡¯s father had benefited from Eileen and had firmly secured a link with the Smith family. Naturally, no one dared to say anything in front of Eileen. After all, none of them would want to court death. Yvette, for unknown reasons, hadn¡¯t been to school for quite a while. She still held a spot in the Olympiad Math ss. The exam time was gradually approaching. Eileen spent her time reading an Uprian novel in her hand. The teacher who tutored her said that it could enhance her reading knowledge. It might have been difficult for her to finish an entire book in the past, but at that moment, she could roughly understand the content of the book. During lunch break, Eileen ate from her packed lunch. Vera, holding a book, walked over and asked, ¡°Eileen, how have you been these days? Last time when I went to the hospital with Eric. to see you, the doctor said you had left the hospital. I nned to visit you at the Smith. residence, but I never had the time. I¡¯m sorry.¡± Eileen didn¡¯t even lift her head, flipping a page as she said, ¡°I¡¯m doing well. You and Eric don¡¯t need to worry about me.¡± Vera looked at the book in Eileen¡¯s hand, filled with dense Uprian text. ¡°What book are you reading?¡± ¡°War and Peace.¡± Vera couldn¡¯t help but feel worried. ¡°Eileen, it¡¯s not the time to read these books. You haven¡¯t been to school these past few days. I¡¯ve taken notes for you. Here, take them and go over them!¡± Eileen said, ¡°Thank you, but I- ¡°I¡¯ll leave this here for you. I have to go to my Olympiad Math ss now!¡± Vera said, cing a notebook down before she left.. 13 Eileen hadn¡¯t finished speaking yet. In truth, Eileen wanted to reject Vera. This time, she was set to secure the top spot in the Olympiad Math enrichment prograin. As long as she could secure first ce in the final Olympiad Math exam, she would be directly admitted to Hulbury University. She also didn¡¯t want to bepletely dependent on the Smith family. ¡°Hey, Eileen!¡± After Vera left, someone else appeared, and it was Albert. Albert leaned on the windowsill and said, ¡°I¡¯m talking to you!¡± Eileen¡¯s voice was cold. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°I heard you¡¯re with Jasper now. Is it true or not?¡± Without lifting her head, Eileen casually flipped a page, circling the sentence she couldn¡¯t trante with a pencil. ¡°Yes. We¡¯re together now.¡± Albert nced at Elm, who was leaning against the wall, gulped, and asked, ¡°Are you guys. boyfriend and girlfriend?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Eileen nodded. Deep down, Eileen didn¡¯t have much sense of security. Yet, the promises Jasper made to her were so certain that she couldn¡¯t help but be moved. There was someone they both loved and couldn¡¯t let go of in their past. At that moment, she had to let Eric go, and Jasper also had to let that person go. He once said he would give her time to grow. If that was the case, she thought she could give it a try. After all, life was short. ¡°Holy shit! How far have you guys gone? Have you kissed or just held hands?¡± Eileen looked at him with a puzzled expression. ¡°Are we close? This is our private matter. It has nothing to do with you.¡± It was impossible to read a book in peace there. Eileen packed her bag and decided to head to the library, hoping to find some quiet for a while. ¡°What about Elm? You¡¯ve been leading him on like a dog, and now you¡¯re just going to cast him aside?¡± Eileen¡¯s eyebrows furrowed slightly. ¡°Leading him on? Why would I do that? Where did you get such a conclusion from?¡± With a quirk of his eyebrow, Albert extended a hand and folded a finger every time he spoke. a sentence. ¡°You tutored him.¡± ¿ª ¡°You let him copy your notes.¡± ¡°You went shopping and eating with him¡­¡± By the time he was done, he had folded all his fingers. As it turned out, they had done so many things together. Eileen seemed to understand something when he pointed it out, ¡°Isn¡¯t it normal for friends. to do those things? Prior to this, wasn¡¯t it the same with you guys and Vera?¡± Regarding the matter of tutoring, Eileen didn¡¯t know that she was the one who saved him by the sea back then. Therefore, when Elm personally requested her to tutor him, Eileen refused. The reason for the refusal was simple. It was just because of Elm¡¯s attitude toward her. Throughout high school, Elm always found her irritating and would always pick on her. That led to everyone in ss Six isting and ostracizing her. That was also considered one of the main reasons why she had such a solitary personality. She was always used to being alone and being reluctant to interact with others. The rtionship between her and Elm had indeed be more rxed than before. People would think they were okay with each other, but they had forgotten the terrible things. Elm had done to her over the past two years. When Elm choked her and asked why she wanted to hurt Vera, Eileen figured out Elm¡¯s feelings for Vera. At that time, if she had said yes. Eileen couldn¡¯t help but wonder if Elm would have really strangled her back then. 35 Eileen also wondered if Albert had mistakenly thought Elm liked her, or she liked Elm. Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. Regardless, that thought would be utterly absurd. Elm and Vera went to the seaside of Peach Fishing Vige by themselves, living under the same roof. When Vera first transferred to their school, rumors about those two were flying everywhere. Even the entire high school knew about their rtionship. She tilted her head, looking at Albert with a puzzled expression. ¡°Hasn¡¯t Elm always liked Vera? What does that have to do with me? Everything you mentioned is merely my way of repaying him for saving my life. It has nothing to do with emotions. I¡¯ve already made the things clear to him a long time ago.¡± Eileen really didn¡¯t understand what Albert was saying. ¡°Heh!¡± Eileen heard a clear, cold sneer, which seemed to be Elm¡¯s voice. Albert nced in the direction where Elm was punching the solid brick wall with He noticed faint traces of blood on the crack and looked at his own hand, which had been scraped and was now bleeding. ¡°Damn! Doesn¡¯t he realize he could hurt himself with such a strong punch?¡± great for Eileen observed as Elm walked past her, her attention drawn to the blood on his hands. She could sense a chilling aura emanating from him, which made him seem unweing. Charlie walked by leisurely, and Albert shook his head. ¡°You¡¯re in trouble now!¡± ¡°What does he mean by ¡®in trouble? Do they know about Vera and Eric being together?¡± Eileen felt helpless in this situation. Carrying her backpack, she headed to the library, hoping to find some peace and quiet to read. As she left the ssroom, she nced at Vera¡¯s notes, which were well-documented and easy to understand. ¡°Maybe I should give these to Elm. They would suit him.¡± ss Two was located right next to ss One, with seating arrangements based on academic performance. Elm still upied the veryst seat. Charlie and Albert had been spending time with him for more than just a day or two. A girl from; ss Two tock out a potion and bandages from a drawer. She was responsible for generai affairs in the ss Elm, your hand is injured. Let me bandage it for you¡± ¡°Go away!¡± The girl persisted, saying, ¡°If you don¡¯t stop the bleeding, it could be infected.¡± ¡°I¡¯m telling you to leave. Can¡¯t you understand me?¡± Elm, in a fit of rage, abruptly stood up and kicked the chair away. His wild and aggressive aura was so intense that it frightened the young girl to tears. She ran out without uttering a single word, too scared to do so. Chapter 184 Chapter 184 Chapter 184 Take Away As the youngdy passed by Eileen, she identally bumped into her at the door. Eileen heard somemotion at the entrance and was unsure of what was happening. Noticing a fallen chair, Eileen approached and picked it up. Albert and Charlie¡¯s attention. turned to Eileen. Internally, Albert scoffed. She has the audacity toe over! Eileen nced at them and then at Elm, who emitted a violent aura with blood on his She had encountered him during her time in ss Six, and she had witnessed hist unpredictable temper before. Eileen spected that he might have bipr disorder. Without further questioning, she ced the notebook Vera had given her on his desk. ¡°V¡± gave me her notes. Copy themter and return them to her. Remember to go to the infirmary to treat your hand.¡± After speaking, Eileen left the ssroom. The two nearby students dared not make a sound, feeling that the menace in Elm¡¯s eyes had intensified. Speaking at this moment could be a fatal mistake. Elm picked up the pink notebook, flipping it open to see the notes inside. It was indeed not Eileen¡¯s notebook, and the first page had Vera¡¯s name on it. The notebook was ruthlessly torn in half in his hands. He threw it directly into the trash can without a second thought. When school was over, Eileen remained unaware that the notebook had been torn apart. However, rumors began to circte in the adjacent ss. This time, the rumor was about Vera. Eileen sat by the window near the corridor, listening to a few girls from ss Two discussing as they went to the restroom together. ¡°Someone saw Vera¡¯s notebook in the trash can today, and it was torn in half. ¡°Who knows what¡¯s going on with them? Well, instead of worrying about them, I should. focus on how to handle the uing exam. Now that Elm is here, I¡¯m finally not thest in ss.¡± 13 Did Elm tear up Vera¡¯s notes? Oh no! Eileen turned her head, casting a nce at Vera who was sitting in the row behind her. She was perplexed. When thest ss ended, Eileen went to ss Two. Whenever it was time to leave, the cleaner had to wait until there were no teachers before cleaning. When almost everyone had left, Vera put her hands behind her back and walked up to Eileen, unexpectedly taking out a bottle of milk. ¡°I got an extra one for ¡°School¡¯s over. Why aren¡¯t you going home yet?¡± you today.¡± Eileen could tell that she was still oblivious to the fact that her notebook had been torn. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I¡¯ll go a bitter.¡± Vera nodded. ¡°Oh, okay! Then I¡¯ll leave first.¡± Eileen said, ¡°Okay.¡± Vera left with a few others, getting ready for the after-school Olympiad Math ss. Alone, Eileen went to ss Two. When the cleaner was about to take away the trash can, Eileen stopped her. The cleaner looked at her strangely as she searched through the trash can. Fortunately, the notebook wasn¡¯t torn too badly, and the handwriting was still visible. Eileen asked the cleaner for a stic bag and put the notebook inside. When will Elm change his temper? He tore up someone¡¯s notebook without reason. What a waste. As Eileen was about to leave, she heard a girl¡¯s yfulughter from the corridor behind her. ¡°Elm, where are we goingter?¡± ¡°Where would you like to go?¡± Eileen adjusted her slipping shoulder strap and turned around, only to see Elm with his arm around a tall, innocent, and beautiful female student. Judging by her uniform, she should be from the same school. The two walked right past her. ¡°Eileen!¡± someone shouted. Walking towards her, the person said, ¡°Mr. Gardner asked you to go to his office.¡± 111 215 ¡°Okay, got it.¡± Eileen withdrew her gaze, unsurprised by his new girlfriend. A man¡¯s heart sure was a deep ocean of secrets. After visiting the office and collecting the materials, she headed to the enrichment program. Rather than calling it an enrichment program, it would be more urate to call it a rigorous ss. Originally, it was three hours long, and she could go home at nine, but it was extended until half past ten. Their teacher was an elderly man in his sixties or seventies, wearing reading sses. A test awaited them in the final hour and a half. Those unable toplete it were forbidden. to leave, and anyone who simply answered the questions would face the consequence of copying the questions a hundred times. Even those who finished early were obliged to wait until half past ten before being allowed to leave. Eileen covered her mouth and yawned,pletely unaware of the person outside the door. ¡°Ms. Eileen has it tough. She goes to school from seven until ten. Then, she has to do her. homework until midnight.¡± Jasper peered through the window, his eyes crinkled up inughter. ¡°She¡¯s just doing what she should at her age. She¡¯s always been outstanding, right?¡± Fabian nodded in agreement. Some people were born with a natural talent for learning. Even if they did nothing, they would still achieve the best results. However, those who didn¡¯t have innate talent could only rely on their own efforts. Someone noticed the man outside. It caused quite amotion, ¡°Who is that?¡± ¡°Could it be Jasper Smith?¡± ¡°How can that be? Isn¡¯t he the CEO of Smith Corporation? How could he possibly be here?¡± The earichment program was attended not only by students from other schools but also by 35 those from schools in other regions who were unaware of certain things. The CEO of Smith Corporation had been on the magazine cover as one of the ten most influential figures. His looks had attracted the attention of many. Anyone who imed they didn¡¯t know him would be considered ignorant. Usually, people like him were not easily seen. Resting her hand against her forehead, Eileen squinted her eyes, taking a short nap. Upon hearing the sounds from the ssroom, she curiously looked towards the door. When she saw the person in the ck suit outside the window, Eileen was stunned. Why is he here? Sitting on the podium, the teacher wearing sses looked up and cleared his throat. He expected them to quiet down, but someone took the lead and rushed out. ¡°My idol!¡± One after another, they ran out. Eileen¡¯s desk was almost knocked over in themotion. Watching everyone run out, she was genuinely taken aback. In just a few minutes, everyone was gone. Eileen awkwardly received the thoughtful gaze of the teacher on the podium. Who knew that his arrival would cause such a stir? Gilbert instructed, ¡°Submit your test, and you may leave once I have graded it.¡± Eileen promptly handed in her paper. Turning around anxiously, she noticed that Elm had already attracted a crowd. If it weren¡¯t for his remarkable height, being the tallest among them, Eileen would have struggled to locate him amidst the gathering. ¡°How did you end up in the enrichment program with these grades? Didn¡¯t Jacob allow you to join directly?¡± ¡°Something happened earlier, so I took a break from school for a while. The Olympiad Math ss was already full, so i had no other option but to join the enrichment program. ¡°You¡¯re just taking up a spot in the enrichment program.¡± Gilbert nced at her name once. more. ¡°Are you Eileen Swan, the one who missed sses for half a month?¡± ¡°Mr. Campbell, I was ill and had to take a leave.¡± 4/5 ¡°Alright, you may leave now¡¯ Take your friend with you. Do not disrupt the ss ¡°Yes, Mr. Campbell.¡± C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Eileen swiftly gathered her belongings and slung her backpack over her shoulder. She maneuvered through the crowd and rescued Elm. Chapter 185 Chapter 185 Chapter 185 If Only You Could Grow Up Faster ¡°Why are you here?¡± Eileen asked, clutching her chest and breathing heavily. ¡°Richard called me and told me you weren¡¯t home yet. I figured you were still at school. I was worried because it was gettingte, so I came to check on you,¡± Jasper said with a slight smile. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect the students here to be so enthusiastic.¡± The two took the elevator down. Eileen couldn¡¯t help but nce back at Fabian, who hadn¡¯t.e down yet. ¡°It¡¯s difficult for ordinary people to catch a glimpse of you given your status. From now on, just give me a call.¡± He added, ¡°The call didn¡¯t go through.¡± Eileen gasped as she btedly realized one thing. ¡°I turned off my phone because of the test. I¡¯m sorry! You don¡¯t have to wait for me in the future. You¡¯re already very busy with work.¡± ¡°How can I be at ease leaving you alone?¡± A faint smile graced the corners of Eileen¡¯s lips. No one had ever been so kind to her. ¡°Fabian parked the car at the school gate. It¡¯s a bit far. Do you want me to carry you?¡± Eileen shook her head. ¡°No need. I¡¯m not tired, just a bit sleepy. Let¡¯s go home.¡± As soon as she finished speaking, she felt herself being lifted off the ground. Jasper bent. down and hoisted her up in his arms. Startled, Eileen hooked her arms around his neck. ¡°Some students are still in ss. We might be seen.¡± ¡°Let them be. What can they say about a boyfriend carrying his girlfriend?¡± Eileen was concerned about his legs. They hadn¡¯t fully recovered and needed to recover gradually. ¡°If you¡¯re tired, put me down.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine. I¡¯m not tired.¡± The quiet path was lit by streetlights. It seemed like ke snowkes were falling through the light. Jasper walked slowly, wishing the road could be a little longer. A snowke fell on his shoulder, and he looked up. 1/5 ¡°It¡¯s snowing. Eileen.¡± Not hearing her response, he lowered his gaze to the person in his arms, who had already fallen asleep. Snow fell on hershes. Her skin was as delicate and fair as the snowke, resembling Sleeping Beauty from the fairytale. When he stepped out of the campus, Fabian had already driven the car over. In the ck sedan not far away, Vera asked, ¡°Isn¡¯t the person being carried Eileen? Why is she still at school sote? Eric, is Eileen really not going home?¡± Eric¡¯s expression turned dark, his face suddenly revealing an indescribable chill. ¡°It¡¯s her own home. Why would she not return?¡± Eileen was sound asleep and didn¡¯t even wake up when they arrived at the Smith residence. Jasper carried her upstairs, with Fabian following behind, carrying her backpack. As soon as Eileen touched the bed, she instinctively rolled into the nket. Elm tucked her in, closed the door softly, and went out. He turned off her phone in the backpack. ¡°Tomorrow, request an hour off from school for her. Around half past seven, ask the housekeeper to wake her up.¡± ¡°An hour? What if Ms. Eileen gets upset after sleeping in and missing sses?¡± ¡°Her health is more important than anything else.¡± She had undergone surgery. Despite resting at home for half a month, she was still weak. If it hadn¡¯t been for the meticulous care she received in the past couple of weeks, she would have undoubtedly suffered fromplicationster on. ¡°Do we need to continue preparing the medicine?¡± ¡°She must take the medicine continuously for thest few weeks.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Smith.¡± In the darkness, the youngdy who was originally sound asleep woke up. She heard their conversation clearly. Eileen held her chest and felt her heart beating irregrly. Is this what it feels like to be cared for by someone? In her past life, Eileen caught a chill in the night and developed a high fever of thirty-nine degrees Celsius. When Eric couldn¡¯t find her aftering back home from work, he began to 215 TH question the housekeeper about her condition. It was then that Eric found out she was ill He simply said, ¡°It¡¯s just a cold. She won¡¯t die.¡± This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Indeed, she wouldn¡¯t have died. If it weren¡¯t for the housekeeper discovering her fever had reached forty degrees Celsius the next day, he wouldn¡¯t have called the doctor toe and treat her. It was after this incident that she began suffering from arthritis. Every day, she had to consume a significant amount of medicinal tonics. As the saying goe even medicine was toxic inrge amounts. Coupled with her chronic illness, this was how Eileen gradually became unhealthy. So it turns out I¡¯m not alone after all. There are people who care about me. The next day, as expected, she overslept. If I continue skipping the morning self-study session, Ms. Hayes will probably talk to m can¡¯t bete tomorrow. ¡°Ms. Eileen, didn¡¯t Mr. Jaspere down with you?¡± Eileen sipped her medicine. Sweetened with honey, it wasn¡¯t too bitter. ¡°Is he still sleeping?¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t seen hime down.¡± ¡±???? go get him,¡± said Eileen, having just finished her meal. Upon reaching the upstairs, Eileen noticed the door was ajar. She raised her hand and knocked lightly. The door swung open immediately. The guy in the room had no shirt on, showing off his muscr physique. Tattoos covered his hands all the way up to his neck. Eileen had never seen his upper torso naked like this before. The tattoos consisted of unusual patterns, not resembling any animal designs. Eileen immediately averted her gaze. As if noticing her behind him, Jasper picked up a grey shirt from the bed and started buttoning it up. ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid of beingte?¡± he asked. ¡°Why are youte today too?¡± I¡¯m going on a business trip to Seatown for a week. I won¡¯t be here during this time. I¡¯ll have Richard supervise you to take medicine regrly.¡± ¡®Do you¡­ need me to pack your clothes for the business trip?¡± She wanted to do something, 36 for him, considering all that he had done for her. ¡°Of course.¡± Since they were alreadyte, a few more minutes wouldn¡¯t make much of a difference. She had already gotten used to doing these things. Eileen closed the suitcase and stood up, feeling a hand around her waist lifting her. She tensed up. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± she asked. ¡°I wish you could grow up faster,¡± he whispered in her ear, his breath warm. Turning around, she reached out to fix his tie. ¡°Let¡¯s go downstairs. Otherwise, I won¡¯t even make it to my first ss.¡± The man leaned down and kissed her lips. ¡°I¡¯ll bring you a gift when Ie back.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Eileen went to school but still couldn¡¯t make it to her first ss on time. Jasper wanted to walk her to the school gate, but she quickly declined. She didn¡¯t want a repeat ofst night. The first ss was a test, so Eileen hurriedly entered through the back door and took out her pencil case to start solving the problems. With only half an hour left, Eileen was only able toplete half of her work, leaving the essay unwritten. After ss, Eileen identally dropped her eraser on the ground, As she bent down to pick it up, Vera had already picked it up for her. ¡°Thank you.¡± Vera ced the eraser on the table. ¡°Eileen, did you give the notebook I gave you to Elm?¡± Eileen suddenly remembered when Vera mentioned it. ¡°Sorry, I have your notebook with me. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll give it back to you tomorrow. Do you need it? You can use mine for now.¡± Jasper hadpiled Eileen¡¯s notes for her. They contained key points for this year¡¯s college entrance exam, meticulously recorded with detailed exnations. Jasper even highlighted. 43 the most important points for her. Chapter 186 Chapter 186 Chapter 186 Free At Noon Vera pursed her lips, gazing at the neatly bound notebook, feeling an indescribable sensation. in her heart. ¡°Eileen, I gave you the notebook. Why did you give it to Elm? Everyone in school is talking about it. 1¡­¡± Oh, she¡¯s here because of that, Eileen quickly apologized, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I shouldn¡¯t have given your notes to Elm. I thought he would make a copy, but I didn¡¯t expect him to tear them up.¡± ¡°Eileen, I didn¡¯t really want to tell you this. I just didn¡¯t want Eric to misunderstand. You know, we¡¯ve finally gotten together, and I don¡¯t want him to be unhappy because of these things.¡± ¡°I understand. If Eric misunderstands, I will exin it to him.¡± Vera noticed the workbook on her desk again. She picked it up and nced at it. ¡°Did you buy this workbook?¡± ¡°It¡¯s from Mr. Gardner.¡± ¡°Is that so? This workbook seems to be newly released this year.¡± ¡°Really? I¡¯m not too sure about that. If you want, I can make a copy for you. The problems in it are a bit more challenging than the ones we had in the Olympiad Math ss. It¡¯s been quite some time, and I¡¯ve only managed to finish half of them.¡± Just then, the school bell rang for ss. Eileen decided to lend her the workbook. Vera would return it to her this afternoon. She still had a few pages from the previous workbook to complete. Thest ss of the morning was the weekly break period on Monday. Today, it was ss One, ss Two, and ss Three¡¯s turn. During thest ss, Eileen sat in the ssroom, flipping through fashion magazines to pass the time. The extra books for these extracurricr activities were randomly picked from the shelves behind the ssroom. ¡°Eileen¡±¡± 14 Hearing a voice, Eileen turned her head to see a girl knocking on the window. She opened it, recognizing the girl with a ponytail and a slightly chubby face. She seemed familiar. ¡°Oh?¡± ¡°Do you recognize me? My name is Natalie Scott, I¡¯m in the ss next door. Are you okay? You¡¯ve been on leave for so long, I thought you wouldn¡¯t return to school. I¡¯m d to see you¡¯re fine!¡± Her eyes wererge and round, as innocent and endearing as a fawn. When she smiled, her eyes curved like crescent moons, giving her an innocent appearance. ¡°Thank you for what you didst time!¡± ¡°No problem at all! By the way, why aren¡¯t you out having fun? I heard there¡¯s a basketball game at the gym, and there are lots of handsome guys there!¡± Eileen gave a slight smile. ¡°I think I¡¯ll pass. I still have some problems left to solve.¡± Natalie¡¯s eyes sparkled. ¡°There are a few questions I don¡¯t understand. Can you help me?¡± Eileen told her, ¡°Sure.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go get my homework,¡± Natalie said cheerfully as she ran off. After a while, Eileen didn¡¯t see Natalieing over as expected. Instead, she heard the sound. of an argumenting from next door. ¡°Are you blind? You stepped on my foot when the path is wide.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Calliope. I didn¡¯t mean to do it. I¡¯ll wipe it clean for you right now.¡± ¡°Wipe it clean? Do you know how much these shoes cost?¡± Tllpensate you right now.¡± Natalie pulled out a pink wallet. ¡°Calliope, I didn¡¯t bring much money today. Is three thousand enough?¡± ¡°Are you trying to get rid of a beggar? No wonder you¡¯re a country bumpkin who struck it rich. You only have a little money. I bought it for a hundred thousand, but since we¡¯re ssmates, you only need to compensate me fifty thousand.¡± ¡°Fifty thousand? But I don¡¯t have that much money. Natalie bit her lip in grievance, her eyes suddenly bing teary. She looked pitiful. ¡°Elm, look at her! She stepped on my shoes and told me she had no money. These shoes are a limited edition pair my mom gifted me for my birthday. They are imported from Friyx.¡± Calliope said coyly. She was sitting on Elm¡¯sp, her arms wrapped around his neck. With one hand casually draped around her waist and a pen in the other. Elm was reading at 24 question, his expressionnguid and nonchnt. Then tell her to kneel down and wipe it clean,¡± he said. Everyone else on the side was watching the show with smiles on their faces. Calliope sneered, lifting her stained shoe. ¡°What are you looking at? Kneel down and clean it. Don¡¯t you understand?¡± ¡°O-Okay.¡± Calliope wasn¡¯t a native of Hulbury. She moved from a rural area to the city. Her family had made a considerable fortune selling pork. It was only after they moved to Hulbury that she transferred here during the eleventh grade. However, the school was not as she had imagined. Instead of being weing to the new student, she was ostracized in her ss simply because her family sold pork. Her family didn¡¯t just rely on one source of ie as they also sold truffles and cartginous. Despite trying to exin, they didn¡¯t listen and instead ridiculed her. ¡°What kind of shoes are so expensive, costing fifty thousand?¡± Hearing the voice at the door, Natalie smiled like she had seen her savior. ¡°Eileen!¡± Eileen had heard their conversation next door. Eileen walked over, looking at the pricey shoes. Indeed, they were limited edition, with only five pairs released worldwide. However, this pair must be fake. Yet, she didn¡¯t expose it because all five pairs were in her shoe cab.. She hadn¡¯t worn them because they were too expensive, though not as exaggerated as imed. ¡°I¡¯llpensate for the cleaning of the shoes she dirtied.¡± Eileen took out three hundred from her wallet. ¡°This should be enough. Consider the extra as round-trip fare.¡± you think ¡°Eileen? This is none of your business. You¡¯re giving me three hundred only? Do I¡¯m a beggar? Do you have any idea how expensive my shoes are!¡± Calliope stood up angrily. Even so, she was still half a head shorter than Eileen. She pped the money onto Eileen¡¯s face. ¡°Don¡¯t think that just because someone is supporting you now, I won¡¯t dare do anything to you. You better be Swire and mind your own business.¡± ||| r 34 ¡°She helped me, so I will involve myself in her affairs.¡± Even without Jasper¡¯s support, Eileen wouldn¡¯t stand by passively. Natalie picked up the money from the ground and nervously ced it on Elm¡¯s desk, then hid behind Eileen once again. Throughout, Elm didn¡¯t look at Eileen, focusing on solving the problems in his workbook. Eileen could sense that he was distracted. Is he feeling guilty or uneasy? Eileen didn¡¯t say anything more and left ss Two with Natalie. C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Inside the ssroom, Eileen pulled an extra stool over for her. ¡°In the future, stay away them. The girls around him are not easy to deal with.¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t paying attention. Besides, I saw her extend her foot. I didn¡¯t stop in time and stepped on her shoe.¡± ¡°Start working on your homework. If there¡¯s anything you don¡¯t understand, ask me.¡± ¡°Okay. Can Ie to you for help if I don¡¯t understand anything?¡± Eileen nced at her and lowered her gaze. ¡°If you don¡¯t understand, go ask the teacher! I¡¯m usually very busy.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Catching a glimpse of his despondent eyes from the corner of her eye, Eileen felt her heart. soften. ¡°I¡¯m avable at noon.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Chapter 187 Chapter 187 Chapter 187 Does Elm Like Her Elm, who used to be rtively normal, now seemed to be acting crazy. His character was never bad, so it was unclear where this sudden temper wasing from. She had no rtionship with him, so she had no control over his actions. If he continued to let his resentment go unchecked, he would definitely suffer in the future. The Olympiad Math exam was approaching, and Eileen couldn¡¯t think about anything else. After school that day, Eileen went to the enrichment program, only to be told that the test the night before was a screening, and only three students would be selected in the end. Now, out of the original twenty students, only ten remained. Competition had always been brutal, and achieving sess was not easy. The results from the previous night were posted on the ckboard. As expected, Eileen came out on top. ¡°Having connections really does wonders, huh? She didn¡¯te for half a month and still managed to get first ce. What are we even doing here? We paid over ten for the train ticket and traveled for five to six hours, and we have to return tomorrow.¡± ¡°Stop being jealous. It¡¯s your fault for not having a capable boyfriend! Us poor folks should feel lucky to be here.¡± ¡°Ah, let¡¯s not talk about it anymore!¡± When they saw Eileen, they all immediately fell silent. The sarcastic words and implicit nces made it seem like they were all mocking something, Eileen calmly swept her gaze across the room. ¡°I earned my ce through my own merit. What gives you the right to belittle me? If you feel that thest exam was unfair, we can always take it again.¡± Several boys eventually stepped forward to defend her. ¡°She¡¯s ranked second in the entire year. Why would she need to cheat on this kind of test? You came from another city but either skipped sses or went on shopping sprees instead of paying attention in ss. If you put that much effort into your studies, you wouldn¡¯t need to be here criticizing her.¡± The girls who were speaking earlier turned pale. 1/4 ¡°Okay.¡± After Vera walked away, the girls stared at her back and muttered, ¡°She¡¯s way better than that Eileen! So what if she¡¯s first in ss and second in the grade? She still ended up taking the enrichment program.¡± ¡°Petalburg High School is a strange school. If Eileen really is the second top student in her with grade, how could she possibly end up in the enrichment program,peting for a spot us underachievers?¡± ¡°With her around, the rest of us won¡¯t stand a chance. No matter how hard we work, we won¡¯t be able to match her.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because your boyfriend isn¡¯t the CEO of Smith Corporation!¡± The two of them were walking slowly, allowing Vera to overhear the girls¡¯ conversation. It turned out that Eileen had returned sote yesterday because she had attended the enrichment program. N?velDrama.Org is the owner. Will she stille back to the Olympiad Math ss? Eileen was in the midst of stapling documents when suddenly, a sharp pain shot through her index finger. A drop of bright red blood appeared on her slender, fair finger. At the same 111 O time, her eyelid twitched, and a sense of foreboding suddenly filled her heart. Luckily, the staple was not rusty, so she didn¡¯t need to get a tetanus shot. When sses ended at half past nine at night, Eileen made a trip to the restroom. Upon exiting, she looked at the spot behind her in the mirror. Apart from the pitch-ck darkness, there was nothing else. Could it be that I¡¯m too stressed from studying? I keep feeling as if someone is secretly watching me from behind. Shaking off the water droplets on her hand, Eileen returned to the ssroom, preparing to leave with her backpack. As she approached the elevator, a hand from behind grabbed her, pulling her into a stairwell. Before Eileen could utter a word, a strong scent of alcohol suddenly hit her. sound-activated light flickered on abruptly, revealing a person who had appeared out o nowhere. The initial panic in Eileen¡¯s heart instantly subsided upon seeing this person. Elm seemed to have had too much to drink. He embraced her tightly, his entire weight pressing down on her. He leaned on her shoulder. If it weren¡¯t for the wall behind her waist would¡¯ve cracked from his weight. Eileen demanded, ¡°Elm, what are you doing? Do you even know what you¡¯re doing?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve changed! Eileen, you¡¯ve changed!¡± His tone was both angry and fierce, tinged with a hint of grievance. ¡°Elm, let me go. You can¡¯t do this!¡± Eileen pushed his face away, but his strength was overwhelming. He held her waist tightly, making it impossible for her to move. ¡°You also have a girlfriend now. Is this fair to her?¡± Eileen¡¯s voice turned cold. ¡°It¡¯s fake!¡± Eileen was taken aback. ¡°What did you say?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a fake girlfriend just to make you jealous.¡± Eileen slowly put down her hand that was pushing his hand away. They both fell silent. The sound of his ragged breathing was audible, and there was a hint of perfume wafting off hist body. She wanted to say something but didn¡¯t know what else to say. The sound-controlled light in the stairwell soon went out. ||| 34 Both of them werepletely immersed in the darkness. His words, like a breeze gently touching the calmke, caused subtle ripples. ¡°You promised to tutor me, but you never showed up. You didn¡¯t even know when my birthday was. You owe me!¡± Eileen gazed at the ke wall, her voice struggling to emerge. Finally, she mustered the courage to ask the question that had been weighing on her, fearing that it would only lead to further misunderstandings. ¡°Elm, do you have feelings for me?¡± In a drunken stupor, Elm abruptly rose and gently held her face. Their noses touche forcing their eyes to meet. His eyes seemed to contain a whirlpool, pulling her deep them. ¡°I have¡­ Before he could finish his sentence, Elm closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep, leaning her. Nevertheless, Eileen knew what his answer was. Does Elm have feelings for me? Chapter 188 Chapter 188 Chapter 188 When Will You Be Back Eileen struggled to support Elm as they made their way out of school. It was not an easy task for her. The Smith family¡¯s private driver brought the car around. Upon seeing Eileen helping Elm, the driver immediately got out of the car and assisted Elm into it. ¡°Ms. Eileen, why are you with him?¡± the driver asked. Eileen furrowed her brows. ¡°It¡¯s a long story. Let¡¯s head back first!¡± The driver informed her, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ms. Eileen, but Old Mrs. Smith has made it clear th cannot enter the Smith residence without permission.¡± How could I forget about this? ¡°Forget it. Let¡¯s go to my ce first,¡± Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. Eileen ced Elm in the back seat behind the passenger side and fastened his seatbelt. Sh then sat in the front passenger seat to give directions. They arrived at an alley where Eileen had once lived for a while. There was no elevator. Eileen and the driver, supporting the unconscious Elm, made their way upstairs. She retrieved the key hidden beneath the flower bed and opened the door before fumbling around for the light switch on the wall. The room was not as messy as she had anticipated. On the contrary, it was quite clean and tidy, as if someone had recently been living there. There was still half-eaten food on the table, covered with a mesh cover. Don¡¯t tell me he has been living here recently. They helped Elm onto the bed. The driver took off his shoes and socks before tucking him in. Eileen nced at the person on the bed. ¡°It¡¯s not convenient for me to take care of him here. Is there anyone else at his house?¡± ¡°Mrs. Smith is probably asleep at this hour.¡± ¡°Forget it, let ne think of another solution! We can¡¯t just leave him here alone¡± 111 1/5 Elm¡¯s mother was quite attractive and had a gentle demeanor, but she seemed a bit frail. Elm probably didn¡¯t want to worry his mother. ¡°Ms. Eileen, don¡¯t worry. Mr. Elm will be fine. Shall we go back now? If Mr. Jasper finds out, he might get angry.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go back then!¡± Eileen gave Elm a long look, her eyes full of emotion. She then turned off the lights in the room and closed the door. For her, Elm was merely her savior and a friend, but he could never be anything more. She had had enough of such rtionships. The person she liked always had a swarm of admirers around. His affection never focused on just one person. Perhaps, it was just a momentary impulse. She would definitely be lying if she said she didn¡¯t like Jasper¡­ One of the main reasons Eileen was moved by him was that he said he didn¡¯t mind that she didn¡¯t have a uterus. After she was discharged from the hospital and recuperated at home, Jasper had been taking care of her with utmost attention and care. Eileen had never experienced being cared for. For the first time, she felt loved by Jasper. Jasper was a good man. He was so great that she couldn¡¯t help but fall for him. When they arrived at the Smith residence, the driver spoke up. ¡°If Mr. Jasper asks about what happened today¡­¡± Eileen said indifferently, ¡°Tell him the truth. If there are misunderstandings. I will exin it to him.¡± Since they were together, there were certain things she didn¡¯t want to hide from him. Aside from that incident, of course. She was certain that it would never happen again. 2/5 Even if she were to marry Jasper, she would want to do so with a clean te. Eileen was born around the seventies and eighties. She grew up with her grandmother in the countryside, and from an early age, she was exposed to matters of both sexes. Deep down, she was rather traditional and conservative. She couldn¡¯t tolerate infidelity, no matter who was at fault. Even if she chose to forgive the first time, it would happen again. That was what she saw with Eric. Eileen emerged from the bathroom, turning on her phone for the first time. She saw th Jasper had already called several times, but she hadn¡¯t answered. She walked over to the floor-to-ceiling window, dressed in a long robe with a belt around her waist. Her hair was slightly damp, not yet dry. Eileen returned the call, and it was answered within just a few seconds. The familiar, deep, and maic voice echoed from the phone. ¡°Are you still awake?¡± Eileen looked at the moon in the sky, its shape simr to the crescent pendant on her nec ¡°When will you be back?¡± The man chuckled lightly. ¡°Eileen, it¡¯s only been a day. To be precise, just fifteen hours and twelve minutes. What¡¯s wrong? Did something happen at school?¡± Eileen nervously clutched at her clothes, her heartbeat audible to her own ears, ¡°I-I miss you!¡± It took her a lot of courage to say that. In her mind, she couldn¡¯t help but recall the countless times she had spoken such words to Eric. What followed was indeed a series of cold, heart-wrenching voices. The sound of him in bed with another woman, and the voice of another woman warning her not to call again. Every time she thought of these, Eileen¡¯s heart seemed to have been cut out, dripping with blood. However, it was still beating. On the other end of the line, the man stood up from the office desk. Tugging at his tie, he walked over to the floor-to-ceiling window with one hand in his pocket and looked up at the crescent moon. ¡°Once I¡¯m done with things here, I¡¯lle back as soon as I can. It¡¯s gettingte, so go to 3/5 sleep now¡­.¡± ¡°Can you stay with me a little longer on the phone?¡± the girl on the line asked. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll stay with you.¡± There was a rustling sound that should¡¯vee from the quilt. She must have gone to bed. Eileen was lying in bed, her hand curved under her head as a pillow. By the pillow, her phone was ced, disying an ongoing call. ¡°Are you asleep? Or are you still busy?¡± ¡°I just took a shower and will sleep in a bit.¡± ¡°Jasper, can you tell me a bedtime story? No one has ever told me one before.¡± Her mother passed away after giving birth to her. She was raised by Sharon since she was a child, and even her father rarely held her. ¡°Do you want to hear the story of the Misty Grove?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± ¡°There was a dense fog in the forest, and a small ck bear became lost. It desired to find its way back home¡­¡± Midway through the tale, Jasper heard Eileen¡¯s even, shallow breaths. It appeared as though she had already drifted off to sleep. The morning sun cast a gentle, golden glow upon her. Eileen awoke to discover that her phone had automatically shut down due to a depleted battery. After charging for a while, she noticed that the call from the previous night had ended. around four or five in the morning. This time, she wasn¡¯t tardy and managed to arrive at the early morning self-study session on time. With disheveled hair, Elm walked by carrying his backpack. As usual, he passed by her window without acknowledging her. The events ofst night seemed like a farce. That was good. She intended to pretend it never urred. r 475 This time, Yvette returned. She appeared to be in poor condition, with dark circles under her eyes. She walked to her usual spot, sprawled out, and promptly fell asleep. Did something happen to the Friedman family in the past few days? When Eileen averted her gaze, she suddenly noticed that Vera was giving her a cold stare. In the blink of an eye, that icy gaze vanished instantly. Vera shed her an innocent smile. Eileen began to question whether she had imagined it. Chapter 189 Chapter 189 Chapter 189 Make A Choice For You The events ofst night in the safety corridor kept distracting Eileen during the morning. sses for some reason. She couldn¡¯t stop thinking about his words either. Eileen didn¡¯t want to overthink things. Pondering certain matters further held no meaning. Clearing her mind of distractions, Eileen realized she had lost track of where the teacher was in the lecture as she stared at the ckboard. The first lesson passed in a daze. Sitting in the front row by the window, Eileen heard voices from behind. They were Yver and Vera. Vera received a gold-embossed red invitation. ¡°As the future heiress of the Friedman far. I¡¯m extending this invitation to you and Eric. Friedman Group will host a banquet this weekend. I hope both of you can attend on time.¡± N?velDrama.Org is the owner. Vera had never received such a valuable invitation. She looked at it and then tilted her head, smiling slightly at Yvette. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Yvette, but I don¡¯t know much about thepany. I¡¯ll pass this to Eric, though. If he wants to go, I¡¯ll apany him.¡± ¡°Okay! When the timees, dress a bit more formally. Don¡¯t embarrass the Swan family.¡± Vera¡¯s face turned pale, and there was no significant emotion on her face. After Yvette finished speaking, she gave the invitation to Eileen. ¡°Here, this is for you. Now that you¡¯re with Jasper, you might be my sister-inw in the future. Regarding the previous incident, Jasper has already reprimanded me. Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t mention Elm¡¯s matters. anymore! Please pass this to Jasper. I hope he¡¯ll attend no matter what.¡± Yvette¡¯s tone was noticeably different when speaking to Eileen and Vera. With Vera, she was assertive, and her tone always carried a hint of displeasure. On the other hand, she seemed to back down in front of Eileen, and her tone was softer, like a conversation between friends. Eileen told her, ¡°I will convey your message.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± The only one who could make the proud Yvette bow her head was Jasper and Jasper¡¯s girlfriend, Eileen. ||| r 1/4 Yvette returned to her seat. In fact, Yvette¡¯s purpose was simple and thoughtful.. She simply didn¡¯t like Vera, especially since she found out that Eric was with this pretentious. woman. She finally set her eyes on a man, only to have him taken by Vera in advance. Moreover, Yvette has always been proud, growing up under the admiration of others. It wouldn¡¯t be an exaggeration to say she was the apple of her parents eyes, She just wanted to show Vera the difference between them. The Swan family was somewhat influential in Hulbury, but Vera was an orphan whe under the Swan family¡¯s roof. Eric was a scheming man with a strong ambition for sess. If he wanted to achieve his career goals, she believed she would be the best choice for him. Vera¡¯s good looks and good grades were worthless. Without power or influence, it was nearly impossible to make any progress in Hulbury, where there was no shortage of talent and beautiful women. Vera wasn¡¯t her match. Moreover, Yvette also understood Eric¡¯s thoughts. A person with ambitions like him shouldn¡¯t just stay in the small Swan family. How could Vera be worthy of staying by Eric¡¯s side? From a young age, Yvette had apanied her mother, witnessing countless ebbs and flows in the business world. Whether it was hidden agendas or crafty deceit, she could spot it with just one nce. Eileen was not a threat to her. In fact, Eileen wasn¡¯t even worthy to be her opponent. Jasper only liked her because of her face She didn¡¯t mind backing down and apologizing to Eileen as thetter could be her future sister-inw They could be a family in the future. There was also another thang 2A After all, Vera wouldn¡¯t stay by Eric¡¯s side for too long. That cunning old fox, Will, had always been very measured in his actions. He used his daughter to establish a connection with the Smith family. On the other hand, he could also rely on his adopted son to secure cooperation from the Friedman family, Will knew what he should do. She had seen many people willing to resort to any means for power, even if it meant abandoning their wives and children. It wouldn¡¯t be much to ask Eric to dump Vera. Will was at Caerulus Corporation. Ever since he stepped down, his visits to thepany had been few and far between. He sat in the CEO¡¯s seat, and Eric stood below, handing over thetest financial report. This time, the revenue was thirty-two percent higher than before, reaching a peak value. never achieved since thepany was founded. And these seemingly insignificant numbers could bring greater benefits to the Swan family. ¡°Recently, thepany seems to be doing well. You¡¯ve done a good job,¡± Will said. Eric nodded. ¡°Father, you tter me. Thepany¡¯s sess today isrgely due to Smith Corporation¡¯s support from behind the scenes. In less than half a year, thepany can expand its scale.¡± Will nodded, acknowledging his daughter¡¯s ability to catch Jasper¡¯s attention. ¡°Recently, how is Eileen doing in the Smith residence? Have you visited her?¡± Eric replied, ¡°Eileen is so busy with her studies that we hardly see each other. I only get to chat with her for a bit when I asionally pick up Vera from school.¡± When Vera was mentioned, Will¡¯s face darkened. ¡°Are you still in a rtionship with her?¡± Eric responded calmly, ¡°Yes¡± Then you have to think clearly. Do you want an insignificant woman, or do you want to stand on top of the pyramid, being admired by everyone? You¡¯re not young anymore.¡± Will put down the files in his hand and walked to Eric¡¯s side, patting his shoulder ¡°Eileen is my 34 daughter, and you re ny everything I say. Don¡¯t let a young girl confuse your mind. If you continue on the wrong path, you will regret it in the future!¡± Don¡¯t let a young girl confuse my mind? In Eric¡¯s mind, her figure appeared. His eyes dimmed. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll get going now. Take some time to think it over. You have three days. If you can¡¯t make a decision by then, I¡¯ll make it for you.¡± This seemingly casual remark carried a hint of threat. Will lowered his hand, suddenly overwhelmed by a wave of dizziness that caused his b sway backwards. ¡°Father!¡± Eric quickly came to his support. Will shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m fine. You can continue with your work.¡± ¡°Yes, Father.¡± After Will left, a mysterious and alluring figure emerged from the lounge. Elsie was dressed in a ck lace gown that hugged her elegant silhouette. Thece cor, adorned with intricate patterns, resembled a tattoo on her neck. She draped a ke fur shawl over herself and gracefully swayed, exuding both charm and seduction. It was difficult to believe that this person was once a respected teacher. Chapter 190 Chapter 190 Chapter 190 Are You Really Listening? At first nce, her disguised appearance could easily be mistaken for that of the leadingdy in a high- end club. Her hairstyle reminded Will of the popr hair essories from over a decade ago in dance halls, and her earrings were sparkling emerald jewels. Thedies¡¯ watch on her hand, adorned with the most expensive diamonds, was valued at over two million dors. But for Will, all this wealth barely held any meaning. Elsie approached, leaning against Eric¡¯s body, her voice alluring and seductive, ¡°It seem set his sights on your girlfriend! You better be careful.¡± Eric, with a cool gaze, pulled her hand away from his chest, creating distance between th Just at that moment, the office door swung open. ¡°Come in.¡± Eric turned around abruptly, and a hint of a shattered expression appeared on Elsie¡¯s face. Entering the room was Gavin. Gavin reported, ¡°Ms. Vera is here.¡± ¡°Let her in.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Elsie felt the gaze upon her, and a bold smile lifted her red lips. ¡°What¡¯s this? Are we such an old pair that my presence is unbearable?¡± He remained silent, and Elsie chuckled, saying, ¡°Eric, I used to wonder what kind of person could capture your affection.¡± C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. ¡°You can deceive Will, but you can¡¯t deceive me¡­¡± Vera? Who knew if she was just a pawn to him? Even the person closest to him could be manipted. ||| 1/5 Someone like him truly had no heart. Elsie was also curious about who could make him willingly descend from his pedestal disregard everything. Who would that person be? Could someone like him genuinely like someone? She swayed her hips as she exited the office. Coincidentally, she crossed paths with Vera at the entrance. Elsie shared a smile with her and left. Vera held a lunchbox in her hands. ¡°Eric, sorry to disturb you.¡± Eric masked his emotions, but this time, a warmth softened his usual icy facade as at Vera. ¡°What brings you here?¡± ¡°It¡¯s been ages since we shared a meal, and I happened to grab your favorite chicken st downstairs. How about we enjoy it together?¡± ¡°Sure, take a seat.¡± Eric settled on the sofa. Vera upied the opposite spot, unveiling a few dishes Eric frequently indulged in at ho As she set them out, shemented, ¡°It might not match up to home-cooked perfection. Sharon¡¯s gone, and you rarely make it home for meals. Considering your sensitive stomach, I worry you might end up with stomachaches again.¡± ¡°You should be in ss at this hour.¡± His remark hung in the air, creating a tense stillness. Handing him the spoon, Vera¡¯s eyes lowered slightly, carrying a trace of grievance. ¡°I just wanted to check in on you.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s eat.¡± Vera, with a bowl and a spoon in hand, ate with deliberate slowness. The silence brought a subtle awkwardness, an ufortable vibe she couldn¡¯t quite identify. After wrestling with her thoughts, she finally vocalized what had been weighing on her. ¡°Eric¡­ it feels like we¡¯re together, yet at the same time, it¡¯s like we¡¯re not really together. Why does it fee! that way?¡± 111 25 There was a sense that everything remained unchanged, with their rtionship as the only addition. She often felt that Eric was avoiding her. Eric asked, ¡°What¡¯s on your mind?¡± ¡°Every time youe back, I¡¯m already asleep. Besides those quick moments when you drop me off at school, we hardly ever share a meal like we are right now. And¡­ in the month-plus. we¡¯ve been together, we¡¯ve never been on a date.¡± Even holding hands was a rarity. Even that one night, if she hadn¡¯t unexpectedly started her period, staining her skirt wit blood, she wouldn¡¯t have had the chance to call him and ask him toe over. That was the only reason Eric carried her out of the ssroom. ¡°Eric, are you free this weekend? Can we go on a date? You didn¡¯t even spend Valentine¡¯s Day with me.¡± ¡°I understand. We¡¯ll figure out the timing when the weekendes.¡± It was always the same response from him. During thest Valentine¡¯s Day, Vera had nned to watch a movie with him and then go shopping for clothes together. He had agreed, but ultimately, he didn¡¯t show up. He was working overtime at the ¡°How about we go to the amusement park? I¡¯ll wait for you on Friday after school.¡± Eric agreed with a nod.- After lunch, Gavin came in to give a work update. Eric had a meeting in half an hour. Vera left thepany without disturbing him. After Gavin departed, Eric, engrossed in reviewing a project document, identally nudged. the mouse on the desktop. This action roused theputer from its slumber, and the screen lit up, revealing an audio file. As Eric nced at the audio file, his gaze took on a distant and contemtive look. Suddenly, his eyes turned icy. He clicked the y button, and a familiar, nostalgic voice slowly resonated from the computer. ||| 3/5 ¡°I¡­ miss you.¡± A simple expression of longing that Eric had never heard before. So, she can adopt such a tone too? The voice belonged to a recording of a lengthy call with Eileen, spanning four to five hours. Eric listened to the voices in the call. Her voice was not the only one in the recording; Jasper¡¯s voice was in it too. It seemed like they had truly be a couple. For a moment, Eric¡¯s thoughts were in disarray. It felt like the ivy that had entwined around him was suddenly being unraveled. His possession was slipping away from him bit by bit. He felt like he was losing his sanity. His mind was consumed with thoughts of her. He couldn¡¯t afford to make more mistakes. Otherwise, the situation would truly be unsalvageable. In the library, with the final half-hour ticking away, Eileen couldn¡¯t remain seated any lon She neatly stowed her pen in her pencil case, feeling a slight twinge in her nerves as she noticed a guy and a girl across from her. Fortunately, the library wasn¡¯t too crowded today. ¡°Elm, I¡¯m stuck on this problem. Can you help me? I didn¡¯t catch what she said earlier; she spoke too fast.¡± Eileen packed up her books, remarking, ¡°We¡¯ve covered everything discussed today. There¡¯s still half an hour, so you can work on your homework. I won¡¯t disturb you any longer.¡± With that, she tucked her books into her backpack. As she was preparing to leave, Elm grabbed his girlfriend¡¯s textbook and pointed to at question. ¡°How do you solve this one?¡± Eileen, maintaining herposure, furrowed her brow. ¡°I only agreed to tutor one person.¡± Elm, sitting with his legs crossed and tapping his foot, emitted a slightly spoiled rich kid vibe. He tilted his head andughed in a mischievous manner. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, are you jealous? One more person or one less person, what difference does it make to you? Besides, I don¡¯t 4/5 know how to answer this que ¡°You don¡¯t know?¡± Eileen stared at him with a serious expression. A subtle look of frustration. appeared on her face. ¡°We just went over this question, and you¡¯ve already forgotten how to solve it? Were you even paying attention?¡± Calliope, leaning on Elm¡¯s shoulder, discontentedly said, ¡°Why are you being so harsh? It¡¯s not his fault. You didn¡¯t exin it clearly.¡± So, she spent two and a half hours, acting as a third wheel in front of them for two ho Forget it. She owed them that much. ¡°I¡¯ll go over it again with you guys¡­¡± Chapter 191 Chapter 191 Chapter 191 Aiming Beyond Te If this trend continued, Elm¡¯s concentration would suffer, affecting not only him but also Elm. Leaving the library, Eileen wondered if Elm would start bringing his girlfriend along more often in the future. Who knew what was going on in his mind? The heart of a man was a mystery. Eileen¡¯s life was routine in Jasper¡¯s absence. Time flew by, and as the school day ended, Eilee packed her backpack. Just as she was about to leave, Vera suddenly approached. ¡°Eileen, are you free? It¡¯s been a while since Eric and I shared a meal with you. How a heading home together tonight? I¡¯ll cook; I promise you¡¯ll love it. Sharon taught me a i about cooking before.¡± Eileen declined, ¡°I have a sster; I won¡¯t be able to make it.¡± ¡°ss? Is it the enrichment program?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Why note back to the Olympiad Math ss?¡± Eileen pursed her lips, about to say something when Yvette walked over and sneered at Vera. ¡°You¡¯re really foolish. I remember who camest in today¡¯s test. It was you! Only Eileen, for the sake of your friendship, gave you the opportunity to remain in the Olympiad Math ss. by iming to be heading to some kind of enrichment program. You¡¯ve got some nerve to ask her toe back to the Olympiad Math ss!¡± Vera remained indifferent, smiling faintly but not saying anything. Eileen, picking up her backpack, spoke up for Vera. ¡°I go to the enrichment program because it helps me aim to be the top schr. I didn¡¯t do it for anyone.¡± Yvette chuckled. ¡°Eileen, since when did you care about rankings?¡± The animosity in her eyes. toward Eileen seemed to have diminished. Eileen looked at the few remaining people, one of them with thick sses, standing tall at over six feet. He appeared somewhat shy-a quiet and reserved boy named Benjamin Raker who ranked first in the entire Petalburg High School. He was thepetitor Eileen wanted to surpass. 14 The six students left behind were all elite members of the Olympiad Math ss and abo part of the top seven students in Petalburg High School One of Benjamin¡¯s good friends, Jason Barley, threw his arm around Benjamin¡¯s shop lider ¡°Benny, it looks like your first-ce position is secure from now on. I used to be right behand and now even the second spot has been snatched away. I¡¯m so heartbroken! Even though there¡¯s only one person in between us, I still feel the great distance you, Benjamin, with an indifferent expression, pushed away the person leaning on his shoulder. He walked up to Eileen. ¡°See you at the International Mathematical Olympiad Eileen nodded. ¡°Sure.¡± After speaking, Benjamin left the ssroom without ncing elsewhere. Outside, Jasor voice could still be heard. ¡°Do you think this year¡¯s dial-stream top scorer in Hulburye from our school? I rememberst year or the year before, the top scorers in both and sciences were from Cloudbury Public School¡± Benjamin replied. ¡°I¡¯m not sure, we¡¯ll know once the exams are done.¡± ¡°Anyway, it won¡¯t be me. It¡¯ll either be you or Eileen.¡± Eileen then said to Vera, ¡°I¡¯m leaving The enrichment program followed a teaching style simr to Jacob¡¯s. Sometimes, the tear would get inspired and delve into more advanced topics. However, this particr topic involved mostly arithmetic methods. Thepact study time left Eileen with hardly a moment to pause. There was no time to think about anything else. Jasper would send her messages every day, reminding her to eat and take her medicine, even though she had mostly recovered. At Seatown, Jasper was at the venue, raising his ss and toasting with several influential figures in the business arena. Most of the people surrounded Jasper, exchanging bustness cards, and many were keenly interested in the Smith Corporation. His achievements were evident to discerning eyes, marking him as an excellent heir to the Smith family. With the rich and powerful mbering to please him, the beautiful socialites were not far behind but also from socialites and heiresses eager to share a drink with him. However, Gavin skillfully intercepted all such attempts. When Jasper had his ident and lost the use of his legs, it made headlines and stirred up a storm. Now, seeing him standing, it was clear that his legs had been healed. If Jasper didn¡¯t want to drink a particr toast, no one dared to force him. The banquet concluded at nine o¡¯clock. However, at eight, the lights at the banquet hall suddenly went out, plunging the entire sp into darkness. The next moment, several beams of blue light illuminated the stage. A woman dressed it elegant, long, navy-blue gown sat at a piano. As she began ying, the tumultuous noise in the room immediately hushed. The audience silently watched her on stage. With her hair flowing like seaweed, she apanied the ethereal music, evoking thoughts mermaids in the deep sea. Under the stage, murmurs arose. ¡°Could this be the heiress from the Raker family who just returned from studying abroad? I haven¡¯t seen her in years, but she¡¯s truly exceptional! In all of Seatown, I doubt anyone can surpass this heiress.¡± As the performance reached its conclusion, Elizabeth Raker gracefully lifted her skirt in acknowledgment, eliciting apuse from many in the audience. Observers keenly noticed that Elizabeth¡¯s gaze was directed at someone, and all eyes followed her line of sight. To everyone¡¯s surprise, the object of her attention was none other than Jasper. Fabian swiftly retrieved information about Elizabeth on his phone, providing Jasper with the details. Remarkably, they were high school ssmates, although Jasper had no recollection of it. With only half an hour remaining until the event¡¯s conclusion, it became apparent to onlookers that the heiress of the Raker family regarded Jasper with more than casual interest. However, Jasper seemed indifferent to her advances. From the beginning to the end, Jasper maintained an icy and distant demeanor, radiating an r 34 aura of restrained aloofness that As Elizabeth descended from the stage, she walked over to Gregory. ¡°Dad.¡± Gregory Raker, one of Seatown¡¯s most influential merchants with connections to the authorities, gazed proudly at his daughter. ¡°Let me introduce you. This is Jasper Smith, the CEO of Hulbury¡¯s Smith Corporation. And this is my daughter, Elizabeth.¡± The two exchanged nces, nodded, and greeted each other. Gregory said, ¡°You¡¯ve returned from abroad, and you didn¡¯t even say hello to your father? You truly surprised me!¡± ¡°As long as you¡¯re happy¡± This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. At that moment, Fabian leaned in close to Jasper¡¯s ear, covering his mouth, and whispered something. Jasper¡¯s gaze briefly hardened as he checked his phone in his pocket, where there were unread messages from her and a missed call. ¡°Did Eileen send you any messages?¡± ¡°Ms. Eileen did not.¡± Without saying goodbye, Jasper abruptly left the venue-an action that was considered impolite ording to proper etiquette. Observing his swift departure, the gleam of a smile faded from Elizabeth¡¯s eyes. Chapter 192 Chapter 192 Chapter 192 I Have Fallen In Love Now It was half-past eight. Eileen sat in the back seat, gazing gloomily at the scenery outside the window. ¡°If I hadn¡¯t left. so early, I wouldn¡¯t have run into them.¡± She had left early that day, hoping to get home and rest early. Unexpectedly, she ran into Eric and Vera, who had also just left. They were nning to grab ate-night snack. Eric didn¡¯t give Eileen a chance to refuse as he led her to the car. Both Eric and Vera happily discussed what to eat and their ns for the weekend. Being with them made Eileen feel like a third wheel,pletely out of ce. It was as if she was an outsider, forcefully inserted into their lives. Vera turned her head and asked, ¡°Eileen, what would you like to eat? Should we have barbecue or go for fish?¡± Eileen was lost in thought at first, but quickly snapped back to reality. She hesitated before breaking into a slight smile. ¡°I¡¯m fine with anything. Actually, I¡¯m not that hungry.¡± ¡°You haven¡¯t been home for such a long time. If I didn¡¯t know you would finish school at the same time, we wouldn¡¯t even have a chance to meet.¡± After some thought, Vera suggested, ¡°In that case, why don¡¯t we go for some barbecue skewers?¡± Eileen unintentionally met Eric¡¯s deep gaze in the rearview mirror, and her heart fluttered as she quickly looked away. ¡°Alright then.¡± She had never eaten barbecue skewers before, so she didn¡¯t know if they would upset her stomach. Thest meal she had with Elm had already caused her quite a bit of trouble. The three of them arrived at a slightly upscale restaurant, where quite a few people were still dining at that hour. Just as she was about to step in, Eileen felt her phone vibrating in her pocket. She paused, nced at the two who had already entered the shop, and pursed her lips without saying a 1/4 word. She stepped aside and answered the phone. Vera was holding onto Eric¡¯s arm, waiting to order when the waiter came over. She turned around and saw that Eileen was still outside, seemingly on a phone call. ¡°Eric, what would you like to eat?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine with anything. You should order first. I¡¯m going to have a smoke.¡± Vera nodded, responding. ¡°Alright.¡± The person who called was Jasper. Every time he called, he would ask, ¡°When will you be back?¡± ¡°Hurry up! Remember to head back and rest after you finish eating. Around half-past ten, I¡¯ll have Richarde pick you up.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± His end was very quiet, with the asional sound of someone passing by. She was familiar with this sound. He must be at a dinner he couldn¡¯t turn down. After hanging up the phone, Eileen turned around to see Eric standing outside the door, a cigarette in his hand. She nervously walked past him, ready to enter the shop, when suddenly, a strong arm grabbed her, pulling her into a dark alley where the streetlights. couldn¡¯t reach. ¡°What¡­ What are you doing? Mm¡­¡± A chilling breath swept over as Eileen felt her lips being sealed by him. Her words turned into nothing but a mumble. She struggled, but he pressed her hands against the wall, rendering her unable to move. Eileen felt as though she was suffocating, struggling to catch her breath. After switching hands to keep her pinned, he gripped her tightly around the waist, pulling her body close to his. The overwhelming force seemed as if it was trying to merge her into his body. Leaning against the icy cold wall, Eileen remained fully alert. ¡°Let¡­ let me go!¡± After kissing for some time. Eileen seized the opportunity to bite his tongue, but not too hard. Panting heavily, both of them had their noses touching, and all she could do was express he: resistance through her eyes. 111 21 Taking advantage of his loosened grip. Eileen pushed him away Eric, as if he were watching a small rabbit struggling to escape in vain, reached out and grabbed her. Eileen felt herself being held back by her cor, her body being pulled back towards him. He held her captive in his arms. ¡°It¡¯s been a while. You¡¯ve put on quite a bit of weight.¡± This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. In the darkness, his features were indiscernible, yet one could imagine the yful glint in his eyes. ¡°It¡¯s none of your business!¡± Eileen felt a pinch at her waist, his fingers gently squeezing her flesh. He was kissing her neck and a tingling sensation, like countless tiny electric currents, spread throughout her body. In truth, Eileen wasn¡¯t fat at all, she just had a bit more flesh on her. Before, Eileen was indeed very thin, to the point where people thought her waist could easily be broken in bed. Her skills had also improved quite a bit since then. ¡°You¡¯re quick-witted, thinking that by running off to the Smith family, I wouldn¡¯t be able to find you, huh?¡± Eileen felt his lecherous hand on her chest. A forceful squeeze from him elicited a sensuous whimper from her. It wasn¡¯t a reflexive response from her body. Instead, it was one caused by pain. He had exerted too much force. Eileen held onto that burning hand, preventing him from moving recklessly. She pushed him away forcefully. ¡°Eric, enough! Aren¡¯t you afraid Vera will find out? Don¡¯t forget that she¡¯s still here.¡± ¡°Are you scared?¡± Eileen sneered, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m not only scared but also disgusted. As if having Vera wasn¡¯t enough, you still do this to me. Eric¡­ when will you change your fickle ways? She likes you a lot, and you like her too. If¡­ you truly care for her, you shouldn¡¯t be doing this. It will really hurt her.¡± Eric¡¯s tone deepened. ¡°I can¡¯t believe you actually said that.¡± ¡°Because I don¡¯t want to upset her, nor do I want to betray her. I¡¯ve made this very you that this is the end. You wouldn¡¯t want Vera to know and be upset either, right?¡± clear to Eric let her go, and Eileen smoothed out the wrinkles on her clothes. As she stepped out of the darkness, she said, ¡°From now on¡­ we won¡¯t see each other again. When Eileen walked into the restaurant, she ordered a few non-spicy dishes. 34 After finding Vera, she sat across from her. ¡°Where is Eric?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure, I didn¡¯t see him.¡± ¡°Why are you back sote?¡± Vera asked. ¡°I was on the phone,¡± Eileen replied calmly, changing the subject. ¡°What did you order?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a wide variety here, including your favorites. Try this juice. It tastes really good.¡± Eric arrived shortly after. He told Vera that he had gone to buy a pack of cigarettes, ¡°But Eric, I thought you didn¡¯t like smoking in the past,¡± Vera said. ¡°Ive grown fond of it now,¡± Eric replied. Eileen couldn¡¯t bear to stay in front of them for even half a minute. Once everything was served, Eileen took a few casual bites. She then contacted Richard and gave him an address. He arrived in about forty-five mi Holding her backpack, Eileen left without any hesitation at all. Stepping outside, she took a bottle of lemon water from the server and used it to wash off the overpowering scent of spices from her body. Richard stepped forward, took Eileen¡¯s schoolbag, and got into the car. Vera looked out the window at the departing car, then turned her gaze toward Eric. He picked up a string of non-spicy corn and began to eat. She somehow felt that something was off with the atmosphere but couldn¡¯t quite put finger on it. her ¡°Today, I heard from Yvette that Eileen might soon be marrying Jasper and bing the wife of the CEO of Smith Corporation. Moreover, it seems like the Smith family has also epted her.¡± ¡°Eric, does Eileen¡­ really not like you anymore?¡± Chapter 193 Chapter 193 Chapter 193 He Can Always Bring Her Back Eric gave her a deep, mysterious look, his eyes resembling a bottomless abyss. For some unknown reason, despite the long time they had spent together, Vera always felt insecure around him. Even when they were together, it seemed like she never truly understood him.. Apart from holding hands, they had never even shared a simple kiss. Vera often wondered if she was being too eager. Eric had always treated her like a sister, never moving beyond their past rtionshi Eric went to the front desk to pay the bill, then left the barbecue restaurant. This time, instead of returning to Euphoria Condominium, they went to the Swan resi Vera sat there, looking at the grand mansion. ¡°Eric, aren¡¯t we going home?¡± Ever since Vera returned from abroad, she had never been fond of Unde Mansion, especially the way Will looked at her. ¡°Do you not like it here?¡± ¡°Not at all.¡± Vera shook her head. However, Eric noticed the hesitation on her face. ¡°Did something happen? You can tell me.¡±Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. Eric¡¯s gaze seemed as if it could see right through her. Vera seemed flustered as she lowered her gaze. She quickly grabbed her skirt and said, ¡°It¡¯s nothing, Eric. You¡¯re overthinking it.¡± After she finished speaking, she leaned forward and quickly kissed Eric on the cheek. Her cheeks flushed pink, simr to that of a young girl¡¯s shy blush. ¡°Goodnight, Eric. I¡¯m going in first.¡± Vera opened the car door and, as if she had done something wrong, hurriedly ran off. Despite the lingering warmth left by Vera¡¯s kiss on his cheek, Eric¡¯s expression remained cool. and detached. Vera dashed into the hall, spotting Elsie who was still awake. She greeted her and then hurried up the stairs. 1/4 Vera had returned, so he had also returned. Eric walked in with an air of icy aloofness, one hand in his pocket. He ced the keys he was holding in the entryway. His gloomy eyes briefly met Elsie¡¯s in the kitchen before quickly looking away. ¡°Back from your date with your girlfriend?¡± Elsie was dressed in a purple nightgown, her cleavage visible through the thin fabric, along with her sensuous curves. It was obvious that she was wearing nothing underneath her nightgown, her fair skin faintly visible. Holding at of water, she walked out of the kitchen. cup He could tell from Eric¡¯s mood that something was wrong. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you upset? Did she reject you?¡± ¡°No, instead¡­¡± Elsie suddenly walked over, thrusting the cup of water into his hand. water was still warm. On the edge of the clear ss, a lipstick mark was visible. ¡°You her at all!¡± Eric stared intently at her. ¡°So? What do you want to say?¡± Elsie chuckled. ¡°After all these years, Eric, I know you too well. If you truly liked Vera. definitely wouldn¡¯t act like this. You¡¯re such a possessive person. If you truly liked Ve would have gone mad when she returned from abroad, hanging out with a bunch o How could you pretend not to notice? And¡­ that sugar baby you¡¯ve been keeping fo. year¡­ Anyone who isn¡¯t blind can see who she takes after. Eric¡­ Do you want me to continue?¡± Elsie¡¯s face was filled with a yful smile, her eyebrows slightly raised, exuding an enticing. charm. But Eric didn¡¯t confirm Elsie¡¯s remark about him liking Eileen, nor did he deny it. Elsie tried to discern something from the depths of his eyes, but he hid it too well. She couldn¡¯t see anything at all, only feeling her own heart filled with sorrow, ¡°Jealous?¡± Eric moved past her to ce the water ss on the table. He then pulled a handkerchief from his suit pocket, wiping his hands as if they had been soiled by something. After he was done wiping, he tossed it onto the table. Elsie curled her lips into a smile. ¡°Indeed! If the man I¡¯ve set my sights on doesn¡¯t want to be with me. I¡¯m definitely going to be jealous.¡± Eric¡¯s eyes were cold as he gave her a sidelong nce. ¡°So, after all these years by my side, is this all you¡¯ve observed? It¡¯s a shame that I prefer someone pure.¡± With a few casual words, a wave of sorrow suddenly swept through Else¡¯s eyes. Her heart arhed. Those words were like reopening a scabbed wound, causing it to bleed profusely. 21 Indeed, she had been tainted for a long time now and was go ¡°Stop looking at me like that. It¡¯s disgusting.¡± The words were originally from Eileen. He never thought there woulde a day when he would repeat them to someone else. It actually made him feel somewhat amused. Even if Eileen went to the Smith family, he had hundreds of ways to bring her back. ¡°Eric, don¡¯t forget, we are the same kind of people. No matter how well you protect Vera, if stay with she finds out about everything you¡¯ve done in the past, do you think she would still you? And what about Eileen¡­ If she knew that you¡¯ve gone to great lengths to infiltrate the Swan family, for the sole purpose of bringing about their ruin, don¡¯t you think she would the Smith family to crush you?¡± Eric replied, ¡°Let her try. We¡¯ll see who dies first!¡± The next day was the weekend. Eric had agreed to go on an amusement park date with Vera. The scene of the two on a date was secretly captured, and the photos wereid out of one in front of Will. Looking at these photos, Will felt a lump in his chest, almost fainting. Elsie helped h down on a chair, gently rubbing his back to soothe him. ¡°Will,¡± she said, ¡°Eric is not a child anymore. They¡¯ve grown up together since they were little. It¡¯s perfectly normal for childhood friends to develop feelings for each other.¡± ¡°Get out of my sight!¡± Elsie was driven out of the study. Will immediately made a call to the office. ¡°From now on, let him personally handle all projects rted to the Friedman Group.¡± Gavin, who was at the other end of the line, replied, ¡°Yes, Mr. Swan.¡± Although Eric was now in charge of Caerulus Corporation, Will still maintained control of thepany. While at the amusement park, Eric received a call from Gavin, but he decided to ignore it. Vera had just gotten off the bus, wearing Eric¡¯s scarf around her neck and holding an ice. cream in her hand. As she overheard the conversation on the phone, Vera had a vague sense !!! < 34 of what was happening. Eric spoke a few words before ending the call. Vera said with a tinge of guilt, ¡°Did I interrupt your work? If so, Eric, maybe we should go back.¡± ¡°No need to worry about it,¡± Eric replied, turning off his phone. ¡°What would you like to do next?¡± ¡°Do you really n on spending the entire day with me, Eric?¡± ¡°Have I ever broken a promise to you?¡± ¡°Eric, I love you so much.¡± Vera¡¯s lips were covered in ice cream. Due to the height dif she stood on tiptoes and quickly kissed Eric¡¯s cheek. ¡°Let¡¯s go ride¡­ the Ferris wheel!¡¯ Chapter 194 Chapter 194 Chapter 194 Afraid She Doesn¡¯t Like You It wasn¡¯t until they had dinner that Eric finally returned to Euphoria Condominium with Vera in the evening. That day was the happiest Vera had experienced in a while, so she had a little red wine. When she returned, she waspletely intoxicated and had to be helped back by Eric. Once they arrived home, Eric kicked the door shut. Vera turned around and hooked her arm around Eric¡¯s neck, her eyes hazy and filled with a drunken expression. ¡°Eric¡­ you have to promise me that we¡¯ll¡­ always, always be together!¡± ng! Suddenly, a noise echoed through the room, followed by a chilling scream. The movement was subtle, but Eric still noticed it. His gaze also fell upon the light shining from beneath the door gap. There was someone in the room! Indeed, there was someone, but it was not just anyone, it was Eileen! Eileen, clutching her bumped forehead, was dragging her suitcase out of Vera¡¯s room. Upon opening the door and seeing the brightly lit living room, she was taken aback. Looking at their intimate posture, as if they were about to do something. Eileen could only grit her teeth and take a deep breath. She quickly apologized, ¡°I¡¯m sorry! I came to pick up the clothes I left at your cest time. As for the notes that were torn up, I¡¯ve copied them. again and returned them to her. They¡¯re on the table. You guys carry on, I¡¯m leaving first.¡± When Unde Mansion was being renovated, she lived at Euphoria Condominium for a while. She brought a lot of things with her, most of which were her usual clothes, as well as some materials left from her previous Olympiad Math ss. Back then, she left in a hurry. and forgot to take them with her. Since she had borrowed some materials from the library, she decided to drop by to pick up her things along the way. She was about to leave when she realized she had left her Uprian tape behind, which she had identally kicked under the bed. As Eileen reached out to pick it up, she bumped her forehead while getting up. Once everything she needed was packed, they unexpectedly returned. 111 1/4 She only came because someone else answel If only she had known earlier this would happen, she wouldn¡¯t havee. Before Eric could even open his mouth, Eileen walked past them as if she was running for her life. Vera, seemingly drunk, copsed onto Eric. When Eileen brushed past him, Vera suddenly kissed Eric. Bang The door subsequently closed. With a cold expression, Eric pushed her away. ¡°Vera, you¡¯ve had too much to drink. Let me help you back to your room to rest.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not drunk. I just want to be with you. Eric, I¡¯m an adult now, I can¡­¡± ¡°Enough!¡± Eric scolded coldly, ¡°Since you¡¯re awake, go back to your room and rest. I still have things to do.¡± Just as Eric was about to turn around and return to his study, Vera suddenly eximed, ¡°I saw you! Actually, I saw everything. Last night, right at the entrance of the barbecue shop, you were holding onto Eileen¡­¡± The devastated Vera found it somewhat difficult to continue. However, Eric ignored her. Just as he walked towards the study door, Vera roared, ¡°Eric, don¡¯t you want to exin anything to me?¡± ¡°Vera, I¡¯ve given you enough. If you want more, it¡¯s either we continue or break up. It¡¯s up to you!¡± The moment he finished, Eric had already closed the study door. Vera stood alone in the living room, a picture of deste sorrow as a single tear trickled down from the corner of her eye. Why is it that what I desire can never be mine? Why must everything of mine be taken away by others? Why am I looked down upon no matter where I go? Even though she was stricken with panic and fear of losing what was important to her, it was jealousy that truly dominated all her emotions. She was jealous of those who were born with a silver spoon and never had to lift a finger to get what they wanted 224 In contrast to them, she could never get anything no matter how hard she tried She even had to endure the disgusted looks given to her Meanwhile, Eileen didn¡¯t dare look back as she left, fearing that she would never be able to escape from such a hellish ce. She quickly got in the car, and the driver ced her belongings in the trunk. ¡°Ms. Eileen, have you gotten everything?¡± I¡¯m all set. Let¡¯s head back!¡± The most important thing to her was the Uprian cassette tape. No wonder I couldn¡¯t find it these past few days. Upon returning to the Smith residence, Eileen saw the olddy again. Hearing themotion, the olddy turned to look while supporting herself with her cane. She was wearing a pair of antique bronze-colored reading sses, from which two chains dangled. ¡°Ma¡¯am, I¡¯m surprised to see you here.¡± I¡¯m getting old, and I¡¯ve lost my way again. Is there anything to eat? I¡¯m starving¡±¡± Eileen looked around the house, noticing that all the servants were absent. ¡°Let me cook something for you!¡± Eileen took off her red scarf and coat, hanging them on the rack by the door. Underneath the coat, she wore a beige sweater. Rolling up her sleeves, she went to the kitchen, poured a ss of water, and brought it to the olddy. ¡°Please sit for a while and have some water. If you¡¯re hungry, you can snack on some fruit. The food will be ready soon.¡± Eileen turned on the television again, a device she hadn¡¯t watched in years, and switched on the opera channel. ¡°How did you know I like watching this program?¡± ¡°I used to live with my grandmother for a while, and she was particrly fond of this show The olddy scrutinized Eileen from head to toe, her eyes revealing no hint of what she might be thinking. ¡°Are you alone again? Where¡¯s Jasper?¡± 111 This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. O 34 ¡°He¡¯s on a business trip kitchen, which was filled with all sorts of ingredients. La asked, ¡°This is the first time I¡¯ve seen him bring home a youngdy. Are you two together?¡± Eileen replied, ¡°Yes, we¡¯re together now!¡± ¡°Have you met each other¡¯s parents?¡± When asked about these matters, Eileen paused for a moment. She quickly changed the topic and asked, ¡°Would you like spaghetti or ravioli?¡± The elderlydy responded, ¡°Either is fine. We¡¯ve known each other for a while now. Are there still things you can¡¯t share with me? Or are you afraid that an old woman like me will talk too much?¡± Eileen lowered her head to wash a tomato. ¡°No, the issue is with me. I¡¯m still in school, so it¡¯s too early to meet his parents. He¡¯s also concerned that this rtionship might put pressure. on me. Therefore, he believes it would be better to wait until after the university entrance exam.¡± ¡°I heard from the other senior servants that you refused to meet with Mrs. Smith and have been making various excuses. What¡¯s the reason behind all that?¡± The elderlydy¡¯s words were sharp, as if she was trying to gather information on someone¡¯s behalf. I¡¯m not very good at socializing, and I¡¯ve always been a loner at school. Also¡­. Mrs. Smith is a distinguished person¡­ and I¡­ I¡¯m not quite ready, stuttered Eileen, appearing a little nervous. ¡°Are you afraid she won¡¯t like you?¡± ¡°That¡¯s one way to look at it.¡± ¡°Oh!¡± The elderlydy nodded. ¡°So how did youe to know Mr. Jasper?¡± ¡°Eileen! Just then, a familiar voice interrupted, and Eileen felt relieved. Eileen called out, ¡°Richard.¡± Richard nced at the person sitting on the sofa but didn¡¯t say a word. Instead, he handed a mobile phone to Eileen. ¡°It¡¯s a call from Mr. Jasper.¡± 14 Chapter 195 Chapter 195 Chapter 195 Will Not Know Without Trying Eileen answered the phone, engaging in casual conversation about daily activities and meal choices. It seemed that Jasper had impable timing, as he was usually the one initiaung the calls. Eileen didn¡¯t use her phone often, but when she remembered, she would send a text message. After seven or eight minutes, Eileen served the cooked pasta. ¡°Apologies, Mr. Smith, for the party ending sote. May I have the pleasure of joining you for a drink?¡± A gentle and pleasant voice echoed from Eileen¡¯s mobile phone, belonging to an elegant and wealthy woman. Lost in thought while preparing the pasta, Eileen ended up burning her hand, which was quite unbelievable. Elizabeth had just stepped out of the meeting room when she noticed a figure on the balcony. She approached and saw him slightly turning his body to make a phone call, so she immediately fell silent. Jasper cast an icy, displeased nce at Elizabeth, startling her. He was about to exin, but Eileen said, ¡°If you¡¯re busy, I won¡¯t bother you. Go back to i hotel and rest early.¡± The call was promptly disconnected. Eileen didn¡¯t ask for any exnations. Even though she had heard everything, she remained magnanimous, refraining from prying or questioning. For a moment, Jasper was overwhelmed with a myriad of emotions, feeling a subtle sense of loss quietly sweeping across his heart. Jasper slipped his phone into his suit pocket. At that moment, his entire body, from the tips past Elizabeth of his fingers to the tattoos on the back of his hand, felt icy cold. He walked with indifference. Elizabeth suddenly spoke up. I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t realize you were on the phone.¡± Jasper slowly halted his steps. ¡°Is that so? Well, you better be careful in the future. With your status, you¡¯re not even qualified to speak to me.¡± Fabian had just returned from outside, holding a pink gift box in his hand. ¡°Mr. Smith, I¡¯ve bought the gift Ms. Eileen requested. Ms. Eileen didn¡¯t specify any particr vor, so I bought one of each kind Jasper pressed the elevator button to go downstairs. ¡°Well done.¡± 14 < Since that phone call, the two hadn¡¯t spoken for two day¡¯s, However, she received the cotton candy that Jasper had someone bring back for her from Seatown. Hulbury also had its own offerings. After trying many ces, Eileen still found the taste of the cotton candy from the old spot in Seatown to be the best. That day happened to be the day of the enrichment program exam. Without a doubt, Eileen would be the only one with the special qualifications to enter the Olympiad Math ss. Eileen stepped forward to hand in her paper, cing it directly on top of the pile. Gilbert said to her. ¡°Work hard. Don¡¯t let Jacob down. He and I both think highly of you.¡± Eileen replied, ¡°I will, Mr. Campbell.¡± Once the exam was over, Natalie was already waiting for Eileen at the ssroom door. She seemed even more nervous than Eileen. Clutching her backpack strap, Natalie immediately approached Eileen when she saw here out. ¡°Eileen, was it very difficult? You¡¯re so talented, you must have confidence in yourself. I believe you can definitelye in first.¡± Eileen felt a buzzing in her ears. She had never met anyone who loved to talk as much as Natalie. Natalie was like a mosquito, ceaselessly buzzing around her ear. Eileen asked, ¡°Isn¡¯t it time for lunch? Aren¡¯t you going to eat?¡± ¡°I¡¯m waiting for you! I want to grab a bite with you after your exam. There are a few questions. I don¡¯t quite understand. I was hoping to ask you about them,¡± replied Natalie. Eileen gazed into Natalie¡¯s innocent, harmless eyes. Quickly, she averted her gaze. Let¡¯s do it together then.¡± ¡°Well¡­ Natalie had been hanging around Eileen for quite some time. Ever since Eileen helped. Natalie out of a tight spotst time, that seemingly naive girl would always buy things for Eileen. Natalie would go to the snack shop, buy snacks, and then sneak them into Eileen¡¯s desk when ss was over. Among the pile of snacks, there was always a milk candy. Eileen couldn¡¯t eat it as it was too sweet. In the past, whenever she ate something sweet, she would always get a toothache. Eileen had once returned Natalie¡¯s snacks, but the pitiful look on Natalie¡¯s face made it seem as if Eileen was the one who had done something wrong Eileen had never been so scared of someone crying before. Rather thanughing herself, Eileen preferred to watch Natalieugh.. ||| 24 If Eileen¡¯s existence to Jasper was redemption, then Natalie and her smile were something simr to Eileen. Natalie¡¯s smile was soothing to Eileen. Eileen had seen Natalie¡¯s grades. They were the worst in ss Two, and even in ss Six, her grades could be the lowest. She originally thought that Elm was the one at the bottom. During thest final exam, Natalie didn¡¯t take the test because she was sick and absent. As a result, Natalie¡¯s grades weren¡¯t on the bulletin board. With her grades, she should have been in ss Six, but she was in ss Two instead. Eileen didn¡¯t ask much about the reasons behind such matters. After they finished lunch, Eileen took Natalie to the library. Eileen used to tutor Elm every day, but she had switched to tutoring him every Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. In reality, his grades were already good enough to get into Hulbury University. He had improved very quickly. After thest quiz, he was already ranked in the top ten of his ss. During those past few days at the library, Elm had been apanied by his girlfriend. As a result, Eileen felt like a third wheel. That time, Eileen arrived at the library first. Seeing that Elm hadn¡¯t arrived yet, she began teaching Natalie. There, she realized that Natalie couldn¡¯t even solve the mostmon questions. Squeezing her pen, Natalie dared not lift her head. ¡°Eileen, am I really stupid? Why can¡¯t I learn no matter how much I¡¯m taught?¡± Tve switched several sses, and they allugh at me, calling me an idiot. I wasn¡¯t like this before. I used to be smart. However, when I was young, my family was poor, and we lived in a small mountain vige. I fell ill, had a high fever, and didn¡¯t get to take medicine on time. That damaged my brain, causing my poor memory Eileen, rest assured, I will definitely work as hard as you I can solve the questions you taught mest time now.¡± Eileen asked. ¡°Why don¡¯t you change sses? Natalie lowered her head so much that her face was almost touching the table. In a voice as soft as a whisper, she slowly said, ¡°They despised me for being unintelligent and I was 34 constantly bullied. That¡¯s why I had to switch sses multiple times. It was only when I was in ss Two that I faced less bullying. The teacher warned that if I changed sses again, I would be expelled.¡± So, that¡¯s the situation? Eileen reassured, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, no one will ever bully you again.¡± ¡°Eileen, which university are you nning to attend? Can I join you there?¡± ¡°Hulbury University.¡± Natalie deted like a balloon. ¡°This is so difficult¡­¡± ¡°How will you know if you don¡¯t give it a try?¡± ¡°I¡­ will do my best.¡± Natalie was very beautiful, like a delicate doll, yet she also resembled at nk canvas, possessing qualities that many othersck. One of those qualities was kindness. C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Her kindness was evident. No matter how much others bullied her, as long as they apologized, she would always respond with a smile, saying, ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± That was something Eileen could never do. Natalie didn¡¯t have any true friends. Even if there were any, they were the kind with insir intentions, pretending to care. Thest time Eileen saw Natalie, she was helping the girls in her ss by fetching hot wat carrying one cup after another. When Natalie identally fell, no one cared if she had been burned. Instead, they all med her for carelessly breaking expensive cups. Chapter 196 Chapter 196 Chapter 196 Stand Up For An hourter, Elm still hadn¡¯t shown up. With such results, there really was no need for extra tutoring. Just then, a few girls carrying books passed by, whispering excitedly. ¡°Have you seen it? Elm¡¯s three- pointer was so impressive!¡± ¡°I saw it. He¡¯s really handsome!¡± ¡°The person with him is Calliope from ss 2, right? They make a great couple.¡± ¡°Right? I feel the same way. She¡¯s probably the one who¡¯s been by his side the longest. None of the campus belles Elm dated beforested more than a week.¡± One of the girls noticed Eileen¡¯s presence. She alerted those around her, and the person was just speaking awkwardly fell silent. who Eileen set aside her own studies, focusing solely on exining the problems to Natalie. If Natalie didn¡¯t understand the first time, then Eileen would exin it a second time, a third time, until Natalie understood. Eileen was indeed a very patient person. Even when she was and fuming, looking into Natalie¡¯s innocent eyes would quickly dissipate her anger. angry Exining the topic to Natalie was indeed a bit challenging for Eileen. Two hours had passed, and for a page of exercises, Natalie probably only understood half of it. ¡°Eileen, am I really stupid?¡± Natalie blinked as she looked at Eileen. Eileen said, ¡°No, not at all. You¡¯re very smart. You just haven¡¯t found your own way of learning. yet. Your grades are better than Elm¡¯s used to be. He could only score in the fifties in several subjects, which is even lower than your Clusian score.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Natalie wasforted by Eileen¡¯s words. ¡°Yes, what he can do, you can do too. You can take home what I taught you today, copy down. the problems, and do them again. First, understand the problem-solving process, then start working on the calctions.¡± ¡°Can Ie to the library with you again in the future?¡± Eileen didn¡¯t want to extinguish the hope in Natalie¡¯s eyes. ¡°Alright.¡± In her past life, Eileen had imagined what her unborn daughter would look like when she grew up. Perhaps she would be as adorable as Natalie! If I had a daughter like that, I would undoubtedly give her the very best the world has to offer. [1] 1/4 ss would start in half an hour, so Eileen left the library with Natalie. Natalie wasn¡¯t particrly tall, especiallypared to Eileen, who was nearly ten centimeters taller than her at one-hundred-and-seventy centimeters. She walked alongside Eileen, once againunching into her chatterbox mode, ceaselessly talking to her. She talked about the things that happened around her and also what she had for dinner at home From Natalie¡¯s sporadicments, Eileen could tell that she had a wonderful family atmosphere. Natalie was an only child, her parents were alive and well, and they both doted on her immensely. The family that Natalie had was also what Eileen desired. Suddenly, she truly envied Natalie. ¡°Hey, Natalie, what happened? Weren¡¯t you supposed to bring us something to eat at noon?¡± a girl in Natalie¡¯s ssroom asked. Natalie clutched her backpack strap, standing at the ssroom door. She bowed repeatedly in response to their questioning. Im sorry, I¡¯m sorry¡­ I forgot. I¡¯m going right now.¡± Natalie turned around, only to see Eileen, who hadn¡¯t yet entered the ssroom. Perhaps not wanting Eileen to see her embarrassment, she lowered her head and ran off. Eileen had always been one to mind her own business, but that time¡­ As Natalie was about to walk past her, Eileen grabbed her backpack. Despite being stuck in a bad situation herself, she couldn¡¯t bear to see someone as pure as Natalie being bullied. ¡°Eileen¡­¡± Natalie stared at Eileen. ¡°You¡¯re not allowed to go. Upon opening the window, Eileen took out the notebook that Jasper had bound for her from her seat. Then, she pulled Natalie into ss Two. When the girls who instructed Natalie saw her return empty-handed, they expressed their dissatisfaction. ¡°What¡¯s going on? ss is about to start! You should get going.¡± Natalie hid behind Eileen, too scared to speak. Eileen took off Natalie¡¯s backpack, gesturing for her to take a seat. She ced the notebook in front of Natalie, ¡°Don¡¯t meddle in other people¡¯s affairs. They have their own hands and feet. Once you¡¯ve memorized all of this,e find me.¡± ¡°Hey, Eileen, why are you meddling in ss Two¡¯s affairs?¡± Jessie Valentine mmed her palm on the table and stood up. Along with her were her close friends, whom Eileen recognized as the girls who usually hung out with Calliope. 24 Exactly! We called for Natalie, not you. Go back to your own ss,¡± said another girl. Natalie was afraid of them. She quickly stepped in front of Eileen. ¡°Don¡¯t bully her. I¡¯ll buy it for you. Behind her, she carefully tugged at the corner of Eileen¡¯s clothes, nodding and saying, ¡°Eileen, I¡¯m fine, you can go back. You¡¯ve already helped me a lot. I don¡¯t want to drag you down.¡± A group of three to five people approached. One of them picked up Eileen¡¯s notebook and mocked, ¡°Can this idiot even understand this?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t touch it. This belongs to Eileen.¡± Natalie reached out to snatch it, but they yed. around with her like she was a monkey. ¡°Do you think I¡¯ll listen to you? Well, not only will I touch it, but I¡¯m going to tear this apart!¡± Natalie quickly said, ¡°Don¡¯t.¡± Everyone else also seemed to be enjoying the show. The group gazed at her provocatively as the notebook was slightly torn. Eileen appeared very calm. Suddenly, she spoke up. ¡°Before you tear it, why not turn the page and see whose name is written on it?¡± ¡°Trying to be mysterious, huh? It¡¯s just an old notebook. What¡¯s so interesting about it?¡± Jessie turned a page, and her face suddenly changed.. Then, feeling guilty, Jessie put the notebook back. ¡°What¡¯s the big deal about this book? Who cares?¡± Eileen said, ¡°Stop.¡± ¡°What more do you want me to do?¡± ¡°Apologize to Natalie.¡± ¡°Why should I apologize to someone like her?¡± ¡°Because of the name written on the notebook, Eileen said, pretending to be calm. Perhaps because of her uneasiness, Jessie finally apologized to Natalie, although reluctantly. She should indeed be cautious. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Natalie!¡± She practically gritted her teeth as she uttered those words. However, deep down in her heart, she still couldn¡¯t ept the oue. She¡¯s nothing Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. 3/4 Chapter 196 Stand Up For special, just someone who used her body to get to where she is now! Eileen, I¡¯m eager to see how long you can enjoy your sess! Jessie¡¯s friends were curious about whose name she saw that caused such an immediate change in her attitude. ¡°Wow, it¡¯s quite lively here!¡± As soon as Elm arrived, he broke the tense atmosphere. Still wearing his basketball jersey, he threw the ball in his hand straight into the corner hoop. ¡°Is Ms. Eileen here defending the fool again?¡± The words were directed at Eileen, and the ¡®fool¡¯ he was referring to was Natalie. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you were this kind. When did¡­¡± Eileen didn¡¯t pay him any attention. Instead, she turned to Natalie and said, ¡°Come find me at noon every day. I¡¯ll teach you. If anyone dares to bully you, just p this book right in their face.¡± The confidence Eileen exuded came from the support she received from Jasper. Just then, the bell for ss rang. Eileen was about to leave when Elm suddenly grabbed her at that moment. Chapter 197 Chapter 197 Chapter 197 Are They Sharing A Bed? Eileen was pulled by him to the door just as the teacher arrived for Uprian ss. ¡°Elm, isn¡¯t i time to come into the ssroom for Uprian ss?¡± ¡°Mind your own business.¡± Elm was also surprised by his own anger. The Uprian teacher wanted to express her displeasure but didn¡¯t dare to do so. Holding at book, she walked straight into the ssroom. Elm was notorious for his fiery temper, butpared to the past, it had significantly improved. Eileen had nothing much to say. ¡°Whatever it is, let¡¯s talk after this. I need to go attend ss now.¡± Elin held her tightly, making it impossible for Eileen to leave. With a swift move, he flung Eileen against the wall, his other hand pressing against it. Lowering his gaze to meet hers, asked, ¡°What did you mean by what you said to that fool?¡± Eileen slightly furrowed her beautiful brows. ¡°She has a name, Elm. Please respect her.¡± Elm chuckled and nodded. ¡°Fine, Natalie!¡± A hint of impatience was already showing in 1 eyes. ¡°Why should you be the one to tutor her?¡± Eileen didn¡¯t want to waste too much time with him. The teacher had already entered the ssroom, while their current status and posture could easily lead to misunderstandings. She pushed him away, her expression cool and detached as she said, ¡°She is my¡­ friend.¡± In the midst of their conversation, an image unconsciously surfaced in her mind. Natalie was smiling at her, following behind her, and calling her name. you want to be in a rtionship, I have no objections. From now on, I¡¯ll take Natalie to the library every day for tutoring. Whether you choose toe or not is entirely up to you. Your current academic performance is already sufficient. Even if you doe with Calliope, I won¡¯t object, but I can only tutor you. I¡¯m under no obligation to help her. If there¡¯s something she doesn¡¯t understand, it would be best if you teach her yourself. At the same time¡­ I hope that we won¡¯t waste each other¡¯s time. I¡¯ve only agreed to tutor you, to help you. get into a good university. As for the rest¡­ you¡¯ll have to take care of it yourself.¡± Elm looked at her serious demeanor, trying to discern something from the depths of her eyes. However, he saw nothing. It was as if a dimly lit oilmp previously was suddenly extinguished by a gust of wind. ||| 1/4 As for his drunken confession to her that night, Eileen didn¡¯t know whether it was a prank or his genuine feelings. Regardless of what they were, it was impossible for them to be together. That was why she didn¡¯t want to give him any false hope. Nevertheless, she didn¡¯t want to give him the cold shoulder either, as they could both still be friends. What was certain was that they would never be lovers. Elm¡¯s promiscuity simply reminded her of a second Eric, and she had always been a person who perpetuallycked a sense of security. With that. Eileen returned to the ssroom and began her lesson. After the morning sses, the news spread throughout ss Two that on the contact book that Eileen gave to Natalie. Jasper¡¯s name was written on it. Right beside it, he left a line of poetry: ¡°Patience for the clouds to clear will be rewarded with blooming flowers. Yours, Jasper.¡± It was Jasper¡¯s encouragement to her. The beautifully written poem encouraged her to persevere, as better days would eventuallye. Counting down the days, she realized Jasper would not be back for another three days. Just before the end of school, Eileen was packing up her things when Vera brought over a bottle of milk and ced it in front of her abruptly. ¡°Congrattions! We can go to the Olympiad Math ss together again¡± Eileen said a word of thanks, then epted the milk. Vera nced at her ringing phone and said, ¡°Eric ising to pick me up, so I¡¯ll be heading back first.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± ¡°Goodbye.¡± Vera waved at her. After seeing her leave, Eileen finished packing her bag. She wanted to sit for a while before leaving, as she didn¡¯t want to see him. These days, she had been avoiding him whenever she could. After waiting for fifteen minutes, Eileen finally left and got into the Smith family¡¯s private car. When she turned on her phone, several messages from Jasper popped up. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. r 2/4 Eileen was about to reply when her phone suddenly rang. Filled with anxiety, she answered it, ¡°Father.¡± It was a call from Will. ¡°I heard from Eric that you also received an invitation to the Friedman family¡¯s cocktail party?¡± Will spoke with his usual calmness. Yet the few short words triggered a sense of pressure in Eileen. ¡°Yes. As Mr. Smith hasn¡¯t returned yet, he probably won¡¯t make it to the banquet. You shoulde home and get yourself prepared today. I¡¯ll take you with me tomorrow. It will be good opportunity for you to meet a few business associates.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± Eileen uttered meekly. It was unclear if he heard her, but Eileen quickly changed her tact. ¡°Understood, Father. I got it.¡± Talking more won¡¯t help. No matter the situation or the reason, she couldn¡¯t refuse. Eileen instructed the driver to change course and head for Unde Mansion instead. After arriving home, Eileen instructed the driver to leave first. The Friedman family¡¯swork might not be as extensive as Elm¡¯s, but at the very leas those who were going this time are all people of repute. Will brought her along simply because he wanted to announce her rtionship with Jas, to the entire capital circle, thereby achieving his goal. Before this, Jasper had thought about taking her to various banquets, but she had rejected all of his invitations. Anything that she didn¡¯t want to do, Jasper would never force her to. However, Will couldn¡¯t resist. Having grown up under such pressure since childhood, all Eileen could do wasply. Returning to the Swan residence, Eileen looked up to see a table full of people already seated, as if they were waiting for her. Eric, Vera, and Elsie were all present. Will looked over and said, ¡°Go wash your hands, then ¡°Alright, Father¡± She then gave her backpack to Mary. Elsie stood up and served Eileen a bowl of chicken stew. ¡°How have you been at the Smith 34 residence? It¡¯s been a while, Eileen. You¡¯ve be even more Eileen sat down next to Elsie, curved her lips into a smile, and said, ¡°Thank you.¡± Suddenly, Will inquired, ¡°Did he mention when he would return?¡± Eileen responded, ¡°He has gone to Seatown for a week. He won¡¯t be back until at least the day after tomorrow.¡± ¡°Are you two involved romantically?¡± Eileen choked on the chicken stew she had just swallowed. Simultaneously, she could sense numerous eyes fixed on her. Among them, one gaze was particrly icy, sending shivers down her spine. Without looking, she knew exactly where that gaze originated from. Elsie patted Eileen¡¯s back tofort her. ¡°Come on, what are you insinuating? Eileen is still young. Mr. Smith is a respectable man. I doubt they have done anything inappropriate.¡± Eileen wished she could disappear into thin air. Why would Father ask such a question during a meal? In the past, he despised her speaking at the dinner table the most. Nevertheless, Eileen wasn¡¯t naive and did her best to remainposed, replying. ¡°asionally.¡± Chapter 198 Chapter 198 Chapter 198 Jasper Doesn¡¯t Care Upon hearing the answer, Will visibly rxed his furrowed brows. ¡°You¡¯re not young anymore. When ites to intimate matters between men and women, you should seek guidance from Elsie. Try your best to have a child within three years. A child? Eileen couldn¡¯t help but feel sorry for herself. At the same time, she also felt fear because she would never have her own children. C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. She didn¡¯t in her past life and wouldn¡¯t in this one. Being childless for two lifetimes was Eileen¡¯s only regret. Elsie looked thoughtfully at the man across from her, a meaningful smile ying at the corners of her mouth. After finishing her meal, Eileen returned to her room and took a bath. Upon stepping out of the bathroom and drying her hair with a towel, she was startled by the knocking on the door. She stared intently at it, as if a demon was knocking. ¡°Eileen, are you asleep?¡± Hearing Elsie¡¯s voice, Eileen let out a sigh of relief. She went to open the door. She saw Elsie holding a box in her hands, with a shifty look in her eyes. ¡°Do you need anything, Ms. Field?¡± ¡°Your father asked me to bring you some things.¡± Elsie walked into the room, cing the items on the table. Eileen closed the door behind her. She watched as Elsie took out one disc after another from the box. ¡°You can watch these tonight.¡± Eileen stared at the images on the disc, her face brimming with extreme shock. The dise was covered in Japriumian text that she couldn¡¯t understand, and there were pictures of women dressed in Japriumian attire, their demeanor full of allure. Without even thinking. Eileen knew what the content was about. 1/4 This is outrageous. Eileen was unable to and a Seeing her reaction, Elsie raised her eyebrows slightly as sheughed. ¡°You¡¯ll experience this face¡­ as a woman in the future. Learning in advance is not a bad thing. Apart from your this there¡¯s also the matter of how good a woman is in bed¡­ Eileen, God has given you beautiful face, so you must not¡­ let it be in vain.¡± Despite Elsie¡¯s attempt at implying something, Eileen feigned ignorance. After giving her a meaningful smile, Elsie simply walked away. Is Father nning to make me like Elsie? To please men with my beauty and body? Eileen shoved aside the filthy objects. With her eyes closed, she took a deep breath to calm herself down. Once she had regained. herposure, she quietly picked everything up and tossed them straight into the closet. The feelings between her and Jasper were not the same as theirs. Unlike them, she didn¡¯t need those things to sustain it. As midnight approached, Eileen prepared to rest. She nced at the securely locked door, and still feeling uneasy, she took a chair and propped it against the door. That night, Eileen slept incredibly peacefully. Upon waking up, she nced at her phone that was charging on the bedside table to check the time. Upon seeing a message, Eileen realized she hadpletely forgotten to reply to Jasper. Her biological clock would wake her up around eight-thirty, except when she had to wake up earlier for ss. Eileen was lying in bed, still somewhat drowsy. With her eyes closed, she made a phone call. It took about half a minute before the call connected. ¡°Why don¡¯t you sleep a bit more since it¡¯s the weekend today?¡± ¡°I went to bed earlyst night, so I woke up early. Jasper¡­ I¡¯ll probably be home all weekend. Tonight, my father wants to take me to the Friedman family¡¯s banquet,¡± ¡°Do you want to go? If you don¡¯t want to, I can have Richard pick you upter, or perhaps¡­ you could come to Seatown. The day after tomorrow is Monday. We can go back to Hulbury together then¡± Eileen knew about the rtionship between the Friedman family and the III 24 Smith family. The CEO of Friedman Group was Jasper¡¯s mother, who only began to take over the Friedman family after she left the Smith family. For many years, Jasper¡¯s rtionship with his mother remained strained, and there had been no cooperation between the two families. To outsiders, it seemed that the Smith family couldn¡¯t be bothered to coborate with the Friedman family. Back when Jasper was still confining himself to Unde Mansion, his mother would always.e to see him. Her concern for him was no less than that for Yvette. In fact, Eileen felt that it was Jasper who was pushing away his own mother. She didn¡¯t know what had happened between them. Nevertheless, bringing up the past with Jasper wasn¡¯t a good idea at all. ¡°But¡­ I¡¯m afraid my father will be upset.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll protect you. Your father won¡¯t dare to say anything. If you¡¯re bullied, tell me about it. I¡¯l stand up for you when I get back.¡± ¡°Alright! I¡¯m getting up now. I¡¯ming to see you.¡± ¡°Alright. Once you¡¯re packed, send me a message.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Fabian was driving when he heard the conversation on his phone. ¡°So, do we need to go tonight?¡± The project that was originally set for a week was nowpleted three days in advance. Fabian knew the reason-it was because Eileen longed for Jasper that day. After two urgent all-nighters, the project was finallypleted. Indeed, Jasper¡¯s rtionship with Eileen continued to amaze everyone around them. ¡°No need. Let¡¯s pick a restaurant at noon, preferably one that serves local specialties.¡± ¡°Alright, Mr. Smith.¡± back Hulbury was not far from Seatown. The journey between them took less than an hour and at half on the highway. Seatown had quite a few night markets, and he wanted to go shopping with her. r 34 Eileen wore a ck woolen coat, the same one that Jasper had lent herst time. Worried that Eileen might be too cold, she wrapped a red scarf around her neck. Although the coat was too loose and long on her, it was very warm. Leaning against the staircase at the turn of the first floor, Eileen eavesdropped on the conversation between Richard and Will. ¡°In that case, Mr. Zimmer, please take her to Seatown! It would be good for her to get out and see the world a bit. This girl rarely leaves the house.¡± Eric was the first to notice Eileen hiding at the stairs. He looked at her with a subtle gaze. Following Eric¡¯s gaze, Vera also noticed Eileen. ¡°Richard, sorry to have kept you waiting. I¡¯m ready now.¡± Eileen was dressed in a casual manner. If she wasn¡¯t beautiful, one might think that her coat. didn¡¯t quite match her long boots today. However, she was blessed with a beautiful face, and no matter where she was or what she wore, she always attracted attention. With one hand tucked into the pocket of her coat and the other holding a chain purse, she descended the stairs. With just one nce, Richard recognized Eileen¡¯s coat. ¡°So, that¡¯s where the jacket ended ¡°Richard, is there a problem?¡± Eileen asked, ncing down. With a warm smile, Richard said, ¡°This outfit is hand-made and custom-tailored. You can¡¯t buy it off the rack. It¡¯s also one of Mr. Jasper¡¯s favorites. Thest time the houseke were looking for it, they couldn¡¯t find it.¡± ¡°This must be expensive!¡± She nced down at the coat. Jasper had put it on her during herst birthday celebration, fearing she might be cold. She hadpletely forgotten to return 1. ¡°From what I know, that designer¡¯s custom pieces start at no less than three million each, and they only take on ten orders a year.¡± Three million? In ten years, this will be worth tens of millions at least. Suddenly, Eileen felt as if she was wearing a luxurious mansion. She caught her breath. Tll go upstairs and change into something else.¡± ¡°Ms. Eileen, that¡¯s not necessary. It¡¯s just a piece of clothing. As long as you like it, Mr. Jasper wouldn¡¯t mind, even if it were to be burned.¡± Chapter 199 Chapter 199 Chapter 199 Do We Look Like Siblings? With Jasper¡¯s instructions, no one dared to say anything about Eileen leaving. Instead of attending these banquets with Will, she would prefer to be with Jasper. Will was afraid of the Smith family and absolutely did not want to offend Jasper. With that, Eileen set off for Seatown at ten in the morning and arrived around half past eleven, just in time for lunch. The driver dropped her off in front of a high-end restaurant. ¡°Ms. Eileen. I¡¯ll be leaving first. Mr. Jasper will escort you hometer.¡± ¡°Alright, thank you for your help.¡± ¡°Not a problem, Ms. Eileen.¡± Seeing the familiar car, Fabian stepped forward and opened the passenger door. Eileen, carrying her chain purse, got out of the car and pulled her jacket tightly around herself. Fabian informed her, ¡°Mr. Smith is waiting for you inside. I¡¯ll leave the two of you alone.¡± Before entering, Eileen asked, ¡°Have you finished your business negotiations?¡± Fabian smiled. ¡°We¡¯re already in the final stages. It¡¯s not a big deal if Mr. Smith isn¡¯t there to join us.¡± Eileen nodded. ¡°Alright, thank you.¡± In truth, she was also worried that her arrival might cause trouble for Jasper. She thought that if he was busy, she could spend time exploring Seatown on her own. Walking into the restaurant, Eileen spotted Jasper sitting on the couch. His head was slightly lowered, as if he was texting someone. She approached quietly and took a seat opposite him. ordered?¡± ¡°Sir, is the person you¡¯re waiting for not here yet? Why haven¡¯t you Upon hearing the voice, Jasper put down his phone and poured a cup of tea for her. ¡°Perfect She¡¯s just arrived. Mr. Smith is aid-back yet wealthy man. Order whatever you like¡± A few waiters brought over some appetizers and also presented two menus. ¡°What are these?¡± Jasper said, ¡°It¡¯s something for you to snack on.¡± 14 Eileen casually ordered a few dishes but made sure it wasn¡¯t too much, as she didn¡¯t have a big appetite. However, they might have to take the leftovers with them, as too much food had been ordered. Jasper watched as Eileen enjoyed her meal. Watching her eat was also a kind of pleasure for him. ¡°I heard you did well on your test this time.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not too bad. After solving so many math problems, it doesn¡¯t feel that difficult.¡± ¡°Try to eat less cold food. The weather hasn¡¯t warmed up yet. It¡¯s easy to get sick.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll have onest bite.¡± On business trips, Jasper tended to eat wherever convenient, seldom visiting such restaurants. He enjoyed a quiet environment and didn¡¯t like to be disturbed while eating. Even the orders were Fabian¡¯s idea. If he had known earlier, he should¡¯ve ordered less food. Sure enough, Eileen was already eighty percent full. So much so that for the steak that followed, Eileen only had a few bites, and the rest end up in Jasper¡¯s stomach. If she were at home, Eileen would certainly not behave so unrestrainedly. However, it was different with Jasper. She knew that he would indulge her. ¡°Have you finished eating?¡± Eileen nodded contentedly. ¡°I¡¯m full. Where should we go next?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve had Fabian send your change of clothes to the hotel. Let¡¯s take a walk together to aid digestion. Jasper reached out his hand, and Eileen understood his intention. She handed him the bag she was holding. With the bag in his left hand and holding her with his right, the two of them. left the restaurant. As he was getting ready to pay, he suddenly heard a gentle and pleasant voice. ¡°Mr. Smith? What a coincidence. We meet again.¡± Eileen followed the direction of the sound, not knowing which esteemed family¡¯s daughter she was looking at. The woman¡¯s skin was as smooth as silk, her every frown and smile. perfectly tined, while she moved with an elegant demeanor. Eileen didn¡¯t recognize this. woman, but she did recognize the person standing next to her. 94 It was Benjamin Raker, her ssmate and the top student in the entire grade. Eileen looked at Benjamin, and she could easily guess that those two were siblings. Their facial features were simr, and it was apparent at first nce. When Benjamin met Eileen¡¯s gaze, Eileen nodded in greeting, and Benjamin responded with a nod in return. Jasper merely nced at Elizabeth, not saying anything. Instead, he noticed Eileen¡¯s gaze. ¡°Do you know each other?¡± Eileen honestly said, ¡°This man here is my ssmate.¡± Jasper¡¯s brows rxed. The cashier pulled out a bill. ¡°Here is your bill, sir. Please take a look.¡± She then asked, ¡°Are the four of you together?¡± Eileen was about to speak when Jasper¡¯s voice, cool and detached, cut in. ¡°We¡¯re not.¡± As he finished, he slightly turned his body. ¡°My wallet is in my pocket.¡± His voice was noticeabl gentler than before. Elizabeth smiled to ease the awkwardness. ¡°We¡¯re at table number 12. Could you ple how much it is?¡± ¡°Alright, please wait a moment.¡± Eileen understood and reached into his coat to pull out a ck wallet. As she opened the wallet, she immediately saw it-a photo of her. It was the one-inch picture she had taken while temporarily wearing her school uniform. Eileen was born with natural curls, but found them troublesome to manage, so she had them permed into waves. Later on, she ended up cutting them short. ¡°Which card?¡± Eileen didn¡¯t know that her photo was in this wallet, and with people watching nearby, she felt her ears growing hot in embarrassment. ¡°Any of them will do.¡± Eileen casually drew a card. Unnoticed by her, Jasper¡¯s eyes flickered momentarily, an emotion that quickly vanished into nothingness, After settling the bill, the four of them walked out of the store together. Tm surprised the CEO of Smith Corporation can be so forgetful. We¡¯ve talked before at thest banquet,¡± said Elizabeth as she shifted her gaze to Eileen. ¡°Is this your younger sister?¡± Sister 34 Do we look like siblings Seeing the scowl on his face. Elizabeth immediatelyughed to lighten the mood. Im sorry. It was a misunderstanding on my part.¡± ¡°Ms. Raker, you have been persistently bothering me. Is there something you need?¡± His tone was slightly cold. Elizabeth paused for a moment, then shook her head. ¡°I just saw you and wanted to say hello, There is nothing more to it than that.¡± ¡°Is that so? But I don¡¯t know you very well. It is not appropriate for a man and a woman to be too close. Next time¡­ Ms. Raker, it would be best if you kept your distance from me. I have no patience for people I am not familiar with. Moreover¡­ my girlfriend is here, and I don¡¯t want someone insignificant to cause unnecessary misunderstandings between us.¡± Elizabeth¡¯s face darkened slightly. Even with her extreme restraint, she couldn¡¯t bear Jasper¡¯s words. Those words seemed to insinuate something, prompting Elizabeth to continue the conversation. Initially, Elizabeth¡¯s attempts to strike up a conversation were met with indifference by Jasper. He had no intention of engaging with her. On the contrary, he wanted to dista himself from her. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Now that she was approaching him again, she had essentially crossed his boundar He wasn¡¯t interested in women who threw themselves at him. Besides, he already had Eileen. Jasper left with Eileen, leaving behind a very upset Elizabeth. Jasper opened the passenger door, and Eileen got into the car. While in the car, he exined himself, fearing that Eileen might misunderstand something. Eileen gave a slight smile. ¡°I trust you.¡± The voice heard on the phonest time. It must have been hers. Chapter 200 Chapter 200 Chapter 200 Could This Be Considered Sharing A Bed Eileen realized that she shouldn¡¯t pry into these matters. C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. In her understanding, for a man, once he had money and status, seeking other women. seemed to be a verymon thing. This was true for Will and Eric as well¡­. Perhaps, that was why Eileen was willing to trust her feelings once again. It was because Jasper could provide her with a sense of security that she had never experienced before. Just because Eileen didn¡¯t ask or hear didn¡¯t mean she didn¡¯t care¡­ She simply hoped that Jasper would not disappoint her emotionally, spiritually, or even physically. If he were to betray her one day, she wouldn¡¯t know who else she could trust anymore. After loading their belongings into the car, Jasper took her to the beach. They walked hand in hand along the shore, and every now and then, he would gently smooth Eileen¡¯s wind-tossed hair. With their fingers intertwined, Eileen watched the people strolling ahead, feeling an unprecedented sense of peace and tranquility in her heart. ¡°Are you cold?¡± ¡°No.¡± Jasper buttoned up her coat. ¡°Do you like it here?¡± They continued their journey, uncertain of when this seemingly endless road would finallye to an end. ¡°I like it. I¡¯ve never been here before. Thank you for bringing me here.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve never been here before?¡± Eileen nodded. ¡°Yes, my studies have been so demanding that I often don¡¯t have the time to explore. I originally wanted to participate in the winter camp before the New Yearst year, but my father didn¡¯t allow me to go, so I didn¡¯t.¡± Winter camp? Jasper¡¯s eyes darkened slightly. He knew that Elm had also participated inst winter¡¯s camp. 111 1/4 ¡°True, how about I take you on a graduation trip once we finish school this time?¡± Jasper had assumed she would agree, but to his surprise, Eileen declined. ¡°Let¡¯s just forget about it! My father has enrolled me in some extracurricr sses, so III be quite busy all summer.¡± ¡°Alright, as you wish.¡± Not far away, a man wearing a ck baseball cap was holding a high-end camera. He aimed it at some figures not too far ahead, timed it perfectly, and took several photos. You couldn¡¯t see the figures¡¯ full faces, but you could make out their profiles. The man¡¯s handsome profile was deeply gazing at the person next to him. Their fingers were intertwined, and just by looking at their silhouettes, one could tell they were a perfect match. Moreover¡­ their attractiveness was off the charts. With the same shot, the photographer captured the scene from a few different angles. The man adjusted her scarf and buttoned up her coat, and each of his nces had the power to captivate thousands of women. This woman¡¯s figure and facial features were so stunning that if she were to enter the entertainment industry, she would definitely be an A-list star. I¡¯m not sure whichpany¡¯s star models they are, but when the timees, we must definitely sign them up. We¡¯ve got the material for this issue¡¯s magazine cover! Jasper and Eileen were unaware that they were being secretly photographed. Feeling tired from their walk, they returned to the hotel to rest. Their rooms were adjacent to each other. Eileeny on her bed, ncing at the dwindling battery life on her phone. She promptly shut it off and ced it on the bedside table to charge. It wasn¡¯t even two o¡¯clock yet, and Eileen had taken a short nap by the bed. She slept until the sky outside the window darkened. Eileen heard the sound of pages. turning. Squinting her eyes, she saw the same person sitting by her bed. Jasper was wearing a beige sweater, revealing a blue tattoo on his neck. The soft light fell on his profile. When the man turned his head, instead, it was Eric¡¯s face she saw. Eileen was startled intoplete alertness, propping herself up to create some distance. 2/4 When she finally got a clear look at his face, Eileen breathed a Jasper closed the book. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t mean to scare you.¡± Eileen¡¯s heart was still pounding, finding it hard to calm down for a moment. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I just had a bad dream,¡± she said, brushing her hair back and sitting up in bed, clutching the nket. ¡°How did you get here?¡± ¡°I just tried calling you but couldn¡¯t get through. I thought something might have happened to you, so I came in to check. Seeing you were still asleep, I decided to wait for you to wake up.¡± Eileen looked at the nket also covering his legs. Jasper slightly curved his lips. Fearing she might misunderstand something, he exined. ¡°It¡¯s a bit cold, and I couldn¡¯t find a quilt¡­¡± Eileen stepped forward with concern. ¡°Is your leg starting to hurt again? Do you need me to massage it for you?¡± Jasper took her hand, pulling her closer to his side. ¡°Huddle up for warmth, and the pain will go away.¡± Eileen felt her heart pounding, but this time, it wasn¡¯t out of fear. It was excitement. She leaned on his shoulder, her hand hesitating before it wrapped around his waist. Could t be considered sharing a bed? From Will¡¯s perspective, it wouldn¡¯t exactly be considered lying. Just this once, okay? Looking at the book on hisp, she asked. ¡°Is this book interesting?¡± ¡°Not bad. It¡¯s about a love story during the Sirmoor War era. Would you like to hear it?¡± ¡°All right, let¡¯s eat after that.¡± The moonlight spilled from the night sky, its silver glow seeping into the dim room, filtering through the ss, andnding in front of the floor-to-ceiling window. A warm and captivating voice filled the room, narrating a story. The man held the petite girl in his arms, creating a heartwarming scene¡­ Meanwhile, different scenes were unfolding in the imperial capital. Vera didn¡¯t understand the etiquette of these business cocktail parties, nor did she drink. So, she found a quiet dessert area to stay in. As she watched Yvette, who was at the banquet, she felt an overwhelming sense of inferiority. She noticed the mocking and contemptuous look 34 in Yvette¡¯s eyes when she looked at her. Vera could only look away, notice. Here, she felt like an innocent woman, a clown who knew nothing. Yvette is around the same age as me, yet she can be by Eric¡¯s side¡­. Maybe I can never be like Yvette. Just then, a waiter carrying a tray approached and whispered something into Vera¡¯s ear. She hesitated for a moment, ncing at Eric who was still engrossed in conversation with others. Eventually, she agreed, ¡°Alright, then.¡± Dressed in a well-fitting formal attire, Vera left the banquet hall and arrived at a swimming. pool. She looked around, and besides a few wealthy heirs chatting with some girls, there seemed to be nothing else. The waiter had just informed her that someone was looking for her. As she approached the edge of the pool, she suddenly felt the tiled floor slip beneath her. Vera found herself plunging into the pool. Not far away, a girl watched as someone fell into the pool and cried out for help. A triumphant smile appeared at the corner of her mouth. ¡°Mr. Hackett, it¡¯s your turn. It would be a shame to miss such a good opportunity.¡± ¡°You know me well,¡± Chandler yfully teased while lifting the woman¡¯s chin. Chandler was notorious in his social circle for ying with women, especially beautiful ones. The moment Vera entered the scene, he had his eyes on her. Chandler dove into the icy swimming pool. Just as Vera was about to drown, she thought she had found her savior, but she never expected¡­ up onto the Finally, Vera could breathe in the fresh air, gasping heavily. As she pulled herself edge of the pool, before she could even utter a word of thanks, she felt it-a hand under her floating skirt¡­ 14 Chapter 201 Chapter 201 Chapter 201 Unless You Are Not My Daughter ¡°No, don¡¯t¡­¡± Vera struggled desperately. ¡°Babe, stop pretending. Experience this pleasure once, and I promise you¡¯ll never forget it in your lifetime.¡± ¡°Eric¡­ save me! Eric¡­¡± Vera twisted her body, looking at the man who was chatting andughing with others in the hall. He was so close, yet so far. It seemed as if someone had heard her voice, but then someone walked in, blocking her view of Eric. Yvette nced over, her gaze soft and indifferent, before she withdrew her eyes. Even in despair, Vera was silenced by someone¡¯s hand over her mouth and dragged into the pool. She felt something pressing against her abdomen. Chandler was excited, thinking he was about to seed when he suddenly sensed something was off with this woman. Vera¡¯s face was as pale as a sheet, her chest heaving with difficulty as she struggled to breathe. Chandler let go, and Vera¡¯s entire body seemed to lose all its strength. As if drowning, she sank into the pool without a hint of struggle.. Dmn, is this woman crazy? Chandler was terrified and panicked, fearing that he might cause a fatality. He quickly scrambled ashore, but she didn¡¯te up. He could only vaguely see her figure at the bottom of the pond, along with her long hair floating upward. Eric¡¯s gaze drifted toward the dessert area, but he didn¡¯t see Vera anywhere. His eyes. narrowed. Yvette¡¯s lips curled into a smile as she swirled the champagne in her hand. ¡°I¡¯ve introduced you to so many people and even helped you secure such a big deal. How do you n to thank me?¡± As he searched for Vera at the banquet, a sudden scream came from outside. ¡°Ah Something. Something terrible has happened to someone!¡± The first thing Eric thought of was the missing Vera Without a second thought, the man put down his wine ss and ran out uninediately By the poolside, a group of people worked together to rescue Vera, who had duned Eric took off his suit jacket and draped it over her, his aura chillingly intimidating. He silently retreated to one side, not daring to say a word. ¡°Vera, Vera!¡± Eric was patting her face, but there was no response. ¡°Please, can you help call an ambnce?¡± ¡°O-Okay.¡± Before long, quite a number of people had gathered by the poolside. Yvette stepped out, her gaze falling on Eric, who was performing CPR on Vera. Her brows furrowed deeply. ¡°What on earth is going on?¡± Her tone was icy cold. The housekeeper nearby said, ¡°I just happened to pass by and saw someone floating in the pond.¡± Yvette noticed a few people averting their gaze. She recognized them, but Yvette simply nced at them without saying much. ¡°How could she have drowned when she was perfectly fine?¡± The housekeeper responded, ¡°The pond was just cleaned today, so it might be a bit slippery. Be careful not to fall in.¡± Yvette¡¯s gaze remained fixed on Eric, a feeling she couldn¡¯t quite put into words stirring. within her. She had never seen Eric like this before. If something really happened to Vera, she couldn¡¯t escape the responsibility. After all, it was she who invited Vera to this banquet. Even though she achieved her goal, but¡­ Vera¡­ was really dead! She didn¡¯t know what Eric would do to her. Yvette was in a panic. ¡°Where¡¯s the ambnce? Call them quickly.¡± I¡¯ve already called.¡± ¡°Wake up, Vera!¡± Cough! Cough! Atst Vera showed a hint of reaction. Enc watched as Vera shivered from the cold, her face devoid of any color He quickly pulled her into his embrace, soothingly stroking her hair 1-It¡¯s okay, you¡¯re safe now 24 ¡°I¡­I feel so awful, Z-Eric.¡± ¡°Where is the medicine?¡± Vera felt as if she was about to suffocate, struggling to breathe. ¡°Bag. In the bag.¡± Eric quickly carried Vera to a couch, and a housekeeper swiftly brought over Vera¡¯s bag. Eric opened it and found the medicine inside. Then, he fed Vera two pills. Vera had a narrow escape from death, managing to cling to her life. After taking her medicine, her breathing gradually steadied. Just in time, the ambnce arrived. Eric picked Vera up, and Yvette stood up. ¡°I¡¯ll go to the hospital with you.¡± ¡°No need.¡± Eric¡¯s gaze at her was as cold as ice, like a bottomless abyss. Yvette could only feel a chill running down her spine. In the ambnce, Vera kept holding Eric¡¯s hand. ¡°Eric, I¡¯m scared.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay now. There won¡¯t be any more trouble. We¡¯ll talk about everything once you¡¯re better.¡± Eric wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes. After such an incident urred, Will unleashed a great deal of anger. Yvette¡¯s mood wasn¡¯t much better either. Everything in the room had been smashed by her. The floor was a mess, and all the mirrors. were shattered into fragments. The housekeepers stood by with their heads bowed, none daring to utter a word. ¡°This bastard, who does he think he¡¯s talking to? If it weren¡¯t for me, he wouldn¡¯t even have been qualified to attend this banquet. All this anger because of Vera! It¡¯s not like I¡¯m the one who caused Vera to fall into the water! And you¡¯re still giving me attitude, Eric! You¡¯re driving me crazy!¡± One of the servants stepped forward to console her, ¡°Ms. Friedman, it¡¯s not worth getting upset over this. Mrs. Friedman will surely investigate the matter. After all, a life has been involved¡± Exactly¡¯ Ms Friedman, perhaps that gentleman was just overly worried, which is why he couldn¡¯t control his temper Jacqueline walked in from outside Seeing the mess in the room she couldn¡¯t help but shake her head in resignation. ¡°And you were criticizing others, yet you let a man throw you off bnce? Yvie, you¡¯ve never been like this before. Have you fallen for him?¡± Yvette stepped forward anxiously and asked, ¡°Mom, how¡¯s the investigation going? Was it foul y, or did she just identally fall?¡± Jacqueline responded, ¡°We¡¯ve already checked. It was too dark at the time, so no one witnessed anything. It was likely an ident. However, since it urred at our ce, we naturally bear some responsibility. When you go to the hospital, please check on that youngdy. I suspect she may have asthma. If she survives, it would be a great stroke of luck.¡± Yvette hadn¡¯t anticipated that Vera would actually have asthma. ¡°I don¡¯t want to visit her. I wasn¡¯t the one who pushed her, after all.¡± Yvette¡¯s gaze avoiding eye contact as she looked away. shifted, Jacqueline¡¯s eyes dimmed, her pupils contracted, and a hint of doubt began to rise in her heart, yet she remained silent. Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. ¡°Whether you go or not is your decision, but I must advise you that Eric is not the right person for you. Even if he possesses extraordinary abilities, the Friedman family will never ept someone like him.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no room for discussion. When I say it¡¯s not allowed, it¡¯s not allowed. If you don¡¯t want to see our family¡¯s reputation tarnished by others, you will listen to your mother. If you want to fall in love, I can find someone suitable for your age.¡± Yvette stomped her foot in frustration, pouting. ¡°But I want him!¡± Jacqueline furrowed her brow. ¡°Enough! I don¡¯t want to hear this again. Let me make it clear, anyone is eptable, but if it involves Will, I will absolutely not agree unless you¡¯re not my daughter.¡± With her statement hanging in the air, Jacqueline exited the room. Yvette found her mother¡¯s attitude very perplexing. Why is she so opposed to the Swan family Chapter 202 Chapter 202 Chapter 202 Have You Lost Your Mind Eileen arrived at school on Monday, notte, but just in time for the morning self-study. Upon reaching the ssroom, she didn¡¯t see Yvette and Vera. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Not only had Vera missed a single morning study session, but Eileen didn¡¯t see her at all throughout the entire morning. Could it be¡­ something has happened to Vera? Eileen was thinking about the time when Vera had an incident. It was so long ago that she could hardly remember many details. At noon, Natalie invited her to have lunch together, and in the cafeteria, she brought up the matter about Vera. Natalie said, ¡°I heard it from your ssmates. Vera has been hospitalized. It seems she identally fell into the swimming pool at the Friedman residence. Oh, that¡¯s right, I haven¡¯t seen Elm today either. He hasn¡¯t been to ss sincest Friday.¡± Eileen calmly ate her meal. ¡°My task is already done. He has achieved the grades to get into. Hulbury University. Whether he chooses to study or not, it has nothing to do with me.¡± ¡°Why would you start caring about his affairs?¡± Natalie lowered her head. ¡°I see that you two were good friends before¡­¡± What else would he do besides going out on dates? Did Vera really fall into the swimming pool by ident? A woman¡¯s intuition is often quite urate, and Eileen couldn¡¯t help but feel that this matter wasn¡¯t as simple as it seemed. ¡°Eileen, if you¡¯re worried, I can apany you to the hospital¡± Eileen looked at Natalie, wondering if she should invite her toe along. That might be a good idea. If Natalie is there, even if Eric is there too, he wouldnt dare to do anything harmful Furthermore, Vera has lived in the Swan residence for over a decade. Even if she was! officially registered as a member of the Swan family, it was only right that she should pay them a visit Abright Sorry for the trouble No trouble at all We¡¯re friends aren¡¯t we? You¡¯ve helped me so much, so it¡¯s only right that I do this and Natalie as she picked up her backpack from the side, unzipping it. By the way. leen, you¡¯re the first friend I made at school. My parents gave me a lot of things to bring to you As she spoke, she pulled out bag after bag ¡°These are truffles, cartginous, and sation. All grown by our family I can¡¯t ept something so expensive Abend der deck was de 7 was illed with ¡°They¡¯re not expensive at all. We¡¯ve nted acres of these. Don¡¯t you like them? I also have beef jerky Eileen Beef jerky? I thought your family raised pigs? With a blush on her face, Natalie said somewhat sheepishly, ¡°Actually, we have more cows at home than pigs Fileen asked, ¡°How much is there? After some thought, Natalie said, ¡°It¡¯s not that many! Just a few tens of thousands of cattle, and even fewer pigs, only a few thousand Wow! There¡¯s so much. I bet there¡¯s a past expanse of grasnd at her home, too By the looks of it, I might not even be as wealthy as her family. In the spirit of reciprocity, after epting her gitis, Eileen also gave her a bracelet that she had bought in Seatown. She didn¡¯t know the price, as Jasper had picked up the tab Even a single bag of saffion. Eileen had no idea how much it was worth. If it weren¡¯t for her inability to refuse, Eileen wouldn¡¯t have epted such valuable tems from her At the hospital, Eileen bought some fruit, while Natalie purchased a bouquet of flowers The news of Vera¡¯s hospitalization came from her inquiry to Gavm. It was probably with Enes approval that the location of Vera was disclosed to her They took a taxi to the hospital Reaching the door of the ward she heard Versvore Eric. Fin full now You should first With Sharon here to take care of me 11l be fine. If you dy your work Mi Swan will be unhappy ¡°Eileen? How did you get here? Come in and have a seat.¡± Sharon, holding a basin in her hands, had juste out of the toilet when she happened to run into Eileen outside. Eileen walked into the ward, with Natalie timidly trailing behind her. ¡°Jasper told me that Vera was hospitalized, so I came over because I was worried.¡± Natalie nced at Eileen without saying much. Wasn¡¯t I the one who told her? Sharon took the items from her hands and ced them on the table. While still in a meeting at Smith Corporation, Jasper sneezed out of the blue. Silently, Fabian turned up the air conditioning a few degrees. Don¡¯t tell me the sea breeze gave you a cold. Vera lowered his head. ¡°Everyone in the school knows about my situation, right?¡± Eileen spoke vaguely. ¡°I¡¯ve just returned from Seatown too. I¡¯m d to hear that you¡¯re fine.¡± Sharon asked, ¡°Have you had lunch yet? Shall I get you something?¡± Eileen quickly replied, ¡°No need. We already ate before we came.¡± Eric stood up, offering his seat. Sharon also dragged over a chair. ¡°Youngdy, sit down. You must be tired from standing.¡± Natalie had social anxiety. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯m not tired from standing.¡± Eileen stated, ¡°I¡¯m d Vera is okay. I need to head back to school soon.¡± Eric responded, Tm heading back to the oflice anyway. I can drop you off at school.¡± Eileen didn¡¯t want to go with him, so she declined, ¡°We can just take a taxiter¡± ¡°You all havee to see me, and you must have already spent quite a bit of money It¡¯s only right for Eric to take you back to school. Eileen, please don¡¯t refuse, okay?¡± When Vera spoke in such a manner, how could Eileen continue to refuse She nodded in agreement Alright¡± The two didn¡¯t stay for long Fileen and Natalie left the hospital right after Eric also left with them. The three of them went to the parking lot together. Eric opened the passenger door, his intentions clear. ¡°It¡¯s fine if I sit at the back with Natalie, Eileen said. ¡°Are you expecting me to invite you?¡± His tone was cold, leaving no room for refusal. Sensing the tense atmosphere, Natalie intervened, ¡°It¡¯s okay, Eileen. I can sit by myself. Go ahead and sit in the front.¡± Natalie had already opened the passenger door and settled herself in. This guy¡­ Left with no other choice, Eileen reluctantly took the passenger seat. Throughout the journey, silence filled the car, especially emanating from Eric, as cold and piercing as the weather outside. Eileen didn¡¯t know what had happened. Seeing him like this, she was certain that someone was trying to harm Vera, which would be the only reason for his anger. Otherwise, Eric wouldn¡¯t be in such a state. Once they arrived at the school gate, Eileen eagerly swung the car door open. ¡°I have something to say to her. You can get out of the car first,¡± Eric said to Natalie. Slightly embarrassed, Natalie replied, ¡°All right. Eileen, I¡¯ll wait for you.¡± After Natalie got out of the car, Eric locked the car door again. Eileen¡¯s heart skipped a beat. ¡°What¡­ What are you trying to do? I¡¯m warning you; around. We¡¯re at the school gate. Someone will notice.¡± don¡¯t mess ¡°You¡¯ve actually reminded me.¡± With a press on the elerator, Eric¡¯s car immediately sped off. The car was speeding, exceeding the limit, nearly colliding with an electric scooter that had just emerged from the intersection. Looking back, Eileen saw the person had already tallen Eric, have you lost your mind? She still has a child with her!¡± He didn¡¯t speak Eileen watched him intently as he ascended an overpass. Chapter 203 You Can Never Compare To Him Eileen was led to a deste location, surrounded by mountains, the highest point in Hulbury, and rarely visited by anyone. Throughout the journey, there were no cameras or other cars in sight. As the car came to a stop, Eileen clung to her seatbelt, her body tensing up. ¡°What are you nning to do?¡± she asked fearfully, The man¡¯s hands, with their distinct and attractive knuckles, rested lightly on the steering wheel. ¡°What happened to Vera has nothing to do with me. I had no involvement in her troubles.¡± While Eileen was eager to distance herself, what he cared about the most was Vera. With fear and trepidation in her eyes, she looked at him. As her words fell silent, the man, caught off guard, leaned in. His fingers threaded through her hair, cradling her head, and he kissed her. ¡°Mmph!¡± Humming softly, Eileen struggled fiercely, causing her school uniform to be disheveled. As she felt the buttons of her clothes being undone, rm bells rang in her head. Without a second thought, she forcefully pushed him away, instinctively pping him across the face. Clutching her clothes tightly, her eyshes glistened with tears. She forced herself to calm down. ¡°Eric, can you please not do this? You already have Vera!¡± Eric¡¯s gaze was deep and mncholic, impossible to read. Suddenly, he curved his lips, reached out, and wiped the corners of her mouth with his thumb. ¡°So what if I do? You like it too, don¡¯t you? I can feel your response. Eileen, what are you afraid of? Don¡¯t you love your brother the most?¡± ¡°You. You¡¯re wrong¡± Eileen averted her gaze, refusing to listen to his beguiling voice Ties Enc abruptly pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly against him. Don¡¯t touch me Encraught a whiff of her scent It no longer held the sweetness it once did Now, her fragrance was tainted with the amp aroma of another man Hidden from Falken therE WAS DUE race of warmth in his gaze only a Feeling his hand reaching for her skirt, pushing aside the thinyer of fabric, his rough fingertips gliding over her sensitive area, Eileen felt as if electricity was coursing through her entire body. ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid I¡¯ll tell Jasper?¡± she asked. Chapter 203 Chapter 203 Chapter 203 When his name was mentioned, Eric¡¯s actions paused. Eileen still couldn¡¯t push him away. Her tear-stained face was buried in his chest as she let out a soft sobbing sound. ¡°Why, Eric! It was you who pushed me away before, and it was you who drugged me. Do you know? I will never be able to have my own children in this lifetime. All I want is to be with someone who likes me as much as I like them. Why¡­ Why can¡¯t you just let me be? You¡¯re with Vera, but¡­ just look at what you¡¯re doing now! If you darey a finger on me today, this time¡­ I will die in front of you. I don¡¯t want to¡­ wrong Jasper! You know, I always keep my word. If I die, Jasper will never let you off the hook¡­ Can bear to see everything you¡¯ve worked so hard for, everything you have now, destroyed by a moment of impulsiveness? I know you don¡¯t really like me. It¡¯s just your possessiveness acting up, Eric¡­ You need to calm down and think clearly. What¡¯s more important to you? A moment of pleasure or your rights and status?¡± Interesting! you Eric cast a casual nce at her, his gaze akin to a big grey wolf eyeing a trembling little rabbit about to be devoured. He gently wiped away the tear stains on her delicate face, his chestpletely soaked with her tears. ¡°Who taught you to say all these things?¡± he asked. ¡°Isn¡¯t that so?¡± Eric never indulged in the allure of women, as his self-control was extremely strong. In the world of business, where power and lust often intertwine, he had never been swayed. However, his goal was crystal clear. He always knew what he wanted. People like Eric, who had climbed up from the bottom, had seen it all. His desire was simply to ascend step by step to the highest position, a ce where everyone looked up to. Apart from Vera, he hardly had any vulnerabilities And because of this, she had be his greatest weakness En being with Vera was within her expectations If it weren¡¯t for Vers. Eru would definitely be with Yvette, using her to get what he wanted. His skills were beyond the reach of others. Howe Idade now dial you understand me so well now Hun kow curled his lips is a kod burlong hau thai fell de car betund it. However chose arat over light. Ita muore she appearvbus w 111 wanted to touch her, to possess her in the most debasing manner, wishing nothing more than to have her crying out in ecstasy on the bed. These impure thoughts resurfaced again and again in his midnight dreams. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Yet, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to act on them yet. What he needed to do now wasn¡¯t finished yet. At this moment, Eric¡¯s thoughts were like maggots writhing in the sewer, slowly crawling onto the open, vibrant rose branches, gradually consuming its petals, making them a part of himself. There were some things he would rather not know in his lifetime. ¡°Don¡¯t forget, Eileen, everyone changes.¡± Eric¡¯s sudden gentleness left Eileen at a loss. ¡°Jasper¡­ do you really believe that he truly loves you? Why do you remain so naive?¡± Eileen retorted without hesitation, ¡°Because everything he does doesn¡¯t hurt me. I only know that the person who has always hurt me is you. When I was having the surgery, he said he didn¡¯t mind if I couldn¡¯t have children. He was willing to wait for me, wait for the day I marry him.¡± Eric responded, ¡°So, you were moved?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Eileen looked at him, her heart racing. ¡°You know, if my father finds out about my situation, can you imagine what would happen to me? Jasper is the only one who can save me. He¡¯s so good to me, so why shouldn¡¯t I be moved? He¡¯spletely open with me. At least he never forces me! Eric, you¡­ you can neverpare to him!¡± If Eric had any intention of forcing himself on her today, Eileen would rather take her own. life by leaping off this towering cliff. She would prefer death over encountering him again in this lifetime. Eric¡¯s gaze grew dark as he stared at her. The expression in his eyes was somewhat iprehensible to her. Suddenly, Eric¡¯s phone rang, He answered the call. The other person said something unknown, causing Eric¡¯s face to turn particrly unsightly He fastened his seatbelt once again. Turning the steering wheel and pressing on the gas, he remained silent for the rest of the journey back. Eric dropped her off at the school gate and swiftly drove away. By the time Eileen arrived at school, the first afternoon ss had already ended. After ss, Natalie approached her. ¡°Eileen, are you alright? Why do you look so pale?¡± Chapter 204 Chapter 204 Chapter 204 Has He Ever Been So Clingy Eileen shed a casual smile. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Do you need something from me?¡± Sneaking a nce around, Natalie leaned in close to Eileen¡¯s ear and whispered, ¡°Elm has returned to ss Six, and Calliope has gone. with him.¡± Upon hearing the news, Eileen remained impassive. ¡°There¡¯s no need to tell me about his affairs. I¡¯m going to the restroom.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the point of looking into this? No matter how much you dig, the answer remains the same.¡± Zachary slid the yellow file folder across the table to the man sitting opposite him. Zachary looked at his gloomy face. The more he acted like this, the more maliciously happy. he became. There was a saying-one¡¯s happiness should never be built on another¡¯s pain. This was exactly what Zachary meant. He wrapped his arm around the seductive woman next to him, crossing his legs. ¡°This document has been checked over and over again, a dozen times, exactly as you requested. It¡¯s always the same. If you don¡¯t believe me, how about¡­ I send you the video I recorded?¡± The man silently picked up the file bag and stood up. His gloomy gaze casually swept over him. ¡°You¡¯d better keep your mouth shut.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I assure you it¡¯s foolproof.¡± ¡°Eric! Be careful. Don¡¯t get yourself involved.¡± After Eric left, the woman beside him snuggled up to the man sweetly. ¡°Darling, what did you give him?¡± Zachary leaned toward the woman¡¯s ear, his warm breath whispering two words, ¡°A secret!¡± His gaze then shifted toward the woman emerging from the private room across. However, she also spotted him. The woman¡¯s expression changed dramatically. She whispered something to the person next to her and then headed for the restroom. Zachary left the people around him, put one hand in his pocket, and walked away. ¡°Where are you going. Darling?¡± Zachary chose not to pay any attention. C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. 14 Cynthia had been in the women¡¯s restroom for quite a while. Thest time, someone had drugged her, and she had inexplicably ended up being intimate with him. It was not allowed due to their identities. Also¡­ she was also his sister-inw. How could it possibly be allowed between them¡­ Half an hour had passed. Cynthia nced at her reflection in the mirror, thinking that he had already left. As she calmly walked out of the restroom, she suddenly saw a man leaning against the exit as if he was waiting for her. Cynthia, frightened, was about to run away when the man quickly grabbed her and pulled her into the opposite fire escape corridor. He pressed her hands against the wall and leaned down to kiss her neck. Cynthia waspletely immobilized. ¡°No¡­ You can¡¯t do this. Zack, you¡¯ve gone too far.¡± Zachary paused, nting an intimate kiss on her face. ¡°That night, do you remember how much you clung to me? You just couldn¡¯t get enough! Cynthia¡­ has my elder brother ever experienced you being this clingy?¡± ¡°Ah! I forgot! He doesn¡¯t even bother to nce at you. That day¡­ it was your first time! What a pity he can¡¯t experience your enchanting charm.¡± Cynthia pulled her hand away, forcefully pping him across the face. ¡°Shut up.¡± Thinking back to that night, Cynthia was filled with regret. It was a moment of impulsiveness that led to a huge mistake. She shouldn¡¯t have drunk that ss of wine, then none of this would have happened. She and this brother-inw of hers had absolutely no interaction in the Xenos residence. He was inherently flirtatious and never came home. Even when it came to speaking, she hadn¡¯t uttered more than three sentences in the year since she married into the Xenos family. The number of times they met was incredibly few. The first time was at the wedding, and the second¡­ was when she woke up next to him. ¡°I don¡¯t want to bring up what happened that day again. Zachary, I hope you remember that even if we¡­¡± She was too embarrassed to finish her sentence, hoping he would understand. ¡°It you don¡¯t want to keep making the same mistakes, it¡¯s best to stop here! If you dare to bother me again, I won¡¯t let you off easily.¡± ¡°Alright then, I¡¯m curious to see, how exactly do you n on not letting me oll? Are you 21 ||| going to bite or hold me back to keep me from leaving? Hmm?¡± A blush swept over Cynthia¡¯s face, and she bit her lip. ¡°Zachary!¡± ¡°Cynthia, do you want more?¡± Cynthia had always been a soft-spoken person in the Xenos family, never retaliating when. scolded by her inws. But this time, she couldn¡¯t hold back her anger anymore. The bag in her hand was thrown directly at him, and her high-heeled foot stomped hard on the top of his foot. Zachary hissed, and his brows furrowed tightly. Cynthia, her pretty face flushed with embarrassment, grabbed her bag and ran off without looking back, deeply afraid that the person behind her might catch up again. Sitting in the car, she opened the mirror, looking at the marks on her neck. Her delicate. eyebrows furrowed. She took out her foundation, using it to cover these shameful red traces. That previous night, Cynthia was in a terrible state. Hardly a part of her was alright. She even lied about going out of town for medical treatment and didn¡¯t return for seven or eight days. She had an affair with her brother-inw, a thought she dared not entertain. What will happen if they find out? We can¡¯t go on like this. Let¡¯s wait for the right time topletely resolve this matter. Caerulus Corporation. CEO¡¯s Office. Gavin knocked on the door and walked into the office to deliver some documents. He didn¡¯t see Eric in the office, but his gaze unintentionally fell upon a certain document. DNA test. Who is Mr. Snow nning to do a blood rtion test with? ¡°What are you looking at?¡± Eric¡¯s icy voice emerged from the lounge as he wiped the water stains off his hands with a tissue. ¡°Nothing¡± Gavin quickly averted his gaze. ¡°Mr. Snow, these are the meeting documents organized today, and there are a few projects that need your signature. Eric responded, ¡°Hmm, understood 31 After Gavin left the office. Eric retrieved the report, walked over to the shredder, and reduced it to fragments. In that moment, her words echoed in his ears. ¡°He¡¯spletely honest with me. At least he never pressures me! Eric, you can neverpare to him!¡± Eric had never felt as frustrated as he did now, his mind a jumbled mess. At eight in the evening. Eric answered the phone and prepared to leave the office. Gavin stood just outside the door, matching his pace with Eric as they headed towards the elevator. ¡°Mr. Snow, we¡¯re under close surveince right now. If you step in, it will give us away. I can handle this situation. Thepany can¡¯t afford to lose you.¡± Eric pressed the elevator button to go down. ¡°Not leaving work?¡± Gavin pursed his lips. ¡°Mr. Snow¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± Eric interrupted. ¡°It¡¯s not your ce to tell me what to do. If you want to follow, then follow.¡± Primas za. Luxury private room. In Caerulus Corporation¡¯s nning department, a few employees who had been drinking were all unconscious. Chandler, with a smug smile, ced his hand on an intern¡¯s thigh ¡°Missy, can¡¯t you handle it anymore? I haven¡¯t even finished my drinks yet. If you can please me with drinks tonight, we can easily discuss the contract signing.¡± ¡°Why do you have to make things difficult for an intern. Mr. Hackett?¡± Upon seeing the neer, an employee from Caerulus Corporation immediately stood up to offer them a seat. ¡°Mr. Snow.¡± With a nod from Eric, someone promptly brought over a set of tes and cutlery Chapter 205 Chapter 205 Chapter 205 What A Pity To Be A Doctor With a stern gaze, Eric stared at the trembling intern sitting next to Chandler. He walked over with an indifferent expression. The head of the nning department immediately followed and said with a chuckle, ¡°Mr. Snow wants to sit in your ce. Hurry up and stand up.¡± Mandy seemed to have found her savior. ¡°Understood, sir.¡± However, before she could stand. up. Chandler¡¯s hand had already grabbed her. ¡°Hey, his return doesn¡¯t stop us from drinking. Youngdy, you can¡¯t even drink. How are you going to conduct yourself in the workce? It seems like you¡¯ve just graduated recently! Come¡­ let me teach you.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need for Mr. Hackett to worry about how the employees under my department. should behave.¡± Eric gripped Chandler¡¯s wrist, gradually increasing his strength. Suddenly, the atmosphere froze. Chandler felt a pang of pain in his wrist. However, due to his pride and the presence of so many people around, he managed to keep his face expressionless. In the end, Chandler admitted defeat with a chuckle. ¡°I was just joking around. Don¡¯t take it seriously, Mr. Snow. Come and take a seat. Let¡¯s have a drink together. We can talk about. something else.¡± Mandy was quickly escorted out by the head of the nning department, leaving only a few experienced employees discussing matters. Years ago, Chandler identally killed someone. Little did he know, the victim¡¯s family turned out to be quite troublesome, giving him quite a headache. To deal with these troubles, he ventured into ungoverned zones and also sought help from the Swan family. Chandler had a fair understanding of the methods the Swans employed. No matter what, he was the local thug in Hulbury. Even the higher-ups couldn¡¯t control him. Chandler was wary of him, but at the same time, he also felt contempt and disdain. The Swan family is nothing more than an underground rat¡¯s nest. Sooner orter¡­ they will inevitably be taken down by someone. The Hackett family might not be extremely wealthy, but at the very least, our lineage alone is enough to trample over Eric. What does he have to be so smug about? After all, given his background, even if he worked hard all his life, he wouldn¡¯t get anywhere Following the usual business coboration process, after having a meal and a few drinks, the next stop would be the casino at Primas za. The casino there was licensed and operated as a legitimate business. After three hours, Chandler¡¯s heartyughter filled the entire elevator. ¡°Mr. Snow, you¡¯ve really outdone yourself, losing a million and eight hundred thousand. Once this project ispleted, I must treat you to a good meal. After all, I can¡¯t let you spend this money for nothing.¡± Gavin pressed the elevator button to go to the first-floor lobby. Eric¡¯s expression remained calm, without much change. He nodded. ¡°I, of course, am pleased to oblige.¡± Suddenly, Chandler thought of something and mentioned, ¡°Oh right, I heard your girl fell into the water when I was at the Friedman residencest time. Is she okay?¡± Eric suddenly met Chandler¡¯s gaze, which was filled withughter. A fleeting chill passed through his eyes, barely noticeable. Noticing Eric¡¯s gaze, Chandler felt his heart skip a beat. Unknowingly, goosebumps formed on his arms. ¡°There¡¯s nothing to worry about.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good! That¡¯s good!¡± Chandler breathed a sigh of relief as if a huge weight had been lifted from his heart. Walking to the first-floor lobby, he watched Chandler leave. Gavin spoke up. ¡°Mr. Snow, I don¡¯t understand why you¡¯re going easy on him! Over a million. is not a small amount. If Mr. Swan finds out, he will definitely be furious!¡± ¡°Over a million and thirty¡­ Is that a lot?¡± Eric was suddenly lost in thought. To my knowledge, that designer¡¯s custom pieces start at no less than three million, and they only take on ten orders a year.¡± Til go upstairs to change into something else¡± Mc Eileen, there¡¯s no need to worry It¡¯s just a piece of clothing As long as you like it, even i were to be burnt Mr Jasper wouldn¡¯t mind at all Gavin didn¡¯t know what he was up to, but his actions at the casino today truly lett hun puzzled leseemed like Fru deliberately lost to Chandler However no thatter what he did there was always this mex alle trust be tospired Event he were tomit a crime as grave as murder or arson, Gavin would still believe in him wholeheartedly. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Mr. Snow?¡± Gavin looked at the person beside him, lost in thought, wondering what he was thinking about. Could it be that he¡¯s thinking about the matter concerning Vera? Indeed, Mr. Snow and Vera have shared a deep bond since childhood, and then such an incident happened at the Friedman residence! Tonight, Chandler was still quite pleased with himself, thinking he could deceive everyone. However, what he didn¡¯t realize was that his every move waspletely under their control as if they knew him like the back of their hand. The negotiation for coboration with the Hackett family this time was nothing more than setting a trap for Chandler to fall into. Having been by Eric¡¯s side for so many years, how could Gavin not understand his character? No matter who it was, he would always be ruthless enough. Furthermore, he never goes easy on himself either. These self-proimed aristocrats, who think highly of themselves, are nothing more than puppies just out of the nest in Eric¡¯s eyes. He finds it easy to handle them. Gavin reminisced about everything they had been through in the past. Eric was the only one he willingly submitted to and, even more so, the one he preferred to follow. On the drive back, Eric¡¯s brows were tightly furrowed, his face showing signs of pain. It was as if he was suffering from a stomach ailment. This wasn¡¯t a result of irregr eating habits but a remnant of an incident from years ago when he was transporting goods. He was ambushed and stabbed, the de piercing his stomach, leaving him with this lingering issue. Today, Eric had indeed drunk quite a bit. Seeing him in this state, Gavin didn¡¯t think twice and quickly rushed him to the hospital. Half an hourter, Eric woke up groggily to find Zachary standing by his bedside, adjusting the rate of his IV drip. ¡°You¡¯re quite resilient,¡¯ he remarked. ¡°If I had arrived a momentter, you might have required surgery. Thankfully, there are no signs of gastric bleeding at the moment. You knew you couldn¡¯t handle alcohol, yet you insisted on drinking until now I¡¯m curious, who is worth risking your life for?¡± Entremamed silent Zachary pulled up a chair and sat beside his bed tapping his leg asc poodered. ¡°Could it be that you can¡¯t ept the DNA test repon that proves youre rted to Will? And perhaps, thinking that you can¡¯t be with Eileen, you turned to heavy drinking?¡± Eric replied, ¡°It¡¯s a shame that with your imagination, you chose to be a doctor instead of a scriptwriter.¡± ¡°You still have the energy to joke around. It seems like you¡¯re not in too much pain. Your assistant has gone to buy you some oatmeal. Considering our long acquaintance, I¡¯ll give you onest warning- smoking is tolerable, but drinking alcohol is not. Right now, gastrointestinal bleeding should be the least of your concerns. If your stomach were to rupture and stomach acid started corroding your organs, it wouldn¡¯t be as simple as lying in bed for a week.¡± As soon as Zachary finished speaking, a figure rushed into the ward. ¡°Eric!¡± It was Vera. Soon, Gavin appeared at the door. ¡°I bumped into Ms. Vera in the elevator.¡± Eric averted his gaze, focusing it on Vera. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± he assured her. ¡°How can you be okay? Didn¡¯t I tell you that you can¡¯t drink alcohol? Why won¡¯t you listen? Eric¡­¡± Vera cried in front of Eric, tears streaming down her face. Gavin silently ced the oatmeal he had just bought on the bedside table, then left the ward. Zachary also stood up, his hands tucked into the pockets of his ke coat. ¡°Since your girlfriend is here, we can discuss Eileen¡¯s situation another time. I won¡¯t disturb the two of you any longer.¡± Chapter 206 Chapter 206 Chapter 206 Perhaps You Should First Submit Feeling displeased, Eric stared intently at Zachary, who had dropped a bombshell and then left. His words caused Vera to grow concerned. ¡°Eric¡­ why are you discussing Eileen? What¡­ What happened to her?¡± Eric coughed a few times, feeling another wave of pain in his stomach. He didn¡¯t want anyone to see him in such a pathetic state. His condition rarely red up like this in the past because Eileen was almost always by his side. Whether it was for work or during socializing after hours, as long as he had a bit of alcohol, she would scold the person across the table, all just to have him drink less. If the project failed, he wouldn¡¯t be able to escape Will¡¯s punishment. For breakfast, lunch, and dinner, she would personally deliver each meal, never allowing him to miss a single meal. Ever since Eileen stopped being by his side, Eric kept feeling as if something was missing. ¡°Nothing much. Why aren¡¯t you sleeping at thiste hour?¡± Vera felt a bit uneasy because Eric had been hiding something from her. Seeing him like this. Vera didn¡¯t say anything more. She stroked Eric¡¯s back, lowering her head. ¡°I had a nightmare and couldn¡¯t sleep, so I came out for a walk.¡± Eric ced his hand on top of her head, gently stroking it tofort her. ¡°Go back to sleep. Don¡¯t you have to go back to school tomorrow?¡± ¡°Let me feed you some oatmeal. You never eat anything when you drink. Vera opened the lunchbox and scooped out a bowl of oatmeal, which was still piping hot. She blew on it a bit. then held it up to Eric¡¯s mouth. Eric looked into her eyes and saw the anticipation in them. Ultimately, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to refuse. After finishing the meal, it was nearly three in the morning Vera was slowly cleaning up when Eric interrupted her. ¡®Dawn is almost here Gavin will take care of this. Go back to sleep¡± Vera lowered her head, standing by the bed ¡®En. I¡¯m scared to sleep alone Can the next to you for a while just like when we were kids? You were always by my side back then No matter what I always felt safe Eric was staying in the best ward of the hospital, with a bed sorge that it couldfortably sleep three people. ¡°Vera, we can¡¯t go back to the way things were. You¡¯re still young, but you should understand that there are differences between men and women. Even if you¡¯re in a rtionship, you can¡¯t share a bed with someone of the opposite sex without being engaged. These things¡­ Vera, I shouldn¡¯t have to teach you this.¡± The coldness in Eric¡¯s eyes was telling. your Vera retorted in indignance, ¡°Eric, I don¡¯t understand. I¡¯m just scared and want to stay by side for a while. Why can¡¯t you even fulfill this request of mine? Do you really consider. me your girlfriend? Isn¡¯t our rtionship aimed at marriage?¡± As she spoke, tears fell down her innocent-looking face. ¡°Thest time I was at home, I saw you kiss Eileen. If you can do such a thing with her, why not me? Eric¡­ you don¡¯t actually like me, do you? You agreed to be with me just to avoid upsetting me, right? Because I have depression, and you¡¯re afraid I might do something drastic, isn¡¯t that so? If that¡¯s really how you feel, Eric, I¡¯d rather not be with you. I¡¯d even prefer to stay abroad for the rest of my life, never to return!¡± Vera ran out crying. Eric furrowed his brow, quickly dialing Gavin¡¯s number. His already agitated mood only made Eric feel more frustrated. Eric gave in to her in every possible way, truly because he didn¡¯t want her to be upset. Ten minutester, Eric received a message from Gavin. ¡°She has been found.¡± Gavin stayed up all night in Vera¡¯s ward. The next morning, on the way to school, Vera sat in the front passenger seat, visibly upset. The entire journey was filled with silence, with neither of them uttering a single word. As Eric closed his eyes to rest, the atmosphere inside the car was eerily quiet. Upon reaching the school gate, Vera didn¡¯t utter a single word. She simply opened the car door and got out. Gavin reminded, ¡°Vera, here¡¯s your breakfast Vera didn¡¯t bother to respond and went straight into school Gavin spoke with concern, President Zhan Vera is a young girl after all Maybe you should be the one to take the first step? Freopened his eyes and suddenly his gaze shifted falling oporca Laar gure elsewhere ¤¤ 24 Eileen was carrying a pancake she bought from a roadside stall and sipping on a cup of milk. As she was walking, a dog, seemingly appearing out of nowhere, ran up to her and barked. Startled, Eileen dropped her pancake and in her panic, even threw her milk away as she quickly ran into the school. The security guard saw this and promptly chased the dog away. After running a considerable distance, she looked back to see that the dog hadn¡¯t followed her and finally breathed a sigh of relief. When she was in her teens, a close shave with a mad mastiff at home left her with an indelible fear of dogs. When Eric caught sight of her loss ofposure, a rare smile broke out across the corners of his mouth. Even he didn¡¯t realize he was smiling subconsciously. As she passed by ss Six, she saw Elm there. He was sprawled on the desk and sleeping against the wall. It had been a long time since shest saw this scene. ¡°Eileen! Eileen!¡± Hearing a voice behind her, Eileen turned around only to see Natalie approaching with two bags pancakes and milk in her hands.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. She stopped in her tracks, waiting for Natalie to catch up. Natalie handed her the items she was holding. ¡°This is for you. I saw that you were so scared by the dog that you dropped your breakfast, so I bought you another portion.¡± When Eileen saw her panting heavily, with sweat beading on her forehead, she said, ¡°Thank you.¡± Natalie had already bought it, so it would be rude for Eileen not to ept it. This is the first time a friend had bought her breakfast. ¡°You¡¯re wee. In a few days, you¡¯ll be taking your Olympiad Math exam, Eileen. I¡¯ll definitely be there to cheer you on. I¡¯ll be waiting for you outside the exam hall.¡± The two of them stepped into the elevator to go upstairs. ¡°No need, it¡¯s just an exam. You don¡¯t have to wait for me.¡± I insist. We¡¯re friends after all! Oh, by the way, I have something for you.¡± Natalie pulled a ss bottle filled with tiny stars from her bag. ¡°There are over a thousand little stars in here. all folded by me. I read in an astrology book that this will bring you good luck.¡± A warm feeling spread through Eileen¡¯s heart. Is this what it feels like to have friends? A faint smile appeared on Eileen¡¯s face, as it her heart was embraced by a ray of warm light t ÃÅ truly feelsforting. ¡°Thank you, Natalie. I really love it.¡± Although the gifts may seem insignificant and easily purchasable, Eileen felt that Natalie¡¯s affection was priceless, a feeling that money could never buy. ¡°After the exams, I¡¯ll give you a gift too!¡± ¡°Really?¡± Natalie¡¯s eyes sparkled as she eagerly held onto her backpack straps. ¡°Okay, no matter what you give me, I will treasure it.¡± ¡°Eileen, I want to be your friend forever.¡± Chapter 207 Chapter 207 Chapter 207 She Actually Dared To Come Back Upon returning to the ssroom, Eileen was surprised to see that Vera had been discharged from the hospital so soon. Since the Olympiad Mathpetition was scheduled for the following week, Eileen had to rejoin the team that day. If she sessfully passed the exam, all she needed to do next wasplete the remaining courses, and graduation would be just a matter of time. With that, she had already aplished more than half of what she wanted to do. On that day, Eileen was busy with her usual affairs. In the afternoon, Natalie invited her to have lunch. On the way to the cafeteria, Eileen noticed that quite a few people were staring at her. However, she realized that the girls who were looking at her were all holding a magazine. Eileen didn¡¯t pay much attention to what others were doing. After finishing her meal, she had to attend her Olympiad Math ss, Natalie remarked, ¡°Eileen, don¡¯t you think they¡¯re acting strange? It¡¯s like they¡¯re all looking at you!¡± Eileen had the same feeling. She asked curiously, ¡°Is there something on my face?¡± ¡°No, not at all. You look great every day!¡± Natalie sincerelyplimented her. After reaching the cafeteria and finishing her meal, Eileen didn¡¯t have time to go over Natalie¡¯s lessons with her. All she could do was give Natalie her own notes, which she had reorganized to make it easier for her to remember. If Natalie could remember everything. passing the test would be no problem at all. When she arrived at the Olympiad Math ss, Vera was already there. The moment Jacob saw Eileen, happiness was written all over his face. He had even personally cleared a vacant seat for her. ¡°Benjamin has gone to fetch the book for you, so just wait a moment!¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Eileen put down her backpack and took her seat. ¡°You truly didn¡¯t disappoint me. Teachers from other schools have beenining to me that the second-ranked student in the entire grade has managed to secure the only avable spot Thest time I attended a meeting, they were talking about you. You¡¯ve really made me proud Jacob was brimming with pride. In his heart, he was secretly thrilled, thinking that he might finally be recognized as an outstanding teacher that year Benjamin and Jason walked into the ssroom. Benjamin ced the materials on Eileen¡¯s desk. She was sitting on the first seat of the second row, with Benjamin to her left and Jason to her right. ¡°Ah, who would have thought there woulde a day when both of us friends would be separated.¡± Benjamin spoke to Eileen in a casual tone. ¡°Wee back.¡± Eileen nodded. ¡°Thank you.¡± She tilted her head slightly, and the corner of her eye unintentionally caught Vera¡¯s gaze. Eileen pretended not to see it and turned her attention. back to her book. This wasn¡¯t the first time Vera had given her such a look, but it made her feel as if Vera was a stranger to her. She couldn¡¯t describe the distant and seemingly hostile look in Vera¡¯s eyes. It was a look that was inconsistent with Vera¡¯s personality. When the ss began, Eileen understood all the content taught by Jacob, thanks to Jasper. The teachers he hired had taught her most of the lessons in advance. Meanwhile, on the ground floor of Smith Corporation building, a figure in dark attire, wearing sunsses, heavy mascara, and a thickyer of slightly powdery foundation on her face, was chewing gum. She looked quite out of cepared to the average person, especially with her hands and neck covered in tattoos. The receptionist looked at her, slightly surprised, but also finding her somewhat familiar. ¡°May I have your name, please?¡± Nancy lowered her head to remove her sses, her red lips curling into a smile. ¡°Howe you don¡¯t recognize me?¡± Upon seeing the familiar face, the receptionist eximed in surprise, ¡°Ms. Mulligan? Are¡­ are you here to see the CEO?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that obvious? I¡¯m going up first, so don¡¯t call him. I¡¯ve been here before, understand?¡± The receptionist replied, ¡°Yes, understood.¡± Adorned in a pair of long boots, Nancy strode toward the elevator reserved for the CEO. The new receptionist on the side curiously asked, ¡°Who is this person? Why is she dressed so strangely? All the long-time employees at Smith Corporation knew that their CEO once had a gulfriend in high school For unknown reasons, she wanted to break up with him No one knew what happened, but they both ended up in a car ident on the highway Jasper nearly 21 lost his life in that ident. Fortunately, the Smith family managed to keep this matter under wraps, so not many people outside knew about it. However, for some unknown reason, this woman mysteriously disappearedter on. ¡°Thisdy used to date Mr. Smith quite publicly in the past. Not only did everyone in thepany know about her existence, but even the Smith family¡­ Even if they didn¡¯t like her, they didn¡¯t dare to do anything to her because she was under the CEO¡¯s protection. After all these years, she has actually returned!¡± The one-hour meeting had just concluded. Fabian held a magazine in his hand as he walked out. ¡°A hundred thousand copies have been sold, but Ms. Eileen probably doesn¡¯t know about this yet. Should we ask the other forpensation?¡± On the cover, a man and a woman were walking hand in hand on the beach. The man¡¯s silhouette from the back was visible, while only the woman¡¯s side profile could be seen. The backdrop of the blue sky and the vast sea made for a very evocative scene. The woman looked at the man beside her with an affectionate and longing gaze. Anyone who saw it would mistakenly believe that she was deeply in love with the man by her side. However, these two individuals were none other than Jasper and Eileen. They were photographed surreptitiously while taking a stroll in Seatown and ended up on the cover of a magazine. That magazinepany specialized in featuring couples on their covers. It was not very well-known, and its past issues had average sales. However, the moment thetest issue hit the stands, it unexpectedly started to fly off the shelves. A hundred thousand copies of the magazine were all sold out. By the time Fabian found out about it, the magazinepany was in the process of printing more. However, just half an hour ago, it was halted by an order from Smith Corporation, as they had already infringed upon someone¡¯s personal portrait rights. The picture was taken without the individuals in question being aware, after all Jasper nced at the cover, a smile spreading across his face. ¡°This is a great picture Lets pretend we are unaware of the situation¡± Fabiati was taken aback Pretend we don¡¯t know? What does he mean? Jasper gave Fabian a sidelong nce, his eyes shimmering. When Fabian had a sudden. realization, his face brightened. ¡°I understand now,¡± he said. ¡°I will immediately instruct the legal department to withdraw thewyer¡¯s letter.¡± Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. Pretending not to know implies that Mr. Smith approves of their actions. Is Mr. Smith deliberately ignoring the matter and allowing the magazine to continue selling just to reveal his rtionship with Ms. Eileen? The magazinepany is going to benefit greatly from this. Mr. Smith rarely makes public appearances. Even at banquets, he seldom shows up. Soon, they arrived at the entrance of the CEO¡¯s office. When Jasper noticed that the door was slightly open, his gaze intensified as he came to a halt. ¡°Do I have another appointment today?¡± Upon hearing the noise from inside, Fabian replied, ¡°No, you don¡¯t.¡± Fabian stepped forward and pushed the door open, only to find Nancy sitting in the CEO¡¯s chair. Fabian¡¯s expression suddenly changed. She actually had the audacity toe back! 11 Chapter 208 Chapter 208 Chapter 208 The Bet Agreed Upon Three Years Ago Upon seeing Jasper outside the door, Nancy gently ced the photo in her hand down and stood up with a smile. ¡°Long time no see, Richie!¡± Jasper¡¯s demeanor suddenly turned icy cold. He stepped forward. ¡°Who allowed you to return? Didn¡¯t I make myself clear? You are not to appear before me ever again.¡± Nancy smiled softly, rising from her chair. Her fingers traced the edge of the table as she walked over to him. ¡°But weren¡¯t you the one who wanted to see me first? Don¡¯t forget, during the New Year, you stayed with me all night, Richie.¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough. You have no business here. Fabian, get security to escort Ms. Mulligan out. From now on, she is not allowed to set foot in the office again. Also, fire the receptionist who let her in.¡± Fabian replied. ¡°Yes, Mr. Smith.¡± Jasper, not wanting to see her, turned around and walked straight out of the office. Nancy called out from behind him. ¡°Richie, don¡¯t you want to know why I left in the first ce?¡± Fabian nced at the CEO, his lips pursed. At the same time, he caught the inscrutable look in Nancy¡¯s eyes. As Fabian looked at her, it seemed as if something had shattered in the depths of his eyes. Jasper didn¡¯t stop in his tracks. As she watched his fading figure, a sharp pain pierced through Nancy¡¯s heart. ¡°Richie, I¡¯m telling you, you¡¯re destined to never escape me in this lifetime!¡± Fabian approached her. ¡°Ms. Mulligan, why are you doing this? Mr. Smith is doing very well now. It¡¯s better not to disturb him anymore. The money he has given you is enough for you to livefortably for the rest of your life.¡± Nancy put her sses back on, giving him a cold nce. ¡°Fabian, you yed a significant role in my separation from Richie. What right do you have now to lecture me?¡± ¡°But didn¡¯t you leave Mr. Smith for another man? You know very well how Mr. Smith treated you in the past Things are different now. As for the person in the photo, M Mulligan, you¡¯d better not have any intentions towards her. Mr. Smith is not as forgiving as he used to be and you will never be better than her¡± Fabian had spoken the truth Once, Jasper had cherished her wholeheartedly, but she didn¡¯t appreciate it. Trying to turn back time now was nothing but a futile effort. As for Nancy, she was surprised to be chased out in such a disgraceful manner. She initially thought that the rumors she heard were all false. She refused to believe that Jasper would bring a girl back to the Smith residence to live with. him because he was once deeply in love with her. Every hour of the day, he would keep her by his side, not letting her out of his sight even for a moment. She enjoyed smoking and drinking and was often found frequenting smoky, dimly lit bars. Jasper wanted to help her break her bad habits, but no matter what he did, Nancy always insisted on doing things her own way, refusing to listen to him. In the end, he said he was willing to live in debauchery together with her. Content held by N?velDrama.Org. He would smoke and drink with her, get the same tattoo as she did, and experience the life. she lived. No matter what she did, Jasper would always be there, cherishing her with unwavering affection. She even felt that if she really had to leave one day, he would obediently wait for her return. So why didn¡¯t he keep his promise? Feeling lonely in a foreignnd, Nancy received a series of photos from a private investigator, photos that showed Jasper being intimate with another woman. She couldn¡¯t wait to return home. She just wanted to know if all of this was true. However, upon seeing the girl in the photo on his desk. Nancy realized that her worst fears hade true. Looking at the towering skyscraper of Smith Corporation, Nancy forcefully suppressed the bitterness in her heart. Reluctantly leaving, she walked on, her sudden tears ruining her makeup. She didn¡¯t know how long she had been walking when she crouched down and began to cry unrestrainedly Passersby gave her strange looks, all keeping their distance In just a few minutes, a ck sedan came to a halt in front of Nancy. A bodyguard dressed in a ck suit stepped out of the car. ¡°Ms. Mulligan, Old Mrs. Smith has heard of your return and wishes to see you. Please, get in the car.¡± Havingposed herself, Nancy took the passenger seat. She pulled out some tissues from the car, wiping off the smeared makeup on her face before reapplying it. ¡°After all these years, why isn¡¯t the old hag dead yet?¡± The driver snapped, ¡°Ms. Mulligan, please watch your words!¡± Nancy quickly regained herposure, as if she hadn¡¯t been crying in distress just at moment ago. She sneered, ¡°That¡¯s what I used to call her. Even Mr. Jasper didn¡¯t dare to reprimand me. Who do you think you are to lecture me?¡± The driver didn¡¯t reply. An hour and a halfter, Nancy arrived at the Smith residence. With a familiar case, she walked ahead. Seeing her pass by, the servant called out to her, ¡°Ms. Mulligan, Old Mrs. Smith is waiting for you over here.¡± With her chin held high in pride, Nancy followed the servant to the front of Jasper¡¯s mansion. An elderly gray-haireddy, dressed in simple attire, was sitting at the stone bench in the courtyard, enjoying some butternut squash oatmeal. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time. Old Mrs. Smith, I didn¡¯t expect you to still be alive!¡± La didn¡¯t mind. Instead, she continued to sip her butternut squash oatmeal. With a chuckle, she said to her servant standing by, ¡°Eileen¡¯s cooking skills are far superior to yours.¡± Martha, who had been taking care of La for many years, chimed in. ¡°Indeed! The texture is soft, it melts in your mouth, and the sweetness is just right. Ms. Eileen¡¯s culinary skills are almost as good as the chefs at home. I¡¯m impressed.¡± Nancy didn¡¯t know what tricks La was up to and waited until thetter finished her oatmeal La rose from her seat motioning for the servants to temporarily leave her side before turning her attention to Nancy After a moment, she shook her head her eyes expressing disapproval towards Nancy After all these years, you haven¡¯t changed at all You couldn¡¯t wait toe back and see who Richie is now could you Have you seen hum Nancy red at La. ¡°Was all of this nned in advance?¡± La leaned on her cane and gave Nancy a casual look. ¡°I made it clear years ago that I wouldn¡¯t interfere. When I make a promise, I keep it.¡± ¡°Impossible! If it weren¡¯t for your meddling, how could he have fallen for someone else? You¡¯re the one who arranged for that woman to be by his side!¡± When the bodyguard noticed Nancy bing emotional, he took a step forward, but La raised her hand to stop him. ¡°If you must me someone, me yourself for not. appreciating what you had. Richie was with you for so many years. Do you know how many family rules he broke for you? He even stopped attending school to race cars with you, which resulted in him being partially paralyzed from an ident. We almost couldn¡¯t save him. Every time, he was on the verge of death. How could you¡­ forget?¡± Nancy was left speechless. La chuckled. ¡°Indeed, you simply don¡¯t care. All you enjoy is the power that being with Jasper gives you. Whenever you get into trouble, isn¡¯t it always Richie who resolves it for you? Back then, he was young and naive. Seduced by your maniptions, he ended up doing some unimaginable things. Now that you¡¯ve returned early, the bet we agreed upon three. years ago¡­ Chapter 209 Chapter 209 Chapter 209 Inherit The Family Business After Graduation ¡°You¡¯ve already lost. After all these years, we, the Smith family, have been more than forgiving enough toward you, an outsider.¡± La scrutinized Nancy from head to toe. ¡°You remain unchanged as always. Our conversation ends here. Martha, see the guest out.¡± Her tone was firm and resolute, her eyes. revealing an unmistakable indifference and disdain. La indeed had every reason to despise Nancy. If it weren¡¯t for her, Jasper wouldn¡¯t have suffered so much and made so many wrong decisions while still in school. Martha replied, ¡°Yes, Old Mrs. Smith.¡± ¡°Ms. Mulligan, this way please.¡± Nancy roared in indignation, ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid I¡¯ll tell him everything? If it wasn¡¯t for you, Jasper and I wouldn¡¯t be where we are today.¡± La sneered, ¡°Five years ago, you couldn¡¯t gain my approval. Now, nothing has changed. I won¡¯t allow you to continue hurting my grandson.¡± Kicked out from the Smith residence, the once arrogant Nancy now resembled a gambler who had lost everything as she left in a state of utter defeat. I can¡¯t believe it! I just can¡¯t. After all these years, how could he move on just like that? Nancy repeatedly dialed Jasper¡¯s number, but all she got was an unavable tone. Her eyes suddenly turned vicious, and without hesitation, she sent a message to an unknown. number. Nancy: I agree to cooperate with you, as long as you don¡¯t harm him. After sending that message, Nancy was about to leave when suddenly everything before her eyes turned dark. She looked up, only to find the sky a uniform shade of grey. In her determination to return, Nancy had been going without rest for several days. Her head felt heavy, and she eventually passed out from exhaustion. It was almost time for school to end when Eileen finally understood why so many people were looking at her in a strange way. When Natalie snatched a magazine from the convenience store, it was only then that Eileen saw the people on the cover It was none other than a picture of her and Jasper taking a walk in Seatowni How did I end up on the cover of a magazine that¡¯s being sold everywhere? At that moment, almost every girl in the entire school had a copy. Most people were looking at Eileen with eyes full of envy. Thest ss of the day was a ss meeting. Usually, when there was no teacher, everyone would use it for self-study. However, the rarely-seen homeroom teacher, Jennifer, suddenly pushed the door open and walked into the ssroom. Apanying her was a middle-aged, overweight man wearing a baseball cap, also holding a magazine in his hand. ¡°Everyone, please put aside what you¡¯re doing for a moment. Let me introduce you to the director of the famous suspense drama ¡®One Step to the Sky. Mr. Haway is here at our school today to scout for actors. If any of you are interested in trying out, you can sign up. Who knows, you might even be a star in the entertainment industry. It¡¯s certainly a great opportunity.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you check out other sses instead, Mr. Haway? The students in our ss, firstly, are not short of money, and secondly, if any of us wanted to act, starting an entertainmentpany would be a piece of cake with our wealth. Here, we¡¯re only focused on studying. All of us are waiting to graduate and take over our family businesses!¡± From the tone of the speech and the sound of the voice, it was clear that it was Jason speaking. No one in ss responded at all. ¡°Boring, not interested.¡± ¡°If I ever dared to show my face in the entertainment industry, my dad would kill me if he found out.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t actors and singers just the equivalent of burlesque performers and songstresses in pleasure establishments in olden days?¡± Jennifer raised an eyebrow, looking at the director beside her. Wace Haway bowed obsequiously as heughed. ¡°Yes, yes, yes, all of you are scions of wealthy families. I¡¯m just here to see if you¡¯re interested. There¡¯s no pressure, no pressure at all Right then, Wace quickly spotted Eileen sitting by the window. His eyes lit up. ¡°Ms Eileen Eileen put down her pen and looked up with a puzzled tace D-Do you know me The director approached like a sycophant. ¡°How could I not know you? To be honest, this new film of mine is actually funded by Mr. Smith. If you¡¯re interested, I can make you the lead actress. If there¡¯s any part of the script that doesn¡¯t suit you, we can make changes overnight.¡± Eileen looked at him apologetically. ¡°I¡¯m sorry! I don¡¯t like acting. Perhaps you should find someone else! I have a few math problems here that I don¡¯t know how to solve, so I need to go to Mr. Gardner¡¯s office to ask him about them.¡± Wace was all smiles as he said, ¡°Alright, alright. Here¡¯s my business card. Ms. Eileen, if you ever want to act, feel free to contact me anytime. I have all sorts of scripts here. As long as you¡¯re in, you can pick any male lead in the entertainment industry.¡± Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. Eileen gave a faint smile as she looked at the business card being handed to her. She felt it would be impolite to refuse, so she took it. She then grabbed her workbook and promptly left the ssroom. Previously, many in school knew that she was with Jasper, but knowledge of it was confined. within the school. Now, because of the magazine, many others have approached the school. Once one person knew, it was certain that others would follow in quick session. Recently, she had noticed it too. On the way to school, when Jasper was dropping her off, there were people lurking around wearing masks, cameras in their hands. Eileen knew for sure that these people were paparazzi. She seldom cared about gossip and didn¡¯t want to be a part of it either. She didn¡¯t want anyone to disturb her life, nor did she ever consider gaining any financial benefits from Jasper. She was quite content andfortable with her current situation. Eileen went straight to the Olympiad Math ss¡¯sboratory building. Right next to it was the dance studio, filled with rhythmic music. It seemed like someone was practicing in there. Eileen could feel the vibration of the windows even from next door. A group of boys and girls strolled down the hallway. From the window, someone noticed her inside the ssroom. Charlie recognized her. ¡°Isn¡¯t that Eileen? Why is she alone here? She¡¯s known for being a top student, able to study peacefully no matter how noisy it gets.¡± Ever since Calliope joined Elm in ss Six, the two had been inseparable. She was wearing a stylish crop top, as she had joined a dancepetition and formed a team with a few close friends. They practiced in the adjacent room. The school uniform she wore was clearly too big for her, as it belonged to Elm. Just then, Benjamin happened to arrive as well. He greeted them along with Jason 34 They were a group of high-achieving students, facing a group of underperformers. Without even ncing, Benjamin pushed the door open and walked straight into the ssroom. Upon seeing Eileen¡¯s surprised expression, Jason eximed, ¡°I knew it, you¡¯re here, Segunda!¡± Eileen didn¡¯t expect them to arrive so early. She raised her head and asked, ¡°Why are you here so early?¡± Jason turned to the silent Benjamin sitting beside him and said, ¡°The ssroom was too noisy, so we came here. But I didn¡¯t expect it to be just as noisy here.¡± Eileen noticed a few people outside the ss window, and Charlie even waved to greet her. Chapter 210 Chapter 210 Chapter 210 Are Your Feelings For Him True Eileen nodded in response. ¡°By the way, Eileen, there¡¯s a problem here I can¡¯t solve. Can you help me?¡± Eileen looked puzzled, ¡°Why are you calling me ¡®Eileen?¡± Jason spread the book out directly in front of her. ¡°Benny is the top student in the whole grade, while you¡¯re second. That¡¯s why.¡± Is that so? Eileen took a look but shook her head instead. ¡°I don¡¯t know how to solve this either. You could ask the top student in our grade.¡± Jason, with a pitiful expression, said, ¡°He refuses to teach me at all.¡± ¡°But¡­ I don¡¯t know how to do it either! Benjamin, have you solved this problem? Could you perhaps teach us?¡± Benjamin pulled out a simr workbook from his bag. ¡°Go ahead and look at it. If you don¡¯t. understand, feel free to ask.¡± Eileen nced at Benjamin, then at the workbook in front of her. After she opened it and flipped through the pages, her surprise was evident. ¡°You¡­ you¡¯ve finished all of these? When did you finish? How did you do it so quickly?¡± Jason gritted his teeth and replied, ¡°He finished it in less than a week.¡± Could he be a prodigy? Someone who¡¯s naturally gifted? In order to improve her grades, Eileen spent most of her days studying until midnight. Before she went to sleep, she made it a point to memorize a few Uprian words. ¡°He doesn¡¯t need extra sses?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not necessary at all. He has been exceptional since junior high. I shared a desk with him for three years, and he¡¯d sleep through every ss. But when it came to tests, he¡¯d scribble something down and still end up at the top of the grade.¡± ¡°That¡¯s really impressive!¡± ¡°What are you all chatting about? It seems quite lively May I join in your conversation Vera walked into the ssroom, book in hand. The once lively atmosphere, for some unknown reason, suddenly turned cold. Eileen responded, ¡°Nothing much, just discussing a math problem. Vera, howe you¡¯re here too?¡± Vera sat down next to Eileen and said, ¡°Mr. Haway will be temporarily using our ssroom to film some scenes, so I took the liberty of bringing your backpack over. Take a look and see if anything¡¯s missing.¡± Eileen took it. ¡°Thank you.¡± Usually, Eileen would be thest one to leave at the end of ss, and it was already half past nine. For some reason, she was exceptionally tired that day. All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Eileen contacted the driver, telling him not to pick her up today. She also sent a message to Jasper. When he didn¡¯t reply after a while, she didn¡¯t think too much of it. I¡¯ll just wait until he sees the message. The driver, though puzzled, didn¡¯t say anything. It would take an hour to get back now, and he was indeed a bit tired that day. Taking into consideration how long the car ride home would be, Eileen decided to spend the night in the small room she had rented. She retrieved the key from under the flower pot and noticed that the living room lights were on when she opened the door. There was a man and a woman on the couch. They were Elm and Calliope. Their positions, one above the other with Elm bare-chested, left no doubt as to what they were doing. Upon seeing Eileen enter, Elm abruptly pushed Calliope away and hastily grabbed the clothes beside him to put them on. The displeased Calliope frowned at Eileen. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Eileen pursed her lips, pausing for a moment before saying, ¡°Elm, this is my rental house!¡± Her voice sounded calm, but it was clear that she was already angry. A flicker of panic shed across Elm¡¯s eyes as he attempted to exin. On her way back, Faleen was feeling a bit of a headache, unsure if it was due to a cold Thus, she didn¡¯t want to argue with them at all. She looked at him, her spirit visibly worn. Eileen didn¡¯t know what to say to him. In the end, she said faintly, ¡°Pack your things¡­ and don¡¯te back again.¡± Eileen returned to her room. It was rtively clean, devoid of dust, as if someone had tidied. it up. Without giving it much thought, she locked her room door, dropped her backpack, and went straight to bed without even taking off her clothes. After that, she pulled the nket over herself. It seemed like there was a quarrel outside, but Eileen¡¯s headache made her not want to get involved. She tried hard not to overthink as she could feel her head splitting with pain, and after an indeterminate amount of time, she drifted into a deep sleep. At one o¡¯clock in the morning, the screeching of the brakes shattered the silence of the night. Jasper stepped out of the car, and to his surprise, the living room lights were still on at that hour! When he walked wearily into the foyer, the servant asked in confusion, ¡°Mr. Jasper, isn¡¯t Ms. Eileen with you?¡± Jasper furrowed his brows. ¡°Eileen hasn¡¯t returned?¡± Suddenly, he had a bad feeling in his heart. The servant spoke timidly. ¡°No, Ms. Eileen called the driver and said she won¡¯t being back today. She mentioned she¡¯ll be staying out. I¡­ I thought, Ms. Eileen was with you.¡± Jasper had just gotten back from the hospital. He nced at his phone. There were no calls or unread messages disyed. He called her again and again, only to be met with the same message-The mobile phone is switched off.¡± A chilling aura gradually emanated from him. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you ask clearly? If she encounters danger outside, I¡¯ll fire all of you! What are you standing there for? Why haven¡¯t you sent someone to search yet?¡± ¡°Yes.. Mr. Jasper. The servant had never seen Jasper so angry before. After the servant left, Jasper¡¯s body swayed unsteadily, as if his leg ailment had red up again. He made his way to the couch and sat down, his hand supporting his forehead. He was filled with fear and unparalleled terror I should have ignored her if Fileen finds out about it. I don¡¯t know what I should du ¤¤ The bodyguards searched everywhere, from the hotels near the school to various nightlife. but there was no trace of Eileen to be found. spots, Finally, it was nearly four in the morning. Fabian poured a cup of steaming water and ced it in front of Jasper. ¡°We haven¡¯t been able to reach the Swan residence by phone yet, but we¡¯ve already sent someone over to inquire. Rest assured, Mr. Smith, we will have news soon.¡± No sooner had Fabian spoken than he received a message from his bodyguard. For a moment, he didn¡¯t know how to break the news to Jasper. Jasper asked, ¡°Have you received any news?¡± Fabian replied slowly, ¡°I¡¯ve asked the bodyguards at both Unde Mansion and Euphoria Condominium¡­ Ms. Eileen hasn¡¯t returned to either ce.¡± If Ms. Eileen didn¡¯t go home, then where could she be? Upon hearing the news, Jasper felt a pang of guilt. ¡°Should I have ignored her? If I had¡­ Eileen wouldn¡¯t have left and note back! Has she seen Eileen since she returned?¡± The uncertain Fabian shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t think so. I believe Ms. Eileen is not the type to act irrationally. Besides¡­ she¡¯s already aware of the situation.¡± Jasper was suddenly taken aback. ¡°When¡­ when did she find out?¡± Fabian began to exin. ¡°When you were still in the hospital, Richard and Ms. Eileen were also there. Richard didn¡¯t say much, and there were many things Ms. Eileen was unaware of. If she did know, she would definitely understand your actions. To be honest, if you truly wanted to be with Ms. Eileen, you shouldn¡¯t have gone to the hospital today.¡± Jasper¡¯s eyes, as dark as the night, lowered as he lost himself in thought. Jasper would prefer her to be irrational. That way, he would feel that she cared about him. Sometimes, Jasper also had his doubts. Are Eileen¡¯s feelings for me truly genuine? Chapter 211 Chapter 211 Chapter 211 Everyone Doesn¡¯t Have To Come Eileen remained oblivious to the fact that Jasper had nearly driven himself insane searching. for her, turning the entire Hulbury upside down in the process. The first rays of dawn streamed through the window, casting light on the quiet, dpidated buildings lining the street below. Vendors had already begun setting up their shops, and the enticing aroma of food wafted over from nearby. Suddenly, several luxurious and expensive cars disrupted the peaceful atmosphere. One by one, the ck sedans came to a stop in front of the apartment building. Richard said, ¡°Ms. Eileen used to stay here for a while when she left home before. I believe she should be here.¡± Jasper hadn¡¯t slept a wink all night. He couldn¡¯t wait to get out of the car. As he looked at the extremely run-down housing environment around him, his brows furrowed deeply. How could she live in a ce like this? The stairs on the tform were constantly shedding dust, giving the impression that the entire building trembled with the slightest step. This dwelling could already be considered a hazardous building, yet people were still living in it. Emerging from the bathroom, Eileen dried her hair and casually removed the soiled sofa cover from the previous night. She tossed it into the basin to be cleaned. It must have been the cold from yesterday that caused the splitting headache. Despite the incident that urredst night, Eileen didn¡¯t pay much attention to it and quickly fell back asleep. She woke up that morning with a stuffy nose. Ever since the surgery, Eileen felt that her physical condition wasn¡¯t as good as before. Just then, she heard a loud, persistent knocking at the door. Eileen didn¡¯t know who it was, so she walked over and opened it Before Eileen could reart to the person at the door, she was suddenly tightly embraced Laleen patted his shoulder Jasper, you¡¯re hurting me! Why are you here?¡± When Jasper saw her he felt as if he had regained something precious that he had lost Tim sorry¡± Eileen was a bit puzzled by his words. Looking at the others who had arrived at the same time, namely Fabian and Richard, she thought to herself, Does everyone really need toe here? After a long while, Jasper finally let her go. Eileen fetched a new set of sofa covers, and everyone took a seat on the sofa. She poured a cup of freshly boiled water for Jasper and ced it on the coffee table in front of him. Then, she sat down across from him and said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry for making you all worry. I left schoolte yesterday, and it was a bit troublesome to go home. So, I thought I¡¯d stay here for the night. Jasper, didn¡¯t you receive the message I sent you?¡± Jasper¡¯s eyebrows furrowed slightly. He wasn¡¯t in the habit of checking his messages. Ever since they got together, Jasper¡¯s messages and calls had been frequent. However, he indeed hadn¡¯t received aAll content is ? N0velDrama.Org. single message from her the night before. Lost in thought, Jasper pinched the bridge of his nose. He was at a loss for words, his tone. betraying his confusion. Fabian suddenly interjected, ¡°Mr. Smith¡¯s phone fellst night, so he might have missed some messages, including yours, Ms. Eileen. However, when he tried to call you back, your phone was switched off.¡± Eileen clutched her nightgown tightly, lowering her head. She had always been someone who didn¡¯t want to cause trouble for others. Seeing Jasper¡¯s bloodshot eyes, she felt a pang of guilt in her heart. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry! I didn¡¯t mean to worry you, I¡­ I really am sorry for keeping you up all night. I¡¯m okay now. You should hurry back and get some rest.¡± At that moment, Eileen¡¯s phone, which was ced on the table, began to ring. The name shing on the screen was Will. Eileen quickly grabbed her phone. ¡°I¡¯m going to the balcony to take the call. Jasper watched as she stood up and walked away. He was a possessive man. What he wanted from her was not just her true feelings, but every part of her. When it came to the phone call, he even wished for her to answer it in front of him. He wanted to know every thing about her After finishing her phone call, Eileen returned to find that Fabian and Richard had already left Now it was just the two of them in the cramped room Noticing that herplexion wasn¡¯t quite right. Jasper asked Is something wrong¡± 21 Eileen vaguely replied, ¡°It¡¯s nothing much. My father was asking aboutst night¡¯s events. It¡¯s all settled now.¡± In fact, she had received an earful from Will. Anyone who had been scolded wouldn¡¯t have a pleasant expression. Eileen suggested, ¡°Hey, I¡¯ve made some oatmeal. Would you like to have some with me? There¡¯s still plenty of time. After eating, you can go back to sleep.¡± Jasper looked deeply into her eyes. ¡°Alright.¡± After breakfast, she led him to her room. She had tidied it up neatly, and therge doll on the bed was quite eye-catching. Eileen had prepared a quilt for him. ¡°This ce isn¡¯t asfortable as your home, so please bear with it.¡± Jasper asked, ¡°While I¡¯m sleeping, what are you going to do?¡± Eileen replied, ¡°There are still two hours left. I¡¯ve already woken up. I¡¯ll tidy up and go outside to do my homework, so I won¡¯t disturb you.¡± Jasper grabbed her hand. ¡°Stay with me for a while.¡± Their eyes met, and although Eileen initially wanted to refuse, the thought that he had been searching for her all night caused her to give in and agree. The two of them slept fully clothed, with Eileen¡¯s back facing him. He then spooned his warm body against hers. She remained motionless, like a soft human-shaped doll. Only after turning off the rm for the third time did Eileen carefully get up. Seeing that he was still sound asleep, she quietly put on her shoes and prepared to leave. Suddenly, a phone on the desk started to vibrate. But it wasn¡¯t hers. It was Jasper¡¯s. The name shing on the iing call was Nancy. This name sounded familiar, but Eileen couldn¡¯t recall where she had heard it before. She initially wanted to turn off the phone to prevent it from disturbing his sleep. But after some thought, she decided against it and took his phone outside. She hurriedly walked out and upon reaching the entrance, she spotted Fabuan sitting on the couch. Noticing ideen¡¯s emergence, Fabian stood up ¡°Ms Fileen His eyes thennded on the mobile phone she was clutching Eileen nodded, gesturing towards the closed door. She spoke softly, ¡°He¡¯s still asleep. Someone called just now. I took the call outside to avoid disturbing him. Could you check if it¡¯s an important call?¡± Fabian took the phone. ¡°Actually, you could have answered it.¡± Eileen didn¡¯t say much. She nced at the time and said, ¡°I¡¯m heading to ss now.¡± Fabian offered, ¡°Let me apany you!¡± ¡°No need. I¡¯ll be there in a few minutes on foot. You stay here and take care of him. You didn¡¯t get much restst night, so you can lie down here for a while. I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll have to make do with the couch though.¡± Fabian nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it.¡± As Eileen departed, Fabian looked at the iing call again, his brows deeply furrowed. This woman has truly sunk to the lowest of lows. Even after deleting the message Ms. Eileen sent to Mr. Smith, she can still call him as if nothing happened. Chapter 212 Chapter 212 Chapter 212 Jasper Is The Best Upon returning to campus, Eileen was greeted by her ssmates, including Natalie, who was curious about the events of the previous night. Eileen hadn¡¯t expected her absence for just one night to cause such a stir, with everyone knowing about it. Not only Natalie, but also a group of unfamiliar people were insincerely showing concern for her. With the Olympiad Math approaching, Eileen didn¡¯t want to overthink things. She simply wanted to focus on doing her own thing well. Serene Hospital. Nancy was eating fruit and making repeated phone calls. She knew Jasper was like this, saying one thing but meaning another. On the surface, he seemed indifferent to her, but she knew she still held a ce in his heart. That girl, I can¡¯t really remember her name, is just a tool to provoke me. If not, he wouldn¡¯t have stayed out sotest night. If the first time doesn¡¯t count, what about the second time? Is it really so difficult for him to admit that he still has feelings for me? If Richie agrees to marry me, then I haven¡¯t lost that three-year bet. After all, our past is deeply etched in our hearts. How could he possibly forget it so easily? Jasper woke up, realizing it was already half past three in the afternoon. ncing at the time, he stepped outside and was immediately greeted by the enticing aroma of food. Fabian greeted, ¡°Mr. Smith.¡± Jasper looked at the dishes on the table. Fabian said, ¡°Ms. Eileen prepared all of these for you. She came by at noon, but seeing you were still sound asleep, she didn¡¯t disturb you. She cooked some dishes and then left Mr Smith, this is your phone. Ms. Nancy Mulligan called you this morning I didn¡¯t answer, but Fabian paused, pressing his lips together ¡°Ms. Eileen saw it, and only then did I take it out of the room I didn¡¯t want to disturb your rest Jasper had already changeds old number, and he hadn¡¯t saved Nancy He didn¡¯t know how Nancy managed to find out his new number and even deleted the messages that Eileen had sent him. Jasper¡¯s eyes darkened a shade. A flicker of panic shed quickly in his gaze but was swiftly suppressed. ¡°Did she say anything?¡± Fabian shook his head. ¡°No.¡± Jasper felt an indescribable sense of dejection in his heart. Fabian, unaware of what his employer was thinking, had already taken out a te and cutlery and ced them on the table. ¡°Mr. Smith, please have your meal.¡± Jasper sat down, his mind somewhat clouded by a headache. ¡°Fabian, do you think Eileen is with me because she likes me, or is it simply because she doesn¡¯t want to lose the protection 1 offer? Shouldn¡¯t Eileen be angry by rights? Why does she seem to not care at all?¡± This question was indeed a bit challenging for him. After all, he had never been in love. There was a time during his university days when he had a brief rtionship. But it seemed that the girl broke up with him because she found him too stoic and boring. After graduation, he joined Smith Corporation as an intern and worked his way up to the position of the CEO¡¯s assistant. He was on call round the clock, leaving him with little time for personal affairs, let alone dating. ¡°I don¡¯t quite understand this. I believe you can rify this matter with Ms. Eileen. As they say, true lovers have no secrets between them. You can find an appropriate time to tell Ms. Eileen everything to prevent her from overthinking. Otherwise, the distance between you and her will only grow wider!¡± What he said made sense. Jasper took a deep breath, pinching the bridge of his nose. Perhaps it was all just his wild imagination. At this moment, Nancy called again, and the phone vibrated. Jasper nced at the phone, showing no hesitation as he hung up and cklisted the number. His voice was frosty as he said, ¡°From now on, there¡¯s no need to bother about her matters.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Smith.¡± Content held by N?velDrama.Org. That¡¯s right. Ms. Eileen is so much better than Nancy. Nancy made countless calls, only to confirm once again that Jasper had already blocked her number. However, she still stubbornly believed that if anything happened to her, Jasper would stille to her aid. 21 It seemed as if Nancy had thought of something. She called over a nurse and handed her a phone. ¡°Do as I say.¡± The nurse looked at the perplexed woman. After dialing a number, it was hung up in less than half a minute. ¡°That¡­ number doesn¡¯t exist.¡± ¡°Impossible!¡± Nancy stomped her foot in frustration. She had dialed the number herself, ensuring there were no mistakes before making the call. Yet, all she heard from the receiver. was one cold, impersonal message after another. ¡°The number you have dialed does not exist. Please check and dial again.¡± ¡°Damn it!¡± Nancy cursed. She quickly dialed another number stored in her phone, but it was a virtual number, and all she got was a disconnected tone. She forgot that he only reached out to her when he needed something. Nancy was so angry that she felt like smashing her phone. For some reason, all schools would dismiss before eight-thirty from now on. Even if there were evening self-study sessions, they would start an hour earlier. After the Olympiad Math ss, Eileen, Vera, and Natalie were walking together. The other sses had just finished their sessions as well. ¡°That must be Eileen up ahead! I¡¯m so envious. She gets to leave school early just like that.¡± ¡°Who could argue with that? Yesterday, Eileen disappeared somewhere, and Jasper spent the whole night looking for her. Themotion was so big that it scared me even at the karaoke bar. I thought they were there to arrest some suspect. Now, because of her, the entire school is dismissed an hour early. If I had a boyfriend in Hulbury who had such influence and could. sleep by my side every day, I¡¯d be willing to live ten years less.¡± ¡°Right now, the entire Hulbury is under the control of the Smith family. If Eileen really marries into the family in the future, I mean¡­ she can do whatever she wants!¡± A girl nearby tapped the two who were talking. ¡°Stop talking. She¡¯s looking this way.¡± Vera nced at Eileen, feeling an indescribable emotion welling up within her. She wasn¡¯t sure if it was jealousy. Eileen had always been inferior to her in everything. Her behavior was domineering, and she did whatever she pleased. Apart from her attractive face, her character was even more extreme. But now, she has changed, bing even better than before, more likable. The radiance she emits, even without doing anything, can attract everyone¡¯s attention. However, in high school, she has such an outstanding man who loves her She¡¯s naturally 31 superior to ordinary people, and now¡­ her status is still unattainable for others. Even Eric, who originally didn¡¯t like her, finds himself wavering. That night, the image of Eric kissing Eileen lingered in her mind, impossible to shake off. Having been with Eric for so long, she could see that he simply didn¡¯t like her. The things he forced Eileen to do made her seem promiscuous, an unchaste person. So much time has passed, and aside from that one drowning incident, Eric has neverid a hand on her¡­ No wonder, after Eileen started being with that person from the Smith family, she stopped having feelings for Eric. Because no matter who you ask, Jasper is always considered the best¡­ Chapter 213 Chapter 213 Chapter 213 Where Does Eileen Wish To Return People from the same school didn¡¯t pay much attention to Eileen being with Jasper at first. However, the situation has changed, and more people are now noticing her. Previously, Eileen was almost invisible at school. She knew that Jasper cared about her and wanted her toe home early. However, she didn¡¯t want this special treatment, nor did she need it. She didn¡¯t want the rules. to be changed just for her. Eileen simply wanted to live a simple life for the rest of her semester. As she stepped out of the campus, she saw the school gate, where cameras were constantly shing at her. Several reporters rushed up to her, holding microphones towards her. ¡°Ms. Eileen, when did you start dating the CEO of Smith Corporation?¡± ¡°The CEO of Smith Corporation never appears in public. When did you two meet?¡± ¡°Where were youst night? The CEO of Smith Corporation caused such a stir just to find. you!¡± Eileen had never faced such a situation before. The crowd was pressing in, and questions wereing at her one after another, leaving her feeling suffocated. Vera was pushed out of the crowd, leaving only Natalie standing in front of her. ¡°What are you doing? Stop crowding over here. Please move aside quickly.¡± A reporter responded, ¡°Please, do tell, Ms. Eileen.¡± ¡°Exactly!¡± ¡°Ladies and gentlemen!¡± A powerful voice rang out, silencing the mor. As people turned to look, they were struck by themanding presence of the man behind them. One by one, they quieted down, making way for him to pass. Eileen¡¯s face turned slightly pale. She had never experienced anything like this before. Neither Jasper nor Will had often faced various journalists¡¯ interviews. The person who arrived was Eric. Eileen stared at him as he approached. The moment she saw him, it felt as if time had separated them. The person from her past and the man he was now-their figures ovepped. A long-forgotten past suddenly resurfaced in her mind. She couldn¡¯t recall the exact date, in a certam year and a certain month, during their second year of marriage At that time in the eyes of the outside world, they were still considered a loving couple 11 Eric would asionally bring her to banquets, and everyone knew she was the real ¡°Mrs. Snow.¡± That was also the first time she found out that Eric had been keeping a woman on the side¡­ for three years, no less. She remembered the sky back then, just as it was now, equally dark. It was drizzling lightly. Eric, apanied by a popr young celebrity from the entertainment industry who bore at striking resemnce to Vera, was driving through the city streets. Unintentionally, a photo was taken and posted online, and in less than half an hour, it was trending. So she went to make a scene at Eric¡¯spany, where she saw that woman sitting on Eric¡¯sp. Eric¡¯s exnation to her was that she had fallen identally. But¡­ who would identally fall onto someone else¡¯s husband¡¯sp? Following that, she caused quite amotion in his office. Eric lost his patience with her and had security throw her out of thepany. This scene was witnessed by the swarm of reporters outside the door. Faced with their various questions, Eileen, like a madwoman, started to physicallysh out at them¡­ From that moment on, a permanent fissure formed in her marriage with Eric, one that could. never be mended. She proposed a divorce, and in response, Eric locked her in a gilded cage made of woven. golden threads¡­ And there he was, gallivanting around, surrounded by all sorts of women¡­ Eileen was lost in her past memories, unable to hear what Eric was saying to the reporter clearly. It wasn¡¯t until her wrist was seized by Eric that Eileen snapped back to reality. Then, she was shoved into the car, with Vera still sitting in the passenger seat. Those reporters were relentlessly snapping photos of the car Vera handed her a bottle of water, expressing her concern ¡°Eileen, I noticed you¡¯re looking rather pale. Are you okay?¡± O 21 are we¡­ going?¡± Vera also didn¡¯t know. She turned to the person next to her and asked, ¡°Yes, Eric, where are we going?¡± ¡°Where does Eileen wish to return?¡± Eric posed this question. The words seemed to hint at something. Eileen ced the water she was holding back at her side. The direction they were heading was back to the Swan residence. Eileen noticed, too, that Eric was looking at her through the rearview mirror. She averted her gaze, her voice faint as she spoke. ¡°Drop me off at the side of the road. He wille to pick me upter.¡± ¡°I¡¯m notfortable with you being out there alone. It¡¯s not even nine o¡¯clock yet. Head back to Unde Mansion first. We can discuss everything elseter.¡± The words he spoke left no room for Eileen to refuse. She didn¡¯t say anything more. Natalie sent her a text message to check on her, to which Eileen replied: ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m fine now.¡± All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Natalie texted: ¡°I¡¯m d you¡¯re okay.¡± Eileen informed Jasper about the situation. Once he finished dealing with thepany matters, he woulde to pick her 1. Natalie sent a message: ¡°By the way, your brother looked so handsome today! The things he said to the reporters and the way he took you away in front of so many people, you have no idea, all those reporters were intimidated by him.¡± Eileen furrowed her brows, replying: ¡°What did he say?¡± Natalie. ¡°You¡¯ll see what I mean when you check the news online tomorrow. I can¡¯t exin it well¡¯ She added an emoji of a finger poking in distress. Soon the tro arrived at Unde Mansion ¡°At this hour. Father should already be resting upstairs. Otherwise he must still be our and hastit returned home yet Eleen hoped not to seem Otherwise, a scolding was inevitable The three of them walked into the foyer, one after the other. Sharon was still in the kitchen. preparing late-night snacks. ¡°Vera, you¡¯re back. I made some sweet potato gnhi. You mentionedst time that you wanted to try some, so I made it. Come and have a taste.¡± ¡°Sharon, Eileen is back as well. Please serve her some too. Let me assist you.¡± ¡°Sure, sure, sure¡­¡± Upon hearing that Eileen had also returned, Sharon was overjoyed. ¡°I¡¯ll prepare another bowl right away.¡± Eileen held her schoolbag in her hand, standing motionless. She gave a faint smile and said, ¡°No need. I¡­ don¡¯t really enjoy sweet things. I¡­ will do some homework first.¡± With that, she took her schoolbag and sat down on the couch. Sharon asked, ¡°Should I make some ravioli? You used to adore them, didn¡¯t you?¡± I¡¯m not hungry!¡± ¡°Prepare two bowls. Let¡¯s eat before you leave.¡± Eric tossed his car keys on the coffee table and sat next to her. Eileen¡¯s grip tightened around the pen, but she remained silent. Eric is observant, so he should know that I¡¯m avoiding him. Why does he persist in getting closer? Eileen felt extremely uneasy under his gaze. Eric propped up his leg. ¡°I heard you¡¯re now second in the ss? After getting into Hulbury University, what are your ns? Studying abroad or continuing with your painting?¡± Eileen nonchntly replied, ¡°I¡¯m not sure. We¡¯ll see when the timees.¡± Vera approached with a bowl of gnhi. ¡°Eric, Sharon made too much. I can¡¯t finish it all. Can you help me out?¡± Chapter 214 Chapter 214 Chapter 214 We Have Guest Rooms ¡°The raviolis are ready,¡± Sharon announced as she walked out of the kitchen, carrying two bowls of ravioli and cing them in front of Eileen. ¡°I know you don¡¯t like parsley, so I made you a bowl with just meat,¡± she exined. Eileen looked at theyer of green floating in the bowl. ¡°I¡­ don¡¯t eat basil, Sharon.¡± Sharon was genuinely taken aback for a moment. Sheughed and pped her forehead. ¡°Look at my memory. How long has it been since youst came home? Ipletely forgot. Let me go and make you another bowl.¡± A slight sense of indescribable loss welled up in Eileen¡¯s heart. Sharon used to remember her preferences. ¡°No worries. I¡¯ll just pick them out.¡± Eileen pulled out a tissue, spread it on the table, and started to pick out the basil. Suddenly, the atmosphere became noticeably silent. Eileen closed her book and turned around, only to see Eric holding a spoon, picking out the basil for her. He said, ¡°Still as fussy as ever.¡± ¡°Actually, Eileen is just like Mrs. Swan. She also doesn¡¯t enjoy eating green onions.¡± Eileen didn¡¯t say anything and quietly ate her ravioli. But for some reason, they didn¡¯t taste as good as they used to. Having eaten half a bowl of sweet potato gnhi, Vera found it a bit too sweet for her liking, so she pushed it toward Eric. ¡°Eric, it¡¯s too sweet. Let me try yours. You can have mine. It¡¯s been a long time since the three of us ate together. I really miss those times! I used to give you all the leftovers that Eileen and I couldn¡¯t finish. You would always remind us not to waste food.¡± Sharon went to tidy up the kitchen, leaving just the three of them in the living room. Vera was enjoying Eric¡¯s bowl of ravioli, but he hadn¡¯t touched her sweet potato gnhi. Actually, Eric, like her, didn¡¯t really have a sweet tooth either. Eileen had eaten half of hers but found she couldn¡¯t finish the rest. She got up, ready to head to the kitchen. ¡°If you can¡¯t finish yours, you can pour them into my bowl.¡± Eileen¡¯s grip tightened on the bowl she was holding. 14 Vera also spoke up. ¡°Give it to me. I¡¯m not quite full yet.¡± Eileen lowered her gaze and spoke. ¡°I¡¯ve caught a cold. I don¡¯t want to pass it on to you.¡± After saying this, she walked toward the kitchen and poured the leftovers into the trash. After all, they were just pretending to be harmonious with one another. They didn¡¯t really need to bother about her. Eileen washed the dishes and put them in the cupboard. Sharon said, ¡°Once you¡¯re done eating, just leave the dishes. I¡¯ll wash them. You¡¯re ady. You shouldn¡¯t be doing such menial tasks.¡± Eileen¡¯s lips curled up into a faint smile. ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Do you live like this at the Smith residence as well? Eileen¡­ to be honest, you were raised by me since you were little. Other people¡¯s homes are not like your own. I¡¯m worried about you living outside. You should move back in! I haven¡¯t seen you for so many days, and you¡¯ve lost a lot of weight. It hurts me to see you like this.¡± Eileen looked thoughtfully at Sharon. She then turned her head, wiped her hands with a tissue, and said, ¡°He treats me very well. There¡¯s no need to worry.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve be much more sensible than before, and you¡¯re no longer clinging to me all the time.¡± ¡°Everyone grows up, and I won¡¯t always be the child who never grows up.¡± As soon as her words fell, Eileen saw a beam of light swiftly sweep across the wall. Recognizing the familiar vehicle, she knew he had arrived. Just then, the phone in her pocket rang. Eileen picked up the phone, a faint smile still lingering on her lips. ¡°Are you done? I¡¯m here to pick you up.¡± ¡°All right. I¡¯ll be right out.¡± Eileen picked up her backpack from the couch. ¡°I¡¯m leaving first.¡± Vera was bending over, wiping the table. Eric fixed his hawk-like gaze on her. ¡°Won¡¯t you stay? We have guest rooms here¡± She had no idea why he was suddenly looking at her with such an expression No. It¡¯s not convenient¡± Eileen left a remark and ran out. Eric¡¯s gaze followed her constantly. As he watched her eagerness to leave, his eyes darkened. Vera suddenly said, ¡°Eric, I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s just my imagination, but why do I always feel. that Eileen doesn¡¯t want to stay in her own home? It seems as if this ce is terrifying to her, but isn¡¯t this her home?¡± Jasper stood in front of the passenger seat, opening his arms to the approaching figure. Eileen stepped forward, wrapping her arms around his waist, feeling the chill that permeated his entire body. Noticing that he was wearing his usual gray suit today, covered by a ck overcoat, with clear droplets of water on his shoulders, she asked, ¡°Why are you wet?¡± Jasper bent his index finger, gently brushing it against her soft face, his gaze filled with affection. ¡°It started to rain a bit when I came to pick you up after work. Shall we head home?¡± Eileen nodded. ¡°Mmhm.¡± Today, Jasper was the one driving the car. As Eileen settled into the passenger seat, she couldn¡¯t shake off the feeling that someone else had been in her spot before. He seldom drove himself. Usually, it was Jasper who drove, and Eileen sat in the passenger seat. The last time she sat in the passenger seat, the position had clearly been adjusted backward. Jasper fastened her seatbelt. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing. The seat is a bit too far back. I¡¯ll adjust it.¡± Jasper¡¯s expression changed slightly. ¡°All right.¡± He pressed down on the elerator, then added, ¡°I¡¯m aware of what happened today. Rest assured. Such incidents won¡¯t ur again in the future.¡± Eileen¡¯s fingers scraped against the seatbelt. ¡°Jasper¡­ I¡¯m not ready for many people to know about our rtionship yet, and those magazines¡­¡± ¡°Why? Have those people been causing you trouble?¡± The man¡¯s grip on the steering wheel tightened. Eileen pursed her lips, her voice sounding somewhat discontented. She wasn¡¯t sure it she should continue speaking ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about those people. I¡¯ll have the bodyguards handle it in the future #11 11 Before he could finish, Eileen interrupted him, ¡°Jasper, this isn¡¯t about bodyguards. Our rtionship is something only we need to understand. There¡¯s no need to make it public. Due to the changes in school dismissal times, there¡¯s already enough gossip about me. I don¡¯t want to be their topic of conversation after dinner. There are only a few days left before my exam, and I don¡¯t want these issues to affect my studies. You know how important this exam is to me.¡± ¡°I understand,¡± he said, his words vague and insincere. Eileen wasn¡¯t oblivious to his unhappiness. It was precisely because she feared his reaction that she hesitated, unsure whether she should tell him about this matter or not. Because she relied on him, she didn¡¯t have the confidence to ask him for anything. Eileen wasn¡¯t like this, but she simply had no choice. Jasper also provided her with an escape, and Eileen silently took it. The conversation between the two didn¡¯t continue. This must be their first argument after being together for so long. People who knew she was with Jasper always assumed she must be incredibly happy. Little did they know, she was carrying a burden in her heart that left her feeling suffocated. By the time they arrived at the Smith residence, it was already nearly half past ten. The two of them walked into the living room, one after the other. Richard asked, ¡°Mr. Jasper, the soup is ready. Would you like a bowl now?¡± Jasper turned his head to look at Eileen. ¡°Would you like a drink?¡± Eileen felt agitated inside, but she couldn¡¯t express her emotions. She pursed her lips and said, ¡°All right.¡± Chapter 215 Chapter 215 Chapter 215 Cannot ept Being Betrayed Again Eileen enjoyed a bowl of chicken and tomato stew while Jasper sat patiently by her side. As for the matter discussed in the car, no one mentioned it again. Perhaps we should just leave it at that. Jasper asked, ¡°Does it taste good?¡± Eileen replied, ¡°It¡¯s okay¡­ I¡­ I¡¯ll go back to my room to do my homework. Rest early. Goodnight.¡± ¡°Goodnight.¡± Jasper watched her climb the stairs, holding a lighter in his hand, lost in thought. Richard sensed the tension between the two and cautiously asked, ¡°Did you have an argument with Ms. Eileen, Mr. Jasper?¡± Jasper crossed his left leg over his right and leaned back. ¡°Eileen wanted my help dealing with those reporters, but I didn¡¯t agree. Am I not good enough for her? Our rtionship is nothing to be ashamed of.¡± After considering it, Richard said, ¡°Ms. Eileen may not be ustomed to receiving so much attention. She tends to keep to herself and rarely interacts with others. Now¡­ the entertainment reporters have disturbed her, so it¡¯s understandable that she¡¯s anxious. If Ms. Eileen does marry into the Smith family one day, she¡¯ll have to get used to it sooner orter. It¡¯s not necessarily a bad thing for her to adapt to it.¡± Once she graduates, she¡¯s destined to be Mrs. Smith of Smith Corporation. In the future, she will encounter even more media reporters. If she can¡¯t handle it now, then in the future, she will only learn to back down. Richard seemed convinced by his own words and added, ¡°Today, Old Mrs. Smith came to the mansion looking for Ms. Eileen, saying she wanted to have some butternut squash oatmeal A faint smile appeared on Jasper¡¯s lips. ¡°I can¡¯t bear to let her cook She¡¯s meant to enjoy life.¡± After finishing her homework, Eileen memorized a few words and went to sleep. The following morning arrived Jasper buttoned his suit as he descended the stairs He didnt see anyone familiar at the dining table. He scanned the coure hall but couldn¡¯t find Eileen Wheir¡¯s deen he asked ¡°Ms. Eileen left for school quite early today. She said she wanted to familiarize herself with the examination venue.¡± In the past, Eileen would always take her seat first, waiting for him to join her for a meal. Afterwards, he would drop her off at school. Jasper noticed Eileen trying to avoid him, feeling annoyed. It seemed that she was avoiding him because of what happened yesterday. He didn¡¯t appreciate her acting this way. Early in the morning, just as the street vendors were setting up their stalls, Eileen had already arrived at school. She bought a serving of sticky buns and a cup of soy milk from a vendor across the street from Cloudburg Public School. She was just about to pay. ¡°We¡¯ll pay together.¡± This voice¡­ Eileen turned her head and looked at him. Why do I always see him at the school gate? Eric bought a few bagels and pretzels, putting the change into his wallet. ¡°Am I very handsome?¡± Eileen quickly turned her head. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± ¡°Are you confident with Olympiad Math?¡± Eric ignored her question. ¡°It has nothing to do with you.¡± Taking advantage of their height difference, Eric leaned down to her ear. His warm breath brushed against her, his voice deep and maic as he spoke. ¡°Once the exam is over¡­ I have a gift for you.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want it.¡± Eileen took a step back, creating distance between them, then turned and ran away. What good could he possibly give? On his way home, Eric drove past a shopping mall. He walked into a lingerie store, where a sales associate immediately approached him with enthusiasm. ¡°Sir, are you selecting lingerie wife? We have various styles here. You can take a look.¡± for your ¡°Is there anything else? These are all too conservative, not suitable for her.¡± 25 The sales associate quickly responded, ¡°Certainly, certainly. Please take a look at these.¡± Eric walked over to the section selling lingerie. The underwear there was nearly transparent, and some panties were nothing more than three simple strings. He picked up a thin, transparent piece of fabric, nced at it, and said, ¡°I¡¯ll take all of it in this size.¡± ¡°Okay, okay¡­ Sir, please wait a moment. I¡¯ll go prepare it for you right away.¡± All morning, Eileen felt uneasy, not knowing why, but she couldn¡¯t shake the feeling of impending doom. In the afternoon, Jacob distributed the examination admission numbers to everyone and took the opportunity to familiarize the students with the examination venue, as this test was of utmost importance. Eileen was seated at the very end, and Jason, who was in front of her, would asionallye over to chat with her. Just then, Eileen¡¯s phone vibrated. She received a photo sent from an unknown sender. Upon opening it, Eileen felt a chill run through her entire body, her hand trembling uncontrobly. It was an unknown phone number. The person in the photo was sleeping on a ke hotel bed, bare- chested, with a hand resting on his forehead. The time and date recorded on it. were not too far in the past. It was from just after the New Yearst. year. Suddenly, Jasper¡¯s words echoed in her mind. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to ask what I¡¯m going to do?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be back soon¡­ in about three days.¡± ¡°Eileen, what are you so engrossed in?¡± Jason¡¯s voice interrupted her thoughts. Eileen¡¯s phone slipped from her grasp, ttering onto the ground. She was in a state of panic, a suffocating sensation gripping her chest. She was terrified of it being seen by others. Luckily, the phone¡¯s battery had been knocked out, plunging the screen into darkness. Many eyes turned to look. It was rare to see Eileen in such a state of panic and contusion Upon catching Benjamin¡¯s gaze, Jason quickly rified, ¡°I didn¡¯t scare her.¡± Benjamin asked. ¡°Is her phone broken?¡± Eileen quickly regained herposure. ¡°It¡¯s not broken. It¡¯s okay.¡± In reality, the phone screen was shattered with a crack, and there were signs of fractures on the edges. Eileen took a long time to process this matter. Who is the other person exactly? Why would someone send me a picture like this? After inspecting the examination room, the exam would take ce the day after tomorrow. She didn¡¯t want this matter to have an impact on her. However, Eileen couldn¡¯t stop her mind from wandering. Because¡­ she didn¡¯t believe that Jasper would betray their feelings for each other. Shepletely turned off her phone. She didn¡¯t have the courage to open it again. Vera walked over, noticing that something was clearly wrong with Eileen¡¯s behavior. She seemed quite agitated. ¡°Eileen, are you feeling unwell?¡± she asked. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°But¡­ during these past few lessons, when the teacher called on you, you were always daydreaming and didn¡¯t respond.¡± There were too many eyes on her. Eileen¡¯s emotions seemed to be on the edge. She stood up, flicked her long hair, and said, ¡°I¡¯m really okay. Can¡­ Can you ask the teacher for permission for me to leave? I need to step out for a bit.¡± Eileen grabbed her backpack, didn¡¯t take any books, and left. Natalie, who was approaching, called out to her, ¡°Eileen!¡± Continuing to walk and ignoring the sounds behind her, Eileen began to run. She was truly in a state of chaos right now. Content held by N?velDrama.Org. Perhaps they wouldn¡¯t understand why a simple photograph could evoke such strong emotions in her. All her past sorrows, the evidence of Eric¡¯s unfaithfulness, all started from photos like these. She thought she had escaped from Eric, but she never imagined that the same thing would happen to her again. While she found it ironic, she also felt a deep sadness for herself. They¡¯ve deceived me! They¡¯ve all deceived me! Eric did. Jasper too, why? I thought he wouldn¡¯t. Eileen had been running for quite some time. She finally stopped in the school garden, panting heavily as she sat down on a long wooden bench. She didn¡¯t know what method to use to calm herself down. Regardless of whether it was Sarah¡¯s provocation or Eric¡¯s unfaithfulness, it was causing too much trauma for her. She simply couldn¡¯t ept being betrayed for the second time, even if they were not in a marital rtionship. Chapter 216 Chapter 216 Chapter 216 I Don¡¯t Need You In the midst of her thoughts, a phone call interrupted and scattered Eileen¡¯s concentration. The call came from an unfamiliar number, and Eileen didn¡¯t know who it was, but she had a hunch deep down. Initially, a string of unfamiliar numbers appeared on the screen, but somehow, those numbers transformed into the name ¡°Sarah.¡± It felt as if Eileen had forgotten how to breathe, her hands tightly clutching the hem of her skirt. As Eileen picked up the phone and held it to her ear, five seconds of silence passed without anyone speaking. Eileen could feel her heart pounding fiercely. ¡°Hello, this is Eileen. Who is this?¡± She heard the other person scoff, and then the call abruptly ended. This tant mockery felt like a p to Eileen¡¯s face. Is that Nancy? Has she returned a long time ago? The day she disappeared, when Jasper found me, there was a look of fear of losing her in his eyes. And that hint of strangeness in his gaze, what was it? Eileen bent over, her long hair falling down. A sense of helplessness swept over her entire body, even though she understood everything. It seemed as though the events of her past life were about to rey themselves in her life. present ¡°Eileen¡­¡± Natalie¡¯s voice rang out, her breathing in gasps as if she was searching for someone. Finally, she found that familiar figure in a certain ce. She walked over carefully and squatted down in front of Eileen. ¡°Eileen, are you okay?¡± Natalie¡¯s hand gently stroked her back. ¡°Are you feeling unwell?¡± Eileen wiped her eyes, then looked up. ¡°How did you get here?¡± With a worried look in her eyes, Natalie said, ¡°I noticed earlier that you seemed upset. I was concerned about you, so I came to find you.¡± Eileen tugged at the corner of her mouth, forcing a faint smile. Tm fine. You can go ahead¡± 11 ¡°Let me keep youpany for a while,¡± Natalie said as she sat down next to Eileen. She pulled out a bottle of milk from her pocket and handed it to her. ¡°Have something sweet. I don¡¯t know what¡¯s happened, but maybe it can cheer you up. If you feel like crying, I can give you a hug.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to cry, nor do I need a hug. Thanks for the milk. I¡¯m heading back to the ssroom now.¡± Natalie watched as Eileen walked away. She then lowered her gaze to her own fingers, ming herself. Did I say something wrong? It seemed that due to yesterday¡¯s incident, she and Jasper had fallen into a cold war. Normally, he would always message her during her break time. But now, her mailbox was empty. To avoid being affected by all of this, Eileen simply turned off her phone. Meanwhile, at Smith Corporation. One by one, the secretaries who went in to deliver documents came out crying after being scolded. People from other departments who came to get Jasper¡¯s signature were trembling. None of them dared to enter, as several had been directly dismissed. Fabian had just returned from outside. As he stepped out of the elevator, he realized that he had never seen the entrance to the CEO¡¯s office this lively before. ¡°What are you guys doing? ying cards at the door?¡± Upon seeing Fabian, they reacted as if they had seen their savior. They all approached him. and one of the secretaries informed him about the events that had transpired in his absence. Fabian nodded. ¡°I understand. Give me the documents. All of you can go back first.¡± ¡°Mr. Sherwood, you truly are a lifesaver, always there to help in times of need. I¡¯m entrusting this matter to you.¡± One by one, they handed him the files, and then everyone else ran off. Fabian pushed open the office door, only to find the room inplete disarray. ¡°Who let you in? Get out.¡± ¡°Mr. Smith.¡± ||| 91 ¡°Here are a few documents that need your signature.¡± Just leave them there for now.¡± Fabian stepped forward and ced the documents on the table. Unintentionally, he noticed an unanswered call on the CEO¡¯s desk. It was Eileen¡¯s phone number. Could it be that the CEO is upset because of Ms. Eileen? It feels like she¡¯s the only one who can stir his emotions so intensely. If the CEO misses Ms. Eileen, he should just call her directly. There¡¯s no need to stay upset for so long. Unless¡­ the two had a quarrel over something. ¡°Is there anything else?¡± The voice sounded displeased. Fabian responded, ¡°I¡¯m not sure if I should say certain things.¡± Jasper questioned. ¡°What is it? Speak up!¡± Fabian spoke calmly. The entire senior management is on edge because of Ms. Eileen¡¯s situation. I believe you should not let personal feelings interfere with work.¡± With a sly smile ying at the corners of his mouth, Jasper exuded a frosty aura, his impatience evident. ¡°Are you trying to tell me how to do my job? I¡¯m the one who sry, not the other way around. If you¡¯re done talking, then leave. pays your ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Smith, but for the sake of thepany. I must speak my mind. Ms. Mulligan¡¯s presence is inevitably a ticking time bomb. Now that she¡¯s back in the country, Ms. Eileen is still unaware. Moreover, if Ms. Eileen finds out about the lingering rtionship between you and Ms. Mulligan, even if she knows about your past, she may pretend not to care on the surface, but there will always be a barrier in her heart. It would be best if you were honest with Ms. Eileen. Otherwise, when the time comes, it will truly be irreparable. Jasper¡¯s eyes were terrifyingly gloomy. ¡°I don¡¯t need you to teach me these things. Get lost Picking up the documents, he hurled them at Fabian. Thetter didn¡¯t dodge, taking it all in stride. The sharp edge of the papers grazed his forehead, leaving a slight cut After all this time, it was the first time that Jasper¡¯s emotions had be as vtile and irritable as before It was as if he had returned to those times when he was easily angered and self-destructive Fabian nodded slightly before walking out and closing the door to the EOS office bnd 34 him. Jasper pressed the control switch, locking the door, preventing anyone from entering. As Fabian was preparing to leave, a person with thick bangs and sses bumped into him clumsily. The person immediately apologized, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± She looked up and saw that it was Fabian, her eyes widening in surprise. She continued to bow to him. I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry. Mr. Sherwood. I¡­ I didn¡¯t mean to do it.¡± In a calm tone, Fabian simply said, ¡°The CEO is currently angry. Don¡¯t go in.¡± ¡°But the manager insists that these invoices and reports are very important and need the CEO¡¯s signature urgently.¡± ¡°Are you new here?¡± ¡°Yes. My name is Susie Sussan.¡± ¡°That¡¯s quite a unique name,¡± Fabian said with a slight smile. ¡°Show me the report.¡± Fabian turned the page and furrowed his brows as he concentrated on the person in front of him. ¡°We can postpone this until next week. There¡¯s no need to rush. If your supervisor has any issues, tell him toe to me.¡± ¡°Oh, okay!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll help you out this time, but next time, be more careful. You can¡¯t always rely on luck.¡± Susie waspletely confused, not understanding what he meant. However, she obediently took the documents and returned to the finance department. Content held by N?velDrama.Org. Time flew quickly amidst the hustle and bustle, and before they knew it, it was already eight o¡¯clock. There was still half an hour left before school ended. 14 Chapter 217 Chapter 217 Chapter 217 The Answer Is In The Heart Eileen hesitated, her fingers hovering over her phone screen, unsure whether or not to inform him that she wouldn¡¯t being home tonight. She was exhausted and confused about their current situation. If Jasper is still infatuated with Nancy and maintains contact with her, then why does he still want to be with me? Did Nancy leave without saying goodbye out of sheer spite? I¡¯m not a pawn between them. Eileen couldn¡¯t bear the emotional betrayal, yet she feared that if she left the Smith residence, she would have to return to the Swan residence. What awaited her there was a predictable end; she might fall into Eric¡¯s hands, enduring his endless insults. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. She now had only two choices. One was to swallow her pride and pretend to know nothing. continue to ept the protection of the Smith family and finish studying. The other was to break up with Jasper and return to the Swan residence to continue living her days in extreme misery. Whenever Eileen thought about these things, she already had the answers in her heart. Her ss ended at half past eight. The familiar car arrived punctually at the school gate. Eileen took a seat in the back of the car. Already inside was a person wearing a Bluetooth headset with aptop resting on hisp, seemingly in the middle of a meeting. Seeing this, Eileen quietly closed the door so as not to disturb him. They were still in a cold war now. After he finished dealing with it, Eileen had already fallen asleep. In truth, Jasper was also distracted, his mind entirely focused on her. He barely heard a word of the meeting just now, which ended hastily. Jasper draped his ash-gray suit over her. Eileen woke up startled, just in time to lock eves with the man approaching her. No matter how you looked at him today, he exuded an aura of icy aloofness that warned others to keep their distance The tattoos I¡¯ve seen on him in the past were always gentle-looking, but seeing them now, they seem somewhat intimidating Eileen quickly reacted, picking ups sutt jacket that was about to fall off Thank you As soon as she uttered those two words, she felt the man¡¯s aura turn even colder. ¡°You¡¯re wee.¡± What Jasper disliked the most was her unfamiliar expression of gratitude. He settled back into his seat. Fabian nced in the rearview mirror and could tell that the two in the backseat had been arguing. In truth, he had known all along that this day woulde. If those matters weren¡¯t handled. properly, Jasper and Eileen, with Nancy meddling in between, would never find peace. Upon arriving at the Smith residence, the car came to a stop. The two of them had only exchanged a single sentence during the entire journey. Eileen got out of the car, one hand holding his coat, the other casually slinging her backpack over her shoulder. She could feel the gaze on her back, leaving her speechless. She handed her coat to the housekeeper waiting at the entrance. Just as she was about to go upstairs, Eileen saw the older woman sitting on the couch. ¡°Youngdy, I¡¯ve been waiting for you for quite some time. Come over here and taste this butternut squash oatmeal. Something about its vor seems off.¡± Eileen walked over. ¡°Let me have a taste.¡± The housekeeper brought her a new spoon, and after trying it, Eileen asked, ¡°The taste is just right. Do you find it a bit nd or too sweet?¡± La shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s supposed to be just oats and butternut squash, but I taste something else. Something¡¯s off with the vor.¡± Eileen scooped up the bottom of the bowl, only to find acorn squash mixed in. ¡°Grandma, there¡¯s acorn squash in here. They must have been added by ident. If you don¡¯t like it. I¡¯ll cook you a new bowl.¡± ¡°If I don¡¯t eat it, wouldn¡¯t it be a waste of this perfectly good bowl of oatmeal!¡± La seemed to imply something else, ncing at her and then at Jasper standing beside her. ¡°Forget it. Just pour it out. It¡¯s mixed with all sorts of messy things, affecting my appetite¡± Eileen shed a slight smile. ¡°If you¡¯re hungry, should I cook some ravioli for you?¡± ¡°But I¡¯m a picky olddy, and right now, I just want to eat butternut squash oatmeal ¡°Let me cook it for you! A Eileen put down her schoolbag, and Jasper grabbed her hand. ¡°Old Mrs. Smith, you¡¯re also an old servant of the Smith family. You should know some rules. Eatingte at night can lead to indigestion. Martha, please take her home.¡± Martha responded, ¡°Yes, Mr. Jasper.¡± ¡°Wait¡­ Do you still have some prepared butternut squash, Martha?¡± Martha replied, ¡°Yes, there is.¡± Eileen said, ¡°I don¡¯t have much homework tonight. I¡¯ll start cooking for you. It should be ready in about forty minutes.¡± La said with a chuckle, ¡°Then I¡¯ll have to trouble you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± That was just how it was with the elderly. The older they got, the less they slept. Eileen went to the kitchen. La sighed deeply. ¡°You and her are like the oats and butternut squash in this bowl. When cooked together, they retain their original vors. But if you add or subtract something, the taste changes. Reflect on what I¡¯m saying¡­ She doesn¡¯t need to cook the oats anymore. Eileen should be having her exams the day after tomorrow, right? Try not to disturb her these next few days. If there¡¯s anything, wait until after her exams. Don¡¯t let her mind wander. This youngdy¡­ She¡¯s patient, more sensible than you think. She doesn¡¯t fight or scramble, but the more she¡¯s like this, if you do something to wrong her, if she gives up on you, then it will be even harder for you to win her back. Cherish her well. As it stands, she still qualifies to be Smith family¡¯s granddaughter-inw.¡± my At the very least, she¡¯s a thousand times better than that woman. After La left, she also dismissed the other housekeepers. Jasper watched the people still bustling in the kitchen, and his gaze darkened slightly. Ever since their cold war began, Jasper had been tormented. The thought that she didn¡¯t have much affection for him and merely saw him as a protective shield for her own purposes was deeply unsettling. He was almost uncontrobly furious. Perhaps¡­ it was his pride ying tricks on him He didn¡¯t want to back down, yet he found himself pondering repeatedly If she truly lett, it would be even more unbearable for Jasper. The pain and anguish of losing her would be too much to bear Eileen was pouring water when she suddenly felt a pair of hands encircling her waist, 34 embracing her. The man¡¯s chin rested on her shoulder. Eileen tensed up, halting what she was doing. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± she asked. ¡°I¡¯m sorry! I should have taken your feelings into consideration. The issue with the reporters, I¡¯ve¡­ I¡¯ve had Fabian handle it, and those magazines¡­ they won¡¯t be sold anymore.¡± He breathed in the familiar scent of Eileen, and gradually, his previously troubled emotions. dissipated. Eileen had never expected him to apologize to her. After all, he was a man of great pride and dignity. He had his own sense of pride. ¡°It¡¯s okay, I¡¯m fine. You don¡¯t need to apologize to me.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t consider your feelings.¡± In reality, his apology truly touched her. After all, he was the first person to utter those three words to her. In her previous life, Eric had done many things wrong that had caused her pain, but he had never said those words to her throughout her entire existence. All that awaited her was dismissiveness and impatience. Eileen turned around, likewise wrapping her arms around his neck, her eyes devoid of much emotion. She thought she should also apologize to him¡­ Because¡­ Chapter 218 Chapter 218 Chapter 218 How Old Are You Because she already knew exactly what she wanted. She could tolerate his affection for Nancy while epting his protection. Everyone is selfish¡­ Without him, Eileen knew what she would face upon returning to the Swan residence. So, even if Jasper truly had lingering feelings for Nancy, she could pretend to be unaware of his actions. Right now, she needed Jasper. Whether she was using Jasper for her own advantage.or if Jasper simply saw her as emotional support, at the end of the day, she could say that she had a clear conscience towards Jasper. That was because she genuinely wanted to like him, to be with him wholeheartedly. The prerequisite for liking him was that Eileen could handle her own affairsst night. Even if they went their separate ways, by that time, Eileen would no longer need to rely on others. There was never any fairness between her and Jasper to begin with¡­ From now on, Jasper would only see the Eileen she presented. Whether it was marriage or dating, it would be all the same. If one person wanted to stray, the other wouldn¡¯t be able to stop them. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯ll get used to it sooner orter. After all, I rarely go out, and I spend most of my time at school. If ites to that, I¡¯ll just ignore whatever they say.¡± Eileen showed great understanding and knew exactly how to make Jasper happy. Then, she noticed the empty living room. ¡°Has Old Mrs. Smith left?¡± Jasper replied, ¡°Yes, she has Alzheimer¡¯s. She tends to wander around in the middle of the night, so I asked Martha to take her home.¡± ¡°Really? Old Mrs. Smith seems quite lucid. I didn¡¯t expect her to have Alzheimer¡¯s disease¡± Eileen pushed him away. ¡°I won¡¯t make the butternut squash oatmeal anymore. I¡¯m going back to my room to finish my homework. There¡¯s still a bit left to do¡± ´¨ Jasper responded, ¡°Okay.¡± With a slight smile ying at the corners of her mouth, Eileen said, ¡°You should also get some rest soon.¡± Jasper replied, ¡°Hmm.¡± He watched the figure ascending the stairs, his eyes dim and profound. In fact,pared to her indifference, he would rather have her stay angry with him. At least in this way, Jasper could feel her concern. Just then, Jasper¡¯s phone rang. He opened it to find a photo sent to him. As he looked at the person in the photo, before he could even respond, another message came in with an address. Eileen had just returned to her upstairs room and stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling. window. She saw a car driving out of the vi. What is he doing out sote? Jasper nced at the figure reflected in the rearview mirror, then at his phone. A hint of hesitation lingered in his heart, but in the end, he pressed down on the elerator and drove away. Primas za. Covered in wounds, Nancy huddled in the corner. A bucket of icy water was sshed onto her face, causing her smoky eye makeup to smear all over. Her phone was stepped on by the person in front of her. The man sneeredsciviously at the sight of her soaked skin visible through her shirt. ¡°Ha, you im to know Jasper? Do you even know who he is? Stop daydreaming, I tell you. Today, you either pay up willingly or¡­ stay here and pay with your body. With your looks, it¡¯ll take about three to five years to pay off.¡± ¡°Boss, we¡¯ve received news from above that someone has taken an interest in her.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t this perfect? Clean her up and have her serve the customers naked. It¡¯ll save us a lot of trouble.¡± ¡°Do you think you guys, perhaps, are overacting a bit too much?¡± As soon as her words fell, Nancy was pped across the face. ¡°Acting? Who the hell told you we¡¯re putting on a show for you? If you borrow money and can¡¯t pay it back, it¡¯s only right and natural to use you as coteral!¡± Nancy¡¯s eyes revealed fear. No¡­ When I spoke to that person, it wasn¡¯t like this. 21 Her mouth was sealed with tape, denying her the chance to struggle. She was dragged into the staff elevator and taken to a hotel room in Primas za. In Primas za¡¯s luxurious private room, Chandler waspletely drunk. He hooked his arm around the man next to him. ¡°Mr. Snow, I won so much from youst time, and I¡¯ve won again this time. I¡¯m almost embarrassed. Here¡­ Cheers to you.¡± Gavin advised, ¡°Mr. Snow has a stomach ailment and can¡¯t drink alcohol. I¡¯ll drink this ss on his behalf.¡± ¡°Screw you. I¡¯m toasting your boss, so what¡¯s an assistant like you chiming in for?¡± Chandler pushed the woman in his arms, who had just lost a game and was stripped down to her underwear, her figure alluring. ¡°You, go pour him a drink. If you, Mr. Snow, don¡¯t drink, it means you¡¯re looking down on me. No matter what¡­ I must have a drink with you today.¡± The woman appeared incredibly naive. If it weren¡¯t for the heat turned on in the private room, most people wouldn¡¯t be able to bear it. She crouched down to pick up a bottle of whiskey, pouring half of it shakily. She then brought it before this man, who appeared aloof and indifferent. He was very handsome, but his eyes were somewhat fierce, making it hard for people to look directly at him. Yet, it was this very aura of his that irresistibly made people want to steal more nces at him. ¡°Sir¡­ please¡­ Please, have a drink.¡± Eric¡¯s frosty gaze unabashedly swept over her. The woman met his gaze, her cheeks slightly warm, and she lowered her head. Eric asked, ¡°How old are you now?¡± ¡°My name is Corinne, and I¡¯m still in high school. I¡¯m 17 years old this year.¡± Underage? With a smile, Chandler suddenly yanked the woman off the ground and flung her towards Eric. Corinne nearly lost her grip on the wine bottle in her hand, ending up seated squarely on Eric¡¯sp. Content held by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°That¡¯s the spirit! A gathering isn¡¯tplete without women and wine. Cori, make sure you take good care of our Mr. Snow tonight. He¡¯s a promising young man. If you manage totch onto this big tree, you¡¯ll want for nothing in the future!¡± Corinne bashfully lowered her head, remaining silent Eric, with an expressionless face, took the wine ss from her hand and took a sip. After three rounds of drinks, Chandler was already so intoxicated that he had passed our Eric discreetly signaled to the person beside hum I Understanding the signal, Lionel helped the individual to their feet and escorted them out of the private room. Soon, only Eric and hispanions remained in the spacious private room. Corinne nervously bit her lip, her hand reaching towards the man¡¯s shirt cor. ¡°Mr. Snow¡­ Should we¡­ also return to the hotel room? I am willing to do anything.¡± Eric felt a surge of unease within him. There was something suspicious about this drink. He abruptly threw the undressed person onto the couch, his coldness no longer concealed in his gaze. ¡°Act your age; behave appropriately for your age. This ce is not meant for you.¡± Gavin received a message from his bodyguard and leaned in to whisper it into Eric¡¯s ear. Corinne was frightened by his actions, hugging herself and trembling without uttering at word. Eric didn¡¯t consume much alcohol, but the effects of the medication were potent. Unable to endure it any longer, he stumbled away. Lionel handed Chandler over to the attendant on the floor. Struggling to maintain his bnce, Lionel passed by a room with an unlocked door. The room, illuminated in a suggestive dusky pink, contained an unconscious woman, scantily. dressed on the bed. He pushed aside the person beside him, intending to enter. The waiter hurriedly stopped him. ¡°Sir, this is not your room. Someone is already upying it.¡± ¡°Forget it. I¡¯ll go wherever I damn well please!¡± The waiter didn¡¯t try to stop him. Chandler entered the room, discovered it was empty, and quickly left. Chapter 219 Chapter 219 Chapter 219 There Is A Difference That night was destined to be a sleepless night.. The night wind rustled the heavy curtains. Eileen emerged from the bathroom, drying her hair with a towel. She walked over to the bedside table, attempting to charge her broken. phone. The screen had a crack in it. It had been fine during the day, but now the charging was intermittent. Suddenly, a call notification popped up. The familiar phone number made her heart tighten. She didn¡¯t answer. Instead, she watched the phone automatically disconnect again and again. She thought they would give up, but then messages kepting for several days. One read: I know you don¡¯t go to bed this early. Another wrote: You¡¯re misbehaving again, Eileen. Another message read: Answer the phone! Otherwise, I don¡¯t mind making a personal visit to the Smith residence. Eileen held her breath, her heartbeat pounding along with it. She quickly received another video. It was in the car¡­. He sent another message saying: You don¡¯t want it to be seen by others either, right? Good girl. When exactly did he take the picture? She simply had no idea. Eileen felt as if her entire body had plunged into an ice cer, a wave of coldness enveloping her Buzz¡¯ Buzz¡¯ Buzz! The phone vibrated He had called again. After waiting for half a minute, just as the call was about to end. Fileen finally answered the phone With as calm a voue as possible he asked ¡°What exactly are you trying for de obr Eileen heard the sound of the shower from his end. His breathing was also very heavy. Little did she know, Eric was lying in the cold bathtub, using the bone-chilling water to quench the unquenchable desire within him. In the murky water, a solid object stood erect. As he held it in his hand, it stirred up ripples on the water. ¡°I¡¯ve sent you a piece of text. Read it out to me.¡± After Eileen read it, her expression turned awkward. This was because the text Eric had sent was from the twenty-seventh chapter of The Vine of Desire, specifically the part about the grapevine. She recognized every single character, but when they were put together, Eileen could only feel her face flushing red with embarrassment. ¡°Don¡¯t go too far.¡± She was not a fool, as she knew what the person on the phone was insinuating. ¡°Defying me? You should know there¡¯s nothing I wouldn¡¯t do. Don¡¯t think you¡¯re safe just because you¡¯re in the Smith residence! Nancy is back. How long do you think you can stay? Huh?¡± A pang of pain seemed to prick Eileen¡¯s heart, realizing that Eric knew everything. The person on the phone fell silent for over ten seconds. ¡°Hurry up and read!¡± Eileen¡¯s heart skipped a beat. She bit her lip, speaking word by word. ¡°In the brocade tent, an intense atmosphere radiated from under the embroidered quilt. Behold the fragrant skin of the shining pair¡­¡± Her voice was delicate, as if gently stroking the strings of a harp. The lingering melody wrapped around the room and softly found its way into a man¡¯s heart. Apanied by the heavy panting of the man on the other end of the phone, Eileen wished she could cover her ears to avoid his repulsive voice, Half an hour passed, and just as thest sound fell, Eileen had finished reading Feeling ashamed she hung up the phone In thetter part of the night another call came through Edeen didn Canswer it not knowing who it was. She found it truly bizarre. She was certain she had already blocked Eric¡¯s number. How could he still manage to get through from the cklist? Lost in thought, Eileen drifted off to sleep in her bed. The rm clock rang at half past six. Groggily, Eileen got up and descended the stairs, where the housekeeper had already prepared breakfast. ¡°Ms. Eileen, didn¡¯t Mr. Smithe downstairs with you?¡± All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Eileen responded, ¡°He¡¯s probably still sleeping.¡± ¡°When I went to wake him up earlier, there was no one in his room.¡± Eileen thought about how Jasper had already leftst night and probably hadn¡¯t returned all night. A hint of unease shed across Eileen¡¯s face. ¡°He must have gone out for somepany business.¡± ¡°I see.¡± When Eileen stepped out of the house, she felt a sense of unease in her heart. I wonder if it¡¯s because the exam is tomorrow. That¡¯s why I¡¯m feeling a bit nervous. Petalburg High School Students started to arrive for ss around eight o¡¯clock. ¡°You say there¡¯s nothing, but something big happened in Primas za yesterday. It seems like Chandler was killed by someone. I saw it all. I was right there in Primas za, but I had no idea who was responsible. Police cars and ambnces were everywhere. I overheard a room service staff member saying that the ground was covered in blood. It was likely a brutal scene.¡± ¡°Who on earth has Chandler upset to end up getting beaten so badly?¡± A girl wearing the same school uniform burst into the group of girls who had just started chatting. She was holding an entertainment magazine in her hand ¡°Quick look! There¡¯s breaking news.¡± ¡°What? The one who hit him was Jasper? Can you see who he was holding? It doesn¡¯t seem to be Eileen!¡± On the magazine cover, Jasper was holding a person with long golden hair in his arms, who was also wearing a ck coat. The paparazzi didn¡¯t manage to capture the woman¡¯s face clearly, only a vague profile. Judging from her figure, she didn¡¯t resemble Eileen at all. Many women were holding virtually the same magazine in their hands. It seems they all thought of something, ¡°Oh my, could it be Jasper who hit someone?¡± Chandler was also a spoiled rich kid. The wealthy moved in the same circles, and there was no one who didn¡¯t know about Chandler¡¯s notorious escapades. It was not too hard to guess. Most likely, this woman had caught Chandler¡¯s eye, and Jasper went to rescue her. That was how she was brought out of the hotel. The magazine publisher was the same as before; the one who photographed Eileen and Jasper for the same magazine. This time, Eileen also found out. Due to the magnitude of this incident, messages about Jasper were currently being pushed on mobile phones. Eileen gazed downwards, flipping through the photos taken by the paparazzi. It turned out that Jasper had gone to rescue Nancy the previous night. Eileen felt bitter, but she had already experienced such things countless times. Her heart had long since grown numb. Clutching her inactive phone tightly in her hand, she focused on the task at hand. First, she turned off the phone. Then, she removed the battery. Benjamin approached, holding a stack of thetest edition of exercise books. He tossed them to Eileen. ¡°Is your phone broken?¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. It¡¯s still usable¡± Since theirst conversation, Benjamin had been gradually increasing his interactions with her Eileen also understood why Jason would say that Benjamin was a psycho He had won awards of all sizes at school He had also established his own tech studio abroad. The studio wasn¡¯trge, but it had already generated a substantial amount of money and even had its own patented technology. Eileen was not someone who could afford to not devote herself wholeheartedly to her studies. ¡°Your exam is tomorrow. Aren¡¯t you nervous?¡± Eileen nced at his upper body, d in a ke sweatshirt. He rubbed the back of his neck. ¡°It¡¯s alright. For me, it¡¯s just an ordinary exam. If you¡¯re feeling nervous, you can always do more workbooks.¡± The academic prodigy certainly speaks differently! Eileen looked at the exercise books, which were not easily avable in bookstores. Benjamin had given them all to her. Eileen expressed her gratitude with a simple ¡°Thank you.¡± Benjamin and Jason went to the yground to y ball. Eileen set aside all distractions and focused on the task at hand. When Eileen saw Jasper and Nancy together, a thought crossed her mind. If they truly reconciled, she might just wish them well. Chapter 220 Chapter 220 Chapter 220 They Will Not Last Long It was 5:30 in the afternoon. Theboratory building of Olympiad Math ss. After Jacob finished exining thest problem, he closed the textbook and asked, ¡°I¡¯ve covered everything for today. Does anyone have any questions?¡± Then, he continued, ¡°Since there are none, you guys should head home early today. Review and remember what needs to be consolidated. Get to bed early so it won¡¯t affect your performance tomorrow. I¡¯ll stress this onest time-don¡¯t bete, and don¡¯t forget to bring your exam admit card.¡± After sorting out everything else, Jacob grabbed his book and dashed off. The others were busy packing their bags when Jason came over and patted Eileen on the shoulder. ¡°Segunda, we got out early today. Want to hang out?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not going. I have something to doter.¡± Jason responded, ¡°Enough already. I¡¯ve heard this excuse from you hundreds of times. Is your family too strict?¡± Eileen shed a faint smile without uttering a word. Benjamin gave Jason a look as if thetter had just thought of something. He covered his mouth, chiding himself for his forgetfulness. How could he have forgotten? ¡°No worries, no worries. Then, Benny and I will be on our way.¡± Eileen replied, ¡°Okay.¡± After they left, Vera approached her, her face filled with concern and a touch of worry. ¡°Eileen, are you okay?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Eileen said, packing up her bag, her face devoid of much emotion. Now, Jasper had taken a girl from Primas za, and no one knew who she was. However¡­ everyone knew that Jasper might have another woman out there. Many people believed that Eileen was likely to be abandoned. There were also other rumors going around; all sorts of things were being said. ¡°I¡¯m heading back to the ssroom now. If you¡¯re feeling down, don¡¯t hesitate toe and 111 11 find me If you want to go home, Eric will definitely find a way.¡± ¡°All right, go ahead. I¡¯ll tidy up a bit.¡± Vera responded, ¡°All right.¡± When she was left alone in the ssroom, there was an indescribable difort, a feeling that wrapped around her heart. Eileen propped her forehead with her hand, her fingers threading through her dark, slightly curled hair. Her head ached a bit. Today, she had endured too many unusual stares. The cacophony around her was making it hard for her to breathe. She didn¡¯t know how she should meet him once she returned. ¡°Hey, isn¡¯t that Eileen?¡± ¡°Why hasn¡¯t she left yet?¡± A group of girls walked past the corridor, noticing the person in the ssroom. Eileen¡¯s thoughts were interrupted by the noise. Only then did she remember that the members of the Keprarian dance club woulde over to practice. She got up, grabbed her backpack, and prepared to leave. Calliope, wearing her hair high up in a ponytail and a long ck cotton coat, blocked Eileen¡¯s path. ¡°Eileen, tell me, where has Elm gone to?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know about his affairs,¡± said Eileen as she walked away from her side. Calliope gave her a nudge on the shoulder. ¡°How could you possibly not know? Ever since the day he left your rundown house, he hasn¡¯t returned to school. And now you¡¯re telling me your don¡¯t know?¡± ¡°You¡¯re his girlfriend. Why are you asking me where he is? If you really want to know, you can call him. Move aside!¡± Eileen spoke with a heavy tone. Those who originally blocked her path, in reality, didn¡¯t dare to do anything to her. Calliope stomped her foot in frustration. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you stop her?¡± ¡°Calliope, she is Jasper¡¯s girlfriend. We wouldn¡¯t dare.¡± ¡°Exactly! If sheins to Mr. Smith, my parents will be in trouble.¡± A ruthless glint shed in Calliope¡¯s eyes. ¡°You useless lot, but rest assured, she won¡¯tst long ||| 21 with Jasper.¡± From the start, she has been so ostentatious with Jasper, making their rtionship known to all. In the end, Jasper still has another woman. How embarrassing for Eileen, ha! Eileen left school, and the private car picking her up had no idea she would be dismissed early today. She went to a cell phone repair shop to get her phone fixed. The boss nced at her phone. ¡°This is thetest model! The screen is so damaged that the repair cost would be almost the same as buying a new one. It might not be worth fixing. I just got a few new models in. Would you like to take a look?¡± Eileen hesitated for a moment. ¡°Hmm, let me see.¡± There wasn¡¯t anything particrly important on her phone, apart from the daily influx of junk messages and the asional phone call. She didn¡¯t use it for much else. In the end, she chose an old, rugged Philips model. It was shockproof and waterproof, and even though it didn¡¯t have many features, it was more than enough for her. Then, she went through the call history on her old phone, saving each number one by one. Eileen was looking down when she suddenly bumped into someone. Seeing the woman she had knocked to the ground, she quickly apologized, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t mean to¡­¡± As she looked up, she realized it was¡­ Eileen quickly helped her up. ¡°I¡¯m fine¡­ Eileen?¡± Ruth¡¯s voice was still as gentle as ever. Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. Eileen was also quite surprised. ¡°Mrs. Smith, what brings you here?¡± Ruth said with a bitter smile, ¡°Professor Combs called me, I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on, but Elm hasn¡¯t been to school for several days. He¡¯s always been a free spirit and somewhat immature. I can¡¯t control him anymore¡­¡± Suddenly, Ruth started coughing. She covered her mouth with a handkerchief, coughing persistently. Eileen noticed a smear of blood on the handkerchief. ¡°Mrs. Smith¡­ you.. Ruth chuckled softly ¡°It¡¯s just the same old problem¡± She held onto Fileen¡¯s hand Promise me you won¡¯t tell Elm about my situation, okay? Consider it avor from me 111 Eileen frowned. No wonder her face is so pale. ¡°Mrs. Smith, let me take you to the hospital.¡± ¡°I¡¯m no longer going. I¡¯ve been sick for such a long time that it has be chronic. There is no cure for me anymore.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, there are numerous hospitals now. If it can¡¯t be treated locally, we can go abroad. Think about yourself, but also consider Elm. Right now, you¡¯re the only family he has left, you know?¡± As she thought of him, her gentle eyes filled with sorrow. ¡°In the end, he will have to grow up alone. I cannot apany him for a lifetime.¡± If there was any regret, her only regret in this life was bringing him to the Smith family. He had endured various injustices. She knew the bitterness in his heart. Over the had kept everything bottled up, refusing to talk about anything. Cough! Cough! Cough! years, he With a heart full of concern, Eileen said, ¡°Mrs. Smith, please stop talking. You shouldn¡¯t have gone out alone today. I am going to put a stop to everything right now. No matter what, I need to take you to the hospital.¡± Eileen understood the difficult situation Ruth and Elm faced in the Smith family. Their lives as mother and son were just as challenging as hers. From Jasper¡¯s perspective, Eileen really shouldn¡¯t have interfered in Ruth¡¯s affairs. The rebellious pain of Jasper¡¯s youth was all due to a broken family. However, Elm had saved her, so how could Eileen possibly ignore that? Eileen quickly hailed a car, taking Ruth to the hospital. Eileen was running back and forth, conducting tests for Ruth. The doctors, one after another, wore worried expressions, all suggesting that she should be hospitalized for treatment. They said that perhaps she could live for another two years, However, she refused¡­. Just as Ruth stepped out of the examination room, she suddenly vomited several mouthfuls of blood and fainted. The doctor quickly arranged for a nurse to admit her to the hospital Chapter 221 Chapter 221 Chapter 221 What Exactly Are You Trying To Do Eileen stood outside the operating room, anxiously waiting as the surgery had been ongoing for three to four hours. She had been continuously calling Elm, but there was no answer on the other end. Feeling uneasy, she paced back and forth, wondering, ¡°Where on earth has Elm gone?¡± She didn¡¯t have the phone numbers of any of Elm¡¯s rtives, only his. Eileen pondered, ¡°Is it possible that Elm is at Peach Fishing Vige with Pa?¡± ¡°Besides this ce, I don¡¯t know where else he would be,¡± she thought. She quickly found the phone number of her former boss at the seafood barbecue restaurant. She dialed the number, hoping for a response. At this moment, at Peach Fishing Vige¡­ Samuel was being held hostage by a group of unidentified thugs, and all the dining guests were forced to leave. ¡°What do you guys want?¡± Samuel asked, his voice filled with concern. Lionel toyed with the knife in his hand and replied, ¡°It¡¯s nothing really, just a minor issue. But you¡¯d better behave yourself. This knife in my hand doesn¡¯t discriminate. If someone callster, no matter what they ask, just say you don¡¯t know. If you dare to reveal anything, be prepared for the consequences.¡± Samuel, a robust man standing at a hundred and eighty-nine centimeters, felt helpless against so many people. Not only were they numerous, but the man holding him hostage had a dagger, and there seemed to be a gun bulging at his waist. Naturally, he didn¡¯t dare to act recklessly. No sooner had the words been spoken than the phone on the counter began to ring. Lionel gave him a meaningful nce. With trembling hands, Samuel picked up the phone and stammered, ¡°W-Who is this?¡± ¡°Mr. Samuel, it¡¯s me, Eileen. I want to ask if Pa and Elin are together Have you seen him?¡± Samuel replied, I. I didn¡¯t see him Don¡¯t ask me I don¡¯t know anything Lionel took the liberty to hang up the phone ¡°At least you¡¯re somewhat honest. Remember, if she calls again, do you know what to say?¡± !! 14 Samuel responded, ¡°I know, I know¡± Lionel led his people out the door and immediately made a phone call Wons, I¡¯ve dready taken care of things on my end¡± ¡°All right. Have someone keep an eye on it¡± ¡°Understood¡± In the hospital, Eileen stared at the disconnected phone, a vague unease creeping into her heart Samuel¡¯s voice sounded so strange, as if he was terrified, ¡°Could he have encountered some kind of trouble? she wondered. Laleen made another call to Mary, asking her toe over from the Swan residence without alerting anyone. Mary thought Eileen must have some urgent matter, as she arrived before she even had a chance to cat. ¡°Goodness, Ms. Eileen. What¡¯s the rush that you need me for? Eileen instructed her to stay there and watch over Ruth. Once thetter woke up, she would be responsible for taking care of her in the hospital Mary readily agreed. Eileen needed to find Elm. Ruth¡¯s condition seemed off. The doctor had juste out and had her sign a high-risk consent form. If Ruth couldn¡¯t make it through today, and Elm didn¡¯t get a chance to see his mother onest time, it would be a lifelong regret for him Eileen was a person who preferred persuasion over coercion, and she didn¡¯t like to meddle in others¡¯ affairs. However, she knew that as a mother, even on the brink of death, her childern would always be her foremost concern ¡°Perhaps Jasper might know Elm¡¯s whereabouts, but on second thought, its better not to ask Jasper harbors nothing but fraternal hatred for Elm¡± she thought Also she had just tried calling his mobile phone, but his phone had already been turned of Kaleen took thend bus to Prach, Fishing Vige, a remote ce. By the time the urned it was already dark The road was pitch ck and she used the light from her phone screesi tu guide his way However her phone quickly ran out of battery As she asked around the fenced Paides home Pods was a ratou stinge, brusystriting Parda¡¯s Pada Pa tjerad try her antical How you are? Eileen briefly exined the situation. As her hand paused, the bare-chested man let out a scream. Pa quickly said, ¡°Wait a moment. I¡¯ll bring someone to find him right now.¡± Eileen expressed her gratitude, saying, ¡°I appreciate your help.¡± Pa quickly gathered a few friends with whom she used to have a great time. One of the redheads, Nigel, said, ¡°It¡¯s been a while since Elm came to see us. And since he left, we haven¡¯t really kept in touch with him. It¡¯s mostly him reaching out to us. To be honest, we really don¡¯t know the ces he frequents.¡± ¡°Exactly, although Elm and I used to scavenge and eat rotten vegetable leaves together, that¡­ that was all a long time ago.¡± ¡°Eat rotten vegetable leaves?¡± Eileen never knew that Elm¡¯s past life had fallen to such a state. Eileen tentatively asked, ¡°Did he¡­ have a tough life before?¡± Nigel replied, ¡°Yes! He used to work several jobs. Most of the seafood shipped from the sea was carried by him alone. Many people couldn¡¯t match up to him.¡± That side of Elm was something Eileen had never known before. Pa chided, ¡°Why are we wasting time talking about this? Let¡¯s split up and start searching for him immediately.¡± Eileen replied, ¡°I¡¯ll go with you!¡± Pa stated, ¡°You better not. Don¡¯t forget what happenedst time. Peach Fishing Vige isn¡¯t safe either, and you¡¯re not familiar with this ce. We¡¯ll go, and if we find him, I¡¯ll send Nigel to inform you.¡± ¡°Sorry for the inconvenience!¡± ¡°Why the formalities? It¡¯s only right to thank you for the mealst time.¡± ¡°News! News!¡± A boy of about thirteen or fourteen, carrying a cloth bag, ran over. ¡°Pa, I¡¯ve found out. Around three or four o¡¯clock today, a fierce-looking man with a scar on his eye. along with a group of people, barged into Mr. Samuel¡¯s shop. And Mr. Samuel¡¯s shop is already closed I went to his house to check, but no one was there¡± Pa spected. ¡°He¡¯s not here, so he must have gone out to sea After they left, Eileen appeared lost in thought. The scar on his eye, the phone call¡­ She naturally concluded that Samuel had been kidnapped !!! 34 She closed her eyes and pondered. There¡¯s only one person who fits the description. It must be Lionel, then. No one else would dare to do such a thing in broad daylight. Eileen had a vivid memory of this individual, a man known for his ruthless methods. Now, with Eric retired from the underworld, all the shady dealings were handled by Lionel, Lionel was Eric¡¯s most loyal henchman, and everything he did was surely at Eric¡¯smand. Eric¡­ It must be Eric! Eileen¡¯s heart sank quickly; the terror of hindsight was overwhelming. She stood at the entrance of Pa¡¯s tattoo shop, feeling as if a pair of eyes were watching her in the deste alley. Why is Elm in Eric¡¯s hands? What has he done to Elm? Eileen¡¯s heart raced. To confirm her inner thoughts, she removed that number from the cklist. Five secondster, the call connected. The other end was silent, yet she could sense his breathing. She even had the illusion that this devil was right beside her. Eileen was the first to speak. ¡°Do you know where Elm is?¡± The man¡¯s thin lips slightly parted, his voice tinged with pleasure. ¡°Now you¡¯re using your head to think. Good, very smart!¡± Even now, Eric was still mocking her. Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Tell me where Elm is, or¡­ I¡¯m calling the police right now!¡± ¡°Call the police? Eileen¡­ I just praised you. Do you really think calling the police will help?¡± He laughed, finding her innocence amusing. ¡°What are you trying to aplish, Eric?¡± ¡°Find me, and I will tell you everything. Okay?¡± Eileen¡¯s heart suddenly leaped. ¡°A-Are you at the fishing vige?¡± Suddenly, Eileen had a feeling that everything that had happened up until now was all part of Eric¡¯s calcted n. 14 Chapter 222 Chapter 222 Chapter 222 Why Am I The One To Bear These? Eileen ended the call and soon spotted a group of familiar faces approaching. Among them. she recognized a few as Lionel¡¯s subordinates. Without hesitation, Eileen quickly closed the shutter door and remembered there was a back door she could use. As Fileen made her way towards the back door, she dialed the private driver of the Smith family, Gordon. However, her phone automatically shut down due to a dead battery just as the call was connecting. Why is Eric in the fishing vige? Is heing after me? Is he nning to silence me by killing me? Eileen cautiously stepped outside through the back door. Two icy daggers were immediately pointed at her. Under the cold moonlight, she could see Lionel¡¯s eyes and his menacing scar. She felt a chilling terror. ¡°Ms. Eileen,¡± he said, ¡°Mr. Snow is concerned about your safety being alone outside, so he specifically sent us to protect you. Pleasee with us.¡± Wouldn¡¯t going with them be even more dangerous? Eileen quickly shut the door, but Lionel wedged his foot in the gap. In no time, he kicked the door open, looking fierce and intimidating. ¡°Ms. Eileen, if you choose to resist, don¡¯t me us!¡± he threatened, causing her to retreat in fear. ¡°What are you nning to do? Don¡¯t make me tell my father!¡± Lionelughed wildly. ¡°I¡¯m afraid he won¡¯t have the chance to hear those words.¡± Eileen was forcefully taken to a dpidated floor. Isn¡¯t this the room that Sharon used to rent? She used to live here. Lionel pushed the door open. ¡°Please, Ms. Eileen.¡± The dim light inside the house made it difficult to see what was happening. However, she could sense a terrifying aura emanating from within, as if something even more fearsome than a beast lurked inside. Eileen turned to flee, but Lionel seemed to have anticipated her move. He roughly grabbed the back of her cor and pushed her inside, forcefully shutting the door behind her. Eileen fell to the ground. Suddenly, a pair of ck leather shoes entered her line of sight. The man slightly bent over and extended a hand towards her. Eileen, supporting herself on the ground, kept backing away. ¡°Don¡¯te any closer.¡± ||| 13 Eric casually withdrew his hand and looked at her. ¡°Am I that frightening?¡± Eileen, leaning on the bed beside her, stood up, maintaining a certain distance from him. Her gaze shifted to the bed, where she saw a set of revealing, almost transparent women¡¯s lingerie. Her heart immediately tightened. ¡°Eric¡­ What are you trying to do?¡± Eric moved closer. ¡°Don¡¯t you already know what I want, Eileen?¡± Surrounded by his people outside, Eileen suddenly felt helpless. She knew that there was no way she could escape tonight, no matter what. ¡°Why can¡¯t you just be straightforward about what¡¯s going on? What are you trying to achieve. with all these games? You used Elm¡¯s disappearance to lure me to this fishing vige. I know it¡¯s all your doing. So what exactly are you trying to aplish with all this effort? Do you want to kill me?¡± The man¡¯s deep voice emitted a pleasant chuckle. He pulled Eileen towards him with one hand, holding her in his embrace and gripping her slender waist. With a tilt of his hand, his fingers brushed over her delicate cheek. ¡°Haven¡¯t you seen it all? How could I bear to kill now? You still have to prepare for college entrance exams, don¡¯t you?¡± you Eileen turned her face away, her gaze falling on the old television set ced on the cab. In the ck reflective screen, a man and a woman were intimately pressed together. The man was looking at her with a predatory gaze as if he wanted to devour her slowly. Eric had never looked at her with such an expression except when he was captivated by her body in bed. As he gradually moved closer, his gaze seemed to carry a certain possessive madness. ¡°I advise you not to y games. I¡¯ve already called Jasper, so he¡¯ll be here soon.¡± ¡°Eileen, Nancy has returned. Do you think he still has feelings for you?¡± ¡°And what about you? Are you still interested in Vera, Eric¡­¡± She spoke softly as her hand. rested on his chest. The intimate distance allowed her to catch a faint whiff of tobo from him. Didn¡¯t he dislike smoking? This sentence left Eric silent. ¡°When I used to like you, you never paid attention to me, no matter what I did. Now that I like someone else, you¡¯re always around. Eric¡­¡± Eileen suppressed her inner turmoil, meeting gaze. ¡°Have you fallen for me?¡± his Eric¡¯s expression became dim and obscure. He leaned in close to her neck, gently cing warm kisses there. ¡°Whatever you think, that¡¯s what it is!¡± His voice grew husky with emotion. ¡°But.. even if Nancy returns and Jasper leaves, there will never be a possibility for us¡­ if you 2.3 only see me as a toy. Eric, I would rather die. All the efforts I¡¯ve made are just to break free from you¡­¡± Eileen¡¯s voice was soft, yet every word she spoke weighed heavily on Eric¡¯s heart. The man¡¯s movements halted. The next moment, she felt a sharp pain on her scalp as Eric¡¯s fingers threaded through her long hair. Their noses brushed against each other. ¡°So what? Do you still need me to tell you the answer? Eileen¡­ you are destined to never escape this in your lifetime.¡± He forcefully pushed her onto the bed. Eileen felt dizzy as Eric quickly moved on top of her. He held her face, kissing her with an intense aggression. In an instant, Eileen¡¯s clothes had somehow disappeared. ¡°Let go! Mmph¡­ Let me go¡­¡± With all her strength, Eileen kicked him, seizing this opportunity to turn over. She grabbed the quilt to cover her body, her eyshes glistening with tears. Several pieces of the provocative lingerie that were originally on the bed had fallen onto the floor. Tears shimmered in Eileen¡¯s eyes. She despised herself for being in this situation. Despite my earnest efforts to change, why¡­ why couldn¡¯t I break free? In the evening, a strong sea breeze swept through Peach Fishing Vige. The season hadn¡¯t yet passed, and the cold wind blew, causing her slender, fair-skinned back to shiver in the freezing cold. Eric watched as she cried and sobbed, feeling inexplicably irritated. ¡°Do you think crying will solve anything?¡± Eileen¡¯s face was buried in the quilt. Her mind was nk as she shivered uncontrobly. The hand clutching the quilt bore a noticeable scar on her small arm. Eric remembered when she got this scar. He never imagined¡­ it would leave such a shocking, ugly mark on her. ¡°But I can¡¯t let Jasper down!¡± Eileen sobbed, lifting her head. Tears fell incessantly, wetting her face and sticking to her hair strands. ¡°Please, I beg you. Can you release me? I know you hold a grudge against the Swan family, but that time by the sea, I already experienced death once. Why won¡¯t you let me go? Clearly¡­ I didn¡¯t do anything, so why¡­ why must I bear all this? Eric¡­ I really don¡¯t dare to love you anymore. Can you release me, please? I¡¯m begging you!¡± Being with him is truly unbearable. Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. I¡¯ve even risked my own life for this. Chapter 223 Chapter 223 Chapter 223 You Have Truly Gone Mad She had underestimated Eric¡¯s ruthlessness. Despite her desperate pleas, Eric showed no mercy. Consequently, Eileen waspelled to put on the undergarments, one after another, her face devoid of any expression. She then sat on hisp, wearing thest set. The thinyer on her lower half was alreadypletely soaked. Eric disyed the transparent fluid to her, smearing it on her chest. ¡°Do you want it? Beg me, and I¡¯ll give it to you.¡± This was their agreement, and even without it, Eileen knew she couldn¡¯t escape today. Eileen wrapped her arms around herself, shivering uncontrobly. Even with the windows shut, she still felt cold. After being mostly naked for over half an hour, her lips had turned pale. As their desires were unleashed, Eric brought her wave after wave of ecstasy, while her lower abdomen throbbed in unison. This time, she adjusted her position. Eric had her brace her hands against the wall as his manhood slipped between her legs. With one final thrust, Eileen saw fireworks burst before her eyes. The hands around her waist loosened, and Eileen¡¯s legs went weak. She almost fainted, copsing onto the cold floor, her consciousness fading. It was already three in the morning. Eric had just emerged from the bathroom, buttoning up his shirt. He still looked like a wolf in sheep¡¯s clothing. He cast his gaze down at the person still lying on the floor. ¡°Get up and get dressed!¡± Seeing her motionless, Eric¡¯s dark eyes hardened, his gaze falling on the ring bloodstain flowing down from between her legs. Eileen groaned, ¡°It hurts¡­¡± Without hesitation, the man quickly cleaned her up, wrapped her in a coat, and drove her to the hospital. Zachary was awakened by a phone call. He took off his sses with a throbbing headache and pinched the bridge of his nose. ¡°Eric, are you out of your mind? Stop calling me in the middle of the night!¡± r 14 Eric had never felt so fearful before and wondered if he had gone too far. He barged into the examination room, a ce where even family members were typically not allowed to enter. Unfortunately, Zachary couldn¡¯t stop him. Eric personally conducted the examination of Eileen¡¯s private area. As he looked at theputer, Zachary tapped his leg. He circled a spot with his pen and said, ¡°This is where the uterus used to be. After its removal, the original site was stitched up. However, the inner wall was agitated, and the wound has reopened. I¡¯ll prescribe some medicationter. After taking it for a couple of days, she should be fine.¡± Eric frowned. ¡°What are the chances for a sessful uterus transnt?¡± Zachary made an ¡°X¡± with his arms, decisively saying, ¡°It¡¯s impossible. There hasn¡¯t been a single sessful case in the entire country.¡± Zachary was also extremely tired. He stood up and patted Eric¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Stop thinking about it because it¡¯s simply impossible. Actually¡­ isn¡¯t it better not being able to have children? After all, you and she were never meant to have descendants. Even if you did have a child, there¡¯s a chance they could have mental challenges.¡± Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Eric shot him a stern nce, and Zachary raised his hands in surrender. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll stop talking. Oh, by the way, she¡¯ll wake up after a while, so give her some sugared water then.¡± When Eileen woke up, she found an IV drip in the back of her hand. The familiar scent of disinfectant filled her nostrils, and as she looked up at the ke ceiling, she knew she was in a hospital. Outside, it was already dawn. Eileen seemed to have remembered something as she propped herself up in bed. ¡°I have an exam today.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just an exam, and you¡¯re alreadyte,¡± Eric said, cing a cup of hot water on her bedside table. ¡°Am Ite?¡± Eileen, looking particrly disheveled, stared at the clock on the wall. It was already nine o¡¯clock. The exam was scheduled for eight-thirty. Her gaze went vacant, her eyes slowly blinking a few times. Suddenly, Eileen startedughing as if she had gone mad, clutching her own hair. She tried to calm herself down, but no matter what, she just couldn¡¯t. ¡°Hahaha¡­ This is just too hrious, Eric¡­ Have you seen what I¡¯ve be?¡± Her demeanor suddenly shifted, bing more like that of a crazy person. With reddened eyes, she looked at the man sitting beside her while pointing at the clock. ¡°If I have to live under your revenge for the rest of my life, then what¡¯s the point of me changing? What¡¯s the point of me living? No one in this world loves me; only I love myself. I thought I had tried hard to change < 24 everything, but now you¡¯ve ruined. my life once again!¡± Seeing her in this state, Eric had never felt such unbearable irritation. ¡°Eileen¡­ I¡¯ve said it before-this is just the beginning. If it weren¡¯t for your so-called sympathy and your meddling, perhaps none of this would have happened. Since it can¡¯t be changed, why not just ept it?¡± He toyed with her long hair. ¡°No! Don¡¯t touch me!¡± Eileen screamed hysterically. Just then, Zachary knocked on the door. ¡°Hey, you two, arguing won¡¯t do any good. How about taking a break? Eric, I need to talk to you about something.¡± Eric nced at her, then got up and walked out. At the door of the ward, Zachary flipped through Eileen¡¯s past medical records in his hand. ¡°Did you know Eileen had severe depression before?¡± Eric answered, ¡°And?¡± Zachary raised an eyebrow, realizing Eric was clearly clueless about the situation. ¡°People with depression need to take medication to stabilize their emotions, otherwise¡­¡± No sooner had the words left his mouth than a nurse passing by suddenly let out a piercing scream. ¡°Dr. Xenos,e quickly! She¡¯s about to jump off the building!¡± Eileen had stepped onto a chair and had already climbed onto the windowsill. Almost immediately, Eric rushed into the ward, watching as she leaned forward without any hesitation. Zachary simply watched all of this unfold with indifference. I didn¡¯t expect her to give up so easily! Eileen¡­ Even if you have Jasper, you can¡¯t escape him. What you¡¯ve been through is nothingpared to him. In the final moment, Eric reached out and grabbed her hand. They were on the fifteenth floor, so a fall from this height would undoubtedly be fatal. Eileen looked up, her eyes filled with despair. The thought of ending her life hade without warning, amon symptom among those who suffer from severe depression. They did not fear death but saw it as a form of release. Thoughts of death would constantly surface in their minds, like a demon whispering sweet temptations. 3.1 Eileen had tried to resist, refusing to entertain any thoughts of death, but such behavior was simply uncontroble. Eileen felt as if she was walking through a deste wilderness, enveloped in silence and darkness. If there was even a glimmer of light, she could continue moving forward. But who knew when that light would appear? Therefore, she felt disappointment and despair¡­ Eric exerted all his strength to hold onto her, his arm veins bulging. ¡°You¡¯ve truly lost. mind! Hold onto me!¡± your Eric, do you know what I¡¯m thinking right now? I¡¯m only seeking liberation from the despair you¡¯ve caused me. Just like in our previous life when I watched as you and Sarah appeared on the big screen during our wedding anniversary. I was in deep despair then as well. I tried to hold on, waiting for you to nce at me. But what I ended up waiting for was your wedding day, with you holding that child-your child with Sarah. Eric, I can¡¯t find anyone more heartless than you in this world, nor is there anyone else who can make me feel as hopeless. The humiliation and hatred I¡¯ve endured are all because of you. And now, you¡¯ve made me experience pain as well. Chapter 224 Chapter 224 Chapter 224 Elm Eileen was absent for the Olympiad Math exam, leaving Jacob anxiously pacing. Natalie was also waiting at the school gate, both hoping she would show up. Only when the school administration contacted him did Jasper rush to the school, as he had just learned of Eileen¡¯s disappearance. Jasper understood the importance of this exam for her. She had been studying tirelessly for several days, all for the sake of this test. This news also surprised Will. Will had an underground informationwork, an organization specifically involved in trafficking information. He rarely involved himself in the affairs of the underworld now, as he had long since retired. from that life. News of Jasper searching for someone reached Will in less than half an hour. Upon reading the message on his phone, Will furrowed his brow. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mr. Smith. Eileen was out ying in Peach Fishing Vigest night and identally got injured. Now, Eric is taking care of her in the hospital. There¡¯s nothing to worry about.¡± Jasper asked, ¡°Hospital? How did she end up in the hospital!¡± Standing behind Jasper, Fabian had a feeling that Eileen wouldn¡¯t forgive so easily this time. The exam would be ending in fifteen minutes. Eileen heard faint voices murmuring. She slowly opened her eyes, her vision blurry. As her sight cleared, she saw the IV drip hanging above her head. Wasn¡¯t she dead yet? All she remembered was that in that final moment, Eric pulled her up, but by then, she had already lost consciousness. Upon hearing the door open, Eileen saw Jasper. She wondered if she was hallucinating. All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Jasper held her hand. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I¡¯mte.¡± It was his voice, which meant this was not an illusion. She could feel the icy cold temperature of his hand. 14 < Eileen looked at him indifferently, her eyes devoid of any emotion. ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± she said, turning her head to look at the sunlight outside the floor-to-ceiling window, which was somewhat dazzling. ¡°I can exin to you what has happened these past two days¡­¡± Jasper spoke at length. He said that Nancy had fallen into the clutches of loan sharks, forced her debts with her body. During the darkest times of Jasper¡¯s life, it was Nancy who stood by his side. Remembering their past affection, he couldn¡¯t just stand by and do nothing. to pay After that, Eileen fell into a daze, lost in her thoughts. She didn¡¯t even know what she was thinking about. Her mind was aplete nk, and she couldn¡¯t absorb any of the words he was saying. ¡°Eileen, I never thought about parting ways with you.¡± Jasper held her hand tightly. ¡°Jasper, I¡¯m a bit tired. I want to rest for a while.¡± ¡°All right.¡± Jasper reached out to feel her forehead¡¯s temperature. ¡°I¡¯ll stay right here with you. Don¡¯t worry about the exam; I¡¯ll arrange for it to happen again. There¡¯s still a chance.¡± ¡°No need. What¡¯s missed is missed. You don¡¯t always have to break the rules for me. I can¡¯t bear that responsibility.¡± Jasper responded in a low, soft voice, ¡°Okay.¡± He had never seen her in such a broken state before. At the same time, he felt a sense of unease, as if he were clutching a handful of sand that could slip effortlessly through his fingers at any moment. Eileen¡¯s eyes were closed, her breathing steady, as if she had already fallen asleep. Jasper stepped out of the room, and in the hall outside, a considerable crowd had gathered. Vera, having heard the news, had also hurried over. Vera asked, ¡°Eric, how is Eileen doing?¡± ¡°You should go back first,¡± Eric answered. ¡°But¡­ I¡¯m worried about Eileen¡­¡± ¡°Be good!¡± Eric¡¯s tone became somber. Vera had learned about Eileen¡¯s hospitalization from Gavin. Since Eric hadn¡¯te homest night, a vague answer was already forming in her heart. She had just returned from her exam. Just as she was preparing to leave, her gaze lingered thoughtfully on the tightly closed door of the room. As she looked back, there was a deep contemtion in her eyes, leaving one to wonder what she was thinking. way 1. Upon reaching the door, she happened to bump into Zachary, who was on his Zachary was holding the report in his hand, and due to the collision with Vera, all the sheets of ke paper were scattered everywhere. Vera apologized in panic, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry!¡± One of the papers was Eileen¡¯s CT scan. Zachary said, ¡°It¡¯s okay, it was my fault for not holding them securely.¡± He bent down to pick up the papers. Suddenly, a report fluttered to the feet of Will. He picked it up. It was a consent form for a hysterectomy, signed by Eric. Will¡¯s eyes held an unspoken chill, his hand instantly tightening around the rosary he held. Zachary asked, ¡°Mr. Swan?¡± Will didn¡¯t utter a single word, but his gaze alone was enough to send shivers down the spine of any ordinary person. Zachary, however, merely offered a faint smile and said, ¡°Thank you.¡± Zachary separately informed Jasper about Eileen¡¯s condition. ¡°Mr. Smith, rest assured, Ms. Swan¡¯s current condition is due to overexertion, which led to the rupture of the wound in her uterus. However, the bleeding has now been stopped, so there is no major concern for the time being. She must remember to take her medication on time. Furthermore¡­ Mr. Smith, you need to pay special attention to Ms. Swan¡¯s emotional state. Based on her previous medical records, she has severe depression. Today, her condition worsened, and she almost ended her life by jumping out of the window.¡± After a moment of silence, Jasper answered, ¡°All right, I understand.¡± From down the corridor, Fabian emerged from the elevator, while Zachary had already returned to the hospital room. Fabian approached Jasper and said, ¡°Everything has been thoroughly investigated. Last night, Ms. Swan went to see Elm. Ruth had a recurrence of her old illness and was hospitalized The hospital has issued a notice of critical condition.¡± Jasper¡¯s brows furrowed into a terrifying frown, an aura of malevolence radiating from him ¡°I¡¯ve underestimated the mother and son¡¯s tactics. How did Eileen end up crossing paths with her?¡± r 34 Yesterday, Ruth received a call from Petalburg High School. On her way there, she bumped into Ms. Eileen. When Ruth fainted, it was Ms. Eileen who took her to the hospital A glimmer of vengeance flickered in Jasper¡¯s eyes. ¡°It seems the previous lesson wasn¡¯t sufficient. Bring Elm up from the basement. It¡¯s time to show that woman of messing with my people!¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Smith!¡± the consequences Ruth¡¯s body was as delicate as a wilting flower. After receiving care from Mary throughout the night. Ruth had made significant progress and was now able to consume some liquid food. Suddenly, the door to the ward swung open. A person dressed in ck and covered in wounds was thrown into the room. An iron shackle was fastened around his ankle, and with each step he took, the chain would ingle. Both Ruth and Mary were startled by this sight. Ruth cried out, ¡°Elm!¡± Elm struggled to stand up. The man at the door casually strolled in. ¡°Long time no see, Mrs. Smith!¡± Ruth watched as her son was reduced to this state. Ignoring her own condition, she got out of bed and positioned herself protectively in front of Elm. Witnessing their heartwarming disy of familial love was like a thorn in Jasper¡¯s heart. He pulled a chair over and sat down, unintentionally catching sight of someone standing in the corner. He recalled that the woman was a housekeeper from the Swan family. ¡°This doesn¡¯t concern you. You can leave now.¡± Mary eximed, ¡°Oh my!¡± and hastily ran off as if her life depended on it. Ruth dered, ¡°Whatever you intend to do,e at me. Don¡¯ty a hand on Elm.¡± In the room, only the three of them remained. Jasper emitted an icy coldness from his hair to the tattoos on the back of his hand and neck. ¡°What I want to do is a question you should ask your dear son. I¡¯ve said it before; as long as you behave, I can allow you to stay in the Smith family! But now, the two of you have chosen to pursue my woman. Tell me.. How should I punish you? Should I make the two of you vanish from Hulbury? That wouldn¡¯t be difficult at all!¡± Chapter 225 Chapter 225 Chapter 225 I Really Envy Him Jasper had a motive for locking Elm in the basement. He simply wanted to give Elm a minor punishment. When Eileen disappearedst time, Jasper had arranged for someone to investigate the matter. Everyone in the neighboring building had seen Elm leaving the room Eileen had rented, and some even heard them arguing. However, the situation was moreplicated than Jasper had anticipated. Although Eileen was not living in the unit near the school, someone had noticed that a student from Petalburg High School, dressed in uniform, was frequently seen entering and leaving that unit. There was no one else but Elm. Jasper didn¡¯t care about what had happened between Eileen and Elm in the past. But now, he couldn¡¯t tolerate any interaction between them. Outside the hospital room, Mary felt uneasy. She looked back and saw several bodyguards in suits standing at the door. Sensing that something was wrong, she quickly picked up her phone to make a call. After spending a night together, Mary found Ruth to be quite agreeable. After all, gifts can blind even the Swire. Ruth had just given her a token of appreciation. Although it wasn¡¯t much, it was roughly equivalent to a day¡¯s wage. Elsie was personally taking care of Eileen in the hospital room. She poured a cup of hot water and ced it on Eileen¡¯s bedside table. ¡°You always manage to make people worry about you. Thankfully, you¡¯re okay. Don¡¯t be upset about the exam. There¡¯s still a chance to do well in the midterms.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Eileen responded, her tone devoid of any emotion because the person she didn¡¯t want to see was still there. ¡°Remember to rest well. If you need anything, just call for me. I¡¯ll be outside and can hear you.¡± Sorry for the trouble, Aunt Elsie.¡± ¡°We¡¯re all family here: no need for formalities.¡± Indeed, they were a family now, as Will and Elsie had just obtained their marriage certificate Will was a rather stubborn and traditional man. He believed that a second marriage should ||| r 14 not be celebrated extravagantly. Instead of throwing a feast, he simply informed about it. Eileen felt her phone vibrating under her pillow. everyone Once Elsie stepped out of the hospital room, Eileen picked up her phone, only to find that the call had already been disconnected. ording to the call details, it was from Mary. However, Mary then sent her a voice message: ¡°Ms. Eileen, thedy you asked me to take care of has woken up, but Mr. Jasper, oh my, he gave us quite a scare! He just barged in, and there was another man who was injured¡­ I think I¡¯ve seen him before; he seems to be your ssmate¡­ Oh dear, I have to stop now. Someone¡¯sing! Ms. Eileen, if I stay any longer, I¡¯ll give the game away. I¡¯ll head back first.¡± Eileen¡¯s heart tightened when she heard that Jasper had gone to find Ruth. He despised Ruth so much, so nothing good coulde out of it. Eileen never expected that Elm had been in Jasper¡¯s custody all along. What has Jasper done to Elm this time? Eileen clutched her hair, feeling utterly drained. She knew she shouldn¡¯t have meddled in other people¡¯s affairs, but when she thought of the debt of gratitude she owed Elm, how could she possibly stay out of it? And there were times when Elm¡¯s actions toward her made Eileen feel as if he was a friend. Meanwhile, at General Hospital. ¡°Mrs. Smith, that¡¯s not how you ask for a favor!¡± Elm seemed to be at his breaking point. His arms were held by bodyguards, rendering him unable to move. He shouted at Ruth, ¡°I forbid you from begging him!¡± Ruth remained indifferent, two teardrops falling from her gentle face. She was still wearing her blue and ke striped hospital gown. She slowly knelt down beside the bed. ¡°Jasper, I beg you, please spare me. He¡¯s still young and naive, so don¡¯t hold it against him.¡± Elm¡¯s eyes were already red as he let out a deep wail, ¡°I told you not to kneel before him! Can¡¯t you hear me?¡± Jasper found the actions of the twoughable and particrly insincere. When Ruth yed the role of a homewrecker and broke up his family years ago, she should 24 have foreseen today¡¯s scene. Since she chose to let go and leave, why didn¡¯t she run farther away? Why did she allow John to find her? If anyone was to me, it was her for stubbornly giving birth to this illegitimate child. As long as Jasper existed, he would never allow the bastard to be acknowledged by the Smith family. Just then, Jasper¡¯s phone rang. He nced at the caller ID, and without hesitation, he answered the call. Jasper suddenly shifted from his violent mood, and the icy aura around him unexpectedly softened. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± The caller was Eileen. Eileen asked him, ¡°Where are you?¡± Jasper lifted his gaze to Elm, a wicked smirk ying on his lips. He slowly said, ¡°I¡¯m at General Hospital.¡± There was silence for a while, and then Eileen¡¯s weak voice came through the phone again, Her voice was warm and pleasant. ¡°I feel like eating the ravioli from the shop next to the school. Could you get some for me? No onions, please.¡± ¡°Yeah, I remember. I¡¯ll be back soon.¡± ¡°All right, I¡¯ll wait for you.¡± Jasper waited for her to hang up the phone. Like a victor, he stood up, his gaze cold and superior as he looked down at Elm. ¡°I¡¯ll give you two choices,¡± he said. ¡°One, you can stay in Hulbury and watch your mother slowly sumb to her illness. I recall your mother doesn¡¯t have much time left! Two, you can leave Hulbury and go abroad. You¡¯re not allowed to return. without my permission, but I will provide a monthly payment for your mother¡¯s treatment. I will also cover your expenses until you graduate from university.¡± A dark look shed in Elm¡¯s eyes, which were slightly reddened. His gaze was filled with defiance, much like a wild dog that refused to be tamed. ¡°The demands I¡¯ve made are all for the sake of Eileen. She owes you her life, and I¡¯m here to repay this debt on her behalf. I¡¯ll give you three days to consider. Of course¡­ I know what choice will be. If you leave now, I¡¯ll give you an extra million for her treatment. Whether she can be cured or not, it all depends on whether this woman has the will to your survive.¡± In less than thirty minutes, Jasper arrived at Petalburg High School. He purchased a te of ravioli, along with her favorite candy. ||| J 34 Rolling up the sleeves of his gray shirt, Jasper carefully fed her. The tattoo on his arm was striking and enigmatic. ¡°Is it too hot?¡± he inquired. Eileen shook her head. ¡°Just right.¡± Her eyes were cast downward, but Jasper knew all about her ns. However, he never let his negative emotions, his darker side, show in her presence. ¡°Did you visit Mrs. Smith at General Hospital? Is she¡­ doing well?¡± Jasper¡¯s lips formed an inscrutable smile. He extended his thumb, wiping away the oil stain at the corner of Eileen¡¯s mouth. ¡°I¡¯ve asked Fabian to arrange for her to receive treatment abroad. There is currently no way to treat her here.¡± Despite his subtle words, Eileen was not naive. ¡°Alright. Perhaps there is a glimmer of hope overseas.¡± When Eileen spoke these words, she caught a fleeting glimpse of hatred in Jasper¡¯s eyes. She knew this hatred was not directed at her, but at Ruth. Nevertheless, it also allowed her to see the vulnerability in Jasper that he never showed to others. ¡°Actually, I truly envy him¡­¡±Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 226 Chapter 226 Chapter 226 Go See Her ¡°Even if I had died back then, I couldn¡¯t have saved my parents¡¯ rtionship. But he receives all of Dad¡¯s love without having to do anything.¡± Eileen didn¡¯t know what to say. Jasper stood at the top of the pyramid in Hulbury, a ce unreachable by others. Yet, unknown to them, he, too, had a broken family. They seemed to share amon sorrow in this regard ¨C the greater their misfortune, the more they yearned for aplete family. ¡°Perhaps this is how the heavens work, granting you wealth and status but also taking away other things. Compared to most people, we are already very fortunate.¡± Eileen was not greedy; all she desired was freedom and the right to make her own choices. Jasper¡¯s broad palm gently stroked her slightly curled long hair. ¡°From now on, I only have you. Will you always be with me?¡± Content held by N?velDrama.Org. The weight of those words pressed down on Eileen, making her slightly breathless. In reality, there were many people around him, not just her alone. Eileen understood that when Jasper was in his darkest times, he encountered a ray of light that shone into his world, pulling him out of the abyss of hell. Even if Nancy had done something in the past to wrong him, these things were not easily forgotten, so she understood Jasper¡¯s feelings. For Jasper, Nancy was not just his past. The bond between them was not something just anyone could rece. When Nancy left, he found himself returning to those dark times. It was just by chance that Eileen appeared, right when he was on the verge of ending his own life. She understood all too well and was not ignorant of the fact that their rtionship was something she could not interfere with. Now that Nancy had returned, Eileen seemed like an unintentional intruder in their world, more like an outsider. Eileen slightly lifted the corner of her lips but didn¡¯t say anything. She believed that she held a ce in Jasper¡¯s heart, yet she knew he simply couldn¡¯t let go of Nancy either. < But in this world, no rtionship between two people would allow room for a third. Eileen gazed into those affectionate eyes, which were like a whirlpool trying to pull her in. She just quietly looked at him, not saying a word. Perhaps she was still too tender-hearted. After a long silence, Eileen said to him, ¡°The world is actually very big, and there are many people. You don¡¯t only have me. We will both be okay¡­ Jasper was rendered speechless. Eileen looked at him as he exuded a cold aura. ¡°I¡¯m not eating the ravioli anymore. They¡¯ve gone cold.¡± Jasper replied, ¡°Okay.¡± In truth, they both understood. Even without clearing the air between them, Nancy was like a ticking time bomb by their side. Eileen also thought that they were destined to meet but not be together. For Eileen, she could only take things one step at a time now. The Swan family arrived to visit but left after seeing she was fine. In the study at Unde Mansion. ¡°What is with Eileen¡¯s hysterectomy? How long have you all been keeping this from me!¡± Will exploded in anger. Eric lowered his head and merely responded with, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Father.¡± Looking at the man in front of him, Will suppressed all his anger. He twirled the rosary in his hand and closed his eyes. ¡°Who else knows about this matter besides you?¡± Jasper does.¡± Will was taken aback. ¡°How did he find out?¡± ¡°Eileen told him, but it seemed that Jasper didn¡¯t react much even so.¡± Unexpectedly, Eileen was unable to bear children. To Will, she was like a useless tool. Yet, Jasper knew this and still cherished her, even allowing her to remain in the Smith family. From the looks of it, she wasn¡¯t entirely useless after all. ¡°Where is Nancy now?¡± The hospital. She¡¯s currently under the protection of Jasper¡¯s people.¡± Will¡¯s eyes darkened slightly. ¡°Take care of Nancy¡¯s matter cleanly, and don¡¯t let anyone findi 111 out. If Eileen marries into the Smith family, it will be beneficial for both you and me. Go on!¡± ¡°Yes, Father.¡± Eric turned around and left the study. Outside the door, Elsie was holding a bowl of chicken. stew while quickly dissolving a packet of ke powder into it. ¡°Darling, is the discussion over?¡± she asked. Eric casually put his hand in his pocket, walking past her with an air of indifference. With a light and breezy smile, Elsie, dressed in a red dress, swayed her hips as she walked in. Eileen had been recuperating in the hospital for over a week. Apart from Natalie, Jasper barred anyone else from visiting her in the ward. In truth, this was also Eileen¡¯s preference; she didn¡¯t like having too many people around. These days, Jasper had practically turned the ward into his study, spending most of his time apanying her and rarely leaving her sight, even reporting to her when he needed to use the restroom. He truly didn¡¯t need to go to such lengths. Eileen was already able to get out of bed, and in fact, she could have been discharged from the hospital. However, Jasper was simply too worried about her. ¡°Stop working. Here, have some fruit.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Jasper closed the file, his arm wrapping around her waist as they sat on the couch together. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Are you bored?¡± Eileen replied, ¡°You¡¯ve been here for so many days already. You should go see her. After all, you two have known each other for so many years.¡± Jasper withdrew his hand from her waist. ¡°You watch TV for a while; I still have some things to deal with.¡± His change in attitude was sudden, and Eileen was unclear as to why he was upset. Eileen stood up and left. Sitting by the floor-to-ceiling window, she opened a book. Just then, Fabian walked in. ¡°Mr. Smith, I have something to report. Fabian hesitated, wanting to speak but stopping himself. He nced at Eileen, the sunlight spilling over her, casting a soft glow around her. There was an indescribable beauty about her. ¡°But¡­¡± Eileen stood up. ¡°I¡¯m going for a walk downstairs. You guys carry on with your conversation.¡± ¡°No need.¡± ||| < 34 After some hesitation, Fabian spoke. ¡°It¡¯s about Ms. Mulligan. She¡¯s insisting on seeing you and is currently refusing medical treatment. She¡¯s made quite a fuss, to the point where even the bodyguards are at a loss.¡± Both of them turned to nce at Eileen simultaneously, only to find her with an indifferent expression, still absorbed in the book on her phone, seemingly unconcerned about their discussion. Jasper was desperately attempting to detect any emotional changes in her, but there was none. ¡°Eileen, what do you suggest I do?¡± Eileen turned a page, her finger pausing as she looked at him. ¡°You should listen to your own heart, Jasper. She was with you for such a long time, and I know you can¡¯t easily forget that past. Even if you want to, it won¡¯t be that simple! Go and see her! You never know, she might have faced unimaginable difficulties when she left back then. Speak kindly to her, and don¡¯t let pride hinder you.¡± Jasper observed her nonchnt demeanor, his cold fingers tightening. His gaze was dark and foreboding. ¡°Is that your opinion?¡± Eileen stood up. ¡°You may not appreciate what I¡¯m about to say.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Eileen delicately moved her pale lips, slowly uttering, ¡°Let¡¯s go our separate ways¡­¡± Chapter 227 Chapter 227 Outside the hospital, the sycamore tree stood tall and lush, its branches filled with leaves. A few sparrows were perched on a branch, their heads tucked into their wings, likely due to the cold weather. The weather outside was as cold as Jasper¡¯s icy and assertive tone. ¡°I won¡¯t agree to breaking up!¡± he dered. Eileen crossed her arms, averted her gaze, and turned around. ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant,¡± she rified. ¡°What I¡¯m suggesting is that we give each other some time. There are things we need to figure out. When we¡¯re apart, we should also contemte whether we truly are right for each other! Romantic rtionships can¡¯t amodate a third person. When you knew Nancy was in danger, you chose to save her. From that, I know you haven¡¯t let go of what happened in the past with her. I¡¯m not devoid of emotions. You and I are the same in that regard. We both wish to be the only ones that matter in each other¡¯s eyes.¡± With a slight smile ying at the corners of her lips, Eileen added, ¡°Why don¡¯t you go and ask her directly? If there¡¯s a misunderstanding, it might just resolve your inner turmoil. Regardless, we will always be like we were in the beginning.¡± His gaze remained fixed on Eileen, unwavering. Eileen, in turn, also maintained her gaze, creating an eerily silent atmosphere. In reality, she said this for the sake of both of them. It was better to resolve all past issues now before they became too deeply entangled with each other. Otherwise, with Nancy constantly trying toe between them, their days would be filled with unrest. This would also spare her from further humiliation. If Jasper liked her yet couldn¡¯t let go of his past feelings for Nancy, how was that any different from emotional infidelity? Fabian broke the silence, stepping forward to say, ¡°Ms. Eileen, the situation is not as you perceive it to be. Since what¡¯s done is done, Mr. Smith will never look back. You should trust him.¡± ¡°Is that really so?¡± Eileen¡¯s few words, along with her clear eyes that seemed to see through everything, made his heart skip a beat. ¡°There are things that I¡¯m fully aware of. Whether it¡¯s during the New Year period, going abroad, or leaving in the middle of the night to see her, if all these can¡¯t prove that you can¡¯t truly let go of her, then I¡­ I don¡¯t know what else to say. I¡¯ve already asked my father toe II! 1. ?? over and handle my discharge procedures. He should be here soon.¡± Jasper stood up. ¡°Is this what you really want?¡± Eileen replied earnestly, ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Alright, as you wish.¡± With that, Jasper turned and left. The previously oppressive atmosphere dissipated along with his departure. Finally, quiet returned to the ward. In reality, there was no oneing to pick her up. Eileen had been lying. In the afternoon, when the sun was high, Eileenpleted the discharge procedures. All the expenses had been paid, including some surgical fees. In her hand, she carried the medication for treating depression. She didn¡¯t inform anyone about her discharge from the hospital. Before leaving, Zachary handed her a business card. ¡°Eileen, feel free to reach out to me anytime for matters rted to mental health. I¡¯m always at your service!¡± Standing in front of the bus stop, Eileen subsequently tossed the business card she was holding into the trash. Only she herself knew her own situation. She would find her own way out. Outside the hospital, Zachary looked at the slender figure boarding the bus. He held hist phone to his ear and was on a call. ¡°Your girlfriend has discharged herself from the hospital. But it seems like she had an argument with Jasper today. She handled the discharge. procedures all by herself. Isn¡¯t this a great opportunity for you to step in?¡± Before he could receive a response, the call abruptly ended from the other side. Eileen didn¡¯t return to the Swan residence but instead went to the rental house. She took out her key and opened the door, immediately greeted by the scent of fresh grass mixed with earth. The balcony door was left open. As Eileen stepped inside, she saw that the nts on the balcony had already bloomed. All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. The room was spotless, cleaned to perfection, with only a school uniform, clearly not hers, casually thrown over the blue couch. Eileen thought of Elm. She walked over and picked up the school uniform, wondering how he was doing now. 21 As she reminisced about the past, she realized this room held more memories of her and Elm together. He would cook in the kitchen or study and do his homework at the dining table. When tired, he would lounge on the couch like a lord, sleeping until the first afternoon ss began. In the blink of an eye, more than a week had already passed. During this time, Eileen¡¯s phone was always switched off. She hadn¡¯t stepped out of her room. even once, and she waspletely unaware of what was happening in the outside world. She secluded herself in this small house, sitting cross-legged on the floor in front of the couch while using her art to numb herself. Sometimes, she would paint for an entire day and night. When she grew tired, she would go to sleep. When she felt hungry, she would simply whip up something to eat. She hadn¡¯t touched anything rted to her sses. Her hand brushed against the ss, and it was only then Eileen noticed the water inside was already finished. Eileen propped herself up from the couch, running her fingers through her hair that hadn¡¯t been washed for days. She was aplete mess, something she had never been before. After pouring a cup of freshly boiled water, she remembered that it was time to take her medicine. The table was littered with empty strips of antidepressants. She didn¡¯t know when she would finally get better. In her current state, could it be considered as her having given up on herself? Eileen herself didn¡¯t know either. Bang, bang, bang! Someone was knocking at the door. Eileen popped out one of the antidepressants, but before she could put it in her mouth, she went to answer the door. Upon seeing the person who had arrived, the ke pill fell to the ground. Realizing her mistake, Eileen quickly regained herposure, turned around to pick up the pill from the floor, wiped it on her paint- stained clothes, and swallowed it with a sip of water. Eric walked into the house and closed the door behind him. The room, which was slightly bright before, now dimmed. The curtains were tightly drawn, and the lights were off. The room was in a state of disarray, with unwashed dishes still in the sink and on the table. 31 Eileen, who had always been fond of cleanliness, never imagined that one day she would be so untidy. Eric had never witnessed her in such a state before. Eileen remained silent. She sat back down, picked up her paintbrush, and resumed working on the painting on her easel. ¡°I received a call from your school informing me that you haven¡¯t been attending for a week now. You better provide me with an exnation.¡± Eileen responded in a chilly tone, ¡°There¡¯s nothing to exin.¡± ¡°Do you no longer wish to pursue your studies?¡± ¡°I have already submitted a request to withdraw from school.¡± Eric gazed at her deste figure, a somber expression in his eyes. ¡°This doesn¡¯t sound like something you would say. Does Father know?¡± Eileen replied, ¡°Does it matter if he knows or not? Isn¡¯t he just hoping that I won¡¯t study? I havee to realize that studying doesn¡¯t really lead me anywhere. I might as well something I am truly passionate about.¡± pursue Eric felt an inexplicable restlessness in his heart. This was clearly the oue he desired, his goal achieved. Yet, he found himself somewhat reluctant to witness Eileen¡¯s self-destructive behavior. ¡°Is that exam truly that significant to you?¡± Eileen¡¯s movements paused, her fingertips gripping the paintbrush until they turned pale. Suddenly, she felt a pang in her heart. ¡°There¡¯s no point in dwelling on the past.¡± 11 Chapter 228 Chapter 228 Chapter 228 A Small Act Of Revenge ¡°Stop meddling in my affairs from now on, and there¡¯s no need for you to pretend to care either.¡± Eric¡¯s gaze fell on a nearby bucket used for washing paintbrushes. Soaking inside it was a mobile phone, its battery already removed and swollen from the water. He rose and walked over to the curtains. With a swift motion, he drew them open, letting the light flood in. Eileen, who hadn¡¯t seen the sun for several days, shielded her eyes from the blinding light, squinting. ¡°What are you doing? Close the curtains!¡± she suddenly snapped. ¡°You have one hour to clean yourself up, then you¡¯reing back with me.¡± ¡°Eric, have you lost your mind? Why should I go back? That ce is not my home anymore. It¡¯s your home with Vera. And if my guess is correct, Sharon is also on your side, isn¡¯t she? She has been secretly adding drugs to the milk I¡¯ve been drinking all these years. The moment she saw him, she was reminded of those facts, those unbearable truths. Eileen dropped the paintbrush in her hand, her head throbbing painfully as she clutched her hair. She got up and walked to the table, swallowing several pills that could suppress her emotions. With reddened eyes, she looked at him. ¡°I beg you, don¡¯te here anymore. I hate you, Eric! I hate you! You¡¯ve ruined everything for me! You¡¯ve tormented me like this!¡± Without even bothering to put on her shoes, she rushed back to the room. With a forceful. bang, she shut the door. Eric¡¯s deep eyes were fixed on the tightly closed door. At this moment, he didn¡¯t even know what he was thinking! His mind was a tangled mess of jumbled thoughts and emotions. Eileen returned to her room, curling up in her bed. She felt as if she was trapped in an abyss, unable to find her way out no matter how hard she tried. Later, tired from crying, she wanted to sleep. She thought that a good sleep would make things better. Perhaps she could even dream of her mother in her sleep. But ever since she lost her wallet and the photos inside it, Eileen hadn¡¯t dreamed of her mother for a long time. Eileen swallowed five of the pills she kept by her bedside. Nowadays, she could only rely on these methods to make herself feel a bit better. This time, it seemed as if she had dreamt of her mother, and in the haze, she could also hear her mother¡¯s voice. < Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. 15 She was dressed in a beige knitted dress, her hair neatly done up. Although her face was not clearly visible, she could feel the warmth of being held in her mother¡¯s arms. If sleeping meant being with her mother, Eileen wished she would never wake up for the rest of her life. Eric heard what sounded like a medicine bottle falling to the ground. He knocked on the door, but there was no response from inside. At that moment, the man forcefully kicked open the door to the room. Upon entering, the sight of sleeping pills scattered all over the floor and the gloomy room. met his eyes. Without a second thought, Eric lifted the covers, picked up the person from the bed, and held them horizontally in his arms. He brought Eileen to the bathroom before turning on the water. Cold water poured down from the showerhead, causing Eileen to shiver from the chill. She opened her eyes in a daze, only to see a multitude of ovepping figures. Eric was half crouching, one arm wrapped around her as he tilted her forward. His fingers pried open her mouth, digging at the back of her throat. ¡°Whatever you¡¯ve eaten, spit it all out.¡± Eileen struggled weakly, eventually vomiting out the few pills she had managed to eat, along with some stomach acid. After dealing with this, Eric, who was a bit of a clean freak, casually tossed her into the large wooden tub. He then proceeded to give her a bath, using hot water to clean her from head to toe. It was not like he hadn¡¯t seen her body before, after all. After drying her offpletely, he carried her out of the bathroom. ¡°Cold¡­¡± The man rummaged through the wardrobe, then brought out another quilt, covering her with it. Eric had gotten some vomit on him, so he didn¡¯t smell good. Being a man who couldn¡¯t tolerate the slightest filth, he took off his clothes, went to the bathroom, and took a shower. As dusk fell, Eileen felt as if she was in a furnace. Feeling ufortable, she turned over, only to feel as if her body was being pulled back. A hand was resting on her waist. At this moment, Eileen seemed to realize something. She turned and saw someone lying next to her, and neither of them was wearing anything. Eileen was startled, and with a swift kick, she sent the man on the bed tumbling down. THE Thud! Eileen rose from her bed, wrapping her body with the quilt, and reached over to switch on the bedside lamp. After being kicked without any warning, Eric felt a sharp pain radiating from his tailbone. eyes, ¡°You¡¯re bing more bold, huh?¡± The man stood up. In a fluster, Eileen averted her refusing to look at the ugly thing hanging between his legs. ¡°Get dressed and leave,¡± she said. Eric casually picked up the sheet from the floor, wrapping it around his lower body. His upper body, muscr and perfect, showcased his abs. Silently, he left the room and headed. for the living room. I didn¡¯t expect him to be so agreeable today. Eileen quickly got out of bed, closed the door, and went to the wardrobe to get dressed. She took a sleeping pill, and by the time it took effect, she had almost forgotten how Eric ended up in her bed. The soundproofing of the room wasn¡¯t good. A thought suddenly urred to her, and she moved to the living room to finish the painting she had left iplete. A few days ago, she saw a notification about a paintingpetition and decided to sign up. Today was the final day for submitting the draft of the artwork. At seven in the evening, representatives from the organizers woulde to collect the drafts. There was still an hour and a half left. Eric was answering a call on the balcony. Eileen didn¡¯t have time to bother with him. Having not eaten all day, she grabbed a piece of toast nearby. The painting was almostplete. Luckily, she finished her painting in thest half hour. Smoke wafted in from the window. Unbeknownst to her, the man¡¯s gaze was fixed on her painting. Although he didn¡¯t understand art, he could still perceive that this painting was brimming with light and hope. Eileen heard a knock at the door and assumed it must be someone from the event organizers. She allowed the painting to dry before carefully rolling it up. Upon reaching the door and opening it, she discovered Gavin standing there, holding a ||| 0 35 paper bag. Gavin wasn¡¯t surprised when he saw her. ¡°Ms. Eileen.¡± ¡°What brings you here?¡± ¡°I¡¯m delivering clothes to Mr. Snow.¡± Eileen extended her hand. ¡°He¡¯s unable to answer the door at the moment. Give them to me.¡± Eric¡¯s eyebrows raised slightly. Gavin was taken aback, wondering when their rtionship had changed again. But in the next moment, Gavin realized he had been overthinking it. Eileen took the bag of clothes from him and nonchntly tossed it from the third floor. Gavin¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°You¡­¡± Eileen didn¡¯t say much. She grabbed the keys hanging by the door, took the painting, and left immediately. They could take their time finding the clothes. Just then, Eric emerged. Gavin looked at the man, his upper body bare, his eyes filled with disbelief. Doesn¡¯t Mr. Snow despise Ms. Eileen? Why would he sleep with her? ¡°Where are my clothes?¡± ¡°Ms. Eileen threw them down. I¡¯m going to retrieve them right away.¡± Eric watched as Eileen disappeared down the corridor with the drawing in her hand, his gaze darkening. As soon as Eileen descended the stairs, she bumped into a young man dressed in a Boundless Tech uniform. Eileen stopped him and inquired, discovering that he was a staff member of the event organizer. The young man handed her a registration form for thepetition. Afterpleting it, she observed Gavin hastily descending the stairs, undoubtedly on his way to retrieve Eric¡¯s clothes. This small act of revenge lifted her spirits considerably. After filling out the form, Eileen went for a stroll in the vicinity. ||| 45 In truth, she didn¡¯t know where to go. Chapter 229 Chapter 229 Chapter 229 How To Heal The ce where she was staying was quite close to the school, and she hadn¡¯t left the building for many days. Looking at the bustling, lively streets, Eileen¡¯s mood brightened considerably. Without a phone, Eileen realized there was no one she needed to worry about. She didn¡¯t have many friends to reach out to, so her world was quieter than anyone else¡¯s. Before she knew it, Eileen found herself in a familiar alleyway shop. It was the same ce where Elm had once taken her to eat. Eileen didn¡¯t know why she ended up here. As she was about to turn around and leave, a woman in her forties or fifties came out from inside. She was carrying a basin of water and immediately recognized Eileen. ¡°You look familiar¡­ You¡¯re Elm¡¯s friend, aren¡¯t you?¡± Eileen nodded. ¡°Perfect timing. He gave me something for youst time. You haven¡¯te to collect it for days. Wait here, I¡¯ll go get it for you.¡± Eileen didn¡¯t know what it was. Thest time she came here for a meal, she had only seen the boss, not the boss¡¯ wife. Hence, Eileen didn¡¯t know how the woman recognized her. After a short wait, thedy boss came out with a gift box wrapped in ck and adorned with a pink ribbon. ¡°This is from Elm before he left. He asked me to give it to you. I thought you weren¡¯t going to pick it up after all this time.¡±Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Eileentched onto several keywords. ¡°He left? Where did he go?¡± Thedy boss said, ¡°He said he¡¯s taking his mother to Remdik for medical treatment. It might be a long time before he returns. Didn¡¯t you know?¡± Indeed, Eileen didn¡¯t know. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°No need for formalities here.¡± A customer in the shop called out, ¡°Madam, more sauce please.¡± ¡°Coming!¡± Eileen didn¡¯t know what was inside the box. She went to a park and sat on a wooden bench, cing the box on herp. She opened the gift box and found a pair of pink fluffy gloves inside. There was no tag, so she assumed they must have been hand-knitted. She wondered if it was Ruth who knitted them. This was the warmest gift she had ever received in her two lifetimes. A ripple of emotion stirred in her heart. In the end, she had gone back on her word. She had failed to participate in the Olympiad Math to secure a guaranteed spot, and she had also been unable to watch Elm pass the exam to get into Hulbury University. Lifting her delicate and smooth jawline slightly, she gazed at the deep blue sky. At that moment, a ne happened to fly overhead, tracing a ke line across the sky. Goodbye, Elm. I wish you evesting peace and happiness. May all your wishese true. Thank you for your gift. I really like it. She hadn¡¯t had the chance to tell him all this in time. I hope both our futures will be bright. Eileen was prone to getting cold easily. With the drop in temperature, her hands and feet were icy cold. Thus, these gloves came at just the right time for her. When Gavin found her, Eileen was staring nkly at the empty square, a surprise gift box resting on herp. Her silhouette looked lonely and deste. The aura she exuded was not one an eighteen-year- old girl should have. She had indeed changed. In truth, Eileen hadn¡¯t changed. She had simply experienced what most people hadn¡¯t and hadn¡¯t gotten over it yet. What was supposed to be a time when one could act with reckless abandon now only left behind a shell devoid of spirit. All these days, Jasper hadn¡¯t sought her out, and she had known their rtionship would eventually come to this point. Eileen returned to the Swan residence with Eric. She had initially thought she would be scolded by her father, but it seemed like she wouldn¡¯t be as he was not at home 24 Eric said it had been over two months and that Will was very certain that child was his. At this moment, Will had already taken Elsie to Saintnam for prenatal care. Consequently. from now on, she would be the only one left in this house. As it turned out, all this time, her father hadn¡¯t cared about her wellbeing. Any expectations she once had vanished in an instant. When she approached the living room, which felt both familiar and unfamiliar, Sharon walked over with tears in her eyes. ¡°Eileen, you¡¯ve had a hard time these days being away Eileen looked at her indifferently. She didn¡¯t understand. If Sharon truly cared for her and treated her like her own child, then why would she put drugs in her milk? Now, she was even pretending to care about Eileen, acting as if her heart ached for her! Why would she do this? Since even Sharon was also one of Eric¡¯s people, Eileen wondered who around her was truly sincere toward her. Eileen dodged Sharon¡¯s hand, staring at thetter as if she was looking at a stranger. Eileen didn¡¯t even know what to say to her. She ascended the stairs, aware that she couldn¡¯t face the truth even Sharon, who regarded her as family, had betrayed her. Eric left. Before he did, he asked Mary to take good care of Eileen. Currently, Eileen was emotionally unstable, so Eric had Sharon head to Euphoria Condominium for the time being. Once Eileen got home, the first thing she did was grab a pile of snacks and bread that could fill her stomach before retreating to her room to lock herself in. Fearing someone mighte in, she used everything she could the bedside table, desk, chair anything that could block the door, she used it all to barricade herself in. Eileen¡¯s actions and words were very unusual and uncontroble. She knew what she was doing, and she didn¡¯t want to be like this. She feared she might be as mad as a lunatic, so she was only thinking of using this time to heal herself. She yearned to ovee her recent experiences. ||| 34 No one could save her now. The only person who could save her was herself. She felt a sliver offort only after she closed the curtains and the room was enveloped in darkness. When mealtime arrived, Mary carried the food upstairs. Despite knocking on the door, there was no response from inside. It had been like this several times in a row. The soundproofing of the room door was quite good. Other than the knocking, Eileen couldn¡¯t hear anything. Eventually, the knocking ceased, and Eileen couldn¡¯t hear anyone speaking outside. In the evening, Eric brought Vera home. Vera removed her schoolbag and handed it to the housekeeper. ¡°Eric, can I go see Eileen?¡± Before Eric could respond, Mary began to stammer, ¡°Oh, Mr. Snow, Ms. Eileen took a lot of food when she came back and hasn¡¯te down since. She hasn¡¯t touched any of the meals I prepared for her.¡± Suddenly, Eric thought about Eileen¡¯s living conditions in the rented house, which matched. what Zachary had described. It was evident that Eileen was suffering from severe depression. ¡°I¡¯ll go check on her.¡± Vera said, ¡°I¡¯ll go with you.¡± ¡°No need. Wait downstairs.¡± As a thought crossed Eric¡¯s mind, he picked up his phone and dialed a number. The person on the other end of the line took half a minute before answering. ¡°Get to the point. I¡¯m busy.¡± Zachary looked at the woman he had pinned against the wall, one hand gripping her waist, the other answering the phone. Eric asked, ¡°How do you treat depression?¡± Chapter 230 Chapter 230 Chapter 230 Did You Two Have A Fight? Seizing the opportunity while he was on the phone, Cynthia quickly pulled down the skirt. that had been hiked up around her waist in humiliation. With tears welling up in her beautiful eyes, she pushed him away and ran out of the office. Zachary¡¯s gaze followed the woman as she left. He walked over to his office desk, took out a cigarette, and lit it, forcefully suppressing the anger within him. ¡°It depends on the situation. Medication and psychotherapy are options, but a lot depends on the patient. If she can¡¯t find her way out, no amount of medication or effort will help. So, have you be soft?¡± Zachary let out a mockingugh, not waiting for the other person¡¯s response. ¡°I knew this day would come, Eric. Don¡¯t forget your purpose! Do you think you can back out now? You¡¯ve been drugging Eileen for twelve years. Even if you treat her well now, she will never forgive you. Do I need to remind you of everything you¡¯ve done to her? There¡¯s no turning back now. You must keep going until the end, or else¡­ she will retaliate against you.¡± After hanging up the phone, Eric had already reached the door of Eileen¡¯s room. He raised. his hand and knocked on the door. ¡°Eileen?¡± Eric stared at the pitch-ck space beneath the door. The light was off. Once again, she had locked herself away in her room, hiding in the dark. Eileen didn¡¯t do anything. She simply hugged her knees, squatting in a corner while staring nkly at the pitch-ck wall. Even she didn¡¯t know what she was thinking. In the messy room, a woman¡¯s silhouette was sketched on the paper on the easel. She was depicted in a dress, swaying gracefully, elegant and poised. However, her facial features were missing. This was the woman Eileen saw in her dreams- her mother. ¡°Are you tired, Lenie?¡± In the darkness, Eileen heard her mother¡¯s voice. Through a faint glimmer of light, she saw a woman sitting on a bed, her face hidden in the darkness. The gentle voice belonged to her. Eileen seemed to have found a glimmer of hope in the darkness. She knelt and looked up, tears falling from her eyes. ¡°Mom¡­ You finally came to find me. I really, really miss you. Mom, can you take me with you, please?¡± 11 ¡°I miss you too, but I can¡¯t take you away yet. You¡¯re still young, and there¡¯s a long road ahead of you. Besides, you still have unfulfilled wishes, don¡¯t you? My precious Lenie, you¡¯ve always been brave. No matter what difficulties you face, you can ovee them, right?¡± Eileen carefully extended her hand, not daring to touch anything. She feared that everything in front of her was merely an illusion and that the slightest touch would cause it to disappear. With weak hands propped on the ground, tears fell onto the earth, and it felt as though her entire being was sinking into despair. ¡°No, I¡¯m not¡­¡± Eileen shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m not brave at all.¡± She was crying hysterically. ¡°Dad doesn¡¯t want me, and no one loves me. Mom, you¡¯re all I have left. Can you take me away with you, please? I¡¯m so tired of living¡­ No matter what I do, nothing seems to change.¡± The woman¡¯s voice carried a hint of sorrow. ¡°My poor Lenie¡­¡± Just then, a figure leaped onto the balcony from outside. In the blink of an eye, the ss door was moved aside, and the curtains were drawn back. The silver moonlight spilled in, illuminating the dark room and the young woman kneeling on the floor. She reached out as if desperately trying to grasp something. ¡°Mom, where did you go? Don¡¯t leave me behind¡­¡± Content held by N?velDrama.Org. Eric watched the scene unfolding before him. It seemed as though he was looking at a Eileen. who had already gone mad. The towering figure of the man loomed over her, gradually getting closer. ¡°What are you doing kneeling on the ground? Get up.¡± ¡°Why did youe here? You scared Mom away,¡± said Eileen calmly. Eric pulled her up abruptly. ¡°Look carefully! Besides you and me, there is no one else in this room.¡± ¡°You¡¯re talking nonsense! I clearly saw my mother! She said a lot of things to me. She said that if I was tired, she would take me away from here. It¡¯s all because of you! You scared her away! Why did you have toe in!¡± In that instant, Eric seemed to understand what it felt like to have a broken heart! r 21 As he gradually achieved his goal, driving her to madness and pushing her to the brink of hell, he shouldn¡¯t have felt any emotions, let alone cross that line and be easily swayed by her. He had been shot while carrying out his tasks, dodging one deadly danger after another, yet he had never once lost hisposure, let alone showed any signs of panic or fear. Everything he did, he did with a purpose, and he stopped at nothing to get what he wanted. He had schemed against so many people, done so many immoral things, and handled everything with ease. And yet, she was an exception. Watching her tormented to the point of losing her mind, he actually felt a trace of pity stirring within him. He wasn¡¯t sure if this could be considered. regret. Eric held her, pressing her head to his shoulder, allowing Eileen to cry and lose herself in her sorrow. Rather than her usual calm and quiet demeanor, acting as if nothing was wrong, he much preferred her current state. ¡°Let go of me! I need to find my mother! Let go of me-¡± Eileen was held so tightly that she couldn¡¯t move. Suddenly, she bit down hard on his shoulder. The man didn¡¯t react, allowing her to vent her frustration. Eileen used all her strength to bite down until she tasted the strong, metallic vor of blood spreading in her mouth. Even so, she refused to let go. Eric was wearing a ck shirt. He could feel a warm sensation spreading on his shoulder, along with a sharp pain. Their standoffsted for over ten minutes. Eric turned his head and lowered his gaze when he sensed that she had calmed down. With a deep voice, he asked, ¡°Have you vented enough?¡± His intense eyes revealed a different emotion than before. Eileen pushed him away, her head bowed low. Her slightly curled, disheveled hair hid her face. After a long while, she finally found her voice. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m sick. I didn¡¯t mean to,¡± She had done nothing wrong, yet she was the first to apologize. ¡°Please try to avoid being in my presence in the future. Maybe¡­ it could alleviate the pain a little and prevent me from losing my sanity. You should apply some medicine to that yourself. I¡¯m exhausted and need to rest for a while.¡± Eric observed as she regained herposure, no longer disying any signs of anger. She wiped the tears from her face and her bare feet, which had just touched the floor, now 34 climbed onto the bed. She crawled under the covers, concealing herself. I behaved so irrationally earlier, even biting him in the process. Is he going to find a way to make my life difficult again? Forget it. I¡¯m already in this state. How much worse can it possibly get? Eric moved all the furniture that was blocking the door, and when he stepped out, he carefully closed it behind him. Vera approached with concern, her gaze fixed on Eileen¡¯s room. She couldn¡¯t discern anything, only darkness. ¡°Eric, is Eileen okay? I heard some noise just now. Did you two have an argument?¡± Chapter 231 Chapter 231 Chapter 231 What Kind Of Drug You Added Eric remained silent and turned around, making his way down the stairs. Once downstairs, Eric instructed Mary, ¡°Prepare some chicken stew for her when she wakes. up.¡± Mary nodded. ¡°Of course.¡± Vera grabbed Eric¡¯s arm. ¡°Eric, you still haven¡¯t answered my question. What¡¯s wrong with Eileen? Is she still upset about the Olympiad Mathpetition? She still has a chance, you know.¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough. I know how to handle things concerning Eileen.¡± With a voice ying in his ears and a lot on his mind, Eric¡¯s headache grew worse. Vera was taken aback. Tears welled up in her eyes as she spoke. Eric had never scolded her before, even when she was in the wrong. This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Did I say something wrong, Eric? You¡¯re being harsh with me. I¡¯m just concerned about Eileen.¡± Eric looked at her quietly. ¡°Once you finish eating, go back and review your homework. I¡¯ve already sent Sharon to the condominium. You don¡¯t need toe over unless I bring you here.¡± With that, he made his way upstairs. Vera followed him. ¡°Why can¡¯t Ie over? We¡¯ve lived here together for so many years. Anywhere you are is my home. I¡¯ve long considered this ce my home. Is it because I took Eileen¡¯s spot in the Olympiad Math ss? If that¡¯s what you think, Eric, I won¡¯t participate in this rematch.¡± Eric stopped, annoyance evident in his eyes. He tried to remain patient. ¡°Vera, you¡¯re not three years old anymore. It¡¯s not right for me to manage everything for you. Don¡¯t remain immature like this. Your family name is ke, not Snow or Swan. Know your ce. I don¡¯t want to hear those words again.¡± Trembling, Mary nced back over her shoulder. She couldn¡¯t believe Vera had the audacity to say that. Vera had been kindly taken in, yet she acted as if she were the mistress,cking any sense of propriety. ¡°Eric, you can¡¯t just ignore me! Eric Snow!¡± That was the first time Vera called him by his full name Exhausted, Eric returned to the study within his room, thergest room apart from the master bedroom. In front of theptop screen, he closed his eyes wearily and slumped in his chair. ¡°Remember this person. It¡¯s all because of him¡­ Never forget him. This grudge must be avenged, or¡­ I won¡¯t rest in peace in this lifetime.¡± ¡°Alright, I understand!¡± It was three o¡¯clock in the morning. The door to the study was left slightly open, and Eric heard someone descending the stairs. It jolted him awake from his nightmare, leaving him drenched in a cold sweat. He picked up the watch on the table. It read twelve minutes past three. He couldn¡¯t believe he had slept for so long. Eric shifted and felt a sharp pain in his shoulder. Without wasting time to examine it further, he got up and walked out the door just in time to see the personing down the staircase. Following Eileen downstairs, he watched as she slipped on her fluffy slippers, opened the front door, and walked out. What is she doing outside in the middle of the night? He continued to follow her with furrowed brows, only to find her heading to the back garden. She sat on the swing, motionless. With her head tilted back, she stared up at the night sky. Following her gaze, he saw nothing. but a pitch-ck expanse, as the weather hadn¡¯t been great these past few days. Sensing that something was wrong, he walked over. Still, the person sitting on the swing showed no reaction. Suddenly, after a while, Eileen left the swing and headed back to the mansion, with him following her all the way. She sat in front of the sofa and turned on the television. The screen was filled with static, but she stared nkly at it, her eyes dull. When it was four o¡¯clock in the morning, she turned off the television and took off her shoes. Shey on the couch with her hands folded on her chest and slept peacefully. The man who had just finished smoking at the door discarded the half-smoked cigarette in his hand, picked up the person on the sofa in a bridal carry, and headed upstairs. < 24 As he lifted her, Eric felt that she was as light as a feather. She had gained a little weight when she was at the Smith residence but had then returned to her original figure. With a little over two hours until dawn, he gentlyid her on the bed in the darkness. Eileen instinctively rolled into the middle of the bed. In her groggy state, she heard some noise and briefly opened her eyes before falling back asleep. Fifteen minutester, a man emerged from the bathroom, his lower body wrapped in the bathrobe previously used by Eileen. Water droplets trickled down his wheat-colored muscr body, seeping into the ke cotton robe. His powerful physique, devoid of excess fat, bore numerous ugly scars resembling centipedes. Especially on his chest, a lethal wound was evident. Eileen had taken a sleeping pill and slept exceptionally well. However, when she woke up in the morning, she saw the bathrobe hanging at the end of the bed and sensed lingering warmth on the bed beside her. Eric came to my roomst night? But I locked all the doors and windows, even the balcony¡¯s sliding door. He couldn¡¯t have entered unless he had the ability to walk through walls. In addition to that, to her surprise, she found that the previously messy room had beenpletely straightened up. The only thing missing was the pile of snacks she had taken upstairs. She had hardly eaten anything yesterday, and her stomach growled loudly. A pang of hunger hit her, making her stomach twist. But she didn¡¯t want to go downstairs, used to isting herself. Seeing half a piece of unfinished toast on the table, Eileen hopped out of bed barefoot and started gobbling it up. Just then, the room door swung open. A man walked in, dressed in a dark grey woolen sweater and ck casual pants, carrying food in his hands. He immediately noticed her eating ravenously in thin clothes with her long hair tangled. Before she could even swallow, she panicked and fixed her eyes on him. Eric walked in and ced the food on her dressing table. The table was bare, devoid of even basic cosmetics. ¡°Come and eat.¡± When he looked at her, Eileen retreated in fear to the corner of the room, avoiding eye contact. It seemed as if that corner was her only ce of safety. In her hand, she held the piece of toast she had taken a few bites of, which she then swallowed. ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m not hungry.¡± Eric narrowed his eyes, observing her timid behavior. It was as if she feared he would < 31 consume her. Despite being in her own home, she didn¡¯t feel secure at all, resembling a frightened rabbit. Without a doubt, he knew deep down that all of this was the result of his own actions. ¡°If you¡¯re not hungry, what is that you¡¯re holding in your hand?¡± Eileen hid the toast behind her back, keeping her head down and remaining silent. The chicken stew that had been simmering all night emitted a delicious aroma. The smell marle her stomach growl loudly once again. ¡°Come over here quickly. Are you waiting to starve yourself to death?¡± Eileen responded with a mix of timidity and defiance, ¡°Who knows what kind of substance you added to it Chapter 232 Chapter 232 Chapter 232 Is It Not Enough? Eileen was forcefully seated in the chair. Eric picked up the fork and took a bite of the food. ¡°See? It¡¯s not drugged.¡± Eileen couldn¡¯t understand his actions. Hasn¡¯t he been wishing for my death? Why, then, is he now concerned about my well-being? He took my snacks away, yet he served me food, something he never used to do before. She wasn¡¯t sure if it was because she had gone too long without eating, but she didn¡¯t have any appetite. Her stomach churned, and she felt nauseous. Clutching her clothes with an expressionless face, she stared at the used fork. Even if the food wasn¡¯t drugged, she had no desire to eat anything he brought. She didn¡¯t believe he would be so kind-hearted. ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m not hungry at all.¡± Eileen tried to stand up and escape, but the man behind her pressed her shoulder down, forcing her to remain seated. ¡°Do you want me to feed you personally?¡± ¡°No,¡± Eileen instinctively refused without even thinking about it. With a hint of hesitation, she extended a trembling hand and grabbed a tissue from the side. She slowly wiped the fork. Eric watched her with a dark expression on his face. Eileen ate slowly. Eric retrieved ab from the bathroom andbed her hair from behind. Her hair had been washed the day before and still carried a sweet scent of strawberries. Eileen remained rigid, not daring to move. In his room, she felt out of ce. She only finished the chicken stew, hardly touching anything else. ¡°I¡¯ve finished eating. I¡¯m going to wash up.¡± Eric didn¡¯t stop his movements. Hebed through her hair over and over again as it addicted. ¡°Eat everything¡± ¡°I really can¡¯t eat anymore.¡± ¡°Even so, you have to eat 14 Eric lifted his gaze, catching a glimpse of the barely concealed disgust on the person¡¯s face in the mirror. Nevertheless, she suppressed her revulsion. After he untangled her hair, he took a purple hair tie out of the drawer beside her and tied her hair back. It was a birthday gift he had brought back from Seatown, which she had kept untouched because she cherished it so much. Unable to bear it any longer, Eileen stood up. ¡°What exactly are you trying to do?¡± The moment the words left her mouth, she regretted it. With Will away, all she would aplish by angering him was inviting trouble. Suppressing her irritation, Eileen calmly said, ¡°Thank you for the meal today. I¡¯m quite full. You can go about your business. Don¡¯t worry about me.¡± The detached look in her gaze made Eric narrow his eyes. ¡°If you¡¯re done eating, go downstairs and take a walk. Don¡¯t stay in your room all day.¡± ¡°I will,¡± she replied, effectively dismissing him. In other words, she was saying that there was no need for him to interfere in her affairs. Eileen turned and walked to the bathroom. She closed the door behind her, and the untied strands of her hair fell down. The weariness in her eyes was unmistakable, even in the reflection of the bathroom mirror. She took off the hair tie, and her ck hair cascaded down like a waterfall. She casually tossed the object in her hand into the sink. Sitting on the toilet lid, she forced herself not to let her mind wander. It was Monday, and she should be at school. Whether it was Jennifer, Jacob, or the former ss leader of ss Six, they all had high hopes for her. Yet, there she was, hiding like at coward, cutting off all contact with the outside world. Eileen didn¡¯t know if the person outside had left. Nor did she know how long she had been. sitting in the bathroom. But at that moment, she never wanted to step out of that door for the rest of her life. If God watched me endure miserable and wretched days in my past life yet now allows me to still suffer in excruciating pain as I did after being reincarnated, what¡¯s the point of it when I¡¯m back to square one, unable to escape Eric¡¯s revenge despite desperately wanting to change everything? I had thought everything I did could free me from my original path. s, I find that no matter how hard I try or whatever I do to change things, what was meant to happen would stille to pass. I¡¯m forever living under Eric¡¯s shadow. The sound of the door handle being pressed down caused Eileen to instinctively lift her < 24 head. Her eyes met the man¡¯s assertive and invasive gaze. He hasn¡¯t left? Eric noticed the hair tie in the sink, and a storm seemed to brew in his eyes. Nevertheless, he managed to keep hisposure. ¡°Are youing out on your own, or should Ie in and escort you?¡± Eileen came out of the bathroom without saying a word. ¡°Take your medicine.¡± On the table were two pills on a tissue and a ss of warm water. Whenever she felt depressed in the past, she would always take an extra pill. Indeed, it was time for her to take her medicine. ¡°Thank you.¡± Eileen picked up the pills and swallowed them. The water was just the right temperature, and she used it to wash them down. ¡°Please leave. I want to be alone.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it enough after all this fuss? Are you nning to skip school and continue like this? Is this what you meant by leaving, locking yourself in your room?¡± Eric grabbed her hand and dragged her out of the room. ¡°What are you doing? Let go of me! Eric¡­ let go of me!¡± Eileen was dragged down the stairs. by him, nearly stumbling several times. While stepping onto thending, she identally twisted her ankle. Unfortunately, he was oblivious to it. The piercing pain made it impossible for Eileen to walk properly. By the time they reached the living room, the staff had already begun preparing lunch. When Eric released his hold on her, Eileen fell to the ground without warning. Seeing that, all the staff in the mansion lowered their heads and kept their distance. She struggled to get back on her feet, but the intense pain shooting through her ankle made it impossible. This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Eric noticed her red and swollen ankle, his gaze fixated on it. Watching as he extended a hand to her, Eileen stood up. Disregarding her injured ankle, she pushed Eric away and hobbled up the stairs as if running tor her life with support from the railing. Eric ordered Mary to bring a bottle of safflower oil upstairs. 34 He stood with one hand on his hip and the other partially covering his eyes. Have I pushed too hard? Never before had he felt so drained and helpless towards someone. Once again, the person in charge of the nning department at Smith Corporation was kicked out of the CEO¡¯s office, for what seemed like the hundredth time. The wide-open door revealed a floor scattered with rejected proposals. ¡°Smith Corporation does not tolerate ipetence. This is your final chance. If you cannot provide me with a satisfactory proposal this time, all of you from the department can leave.¡± ¡°Yes, yes, Mr. Smith. I will revise the proposal immediately.¡± Fabian stepped out of the elevator, holding a bag of medication in his hand, intended to control Jasper¡¯s emotions. Ever since Eileen uttered those words, the couple had ceasedmunication. Jasper had not returned to the Smith residence for several days. For the past few days, he had remained at thepany, working overtime without going home, with the entirepany supporting him. Fabian himself had not had a good night¡¯s sleep for over a week. He attempted to call Eileen, but her phone was switched off. Despite numerous attempts, he was unable to reach her. In truth, he believed that Eileen was not wrong. A rtionship between two people could not amodate a third person. Since Jasper could not bear to part with her, he should end. things with Nancy and bring Eileen back. Fabian held a rolled-up piece of drawing paper as he entered the office. ¡°Mr. Smith, we have received an entry from Ms. Eileen for the artpetition co-hosted by ourpany.¡± Chapter 233 Chapter 233 Chapter 233 Where To Go The paintingy spread out on the table,beled with Eileen¡¯s name. Jasper¡¯s fingers traced over the painting. ¡°Is she the winner of thispetition?¡± Every time. he came across something rted to her, his emotions would subconsciously calm down. Fabian replied, ¡°The organizers sent this over. They want to hear your opinion.¡± Truth be told, Fabian had always known that Eileen would definitely participate in thispetition. She loved painting, and her skills were on par with any professional artist. ¡°Does she know that Smith Corporation is a co-organizer of thispetition?¡± Jasper asked. Fabian answered, ¡°No one knows, so I assume Ms. Eileen is equally clueless.¡± ¡°That¡¯s all for now.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Smith.¡± Fabian left, closing the office door behind him. Jasper meticulously scanned every detail of the painting. She hasn¡¯t contacted me these past few days because of this. Eileen was clear-headed and knew exactly what she wanted. No matter what happened, she could always maintain a rational mind. Sometimes, Jasper wished she would throw a tantrum instead of doing nothing at all. At least then he could feel that she cared for him, even if it was just a little. Feeling upset that she had easily pushed him towards someone else, Jasper soon called the organizers.Content held by N?velDrama.Org. One afternoon, five dayster, Eileen asked, ¡°Is there anything to eat, Mary? I¡¯m hungry.¡± Eileen hadn¡¯t changed her clothes for days. Her hair was clumped together and extremely greasy, while her body emanated a peculiar odor. Mary was picking vegetables when she saw Eileen looking disheveled. Her eyes widened in surprise, but she didn¡¯t say anything. ¡°Ms. Eileen, it¡¯s not mealtime yet, but how about I make you some eggs and toast?¡± ¡°You¡¯re not allowed to cook for her. From now on, if she¡¯s hungry, she cane down to cat during mealtime. Otherwise, she¡¯ll be spoiled.¡± Eileen had finished all the snacks she had brought into the room. Running her hand through her hair, she looked as if she had just woken up. Squinting, she walked downstairs and saw Eric casually sitting on the couch. He had aptop on hisp and seemed to be working on ||| < 14 Ignoring him, Eileen walked past him and went to the TV cab. She found that the snacks. that were usually stocked were gone, leaving only an empty stic bag. It seemed like it was time to go shopping. Eileen didn¡¯t respond to his remarks. She closed the cab and headed back to the kitchen. Mary couldn¡¯t bear it either. If this continued, Eileen would surely starve herself sick. Opening the fridge, Eileen saw that it was filled with various vegetables and milk. Eileen nced through the fridge. Looking rather listless, she took out a bottle of chilled orange juice. ¡°Where are the other housekeepers?¡± Mary said, ¡°Mr. Swan and Mrs. Swan might be gone for a long time, so they¡¯ve let go of the other servants.¡± ¡°Then you should leave too. I¡¯ll pay you three times your sry. It should be enough to sustain you until you find a new job.¡± Mary was shocked at how quickly she lost her job. She nced cautiously at Eric, speaking timidly. ¡°If I leave, there will be no one to clean the vi or cook for you.¡± Eileen replied, ¡°I won¡¯t starve to death, nor do I need anyone to take care of me.¡± After all, this home has long been broken. What¡¯s the point in holding on? Just as Eileen was about to head upstairs with a bottle of juice, someone suddenly blocked her path. Before Eric could speak, Eileen, seemingly lifeless, looked at the staircase behind him. ¡°You should go too. Don¡¯t waste your time on me. I won¡¯t die that easily.¡± I have been alone in this house from the beginning to the end. Does it really matter if anyone is here or not? As she was about to ascend the stairs, Eric grabbed her hand. ¡°Sharon had a car ident and is hospitalized after her surgery.¡± Eileen¡¯s gaze remained unbothered ¡°Hmm, I wish her a speedy recovery then, but I won¡¯t be visiting her Regardless of how close her rtionship with Sharon was, Eileen simply couldn¡¯t face someone who had been drugging her for over a decade. In fact, she found itughable that she had once considered this person her only family 111 24 Nevertheless, Eileen had long held such suspicions. She was just unable to face the reality. Her breakdown was inevitable. The matter was just thest straw that broke the camel¡¯s back. She had wanted to deceive herself, but she simply couldn¡¯t. She wanted to escape from her predicament, to forget everything, but she didn¡¯t know when she would be able to do so. Thus, she wondered if she was destined to muddle through the rest of her life like that, living without a purpose. Eileen wrestled her hand free from his grip. Step by step, she ascended the staircase before. shutting herself away. Compared to before, Eileen had improved significantly. At least she no longer locked herself in her room all the time. Now, she was just like a zombie, living without a soul. When she stepped into the pitch-ck room, it was as if she could once again see her mother sitting inside. Her mother¡¯s face remained hidden in the darkness. Even when she turned her head, her face was still unclear. Yet, her gentle voice could be heard. ¡°Lenie, is there anything you want to tell me?¡± Eileen replied, ¡°Dad¡¯s gone. He¡¯s noting back, and he left me all alone. But I still have you, Mom.¡± ¡°Mm-hmm.¡± Eileen was groggily awakened by a knock at the door. ¡°Ms. Eileen, your meal is ready. Would you like toe out and eat?¡± A conversation was heard from the doorway. Eileen had just taken a sleeping pill, causing her head to feel heavy and foggy. She couldn¡¯t quite make out what the people there were saying as she drifted back into a groggy slumber. The lock turned, and the next moment, the door swung open. It was unlocked with a newly made key from before. The room was filled with a musty air, carrying an unpleasant odor. It was as messy as ever. Eric reached out and found the switch on the wall. With a quick nce, he noticed a half- empty ss of water and an open bottle of sleeping pills on the bedside table. As night fell, the effects of the sleeping pill wore off Fileen opened her eyes and woke up She noticed the open window, through which a pungent smell of smoke watted in She coughed a few umes and sat up on the bed. A scattered pile of cigarette butts on the floor served as evidence of Eric¡¯s heavy smoking As he entered the room, Eileen was reaching for < 31 the sleeping pills on the bedside table, pouring two of them out. ¡°Are you nning to rece your meals with pills?¡± Eric asked. Eileen struggled to lift her drooping eyelids. ¡°It¡¯s sote. Why haven¡¯t you left yet?¡± Eric walked over and pped the pills out of her hand, saying, ¡°Stop taking that stuff. It¡¯s bad for your health.¡± ¡°Thanks for your concern, but I¡¯m fine,¡± Eileen replied. Sheid back down, turning her back to him and closing her eyes, forcing herself to sleep. However, Eric remained in her room, showing no intention of leaving. The room light was on, and Eileen¡¯s alertness prevented her from falling asleep no matter what. Therefore, Eileen threw off the covers and got out of bed, holding her pillow in her arms. Eric, who was sitting by her bed, asked, ¡°Where are you going?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not appropriate for a man and a woman to be alone together. I¡¯ll sleep downstairs.¡± Chapter 234 Chapter 234 Chapter 234 I Will Not Commit Suicide Whenever Eileen faced problems, her initial instinct was to flee. She detested this aspect of herself, as well as her inability to take action. However, no one ever provided guidance, leaving her with no choice but to embrace the path of a coward. Consequently, it wasn¡¯t just Sarah who looked down on her. All of Eric¡¯s confidants held at simrly disdainful view of her. That had been her living environment since childhood. Eileen despised the fact that nothing could be changed. Clutching her pillow, she hung her head, avoiding the intense gaze fixed upon her. Just as she was about to leave with her pillow, she failed to notice Eric stepping forward with a gloomy expression. He grabbed her arm, snatched the pillow from her hand, and threw it on the ground. He then forcefully dragged her into the bathroom. Eileen resisted him like a cornered kitten. He tore her clothes, exposing arge portion of her chest. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me!¡± Eileen scratched his face and threw ab at him. The bathroom door was locked, leaving her with no choice but to huddle in the corner, shivering from the cold. She had expected him tosh out at her in anger, but his calmness surprised her. Eric crouched down in front of her, gently brushing away the hair obscuring her face. ¡°I don¡¯t want to hurt you. I¡¯ll help you wash up, alright?¡± For the first time, he spoke with a concerned tone. Ten minutester, Eric had prepared hot water and gently carried her into the warm bathtub. He forcibly removed her clothes, and as she sat in the bathtub, Eileen felt like a doll being manipted at will. Eric took off his coat and hung it on the wall. Rolling up the sleeves of his ck shirt, he wiped her body with a towel. ¡°The school called me. When do you n on going back?¡± Eileen¡¯s face remained nk. ¡°Leave the Swan residence. I don¡¯t want to see you. Every day you¡¯re here, I can¡¯t forget all that you¡¯ve done to me. I still hold some value to you, so if you don¡¯t want me to die, never show your face in front of me again¡± r 11 Seeing him only intensified Eileen¡¯s pain. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you already be satisfied seeing me in this state? You could say you¡¯ve had your revenge and ruined me. Why not let me continue on this self-destructive path until I be. aplete wreck? This way, I would be saving you the trouble of doing it yourself, wouldn¡¯t I?¡± Eric squeezed shower gel onto her body,thering it onto her fair skin. At some point, he noticed a scar on her back. His hand paused momentarily before carefully avoiding it. He had indeed achieved his goal, but seeing her like this, he heard a voice in his heart telling. him to stop. It said, ¡°If you continue tormenting her until she¡¯s no longer herself, you¡¯ll regret it one day.¡± As Eric prepared to retract his hand, he wasn¡¯t sure if he would regret it. He didn¡¯t respond to her words. Instead, he asked, ¡°The cherry blossoms at Luna Lake Garden have recently bloomed. Would you like to go see them tomorrow?¡± Eileen¡¯s voice was soft as she replied, ¡°If I were to go with you, would you leave this ce?¡± Eric remained silent. After an hour-long bath, Eileen was finally clean. Eric dried her body, carried her to the vanity, picked up the hairdryer, and began blow-drying her hair. While Eric tested the temperature, Eileen nced at him through the vanity mirror. ¡°Eric¡­ have you fallen for me?¡± She had wanted to ask this question for a long time. However, Eric didn¡¯t react at all. Eileen could only hear the hairdryer whirring by her ear. For some inexplicable reason, she wanted to hear him tell her the truth personally. Eric continued blow-drying her hair as an unusual silence filled the room. Her long hair, cascading to her waist, was thick and difficult to dry. It took over an hour every time she blow-dried it. As it was challenging to manage, Eileen usually dried it halfway, ced a towel underneath, and went to bed. After blow-drying her hair, it was just past midnight. She had no idea how to endure the seemingly endless night. Eric nced at the disheveled room, picked her up in his arms, and carried her downstairs, Whatever he intended to do, she couldn¡¯t stop him. It was better not to waste her energy 2.4 trying. As he descended the stairs with her, they coincidentally encountered Mary, who was ascending. Content held by N?velDrama.Org. Oh my God, what on earth are these two up to? I can¡¯t bear to look. I just can¡¯t. ¡°Mr. Snow, I came up to check if we¡¯re saving the chicken stew. It won¡¯t taste good tomorrow.¡± Eric gave her a cool nce. ¡°Bring more food to my room.¡± Huh? ¡°Alright¡­ okay.¡± Mary stared at the two descending the stairs. My, oh my, there¡¯s definitely something going on between these two! Without hesitation, Mary carried a lot of food upstairs, knocked on the door, and entered the room. She then saw Eric changing clothes for Eileen, who was lying on the bed. He had just finished putting on one sleeve and was pulling down her top. This scene startled Mary so much that she almost dropped the food in her hands. Has he seen her naked? ¡°Put down the food and clean up the room upstairs.¡± Eileen spoke in an indifferent tone. ¡°No need. I¡¯ll clean up myself tomorrow. It¡¯ste now, Mary. You should go back and rest.¡± ¡°Alright¡­ Okay then. Ms. Eileen, remember to eat. Don¡¯t let yourself go hungry, okay?¡± ¡°Mm-hmm.¡± Eric¡¯s room had a minimalist design, painted in shades of gray and ke. The tablecked any personal items, except for a few documents. If one didn¡¯t know better, it would be hard to tell that the room was upied at all. Eric picked up the chicken stew from the side and brought it to her lips. ¡°Finish this, then rest for a while. I¡¯ll take you out tomorrow.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already told you, there¡¯s no need for you to worry about me. Go take care of Vera! You¡¯re her boyfriend, and staying at my house will only make her unhappy.¡± Eileen turned her head away, maintaining an indifferent expression throughout. ¡°Eileen¡­ Do you really have to speak to me in this manner?¡± 34 r ¡°How else am I supposed to speak to you? Should I beg for my life on my knees, or thank you for your generosity in sparing me? The way I am now, there isn¡¯t much difference from being dead. I¡¯m just frustrated that even after dying once, I still can¡¯t escape your control. You don¡¯t need to pity me or suddenly show mercy. None of that is necessary. As I¡¯ve said before, I won¡¯t take my own life. I will continue living, but right now, I need time to heal from the pain you¡¯ve caused me. I¡¯m not sure if I can move on, but please, refrain from such actions in the future. Considering that I once treated you as family, just let me be alone. I truly don¡¯t want to see you anymore.¡± A coldness emanated from Eric as he gripped Eileen¡¯s face,pelling her to look at him. ¡°Even if you don¡¯t want to look at me, you have to. Even if it torments you to the point of madness, you must stay by my side for the rest of your life. If you want to stay alive, you¡¯d better do as I say.¡± Chapter 235 Chapter 235 Chapter 235 Changing The Locks Eric forcefully spoon-fed Eileen a mouthful of chicken stew. Immediately after, Eileen felt a wave of nausea in her stomach. She leaned over the edge of the bed and vomited everything out. Since she hadn¡¯t eaten anything all day, her stomach was empty. In the end, all she threw up was stomach bile, leaving a bitter taste lingering in her mouth. The nauseating smell lingered, refusing to dissipate. Eileen lifted the nket, intending to get out of bed. Sensing her intentions, Eric reached out and lifted her by the waist, carrying her to the bathroom. Eileen hunched over the toilet, feeling as if she was about to vomit her guts out. The stomach bile was corroding her esophagus, causing a wave of pain. Eric could only gently pat her on the back. After an indeterminate amount of time, Eileen was panting heavily. Her body was so weak that she could barely stand. Her eyes were red, filled with tears. Eric, grasping her shoulders, helped her up. But not long after she steadied herself, Eileen lost consciousness without any warning. ¡°Eileen!¡± Eileen gave him no response. Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, Eric bent down, swept her into his arms, and hurriedly ran down the stairs. After Eric brought Eileen to the emergency department of Serene Hospital, shey on the hospital bed, looking pale and hooked up to an IV drip. A nurse asked, ¡°Are you a family member of the patient?¡± Eric replied, ¡°Yes.¡± The nurse said, ¡°The patient is somewhat malnourished. It¡¯s best to prepare more of whatever she wants to eat, but she shouldn¡¯t eat too much at once to avoid stomach difort. She should stay in the hospital for observation for a few days, so any issues can be treated promptly.¡± ¡°Mm-hmm.¡± Content held by N?velDrama.Org. Not long after the nurse left, Zachary walked in, wearing a slight smile. ¡°It¡¯s rare to see you like this. How do you like the feeling of falling for your own sister?¡± Especially after finding out about his biological rtionship with Will. Even though he knows it¡¯s forbidden, he still can¡¯t control himself. Zachary was genuinely looking forward to it. ||| 14 How would Eileen react when she finds out the truth? Will she be consumed by madness more than she already is? ¡°What is it?¡± Eric gave him an icy look. Zachary, unconvinced, stepped forward and nced at Eileen, who was still unconscious. It was clear that she had been having a tough time these past few days. Tsk, someone¡¯s had a rough time! ¡°Have you ever considered taking a DNA test with her? What if she¡¯s not rted to you? You can¡¯t just assume that she is, right?¡± Just then, Eileen let out a struggling murmur. ¡°Water¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s not your ce to tell me what to do. Get out!¡± Still smiling, Zachary raised his hands to indicate his backing down. ¡°After being your friend for so many years, I¡¯m just trying to give some friendly advice. Never mind, I¡¯m just being nosy. You guys carry on.¡± Before leaving, he didn¡¯t forget to vent his frustrations. He said, ¡°You¡¯re a good person in every other way, but you¡¯re heartless. I can¡¯t believe I¡¯ve helped you so many times, and now you¡¯re kicking me out. Eric, you¡¯re really disappointing.¡± Eileen woke up to find Mary sitting by her bed. Mary carefully helped Eileen up at once, cing a pillow behind her. ¡°Be careful. Let me know if it¡¯s too hot,¡± she said, feeding thetter some oatmeal. Eileen couldn¡¯t eat anything that was too rich or greasy. Her circumstances are terrible now. She¡¯s probably no longer the scion of the Tuner family. Eileen managed to finish a whole bowl of oatmeal. At least she had eaten something, which was better than not eating at all. After going through several days of turmoil, she had. noticeably lost weight. ¡°Where¡¯s Eric?¡± ¡°Oh, Mr. Snow? He took care of you all night and only left this morning.¡± Eileen said with an indifferent expression, ¡°Find a locksmith and have the front door lock at home reced.¡± ¡°Um¡­ Wouldn¡¯t it be terrible if Mr. Snow finds out?¡± ||| J 24 Eileen looked deeply into Mary¡¯s eyes. ¡°Are you also one of his subordinates?¡± ¡°What? No way!¡± Mary quickly denied. ¡°I¡¯m just the housekeeper you hired. I obey whoever pays me. But¡­ if your conflict affects me and causes me to lose my job, then I won¡¯t do it.¡± Mary spoke very frankly. ¡°From now on, I¡¯ll be sending you your sry every month.¡± Mary pped her thigh. ¡°Alright then, I¡¯ll make the arrangements right away. If Mr. Snow mes me later, Ms. Eileen¡­ You¡¯ll have to help me smooth things over. I still need to support my family!¡± ¡°Mm-hmm.¡± A couple of hourster, Mary returned to the hospital, drenched in sweat. ¡°The front door lock has been reced, and the code has been set as you instructed.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. I¡¯m just doing my job.¡± Eileen changed out of her hospital gown and quicklypleted the discharge procedures. The medical expenses were paid with the card that Will had given her. Will would deposit. money into her ount every month. Since she didn¡¯t spend much, she had managed to save quite a bit. Right after leaving the ward, Eileen ran into Vera helping Sharon walk slowly out of the elevator. The two of them met face to face. Sharon had aged significantly, her hair had turned considerably ke. She walked toward Eileen, swept by a surge of emotions. ¡°Eileen¡­¡± ¡°Eileen¡­ Did youe to the hospital to see Sharon? These past few days, Sharon has been. constantly thinking about you.¡± Eileen gave away. Sharon a cold nce, saying. ¡°Take good care of yourself.¡± With that, she walked She couldn¡¯t bring herself to face thetter, whom she fully trusted but ended up hurting her the most in the end. The best she could do was generously forgive Sharon for all she had done and pretend that nothing ever happened. Suddenly. Vera¡¯s startled cry was heard from behind. ¡°Sharon! Eileen, Sharon has fainted. Doctor, come quickly!¡± T 3-14 Eileen entered the elevator. Just as the doors were about to close, a hand blocked them A man in a ke coat entered. ¡°What a coincidence, Eileen Where are you headed Eileen remained silent, refusing to acknowledge him. This person is a disgrace to the medical profession. He does not deserve to wear that uniform. When the elevator reached the ground floor, Eileen stepped out of the hospital¡¯s n entrance. She then returned to Unde Mansion. This time, not only was a gate installed at the vi¡¯s main door, but one was also erected at the main entrance. Without a remote control, no car from outside could enter. After entering the password, a beep sounded, and the door swung open. Facing the vi that was both familiar and foreign, she recalled the turbulent yet deste times spent within its walls. It had been her home for many years, but also a prison. Leaning against the staircase, Eileen spoke wearily. ¡°Clear out all the rooms except father¡¯s and Ms. Field¡¯s. Dispose of or sell anything that is not necessary.¡± Is she trying to drive everyone away? ¡°Alright¡­ okay.¡± The kind youngdy haspletely changed. for my Eileen did not confine herself to her room. Instead, she secluded herself in the deste mansion. For several consecutive days, Eileen and Mary did not leave the house. They had groceries delivered to their doorstep. Inside the vast mansion, there were only two people. Eric never came, and without him, Eileen would alwayse downstairs to cat on time. every day. Therge table would only have a few dishes, all of which she enjoyed. Apart from eating alone, watching TV alone, and reading a book when bored, everything else seemed like any other ordinary day Chapter 236 Chapter 236 Chapter 236 Waiting For Her Every now and then, the school would call the mansion, but Eileen just wanted some peace. So, she unplugged all the phone lines and didn¡¯t even know where her cell phone was. Eileen hadpletely isted herself from the outside world. In this way, she led a simple life day by day, eating, sleeping, and painting. asionally, when she was in a good mood, she would water the flowers in the garden. Meanwhile, at Caerulus Corporation, Eric casually put his hand in his pocket as he walked out of the meeting room, with Gavin following closely by his side. ¡°How are things going at Unde Mansion?¡± Gavin reported, ¡°Ms. Eileen has confined herself to the mansion since she returned from the hospital. It¡¯s been a long time since shest stepped out.¡± Eric¡¯s eyes were mysteriously inscrutable. It was hard to tell what he was thinking. ¡°Mhm.¡± When Eric returned to his office, he sat at his desk, absentmindedly moving the mouse in his hand. A scene from the mansion¡¯s grand hall appeared on theputer screen. A woman was casually dressed in ke, knee-length floral loungewear, sitting cross-legged in the hall, washing a paintbrush in her hand. The image was zoomed in, revealing the enticing curve near her chest, a pair of prominent peaks, seemingly due to theck of an undergarment. The thin fabric revealed two protruding points, leaving much to the imagination. Eric picked up the freshly brewed coffee from the side of the table and took a sip, trying to calm the unease in his stomach. It wasn¡¯t that she couldn¡¯t do anything. She simply chose not to. Even if she was useless, he had the ability to ensure she lived a worry-free and peaceful life for the rest of her days. Everything Eileen had been doing those days was under his watchful eye. He knew every move she made like the back of his hand. On the screen, the young woman who was originally sitting used the couch to stand up. However, her body swayed unsteadily, and just as she was about to fall, a sense of unease inevitably tightened in Eric¡¯s heart. Fortunately, a housekeeper appeared in time to steady her. As she moved, Eric spotted the neglected milk bottles in the corner. Eric¡¯s eyebrows furrowed once again. Eric remembered Eileen¡¯s routine. Every day, she would have a drink before bed and upon ||| 14 waking up. However, it seemed like her eyes could no longer amodate even that habit she had maintained for eighteen years, which had changed so effortlessly. Mary helped Eileen upstairs, all the while muttering, ¡°Ms. Eileen, you eat so little all day. You must have low blood sugar. Rest for a while. I¡¯ll bring the food up when it¡¯s ready.¡± Lying on the bed, Eileen spoke calmly. ¡°Could you check if there¡¯s anything in the mailbox?¡± ¡°Alright.¡± So much time has passed, there should be some news by now. Eileen thought. A few minutester, Mary ascended the stairs with a thick file in her hands. ¡°This just arrived. What is this, Ms. Eileen?¡± Eileen took it and opened it. What she pulled out was an invitation with golden embossed. letters. The message stated that she was to attend the award ceremony three dayster. A rare smile appeared on Eileen¡¯s face. ¡°I¡¯ve won an award.¡± ¡°Really? What kind of award is it?¡± asked Mary. Eileen shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s not clear yet. It seems the award will be announced on the day itself.¡± Initially, she approached painting the picture with a mindset of giving it a try. In addition to receiving a bonus, she could also sign a work contract. At first, she also followed rted topics online, hearing that they were quite valuable. If the path of Olympiad Math proved impassable, she would find another way. Life held countless possibilities. Even if she felt incapable of doing anything, why shouldn¡¯t she try? Mary spoke again. ¡°Ms. Eileen, not long ago, I received a call on my mobile phone. The caller didn¡¯t say a word. I have no idea who they were. I suspect they were probably looking for you.¡± If it were an ordinary number, Mary wouldn¡¯t have said anything. However, that phone number was all eights. In her long life, that was the first time she had ever seen such a thing. Without any status, one wouldn¡¯t dare to use that number. 24 Mary spoke as she picked up her phone to show Eileen. Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Of course, Eileen recognized the number. If he already has the answer in his heart, there¡¯s actually no need for us to have too much interaction. He is indeed wonderful, but perhaps we are destined not to end up together. No matter what kind of emotion she was dealing with, Eileen had always been sincere. Three dayster, at six in the afternoon, Eileen didn¡¯t make any special effort to dress up. She simply wore a casual ck hooded jacket and light-colored sporty long pants. The weather hadn¡¯t warmed up yet, so sheyered a few more pieces of clothing. However, to enhance herplexion, she applied a touch of light-colored lipstick. That was the first time since being discharged from the hospital that she willingly stepped out of Unde Mansion after such a long time. Outside, the sun was shining brightly, its rays casting a warm glow on her body. The driver she had booked arrived at the door. As Eileen fastened her seatbelt, she pondered whether she should find some time to get a driver¡¯s license. Having her own car would certainly make getting out and about every day more convenient. On the way to Boundless Tech, she happened to hit the evening rush hour. Not only were the top executives of Boundless Tech present at that event, but also the senior leadership from several partnerpanies. At the banquet in Glory Hotel, Jasper sat in the main seat below the stage. Next to him sat a woman with red curled hair, dressed in a ck strapless dress. She was mboyant and wild, with diamond tassel earrings hanging long on her shoulders, appearing quite aggressive at first nce. Additionally, the maic tattoo on her neck, extending to her chest, was also eye-catching. The person in charge, sitting to Jasper¡¯s right, gently reminded him, ¡°Mr. Smith, an hour has already passed. When shall we begin?¡± Nancy idly fiddled with her fingernails. ¡°I heard that the only one who won an award this time is Eileen. You¡¯re not waiting for her, are you?¡± Jasper remained silent, his intimidating gaze dimmed, fixated on the stage. ¡°Let¡¯s begin now. Who would have imagined that the CEO of Smith Corporation would be invited to such a small award ceremony? Furthermore, Boundless Tech was a recently establishedpany Regardless of how one looked at it, it was truly perplexing. Despite being a newly establishedpany, Boundless Tech was the onlypany capable of coborating with Smith Corporation. Not only had they secured investment, but they ||| < 34 had also gained ess to Smith Corporation¡¯s resources, promising limitless potential for future growth. The host took the stage and concluded the staff meeting. Since there was only one winner in thepetition, the award ceremony was saved for the end. The host stood offstage, turning to his colleagues from the samepany and asked, ¡°What¡¯s happening? It¡¯s alreadyte. Why hasn¡¯t she arrived yet?¡± A female colleague of his replied, ¡°I couldn¡¯t reach her. I tried to contact her as soon as possible.¡± ¡°We need to hurry. Once Mr. Smith finishes his speech, he will personally present the award. If she doesn¡¯t show up by then, it will be difficult for us.¡± ¡°Okay, okay, okay¡­¡± Jasper took the microphone and set aside his prepared speech. ¡°There¡¯s not much to say. Let¡¯s move on to the next part. My time is valuable.¡± At that moment, everyone started to sweat nervously because the winner hadn¡¯t arrived yet. When Eileen finally arrived, it was already past seven in the evening. Just as the final minute was ticking away, the conference room door swung open. However, the person who entered was a young man in a ke cardigan, appearing calm andposed. It was Benjamin! Shortly after, Eileen arrived, panting heavily. Upon seeing so many eyes on her, Eileen, who usually disliked being the center of attention, felt a moment of stage fright. ¡°Go ahead, you can do it,¡± encouraged Benjamin. Eileen nced at Benjamin, surprised to find him there of all ces. Benjamin also had a work badge on him. After giving her a word of encouragement, Eileen held her breath and walked in. The host promptly invited Eileen onto the stage. Chapter 237 Chapter 237 Chapter 237 I Will Consider It On therge screen behind, the art disyed was indeed the one drawn by Eileen. It was astonishing at first nce, not only because of its color but also because of its craftsmanship. Without at least three to four decades of experience, it would be impossible for anyone to achieve that level of skill. Eileen adjusted her breathing. The gazes of the two people sitting in the central seats below the stage were hard for her to ignore. That was her first time seeing Nancy. There was at certain simr and harmonious aura between her and Jasper. They were a perfect match. After all she had been through, Eileen was no longer flustered. Upon seeing Jasper, she was even moreposed than she had imagined. Casting a casual nce, she took off her ck hat. ¡°Sorry, I got caught in traffic and am a bitte.¡± The moment everyoneid eyes on Eileen, most of them expressed ¡®astonishment.¡¯ From the start, her young age was astonishing, yet her painting skills were on par with those of an art academy graduate. It was important to understand that every year, millions aspired to enter art academies, but only a few hundred were epted. Interestingly, the judges who made the selection at that time were professors from the art academy. At that moment, it was her appearance that took one¡¯s breath away. She was dressed simply, but her face was unforgettable. The magazine that was initially sold like hotcakes only showed a vague side profile of Eileen. In person, she was more beautiful than her cover photo. A man in histe sixties or early seventies stood below the stage, his hair snowy ke. He lowered his head to put on his sses and picked up the microphone. ¡°Before presenting you with the award, may I take the liberty to ask where the inspiration for this painting came Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. from?¡± The host handed the microphone to Eileen. As she prepared to speak for the first time, she seemed somewhat nervous, unsure of how to begin. As everyone fell silent, waiting for her to speak, Eileen¡¯s heart seemed to calm down as well. ¡°Actually¡­ When I was painting this piece, I was just giving it a try because that¡­ was the darkest and lowest point in my life. I missed a very importantpetition, which almost knocked me down. I even considered dropping out of school¡­ just taking things as theye. Moreover, the theme of the competition was hope. At that time, I couldn¡¯t see a glimmer of hope at all. However, a friend once told me¡­ Even if one lives in darkness, one should not fear the sunlight. If they are willing, that beam of light can be their salvation. Hold on to the light, and miracles of hope can happen. The more impossible it 1:4 seems¡­¡± Elm¡¯s voice and words echoed in her mind. She repeated what he said. ¡°We must turn the impossible into possible! Even in adversity. there is hope. Darkness and light can coexist. It¡¯s these very words that, no matter how bleak. or sad I was at the time, I still had to paint a picture full of hope and sunshine at my lowest point. This is also what I truly desired in my heart.¡± As soon as Eileen finished speaking, a round of apuse followed. As she faced those rounds of apuse and affirmation, Eileen didn¡¯t cast a nce at the person directly in front of her. Upon seeing the namete on the table, Eileen was somewhat taken aback. It was Gideon, a national- level master of traditional painting and a professor at Hulbury Central Art Academy, At first, Eileen wasn¡¯t sure until she took a look at the name. When it was time to present the award, Jasper stepped forward and handed her a trophy adorned with Boundless Tech¡¯s logo, which was a cartoon character holding a paintbrush. In addition, there was also a contract with Boundless Tech to be an artist. Eileen was hesitant about whether to sign or not. That was undoubtedly akin to abor contract. She hadn¡¯t even graduated yet, yet she was already starting to work for others. ¡°Congrattions.¡± The deep voice of Jasper echoed from above. Eileen¡¯s heart gave a jolt. ¡°Thank you.¡± While the award ceremony had ended, there was still a banquet to attend. Eileen didn¡¯t enjoy the lively atmosphere. She wanted to refuse, but she simply couldn¡¯t. She was asked to stay. Jasper was a person of high status, always surrounded by people wherever he went. He was unlike ordinary people who were not qualified to sit with him. Hence, Eileen was seated in a separate private room. Thankfully, she still had Benjamin¡¯spany. Actually, it was quite difficult for her to have a conversation with him. After all, she hadn¡¯t been to school for a long time, and aside from discussing topics, she couldn¡¯t really hold a conversation beyond live sentences. ||| < 21 Halfway through the meal, Eileen pretended to go to the bathroom and left. Thus, those people who wanted to pry some gossip from Eileen didn¡¯t even get a chance to do so. Outside the hotel, there was a scenic balcony. Eileen asked the waiter for a cup of hot water and sat on the balcony. Not long after, another figure took a seat across from her. ¡°When do you n to return to school? Your second-ce ranking is at risk.¡± Aside from discussing topics, Benjamin rarely spoke that much. Eileen didn¡¯t respond. Instead, she asked, ¡°Have the results for the Olympiad Mathe out? How did you do?¡± Benjamin said calmly, ¡°I took first ce. Most of them secured a guaranteed spot, including Vera.¡± Eileen nodded. ¡°As expected.¡± Why did he specifically mention Vera? ¡°Even so, I won¡¯t let you take the top spot.¡± Eileen was unusually rxed in his presence. She said, ¡°There¡¯s no need for you to step aside. I¡¯ll take the first ce. It¡¯ll be good for you to taste what it¡¯s like to be second. ¡°If you surpass me, you¡¯ll be the top scorer in the national university entrance exam. However, you truly deserve this honor.¡± Benjamin had guessed it much earlier that would eventually return to school one day. It was because she was different from others. ¡°Of course,¡± she said, the evening breeze tousling her hair as she gazed at the distant, brilliantly lit night view. ¡°Although, how did you end up here?¡± Benjamin stated candidly, ¡°I am the founder of Boundless Tech. I started thispany!¡± Eileen was perplexed, Benjamin had a pair of attractive, monolid eyes. When he drooped his eyelids, it gave off a sense of world-weariness. ¡°Few people know about it, and I usually don¡¯t have the time, so I leave it to my friends to manage.¡± ¡°Benjamin, you continue to be as outstanding as ever,¡± said Eileen. ¡°Wee to Boundless Tech, Eileen!¡± Benjamin greeted. ¡°I¡¯ll take that into consideration,¡± Eileen replied. r ¡°Alright, take your time to think it over. You can determine your sry,¡± Benjamin said, casually putting his hands in his pockets before walking away. When Eileen picked up the cup of water, she realized it had already gone cold. As she returned to the private room, Jasper and Nancy coincidentally emerged from it, identally colliding with Eileen. Wearing a ck hooded dress, Eileen looked at Jasper with an indifferent expression. She briefly nced at Fabian, who stood behind Jasper, and silently stepped aside to make. way for them. Just as everyone was leaving, Benjamin offered to carry her bag. The meal didn¡¯t take too long,sting just over an hour. Benjamin suggested, ¡°Should I give you a ride? It¡¯s difficult to find a taxi at the moment.¡± Eileen furrowed her eyebrows and replied, ¡°I appreciate your offer, then.¡± ¡°You¡¯re wee.¡± They walked towards the elevator, but upon seeing it was already full, no one entered. However, Jasper blocked the elevator door with his hand, creating space in the crowdedpartment. ¡°Are youing in?¡± People around them also began to shuffle to the side. Chapter 238 Chapter 238 Chapter 238 What I Meant Eileen¡¯s lips curved politely, her eyes carrying a hint of aloofness. ¡°No need for these; the elevator is already full. We can take the next one,¡± she said. The rejection, witnessed by many, prompted subtle nces circting between her and Jasper. ¡°I forgot to take something from the private room; I need to go back,¡± Eileen stated. ¡°I¡¯ll wait for you,¡± Benjamin offered. ¡°Okay.¡± As Eileen exited, the elevator doors gradually closed behind her. Jasper knew she was being deceptive; Eileen hadn¡¯t left anything behind but was attempting to escape. True enough, she remained in the private room for a few extra minutes. It was only when the waiter arrived to clear the table that she finally left. The two descended in the elevator to the underground parking lot. Eileen settled into the passenger seat, fastened her seatbelt, and said, ¡°All right, let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Wait a moment.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Suddenly, Benjamin moved closer. Eileen slightly leaned back, curious about his intentions. The man, who didn¡¯t seem frivolous, extended his hand, and his fingers gently lifted the hair tangled in the seatbelt. ¡°Your hair.¡± A sense of caution lessened in Eileen¡¯s heart. ¡°Thank you.¡± Benjamin¡¯s gaze shifted away from the car window as he pressed on the elerator, steering from the parking lot. Not far off, a few cigarette buttsy on the ground in front of the Maybach. away Nancy swiftly grabbed the hall-smoked cigarette from Jasper¡¯s hand. Crossing her legs, the slit of her skirt revealing her slender legs, she exhaled a puff of smoke with fiery red lips. ¡°Richie, if you keep staring at her like that, I¡¯ll get jealous.¡± Leaning in, she habitually blew smoke in his face. ¡°I¡¯m back now, so there¡¯s no room for any other woman in your heart. We are a perfect match, aren¡¯t we? I know that all these years, you¡¯ve never truly let go of me. After all, we¡¯ve shared so many firsts¡­¡± 11 With a deep, emotionless voice, Jasper said, ¡°Let¡¯s put an end to this.¡± Nancy paused in the middle of her smoke, promptly discarding the unfinished cigarette in her hand. She straightened her skirt and sat up properly. ¡°Understood, I¡¯ll stop joking around with you. Didn¡¯t you say you were going to make up for my birthday? You¡¯ve booked a restaurant, right? Let¡¯s hurry up and go.¡± Jasper turned his head and gave her a stern look. ¡°You know what I mean, Nancy. We should end this.¡± Indeed, she stood by him during his most challenging moments, helping him weather the darkest times. These experiences taught him valuable lessons. From his youth, Jasper was well aware of the strained rtionship between his father and mother. As a result, he consistentlyplied, aiming to be the perfect child in their eyes and exerting every effort to mend their home. It was regrettable that he couldn¡¯t sustain this effort, allowing that woman to take advantage of the situation. Later, it was revealed that his father was never home at night, and his mother coped with her sorrows by drowning them in alcohol, pushing herself to the edge of madness. In moments of anger, Jasper became an unwanted presence, facing either physical abuse or harsh words. After consuming alcohol, his mother would confine him to a dark basement. Upon sobering up, she would regret her actions, holding him in her arms with deep remorse. This period of his life, he vaguely recalled, urred when he was just eight years old. No matter how well he performed or how outstanding he was, that man never took notice. Approval or praise from him was something Jasper had never received. Growing up in a broken home defined much of his life. Jasper eventually rebelled, engaging in drinking, smoking, getting tattoos, and staying out all night. In the end, he transformed into a rogue and ruffian in the eyes of everyone, a school bully whom no one on the entire street dared to provoke. It was onlyter, after facing retaliation that nearly left him beaten to death on the streets, his body covered in blood and on the brink of death, that Jasper encountered Nancy. She stood by him year after year. During that challenging time, only she was there for Jasper. It was jasper who initially suggested they start dating. Content held by N?velDrama.Org. ||| < 24 Perhaps it was youthful recklessness, a moment of indulgence. He didn¡¯t understand what it meant to like someone, believing that not wanting to lose someone was the same as liking them. The moment he discovered that Nancy was nning to leave him years ago, he nearly risked his life to keep her, thinking this was love. But now he realized it was merely his unwillingness to ept, his reluctance to see the people around him gradually leave, to the point he harbored thoughts of death and almost lost his life. His thought was, ¡°If life tears us apart, then let¡¯s die together.¡± As his family crumbled, and the only person he truly cared about at the time was about to leave him, the sensation resembled being abandoned by the entire world. Jasper had once longed for liberation, perpetually dwelling in the abyss. Unexpectedly, the car ident didn¡¯t im his life. With the arrival of Eileen, she became a beacon of light, offering him the only chance for redemption and survival. For her, Jasper made the choice to emerge from the darkness. He never lost sight of why he embarked on this journey in the first ce! Nancy remained skeptical, casting him a dubious look. ¡°Quit ying games, Richie. You¡¯re practically dependent on me. You¡¯re willing to risk your life for me. Do you really think I¡¯d believe what you¡¯re saying?¡± Jasper responded with a nonchnt tone, ¡°I¡¯ve settled the high-interest loans you took from loan sharks, and I¡¯ve handled the aftermath with your father¡¯s side. He won¡¯t be bothering you anymore, Nancy. Living in the past is unsustainable for anyone. The bet you made with my grandmother? You lost the moment you started. As a gesture of respect for our shared history, I¡¯ll provide you with a sum of money-enough to sustain afortable life for the rest of your days.¡± Nancy was incredulous at what she heard. The once self-assured andposed woman suddenly became frantic and agitated. She tightly gripped the man¡¯s arm, ¡°Are you lying to me? Is everything you¡¯ve said just a bunch of lies, Richie? You know I love you! If it weren¡¯t for your grandmother, I wouldn¡¯t have been misled back then, wanting to leave you. I only wanted to be with you openly and honestly. Now that I¡¯m back, we will definitely return to how things were before.¡± ¡°Some things, once they happen, cannot be changed, like the car ident,¡± Jasper retorted. After Eileen left, Jasper admitted that he had never truly let go from start to finish. < 34 There were certain emotions he couldn¡¯t find in Nancy, and that was his true feeling! Perhaps he had never genuinely felt affection for Nancy. He found it unbearable to separate because he didn¡¯t want to lose anyone around him. That¡¯s why he clung desperately, begging them to stay. However, Eileen was different. In her presence, Jasper experienced a sense of peace he had never felt before. No matter how strong his emotions were, he could always find tranquility. It was a warm and comforting sensation. ¡°Then why did you still help me, pulling me to your side? Is that old woman threatening you again? Don¡¯t worry, no matter what happens this time, I won¡¯t leave you. It was you who didn¡¯t want me to leave. Now that I¡¯m back, no one can ever keep us apart,¡± Nancy asserted. However, the man remained steadfast in his position. ¡°There will be no future for us. I have already been more than fair to you.¡± Chapter 239 Chapter 239 Chapter 239 I Dare Not Open The Door ¡°Fabian, take her back to Jeahron.¡± Jeahron was a small city located about one to two hundred kilometers from Hulbury. It was also Nancy¡¯s hometown. The drive there would only take about two to three hours. ¡°But Mr. Smith, you- ¡°I know what I¡¯m doing.¡± Jasper got out of the car. When Nancy tried to follow him, Fabian locked the door. Nancy¡¯s makeup was smeared from crying, her fingernails desperately scratching at the car window. ¡°Jasper, you liar! It was you who asked me to stay with your forever, but now you¡¯re the one pushing me away!¡± Jasper simply kept quiet. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Jasper. I shouldn¡¯t have left you. The car ident was just an ident. I never expected it to change you like this. From now on, I¡¯ll make it up to you with the rest of my life! Let¡¯s not part ways again, I beg you¡­ Please don¡¯t send me back. Without you, I¡¯ll go mad!¡± Nancy pounded on the car window as she continued yelling, ¡°Fabian, open the door! I need to get out!¡± Fabian opened the partition between the front and back seats, remaining unmoved despite Nancy¡¯s shouting. Originally, he wanted to wait until tonight to tell her these words. However, a voice deep within him was telling him that he had waited long enough.Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. If I don¡¯t go back and find her soon, my girl will bepletely gone from my life! What difference would it make if I bow my head once more this time? After all, I¡¯m the one who can¡¯t let go! It was just past nine in the evening at the tattoo parlor when a young girl, about sixteen or seventeen, with her hair in dreadlocks, raised an eyebrow at the handsome, bare-chested man covered in tattoos in front of her. ¡°Hey, handsome¡­ Are you sure you want to remove them all at once? This is no joking matter. I suggest you do it in several sessions instead. Otherwise, the wounds might get infected, and with such arge area, I¡¯m afraid I might have to keep cleaning until tomorrow,¡± she said while chewing on a piece of gum. But she had to admit that the man had an impable figure. Actually, your tattoo looks quite good on you-¡± Jasper pulled out a thick wad of bills from his wallet. It amounted to at least over a thousand. This was almost equivalent to her sry for several months. It would be foolish of her not to ept the money when it was offered to her like that. ¡°Lie down and bear with the pain a little,¡± said the girl with the dreadlocks as she pulled up at chair to sit beside him. She began to clean the tattoo on the back of his hand, her fingers. lightly brushing over it as she continued, ¡°Have you had scars here before? It seems like there are many. How did you get them, mister?¡± ¡°I was injured,¡± Jasper replied as he looked at the ceiling painted with colorful oil paints and the ring lights. Jasper¡¯s body was actually covered with numerous scars,rge and small, all left by his mother in her drunken stupors. These scars had been hispanions for over a decade. Some were due to the car ident. Originally, he had asked Nancy to tattoo him. He wanted to get inked just like her, all in an effort to cover up these scars. Since the decision had been made to start anew, there was no need to hold onto them. anymore. The girl with the dreadlocks noticed that he seemed to be harboring many secrets. She didn¡¯t ask much more and began to handle things meticulously. Back at Unde Mansion, Mary had prepared ate-night snack for Eileen. ¡°Ms. Eileen, Mr. Snow came by today. His car was parked at the front gate. I didn¡¯t dare make a sound inside the mansion. It seems he didn¡¯t get the password right, so he left after a short while.¡± ¡°I understand. I won¡¯t be having supper, so you can take it home with you. I can¡¯t finish all of this by myself. I¡¯m going to head upstairs to rest now.¡± ¡°Alright then. You should get some rest early, Ms. Eileen.¡± Ever since Unde Mansion was left with only Mary as the sole housekeeper, Eileen had her move from the cramped housekeeper¡¯s room to the guest room on the fourth floor. After all, it was a waste to leave so many rooms unupied. Mary watched Eileen¡¯s retreating figure, muttering to herself, ¡°Oh my, this is such a good family. Where can I possibly find another one like this?¡± She had quite the appetite and loved to eat. This was the first time she had the chance to indulge in truffle and abalone. Even though she had never tried these delicacies before, when she brought them home, her old man relished them. However, Mary never snuck that food home. She would always obtain permission before doing so. She simply couldn¡¯t bring O < 21 herself to steal. Mary turned off the lights in the living room and picked up a te of washed strawberries. before heading upstairs. She only ate the ones that were half good. The good ones she had already delivered to Eileen¡¯s room. This poor child, living alone in such a cold and lifeless house¡­ It may befortable living here, but it doesn¡¯t feel like home. Mary arrived in the room and suddenly thought of something. She quickly dialed Sharon¡¯s number, and it took three tries before the call went through. ¡°Hello, Sharon, I was supposed to call you when Ms. Eileen returned¡­ Don¡¯t worry, though. She¡¯s doing great right now! When are youing back? Oh my, I miss you so much when you¡¯re not here.¡± Sharon let out a few coughs. ¡°Oh, my¡­ Why are you coughing? Are you sick? Feeling any better?¡± Mary asked. Sharon¡¯s voice was somewhat frail as she replied, ¡°It¡¯s just the same old ailment. As long as she¡¯s doing well, that¡¯s all that matters. I¡¯m sorry for the trouble, please take good care of her for me.¡± ¡°What are you talking about? I owe you for introducing me to this great job. I¡¯lle to visit you at the hospital tomorrow!¡± Mary said. The night was bathed in silence. Eileen emerged from the bathroom and ced her first award on disy. Suddenly, a memory surfaced in her mind. It was of a time when Jasper had left a line of poetry in her exercise book: One¡¯s patience will be rewarded. It seemed like she had seeded. She didn¡¯t me Jasper for his decision. If she were in Jasper¡¯s position, she would also find it difficult to let go. After all, her existence was indeed unique. Everyone has a past that they cannot forget. She had never regretted being with Jasper. He was a good person, but they were simply not meant to be together despite their connection. Leaving themp on by the nightstand, Eileen swallowed a few ke pills and went to bed. At three in the morning, Eileen had a dream. She saw her mother sitting by her bed, gently 34 brushing her hand across her face as she said, ¡°It seems you truly are strong and brave, Eileen. You managed to walk out of this situation on your own.¡± ¡°But¡­ Why do I still feel so terrible? Mom, can you tell me what I should do next?¡± ¡°From this point forward, you must walk the path alone, Eileen.¡± ¡°Mom, where are you going?¡± ¡°It¡¯s time for me to leave¡­¡± The dark figure gradually disappeared as it passed through the door. ¡°Mom!¡± Eileen woke up in a cold sweat. She sat up abruptly, nced at the time, and saw that it was only half past three. She reached out to turn on the light, only to find her vision blurred by tears. Her heart ached as if it had been brutally struck. The room was filled with silence, not a sound to be heard. A wave of loneliness and despair washed over her. Upon hearing the rumbling of thunder, Eileen quickly rushed to close the windows. Suddenly, a gust of wind blew into the room, lifting the curtains. Suddenly, there was an urgent knock on the door. ¡°Ms. Eileen, something is wrong! You shoulde downstairs quickly! I heard thunder, so I was getting ready to go to the yard to collect theundry, but there¡¯s someone outside. It¡¯s too dark for me to see clearly. I was afraid that it might be a ghost, so I didn¡¯t dare open the door.¡± Mary was both scared and panicked. Eileen closed the window before opening the door to the room. She looked at Mary and said, ¡°Mary, there are no ghosts in this world. I¡¯ll go down and take a look.¡± Outside the door, a figure stumbled clumsily towards the mansion. The pain coursing through the figure¡¯s legs was almost unbearable, making it nearly impossible to stand. Chapter 240 Chapter 240 Chapter 240 I Am Willing To Give You Everything The rain in the night was bitterly cold, prating to the bone. Eileen quickly draped a shawl over herself and descended the stairs, while Mary turned on the downstairs light. In the darkness, a man was dragging his exhausted body, moving slowly step by step. Seeing this, Eileen¡¯s pupils contracted, and without hesitation, she rushed into the rain. Mary quickly grabbed the umbre hanging at the entrance and followed her, holding it up. Eileen was speckled with droplets of water, her delicate eyebrows furrowed in concern. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? It¡¯ste, why aren¡¯t you home yet? Why aren¡¯t you using an umbre in the rain? Where¡¯s Fabian?¡± Seeing his disheveled appearance, Eileen¡¯s heart tightened, and her throat felt constricted. Jasper moved his thin lips, copsing onto Eileen as if he had used up hisst bit of strength to hold her tightly. The water droplets on his ck hair were icy cold as they trickled down, seeping into Eileen¡¯s fair neck. Eileen slightly leaned back, tentatively patting Jasper¡¯s back. ¡°Jasper?¡± Mary eximed, ¡°Oh, my! He has fainted!¡± Eileen quickly helped him to the living room sofa. ¡°Mary, please boil some water and fetch at clean set of clothes from Eric¡¯s room.¡± ¡°Oh, okay.¡± Eileen¡¯s clothes were also half-soaked. When she took off her shawl, she was startled to see a patch of bright red blood on one side. Where did this bloodstaine from? As Eileen removed his suit jacket, she discovered that the tattoo on his neck looked as if it had been removed. There were multiple scars left behind, and a few spots inexplicably stained with blood. Fearing that something might really happen to Jasper, she didn¡¯t have time to think too much. She reached out and unbuttoned his shirt. After taking it off, Eileen covered her mouth in shock, her body trembling uncontrobly as waves of shock tore through her heart. Not a single part of his upper body was unscathed. From his neck down to his fingertips, one could clearly see numerous burn-like wounds. What happened to him? Mary moved swiftly, fetching the clothes and setting them aside. Upon seeing the state of Jasper¡¯s body, she eximed in shock, ¡°Oh, my goodness! What has happened to this Ms. Eileen, shouldn¡¯t we call an ambnce right away?¡± person? She stepped forward and touched Jasper¡¯s forehead. ¡°He has a fever. What are we going to do now?¡± It took Eileen quite a while to gather her thoughts. ¡°I¡­ I will make the call now.¡± ¡°What about these clothes?¡± ¡°Just change them for him.¡± Mary wore a troubled expression. ¡°This is hardly appropriate! What if he wakes up and uses me of taking advantage of him? Ms. Eileen, perhaps you should be the one to change him! After all, he was your former sweetheart, wasn¡¯t he? I¡¯ll go boil some water.¡± Mary then slipped away, leaving Eileen with no choice but to wait a bit longer. She fiddled with the phone on the coffee table but couldn¡¯t get through to an emergency hotline. She nced at her mobile phone on the table, only to see that it had no reception whatsoever, probably due to the rainy weather. Eileen was momentarily at a loss but finally decided to bring him to the room upstairs. After what seemed like forever, the two of them managed to move him onto the bed. Despite all themotion, Jasper did not wake up. ¡°Now that the hot water is ready, please bring some fever medication.¡± ¡°All right.¡± After Mary left, Eileen and Jasper were the only ones remaining in the room. Eileen had already turned up the heating. As Jasper was injured from the waist down, she chose not to dress him just yet. She needed to treat his wounds first. Taking care of a sick person was something Eileen was quite adept at. In her past life, she was the one who took care of Eric whether he was drunk or sick in the hospital. Apart from those close to him, he wouldn¡¯t let anyone else near him. Gradually, she also developed this habit. To avoid various unexpected situations, she even read quite a few books on nursing. Eileen carefully dried the areas where he had removed his tattoos with a tissue before. applying some medication to prevent infection. The wound on the hand she was holding was bleeding, so she made sure to be gentle. Wasn¡¯t he perfectly fine when they had dinnerst night? Why would he do such a thing to himself? Eileen¡¯s delicate and beautiful face showed little emotion as she quietly tended to his 24 wounds. Jasper couldn¡¯t bring himself to let go of Nancy, just as Eric never let go of Vera after her death in his previous life. I thought that Jasper would return to the past with Nancy, so why would hee looking for me in the middle of the night? Just like Eric, Jasper too has always been inscrutable, never letting anyone figure out his thoughts. Although she was currently around eighteen or neen years old, her wisdom was equivalent to that of a person who had lived two lifetimes. At 4:26 in the morning, Eric¡¯s eyes were as cold as ice as he stared at the footage from the surveince cameras. At that moment, the man resembled a venomous snake lurking in the shadows. The aura he exuded turned the entire study into a freezing cold ce. He grabbed the mug beside him and hurled it forcefully at the door. Coffee trickled down. the gray wallpaper, and shards of the mug littered the floor. Just like the storm raging outside, raindrops pitter-pattered against the ss. A bolt of lightning tore through the night sky, illuminating half of the man¡¯s profound face. Hist expression was as cold as frost, terrifying and chilling to the extreme. Upon hearing themotion, Vera immediately opened the door to his study. ¡°Eric!¡± She froze in fear when she saw the screen light illuminating the man¡¯s face. ¡°What happened. Eric? I heard¡ª¡± ¡°Get out!¡± Eric¡¯s voice was a low, suppressed roar, barely containing his anger. Vera stepped forward with concern. ¡°I¡¯m just worried about you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you understand what I just said? Listen carefully; you are not allowed to be anywhere. near my study without my permission.¡± Vera¡¯s fingers curled into a fist, her fingertips turning ke. ¡°G-Got it.¡± This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Tears of injustice gushed out of her eyes as she turned around and left, mming the door shut behind her to vent her emotions. Just then, the phone on the desk began to vibrate. Upon seeing the series of numbers, Eric stood up and walked towards the floor-to-ceiling window. He had a tall and straight figure. With one hand holding the phone and the other in his pocket, he patiently waited for the person to speak. 31 To his surprise, the person screamed hysterically, ¡°Jasper has returned! He must have gone to find her. You must take action! Jasper is mine! He belongs to me!¡± Eric took out a cigarette and lit it in the darkness, the wisps of smoke dissipating in the air as he responded, ¡°If you want me to help you, then there is a price to pay, or an equivalent. exchange. What can you offer me?¡± The man¡¯s voicecked any emotion. It seemed as if he knew this person would definitely contact her. ¡°Name your price! I will pay whatever it is!¡± The man exhaled a thick cloud of smoke, ¡°I am not interested in money.¡± ¡°So, what do you desire?¡± ¡°What I desire is quite simple. It all depends on whether you are willing or not.¡± ¡°Alright. I am willing to give you anything as long as you assist me.¡± ¡°Even your life?¡± he asked, sounding like a heartless monster. Chapter 241 Chapter 241 Chapter 241 You Are Hurting Me Nancy had returned once again. Outside the door, Vera, who hadn¡¯t left yet, had been drained. leaning against the wall,rheard the conversation inside. She felt as if all her strength She covered her mouth with both hands, not daring to make at sound. Her eyes were filled with terror as if she had discovered some horrifying secret.. Vera had never known that Eric had been harboring so many secrets. Has he ever taken a life before! Why does he want to harm me? No¡­ That can¡¯t be true! In Vera¡¯s memory, Eric was the one who, when she was on the brink of starvation, would kneel down and beg others just to get her a bowl of rice to eat. That Eric who adopted stray animals. Even though he was adopted by the Swan family, he donated his own money to the orphanage every year, providing for the children¡¯s education. There was no way he could have done such thing Vera didn¡¯t know how she ended up back in her room, sitting on her bed for a long time without snapping back to reality After ending the call. the man turned around to look at the glowing screen on the desk. By the time Eileen had finished tending to his wounds, the day had already dawned. After a night of torrential rain and fierce winds, the ground was littered with broken branches and fallen leaves, a scene of N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. utter chaos. Mary walked in. Ms. Eileen, you should take a break 100. You¡¯ve been busy all night and haven¡¯t really rested. I just checked. The signal is back. I made the call, and they said they¡¯ll be liere soon Eileen stood up, her body swaying slightly. Mary quickly stepped in to steady her. The fever has subsided, and there¡¯s nothing else major to worry about. If he wakes up, tell him I¡¯ve gone out.¡± ¡°Alright, then,¡± Mary said again, ¡°Breakfast is ready, Ms. Eileen. How about we eat something? It will make your stomach feel better.¡± ¡°Wait for him to pick him up, and you should take a couple of days off. It¡¯s been a while since you¡¯ve been home,¡± said Eileen as she turned and left the room. After hearing her say this, how could Mary ignore her? Mary quickly went downstairs to prepare a few dishes. She put them in ss bowls and sealed them with lids. Fearing she might forget, she stuck a reminder note on the refrigerator. Mary wasn¡¯t particrly educated, her skills were limited to cooking a few dishes. She used to work as a housekeeper, but people oftenined about her being clumsy and careless. Her sperch was coarse 11.40 Mon, 18 Dec i Chapter 211 You Are Hurting Me and unrefined. After a few days, people would no longer want her services. This job was the one she had held the longest. It was also the most rxed, and the pay was high as well. After receiving the money, she made sure everything was properly arranged. Although she couldn¡¯t write, she drew patterns on it. It depicted a little figure holding a bowl, symbolizing the act of eating Once everything was tidied up, someone conveniently rang the doorbell. Mary wiped her hands, pressed the inte button and upon hearing the voice on the other end, she let the person in Fabian was also weary from his travels. After escorting Nancy back to Jeahron, he received a phone call on his way back to Hulbury, ¡°Where is he now?¡± Mary stated. Mr. Smith is currently in Ms. Eileen¡¯s room. She has asked that youe and take him away immediately and kindly refrain from visiting in the future.¡± Fabian pursed his lips. What else did Ms. Eileen say?¡± Mary replied, ¡°Ms. Eileen has already left. She instructed you to take him to the hospital immediately.¡± Fabian nodded his head. Thank you. He hurriedly ascended the stairs. When Fabian reached Eileen¡¯s room, he saw the unconscious figure lying on the bed. half his body swathed in bandages. He realized something was seriously wrong. Without wasting a moment, he pulled back the covers, helped the man up, and quickly led him downstairs. Mary also returned to her room to pack her things, preparing to leave and go and check on her old man back home. Eileen watched from upstairs as Fabian left with Jasper. Drawing the curtains and changing the sheets on the bed, after a night of exluustion, Eileen barely hit the pillow before falling fast asleep. Unsure of how long she had slept, Eileen was awakened by a pungent, unpleasant smell of alcohol. In her daze, she felt as if something was pressing down on her, making it hard for her to breathe. She felt a chilling touch around her neck. ¡°Urgh, she groaned in difort. Just as she was about to speak, her voice suddenly choked off. The kiss came like a sudden storm, a hand lifting the hem of her dress, reaching in. Another hand covered the¡­ fair skin on her chest, wantonly ravishing it. Eileen had always been more mature than other people from a young age, a fact that was simply impossible to ignore. The mass raressed her forcefully. 11:41 Mon, 18 Dec ti Chapter 241 You Are Hurting Me It was as if he did not know the first thing about being gentle with women. All Eileen could do was let out a pained whimper. The pain gradually brought her back to consciousness, the biting chill enveloping her. Even if the room was pitch ck, the feeling Eric gave her was all too familiar. 68 +5 Free Cons He always enjoyed teasing her, especially when she was asleep. He would gradually increase his intensity until he made her cry. Every time she cried out for mercy, he didn¡¯t stop. On the contrary, it only made him more excited, relentlessly demanding more from her. She would go > from feelingpletely weak to wholeheartedly cooperating with him. Eileen had no idea how he got in. After all, she had already reced the front door with a security door and had changed the password a long time ago. Her hands kept smacking the man, her voice muffled. ¡°Enough¡­ Enough!¡± Her voice could be perceived as her yfully teasing him. Eric had no intention of letting her go. He unbuckled the metal sp at his waist, pulled down the zipper, and continued kissing until he had his fill. Eric suddenly let her go, controlling Eileen¡¯s wrists with one hand and raising them above her head. His voice, tinged with a hint of hurried panung, sounded seductive in her ear. ¡°Will you help me, hmm?¡± Eileen¡¯s chest heaved violently. She could feel the enormous object between her legs, rubbing up and down.. Eric once said that she was like a masterpiece. No matter how many times he had been with her, she still felt as fresh as the first time. He once expressed that he would rather die for her. In the end, one of them had to be left breathless in bed, metaphorically speaking. He was always the one left half-dead after each torment Regarding his stamina¡­ The longest encounter urred when Eileen, from his previous life, desired to conceive a child with him. She secretly lit an arousing candle that could ignite one¡¯s emotions and desires. From that point on, they never parted ways, continuing for three days and three nights, regardless of the circumstances. That was the closest Eileen had evere to experiencing death. Whether in her past life or the present, Eileen simply couldn¡¯t handle his magnitude. ¡°I don¡¯t want this, Eric.. Please stop, you¡¯re hurting me. ¡°Can we approach this differently this time? Could you assist me¡­ hum?¡± Perhaps it was the wine he had 11.41 Mon, 18 Dec ti Chapter 241 You Are Hurting Mc 68% +5 Free Cons consumed that made his voice gentle yet enchanting. Even without seeing, one could sense the burning. fire in his eyes. His rough thumb tenderly traced Eileen¡¯s lips, lingering as if hesitant to move away. Eileen clenched her teeth in resentment. ¡°Eric, don¡¯t make me engage in such repulsive acts. What exactly do you want? I told you, don¡¯te back¡± Eric simply disregarded her words. Instead, he gently nibbled on her earlobe. ¡°May I use my hand? Hmm?¡± ¡°Get off. Im in pain!¡± In an instant. Eric abruptly sat up. He leaned over to switch on a bedsidemp, casting a dim light.. And beneath the illumination. Eileen¡¯s long hair flowed like a waterfall, loosely spread across the bed¡­ Chapter 242 Chapter 242 Chapter 242 Losing Control The recent struggle had caused her to break out in a fine sweat, and her thin nightgown had been torn open, revealing skin so fair it seemed to glow. Her expression of embarrassment and anger only served to tighten Eric¡¯s stomach as if she were a delicate flower ready to be plucked at will. The man unabashedly sized her up, his gaze intense, as if he was trying to see right through her. Eileen didn¡¯t want to look at him. She turned her face toward the heavy curtains. There, where her corbone delicately dipped, the man leaned over and kissed her again, leaving a trail of marks that belonged solely to harm Since Mary had left, no matter how much Eileen resisted, she couldn¡¯t avoid what wasing. In the entire mansion, there were only the two of them. It seemed as if Eileen fate was sealed. No matter what, she would sull be tainted. Although¡­ Eric wouldn¡¯t proceed to the final step, entering her body, but she was afraid that he would ignite her desire at the slightest touch, making her devoid of any self-control. When Will left, it seemed as if the entire Swan family had be his. Eric¡¯s patience waspletely worn out. ¡°Let me choose for you, then. The man had already unbuckled the metal sp. pulling down the zipper and revealing his unappealing thing. It seemed to touch Eileen¡¯s chin causing her to struggle violently, her face burning. With her eyes closed, she said. ¡°You bastard, get up.¡± ¡°Hush, it will be over soon¡­¡± About forty minutester. Eileen casually grabbed something to wipe off the stuff on her chest and face, then directly tossed it onto his head. ¡°I really want to kill you, you bastard. Get out of my sight.¡± Eric, unfazed, pulled off the shin from his head and tossed it into a corner. Then, bare-bodied, he stood and effortlessly lifted the girl on the bed into his arms. up Eileen stretched out her leg, aiming a kick directly at Eric, who swiftly dodged it. Seizing the opportunity, Eileen ran off the bed from the other side. The room door was already slightly ajar and in the next second¡­. With a ¡°bang. it was forcefully shut again. With a swift pull from Eric, she found herself pressed against the door, her exquisite curves and her small waist¡­ Not every woman possesses waist dimples, apart from some well-shaped international models. Eric had been in the business world, having witnessed all kinds of power and transactions. Among all the women he had encountered, none couldpare to the beauty currently beneath him. ¡°You¡¯ve got guts, kicking wherever you dare.¡± ¡°Eric, you will surely be childless, and your lineage will end with you. You won¡¯t meet a peaceful end.¡± Eric held her by the waist, making her bend slightly, and tilted his head to indulge her fully. With such a fiery temper, it seemed she wouldn¡¯t be seeking death anytime soon The man toyed with the girl, urging her to tighten her legs around him. ¡°If I am to die. I want to die with you Eileen bit her lip, the humiliation in her eyes deepening. Eric had never loved her. He had always treated her like a servant, summoning and dismissing her at will. What he likes is nothing more than this body¡­ His thing squeezed its way in, nestled between her legs For over an hour, he continued to move back and forth on top of her Countless times, when he let her go. Eileen felt so weak she was like a puddle of mud, about to slump to the ground. Enic promptly picked her up and carried her into the bathroom. Eileen was toozy to lift a finger, her mind in aplete fog. It must be said, aside from his daily fits of passion. Eric was also quite the master of flirtation¡­ Under duress, she found immense satisfaction, yet she resented it, unable to push him away each time. Eileen had been asleep for nearly twenty hours, waking up at half past four in the morning. The two of them were unclothed, sharing the same bed. Eileen¡¯s back was pressed tightly against his Eileen a scorching body, hot like a furnace. She stared nkly our the window. For some reason, it gave feeling that she hadn¡¯t been reincarnated at all. He loved to fall asleep, holding her from behind. Even when she turned over, he would gently guide her back. So, after all these years, she still hadn¡¯t broken the habit of sleeping on her side Indeed, a habit nurtured for nearly a decade, ingrained in one¡¯s bones, how could it be easily changed? Eileen turned around, facing this restrained face that once captivated the dreams of countless women. In her memory. Erie appeared to be almost fony. If it weren¡¯t for living again. Eileen would have almost forgotten what the young Eric looked like. Eileen looked up at him, observing him intently¡­. At this moment, the still rtively young Eric¡¯s face ovepped with that of Eric in his middle age. In his forties, Eric had grown even more mature. His features were deeper and more captivating, and there was a unique, steady aura about him that not everyone possessed. No matter how dangerous or difficult things got, as long as he was by her side, he could provide a sense of security. She can trust him with everything. Back then, among the circle of the elite, men of his age were either out of shape or had thinning hair. Eric was very disciplined, leading in everything from physique to status. Otherwise, there wouldn¡¯t be so many outstanding women constantly thinking about him. How many mistresses hade to her door forcing her to step down¡­ Eileen had lost count. However, no one could make him look at them¡­ +5 FreeCom Eileen yed the role of an extremely magnanimous good wife. The blissful ¡°Mrs. Snow¡± who didn¡¯t compete or fight, living like a walking corpse¡­ Whenever she thought back those scattered memories were seldom filled with happiness. Most of the time, they were steeped in her own heartache and bitterness. Even though her heart was shattered all over the ce, it was painstakingly pieced back together, only to ache intensely once again. Eileen wanted to strangle him but with her strength. Eric would wake up before she could kill him. Eileen quietly got out of bed, slipped into a nightgown, and headed downstairs, She admitted her own cowardice and didn¡¯t know what kind of method she should use to move on from her past pain- Before being diagnosed with cancer, she had actually developed heart diseaseter in life. The doctor exined that it was caused by years of suppressed anxiety and emotional overstimtion. It was not hereditary, but any severe shock could potentially trigger a sudden heart attack at any time, leading to death. All her heartache stemmed solely from him. Eileen had countless thoughts of killing Eric, but why? What could be her motive for killing him? Did she have the capability to kill him? Vera¡¯s death was a result of her father¡¯s actions. Then. Eric killed his father. This was an act of retribution, a tit for tat. Eileen had nothing to say about that. The woman he kept on the side¡­ Eric, too, simply made a mistake that every man is prone to make. Why did she hate him? Was it because Eric did not love her? However, from the very beginning, she was the one who insisted on this marriage. All the mistakes were her own doing. From the moment she decided to marry Eric, all the tragedies were, in fact, destined to happen. Because the person he wanted to marry was never her. That included the fact that she had been drugged for so many years¡­. Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. It was all because of the debt her father had once incurred, and Eric simply made her pay for it. A person¡­. so consumed by hatred that they wished to seek revenge on an entire family, Eileen couldn¡¯tprehend the depth of such a grudge, one that would drive someone to destroy her family, leaving them in a state worse than death Chapter 243 Chapter 243 Chapter 243 Help Me Find The Best Psychiatrist +5 Free Cons Every time she was with him, Eileen found herself recalling things she thought she had forgotten but somehow still remembered. In the past¡­ how did she alleviate these inner torments? The answer was to inflict pain upon herself, using physical suffering to counteract the sorrow within. Even though it was self-harm there was no sensation, only a greater sense of pleasure. Eileen found a pair of scissors in the kitchen and cut a wound on her small arm. The first time, it didn¡¯t bleed, but oh how her heart ached even more! During the second attempt, blood was shed¡­. The droplet of blood that emerged fell into the pool, its color diffusing into the water before flowing into the drain Eileen¡¯s mouth curved into a smile. In the pitch-ck room, herughter resembled that of a tormented spirit. Then, there was the third time¡­. Because physical pain lessened the agony of the mind. Watching the blood slowly drip down, Eileen found a perverse satisfaction. With each drop of blood that flowed, she felt a sense of release. When Eric saw her self-harming, there was no worry or sadness in his eyes as he discovered her. Instead, he picked up the knife, grabbed her hand, and forcefully made another cut in the same spot. It was deep enough to see the bone. Later, due to excessive blood loss, she passed out. When she woke up, she found herself locked up He said, ¡°She¡¯s gone mad.¡± In reality, she was not insane. She knew exactly what she was doing She longed to tell him that she was just sick, and it might¡­ it might take a very long time for her to slowly heal herself. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Suddenly, a cold voice echoed in the unlit living room. The next moment, Eric turned on the light. The ring ke light was so intense that it made her squint her eyes. Eric walked over and smatched the scissors from her hand. Chapter 243 Help Me Find The Best Psychiatrist Eileen looked at him with a very faint gaze. This time, he saw both worry and anger in Eric¡¯s eyes. He seized her hand, his dangerous gaze fixed on her. The next moment, it seemed as if he could explode with anger at any time. Do you really want to die?¡± With a smile, tears trickled down Eileen¡¯s face. I just want to case the pain here,¡± she said, pointing to her heart ¡°I just don¡¯t know what to do anymore! Eric! I¡¯ve always been diligent about taking my medicine and getting a good night¡¯s sleep. But I¡­ I¡¯m really feeling awful. I¡¯ve even thought about tearing out my own heart, wondering if it might case my pain a bit. Do I look like a madwoman right now? I assure I¡¯m you. not. I know exactly what I¡¯m doing, but I just can¡¯t help myself. Eric, I¡¯m not crazy; I¡¯m just sick. I don¡¯t know how to get better on my own. This sentence. It was as if it was spoken to his past self. Eric¡¯s heart sank at that. Suddenly. Eileen was pulled into an embrace. The emotions she had nowhere to vent were still there. In the same position as before, she bit down on his shoulder. Suddenly, after a long while. Eileen realized that she had be unexpectedly quiet. She was cull holding the blood-dripping scissors in her hand. It seemed like it was not just Eileen who had gone mad. Eric first treated Eileen¡¯s wound, which was quite superficial. Given that the scissors were sterilized daily. there was no need for a tetanus shot ¡°Feeling better now?¡± Eileen¡¯s dress was soaked in blood. Due to excessive blood loss, her face was visibly pale. She hung her head in silence, not uttering a word Eric tucked her loose hair behind her ear. Tll make breakfast for you. What would you like to eat?¡± ¡°Just leave.¡± ¡°Pasta, then.¡± The best dish Eric could make was just pasta. They were also very calm, as if nothing had ever happened. Eric cooked a bowl of beef macaroni soup. He ced it on the table, then turned around to fetch a sinaller bowl. It was for her. Eric scooped up some pasta into her bowl, then poured in some soup. Some of the soup trickled down the edge of the bowl, spilling onto the table. ¡°Come and eat, he said. Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Eileen halted. Her foot that was stepping onto the staircase retracted. She was quickly pulled back into ce by a man, a fork thrust into her hand. However, she threw it in front of him, and the bowl shattered. The soup and pasta spilled all over the floor. ¡°Can¡¯t you see? It¡¯s because of you that I¡¯ve be like this? Just keep your distance from me, and I won¡¯t be reminded of the pain, let alone harm myself. Please go! I¡¯m begging you!¡± 11:42 Mon, 18 Dec Chapter 243 Help Me Find The Best Psychiatrist 67% +5 Free Coins Eric didn¡¯t get angry. Instead, he patiently cleaned up. His hand was cut by the shards he picked up. When he looked up at her, Eileen instinctively stepped back in fear, as if Eric would do something to her. ¡°After you finish eating. I¡¯ll leave Eric pushed his bowl toward her. After sweeping up the trash, he left for the doorway and lit up a cigarette. Six o¡¯clock in the early morning The air was a blend of floral fragrance and the scent of earth. Zachary leaned on the bed, watching the woman beside him pick up the clothes from the floor, silently heading to the bathroom. At that moment, an iing call drew his attention away. Zachary casually picked up the phone. ¡°What¡¯s up? Something happened to Eileen?¡± Only when she was in trouble would he receive a call from this man. A wicked smirk curled up on the corner of Zachary¡¯s handsome yet bewitching face. He got out of bed. picked up bus bathrobe, and put it on Standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, he felt like having smoke, only to remember that the woman had thrown it away. ¡°Hurry up and talk. Im very busy. ¡°Help me had the best psychiatrist.¡± Zachary ran hus lingers through his hair, gazing at the bright sunshine before speaking. ¡°Even if you lind The best therapist it¡¯s futile if the patient is unwilling to ept treatment. The therapy process involves the patient expressing their deepest pam and distress, which is then addressed and alleviated by the psychotherapist It¡¯s a lengthy process, and whether it¡¯s positive or negative, it all depends on Eileen herself. However. Eric you know I believe you re the cause of her current state. If you truly want her to improve, why not let her be with Jasper? Perhaps she can recover without medic.mon and her emotional ailment will naturally beal Before he could finish hus sentence, the call abruptly ended on the other side. Is he so embarrassed that he¡¯s angry With a joyful smile. Zachary realized that this time. Eric had truly fillen. How intriguing! In the bathroom, Cynthia heard his phone ring. After hesitating for a moment, she got dressed and prepared to leave. Seeing her about to go, Zachary stepped forward to stop her. He pulled her into an embrace from behind, inhaling her scent. Among it was a fragrance she favored. He took a strand of her hair, held it to his nose, and took a sniff. ¡°Cynthia¡­ if you ever need anything, don¡¯t hesitate to come find me,¡± he said. ¡°Don¡¯t take it too far. There won¡¯t be another chance. ¡°Did you forget, Cynthia, that it was my brother who personally brought you to my bed?¡± ¡°Shut up! He wouldn¡¯t do that.¡± ¡°What¡¯s so special about him? He¡¯s paralyzed from the waist down. How could he possibly satisfy you in bed¡± ¡°Well, it seems the rumors are true. You¡¯re just like a pest, making people feel disgusted with just a touch.¡± Cynthia pushed him away, grabbed her bag, and walked out of the hotel. Chapter 244 Chapter 244 Chapter 244 I Will Never Leave You Cynthia hurriedly left the hotel and quickly hailed a car on the road. She told the driver where to go. As he nced at her through the rearview mirror, his gaze made Cynthia feel uneasy. She took out apact mirror from her bag, lowered her cor, and examined the red mark. Her cycbrows furrowed slightly, unsure why her heart was heating so fast. She quickly covered it with foundation, applying severalyers until it was no longer noticeable. She couldn¡¯t believe what Zachary had said. She simply couldn¡¯t believe that Stefan had personally delivered her into that despicable man¡¯s bed The previous night, they had a fight over something about the child and she ran out, feeling heartbroken. She had a few drinks with her friends at the bar. When she went to the restroom, she suddenly fainted. 1. she was Although Cynthia did note from a wealthy family, her parents were intellectuals who raised her strictly. She had never been to such a ce before. She must have been drunk. When she woke in a hotel, lying in the same bed with Zachary. Both of them were naked. She felt guilty because she had Jet. Stefan down After returning home, she was even more unsure about how she should face him Cynthia arrived home. The housekeeper greeted her. ¡°Mrs. Xenos¡± Cynthia responded. Where¡¯s Stefan? Is he still sleeping?¡± The housekeeper nodded. ¡°Alter your argument with the gentlemanst night, he stayed up all night in his room waring for you Cynthia was taken aback, her guilt intensifying. She hurriedly went upstairs, and as she looked at the tightly closed door, it felt as if her heart was being repeatedly stabbed hundreds, thousands of times. She didn¡¯t know what to do to make up for her unforgivable mistake. Cynthia gently knocked on the door and entered the room with a nervous heart. The room was dimly lit: only two night lights were on. Their wedding photo was hanging above the bed Seeing the photo, Cynthia felt as if her heart was suffocating. She carefully approached. Stefan was still wearing the same clothes as yesterday: He sat in his wheelchair, facing the floor-to- ceiling window She didn¡¯t know how to proceed. A voice, gentle as a breeze, spoke up. ¡°I called you.¡± Cynthia¡¯s heart skipped a bear. ¡°My phone ran out of batteryst night.¡± She walked over, half kneeling in front of him. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I shouldn¡¯t have argued with you. It¡¯s my fault. Can we not get a divorce, please? Even if we can¡¯t have a child, we can adopt one that will be ours.. ¡°What¡¯s the point of staying with a half-paralyzed man? If you¡¯re worried about the property, I can leave without a penny 11:42 Mon, 18 Dec Chapter 244 I Will Never Leave You +5 Free Coins ¡°I don¡¯t want that!¡± Cynthia¡¯s eyes instantly turned red. ¡°I just want to be with you. No matter what happens to you, you¡¯re the one¡­ I will always love. When I married you, it wasn¡¯t for your money. Stefan¡­ Can y you please not push me away? All I want is to be by your side, and I have never once found fault with you in any way.¡± The man lowered his head, his eyes cold and indifferent. The left side of his face bore the marks of a burn, a disfigurement that starkly contrasted with the warm and handsome image in his wedding photo. It was as if they were two different people. Stefan was her mother¡¯s student, excelling both in character and learning. Every time her mother mentioned him, her eyes were filled with admiration. He was truly outstanding, someone too lofty for her to reach. Their union was initially arranged by her mother. On their wedding day, they encountered a fire at the hotel where they were honeymooning Stefan thought she was still trapped in the room and bravely rushed in to save her. By the time the firefighters found him, he had been crushed by a fallen wall, his face severely burned, and he was barely clinging to life. The doctors said he might end up in a vegetative state. Even though he had been in aa for so long. Cynthia had never given up on him throughout these years. Even if he would never wake up. she was determined to stay by his side forever. It was precisely because of this incident that Cynthia became the scapegoat of the entire Xenos family, She had always been by his side, and even though he had tried every possible way to drive her away over the years, Cynthia was not willing to leave him. Even if his face was disfigured, even if he was paralyzed from the waist down, so what? She was in love with the Stn she knew. She didn¡¯t care at all, nor did she mind his current appearance. ¡°Do as you wish Stefan closed his eyes, no longer looking at her. As long as he did not divorce her, she would do whatever he wanted. Cynthia wiped the tears from her face. ¡°Shall I give you a bath? After that, we can get a good night¡¯s sleep. I¡¯ll talk things over with Moni, okay?¡± In the past, Cynthia had put her work on hold to take better care of him. She learned how to personally attend to his needs, from food and clothing to daily care. She was always by his side, inseparable. After filling the bath, Cynthia gently wiped him down with a towel. The extensive burn on his back left no patch of skin unscathed. Half an hourter, Cynthia helped him get dressed and had him sit down. She dried his hair with a hairdryer. ¡°Your hair has grown again. Shall I give you a haircut tomorrow? By the way, not long ago. I had someone inquire for me. There¡¯s a hospital in Atharia that, after reviewing the case, might have a solution. Once the visa is processed, we can go there for treatment together.¡± After blow-drying her hair Cynthia tucked him into bed. She then walked over to the wardrobe, picked pf a set of pajamas, and took a bath. As she looked at her reflection m the mirror, her initial smile faced reced by regret and heartbreak. But above all, she felt fear. Emerging from the bathroom. Cynthia turned off themp by the bedside table and climbed into bed. As soon as shey down, the man, eyes closed, turned his back to her. All she could do was cautiously wrap her arms around his waist from behind, pressing her face against his back. ¡°I will never leave you¡­ she whispered. ¡°I love you, Stefan.¡± The man opened his eyes, his gaze dim and profound, as if entwined with pain. This day was destined to be anything but calm. Jasper was rushed to the hospital, where he remained unconscious overnight. The nurses, upon seeing his injuries, were speechless, their anger simmering just below the surface. Fortunately, he had been brought injust in time, and his wounds had been treated. Otherwise, given his condition, an infection would have been unavoidable, reaching a point of no return. When it came time to insert the IV, the nurses hesitated about where to start. Ulumately, it was the head nurse who intervened and sessfully administered the drip. No one was taking charge at thepany, and now that the CEO was injured, he couldn¡¯t simply ignore the situation. He took the initiative, postponing all the meetings, everything that awaited the CEO¡¯s decision. This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Upon receiving the message from Fabian, Richard promptly arrived with his bodyguards and housekeepers. For safety purposes, the entire fifteenth-floor VIP ward had beenpletely sealed off. ¡°But¡­ why has Mr. Jasper changed like this? Why would he suddenly decide to remove his tattoo? Mr. Sherwood, you better tell the truth. Otherwise, I won¡¯t be able to exin it to Old Mrs. Smith.. Chapter 245 Chapter 245 Chapter 245 He Wants Her To Submit Fabian shared all his knowledge with Richard. 45 Free Comm Both of them probably guessed that the only person who could make him go to such lengths would be Eileen. In reality, they had all observed Jasper¡¯s interactions with Eileen. It was only in her presence that a rare smile would grace his face. Initially, it was Eileen who saved the gravely ill Jasper from the brink of death, and now, only she could save him again The only one who can fix the problem is the one who created the problem. Mr. Jasper has managed to let go of the past, and everything he does is for Ms. Eileen. If one day. Ms. Eileenes to understand his feelings, then she will know, won¡¯t she?¡± Richard spoke with a heavy heart. This time. Ms. Eileen might not change her mind so easily. If Old Mrs. Smith herself steps in, there might still be a glimmer of hope for Mr. Jasper. Don¡¯t worry, Mr. Sherwood, Mr. Jasper will be fine.¡± No matter what, the sole heir of the Smith family absolutely could note to harm. Fabian nodded. Tll leave Mr. Jasper¡¯s matters to you. I have some business to attend to back at the ¡°Min-humm The CEO was currently unconscious, and someone must make decisions for thepany. Otherwise¡­ the shareholders might seize the opportunity to stir up trouble. Who knew what kind of chaos they might cause? Nightmare me Explosion¡­ ¡°Jasper¡­ Let¡¯s break up!¡± ¡°What can you offer me?¡± I¡¯ve been deceiving you through and through. You have nothing, and yet you want me to be with you? What will you use to marry me? Just your words? Or is it all talk in bed?¡± ¡°Wake up! Can¡¯t you see? I¡¯ve always treated you as a backup, a dog that I can summon and dismiss at will. I was nice to you because I wanted an obedient dog. Did you really think¡­ I would like someone like you?¡± The car was hit and flipped over. As it rolled down the cliff, it emitted thick ke smoke, and everything in sight was bathed in a bloody glow¡­ Jasper woke up from a recurring nightmare, and upon seeing the ke ceiling above his head, he realized. it was all just a dream. 14 67% 5 Free Coins Chapter 245 He Wants Her To Submit You re awake. Mr. Jasper you¡¯re finally awake. I¡¯m going to call the doctor right now¡± In less than half a minute the doctor and nurse hurried over conducting a thorough check on Jasper. ¡°Mr. Smith, rest assured You¡¯re fine now All you need is a few days in the hospital Once the wounds on your hedly web over and you¡¯ve had some good rest you ll be well in a week The nurse came over with a tray of medicine. Tm here to administer your medication.¡± Jasper responded, ¡°Get out¡± ¡°Mi Suaith, please don¡¯t get upset.¡± the surve said, somewhat frightened to approach him Suddenly, Jasper picked up the tablemp beside him and hurled it at the people. ¡°Get out all of you Bang The doctors and nurses jumped in fright, looking at the shatteredmp on the floor. They didn¡¯t dare to Inges apal tricately it. Evra the Smith family housekeepers were driven away The currens Joijer seemed to have returned to his past self-fierce, irritable, and vtile. No one around Jum could appeath him The nomeckerper spoke necmanly Me Jasper you should follow the doctor¡¯s advice Mr. Zimmer has already gone to teach M. Later. If he sees you in this state, she surely wont be pleased In a sangle sentence Jasper quickly regained hasposure Covering his face, he was just having a bit of trouble controlling his emotions ean up the floor then leave ¡°All right. All veche Okay After the housekeeper tidied up the tablemp on the flour, she hurriedly left the room. Even when Eileen was mentioned they only managed in control hins emotion. He still was willing to receive any Richard hardly arrived at Unde Mansion, but unfortunately, there was no response from the Richard never expected such an oue Not only that, but he couldn¡¯t even get through the phone number Little did he know that the person was right upstairs in the room, but she simply did not respond. Right now. Fileen was in no condition to go out Eric was also watching her every move in the room. She was unable to make a sound. Perhaps she was also hiding. It was not something that could be rified between them in just a sentence or two. Eric picked up a shawl and draped it over her, embracing her from behind. There were noticeable kiss marks on the girl¡¯s neck and below, and it was clear who had left them, even without saying 11:42 Mon, 18 Dec ti Chapter 245 He Wants Her To Submit 67%1 Eileen was wearing a light-colored sweater, the loose cor revealing her delicate shoulders. A man¡¯s slightly rough fingers brushed past her shoulder. I¡¯ve told you before. He¡­ He¡¯s not right for you.¡± He lowered his head and kisseri her. Eileen¡¯s face was expressionless. ¡°He¡¯s not right for me? And you think you are? Don¡¯t forget that if Vera finds out about what happened between us, what do you think she would feel? If you don¡¯t want our secret to be exposed, you¡¯d better know when to stop. She yanked at his cor, pushed him away, and turned to leave. Eric was like a super sticky glue stuck to her side. He mmediately swept her off her feet and carried her into the study, a ce where no one was usually allowed. There, Eric held her in hisp ¡°What are you doing? I want to go back to my room.¡± Eric shackled her waist, not allowing her to move even a bit. Stay still for a moment, and I¡¯ll let you go. Otherwise¡­ Ill deal with you right now. With just one sentence, Eileen immediately quieted down. Eric was processing the information files in the email. A series of texts in Remdikian popped up on the screen, which Eileen couldn¡¯t understand at all. Perhaps noticing her boredom. Eric took a book from the shelf on the table and handed it to her. Read this if you have nothing to do. Ask me if there¡¯s anything you don¡¯t understand.¡± Upon seeing that book. Eileen feltpletely unsettled. The book he had given her was an Uprian version of The Fine of Desires Eileen clenched her teeth in frustration. Can¡¯t you give me a regr book?¡± He spends all his time immersed in books. That¡¯s why he¡¯s so old yetcks seriousness! His mind is filled with all that stuff. She stood up, only to be pushed hack down. This is not just a banned book. Most people are misled by public opinion. Its content, from clothing, food, and the judicial system to the corruption during the fificenth century, is depicted in meticulous detail. If you want to go abroad but don¡¯t master these Upriant Texts, even if you manage to reach a foreign country, you¡¯ll only end up being taken advantage of ¡°Even if I were sold, it has nothing to do with you. Eileen¡¯s hand clenched into a fist under the table Eric chuckled lightly, a sense of amusement in his demeanor. He gently pinched her cheek Starting to talk back, are we?¡± She was forced to meet his dark eyes. They seemed so affectionate when they looked at her, causing her heart to skip a heat. He wore gold-rimmed sses, his whole demeanor was different from usual, and he even shed a smile that was rarely seen. Whenever Eileen saw his smile in the past, it felt like a gentle knife, sharp enough to be lethal Eileen was very clear-headed and would not be deceived by him again. She shifted her gaze away. She casually packed up the book and flipped through it. Several sections on the pages were marked with Chapter 245 He Wants Her To Submit annotations, all in Clusian. ¡°I want to read on the couch.¡± ¡°No, just read here.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t concentrate with you around.¡± ¡°Choose one-sit here and read or read in bed with me.¡± Eileen furrowed her brow. He had always been like this, always fond of using threats to intimidate her. N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Knowing there was no escape, she couldn¡¯t be bothered to struggle futilely She knew exactly what Eric wanted. He wanted her toply¡­ Chapter 246 Chapter 246 Chapter 246 I Don¡¯t Need Your Affection Just as Eileen was about to curse him out, a sudden ringtone from a phone on the table interrupted her. It was Eric¡¯s phone ringing. Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Without hesitation. Eileen shifted her gaze to the screen, where the iing caller wasbeled ¡°Vera.¡± WELA It was Vera who was calling him. Eileen initially thought that Eric would get up to answer the call, as she was well aware of his habit. Whenever he answered the phone, he never allowed anyone to be by his side. Even in her past life, when she became his wife, Eileen had to step away to avoid it. Now, Eileen also hoped for the same. She didn¡¯t want to stay in the same space with him. Eric just gave the phone a quick nce with no intention of picking it up Pretending to be ignorant. Eileen asked. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to answer it?¡± She turned a page. The phone call ended after a dozen or so seconds. When it rang for the second time, Erit picked up his phone, feeling a hand loosening its grip around his waist. As Eileen was about to stand up, Eric¡¯s chair moved backward, and with one hand, he pulled her back. This time, he held her tightly in his arms. If you dare to run around again, next time, I will chain you up, and you won¡¯t be able to go anywhere. Stay quiet until I finish these documents.¡± Eric picked up the phone and held it to his car. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± She could hear Vera¡¯s voice clearly.) Vera said, ¡°Eric, I went to thepany today and wanted to have lunch with you. But Cavin told me you weren¡¯t at thepany Eric responded. ¡°Hmm. It¡¯s inconvenient to travel back and forth from school. You don¡¯t need toe to thepany anymore, Just focus on your studies at school. Vera chuckled lightly and said, ¡°Eric, have you forgotten? I¡¯ve already passed the second round of the Olympiad Math exam. I won¡¯t need to take the university entrance exam in the future. I can directly enter Hulbury University. So¡­ I was thinking I won¡¯t be too busy with my studies. I n toe and have meals with you every day. You¡¯ve beening home less frequently recently, so I just want to spend more time with you¡­.¡± Her voice carried a hint of grievance. ¡°I have something else to attend to right now. Whatever you have to ¡°Eric!¡± say, let¡¯s talk when I get back.¡± Eric didn¡¯t give her a chance to speak. He hung up the phone. The man looked down at the person in arms. ¡°What are you thinking about? Still can¡¯t let go of the exam?¡± his Eileen rose from ham, ¡°So you do remember¡­ A faint, cold smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. You red my math Olympiad exam. Do you n to prevent me from even taking the midterms in the Chapter 216 I Don¡¯t Need Your Affection Eric¡¯s gaze darkened, a mix of unusual emotions between them. He was quietly watching her, After a moment of silence, he said, ¡°There¡¯s more than one way to take a shortcut, you know.¡± Eileen nodded with a smile, but there was an unshakeable pain in her eyes. ¡°But for me, it¡¯s the fastest shortcut. The most ridiculous thing is that my efforts were destroyed by you so easily. I¡¯m not willing to ept it, but¡­ what can I do? No matter what I do, it all ends up being in vain. From now on¡­ you should just live happily in your world with Vera. Don¡¯t bother me anymore, or else¡­ I¡¯ll tell Vera everything you¡¯ve done to me. My life is already ruined, so I have nothing to worry about. But it¡¯s different for your Vera. If she acts out of sorrow, I won¡¯t take it into consideration¡­ The door downstairs can¡¯t keep you out. If ites to it, I¡¯ll just rece it with another one. Ifall else fails¡­ I¡¯ll swallow my pride and return to the Smith residence. It¡¯s just like being with you¡­.¡± Eileen turned to leave, not wanting to spend another moment with him. As she reached the door, she paused. I¡¯m not sure why you¡¯ve chosen to stay here these past few days, but let me make something clear. Whether you regret what you ve done to me and wish to make amends, or whether you have other intentions toward me, I can assure you¡­ No matter how much you do now, it can¡¯t make up for what you¡¯ve done in the past. What has happened can¡¯t be undone, and if we were both wrong, so there should be no further entanglement between us. Eric¡­ we¡­ should end it here. I don¡¯t need your affection Eileen was no fool, nor was she overly sentimental. It was just that she understood Eric¡¯s temperament too well. If he i truly h hardened his heart, she wouldn¡¯t stand a chance at survival. He would go to great lengths to seek revenge on her. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t havee here at all. a mere flick of his fingers, he could watch her die in agony. But he¡­ did not do that When she swallowed the sleeping pills, he carried her to the bathroom to induce vomiting. She hadn¡¯t eaten in a few days, so he cooked for her, making sure she ate. Furthermore, he wouldn¡¯t intervene when she was inflicting self-harm to release the pain within¡­. Not only that, but he also helped her bandage her wounds. He really didn¡¯t need to do all these unnecessary things at all. If Eric, when she didn¡¯t like him, still liked her and developed a fondness for her, what did everything she did in her past life amount to? She loved him so much in her past life. Even in the end, she humbly pleaded, hoping for him to nce her way just once. But¡­ what did she get in return? After Eileen left, she heard a greatmotioning from the study. However, she didn¡¯t concem herself with u. that right does he have to be angry? 11:43 Mon, 18 Dec ti Chapter 246 I Don¡¯t Need Your Affection. Does he even deserve to feel that way! 45 Free Cand Eileen returned to the living room, reconnected the telephone line, and contacted a home renovation company to rece her door with a burr-proof one. Additionally, she ordered several interior locks. Without someone inside to unlock them, they couldn¡¯t be opened from the outside. She took everything he had bought from the fridge and threw it all into the trash bin, not leaving a single item. These were all things that Gavin had sent over. Ever since the incident with the drugging. Eileen had never touched anything from Eric. Eileen returned to her room and tightly shut the doors and windows. If it hadn¡¯t been for her momentarypse of attention, Eric wouldn¡¯t have had any chance to enter when Mary went home The words she just spoke were partly true and partly false. Whenever Eileen spoke these self- deprecating words in from of him, she always felt a sense of pleasure. She didn¡¯t understand why, when it was clear that she was the one who had been hurt all along. Richard went back to the hospital. I¡¯m sorry. Mr. Jasper. There doesn¡¯t seem to be anyone at Unde Mansion. Ms. Eileen seems to be absent Jasper sat on the hospital bed, with an IV drip hanging from the back of his hand. His face was sickly. Leave¡± he demanded. pale and ¡°Mr. Jasper, I will go and find Old Mrs. Smith immediately. She can exin things. Perhaps Ms. Eileen-¡± ¡°Leave Jasper roared in anger. ¡®Yes. The nurse was still standing usule the ward, holding the medicine to treat Jasper¡¯s i weren¡¯t treated soon, they would likely be infected. If the wounds Without much dy, Richard left only his bodyguards and housekeepers behind as he hurried back to the Smith residence. La was in the pasture, feeding the flock of sheep in the pen. Upon hearing Richard¡¯s words, her face showed concern, and she let out a sigh. I¡¯ve warned him before, told him not to get involved with that woman anymore, but he just wouldn¡¯t listen. Eileen is nowhere near his equall Tell him that if he wants Eileen toe back, he should properly recover in the hospital¡­ Chapter 247 Chapter 247 Chapter 247 I Never Expected 67% The door had been reced with a new anti-theft one. Eric had been staying at Unde Mansion for several days, not leaving the house at all. Instead of going back to work, he chose to spend time there with Eileen. Eileen rarely came downstairs, and if she did and saw him, she would quickly turn around and leave. Mary returned and prepared lunch. It was the weekend, and school was on holiday break. Vera also returned to Unde Mansion. As they sat at the dining table, Mary brought out two more tes and cutlery. Vera said. Eric, you¡¯ve been staying here these days. Why didn¡¯t you tell me? Can I stay here too?¡± Eric picked up two sets of tes and cutlery, his voice deepening. Ask her toe down for dinner.¡± Mary said with a troubled expression. ¡°Ms. Eileen said she doesn¡¯t want to dine with strangers¡­¡± Eric¡¯s ¡®s gaze shed sharply, startling Mary. She shrank back a liule. ¡°I¡¯m just conveying Ms. Eileen¡¯s wishes. Vera nced at Enc. Enc, how long does Eileen n to keep this up? The homeroom teacher asked me to persuade Eileen to return to school. I share the same sentiment. It¡¯s just one exam, and she still has a chance if she returns to school. The progress in our ss is fast. If she doesn¡¯t return to school, she won¡¯t be able to to keep up. Eric, you should also persuade Eileen. She really can¡¯t continue like this. ¡°Mind your own business. I¡¯ll talk to Eileen. After dinner, go home early Vera didn¡¯t expect Eric to rush her to leave. However, she didn¡¯t want to go. In fact, she had her own selfish reasons, mainly because she didn¡¯t want Eric to be alone with Eileen. Now that she was his girlfriend, even if Eileen no longer had feelings for Enc, she would still feel ufortable. ¡°Eric, I want to be with you. Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t cause you any trouble. I know there¡¯s not much I can do, but I can stay here with you. help with cooking and cleaning ¡°Listen, I¡¯ll be back in a few days. Eileen is sick. She¡¯s alone at home, so I can¡¯t leave her. Finish your meal and go home early to do your homework Eric¡¯s voice was soft, but it was clear from his tone that he was displeased, and his words were not up for debate. Mary was tidying up the kitchen, almost believing what was said. Vera narrowed her eyes, her expression unreadable, disappointment visible on her face. She knew that not matter what Erie said, she had to listen, but she didn¡¯t want to¡­ She just wanted to stay by his side. Vera¡¯s reliance on Eric had grown significantly. ¡°But Eileen has never considered us as family, right?¡± Vera grumbled unhappily. Eric¡¯s face darkened instantly. ¡°Is that what you think? Have you forgotten whose connections get you to 11:43 Mon, 18 Dec ti Chapter 217 1 Never Expected Petallurg High School: Vera, I don¡¯t want to hear such words from you again.¡± ¡°Ms. Eileen, you¡¯re here. Come and cat quickly!¡± +5 Fine Chine Eileen was dressed in a ck knitted long skirt, her slightly curled hair cascading down. On her wrist, she casually draped a woolen coat. She appeared to be wearing light makeup, her lips brushed with a subtle shade of lipstick. ¡°No need,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯m heading out for a bit.¡± Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Where are you going?¡± Eileen had clearly just woken up, a hint of fatigue still lingering in her eyes. She handed her coat to Mary without even ncing their way. Walking into the kitchen, she poured a cup of warm water. ¡°Some personal matters,¡± she replied. ¡°By the way, if I don¡¯te back today, handle things as you see fit. Whether you stay in the mansion to keep an eye on things or go back for a few days of rest ¡°Oh, when are youing back? You can¡¯t possibly never return, can you? What about my sry?¡± Eileen took a sip of water and ced it on the table. I will transfer this month¡¯spany earnings to your card. Even if I don¡¯t return. your sry won¡¯t be affected When I have some free time, I¡¯lle over and clean up so it¡¯s convenient for you when you return.¡± ¡°All right, as you wish.¡± Eileen looked our the window and saw a familiar Maybach driving up and stopping outside the courtyard. ¡°They re here. I should leave now,¡± she said. ¡°Ms. Eileen, if there¡¯s anything you need, just give me a call.¡± Oh my, it¡¯s kind of scary to think she¡¯ll be living here alone from now on. Eric was eating the food in front of him. As she passed by, he put down his fork. I¡¯ll wait for you toe back tonight.¡± Eileen slowly halted her steps. ¡°No need. If you like living here. I¡¯ll give it to you. From now on, whoever he brings home to stay has nothing to do with me. Eric should know where she was going, but he couldn¡¯t stop her because he was no match for the Smith family. The current Eric did not have the strength to contend with the Smith family. Richard personally escorted her home, a level of honor she hadn¡¯t anticipated. Given Richard¡¯s status in the Smith family, even outsiders showed him some respect. Although Eileen had been idle at home for nearly a month, it wasn¡¯t as if she had done nothing. The painting she hadpeted with had won a prize. which was a good start for her. She charged her phone, which had been dead for a long time, and turned it on. She saw countless missed calls The first call she received when she turned on her phone was from the Smith residence ¨C This included¡­ 11:43 Mon, 18 Dec. ti U Chapter 247 1 Never Expected There was also a phone call from abroad. 67%1 +5 Free Cons Although the string of phone numbers was unfamiliar, she saw a series of photos from foreignnds in the email ount associated with this number. There were pictures of a Remdik street square, a flock of pigeons pecking at bread crumbs, and another one of a pigeon perched on his leg, his handsome, slender hand holding a piece of bread, feeding it. Even though this was one of the few pictures where the face was not shown, she knew this was Elm. Three days after he left, these photos never stoppeding. Eileen didn¡¯t exchange any words with him. She simply said Thank you¡± from behind the screen, where he couldn¡¯t hear her. It was precisely because of this that he saw a glimmer of hope. Upon arriving at the Smith residence, Eileen stepped out of the car. The housekeepers¡¯ faces lit up with joyful smiles es upon seeing her. They cagerly ushered her into the vi where Jasper was waiting. ¡°Ms. Eileen,¡± they said. ¡°Old Mrs. Smith has been waiting for you for quite some time.¡± ¡°Thank you. Eileen entered the foyer, where rows of housekeepers stood as if they were specifically waiting for her. Upon entering the living room, one could immediately see an elderly woman sitting on the couch. holding a cane in her hand and watching the opera channel. Upon seeing that hunched figure. Eileen immediately felt a sense of familiarity. Richard stepped forward. ¡°Old Mrs. Smith, Ms. Eileen has arrived.¡± La was helped to her feet by the housekeepers beside her. She turned to them and said. ¡°You all may leave now I¡¯d like to have a chat with her. Everyone left, leaving only Eileen and La in the room. Eileen had anticipated this. La said, ¡°Come and sit here ¡°Alright.¡± Eileen nodded and stepped forward. ¡°Take a seat here.¡± Eileen took a seat next to La. ¡°I never expected it to be you.¡± Chapter 248 Chapter 248 Chapter 248 Will You Come Back On the coffee table sat a freshly cooked pot of butternut squash oatmeal. There was still half a bowl left uneaten in front of La Do you know why I asked you toe back? La got straight to the point. N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Eileen pursed her thin lips into a straight line and nodded. ¡°Yes¡± La asked, ¡°So, how do you feel about Jasper now? Do you still want to continue? If you¡¯re disappointed with him, I won¡¯t me you. We won¡¯t force you to stay. Your willingness to give Jasper time shows that you¡¯ve thought things through clearly. Just based on this, I already see you as different from others. Not all women can be as rational as you. But it¡¯s your rationality that has left Jasper feeling cold. Sometimes¡­ a little irrationality isn¡¯t necessarily a bad thing. In other words, he wants you to act that way. He wants to sec you get angry. At least in his eyes, if you show a bit of temper, it means you care about him.¡± La reached out and held her hand. ¡°Tell me, have you ever liked. Eileen nodded decisively, her gaze solemn. ¡°When ites to matters of the heart, I always take them. seriously. Richard has told me a bit about his situation, and I understand the importance of making the right entrance¡­ It¡¯s me. I¡¯m not good enough for him¡± Laughed and gently patted her hand, speaking with heartfelt sincerity. Actually, from the moment you entered the Smith residence, I took a liking to you at first sight. Some people are good, some are bad, but my heart is like a clear mirror. I don¡¯t like to beat around the bush or y mind games with people. but when others do, I can see right through them. I¡¯ll have you know that before you came to the Smith residence. I had already investigated you. I know you had a hard time with the Swan family and an ambitious brother, Coming to the Smith family is nothing more than seeking support. This point¡­ you can¡¯t deny that you are indeed smart. The Smith family does have influence in Hulbury, and no one dares to provoke us. My grandson has indeed done many foolish things in the past, and he¡¯s still just as confused now. He¡¯s been alone for so long that he¡¯s lost himself, not knowing what he truly wants. After all, who hasn¡¯t made mistakes in their youth? Even if he did wrong, he has paid the price. My good-for-nothing son, after the birth of Jasper, has never taken care of him. His mother spent her days drowning in alcohol, treating him with nothing but beatings and scoldings. Once, they were on the verge of divorce, and I couldn¡¯t help but go back to mediate. Little did I know, as soon as I walked in. I would be greeted by a room full of shattered ss bottles and a pool of blood on the floor¡­ Guess who it belonged to?¡± Eileen¡¯s heart tightened. Could this be¡­ the childhood ordeal he went through? La continued. ¡°Back then¡­ he was just a little boy¡± She gestured with her hands. ¡°Around five or six years old, he was locked in the basement, shivering from the cold, his body covered in ck and blue bruises from beatings. He was just a child! How could they be so cruel? After that¡­ I brought Jasper to live with ine, raising him myself. My intentions were good, but I was powerless. Apart from providing for his material needs, I couldn¡¯t give him anything else. It¡¯s precisely because hecked parental love from a young age that he turned out this way, quick to anger and impulsive, acting without considering the consequences. He grew up by my side, and I can tell that he treats you differently¡­.. La took a deep breath and sighed. ¡°I¡¯ve told you all this, indeed, in hopes that you woulde back and give my grandson another chance. Go upstairs and have a good talk with him¡­ Sessful or not, this Smith residence will always wee you¡­ Out of politeness, Eileen still nodded in agreement 11:43 Mon, 18 Dec Go Chapter 248 Will You Come Back After La left, it seemed as though she was the only one remaining in the vast vi. Eileen knew where his room was. Hesitant, she still went upstairs. O +5 Free Cons Just then, a housekeeper hurriedly came down from upstairs, her face showing signs of rm. She was carrying medicine in her hands. When she saw Eileen, her eyes lit up. ¡°Ms. Eileen? You¡¯re finally back.¡± ¡°What happened?¡± The housekeeper said. ¡°I¡¯m at my wit¡¯s end. Mr. Jasper refuses to take his medicine.¡± Eileen stated, ¡°Give it to me.¡± ¡°Alright¡± The housekeeper immediately passed it to Eileen like a hot potato. In essence, she was still just a student at the end of the day, but the experiences she had had far exceeded. those of her peers At her age, she should be focusing on her studies and worrying about her grades. But instead, she found herself having to coax an adult who was three or four years older than her. She was simply destined to worry Eileen went upstairs to the room and gently knocked on the door. Bang! Something unknown struck the door, startling Eileen and nearly causing her to drop what she was holding in her hands. Get lost- ¡°So¡­ you¡¯re really not letting me m A few seconds of silence filled the room. As Eileen was about to step in after opening the door, she suddenly saw the person on the bed throw off the covers and almost run toward her. He embraced her, causing Eileen to stagger back a few steps before she managed to steady herself. His voice was low. Holding back his emotions, he held her tightly. I thought you wouldn¡¯te back.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t catch my breath.¡± Jasper let her go, and it took Eileen several deep breaths to recover. He looked more disheveled than she had seen him in days. His chin was covered in stubble, the corners of his eyes were bloodshot, and the dark circles under his eyes suggested he hadn¡¯t had a good rest in a long time. Eileen looked into his eyes, then, unable to resist trembling, she reached out to touch his wound. ¡°Does it burt?¡± she asked Jasper looked at her with eyes filled with long-suppressed aggression and restraint. He held her handl. 11.43 Mon, 18 Dec VI G Chapter 248 Will You Come Back pressing it against his chest. The pain goes away when you¡¯re here. His tone was pitiful exactly the same as Elm¡¯s. ¡°Let me apply the medicine for you. Alright. His voice was hoarse. 675 +5 Free Coins Eileen retrieved the necessary medication and began treating his wounds. ¡°If it hurts, just let me know. I¡¯ll try to be as gentle as possible. ¡°Mm-hmm His gaze remained fixed on her. Every time Eileen nced up. she could see his expectant eyes watching her. Eileen didn¡¯t say anything in response she simply bowed her head quietly. It took her over thirty minutes. to apply the medicine to his upper body Eileen then proceeded to bandage him up to prevent any infection from dirt. Where are the oral antibiotics that the doctor prescribed for you?! Jasper replied. They¡¯re on the bedside table. Eileen tied a neat low around his waist and smoothed it out As she opened the bedside drawer, she discovered a bag filled with unopened, brand-new medicine. Had he not been taking any medication all this time! Eileen read the instructions, cut out the appropriate dosage, and poured a cup of warm water for him. No one will feel sorry for you if you neglect your own health. Take your medicine first.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t move. It hurts Eileen rarely saw him in such a flustered and vulnerable state, and she found herself staring into his eyes somewhat dazedly. Without a word, she reached out and brought the medicine to his lips. Water. Jasper swallowed the methcine, followed by a sip of water. Will youe back? His tired eyes couldn¡¯t bear to look away, and his voice softeurd a few degrees as he spoke. Eileen was left speechless Chapter 249 Chapter 249 Chapter 249 What Would You Do +5 Free Col Eileen ced the water cup on the bedside table. ¡°No matter what happens, you should always take good care of yourself. Your body is your own.¡± She withdrew her hand, only for him to hold onto it. ¡°You told me you¡¯d give me time to figure things out. Does that still hold true?¡± Eileen smiled slightly. ¡°If you want me toe back, then I¡¯lle back¡­ In reality, there was an imbnce between the two of them. She was always the one who had to compromise. The reason she came back was not just because of La but mostly because of her father, She overheard the entire phone call between her father and Ericst night. Simply put, if she couldn¡¯t secure a ce in the Smith family, she would be treated as amodity, givent away to benefit the Swan family and Eric. She didn¡¯t understand Tm his biological daughter, aren¡¯t I?¡± ¡°Why does Father prioritize Eric so much?¡± She worked so hard to change and be better, yet her father never paid attention to her. When she heard that conversation, a chill spread from the bottom of Eileen¡¯s heart to every part of her body. Her worth was merely as a tool for the Swan family to form a mantal ance. What¡¯s more¡­ she was a tool that couldn¡¯t even bear children. Her fate was destined to be even more tragic. She couldn¡¯t escape from this family. Even if she did, her father would have mumerous ways to bring her back, not to mention¡­ She couldn¡¯t prevent Eric from doing whatever he wanted to her. That night, his journey through the rain to Unde Mansion, solely to find her, had already proven everything. The moment she saw him. it would be a he to say that Eileen was unaffected. Now, she didn¡¯t have any choice either. ¡°Eilect¡­. ¡­ you know, what I desire is for you to return willingly. This time¡­ I will never, ever let you go Eileen lowered her gaze to their intertwined hands, feeling a fineyer of sweat breaking out in her palms. She wanted to listen to her inner voice, but her heart was too calm. At this moment, she didn¡¯t even know what she was thinking. her mind was nk. ¡°Okay. This is thest time. From now on. if there¡¯s someone you like, you must tell me. I won¡¯t cling to you, but if you deceive me. Jasper¡­ I will be heartbroken.¡± ¡°From now on, there will be no one else but you.¡± Lafe is short, so let¡¯s give it another shot!¡± Chapter 249 What Would You Do Even if she made a mistake, she still had the chance to start over. At the very least¡­ in this lifetime, many things have changed¡­¡± In the end. Eileen chose to stay. The room next door remained untouched, with the housekeepers. cleaning it diligently every day, but they dared not touch her belongings. Thest time she left, she had ced it on the table. The supplementary card Jasper gave her was still there, as was the key to the mansion¡¯s main door. They were all in their original ces, undisturbed. Everything was just as it used to be. Eileen¡¯s arrival was like a blessing for the mansion¡¯s housekeepers. The family doctor examined Jasper and found nothing serious; he just needed an intravenous drip for innimation. No ordinary person would remove so many tattoos all at once. The family doctor said, ¡°You need to apply the medication on time every day. Also, pay attention to your diet. On good weather days, you can go outside and get some sun. It helps with the healing of your wounds. This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Eileen listened attentively, silently taking notes. ¡°All right, I understand. Thank you for your help. ¡°Ms. Eileen, there¡¯s no need for formalities. This is my job. It¡¯s what I should do.¡± Eileen escorted the family doctor to the room¡¯s entrance. Unbeknownst to her, the sky outside had already darkened. More than three hours had passed since she left home. Her phone vibrated in her pocket. With her back to Jasper, Eileen took out her phone and nced at it. A message hade in from Eric. It read: ¡°Be back before half past eight Pretending not to have seen it, Eileen deleted the message. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± a voice asked. Eileen put away her phone and turned around. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. ¡°When you arrived, you didn¡¯t bring anything with you. Is there anything important at Unde Mansion that needs to be packed and brought over? If there is, I¡¯ll have Richard go and fetch it!¡± ¡°No need. There¡¯s not much to pack up. You have everything here, and most of the important things I¡¯ve left in the room I used to rent. Eileen walked over, tentatively holding his hand, which felt a bit cold from the IV. ¡°Is it a bit chilly? Let me get you a hot water bottle.¡± Just stay here with me. That¡¯s all I ask ¡°Mm, Eileen responded, gently cing his hand under the covers. ¡°Would you like something to eat? You have a sensitive stomach, and an empty stomach can make you ufortable while receiving an IV¡± No sooner had the worlds been spoken than there was a knock at the door. 11:44 Mon, 18 Dec ti 5 Chapter 249 What Would You Do The housekeeper said, ¡°Mr. Jasper, Ms. Eileen¡­ please have something to eat. Old Mrs. Smith has instructed me to bring up the oatmeal.¡± The timing couldn¡¯t be more perfect. Eileen responded. ¡°Come in.¡± ¡± 15 Free Cons The housekeeper pushed the door open, entering the room. Eileen looked at therge bowl of oatmeal in the housekeeper¡¯s hands. It was enough to feed two or three people, but there was only one spoon, along with a small bowl. ¡°Just leave it. I¡¯ll take care of the rest. ¡°Of course. Ms. Eileen. Feel free to give me any instructions.¡± Eileen asked her to bring a hot water bottle agai The housekeeperplied and left. Eileen personally fed him nearly half a bowl. Just like before, no matter what she did, she always took care of him meticulously. Jasper reached out suddenly, gently tucking her stray hair behind her ear. I don¡¯t know why, but even though you¡¯re only eighteen, you possess a maturity and steadiness that many of your peersck. You never throw tantrums. No matter what happens, you always remain so calm¡­ He sighed. ¡°You don¡¯t have to be soposed in front of me. You can get angry with me¡­ At least this way, I can feel that you you care about me, too.¡± Noticing that he had stopped eating. Eileen set the food aside and handed him a tissue to wipe his mouth. ¡°Perhaps everyone expresses their emotions differently! The situation was unique at the time, and I really didn¡¯t know what to do You have your own decisions, and I can¡¯t interfere Jasper responded, ¡°What would you do¡­ if I actually ended up with her?¡± Eileen felt as if a giant hand was tightly gripping her heart, causing a slight ache. She looked at him, a faint smile appearing at the corner of her mouth. I don¡¯t know, maybe¡­ continue living as I did before.¡± After all she had experienced. Eileen had finallye to ept it. No matter what, parting ways with someone else wouldn¡¯t result in anyone¡¯s death. ¡°At first¡­ it might be challenging, but perhaps with time, it will get easier.¡± Time had the power to heal all wounds. Whether one loved it or not, time would continue to move forward. There would be an answer¡­ After Jasper finished his IV drip, he went downstairs He then enjoyed avish dinner with Eileen. 11:44 Mon, 18 Dec 6 Chapter 219 What Would You Do It wasn¡¯t healthy for him to always stay in his room. For Jasper, Eileen¡¯s presence was like a healing balm. With her by his side, he felt as though he hade back to life. And it felt as though they had returned to the past¡­. Chapter 250 Chapter 250 Chapter 250 It Is Actually You Entertainment News Headlines Breaking News! The CEO of Smith Corporation and the youngdy of the Swan family are rumored to have reconciled. 15 Free Corra Recently, an insider revealed that Ms. Eileen was heartbroken and unable to take her exams due to the CEO of Smith Corporation¡¯s involvement with other women. She even considered dropping out of school However, today reporters spotted the CEO of Smith Corporation personally driving Ms. Eileen back to school, suggesting a possible reconciliation between the two. Jeahron Nancy tore the newspaper in her hands into two, then crumpled it fiercely. ¡°It¡¯s all lies, all lies, He¡­ it¡¯s impossible! He couldn¡¯t possibly fall for someone else. Jasper, the person you like is me! You should be liking me!¡± These past few days, Nancy had been waiting in Jeahron for Jasper to return. She was certain that within two days, he woulde back to her, just like he used to. Whenever she revealed even a hint of her whereabouts during all these years she¡¯d been away, he would drop everything to find her. However¡­ she was wrong. Jasper did note in these five days. When she picked up her phone, seeking an exnation, the number she dialed showed up as disconnected Even if she kept dialing over and over again, the result remained the same. With a sudden ferocious glint in her eyes, Nancy swept everything off the coffee table. She let out a chillingugh. Jasper, you will never be able to escape from me in this lifetime!¡± Didn¡¯t you say that we are meant to spend our lifetime together? N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. Nancy looked like a madwoman. Nancy redialed another number, but it didn¡¯t go through. After hanging up, a call from another unknown. virtual number came in. The other party remained silent. Nancy dered, ¡°No matter the cost this time, I will make himpletely mine. I can stake my life on it.¡± The other party spoke with indifference. ¡°Your life has long been mine. However, this time¡­ I can help you, and you don¡¯t need to pay any price. Just do as I say¡­ ¡°All right. I agree.¡± Nancy didn¡¯t hesitate at all. Just as Nancy was about to hang up the phone, she heard a heart-wrenching scream. Who Who is 11 Chapter 250 It Is Actually You +5 Fice Coins Not only was he well aware of her past, but even her affairs abroad were no secret to Jasper. He knew them. like the back of his hand! A wave of icy coldness spread throughout her body. Hulbury¡¯s Hepta Prison and Hospital In the room, as airtight as a vault, a dim light flickered. Thempshade swayed gently, casting shadows. across the man¡¯s inscrutable face. The half-hidden countenance in the darkness sent chills down one¡¯s spine. Eric sat at the table, ying with a cheap fountain pen. One hand held the barrel, the other the cap. opening and closing it with an indifferent expression. Chandler was struck by a police baton. As he raised his hand to block the blow, it felt as if the bones in his forearm had cracked. He curled up on the ground, cold sweat pouring down his face. He reached out to the person sitting in front of him. pleading. The development rights to the Newcovend are yours. Save me¡­ Get me out of here! Eric didn¡¯t even lift his gaze. ¡°What makes you think I can save you? You¡¯ve offended the Smith family Looking around, no one in the entire Hulbury dared to provoke the Smith family. Over the years, Chandler¡¯s fate wasn¡¯t too tragic: at least he was left with his life. ¡°That girl has a good rtionship with Jasper, If you just ask her, she will surely persuade Jasper to let up As long as¡­ you help me get out of here. I.. I will give you half of the Hackett family¡¯s shares and property. The corners of Eric¡¯s mouth lifted in a subtle curve. For some reason, his aura seemed even colder than before. In his carly years, he made his fortune through mining. Somehow, heter acquired an oil field, which dramatically increased his worth. After immigrating to Hulbury, he had been living off his wealth. But this wealth was so substantial that it couldst him several lifetimes. Even if he were to spend recklessly, he could never deplete his family¡¯s fortune Eric responded, ¡°Words alone are not proof!¡± Chandler seemed to have grasped a thread of hope. He crawled to Eric¡¯s feet, unable to stand upright anymore. ¡°I can give you the deed or a property transfer document. As long as you save me. I guarantee you¡¯ll have more money than you can spend in your lifetime.¡± ¡°This offer is indeed tempting¡­ Eric put down the pen in his hand, casting a nce at him, ¡°However, I¡¯m not greedy. I want seventy percent of the oil mine shares, including¡­ all the liquid assets and real estate under your name.¡± Chandler¡¯s pupils suddenly dted, and he turned to curse. ¡°Snow! Have I not given you enough respect? What do you think you are? You used to be nothing more than apdog at my beck and call. If it weren¡¯t for my agreement to cooperate with you on the Newcove project, your so-called Caerulus Corporation would be nothing more than a pile of trash.¡± With a calm demeanor and an air of nonchnce, Eric took out a handkerchief, wiping off the saliva that had been sshed onto him Without uttering a word, he stood up and walked toward the door. When Chandler gathered his thoughts, he quickly stood up. ¡°Stop! All right¡­ I agree, but once I get out. you have to help me make aeback.¡± Chapter 251 Chapter 251 Chapter 251 This Is Just Too Strange The next day, early in the morning. 66%1 +15 Free Coins The text in one corner of the newspaper read: Chandler, in an attempt to evade thew, ingested lye while in prison. Unexpectedly, he died due to an overdose of the substance. The bustling streets, filled with traffic, were crowded withmuters rushing to catch the subway, each clutching the same edinon of the newspaper. Yet, no one paid much attention to the inconspicuous news tucked away in the corner. It was Friday today, and Eileen got up rtivelyte with no ns to go out. The housekeeper took out this morning¡¯s newspaper from the mailbox and, following Jasper¡¯s habit. ced it on the coffee table. Eileen, dressed in her school uniform, came out of the kitchen with a cup of orange juice and happened to see the newspaper. She casually picked it up and took a look. The housekeeper greeted, ¡°Mr. Jasper. Jasper, burtoning his sleeve, descended from upstairs. His figure was upright as always, looking handsome. If you don¡¯t want to go back to school, you don¡¯t have to. I can hire the best private tutor for you. Studying at home can be just as effective ¡°It¡¯s okay. I can¡¯t just stay at home all day doing nothing. Eileen saw it. Chandler died in prison, having swallowed lye in an attempt to evade his punishment She stepped forward without any change in her expression, feeling rather emotionless deep down. Regarding Chandler¡¯s death, Eileen was somewhat surprised. Ifast he injured by Jasper at the hotel and sent to the hospital? Was it said that he didn¡¯t make it? Now, once again, she learned about him through the newspaper. Did Jasper send someone to do this? Swallowing lve? He is not Eric¡­ Eileen swiftly waved the thought away. She moved forward to adjust the brooch on Jasper¡¯s chest-the diamond-edged centerpiece was a red gem, with a chain dangling and swaying on his chest-it made the man in front of her seem even more extraordinarily precious. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?¡± Jasper noticed something off about her mood and reached out to touch Eileen¡¯s forehead. flis gaze fell on the newspaper on the coffee table. The expression was dark and unreadable. ¡°No, it¡¯s just that I¡¯m worried. Thest time I returned to school, there happened to be a test. Today, the 11 45 Mon, 18 Dec . Chapter 251 This Is Just Too Strange 66 +15 File Cons things to do? Eileen walked her own path, seldom engaging with others. She didn¡¯t want Natalie to be too reliant on her. She believed that those who got too involved with her would not end well. She remembered how Eric had once used Natalie to threaten her. That was why she dared not make friends with anyone. She feared that anyone could be her vulnerability. Jasper watched her walk into the school gate until she was out of sight, then he withdrew his gaze with a smile. Whose daughter is that Fabian replied. The Scott family. ¡°Which Scott family¡± Fabian responded. I also found out not long ago, quite by idem, that Old Mrs. Smith recently sought the expertise of a livestock specialist. The unfortunate thing is¡­ that specialist happens to be the father of Ms. Eileen¡¯s friend. Jispers lips curved into a faint smile. ¡°It¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve seen Eileen with a look on her face that wants to be angry but can¡¯t. She did something I didn¡¯t dare to do,¡± Fabian stated, ¡°Mr. Smith¡­ Should we investigate the person around Ms. Eileen? I fear her intentions for getting close to Ms. Eileen might not be pure. Jasper responded. ¡°No need, just drive. She can figure it out on her own. If Eileen really didn¡¯t like her, things wouldn¡¯t have happened like that just now. Moreover, over the past few days, Jasper had been picking her up from school. He had also noticed her. always waiting for Eileen¡­. Having a friend by her side is actually quite pleasant. The thing Jasper feared the most was Eileen feeling lonely at school. She was naturally introverted and disliked talking. He couldn¡¯t always be there with her, and he was afraid that she might end up like he used to be. This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Whenever he thought of the scar on Eileen¡¯s wrist, even if she tried to conceal it, he was not oblivious. All sorts of things, and they all revolved around the adopted son of the Swan family¡­. It appears he¡¯s morepler than I initially thought. Smith Corporation CEO¡¯s office Jasper stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, and Fabian expressed his surprise. ¡°Lye: Before he was sent to prison, I explicitly ordered that no one was to see him. How did Chandler obtain that packet of 1ye Jasper touched the watch on his wrist and lowered his head, lost in thought. ¡°Find out who has encountered Chandler these past few days, and report back to me in half an hour.¡± 11:15 Mon, 18 Dec tit. Chapter 251 This Is Just Too Strange The morning, Eileen¡¯s face turned pale after reading the newspaper. Clearly¡­ she knows something. Eileen seemed to be very afraid, resisting him. Otherwise, why would she leave the mansion, not even wanting to stay in her own home? Fabian nodded. ¡°Understood¡± Soon. Fabian quickly discovered. 66% The surveince footage captured a ck sedan heading towards Hulbury¡¯s Hepta Prison and Hospital. The person who exited the car was none other than Eric Indeed, it was him Fabian said, ¡°The surveince shows that he spent a total of an hour inside. What¡¯s strange is that he met with Chandler alone in the interrogation room. During that hour, aside from his assistant, no one knows what they discussed. Then, dying the very next day. That¡¯s just too suspicious Jasper lowered his head, a mocking and sarcastic smile ying on his lips ¡°A wolf in sheep¡¯s clothing! I should have suspected. He¡¯s not as simple as he appears. I suspect the repeated incidents with Eileen are all somehow connected to him. Go and find our what he¡¯s been up to all these years at the Swan residence. Chapter 252 Chapter 252 Chapter 252 Are You Truly Unaware? At Caerul Corporation, Gavin entered the CEO¡¯s offer and noticed that the person inside was on the phone He quietly stood to the side. The man emitted an air of seriousness, his narrow, somber eyes exuding a chilling aura. Gavin could hear Vera¡¯s voice on the phone her panicked and fear lul sobs. Eric responded with icy indifference, ¡°You don¡¯t need to know about things you shouldn¡¯t ask¡± ¡°Eric, you¡¯ve changed. You¡¯re bing more and more terrifying to me,¡± said Vera. The call ended, and the ¡®beep beep beep sound rang out Eric put away his phone and red around. What¡¯s up?¡± Gavin reported. The Sumth family has mitated an investigation Should we take action? Eric walked over to his desk, sat down, and leaned back in his chair. His fingers intertwined over his legs. and he bowed his head in deep thought. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, he said. ¡°If Jasper actually discovers something, you could be in danger.¡± Eric grinned his eyes gleaming with thought-provoking intensity. Tm actually afraid that he won¡¯t find anything. I have this matter under control. You may leave How. Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Gavin nodded. Yes. At school. Eileen had just returned from the cafeteria, with Natalie following behind her. Suddenly, they saw Vera running down from upstairs. her eyes filled with tears. Vera quickly nced at Eileen, then hurried off to her ss. Eileen noticed that Vera was wiping away tears with one hand while holding a mobile phone in the other. Was she calling Eric Besides Eric, no one else could make Veru cry. Natalie asked. What¡¯s wrong with her?¡± Eileen remained silent.. Eileen, have some milk. Natalie took out two cans of milk from her pocket and handed them to Eileen, making it impossible for Eileen to refuse. It seemed like Natalie had taken over all of Eileen¡¯s snacks. The desk was filled with a variety of snacks, all of which Natalie had secretly ced in Eileen¡¯s desk. Eileen was about to return to the ssroom for her lesson when suddenly, a voice called out to her from the end of theidor. Eileen, stop right there! Calliope approached with an imposing presence. She wasn¡¯t wearing a school uniform but a stylish crop top instead. Her slender, straight legs peeked out from beneath her pleated skirt. Her hair was dyed red. and her makeup was quite dramatic Apanying her were Albert and Charlie. the three of them approached, Fileen detected a strong scent of alcoholing from Calliope. Gathering her courage, Natalie stepped forward to confront Calliope With a fierce and determined look What are you trying to do? The school rules prohibit violence. If you darey a hand on Litern. 11:45 Mon, 18 Dec Chapter 252 Are You Truly Unaware? I¡¯ll report you to the teacher. 15 Free Cond Charlie chuckled. How old are you, kiddo? I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re still drinking milk. Go y over there. I have something to discuss with your Eileen. The enemy was too ruthless, resorting to personal attacks aganist her Feeling wronged, Natalie cried out, ¡°Eileen-¡± ¡°Eileen, where on earth has Elm gone! Why isn¡¯t he answering my calls? It¡¯s been so long and there¡¯s no sign of him¡± Calliope¡¯s voice echoed through the hallway, causing the passing students to keep their distance. Their surroundings were filled with curious gazes. Let¡¯s talk somewhere else, suggested Eileen The group arrived at the school¡¯s aruficialke. The sound of the ss bell echoed from the sports field. and they sat on the wooden benches. Calliope asked. ¡°Can I speak now! Eileen quietly watched the swans swimming in theke. He has gone abroad. Albert furrowed his brows and asked, ¡°Wait, why would he suddenly go abroad? Does this have anything to do with your Eileen remained silent, neither confirming nor denying. The most heartbroken one was Calliope. She suddenly stood up, walked over to Eileen, and demanded fiercely. Where is he now? I¡¯m booking a flight right away.¡± After a long slence. Albert spoke up. Was it Jasper¡¯s decision?¡± Eileen responded. Actually, leaving isn¡¯t necessarily a bad thing for him. I can¡¯t merfere in their affairs He has done a lot for me, and I will slowly repay him for everything. As a friend. I genuinely hope that 1 Elm can start a new and better life ma new ce From Jasper¡¯s perspective, our current rtionship should not involve any interaction, even if it¡¯s just about Elm I shouldn¡¯t mention anything about u jasper has madepromises for me, and I don¡¯t want to let him down. Elm¡¯s departure. Furuly sorry, but I believe the day wille when you will mert again. He will also live a good life Everyone had their own perspective Some people, upon seeing Elm being forced to leave, ced all the me on Jasper¡¯s ruthlessness. However, Jasper also needed thepany of his family and loved ones. Everything was the result of an unhappy marriage. Richard told Eileen that she was the only farmly Jasper had left. When Elm and Ruth were mally sent abroad, John, in a in of anger, went to the Smith residener and The next day Jotin went abroad with them, even though John was also Jasper¡¯s father Perhaps John felt indebted to Elrn and his mother, as over the years, they had be more like a family. However, John forgot that the other one was also his son. The burden Jasper carried was not just the responsibility of being a son but also the weight of the entire Smith Corporation. In everyone¡¯s eyes, Jasper was unattainable, his power overwhelning. He could do whatever he wanted without any constraints. Yet, what outsiders didn¡¯t realize was that beyond all that, he was also a human being with his own emotions. He also had a need for thepany of those around him. Eileen still remembered that night when Jasper held her in his arms, his voice tinged with a hint of sadness. It was a side of him she had never seen before. The room was dark, but Eileen could still imagine. what Jasper must have looked like at that moment. He said. ¡°From now on, I only have you¡± Eileen¡¯s heart was stirred, and a warm droplet trickled down her neck. He was crying while trembling. At that moment, he resembled a forsaken child wandering the streets, with no ce to call home. Eileen was unsure of what to do. All she could do was embrace him tightly, offering him warmth and sce. They were kindred spirits, after all That night, Eileen couldn¡¯t sleep a wink She didn¡¯t evenprehend her own thoughts. Calliope persistently attempted to extract the whereabouts of Elm from Eileen. Eileen¡¯s response consisted of just three words. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± What she uttered was indeed the truth. You better not deceive me, or I won¡¯t let you off the hook,¡± threatened Calliope. Fileen simply gazed at Calliope serenely. ¡°If you genuinely love him, respect his choices. One day, he will return to you. Charlie chuckled. ¡°Eileen, are you genuinely oblivious or merely feigning ignorance? Hasn¡¯t Elm always had feelings for you?¡± Calope snapped, ¡°Shut up!¡± up!¡° Chaise an eyebrow Calliope, stop deluding yourself. Whether Elm is sincere or deserving you you Chapter 253 Chapter 253 Chapter 253 Not Even Bothering To Exin. In that moment, Albert said to Eileen, ¡°What you saw that day between Elm and Calliope, nothing actually happened. Elm simply had a high fever and took a cold bath. You just stumbled upon them and misunderstood their actions.¡± Charlie added. ¡°Exactly; he called us after you kicked him out in the middle of the night. We even took him to the hospital in the early hours¡± Eileen waspletely unaware of this. Upon hearing the exnation, she appeared remarkably calm. Calliope clenched her fists, her voice filled with defiance ¡°Yes! So what if we haven¡¯t been intimate? We¡¯re still together as long as he hasn¡¯t broken up with me. Don¡¯t get too corky, Eileen. Your rtionship with Jasper won¡¯tst long¡± After finishing her statement, she left in a hull. Albert looked at the calm Eileen, somewhat surprised. ¡°You don¡¯t seem to be angry at all!¡± Eileen slightly lifted her head to meet his gaze. Why should I be angry? With a lighthearted demeanor. Albert smiled subily, offering no further exnation. Once everyone had left, only Eileen remained. She was just about to leave when a slender, upright young man wearing a ke shirt and headphones around his neck emerged from behind a tree. Benjamin touched his neck and said, ¡°I just happened to pass by. I wasn¡¯t deliberately eavesdropping After returning. Eileen was summoned by Jennifer to the office to collect the test papers from thest examination. ¡°Do you have any exnation for this performance?¡± questioned Jennifer Eileen shook her head. ¡°No.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to interfere too much in your affairs. As your teacher, I just want to give you one piece of advice. Love is not a necessity in life. Even without relying on others. I believe that you can create a better life for yourself. Even a seemingly insignificant exam could be closely rted to your future path. This time, I¡¯m giving you this opportunity. There¡¯s no need to switch sses. From now on, focus more on your studies. ¡°I understand. Thank you, Ms. Hayes. ¡°If there¡¯s anything you don¡¯t understand, you can ask Vera. She¡¯s your sister, right? She has already secured her rmendation spot. You should also work harder and stop being stubborn.¡± Eileen nodded. ¡°All right.¡± As Lileen left, she heard Jennifer sigh. ncing at the report card. Eileen casually tossed it into the trash bin. The average scores were all around the seventies, with a few subjects even failing Chapter 253 Not Even Bothering To Exin She couldn¡¯t afford to retreat any further, Benjamin emerged front the men¡¯s restroom. Jason shook the water off his hands and reached into the trash can, showing no signs of being a germaphobe. ¡°Wow, she regressed this much? Is she destined to be second best? Well, your scores and Eileen¡¯s are at opposite ends, but hey¡­ you could say you¡¯re first in way. Benjamin said, ¡°Mind your own business. Even so, Eileen continued to do as she pleased. She didn¡¯t return to her ssroom but instead went to another building, to her art studio, where she was the only one inside, While she was adding color with her paintbrush, she identally allowed a drop of watercolor to fall, staining the other areas The ce within her that had already been tainted, her heart, suddenly felt as if a string har snapped in an instant. With a wave of her hand, the easel in front of her toppled over, and the paint in her hand was forcefully thrown to the ground The emotions she had suppressed for so long suddenly spiraled out of control, bringing her a momentary sense of relief. The water bucket spilled all over the floor. Eileen stared at it for a long time before silently getting up to clean it up. She stepped outside to find a broom. As she walked down the corridor, she heard the pleasant sound of a piano ying, the source of which she couldn¡¯t determine. As Eileen was tidying up, the sound of the zither swept away her gloom. She seldom lost herposure, but for some reason, she had earlier. In the afternoon, when school was over. Jasper was ready to pick her up from the school gate to take her home. Eileen opened the car door and sat in the back seat Jaspermanded, ¡°Drive¡± Eileen could tell from his tone that something was wrong, but she didn¡¯t know what had happened. The atmosphere inside the car also felt unusually tense. Looking at the scenery outside the car window, neither of them said a word until they reached the Smith residence. The car came to a stop. Jasper was the first to leave the car, showing an unusual coldness toward her. Edeen didn¡¯t know what was wrong with him. She also left the car and walked through the entrance. As soon as they entered, the housekeeper said, ¡°Dinner is ready.¡± Jesper walked ought toward the upstairs, his body emanating a strong aura of displeasure that lingered Chapter 253 Not Even Bothering To Exin for a long time. No one knew what he was angry about. The housekeeper took Eileen¡¯s schoolling. ¡°Ms. Eileen, what happened to Mr. Jasper?¡± Eileen shook her head. ¡®Go and prepare the dishes, I¡¯ll take them up to himter.¡± ¡°All right.¡± Eileen carried the food to his study, knocked on the door, and without any response, she walked in on her own. The vintage study was filled with a strong smell of smoke. He was standing in front of the floor-to- ceiling window with a freshly lit cigarette. Hearing the noise, Jasper didn¡¯t turn around. Eileen ced the food on the table. ¡°If you¡¯re busy with company matters. I won¡¯t disturb you. Remember to eat in leaving now ¡°Halt!¡± he ordered. As his voice faded, Eileen¡¯s heart rose in anticipation. Is there anything else?¡± she asked, her hands sped together in front of her. Jasper dropped the cigarette from his hand, turned around, and looked at her with his unfathomable eyes. I¡¯ve looked into the adopted son of your father.¡± Eric Emotions in her heart rippled when she heard that. Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Seeing her silence. Jasper scowled. ¡®Abour him¡­ Is there anything you want to tell me?¡± He walked over, and Eileen felt a wave of oppression. The chilling aura enveloped her leaving her with nowhere to hide Jasper seemed to be trying to discern something from her eyes, but she was too calm, revealing nothing Eileen asked him. ¡°What have you found out?¡± Jasper gazed at her intently, afraid that he might push her too hard and frighten her. Consequently, Jasper held himself back a little. ¡°What do you think I will discover?¡± ¡°You¡¯re free to investigate him. I don¡¯t have much to say about it. You don¡¯t need to inform me about all this. I¡¯m going to grab something to eat now,¡± Tm nning to take control of Caerulus Corporation and strip him of his authority.¡± Eileen paused at the door, without turning her head. She spoke with indifference. ¡°This is your decision. It has nothing to do with me. Do as you wish.¡± Does the genuinely not care, or is she just pretending not to care? Why did she harm herself to be with him! Is she with me because he rejected her? She cares about him so deeply that she¡¯s even willing to risk her life. Eileen, you be arter cared about me. You can¡¯t even be bothered to offer me a perfunctory remark! Jasper clenched his teeth. When the housekeeper went to collect the dishes, all that could be seen in the study was a mess scattered acrrow the look Jasper, who rarely smoked, was sitting on the couch, surrounded by cigarette butts strewn on the floor, filling the room with a suffocating smell of smoke. Chapter 254 Chapter 254 Chapter 254 Engaged To Eileen The housekeeper picked up the untouched meal and quickly left the room. As the housekeeper at the door spotted Eileen arriving, she greeted, ¡°Ms. Eileen¡± Eileen nced over and asked, ¡°He still hasn¡¯t eaten?¡± This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. The housekeeper nodded, expressing concern. ¡°You should go and check on Mr. Jasper.¡± Eileen looked at the closed study door and said, ¡°Go and prepare some more food to bring up.¡± ¡°Okay¡± Äú.60% Eileen, holding a medicine box, stood in the corridor. She paused her hand that was about to knock on the door. Above her, a dim, soft light shone, casting a glow on her fair, youthful face. The look in her eyes was mysterious. She opened the door and walked in directly Instantly, a strong smell of smoke hit her Looking at the broken teacup at her feet, Eileen pursed her lips. Walking in without knowing where to step. Eileen identally stepped on a piece of porcin shard and moved forward sitting next to him. Jasper felt the spot next to him sink down. Before he could look, she snuffed out the cigarette in his hand and threw it into the ashtray. Eileen took his hand on her own ord, unbuttoning his shirt cuff. ¡°Have you forgotten what the doctor told you? You cant smoke.¡± She lowered her head, feeling his piercing, icy gaze upon her. His wound had already scabbed over. It was much better than before. ¡°What are you still doing here?¡± he asked. ¡°I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll get so angry with yourself that you¡¯ll end up making yourself sick The voice sounded harsh, but Jasper did not withdraw his hand Instead, he obediently rested it on her leg. allowing her to apply the medicine. Eileen felt a suffocating sensition in the room. She put down the cotton swab. Illopent the window. You take off your clothes, and I¡¯ll apply the medicine for you. As she turned around, Jasper had already stood up and left the study Eileen wasn¡¯t in a hurry to open the window. She would wait a bit and let the housekeepers clean up. Afterward, she went to Jasper¡¯s room. The scent there was more pleasant than that of the study, carrying a faint fragrance of pine wood. Although she lived there, she seldom entered his room. the stood in front of Jasper, skillfully unbuttoning his shirt one by one as if it wasn¡¯t her first time doing It was dways Eileen who had administered his medicme in the past. At first, she might have felt a bet ufortabte, but over time, she had grown ustomed to it. 11 46 Mon, 18 Dec t Chapter 251 Engaged To Eileen ¡°Have you ever done something like this to him before?¡± Jasper asked. +15 Tree Com ¡°Yes. Eileen was applying ointment to him, and Jasper felt a cool sensation slowly spreading from his wound. She noticed his face darken. Eileen said softly. ¡°To be honest with you. I just don¡¯t want to lie to you, and I hope you won¡¯t lie to me either. We¡¯ve never been together, and we never will be. My rtionship with him is just like your rtionship with Nancy. All those past events have already be the ¡°If I hadn¡¯t investigated, would you have never told me Jasper questioned. Eileen looked up to meet his gaze. ¡°What about you? If Richard hadn¡¯t told me about you, would you have kept it from me forever?¡± He fell silent. Eileen continued. ¡°All those things are in the past now. Can you stop overthinking?¡± ¡°Are you telling me this to defend him? ¡°No. The decision I¡¯ve made won¡¯t change.¡± ¡°I know.¡± After applying the ointment. Eileen handed him his pajamas to change into. In Jasper¡¯s eyes, what she doing increasingly resembled what Mrs. Smith should be doing- In front of the floor-to-ceiling window, the sun cast its final glow while Eileen. head bowed was fastening the buttons of his pajamas. ¡°Once you graduate, we¡¯ll announce our engagement,¡± Jasper stated. Jasper watched her reaction, noticing how her movements paused for a few seconds. After a moment, he finally heard her response. ¡°Okay¡± She agreed, but the next day¡­. Hulbury was reporting about the matter. One news stated, The engagement between the CEO of Smith Corporation and the heiress of the Swan family is imminent.¡±¡° Another reported, ¡°Good news is on the horizon. ording to reliable sources, the CEO of Smith Corporation will be engaged to the heiress of the Swan family thising June.¡± A third said, ¡°Breaking news. Congrattions to the CEO of Smith Corporation! He is about to get married¡¯ On the way to thoal, Jasper held the newspaper she had picked up today. The headline news was so presume that was hard to ignore 11:46 Mon, 18 Dec Chapter 254 Engaged To Eileen #15 Free Coun ¡°I¡¯m not ready yet. Dressed in her school uniform, with her bag resting on her legs, Eileen had her long hair tied up with a green hairband. A few strands of hair curled around her ears, and her eyes turned toward the person next to her. ¡°Jasper, I¡¯m not ready yet. You could have discussed the official announcement with me Jasper¡¯s eyes were filled with a gentle look, yet she felt a sense of unfamiliarity. ¡°There are still two months. They are bound to find out sooner orter, aren¡¯t they? Don¡¯t worry. No one will give you time. From that point forward, Eileen was given the title of Smuth Corporation¡¯s CEO¡¯s fianc¨¦e. hard ¡°Are you not happy?¡± He reached out, cradling herce in his hands, his thumb gently caressing beneath her eyes. His gaze was filled with an obsessive desire to possess her. Eileen smiled. ¡°No.¡± Jasper gave a slight smule. Mhm. Upon arriving at the school Jasper kissed her as usual, and Eileen got out of the car, her mind. elsewhere seemingly Ever since Jasper began investigating the banquet, his attitude toward her became increasingly peculiar. His desire to possess her was stronger than ever before, as if he was afraid that she would be taken away by someone else Last night, they slept in the same room. Although Jasper did nothing but hold her, she could feel the unusual reactions of his body, even in the middle of the might. He got up and went to the bathroom only emerging an hour and a halfter after taking a cold shower. Eileen wasn¡¯t sure whether agreeing to the engagement yesterday was the right thing to do Since she agreed. Eileen had been filled with a sense of unease. She couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that something bad was about to happen. Stepping out of the car, Eileen spotted the familiar vehicle. Upon seeing Eric, her heart fluttered with even more unc.ac. Vera took the lunch box from Eric¡¯s hand and her gaze shifted to Eileen before returning to Eric Erie. Eileen is about to get engaged. Isn¡¯t this a significant decision? Shouldn¡¯t she discuss it with the family? Could there be a reason for this hasty choice?¡± Eric¡¯s gaze was inscrutable as he watched Eileen walk away. ¡°This matter doesn¡¯t concern you,¡± he said ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it Just focus on what you need to do¡± Vera responded, ¡°We grew up together. Even though Eileen has never truly considered me her elder sister. I can¡¯t simply stand by and watch her make a hasty decision that could impart the rest of her life. Eric didn¡¯t say much. He casually acknowledged her words, they got into the car and drove away. Fabian asked, ¡°Mr. Sauth, are you really going to get engaged to Ms. Eileen?¡± Jasper warned the ck Audi drive away without flinching Regardless of Eric¡¯s identity or status in the gal, Jasper had never paid fur any attention: 11.46 Mon, 18 Dec ti Chapter 254 Engaged To Eileen +15 Free Cona ¡°Do you think I¡¯m joking? Let¡¯s discuss the engagement arrangements with Will in three days, Jasper replied. ¡°But there are still two months until Ms. Eileen¡¯s graduation Isn¡¯t it a bit early?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t ask questions you shouldn¡¯t. Just do as I say¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Smith. By the way, I received a call from the school yesterday. They mentioned that Ms. Eileen hasn¡¯t been attending sses regrlytely¡­¡± Chapter 255 Chapter 255 Chapter 255 Breaking Major News. ¡°Is she not in ss? Then what is she doing?¡± Jasper asked. +15 Tree CoinG Fabian replied. ¡°She spends her time in the school¡¯s art studio As far as I know, Ms. Eileen has also signed. up for the art specialty student entrance exam at Hulbury Central Art Academy The exam is scheduled for next month. If Ms. Eileen achieves the top score, she will have the opportunity to be directly admitted However, this year, there are over three million art student applications, but only two hundred and thirty spots avable. Achieving the top score is not an easy i task.¡± ¡°Regardless of whether she is epted or not, even if she doesn¡¯t attend this university, I can still support her. Let¡¯s drive back to thepany.¡± Upon reaching the ssroom. Eileen overheard a group of people murmuring about something in the corridor. ¡°Eileen is truly l lucky! I thought she had no chance with Jasper, but in the blink of an eye, she¡¯s set to be the future Mrs. Smith of Smith Corporation. I can¡¯t even begin to count how many people must he envious of her. ¡°Didn¡¯t Jasper have a mistress? Eileen hasn¡¯t been to school for quite some time because of this. Who knows if she used some kind of scheme to secure this marriage?¡± ¡°If there¡¯s anyone to me, it¡¯s that no one is as good-looking as her. My mom told me that Eileen¡¯s mother used to be the most sought-afterdy mn Hulbury, so beautiful that she could turn heads. Leven heard that my dad once danced with her!¡± ¡°No way. You¡¯re kidding! she This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. It¡¯s true. When away, so manydies in the wealthy circle were i they couldn¡¯t sleep for days. Back then, her status in Hulbury was such that with just a flick of her finger, regardless of whether the man was powerful influential, or married, she could lure him into her bed with just a word.¡± ¡°Goodness. This Lileen really takes after her mother! She¡¯s a natural-born seductress ¡°She may be, but at least she has the charm to be one. However, some people, not only are they ugly, but they also love to spread rumors. I think they should stop going to school and be paparazzi instead.¡± Jason appeared out of nowhere, his long legs blocking the three gossipers. Benjamin also appeared. carrying his bag. ¡°Which ss do you three belong to, and where are your bulges? Why aren¡¯t you wearing them? Be careful. I may deduct points for this Jason was the head of the monitoring division in the student council. Meanwhile, Benjamin, the president of the student council, also served as the deputy head of the monitoring division, handling various matters within the school. One¡¯s usual performance also mattered in that school as it determined whether one could graduate smoothly. ¡°You agree, don¡¯t you, Segunda?¡± Jason extended two lingers, bending them toward Eileen. ¡°It has nothing to do with me, replied Eileen. Upon hearing Fileen¡¯s voice, those who were speaking ill of her suddenly stiffened, their faces turning 11:46 Mon, 18 Dec ti Chapter 255 Breaking Major News. 415 Free Col unsightly. When did Eileen appear behind us? It¡¯s all over, it¡¯s all over¡­ Did she hear everything we just said? ¡°Apologize to me, demanded Eileen The three individuals immediately turned around, bowing incessantly to Eileen. ¡°We¡¯re sorry, we¡¯re sorry¡­ We won¡¯t dare to do it again.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine if you insult me. but don¡¯t talk about my mother like that.¡± ¡°Yes, yes, yes. It¡¯s our fault for speaking out of turn. We¡¯re truly sorry When Eileen looked at Jason, her expression softened slightly. She nodded her head, expressing her gratitude. Jason raised his eyebrows, as if to say. It¡¯s no big deal That day, the scores were posted on the ckboard at the back of the ssroom, and her seat was moved to the veryst one in the room. It was hard to imagine that the one who was once second in the grade, upon returning, had shockingly be the veryst. Even if Eileen was rankedst in the ss, no one dared to mock her even a little. After all, she was the future Mrs. Smith of Smith Corporation It didn¡¯t matter if the rest of them had high scores or great influence. They all paled inparison to the Smith family. Perhaps in the future, they might have to gauge her mood before meeting her again. Eileen said. Thank you. Jason set down Eileen¡¯s desk against the wall and dusted off his hands. ¡°It¡¯s no big deal. If you ever have trouble with your studies, feel free to ask me anytime. I¡¯ll teach you.¡± ¡°All right.¡± As soon as Jason finished speaking. Benjamin tossed a book from his hand onto the table. I don¡¯t need this anymore, so take it. Vera also came over. These are the notes I¡¯ve made for you while you were away these past few days. I¡¯m not sure if they¡¯ll be of any help, but I hope they will assist you in acing your uing exams. ¡°Mm-hmm, replied Eileen. Benjanin interjected. These notes are of no use to her. In the words of Mr. Gardner, Practice more, and ask if you don¡¯t understand.¡± All right The school bell rang for ss. In truth, it had already made her own ns long ago. Mon, 18 Chapter 255 Breaking Major News There was more than one way for her to reach her destination. Everything she did was for herself. As soon as the first ss ended, Eileen had already dipped away. She still went to the same location, believing she could achieve her goal in one month. 66 +15 Free Cons Engaged? Dream on. Eric tore the newspaper in his hands into shreds, splinting a photo of a couple in the middle into two halves. ¡°Where is Nancy?¡± Gavin said. ¡°I¡¯ve done as you instructed. We should be able to see the news report by this afternoon. However, there¡¯s talk around Raven Gang that Nancy has spent a hefty sum to hire a hacker. She¡¯s looking into our previous phone call. It seems she wants to investigate the person who¡¯s been helping her behind the scenes. Eric took off his gold-rimmed sses, leaned back, and crossed his left leg over his right. If she wants to investigate. let her. Eric had always been skilled at strategizing and understanding human nature. He knew that some individuals required a nudge before they would divulge their secrets. It was also an opportunity for him to expose the sheltered flower to the realities of the outside world. He wanted to show her that the world was not as idyllic as she imagined. If she desired to experience the world, he would permit it, but only within his reach. Just because you¡¯ve left home and found a powerful supporter doesn¡¯t mean you can arrogantly believe that you can sprout wings and fly far away. Some lessons need to be ingramed in your mind. How is the investigation into Nancy activities abroad that I asked you to look into progressing? ¨C Gavin nodded his expression growing even more solemn. Thave found something. This is a clue from a local Atharia gang, whom I enlisted to assist with the investigation. Half a year ago. Nancy had her photo taken at this photo studio, and she was apanied by someone Eric picked up a photo. His eyes dimmed slightly, but the corner of his mouth curved into an enigmatic smile. It appears that Eileen will be returning home soon ¡°Should these photos be published together?¡± Eric tilted his head,zily rubbing his temple. ¡°No need to rush. It¡¯s too early for that now. Go and send someone to remove the door of Unde Mansion and tidy up all the rooms, just as we used to do. A family should beplete and united, shouldn¡¯t it, my little princess? A sudden pain, akin to being pricked by a needle, surged in Eileen¡¯s chest. The apanying pame caused her hands to tremble, resulting in the paintbrush she was holding slipping and falling to the ground. She clutched her chest, her unease intensifying with each passing moment, to the point where even breathing became a struggle. Why?, Simultaneously, a major news story broke. report stated. The CEO of Smith Corporation was not on vacation abroad during his disappearance from the public eye In fact, he had been involved in a car ident. Our reporters have crewed the relevant parties involved to understand the specific cause of the ident: The new scene switched to a woman speaking. ¡°Hello, I am Nancy Mulligan¡­ Chapter 256 Chapter 256 Chapter 256 Just Because Of This +15 Free Cons The news of Nancy¡¯s television interview spread like wildfire in Hulbury, causing a massive uproar within. half an hour. The reporter asked, ¡°It seems like you¡¯ve known Mr. Smith for a long time. Why didn¡¯t you end up together? Was there a specific reason?¡± Nancy replied, ¡°There is indeed a reason¡­¡± On television, Nancy appeared worn out, a stark contrast to her previous morous image. In that moment, she seemed vulnerable and abandoned The Public Rtions Department immediately reported the situation to Jasper The audience, eager to hear Nancy¡¯s exnation, was abruptly interrupted by a break in the live broadcast. The television screen turned into static, leaving no image. ¡°What a disappointment! What could be the reason for this?¡± ¡°Who knows! If what this woman says is true, and the CEO of Smith Corporation likes her so much, why is he engaged to the daughter of the Swan family? It doesn¡¯t make sense!¡± ¡°Ah, this woman is truly pitiful. After being together for so long, she¡¯s still been abandoned. Could there be someone else involved? How could a seemingly perfect couple break up like that?¡± At Hulbury News, a group of ck-suited bodyguards entered the office. Without saying a word, they vandalized the entire ce, even cutting off the electrical signals. The terrified staff huddled in aer, too afraid to move. The bodyguards cleared a path for Fabian to enter the interview room. Through the ss, he saw Nancy sitting inside. The soundproof ss door opened, and Nancy looked at the person before her. She calmly stood up and said, ¡°Long time no see. Mr. Sherwood. Why are you alone? I thought Jasper woulde to see me himself.¡± Fabianposed his expression, ncing at the reporter beside him. ¡°Leave.¡± This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. The reporter didn¡¯t dare to linger and quickly ran out Fabian looked at Nancy with dissatisfaction. I thought you understood the message Mr. Smith asked me to deliver. A Swire person adapts to the circumstances. If you continue to cause trouble like this, it will only make you look worse.¡± Nancy didn¡¯t take his words seriously. She nced down at her fingernails and said, ¡°So what? As long as 1 achieve my goal, it¡¯s fine. Since he didn¡¯te in person this time, please ry a message to him for me. Our mutter won¡¯t end so easily. He can forget about getting engaged to another woman¡­ He can forget about it in this lifetime¡± Naked up ber mexpensiveg, ready to leave, but Fabian blocked her path. ¡°Ms. Mulligan, votr 11:45 Mon, 18 Dec ti Chapter 256 Just Because Of This 66% public spreading of rumors about your rtionship with Mr. Smith has negatively impacted Smith Corporation. Thepany has reported this to the police. ording to thew, spreading false rumors is a crime that can lead to a sentence of three years or more.¡± Nancy looked at Fabian in disbelief. ¡°Spreading rumors?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s correct. Fabian spoke expressionlessly. ¡°Mr. Smith gave you a chance. If you had behaved, there wouldn¡¯t have been any issues. But now, what you¡¯ve done has crossed Mr. Smith¡¯s boundaries. The police will arrive in ten minutes. Before Mr. Smith¡¯s engagement to Ms. Eileen, I¡¯m afraid you will have to spend some time in jail.¡± Nancy burst into wildughter. ¡°Hl. What a fantastic he! When Jasper was begging me not to leave, it wasn¡¯t like this at all. I won¡¯t believe a single word you¡¯re saying. Either let hime to see ine now or get lost and release me Today is different from any other day. It¡¯s time for you to wake up.¡± Just then a group of uniformed police officers arrived. Nancy didn¡¯t expect the police to actually show up. I can¡¯t believe it. Jasper actually sent someone to throw me into prison! Nancy was taken away, screaming andshing out at the police like a madwoman. In the end, she couldn¡¯t escape her fate. Handcuffed, she was escorted directly to the police station. Within an hour. Fabian returned to Jasper to report. Smith Corporation issued a public statement. After investigating thements made by Ms. Nancy Mulligan in today¡¯s live broadcast, we have found them to be false. We urge everyone to remain rational. If anyone continues to spread rumors about Smith Corporation based on this, legal action will be taken and the responsible party will be held ountable for any damages caused to thepany. We have already issued a legal notice regarding the defamation of the CEO of Smith Corporation, and we will pursue this matter with Ms. Nancy Mulligan until the end. Furthermore, the engagement between the CEO of Smith Corporation, Jasper Smuth, and the heiress of Caerulus Corporation. Eileen, has been scheduled for June 12th. The event will take ce at Primas Hotel As soon as the statement was released, the initial turmoil subsided, followed by a collective sigh from the crowd Some people knew whether the statement was true or not. Eileen spent the entire day in the school¡¯s art studio and was thest to hear the news. She never expected so many things to happen on that day. Inside the car, Jasper asked her. ¡°What would you like to eat tonight Shall we go to Blissorzo or have Epean cuisine!¡± Let¡¯s go home and cat. I have to review again tonight, Eileen answered. Jasper noticed that Eileen seemed downcast. He gently pulled her towards him. inviting her to sit on his He tenderly brushed her hair, tilted his head, and shed a subtle smile. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Aren¡¯t you 11:47 Mon, 18 Dec iO Chapter 256 Just Because Of This Eileen looked out of the car window, avoiding his gaze. ¡°I saw that statement. Why won¡¯t you tell the truth¡± Coms ¡°Is it because of this Jasper asked, giving a slight sinile. The light in his eyes was inscrutabile, leaving one to wonder what he was thinking. He continued. ¡°It¡¯s just to avoid unnecessary trouble. After all, those things are in the past, and it¡¯s meaningless to bring them up again Besides, I don¡¯t want this to affect your mood. The exams areing up, aren¡¯t they? You have two months left to prepare well. Whether you pass of not. I respect your choice. ¡°Is it only because of this?¡± Eileen asked. With just a single sentence, he could casually erase his past with Nancy, but how could he act as if nothing ever happened His behavior makes him seem so unfamiliar to me Jasper lightly brushed her nose with his finger and replied, ¡°What else could it be..¡± He took a deep breath and said. ¡°Stop overthinking, okay? Do you want to go home? Let¡¯s go home, okay? I¡¯ve recently learned a few new dishes. I¡¯ll cook them for you to try. How about that?¡± Eileen let go of her inner unease and curiously asked, ¡°When did you learn to cook?¡± ¡°It¡¯s something I learned a long time ago. Is there any dish you¡¯re craving?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine with anything I¡¯ll help you out in a bit. Jasper smiled and nodded. All right. Upon returning to the mansion, the two started preparing dinner, Jasper put on a cutece-trimmed apron, a stark contrast to his usual image, as if he were a completely different person. Chapter 257 Chapter 257 Chapter 257 Father Jasper prepared four dishes and a soup, enough for two people. ¡°Try this,¡± Jasper offered her a piece of barbecue rib. Eileen took a bite and said, ¡°It¡¯s delicious.¡± ¡°If you like it, you can have more,¡± he said, acting as if it wasn¡¯t Eileen¡¯s first time eating his cooking After dinner, Eileen went to his study. He worked onpany matters while Eileen quietly did her own work Although she didn¡¯t attend sses, she had her own schedule. The Latest pace of the sses didn¡¯t really benefit Eileen. She wanted to improve her academic performance to the level it was before in just two short months, which was indeed challenging. She had a foundation in her studies, so it wasn¡¯t too difficult. It was just a little challenging. Jasper wore his Bluetooth headset, listening to Fabian¡¯s report. ¡°Mr. Smith, regarding the engagement dress style should we arrange for the designer to visit Ms. Eileen personally for selection this weekend? Also, we need to take the engagement photos. Ive scheduled your recent work and arranged your weekend itinerary to the end. It won¡¯t dy the progress.¡± ¡°Alright, got it. Jasper replied. Eileen sat on the plush carpet, havingpleted a few test papers. After correcting them herself, she looked at the time and realized it was already half past ten. She leaned on the tea table to stand up, then began to tidy up the books. ¡°Finished writing?¡± Jasper took off his Bluetooth headset and walked toward her. ¡°Yes. It¡¯s gettingte. I¡¯ll leave the rest for tomorrow. I¡¯m going to head to my room and get some sleep¡± ¡°Take it easy¡± Jasper, dressed in a dark shirt with two buttons undone at the chest, pulled her to sit on the couch. The bright beam of light in the study room subtly turned ambiguous. Eileen felt a warm breath on her neck, ungling slightly The seductive movement of his Adam¡¯s apple as he slowly leaned in closer and closer. The light shone, entuating his features, making them even more profound and strikingly handsome. It seemed as if a me was burning in his eyes, the scorching heat seemingly wanting to envelop and melt her. Sweat formed in the palm of Eileen¡¯s hand as she tightly gripped the hem of her skirt. At such a close distance, she could see the pores on his face. Her heart seemed ready to leap out of her chest, and she closed her eyes tightly. At that moment, Eileen¡¯s mind went nk, devoid of any thoughts. Even though she had spent so much time with him, their interactions were mostly limited to holding hands and embracing each other. Even when it came to kisses, they were just pecks. 14 11:47 Mon, 18 Dec Chapter 257 Father Deep down, for reasons unknown, Eileen felt the urge to push him away. ´ø.66% +15 Free Coins However, she suppressed that thought. Even if she could refuse and avoid it today, she knew she could never escape it forever. Half a minute had passed, yet it felt like a century to Eileen. Kisses fell thick and fast on her snow-ke neck as a deep, maic male voice spoke. ¡°May 17 Eileen¡¯s eyes snapped open in an instant. She knew exactly what Jasper was asking for ¡°Wait¡­ Just wait a moment. Eileen blurted out in a state of confusion Jasper¡¯s actions also came to a halt. ¡°Why?¡± Eileen forced herself to remain calms. ¡°Right now, we¡¯re just boyfriend and girlfriend. My father¡­ He won¡¯t allow me to do this. Can we wait a little longer Jasper¡¯s breathing became erratic. He suppressed the difort welling up within him. He rested his forehead against hers. Alright. After waiting for so long, what¡¯s another sixty-some days? I¡¯m going to sleep in my room tonight. Eileen gulped. Alright, you rest well. I¡¯m going to sleep too. We have ss tomorrow.¡± ¡°Give me a kiss, then you can go,¡± Eileen quickly pecked his check Tim leaving first. Good night.¡± She picked up her backpack and dashed out of the study without looking back. Eileen rushed into the room, quickly shutting the door behind her. She leaned against it, panting heavily. As she reached up to touch her neck, she thought back to the situation she had just escaped from hy did I resist contact with Jasper? Perhaps I still can¡¯t get over that hurdle in my heart. Eileen put down her backpack, went to the bathroom for a shower, and theny on the bed. After turning off the lights, she stared at the pitch-ck ceiling. Her mind was a tangled mess. ¡°You don¡¯t like him, Eileen? a woman spoke. Content held by N?velDrama.Org. Eileen looked toward the figure sitting by the bed. ¡°Mom? Have youe again? ¡°I once said I will always be by your side. If you don¡¯t like him, you shouldn¡¯t force yourself,¡± Eileen sat up. I think I like him. It¡¯s just a bit hard to adjust at first, I¡­ I don¡¯t know. What about you. Mom Do you like luun?¡± ¡°This is your choice. As long as you are happy, I will ept him.¡± Tin unsure if what I¡¯m doing is right or wrong. Do you¡­ also loye Dad, Mom? How did you both end up together in the first ce In an instant, the figure by the bed didn¡¯t respond and vanished¡­. Hours passed, and the first hint of dawn¡¯s light arrived 11:47 Mon, 18 Dec ti BIG V Chapter 957 Father The days had been utterly serene, without a ripple of disturbance. The calmer the days were, the more uneasy Eileen felt. 66% +15 From Cons It was a weekend, so she thought she could sleep in, but she was awakened by the sound of knocking on the door ¡°Ms. Eileen, it¡¯s time to get up. Mr. Smith is waiting for you downstairs, said the housekeeper. Alright, got it With a dazed nod, Eileen casually agreed, then quickly turned over and fell back asleep. The housekeeper descended the stairs. Jasper had been waiting for over ten minutes, but she still hadn¡¯te down from upstairs, Jasper nced at his wristwatch. The photographers and designers in the hall had all arrived on time A woman in her thirties, dressed in professional attire, approached. ¡°Has Ms. Eileen not woken up yet? Should we start preparing other things first. Mr. Smith?¡± Jasper put down his legs that were resting on the tea table. ¡°Yes. You guys go ahead and prepare Seeing Jasper heading upstairs, the photographer quickly followed. Jasper turned the doorknob, but it was locked He raised his hand and knocked on the door, Eileen.. Eileen covered her ears. Jasper, it¡¯s the weekend today. Let me sleep for another half hour.¡± Her internal clock was set around half past eight, but it was only minutes past seven at that moment. There was no way Eileen was getting up. ¡°Grandma is downstairs. She wants to see you,¡± said Jasper. Grandma? Upon hearing that, Eileen forced herself to wake up, instantly regaining rity. In the next moment, she was barefoot, stepping on the wooden floor, heading to open the door. The moment she opened the door and saw a camera at the entrance. Eileen was so startled that she immediately closed the door. ¡°W-What is this for? Surprise. Surprise? Eileen felt a shock. ¡°Do you want to talk to me with the door closed? Eileen hesitated, slowly opening the door and revealing her delicate, unadorned fare. You cane in, she said ¡°but he cannot The photographer remained silent Jasper nced at the camera, his eyes filled with affection. ¡°All right, he said. ¡°We won¡¯t let him in. 11.47 Mon, 18 Dec i Chapter 257 Father The camera swayed up and down. +15 Free Cont After Jasper entered, Eileen closed the door behind him. She ran her fingers through her hair, dressed in a loose nightgown. The cor was loose, revealing half of her shoulder. Her hair was a bit messy, but her appearance exuded charm. ¡°Why is there a camera today? What are we shooting? Jasper adjusted her hair for her. ¡°Go freshen up first. You¡¯ll find out when youe downstairs.¡± ¡°Oh, okay.¡± Eileen, in a daze, headed toward the bathroom. Just then, her phone, which was ced on the bedside table, began to ring. She walked over to answer it. It was an unfamiliar mumber from Saintnam, and instantly, she had a bad feeling about it In front of Jasper, she picked up the phone, her voice tentatively calling out, ¡°F-Father?¡± Chapter 258 Chapter 258 Chapter 258 Anything You Like Do you still remember that I¡¯m your father? How could you not call home about something as significant as an engagement: Will questioned. Eileen was speaking incoherently. Will rarely contacted her. He had only called her a few times that year. Usually, any issues were resolved by Eric. The only reason he was calling was to put on a show of being a loving parent in front of Jasper. She quickly said. I¡¯m sorry, Father. I was nning to tell you in a few days. How are you and Ms. Field doing?¡± ¡°Everything¡¯s fine. Just wait and see how I deal with you not telling me about your engagement when I get back. I¡­¡± Eileen¡¯s heart skipped a beat, her eyes visibly flustered as she turned to Jasper for help with a pleading look. Jasper extended his elegam, slender fingers, smiling. Let me handle this. You go freshen up first.¡± Eileen nodded without uttering a word, directly handed her phone to Jasper, and then shed into the bathroom as if escaping She sshed her face with cold water, finally snapping herself fully awake. Still, she thought Jasper¡¯s engagement was merely an offhand remark She hadn¡¯t paid much attention those past few days, but everything was true After Eileen finished washing up, she went to the walk-in closet to change her clothes. The bathroom was designed with a wet and dry area. Sliding open the ss door revealed a spacious room filled with Eileen¡¯s clothes, shoes, bags, and jewelry In terms of materialforts, including food, clothing, daily necessities, and housing. Jasper provided her with the very best. Everything she wore, down to a pair of socks, was custom-made by hand, impossible to buy off the shelf. Eileen was wearing a thin linen-colored knitted sweater dress and had her hair braided, casually draped over her left shoulder as she walked out. Jasper had just finished the phone call. I will definitely take good care of Eileen, Father. Rest assured.¡± Father? You¡¯ve changed your tune so quickly? Eileen raised her eyebrow upon hearing that Upon seeing her emerge. Jasper fixed his gaze on her, unable to look away. He reached out his hand, and Eileen walked toward him. He held her in his arms, her chin resting on his shoulder. ¡°What did Father say to you? ¡°About the marriage. They areing back today. It would be perfect for both families to have dinner together,¡± answered Jasper. deen pushed him away, but Jasper¡¯s hand was still gripping her slender waist ¡°So soon: I¡¯m not ready yet Reatly for who? Are you not ready to be Mrs Smith, or are you not ready for this engagement ceremony? Eileen, you promised.¡± Eileen covered her face with her hand. ¡°I thought at least I would have to finish my exams before discussing this.¡± Jasper nodded, affectionately embracing her once more. ¡°There¡¯s no conflict, and it won¡¯t affect your exams. Just like before, you don¡¯t need to do anything.¡± All she needed to do was to stay by his side obediently. Eileen didn¡¯t say anything more. Hand in hand, they left the room, with the photographer trailing behind them, capturing the sweet moments of the soon-to-be-engaged couple. Eileen arrived downstairs, deeply stummed by the scene before her. The vast living room was filled with over a dozen people, and various styles of gowns and assortments of jewelry were disyed everywhere. A woman dressed in a ck suit and pencil skirt approached with a smile. ¡°Mr. Smith, you can hand over Ms. Eileen to us now.¡± Eileen nced at Jasper, feeling at a loss, while thetter said, ¡°Go ahead¡± ¡°For what?¡± Eileen was led away, still clueless about what they were about to do. Jasper walked over to the couch, picked up a newspaper, and began to read, sipping his coffee. Eileen was led to a room on the first floor, where she was made to sit down. The braid she had neatly arranged was untied and scattered. Four or five makeup artists then began to fuss over her The makeup artist asked, ¡®Ms. Eileen, do you have any specific requests for your makeup? ¡°Do I need to put on makeup? Eileen responded. ¡°It¡¯s a makeup trial for your uing engagement. ¡°I see. Eileen narrowed her eyes, lost in thought Then, we¡¯ll start with a trial makeup session focusing on your facial features and hairstyle. If you¡¯re not satisfied, we can always make adjustmentster.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Eileen¡¯s skin was delicate, hardly needing any foundation for enhancement. Her features were exquisite. herplexion as smooth as cream, radiating a captivating allure. Her beauty was unapologetic, capable of stunning anyone at first nce, much like a beautiful rose, bewitchingly beautiful. Regardless of her body proportions or her attire, even in a crowil, she could be recognized at a nce. Eileen¡¯s features were still maturing. Who could know how many men would be captivated by her beauty in the future? From styling to makeup, it took a total of two hours. As such, Eileen was on the verge of falling asleep. ¡°Ms. Eileen, it¡¯s ready. Please take a look and see if you¡¯re satisfied, said the makeup artist. Thank so What do you guys think? Does it look good?¡± asked Eileen. The sys and makeup artists were all stunned as they looked at Eileen. The Smith family had always valued tradition, and Jasper personally selected the ceremonial dress. It was a traditional Clusian red sleeveless gown paired with red agate carrings. She wore a ke pearl hair band on her head and draped a ke fox fur shawl over her shoulders. Her jet-ck hair was styled into wavy, long curls that cascaded down her hack. Every smile, every gesture, every move she made was utterly captivating. Across the entire entertainment industry, there wasn¡¯t a single star who couldpare to her. If she were to enter the industry, she would undoubtedly be a popr star, and the top spot would surely he hers. Stunning! Ms. Eileen, I¡¯ve worked with numerous stars and models, but none have ever been as breathtaking as you. Please, go show yourself to Mr. Smith. He¡¯s sure to love it,¡± said the makeup artist. Eileen had never thought of herself as particrly beautiful. As she stepped out, both La and Richard happened to be present. Jasper was in the middle of saying something to La However, when they caught sight of Eileen emerging, the entire space fell into silence, with everyone¡¯s attention fixed on her. A flicker of astonishment appeared in Jasper¡¯s eyes. La nced at them, chuckled, and yfully remarked, ¡°Well, well Jasper certainly has good taste.¡± With a gentle smile. Eileen replied. Thank you. Grandma.¡± Jasper made no effort to conceal the affection in his eyes. Taking her hand, he kissed the back of it and said, ¡°No matter what. I¡¯ll always have a deep fondness for you. Hearing those words in front of so many people. Eileen felt her cheeks flush, and she shyly lowered her head. La dered. I think this outfit is perfect. Let¡¯s go with this one. There¡¯s no need to fuss over it anymore. Eileen should take a good rest on her weekend off. Tonight, I¡¯ll organize a banquet and invite our future inws to discuss the uing wedding. What do you think, Eileen?¡± Eileen nodded and replied, ¡°Okay¡± After La left, the fashion designer took Eileen¡¯s measurements again, changed her gown, and waited for her to approach Jasper. The manager of the weddingpany was flipping through the album with Jasper. These are all new designs from our bridal designers that haven¡¯t been released yet. The custom-made wedding dresses will take a bit longer. If you¡¯re in a hurry, Mr. Smith, you can also bring Ms. Eileen to ourpany to choose in person. Jasper looked up, pulling Eileen to sit beside him. ¡°Take a look and see if there¡¯s anything you like.¡± Chapter 259 Chapter 259 Chapter 259 Another Sugar Baby ¡°Isn¡¯t it too early for me to choose a wedding dress? We¡¯re not even engaged yet.¡± Eileen asked. ¡°It¡¯s not too early. Once we¡¯re engaged, marriage is just a matter of time. Jasper said gently. The manager noticed the unusual atmosphere between the two. She quickly smiled and said, ¡°Actually, it¡¯s understandable that Ms. Eileen has concerns. She is still young and growing. If she orders a wedding dress now, it may not fit herter, which can affect her appearance, I suggest waiting until you two have set a wedding date before making ns Jasper¡¯s thumb gently stroked back and forth over the hack of her hand. After a moment of thought, he said, ¡°That¡¯s fine. Let¡¯s wait for your father toe over today to finalize the wedding details. Then, we choose. N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. Eileen smiled. All right. can At Caerulus Corporation. Gavin knocked on the door and walked into the CEO¡¯s office. ¡°Mr. Snow, a few construction n costs require your signature for approval.¡± Eric nced over it and signed the document. ¡°Mr. Swan is returning today. Everything at Unde Mansion has been arranged ording to you instructions. We¡¯ve added eight housekeepers to take care of Mrs Swan¡¯s diet and daily life, including a nutritionist. Here are the details of all the housekeepers.¡± Eric said without lifting his head. ¡°There¡¯s no need to show me these. Report on my uing itinerary. ¡°All right. Mr. Snow. You have a meeting in two hours. It¡¯s about the development project in the new area of Newcove. Around six in the evening, there¡¯s a banquet with the co-developers. Today¡¯s quest of honor is Mr. Wilson from Nimblelife Corporation. There¡¯s also an issue with Pce Corporation Chandler, thergest shareholder of Pce Corporation, has passed away. His funeral was held yesterday, and his shares in thepany have been transferred to your other identity. Pce Corporation is now leaderless. ording to the share distribution, Chandler¡¯s sister, Daisy, is set to take over. Our research shows that she studied business management in Archulea and has obtained a dual master¡¯s degree. She has already returned to the country. Before Chandler¡¯s death, the transfer of his shares seemed to have raised her suspicions. She¡¯s currently investigating the cause of death, including your identity.¡± Just then, Gavin¡¯s phone chimed with a message notification. He took out his phone and nced at it, his expression subtly changing. ¡°Daisy, the newly appointed CEO of Pce Corporation, has requested at meeting with you, Mr. Snow.¡± ¡°Daisy?¡± Eric put down his pen, rhythmically tapping his fingers on the office desk, leaningzily back in his chair. ¡°Where¡¯s the information about her?¡± ¡°Here! Eric, wearing gold-rimmed sses, had his ck shirt sleeves rolled up. The blue veins on his muscr anns were prominent. His fingers, with clearly defined knuckles, casually flipped open a page. Upon seeing the photo on it, he narrowed his eyes with a deep gaze. Gavin exined, Although Chandler is not a righteous person, he has never mistreated his sister. The twes of them have been dependent on each other since they lost their parents at a young age. Given Chandlers Chapter 259 Another Sugar Baby death, Daisy will certainly not let it go easily.¡± Suddenly, a voice outside the oflice spoke. T¡¯m sorry, but without an appointment, you can¡¯t go in. Ms. Hackett. Mr. Snow is not in the office. ¡°Seram!¡± The next second, the office door was kicked open, making a loud bang that echoed throughout the room. Before long, a tall woman appeared at the office entrance. She was dressed in a loose chiffon outfit and wore sunsses. The security guard, frightened, quickly said, Tm sorry. Mr. Snow. This woman knows martial arts. I couldn¡¯t stop her.¡± Eric waved his hand. It¡¯s okay. You can go first. ¡°All right. Mr. Snow Daisy strode forward, her hands forcefully pping down on Eric¡¯s office desk, her demeanor bold and domineering Eric, twenty-six years old, an adopted son of the Swan family. In 1999, you sponsored the campus belle of the Music Academy. Last year, she mysteriously died on a ski slope after having an argument with you. Two months ago, you handed over Newcove¡¯s development rights to my brother: You also signed an agreement with Pce Corporation for the joint development of Newcove. The agreement was only three months old when, quite conveniently, my brother ended up in prison. The day after you went to visit him, he mysteriously died in jail. Gavin frowned in displeasure. ¡°Ms. Hackett, mind your manners. If you continue to cause a scene, the company has the right to call the police¡± Daisy chuckled. Go ahead. Report me! It would be perfect to have the police here. I want them to thoroughly investigate my brother¡¯s case. Why was he, a perfectly fine man, arrested and put in jail, only to die suddenly?¡± Eric put down the document in his hand and said to Gavin. ¡°You go out first.¡± Gavin nodded Understood Gavin left and closed the door behind him. Eric stood up from his seat. ¡°Good investigation. Continur. Daisy noticed the document, her voice rising a few notches. ¡°You¡¯ve been investigating me.¡± ¡°Know yourself, know your enemy.¡± Eric took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, picked one, and put it in his mouth. ¡°Ms. Hackett, did youe all this way just to interrogate me about these things?¡± ¡°You admit it, then? That my brother¡¯s death is connected to you?¡± Daisy relentlessly pressed him, the eyes behind her sunsses piercing like a sharp sword, seemingly ready to skewer him. She studied his figure. From the moment she walked through the door, from the very first nce, she realized he was not only dangerous but also not as simple as she had imagined, even though he was quite bandone A ke smoke enveloped him, carrying with it a scent of tobo, which gradually dispersed with the Chapter 259 Another Sugar Baby outdoor breeze. ¡°I can only express my regret for Chandler¡¯s death. Considering my rtionship with Pce Corporation, I advise you, Ms. Hackett, that there is no bencht for you in continuing this investigation¡± Daisy spat. ¡°What do you mean no benefits? It¡¯s clear as day that you¡¯re the murderer, yet here you are, putting on an act.¡± ¡°Before using me of being the murderer, Ms. Hackett, you should carefully consider the situation. Where is the evidence? Who would believe you based solely on your few words? If you truly suspect that there is something suspicious about your brother¡¯s death, instead of wasting time here trying to find the killer, it would be more beneficial to focus on managing Pce Corporation properly. What do you think. Ms. Hacken?¡± ¡°Alright, I don¡¯t doubt you, but please tell me, why did you visit my brother before he passed away? Why did he die the following day Daisy removed her sunsses, her tone icy as she interrogated him. ¡°I have nothing to say Daisy smirked. She walked over to Eric¡¯s desk, sat down on the chair, and crossed her legs. ¡°Very well. If you refuse to talk. I will simply spend my day here with you Eric turned around to look at her, hus gaze shing with a hint of dangerous coldness. The corners of his mouth curved up in an almost imperceptible arc, sending shivers down the spines of those who witnessed it. Daisy noticed a picture frame on his desk. Upon seeing the person in the photo, she was slightly taken aback. The face of the person in the picture bore a striking resemnce to her own. She teased again. ¡°Could this be another lover you¡¯re keeping? Eric noticed her staring at the photo frame and stepped forward to cover it. ¡°Ms. Hackett, your stic surgery has been done quite well. It would be better for you to wear sunsses during the recovery period to avoid dust getting into your eyes and causing an infection. Otherwise, your face could be ruined A subtle glint shed in his eyes. Chapter 260 Chapter 260 Chapter 260 You Are Not Allowed To Investigate Me She was taken aback when he saw through her at first nce, It was true that she had undergone facial surgery, but she never expected to bear such a striking resemnce to the person in the picture. She had recently undergone eye surgery, and her eyes were slightly swollen. Unless someone looked closely, it would be difficult to notice. Daisy looked away, crossing her arms over her chest, pretending to be calm as she asked, ¡°Does this concern you?¡± When she noticed her photo on the documents on the table, she opened it and inquired, Just how much have you investigated about me?¡± Before Eric could make his next move, she had already opened the document and emptied the photos inside. Upon seeing the photos. Daisy was instantly shocked. They were photos of her from before her surgery. spanning from her elementary school years to after she graduated from university. Her hand trembled uncontrobly as she asked, ¡°Where did you get all these?¡± How did he manage to find my old photos? ¡°As I mentioned, Ms. Hackett, if you¡¯re investigating me, it¡¯s only natural that I would want to understand who you are to avoid any future problems. Besides, it wasn¡¯t difficult to find out that you¡¯re an overseas- educated schr with dual degrees, said Eric, his expression unchanged and his gaze steady. He nced at his wrist to check the time as he continued, ¡°How much longer do you n on staring at me? My time is valuable, and I can¡¯t afford to waste it here with you. Daisy mmed her hand on the table, standing up. ¡°Then tell me the truth. I know him. He may be a bit of a mess, but he would never harm others without reason. Being arrested and thrown into jail out of the blue¡­ Is this all part of your scheme?¡± Eric¡¯s patience with her had reached its limit. ¡°You have two minutes to leave on your own, or I¡¯ll have someone escort you out. Ms. Hackett, you¡¯ve just returned to the country, and you¡¯re unaware of many things. Coming to me to seek justice will only escte the situation, which won¡¯t benefit you in any way. You should take some time to think things through.¡± The phone in Eric¡¯s pocket rang, breaking the silence. He nced at the caller ID, turned, and walked towards the floor-to-ceiling window before answering the call. His expression unconsciously softened as he asked, ¡°Hey. Eileen¡­ Did you need something from me?¡± Eileen nced at Jasper, who was sitting next to her, and said, ¡°Come over with your father tonight. We¡¯ll have dinner together and discuss our engagement. I know it might be a bit inconvenient for you.¡± Her speech was slow, but the nervousness in her tone was evident. Eric smiled. All right, big brother will definitely be there on time.¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll be waiting for you.¡± inst a few short sentences, the phone call ended. Eric¡¯s expression beame mcrutable, a glint of stemness shing through his deep eyes Suddenly the ata around him turned icy cold Chapter 260 You Are Not Allowed To Investigate Me Content held by N?velDrama.Org. After ending his call. Daisy walked over to him, arms crossed over her chest. Her demeanor was domineering, and the teardrop male under the corner of her eye, which was absent in her photos, added a touch of allure to her. ¡°I will definitely investigate this matter. Regardless of whether my brother is at fault, you are still under heavy suspicion. You¡¯d better not give me any evidence against you.¡± Without looking at her, Eric turned around and called out, ¡°Gavin¡¯ Gavin pushed the door open and entered. ¡°Yes, Mr. Snow?¡± ¡°Notify all departments that the meeting has been moved forward. It will start in ten minutes.¡± ¡°Linderstood Gavin looked at Daisy, slightly stunned. Why does this person look so much like Eileen? Could it be stic surgery? Is there anything else you need, Ms. Hackett?¡± Gavin asked. Daisy looked at him deeply before snapping out of her dazed state. She walked over to the desk and gathered the photos. Tm taking these photos with me. From now on, you¡¯re no longer allowed to investigate me. I have the right to sue you for invasion of privacy if you do so. After finishing her speech, Daisy put her sunsses back on and left the office. ¡°Are you really going to let her continue causing trouble in thepany, Mr. Snow? Il Mr. Swan finds out about Chandler, it could lead to more problems. Moreover, this could be detrimental to your situation regarding that identity. What if your secret gets exposed? Gavin asked. ¡°I know what I¡¯m doing. For now, let¡¯s start the meeting.¡± Eric replied. ¡°I just received a call. Nancy is asking for our help. She wants to get out of prison. Moreover, she wants us to sabotage the engagement ceremony of Jasper and Eileen,¡± Gavin said. Eric showed no mercy as he said. ¡°Let her be. This is what happens when she acts on her own and disobeys The two of them, one in front and the other behind, left the CEO¡¯s office and headed to the conference §Ô§à§à§Ý Around six-thirty in the evening, Eileen didn¡¯t dress up specially. Instead, she wore a matching couple¡¯s outfit with Jasper, which he had chosen When Will and Elsie arrived, Elsie affectionately held Eileen¡¯s hand and walked into the hall. After exchanging a few pleasantries, she said. ¡°I can¡¯t believe how quickly the engagement hase around. I don¡¯t have inuch to give you. If you don¡¯t mind, please ept thus ruby bangle. I bought it especially for you. ¡°Thank you. Aunt Elsie. Eileen didn¡¯t refuse, but she was still not used to Elsie¡¯s friendly gestures, Elsie personally shipped the ruby bangle onto Eileen¡¯s wrist. The blood-ced naby bangle was crystal clear, so transparent that it seemed as if there was liquid flowing within. At a nce, une could tell it wasn¡¯t cheap. 11.51 Mon, 18 Dec ti Chapter 260 You Are Not Allowed To Investigate Me ? ?, 65%/ +155 Comma It was probably purchased by her father. Since Elsie became pregnant with a boy, who would be the heir of the Swan family, her father had beenpletely indulgent toward her, spending money without any constraints whatsoever. Today, Elsie was wearing a form-fitting, dark green gown, exuding a gentle and dignified aura. Her belly was noticeably bulging. Will and Jasper entered the study, their conversation remaining a mystery. When they emerged, it was already time for the feast to begin. Will¡¯s heartyughter resonated from upstairs. Hahahal Naturally, I trust you with Eileen. I¡¯ve spoiled her since she was young. If she bes difficult, I hope you¡¯ll be patient with her.¡± ¡°Of course, Father. You can be assured of that.¡± be assured of that.¡±/ The two individuals on the sofa stood up. Eileen approached Jasper and asked. ¡°Are you finished talking?¡± Jasper held Eileen¡¯s hand and nodded. saying. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°What were you discussing? Jasper leaned in close to her ear and whispered. ¡°Tll tell you tonight.¡± ¡°Oh, my! Whispering secrets now, are we? Is there something you can¡¯t share with us?¡± Elsic teased. Eileen blushed at the remark. ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about that. Father, Elsie, let¡¯s cat.¡± ¡°Yes, let¡¯s begin the meal, Jasper said. He then called out. Richard.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Jasper Richard responded ¡°Where is Grandma? Jasper inquired. Richard replied, ¡°Someone has gone to fetch her. She should be here soon.¡± Elsie teased. This time. Will took the main seat, with Eileen and Jasper scared to his left, and Elsie to his right. ¡°By the way, Will, where¡¯s Eric? Hasn¡¯t he arrived yet?¡± ¡°He should be arriving soon. There might be some traffic on the road,¡± Will replied. When the banquet was mentioned, Jasper¡¯s gaze shifted to Eileen. his eyes filled with an indiscernible emotion. Under the table. he grasped Eileen¡¯s hand and reassured her. ¡°There¡¯s no need to be too nervous. ¡°I¡¯m not, Eileen managed to force a weak smile. Her palms were slightly sweaty as she clenched them. No sooner had the words been spoken than a sound was heard outside. A ck Audi pulled up at the front. door The housekeeper stepped forward to open the car door, and two individuals stepped out of the vehitle Chapter 261 Chapter 261 Chapter 261 Engagement Vera entered the room, walking arm in arm with Eric. ¡°I apologize for the dy. There was some traffic on the road,¡± Eric exined. Vera followed Eric timidly, keeping her head low and remaining silent. She avoided looking around, behaving cautiously and restrained. Finally, she took a seat next to Eric at the long table. La was thest to arrive, taking her seat at the head of the table alongside Will. Will stood up to greet her, ¡°La, I¡¯ve heard so much about you. How have you been feelingtely?¡± Considering him as the future son-inw of the Smith family, La responded, ¡°Not too bad. I won¡¯t d just yet. Anyway, I¡¯m sure everyone must be getting hungry by now. Let¡¯s start the feast.¡± As La picked up her cutlery, she handed Eileen, who was sitting next to her, a piece of sweet and sour pork. ¡°You¡¯ve lost weight these past few days. These are all your favorite dishes, so eat up.¡± ¡°Thank you, Grandma,¡± Eileen said gratefully. La gave her a faint smile. ¡°When I came here, I asked the priest of Tuzbum Church to pick out an auspicious date for you and Jasper. ording to what Jasper said, the third day after your exams is a go day. We¡¯ve set the engagement date for then. What do you think?¡± Eileen¡¯s left hand clenched tightly under the table, holding onto the hem of her dress. Even without looking at others, she could feel their gazes on her. ¡°All right. I¡¯ll do as Grandma wishes.¡± Jasper gently ran his fingers through Eileen¡¯s hair, his gaze filled with tenderness. At first, Eileen and 1 thought the same. But since Grandma has already made her decision, we¡¯ll follow her lead. What do you think, Father?¡± Willughed, clearly the happiest person in the room. ¡°Eileen is lucky to be valued by the Smith family and marrying into it. Naturally, I agree.¡± La nodded. ¡®She will be the futuredy of the house. Following tradition, I will give you the Freephens Mansion as your engagement gift. The property will be registered under Eileen¡¯s name alone. What do you think. Jasper?¡± ¡°Sure thing Jasper agreed. Elcen quickly refused. ¡°No, that¡¯s too extravagant of a gift Jasper and I are only engaged, so! cant ept such an expensive present. I really can¡¯t ept it. Grandma¡¯ The Freephens Mansion was a mansion that Dominik had built for La Its name was also personally Clica by Dominik tumseif Mosetseg thai ce had never boru sold to outsaders and held ugtulisant meaning for La Eileen fachieved that she wall descrrug v? sun bi a gift. Layle¡¯s face tell ¡°What do i had originally nned at as your and Jasper s farm faucar it¡¯s going to be yours sound va bk anyway I makes no difference whether you receive it 13 now.¡± ¡°Please ept this token of affection from your grandmother, Eileen. In the future, you will own half of the Smith family¡¯s assets, so this is nothing inparison,¡± Jasper insisted. But she had never wanted any of this. Will spoke with a mix of reluctance and eptance, ¡°La, Freephens Mansion is indeed too luxurious for Eileen. Besides¡­ She hasn¡¯t even be a part of the household yet. Let¡¯s wait until after the wedding. There¡¯s no need to rush.¡± ¡°Freephens Mansion was originally intended by Old Mrs. Smith to be a gift for the future daughter-in- law of the Smith family. It also represents the status of thedy of the house. This is something Ms. Eileen rightfully deserves,¡± Richard interjected. ¡°Exactly. Considering your young age, the matter of marrying into the Smith family can be discussed between you and Jasper after the engagement. After all, it¡¯s a lifelongmitment that requires careful consideration,¡± La exined. After the engagement, Eileen would have firmly established her identity as thedy of the house. La had only said all that to ease her excessive worries. Will said, ¡°Eileen, please listen to Old Mrs. Smith¡¯s words and don¡¯t let her good intentions go to waste.¡± ¡°All right, then. Thank you, Grandma,¡± Eileen responded. Apart from epting, she seemed to have no other choice. Everyone had their own thoughts during this meal. After having a little to eat, La excused herself early from the table. Father and Jasper had quite a bit to drink. Since agreeing, Eileen felt as if a huge weight was pressing down on her chest. For some reason, she wasn¡¯t as happy as she had imagined she would be. She couldn¡¯t figure out why, though. Perhaps everything was just a little too rushed. Vera put down her fork and said, ¡°I¡¯m full, Eric.¡± Eric picked up her te and served her a bowl of soup. ¡°Here, have some more soup. Wouldn¡¯t want you to go hungryter tonight.¡± Vera nodded gently. ¡°All right.¡± Eileen wasn¡¯t far from them. After a short while, a hand holding a bowl of soup appeared in her line of sight. ¡°The soup is good, give it a try.¡± Eileen lifted her head to look at him. ¡°Thank you, Eric ¡°No problem¡± Eric¡¯s thin lips curled up slightly, but Eileen saw the turmoil in his eyes. It made her heart tense up Perhaps it was because Jasper was in a good mood, he put his arm around Ealeen¡¯s shoulder, asserting his 111 < 23 ownership over her. ¡°Doesn¡¯t he know that she doesn¡¯t like sweet soup?¡± Just like that, the atmosphere at the dinner table suddenly became hostile. ¡°You¡¯ve had too much to drink, Jasper. How about I help you back to your room so you can rest?¡± Eric suggested. Eric was a man with a dark and vengeful nature, skilled in underhanded tactics that he preferred to keep hidden. In her previous life, it was due to Eric¡¯s schemes that the Smith family was destroyed, allowing him to take control of Smith Corporation. Although Eileen didn¡¯t know exactly how he managed to do it, she was determined not to let history repeat itself and suffer the same tragedy again. That big truck fromst time, which almost caused them to have an ident, must have been orchestrated by Eric himself. Even if Eric was currently no match for the Smith family, his methods could easily bring someone down regardless of their position and status. Eric wore a rxed expression as he softly remarked, ¡°Is that so? It seems like you¡¯ve been away from home for quite a while, Eileen. I almost forgot your preferences.¡± ¡°From a logical standpoint, since Eileen treats you like a brother, I should do the same. However, your last name isn¡¯t Swan, so this form of address doesn¡¯t seem quite appropriate. Nevertheless, considering your many years of close rtionship with Eileen, I would like to propose a toast to you, Mr. Snow.¡± Content held by N?velDrama.Org. Jasper nced at the housekeeper beside him, and she promptly poured a drink into Eric¡¯s wine ss. Feeling concerned, Vera grabbed Eric¡¯s arm and said, ¡°You still have to drive, Eric. You can¡¯t consume alcohol.¡± Will observed Vera¡¯s actions, his brow furrowing in dissatisfaction, but he chose not to voice his thoughts. Jasper stated, ¡°It¡¯s just one drink. Mr. Snow, if you can¡¯t handle your alcohol, the Smith family has a private driver who can take you hometer. You could even stay the night here if you wish.¡± They locked eyes, equally matched, as the atmosphere of hostility thickened in the air. Eileen quickly stood up. ¡°You really shouldn¡¯t drink anymore, Jasper. Have you forgotten what the doctor said? Your wounds haven¡¯t fully healed yet, and they could be infected again. I¡¯ll be worried.¡± Jasper turned towards Eileen, gazing at her for a long moment. His slightly intoxicated eyes were filled with lingering affection. A faint smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. ¡°Alright¡­ I¡¯ll listen to you.¡± There¡¯s one more thing. Regarding the conditions set by Smith Corporation for the merger with Caerulus Corporation, I believe you should carefully consider it, Mr. Snow. After all. Not everypany has the opportunity to coborate with Smith Corporation!¡± Chapter 262 Chapter 262 Chapter 262 All She Asks For Is Tranquility Will looked at Eric with a puzzled expression when he mentioned merging with Caerulus Corporation. Eric¡¯s lips curled into a faint smile, a storm hidden in his eyes, as he calmly responded, ¡°I¡¯m just an employee at Caerulus Corporation. It would be better for you to discuss this directly with my stepfather, Mr. Smith. I don¡¯t have the authority to make decisions on this matter.¡± Confused, Will furrowed his brow and asked Eileen, ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± Eileen, feeling flustered, replied, ¡°I¡¯m not aware of this matter, Father. He must be drunk.¡± She subtly squeezed Jasper¡¯s hand and gently shook her head, saying, ¡°Jasper, Eric will take good care of the company. Can we stop discussing this? Let me take you back to your room to rest.¡± Jasper, ignoring Will¡¯s increasingly gloomy look, drank the red wine in his ss and continued, ¡°Father and Mr. Snow can discuss this matter. Once you two have reached an agreement, feel free toe find me at Smith Corporation. I¡¯d be more than happy to make Caerulus Corporation the secondrgest subsidiary of Smith Corporation.¡± Eileen then escorted the drunken Jasper back to his room. He rarely socialized and had little tolerance for alcohol. By the time Eileen helped him onto the bed, he was alreadypletely drunk, his hand resting over his eyes. Eileen tucked him in and said, ¡°I¡¯ll go make you a hangover remedy. Just bear with the difort for a bit.¡± As she was about to leave, Jasper grabbed her wrist. Eileen turned to look at him and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Did what I just say upset you? You don¡¯t want me to take over Eric¡¯s position at Caerulus Corporation, do you?¡± Taken aback, Eileen replied, ¡°No, you¡¯re overthinking it.¡± ¡°You¡¯re lying,¡± Jasper said, his gaze fixed on her. ¡°Every time you face a question you don¡¯t want to answer, or when you lie to me, you never dare to meet my eyes.¡± Eileen, feeling exposed, immediately looked at him and said, ¡°Jasper, when ites to thepany¡¯s business, my father never allows me to get involved or manage it. For many years, Eric has been holding up the family. My father has high expectations of him and intends to groom him as the sessor.¡± ¡°As the future woman of the house, I will stand by your side, but¡­ As a daughter of my father, I hope that thepany bears the Swan family name instead of bing a subsidiary of Smith Corporation. It¡¯s really hard for me to be stuck in the middle. Is it because of my past with Eric that you¡¯re feeling. ufortable? Is that why you¡¯re targeting him?¡± Eileen sighed and continued, ¡°Actually, you don¡¯t have to do this. My feelings for him are in the past. Eric is already with Vera, so no one poses a threat to you. And as for me¡­ I¡¯m already yours now, aren¡¯t I?¡± Jasper gently caressed her face and looked at her with deep affection. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but seeing him reminds me of what you did to him. I¡¯m just jealous because you¡¯re being so nice to him. Can you share a bit of the kindness you show him with me in the future?¡± Eileen held his hand and replied, ¡°Sure thing. It¡¯s a promise.¡± 1/3 Once she had sessfully coaxed him, Eileen got up and left, descending the stairs. The housekeeper brought a few cups of coffee to Will, who was sitting on the sofa. Eileen instructed the housekeepers to prepare some hangover remedy before she nervously approached Will. ¡°Father, his words earlier were just said in anger. I have already spoken to him about it.¡± In front of the Smith family¡¯s housekeepers, Will found it difficult to say anything to her. After all, she was now the future woman of the Smith family. ¡°Okay.¡± Seeing the tense atmosphere, Elsieughed ambiguously and said, ¡°It seems everything has its nemesis. I never thought that Mr. Smith would listen to you so much, Eileen¡­ It seems like you definitely made the right choice by marrying into this family. Isn¡¯t that right, Eric?¡± Elsie looked toward the person beside her, a yful smile in her eyes. Eric didn¡¯t look up and continued eating the orange Vera had peeled for him. ¡°As long as Eileen is happy, how could I, as her brother, not be happy? However¡­ I am a bit curious about what Eileen¡¯s engagement is like! Eileen, if you ever need anything, or if you¡¯ve been wronged by the Smith family, you muste to me, okay?¡± When he lifted his head, a hint ofughter sparkled in his deep eyes. Eileen¡¯s heart skipped a beat. The hand resting on her knee clenched tightly, her fingernails digging into her palm due to nervousness. He may be smiling at me now, but I can tell that he¡¯s faking it. From what I understand about him, I know he¡¯s angry¡­ If I fall into his hands, I¡¯ll definitely be done for! From the very beginning, Eric didn¡¯t want me to get close to Jasper because he was wary of the Smith family¡¯s power. However, his ultimate goal was to have control over the Swan family, to have it within his grasp at any time. All I wanted was to live a peaceful life, not to be drawn into his world. This time¡­ Be it Vera or Sarah, it has nothing to do with me, Eileen managed to force a smile at him in response. ¡°Okay,¡± Richard arranged for a driver for each of them to take them back to Unde Mansion. Eileen apanied them out of the Smith residence. Had Eileen not seen it with her own eyes, she wouldn¡¯t have known that Jasper had secretly prepared so many gifts behind her back. Expensive jewelry. coffee beans, and some nutritional supplements filled an entire car. Two cars arrived, but three cars left. This clearly showed how much Jasper valued them. Eileen knew she hadn¡¯tpletely fallen in love with Jasper yet, but she didn¡¯t have any other options. For Eileen, it was sufficient that he could offer her a certain level of respect. Content held by N?velDrama.Org. He was an exceptional man and also quite suitable as a potential partner. She just hoped that nothing unexpected would ur in the future. All she longed for in this life was tranquility. Eileen brought the hangover remedy, administered it to him, and then returned to her room to rest. As she was leaving, Eric sent her an email. She immediately deleted it without reading. > 23 Meanwhile, at Euphoria Condominium, Eric was walking so quickly that Vera couldn¡¯t keep up with hi ¡°Eric, wait for me!¡± As soon as they entered the house, Vera blocked Eric¡¯s path and said, ¡°Eric, you¡¯ve been ignoring me the entire here.¡± Her heart was filled with fear and confusion as she continued, ¡°Why are you angry, Eri Don¡¯t you want Eileen to get engaged? Have you developed feelings for Eileen?¡± way He had been in a daze ever since he left the Smith residence, drivingpletely absentmindedly. He ev ran a red light and almost hit someone, but he didn¡¯t care at all. Eric¡¯s intense gaze fell on her, a look of unfamiliarity that Vera had never seen before. ¡°Stop ying around. Go back to your room and rest. I still have business matters to attend to,¡± Eric replied as he walked past her and left. Thest thing Vera wanted to witness was his insincere demeanor. Her voice slightly elevated as she said ¡°You¡¯re still lying to me! We¡¯ve been together for so long, yet you¡¯ve never truly treated me as your partner.¡± Chapter 263 Chapter 263 Chapter 263 Do You Want To Make A Bet Vera¡¯s eyes filled with crystal-like tears. Sobbing, she ran over and hugged Eric from behind, as if she was desperately trying to hold on to him. ¡°Eric, do you know how much I envy Eileen? I envy her because the person she loves also loves her unconditionally. She can even get engaged to the person she loves, Eric¡­ I want to be with you forever. I want to be your wife for eternity, but¡­ why can¡¯t you just have feelings for me?¡± Eric¡¯s back was upright and burning hot, yet his heart seemed to be frozen in ice. ¡°Vera, I¡¯m not as good as you think I am. There¡¯s a lot you don¡¯t know.¡± Vera tightly wrapped her arms around his waist, refusing to let go. ¡°No! To me, you¡¯re the best¡­ I don¡¯t need to know, and I don¡¯t care what kind of person you are. I just want to be by your side forever, be your wife, and have your children. You promised me that you¡¯ll start a family with me. You can¡¯t break your promise, Eric.¡± As Vera¡¯s tears soaked Eric¡¯s ck suit, he could feel a damp warmth seeping into his shirt. Eric turned around, wiping away her tears with his rough hands. ¡°Apart from marriage, I can agree to any of your requests. I still have other things to do. But when ites to matters of the heart¡­ Both of us are not meant to be. I never intended to settle down.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to use those words to pacify me, saying you have no ns to settle down. You¡¯re just lying to me¡­ I¡¯m not a child anymore. At the Swan residence, I saw you kissing Eileen without any restraint¡­. And tonight at the dinner table, I could see how emotionally affected you were by her. You can deceive yourself, but you can¡¯t deceive me.¡± Vera¡¯s tears gushed out uncontrobly. No matter how much she wiped them away, they just wouldn¡¯t stop. The depths of her sorrow were evident. ¡°You¡¯ve actually liked Eileen for a while now, haven¡¯t you? Even when¡­ I want to kiss you, all you do is avoid me. Being with me has been nothing but a lie. If you don¡¯t like me¡­ why did you agree to be with me in the first ce?¡± Eric¡¯s expression suddenly turned solemn. ¡°If you want an answer, I can tell you.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I have seen you as a sister, and I¡¯m not the right one for you. One day, you¡¯ll understand what I¡¯m saying Vera was taken aback by his revtion. She blinked listlessly, while her heart shattered into countless pieces. ¡°So¡­ all this time, you¡¯ve been lying to me.¡± Eric added, ¡°Vera, you¡¯re still young and have a long journey ahead of you. There¡¯ll be someone else for you in the future. Vera said, ¡°But all I want is to be with you. If you are not in my life, what¡¯s the point of me living¡­ Vera pushed Eric away abruptly, darted into the kitchen, and grabbed a small knite. She then shed it across her arm, causing a wound to open up ¡°Vera!¡± 111 13 Vera shut the ss door of the kitchen, wearing a wry smile on her face. ¡°Eric, once I¡¯m gone, you can love someone else.¡± ¡°Vera, don¡¯t force me,¡± Eric said, his brow furrowed in a frightening manner. ¡°Eric, I just love you too much. Ever since we were children, you were the only family I had. If it weren¡¯t for you, I might have died when I was ten. I can¡¯t ept you loving someone else. Rather than watching you be with another woman in the future, I¡¯d prefer to stay in this moment forever¡­ Perhaps¡­ you¡¯ll remember me for the rest of your life. Perhaps¡­ it¡¯s better that deathes for me!¡± Blood trickled down her delicate arm, falling onto the tiled floor. As her blood flowed rapidly, Vera¡¯splexion visibly paled. She swayed unsteadily, looking as if she was about to faint. Eric¡¯s face seemed to be shrouded in ayer of frost. Upon kicking the door open, he reached out to hold the fainting Vera just in time. With a grim look on his face, he stared at the wound on her arm. Even if Vera threatened him with suicide or something else, Eric would never change a decision he made. He carried her and drove her to Serene Hospital. In the emergency room, Zachary stitched her wound calmly. ¡°I never imagined someone as gentle as her would try to take her own life for you. Haven¡¯t you ever considered returning her feelings? Eileen is destined to be Mrs. Smith in the future. There¡¯s no doubt about it. Unless you can overthrow Smith Corporation overnight, there¡¯s no way you can take Eileen from him. Oh, and one more thing, don¡¯t forget that the DNA test shows that you and Eileen are biological siblings. It would be outrageous if you two were to be together. Tsk, who would have thought that someone as wicked as you could still be loved by others.¡± Zachary burst intoughter. ¡°Well, isn¡¯t that something.¡± ¡°Have you said enough?¡± Eric turned from the floor-to-ceiling window, his brows furrowed in frustration, while the irritation in his voice couldn¡¯t be more obvious. Zachary finished sewing the wound, then carefully bandaged Vera¡¯s arm with gauze. ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that,¡± he said. ¡°I have no intention of being killed by you. There¡¯s something I haven¡¯t told you yet. I¡¯m the one who performed Daisy¡¯s facial surgery. What do N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. you think?¡± Eric retorted, ¡°What are you trying to do?¡± Zachary took off his gloves and threw them into the trash bin. ¡°You know I own more than just this one hospital. I¡¯m involved in any medical project as long as it makes money, including cosmetic surgery. ¡°Three years ago, Daisy was preparing to go abroad and came to me for cosmetic surgery. I happened to be at the hospital, so I gave her a consultation and she saw the photo on my desk. After her surgery. she recovered well and bore a striking resemnce to Eileen. However, there was one thing. Although Daisy wasn¡¯t conventionally attractive, her figure was quite simr to Eileen¡¯s. Looking back, it really seemed like fate. I told you long ago that you would fall for Eileen, but you didn¡¯t listen. Now that Daisy has appeared. why not consider her as a potential partner? She seems to be a good match for you, isn¡¯t she? Chandler is no longer in the picture, and Daisy poses no threat to you. Perhaps she might even be of help to you with Carrulus Corporation. If I can¡¯t have the real Eileen, having a look-alike isn¡¯t too bad¡± Eric casually slipped one hand into his suit pocket, while the other toyed with the sharp scalpel. With an air of nonchnce, he asked, ¡°What makes you so sure I can¡¯t win her over? Do you want to make a bet?¡± ||| 243 Zachary looked at him. ¡°What are the terms?¡± Eric¡¯s lips curled up into a mischievous smirk. ¡°Cynthia.¡± ¡°Haha¡­ Alright, I ept the bet, but¡­ I don¡¯t want Vera. What if I were to say¡­ that I want Eileen? Would you have the heart to do it?¡± ¡°You were even willing to pursue your own sister-inw, so why would I hesitate to pursue a mere Eileen?¡± ¡°You really are heartless. Just make sure you don¡¯t mess things up. Eileen will be very upset, and young girls¡­ they¡¯re the hardest to appease.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about that.¡± ¡°Are you sure about this? If you ruin this engagement ceremony and the Sinith family finds out, you¡¯ll be destroyed. Even Will won¡¯t be able to protect you then.¡± Eric lowered his head, gently running his thumb across the sharp de. Just like that, a tiny cut was made. causing blood to seep out. Yet, he didn¡¯t seem to care, not even furrowing his brow as he said, ¡°I never do anything unless I¡¯m certain.¡± Chapter 264 Chapter 264 Chapter 264 I Hope You Don¡¯t Regret This In the stillness of the night, the wind outside rustled the tree branches and caused the heavy curtains to billow. The weather in April wasn¡¯t too cold. As the wind blew into the ward, a bitter scent of herbs filled the air. Upon waking, Vera didn¡¯t want to face Eric. She turned her head to look out the window at the fluttering curtains. ¡°If you don¡¯t want me anymore, why are you still at the hospital? You should go. I don¡¯t need you to take care of me.¡± Eric picked up the medicine from the bedside table. It was a thick ck liquid that emitted an unpleasant smell. ¡°Alright,¡± he said, setting down the bowl of medicine. He stood up and nced at his wristwatch. ¡°It¡¯s twelve now. I¡¯ll give you ten minutes to calm down. Think it over, and I¡¯lle back in.¡± ¡°Eric!¡± Vera anxiously called out to him. Eric halted in his tracks. ¡°Are you calm now?¡± Vera bit her lip and nodded, ¡°Yes.¡± Eric sat down by the bed, tucking her in with the quilt. ¡°Drink it while it¡¯s hot. After the drip, I¡¯ll take you home. There¡¯s no rush to go to school tomorrow. I¡¯ve already taken leave for you.¡± Vera grasped his hands with both of hers, interlocking their fingers. Her face was pale as she pleaded, ¡°Eric, can we just pretend that nothing happened earlier? I¡¯m still your girlfriend. Can we please not break up? You may not like me now, but who knows, you might in the future. I know you¡¯re into someone like Eileen. I can change for you and be the type you like. As long as you don¡¯t break up with me, I¡¯m willing to do anything.¡± Loving someone was the ultimate form of humility. Throughout their lives, they had experienced so much together. Vera had quietly resolved to be his wife in the future, a decision that would never change. Despite her pleas, her voice was filled with restraint. ¡°Vera, your life isn¡¯t limited to just one choice. What if, in the next three years of university, you meet someone even better than me?¡± Tears welled up in Vera¡¯s eyes as she shook her head. ¡°There¡¯s no one better than you out there.¡± Eric heaved a deep sigh. ¡°Nothing in this world is absolute, Vera. Can I promise you one thing? From now until you graduate from university, if you haven¡¯t found someone else you like and I¡¯m not married with children in three years, then I will marry you, okay?¡± Vera hesitated. ¡°But¡­ what if you change your mind?¡± ¡°I would never lie to you.¡± Noticing theck of protest, Eric continued, ¡°I just want to give you a chance to think things through thoroughly. Marriage is a lifelongmitment, and I might not be as good a person as you imagine, Vera. You also know that I still have important things to do in the Swan family.¡± Vera¡¯s face suddenly changed slightly, as she hadn¡¯t forgotten why Chandler had died. 1/3 Everything that Eric did was rted to Eileen. It was all for her. She identally fell into the pool during the banquet and¡­ and nearly drowned. All of this had something to do with Chandler. Later on, Eric avenged her by killing Chandler. Everything she did was also for his goal within the Swan family. Eric carried many secrets with him, and what those secrets were¡­ Vera never knew. ¡°I¡­ I know¡­ but Eric, can you promise me something? Until I fall in love with someone else, could you please not be with anyone else? If the time limit is three years, I¡¯m willing to wait for three years and then marry you, Eric.¡± Eric¡¯s mouth curved into an inscrutable smile. ¡°Alright.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t lie to me.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t.¡± Eric was incredibly patient when it came to her. After feeding her the herb to replenish her vitality, Eric spent nearly half an hourforting her before finally stepping out of the ward. As it was quitete, he decided to stay in the hospital overnight and return home the next day. Eric stepped outside for a smoke. On the quiet, dimly lit balcony, he shielded the wind with his hand and lit a cigarette with a metallic lighter. Holding the cigarette between his fingers, he took a puff and exhaled a cloud of smoke. Halfway through his cigarette, Zachary walked over with a report in his hand. ¡°If we dy any longer, the hypnosis performed on her eight years ago will soon lose its effect. Her emotional outburst this time is a reflection of her inner self. If she isn¡¯t strong enough inside and you don¡¯t keep a close eye on her, she might repeat the same actions again.¡± The nicotine in the smoke instantly eased the knots in his heart. Even though smoking could be addictive. it didn¡¯t really affect Eric. He knew what it felt like to be addicted to drugs. Without it, he felt as if countless maggots were crawling all over his body, gnawing at his marrow. When he got it, it felt as if he had suddenly reached the peak of ecstasy. Nevertheless, he also knew how hard it was to quit, as the pain was worse than death. He had endured it alone in the pitch-ck darkness. Tve protected her enough over the years. She¡¯s an adult now. It¡¯s not right for me to make all the decisions for her.¡± Eric seemed to have gathered a great deal of courage to say those words. Zachary lit up the report with his lighter, watching as the mes gradually consumed the paper. Even the brightest light would be swallowed by the darkness emanating from those two individuals. This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. I hope you won¡¯t regret this decision for the second time.¡± The first time was when Eric said he wasn¡¯t interested in Eileen Nheless, people like Eric seemed naturally suited to survive in the twisted darkness. 2.3 In fact, the darkness within him was as powerful as a ck hole in the gxy, where even light itself was devoured by him. Just like his rtionship with Eileen, it was destined to remain in the shadows for eternity. If¡­ if he¡¯s the one who falls in love first¡­ Based on Zachary¡¯s understanding of Eric, the secret would forever remain a secret, deeply buried and hidden away. Zachary was also very curious. What would it be like for someone like him to fall deeply in love? That night, Vera had a terrifying nightmare. She had a dream about herself as a ten-year-old, standing alone on a pitch-ck street. At that moment, a light drizzle was falling from the sky. She clutched a small red umbre in her hand, tears streaming down her face as she called out, ¡°Eric, where are you¡­ I¡¯m scared. Can youe back soon, please?¡± Later on, in the dimly lit alley, three intoxicated middle-aged men were vomiting next to the electrical pole. Vera gathered her courage and approached them. ¡°Excuse me, have you seen my brother? It seems like he¡¯s lost. Could you please help me call the police to find him?¡± ¡°Aw, such a sweet little girl. Whose child is she? Come here and let me give you a hug¡­¡± In the dark alley, the man¡¯s sinisterughter filled the air, Clothes were torn apart, and one by one, lewd and repulsive gazes were directed towards her¡­ And then, a desperate cry pierced through the silence¡­ ¡°Stop¡­¡± ¡°Ah¨C¡± The cries continued, one after another. By the time someone noticed, there were bloodstains everywhere. On the side of the street, a red umbrey abandoned¡­ Chapter 265 Chapter 265 Chapter 265 Just A Dream Eight years ago, Hulbury was nothing more than a rundown city, with the streets filled with hooligans and troublemakers of all kinds. There were no witnesses to the event back then, nor was there any surveince footage. Content held by N?velDrama.Org. However, Eric never stopped searching over the past eight years. He had sent her abroad. Besides her asthma, his purpose was to let her leave, forget everything, and start anew. ¡°Ah-¡± Vera let out a piercing scream that seemed to tear at her throat. When Eric walked into the ward, he saw Vera huddled in a corner, clutching her head and shivering. She looked as if she were in a daze. ¡°Eric¡­ Eric, where are you?¡± Vera¡¯s voice trembled. Eric half-squatted in front of her, gently cradling her in his arms. ¡°It¡¯s okay now.¡± His voice seemed to bring her warmth, stabilizing Vera¡¯s emotions considerably. She could smell the faint scent of tobo on him, and her hand tightened around his waist. ¡°Z-Eric¡­ I just had a terrifying nightmare. I was so scared¡­ I dreamt that I was covered in blood. It hurt so much¡­ I went looking for you, but¡­ no matter how hard I searched, I couldn¡¯t find you. The director said¡­ you don¡¯t want me anymore.¡± ¡°It was just a dream. It isn¡¯t real.¡± Eric pulled back the curtains beside her, and light began to filter in. ¡°It¡¯s dawn now. I havepleted the discharge procedures. It¡¯s time to take you home.¡± Vera was trembling, clutching Eric¡¯s shirt at the chest. ¡°But the dream was so real. It was terrifying.¡± Eric gently stroked her hair,forting Vera, who was trembling uncontrobly in his arms. By the time Vera had calmed down, she wasn¡¯t as pale as before. She quietly held Eric¡¯s hand, and together, they walked out of the hospital. As she sat in the passenger seat, Eric helped her fasten her seatbelt. The car then smoothly made its way back to Euphoria Condominium. Eric meticulously cleaned up the bloodstains on the ground. After a tiring night, he only managed to sleep for four hours before heading to the office again. Sharon was still in the hospital undergoing chemotherapy, so no one was at home to take care of Vera. Thus, Eric had no choice but to take her to the office. Meanwhile, Eileen arrived at school, only to find that Vera was not present, which was unusual. Her absence continued for an entire week. Yvette, along with Vera, had both be two missing persons. Due to her family¡¯s huge business, Yvette was groomed to be the sessor For her, studying was just an additional task, let alone the fact that she was a gifted student, just like Benjamin. 14 Apart from her rele advantages. Even if she did, the only other thing she was good at was painting. Thus, Benjamin and Jason had nned out the potential topics that mighte up in the university entrance exam for her. Benjamin was considered a legend when it came to examinations. With his help, achieving sess became much easier. Just as Jason had said, the top scorer for that day¡¯s university entrance exam might indeed be her, as Benjamin did not n to participate in it. In the blink of an eye, time flew by swiftly, and the days were unusually calm. Soon, the entrance exams for the Hulbury Central Art Academy began. Not many people in the school knew about her uing exam. Besides Benjamin and Jason, Eileen only informed Natalie. The two-hour break at Petalburg High School happened to coincide with Eileen¡¯s exam time. Thus, she decided to try her luck. Moreover, she was nominated to fill the exam slot by none other than Gideon himself. She had gotten to know him by chance from the writingpetition she participated in. If she hadn¡¯t submitted anything in thatpetition, she wouldn¡¯t have had this opportunity either. Hulbury Central Art Academy had a more rigorous admission process than other schools. It was not a ce just anyone could get into. Benjamin drove her to the school gate. Natalie handed over another can of milk. ¡°Eileen, do your best! After your exams, we¡¯lle to pick you up, and in the evening¡­ I have a big surprise for you.¡± Jason rested his hand on the car window and waved at her. ¡°Segunda, no matter how you do on the test, Ben and I are certain that you¡¯ll be the top scorer in the liberal arts and science department this year. The mayor will personally present you with the award, so do your best!¡± After saying this, he made a cheering gesture at her. Benjamin didn¡¯t have much to say. All he could manage were two words-¡°good luck.¡± After watching them drive away, Eileen turned around and headed for the examination hall, where she found her seat. The moment she received the drawing paper, she tried her best to calm her mind and started moving the brush in her hand. She had been painting for two lifetimes, yet this was the first time she was formally testing her skills. To say she wasn¡¯t nervous would be a lie. She had always loved painting since she was a child, but for some unknown reason, her father never allowed her to pursue it. She could only sneak off to paint. 24 Later on, after she got together with Jasper, no one stopped her anymore. She was free to do whatever she wanted. In truth, rather than being the top scorer in the liberal arts and science department in Hulbury, what Eileen really wanted was to do what she loved. She spent the next two hours sketching, matching colors, and painting¡­ By the time the exam ended, a considerable amount of time had passed. At half-past six, Eileen emerged from the examination hall. Natalie ran toward her as she always did. ¡°Eileen¡­ Eileen¡­ Eileen¡­¡± She called out thetter¡¯s name joyfully. ¡°How did the exam go? Was it okay?¡± Eileen calmly curved her lips into a smile. ¡°I think I did pretty well. I should be able to pass.¡± Jason ced a hand on Eileen¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Let¡¯s go celebrate together. It¡¯s been a while since we¡¯ve gone out to have fun.¡± Eileen nced at the time. ¡°I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t stay. I need to hurry back.¡± Jason said, ¡°Tsk-tsk, you¡¯re not officially married yet, and he¡¯s already keeping you on a tight leash?¡± Eileen gave a slight smile. ¡°He¡¯s just worried about me. Let¡¯s celebrate next time instead.¡± With a wide grin, revealing her sparkling ke teeth, Natalie chuckled. She held up Eileen¡¯s phone and said, ¡°Just now¡­ I received a call from your fianc¨¦. We¡¯ve already spoken to him on your behalf, and he has agreed.¡± Since she couldn¡¯t bring her phone into the exam room, Eileen gave it to Natalie for safekeeping. ¡°Really?¡± Eileen took her phone and looked at the message Jasper had sent a few minutes ago. Jasper: Let me know when the party ends. I¡¯lle pick you up. Eileen replied: Okay. After sending her reply, she put away her phone and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go then.¡± Natalie added, ¡°Put the paintbrush in my bag. It¡¯s tiring for you to keep holding it. I also have some milk here. Let me know if you want to drink it.¡± ¡°No need, I¡¯ve already made several trips to the bathroom after drinking the milk.¡± They got into Benjamin¡¯s car together. Inside, Natalie looked at Eileen anxiously. ¡°Did it affect your performance? What if you don¡¯t pass the exam? No, when I go back, I must visit Mount Shawrath to light a prayer candle for you. You must pass the exam.¡± Eileen smiled and said, I¡¯m just teasing you No need to be so nervous.¡± ¡°Hey, don¡¯t get too excited just yet. No matter how well we do in our exams, we¡¯ll still enter the competitive job market after we graduate from university. The thought ofpleting three years of university life only to be exploited is quite depressing.¡± Benjamin, who was focused on driving, smiled. ¡°Boundless Tech is always open to all of you.¡± Eileen gazed out of the car window at the passing scenery, with the trees and buildings reflecting in her eyes. An unprecedented sense of anticipation for the future crept in. This life has finally diverged from thest, and I won¡¯t make the same mistake again! Chapter 266 Chapter 266 Chapter 266 Someone Wants To Kill Me Benjamin made a reservation at a seafood restaurant for the evening. In the vicinity of the university, there were numerouste-night food stalls. It was also the perfect season for enjoying beer and lobster. Jason suggested, ¡°Why don¡¯t we sit at the entrance?¡± Natalie replied, ¡°Sure, I have no objections.¡± Eileen nodded. ¡°Either option is fine.¡± She vividly remembered her first experience eating at a roadside booth. It happened during the previous year¡¯s New Year¡¯s Eve. Elm was the one who took her there. After trying it once, she ended up with an upset stomach that very night. In order not to dampen their spirits, Eileen could only try to eat as little as possible. A table for four was perfect. Content held by N?velDrama.Org. It was evident that Benjamin and Jason had been there before. They headed to the food section. One of them picked up a te, and between the four of them, they grabbed quite a few items. Eileen didn¡¯t take much, as she couldn¡¯t eat too much. The four of them also ordered four kilograms of lobster. When they sat back down, Jason brought over a box of beer. ¡°You youngdies shouldn¡¯t drink. I¡¯ll drink with Benjamin.¡± Eileen looked around at the environment. In the open space, dozens of tables were bustling with activity. ¡°Do youe here often?¡± she asked.. Jason said, ¡°asionally. Our friend here is quite introverted. If he¡¯s not practicing the piano, he¡¯s working part-time. Apart from school, he hardly interacts with anyone.¡± When Benjamin arrived, he was carrying two cups of smoothie. He handed them to Natalie and Eileen. saying, ¡°I bought these somewhere. Give them a try.¡± Eileen said, ¡°Thank you¡­ Is this a smoothie? I¡¯ve never had one before.¡± Natalie, with a curious tone, said, ¡°You¡¯ve never had one? Howe, Eileen? Smoothies are sold everywhere. You should try it. They¡¯re really tasty. I drink several cups a day.¡± ¡°Here, let me open it for you.¡± Natalie handed her the smoothie she was ustomed to preparing Eileen said, ¡°Actually, I rarely go out, including to roadside booths. My father never lets me eat from them. I guess this is only the second time.¡± Jason eximed, ¡°Well, your life has been quite dull! Don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ll have plenty of opportunities in the future. But it all depends on whether your significant other will let you out. Right, Benny?¡± Benjamin was nudged by his elbow. ¡°Hmm¡± Sipping her smoothie with delight, Natalie was filled with satisfaction. Let¡¯s consider today as an early celebration for Eileen getting into her dream college. Let¡¯s toast to that!¡± 13 Natalie raised her smoothie. ¡°Eileen, I toast to you with this smoothie, congratting you in advance for getting into art school. You¡¯re going to be the greatest artist. As for me, I want to be the owner of hundreds of smoothie shops. I want everyone to taste the smoothies I make.¡± Eileen raised her smoothie to clink with Natalie¡¯s. ¡°Here¡¯s to your wishing true, and to your sess soon.¡± Benjamin raised his beer. ¡°Let¡¯s work hard together.¡± Jason said, ¡°The future is promising. Let¡¯s all meet at Hulbury University.¡± The four of them managed to finish all the skewers, but Eileen felt like she never wanted to eat them again. in her life. Benjamin paid the bill and checked the time. It was only half past seven. So, the four of them decided to take a stroll around the nearby area. Suddenly, Eileen thought of something and asked, ¡°Benjamin¡­ What¡¯s your rtionship with Charlie? Are you rtives?¡± Benjamin nced at the person beside him, asking lightly, ¡°How did you know?¡±, Eileen said, ¡°Really? I was just guessing.¡± Benjamin nodded. ¡°His father and my father are first cousins. When the family moved years ago, my father chose not to go to Hulbury but to stay behind.¡± ¡°Why do you always seem indifferent when you meet each other normally?¡± Eileen asked. Jason suddenly stood up and said, ¡°You probably don¡¯t know this! Actually, the three of us are currently living together. At home, we see each other all the time, and even at school, there¡¯s no need for formal greetings. Besides, our family¡¯s genius is so aloof that he barely speaks to anyone. Mrs. Raker asked Benjamin to tutor him, but it ended up being a disaster for our Benny. After tutoring for more than half a month, he¡¯s still not as good as Elm, and he¡¯s still in ss Six. But speaking of Elm¡­ Has he really left?¡± All three people simultaneously turned their gaze toward Eileen. Eileen answered, ¡°Yes.¡± Natalie asked, ¡°When will he be back?¡± Natalie was grumbling to herself, recalling thest time he yed basketball and snatched a lollipop from her hand, promising to return itter. But until then, he hadn¡¯t given it back. ¡°It¡¯s unclear, but perhaps he¡¯ll return once Mrs. Smith¡¯s illness is cured. Jason shrugged. ¡°Once he left, poor Benny was swamped. The love letters on his desk are piling up To avoid those infatuated admirers, he hardly attends sses now.¡± After strolling around for half an hour, it was already eight o¡¯clock. The phone in Eileen¡¯s pocket started to ring. Right then, the atmosphere became quiet Upon seeing the iing call, Eileen answered the phone Tm ready now Just meet me at the school 23 gate.¡± ¡°Sure. I¡¯ll wait for you. Be careful on the road.¡± In just a few short sentences, Eileen ended the call and said to the others, ¡°I should go back now.¡± Jason then suggested, ¡°We¡¯ll walk you to school. After you¡¯ve left, we¡¯ll send Natalie back.¡± Natalie quickly waved her hands. ¡°No need. I can take a taxi by myself. I can¡¯t trouble you guys this late.¡± Jason thoughtfully said, ¡°It¡¯s not safe for a girl to be alone. I¡¯m driving. We can go together.¡± Eileen said to her, ¡°Take Benjamin¡¯s car! Otherwise, I¡¯ll be worried.¡± Natalie nodded. ¡°All right.¡± Benjamin¡¯s car was conveniently parked at the school gate. As they walked by, there were hardly any people left at the school gate. Suddenly, a plea for help rang out from nearby, filled with panic. ¡°Help! Save me!¡± A man emerged from a patch of grass, dressed in tattered clothing, resembling a beggar. His body was covered in blood, and he was dragging a broken leg that appeared to have just been shattered. ¡°Help me! Someone is trying to kill me!¡± Natalie, startled, hid behind Eileen and stammered, ¡°Wh-Why don¡¯t you go to the police? Wh-Why are youing to us?¡± Eileen squinted her eyes, looking at the person in front of her, feeling a sense of familiarity. It seemed as though she had seen that person somewhere before. The man repeatedly looked over his shoulder in a panic. Brett Cannon had lost the use of one leg and was also very weak. Within minutes, several ck sedans pulled up in front of them. Several individuals stepped out of the cars, each wielding a knife, giving off a mafia-like aura. One of them, with his face concealed by ck cloth, approached. As he got closer, the scar on his eye became visible to the onlookers. Suddenly, several familiar scenes shed through Eileen¡¯s mind, and she remembered something. He is the person Eric has been searching for all this time. In her previous life, on a rainy night, she was sound asleep in the master bedroom upstairs. Suddenly, around midnight, she was awakened by a piercing scream. Therefore, she descended the stairs, quietly positioning herself at the entrance of the first-floor corridor She watched as Eric, filled with murderous intent, stepped on a person. In his hand, he held a needle. using it to sew the person¡¯s mouth shut. The needle pierced through, causing blood to drip down the thread. At that moment, it seemed as if that person saw her and pleaded for her help incessantly Chapter 267 Chapter 267 Chapter 267 Cleaning Up The Scene Eric hadmitted those gruesome acts in the mansion on numerous asions, never hesitating to torture someone to death right in front of her. At first, she was terrified, even to the point of crying out in fear. But as time went on, Eileen gradually became desensitized to it. He had always been a person who would do whatever it took to get what he wanted. His hands were stained with blood. In fact, he could have be the ruler of Hulbury by killing others. T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. So much time had passed that she couldn¡¯t remember many things. However, that person left asting impression on her. The person with the masked face was none other than Lionel, one of Eric¡¯s subordinates. Didn¡¯t Eric find him three yearster? Why is this happening now? Could it be that everything that was supposed to happen has already urred ahead of time? Eileen felt a sense of worry and panic in her heart, yet she didn¡¯t know where those emotions wereing from. Is it true that no matter what, events from a past life cannot be changed? Even if one alters their original destiny, in the end, they cannot escape it. The damned will still meet their end! What about me? Will I also repeat the fate of my previous life? Will I not pass away peacefully in old age? Brett kept backing away, clutching a de in his hand. His whole body was trembling with fear. ¡°Don¡¯t come any closer¡­ Don¡¯te any closer¡­ I haven¡¯t done anything wrong. You¡¯ve got the wrong person.¡± Lionel looked at the portrait in his hand. ¡°You¡¯re exactly who I¡¯ve been looking for today.¡± Natalie was on the verge of tears. ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here! I¡¯m really scared.¡± Eileen seemed lost in thought when suddenly, an urgent voice rang out beside her. ¡°Eileen! Watch out!¡± She snapped back to reality, her body suddenly jolted by a push. Benjamin steadied Eileen. When they looked over, they saw that Natalie was already being held at knife- point by the vagrant with a de against her neck. Brett warned, ¡°Stay back! I-I¡¯m warning you. If you dare toe any closer, l¡¯il kill her.¡± Eileen yelled, ¡°Natalie!¡± With tears welling up, Natalie held back the tears that were about to fall. ¡°S-Eileen¡­ I¡¯m okay. I¡¯m not scared at all.¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Brett tightened his grip on Natalie¡¯s neck, ring at Lionel. ¡°Eight years! Even now, you still won¡¯t leave me alone. It¡¯s all because of you that I lost everything. My daughter died because of you. Even if I can¡¯t escape today, I will take her with me.¡± Eileen suddenly stood up. ¡°No!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t go!¡± Jason tried to hold Eileen back, but he failed. Lionel also turned his gaze toward Eileen. Brett seemed intimidated by Lionel¡¯s presence, his face distorted with fear, his hands trembling non- stop. ||| 1/3 Natalie was crying loudly, blood already trickling down her neck. ¡°Don¡¯t touch her¡­¡± Eileen was also scared. If anything were to happen to Natalie that day, she would never be able to forgive herself. Natalie was the only true friend she had made during that time. Natalie was kind and innocent, without any hidden motives. Eileen believed that Natalie had more to offer by staying alive. ¡°I-I¡¯ll trade myself for her. Please don¡¯t hurt her.¡± Eileen slowly approached, step by step. In a car not far away, a profound gaze fixed on the delicate and frail figure, the eyes bing colder. ¡°Lionel, bring her back.¡± Upon hearing themand through the earpiece, Lionel chose to remain still. Eileen added, ¡°I am more valuable than her. I am Will Swan¡¯s daughter. Don¡¯ty a hand on Natalie.¡± Tears stained Natalie¡¯s face, a sight that tugged at the heartstrings. ¡°Eileen¡­ I-I¡¯m hot scared at all. You don¡¯t need toe over.¡± ¡°It¡¯s you! You¡¯re all in this together.¡± Brett looked at Eileen with an enemy-like gaze. Suddenly, he let out a chillingugh. ¡°You¡¯ve really made me search for you. All right, then! Come here! No tricks, or else, you know the consequences.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t! Eileen, don¡¯t!¡± Natalie shouted. Eileenforted her, ¡°It¡¯s okay, Natalie. I won¡¯t let anything happen to you.¡± Eric then yelled, ¡°Lionel!¡± Everyone¡¯s attention turned to Eileen. Lionel spoke in a tone that was neither light nor heavy, ¡°Once she¡¯s gone, you¡¯ll have no vulnerabilities. I won¡¯t let anyone be a threat to you.¡± Eric warned, ¡°You know the consequences of defying me!¡± Brett was one of the men who had raped Vera eight years ago. Back then, he had tried every means to track him down, but in the end, he had managed to escape. After all these years, Brett had finally resurfaced with a new identity. However, no matter how much he changed, he couldn¡¯t escape his past. That day was purely a coincidence, providing Eric with a golden opportunity. Brett said, ¡°All right. Come here. You better not try any tricks with me.¡± Benjamin, standing behind Eileen, gave Jason a knowing nce. Jason nervously swallowed his saliva. Eileen walked over, and Brett began to loosen his grip, all in the fleeting moment of their exchange. With his face covered, Lionel suddenly said, ¡°Today, I¡¯m letting you off easy for Ms. Eileen¡¯s sake. It¡¯s best if you run as far as you can. If we catch you again, you won¡¯t be so lucky¡± As the words fell, Lionel left with his people. ||| 2/3 The car, with two people inside, quickly disappeared. Brett released his grip, suddenly raised his knife, and charged toward Eileen in a fit of rage. ¡°Go to hell!¡± Bang! The gunshot rang out. Terrified, Eileen closed her eyes. Before she could see clearly what was happening, the figure fell. She was then pulled into a familiar embrace, apanied by a pleasant scent. The rapid beating of a heart echoed in her ears. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­ I arrived toote.¡± Eileen felt a sense of relief, as if she had survived a catastrophe after reincarnation. Her tense body suddenly rxed. ¡°I was scared to death!¡± Jasper held her tightly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Everything is fine now.¡± Jasper rushed over after receiving a covert report from the bodyguard who was tailing Eileen. He couldn¡¯t believe it. ¡°If I had been a second slower, what would have happened?¡± ¡°Fabian, clean up the scene,¡± Jasper instructed. ¡°Yes, Mr. Smith,¡± Fabian replied. Jasper had no time for anything else. He took off his suit jacket and wrapped it tightly around Eileen. Without hesitation, he led her away. Eileen then spoke, ¡°Natalie¡­ She-¡± Jasper interrupted, ¡°As long as Fabian is here, nothing will go wrong.¡± Eileen nced back at Natalie, who had already passed out. Benjamin supported Natalie. The sight of Brett¡¯s gruesome death was too much to bear. His brain matter was scattered on the ground. It was this sight that caused Natalie to faint. By the time the police arrived, Fabian stayed behind to provide a witness statement while the other bodyguards escorted the unconscious Natalie to the hospital for treatment. Caution tape was also ced around the area, preventing anyone from approaching. Fortunately, there weren¡¯t many people near the school at that time. Once the students from Cloudburg Public School across the street were dismissed, all evidence was swiftly and thoroughly dealt with. Eileen was terrified. ¡°If Natalie hadn¡¯t pushed me away, he might not have shown any mercy and we wouldn¡¯t have had a chance to catch our breath¡± Chapter 268 Chapter 268 Chapter 268 Death In Raven Gang¡¯s hidden basement, Lionel was sent sprawling to the ground with a powerful kick. He offered no resistance, enduring the intense pain in his chest. On one knee, he tried to stand up. Before he could get up, Lionel was kicked in the chest again. This time, he didn¡¯t manage to stand back up. Hey groaning in the corner, blood flowing from his mouth.. Everyone around bowed their heads, not daring to step forward. No one knew what had happened that day, but it had been seven or eight years since Eric hadst returned. And the moment he returned, he was incredibly angry. In that situation, no one was rushing to run into the line of fire. Eric, standing tall and looking down with an indifferent expression, said to the person at his feet, ¡°There won¡¯t be a next time.¡± The dangerous aura emanating from him was enough to send chills down anyone¡¯s spine. Just then, a frail man ran up to Eric, reporting, ¡°Brett is dead.¡± Eric frowned with displeasure. ¡°Who killed him?¡± The man hunched over and said, ¡°I saw the car. It seemed to belong to the Smith family. Ms. Eileen almost fell into Brett¡¯s hands. I saw someone shoot him straight away. Good heavens, his brains were blown out.¡± They no longer acted as openly and uprightly as they used to, having toned down their behavior considerably. The authorities were strict then, dafing to take people down right in the streets. Apart from the Smith family, no one else would dare to do so. ¡°What do we do now that the Smith family is involved in this matter? Moreover, Ms. Eileen almost got hurt. If Mr. Swan finds out, we definitely won¡¯t get away with it.¡± With an expressionless face, Eric slowly began to say, ¡°I will handle this matter myself. Have the other two been found?¡± Theckey replied nervously, ¡°One of them, thest time we pursued him, his car overturned and fell off a cliff. We haven¡¯t found the body yet. It¡¯s likely been blown to pieces. The other one¡­ We heard that he smuggled himself into North Manchernius, a ce in the Golden Triad where all kinds of people mix. There are forces there that make it difficult for us to act.¡± ¡°Keep someone on his tail,¡± Eric ordered. ¡°Yes.¡± Eric lowered his gaze, lost in thought. Why was Brett near the school? A tumultuous storm surged beneath his gaze, stirring up massive waves of shock and awe. Jasper took her back to the Smith residence. All the way there. Eileen was filled with trepidation, her fear only growing btedly. Upon returning home, a housekeeper immediately brought over a cup of water. 1/3 N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Eileen¡¯s lips were pale as she leaned into his embrace, seated on the sofa. Jasper then told all the housekeepers to leave. ¡°All right. Everything is fine now. From now on, I won¡¯t let you be alone again. I can¡¯t even imagine what I¡¯d do if I lost you,¡± Jasper said. In a soft and gentle voice, Eileen gradually calmed down and asked, ¡°How is Natalie? Is she all right?¡± Jasper said, ¡°Fabian said she¡¯s fine, just a bit shaken up. She¡¯ll be okay after a night¡¯s rest. If you¡¯re scared, talk to me. How did the exam go today? Are you confident?¡± Eileen nodded. ¡°Not too bad.¡± ¡°Okay. I¡¯ve already spoken to Professor Combs about your application. Among this batch of candidates, you¡¯re quite impressive and there¡¯s a high chance you¡¯ll be epted.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s true, I¡¯d be overjoyed. But if I was epted only because you granted me special privileges, then I¡¯d still be aughingstock at that school.¡± ¡°Do you really have such little faith in yourself? Or are you just convinced that I would behave that way?¡± Eileen looked at the vase on the coffee table. ¡°Because you¡¯ve been so good to me, always ready to help me with anything, but can you not interfere this time? I want to get in on my own merit. If I don¡¯t pass, I can still go to Hulbury University. If one path doesn¡¯t work, I¡¯ll take another. Life is full of endless possibilities, and no matter what, what I want to do will never change.¡± Jasper¡¯s handsome, thin lips curved into a smile as he nodded. ¡°Yes. No matter what, I will always support my future wife!¡± They didn¡¯t know how long they had been talking, their conversation flowing from what they would cat tomorrow to their engagement trip after graduation. By the time Jasper looked down at her, she had already fallen asleep. It seemed she hadn¡¯t slept well. Her eyebrows furrowed. Her long, waterfall-like ck hair, shining brilliantly, covered her face. He reached out to brush it aside, nting a kiss on her lips. Afterward, Jasper gently lifted her into his arms, carrying her back to the master bedroom where he resided upstairs. These days, they practically lived together, sharing the same bed. There were no excessive gestures. Just holding her was enough to fill his heart with contentment. She is still young now. We¡¯ve waited for so long, 30 a little longer won¡¯t make a difference. In the middle of the night, Eileen felt as if she had exploded into a furnace. When she woke up, she felt a hand confined around her waist, her back pressed against a heat source, as if she had taken a bath in water, her clothes soaked with sweat. Not wanting to disturb him, she carefully lifted the corner of the nket. Eileen, wearing her slippers. returned to her room and took a cold shower. After changing into fresh clothes, she felt much better. Her long, slender legs were exposed, and she wore a long, short-sleeved top, just enough to cover her hips. Suddenly, the phone charging on the bedside table rang. Eileen, curious about who would call her so late. thought it might be Natalic. As she wiped her hair with one hand, she walked over and picked up the phone with the other to see who was calling. With a trembling hand, the phone fell to the ground 23 Eileen had no intention of answering the call. As she was about to hang up, she noticed a bright light shining through the gap in the curtains. The ringtone of her phone was still sounding, and her heartbeat was rapidly increasing. She stared at the light filtering through the gap in the curtains. As she walked past, her steps unconsciously slowed down. She pulled back the curtain and saw a familiar car parked at the door. Has he lost his mind? How dare hee to the Smith residence? The ringing stopped, followed immediately by the sound of a message notification. Eric texted: Come down! Eileen felt trapped. She kept her gaze fixed on the phone screen. The fear of being controlled was spreading in her heart. Two minutes passed, and another message came through. Eric texted: Don¡¯t keep me waiting. I¡¯m losing patience. You have three minutes. Eileen¡¯s hands trembled as she typed: I won¡¯te down. She edited down the words in the dialogue box, but she didn¡¯t send a single word. The racing heart never seemed to calm down, and in the quiet room, one could almost hear the pulsating heartbeat echoing within the chest. Even though only half a minute had passed, it felt like an eternity. Eileen¡¯s fingers paused and tapped, finally sending him a message that read: It¡¯s not convenient because he¡¯s in my room. You should go back. We have nothing to talk about. Don¡¯te again next time. After clicking send, she immediately blocked the phone number, her actions swift and decisive. The man sent her another message. The man downstairs sat in his car, the high beams still on. His gloomy eyes were fixed on the building above, emitting a chilling aura. When that litmp went out, Eric¡¯s mouth curled up in a smile, mysterious and enigmatic. Chapter 269 Chapter 269 Chapter 269 Devouring Five Bagels Eileen switched off the light, unsure if he had left or not. Terrified that he might actually leave, she put on her pajamas and went to the master bedroom next door. No sooner had sheid down than the person beside her moved closer, embracing her from behind. A rxed, casual voice sounded in her ear. ¡°Where have you been?¡± Eileen answered somewhat absentmindedly, ¡°I didn¡¯t want to wake you, so I took a shower in my room. Go back to sleep.¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± Jasper, soothed by her pleasant scent, quickly fell back asleep. Eileen reached out and turned off themp on the bedside table. Immediately, the entire bedroom was plunged into darkness. With her eyes closed, she forced herself not to overthink. Considering Eric¡¯s current capabilities, he wouldn¡¯t dare to confront the Smith family. In the future, I will be Jasper¡¯s wife, and there will be absolutely no further entanglement between us. Although she truly feared Eric¡¯s threats and tricks, she was certain that things from the past wouldn¡¯t continue. She couldn¡¯t let him continue to threaten her repeatedly. Before she knew it, sleepiness overcame her, and she quickly drifted off to sleep. Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. The following day at dawn, the remnants of the morning glow descended. Eileen stretchedzily. As she peeked out from under the nket, the first thing she saw was a man with a smile ying on his lips. ¡°Good morning.¡± Eileen replied, ¡°Good morning.¡± ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. Time to get up?¡± ¡°What time is it?¡± ¡°Twelve o¡¯clock.¡± Eileen hadn¡¯t expected to sleep in sote. ¡°What time did you wake up? Why didn¡¯t you wake me?¡± ¡°My future wife can afford to bezy and sleep a little longer. I¡¯ll get up first to squeeze out the toothpaste for you. Remember to change your clothes.¡± Eileen said, ¡°Okay¡± After Jasper changed his clothes, he squeezed out some toothpaste for her. Handing it over, he noticed the bluish hue under her eyes reflected in the mirror. ¡°Do you think we should consult a psychiatrist? You were talking in your sleep all night.¡± Eileen paused in brushing her teeth. ¡°What did I say?¡± Jasper embraced her from behind, his arms wrapped around her waist. He lowered his head to kiss her neck, murmuring, ¡°I forgot. I didn¡¯t hear clearly¡± 1/4 ¡°Really? I can¡¯t even remember what dream I hadst night.¡± Eileen spat out the toothpaste foam, quickly finished brushing her teeth, took the towel he handed over, and wiped her mouth. ¡°By the way, is Natalie better? Let¡¯s go to the hospital to see herter.¡± If it hadn¡¯t been for Natalie pushing her away at that time, she would have been the one lying injured in the hospital. ¡°All right. I¡¯ll apany youter.¡± After what happened the day before, Jasper wouldn¡¯t dare to let her go out alone anymore. For her, being alone was too dangerous. He wouldn¡¯t be at ease. That day, Jasper took a rare day off and personally drove his car. Upon arriving at the hospital, an unnatural glint shed in Eileen¡¯s eyes. Why is it this hospital? Fabian walked out of the hospital¡¯s main entrance. ¡°Hi, Mr. Smith. Hi, Ms. Eileen.¡± Is Fabian still in the hospital? Could he have been busy all night? Eileen was confused. Upon entering the inpatient department¡¯s elevator, Fabian pressed the button for the floor. Jasper asked, ¡°How is the situation being handled?¡± ¡°It¡¯s almost done. The vagrant fromst night is indeed the murderer the police have been hunting. He¡¯s been responsible for the assault and murder of numerous students over the past six years. Recently, he¡¯s been lurking around the entrances of various universities, specifically targeting students who are alone,¡± Fabian said. Eileen was bewildered when she heard that. Oh? Is that it? But why would Eric want to harm him? I don¡¯t believe it¡¯s to help the police catch someone. It clearly seemed like he wanted to put someone in a deadly situation. Why would Eric have a grudge against him, to the point of having Lionel personally apprehend him? Eileen brought a bouquet of sunflowers purchased from the shop she frequented. By the time she got there, it was thest bunch left. In the ward, Natalie¡¯s family was present, and Benjamin and Jason had not left either. Natalie was munching on an apple and a peach simultaneously. Seeing her hearty appetite, it seemed her worries were unnecessary. However, seeing that she was fine, Eileen also felt relieved. Towards Natalie. Eileen felt not only gratitude but also guilt. Upon spotting Eileen at the door, Natalie¡¯s eyes lit up with joy. ¡°Eileen!¡± she eximed, her happiness evident. Jasper didn¡¯t like crowded ces, so he and Fabian decided to wait outside. Eileen walked into the ward, seeing a couple in front of her, one plump and the other thin. For a moment. Eileen couldn¡¯t tell at all who Natalie resembled. Wade Scott, Natalie¡¯s father, said, ¡°You¡¯re here to see Natalie, aren¡¯t you?¡± Eileen nodded. ¡°Yes.¡± Pauline Rich, Natalie¡¯s mother, uttered. ¡°You guys chat then. Her father and I are just about to go 2/1 downstairs to grab a bite. Have a good talk.¡± ¡°All right.¡± Wade and Pauline stepped out of the ward, and Eileen overheard their whispered conversation. Pauline was heard saying, ¡°How was this child raised? How did she grow up to be so pretty? She doesn¡¯t look like Natalie at all. Natalie can eat five bagels in one sitting. Frankly, Natalie looks like a bagel herself!¡± Wade was heard saying, ¡°Isn¡¯t that the truth? Thankfully, we¡¯re not poor. The average family wouldn¡¯t be able to afford to buy her food.¡± Natalie¡¯s face fell instantly. ¡°Mom, Dad, I heard everything. As soon as you speak, they all know I can eat five bagels.¡± Jason stood to one side, chuckling quietly to himself. The couple, in a puff of smoke, quickened their pace and left immediately. Eileen sat by the hospital bed. ¡°Well, you¡¯re quite adorable when you¡¯re a bit chubby.¡± Jason couldn¡¯t help butugh out loud. ¡°Exactly! Who among ordinary people could eat five bagels in one sitting?¡± Sobbing uncontrobly, Natalie turned to Eileen and said, ¡°Eileen¡­ They¡¯re allughing at me.¡± Jason added, ¡°It¡¯s not just me who¡¯sughing, the person next to me is alsoughing.¡± Benjamin had always been serious, not one to joke orugh easily. However, at that moment, it seemed as if something had amused him, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. Eileen set aside the flowers and reassured Natalie, ¡°They won¡¯t reveal your secret. You guys must be exhausted after taking care of her all night. You should go home and rest early. I¡¯ll stay here and keep an eye on things.¡± Benjamin nced at his phone to check the time. ¡°Yes, that works. I have some matters to attend to at home. I¡¯ll leave the rest to you. Thanks.¡± Jason left with Benjamin. Eileen continued chatting with Natalie in the ward. After more than an hour, the doctor and nurse came to check Natalie¡¯s physical condition. Her neck was wrapped in gauze, and when it was unwrapped, the wound had already scabbed over and was not a major concern. The doctor reassured Natalie, ¡°Actually, there¡¯s nothing to worry about. You¡¯re healthy in all other aspects. Once the fees are settled, you can be discharged.¡± Natalie replied, ¡°Okay. Thank you, Doctor.¡± The fees had already been paid by Jasper to Fabian a long time ago. Wade was having a friendly chat with Jasper. Meanwhile, Eileen stepped forward and opened the passenger door for Natalie. ¡°Go home and rest well Your exams areing up. If there¡¯s anything you don¡¯t understand, feel free to call me.¡± Before leaving, Natalie gave Eileen a tight hug Eileen, remember toe visit my home in the future I will miss you.¡± Eileen responded, ¡°I definitely will.¡± Watching them leave, Eileen was far from feeling at ease. Jasper walked over and took her hand. ¡°If you¡¯re still worried, we can visit the Scott residence in a couple of days.¡± ¡°Maybe it¡¯s best not to disturb her¡­¡± Just as they were about to leave, Eric helped Vera out of a ck car. Her arm was wrapped in a towel, and she leaned weakly against Eric, looking frail and thin. Chapter 270 Chapter 270 Chapter 270 Hide Your Weaknesses Did Vera attempt suicide? Eileen couldn¡¯t help but specte. Before she had a chance to say hello, Vera was rushed to the hospital. Eileen had never seen her in such a disheveled and weak state before. If she hadn¡¯t seen it with her own eyes, she wouldn¡¯t have believed it. Vera has always been the person Eric cherishes the most. Eric wouldn¡¯t bear to see her get hurt. The sound of Jasper¡¯s voice brought Eileen back to reality. ¡°Do you want to go take a look?¡± Eileen shook her head. ¡°No need. They will handle it well.¡± That was their business, and she didn¡¯t want any part in it. Whether Vera had attempted suicide or not, it no longer had anything to do with her. This time, Vera¡¯s wound was deeper than before. The nurses tending to Vera¡¯s wounds all frowned deeply. A new cut had been made on the original wound. Vera, already frail, had a second wound so deep that the bone was visible. The sharp de directly cut the original stitches, leaving threads embedded in the flesh. The nurse let out a sigh. ¡°Life is priceless, youngdy. By hurting yourself like this, can you imagine how heartbroken your boyfriend would be?¡± There had been quite a few suicide incidents, but very few had harmed themselves to that extent. Vera smiled when she heard the nurse calling Eric her boyfriend. She affectionately held the hand of the man next to her, her gaze also turning toward him. ¡°Yes. He has always been very caring towards me. This time, I was just too impulsive.¡± At that moment, Vera was simply unrecognizablepared to thedy who was hysterically crying and shouting at Eric earlier that morning. The nurse chided Eric, ¡°You should pay more attention to your girlfriend in the future. If she can¡¯t be saved next time, you¡¯ll regret it for the rest of your life.¡± Eric wore a gloomy expression, echoing in agreement. Vera spoke up for Eric. ¡°It¡¯s not his fault. It¡¯s all on me. Eric, I¡¯m thirsty. Could you pour me a ss of water, please?¡± Ericplied, going to the water dispenser to pour her a cup of warm water. Vera was chatting with the nurse about something. By the time Eric came over, the nurse had already left. Eric ced a ss of water in front of her and also put a straw in the ss. ¡°Eric, will you feed me the drink, please?¡± Eric held the water cup to her lips. Vera¡¯s mouth curved into a slight smile. ¡°Did you treat Eileen the same way, showing her such meticulous care? Eileen is soon to be engaged to someone else. It¡¯s a pity that there will be no chance for you and Eileen in the future. Once she¡¯s engaged, she will soon be someone¡¯s wife. What will you do then, Eric?¡± 1/3 ¡°Vera, this isn¡¯t something you should worry about. I need to go back to the office. I¡¯ll have Fabian come overter.¡± ¡°If you dare to take even half a step away, all you¡¯ll see is a corpse when you return.¡± Eric paused at the door, and he chose to stay. She merely fulfilled what her heart desired, yet she did not find satisfaction. The Eric she held dear in her heart was gradually slipping away. He had fallen in love with someone else. Vera was hooked up to an infusion bottle. When Eric¡¯s phone rang, she insisted that he not answer it. Vera sat in Eric¡¯s embrace, her eyes fixed on the name shown on the phone screen. It was a call from Will. ¡°Eric, aren¡¯t you going to answer?¡± She fiddled with the obsidian shirt button on his chest. ¡°Don¡¯t move.¡± Eric held her hand, and in front of her, he answered the phone. ¡°Father?¡± T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. Eric still pushed her away, pulling free from the hand that was tightly gripping his arm, and walked out onto the balcony. Their voices were not loud during their conversation, but she could faintly hear some of it. It wasn¡¯t until he closed the door that she heard Yvette¡¯s name. Will said, ¡°This is one of the few opportunities for you to build yourwork in the business world. Going to Atharia for management training can only be beneficial. Don¡¯t worry about your position. I¡¯ve already -taken care of it.¡± Eric then asked, ¡°Is this your decision or the Friedman family¡¯s?¡± ¡°She is the future heiress of the Friedman family, and you are my son. I will always prioritize your development over Eileen¡¯s. I hope you won¡¯t waste my painstaking efforts. This matter is settled. After Eileen gets engaged to the Smith family, you will go to Atharia with Yvette for half a year of training and then return. As for thepany, I will temporarily hand it over to Fabian. He is your confidant and has been by your side for many years, so I can rest assured.¡± ¡°I understand. I will consider this matter.¡± ¡°You should also prepare yourself. Spend more time with Yvette. Securing the cooperation of both the Friedman and Smith families will only be beneficial. If you want to establish a foothold in the business world, you must do this: Stop focusing on irrelevant people. If there are problems, I will help you remove the surrounding obstacles.¡± ¡°Okay¡± A mysterious glint shed across Eric¡¯s eyes. Only after the other party hung up the phone did he put away his phone. Eric walked into the ward. Vera¡¯s heartbroken and aggrieved eyes met his. ¡°So, you¡¯re also leaving, right Eric? If you can¡¯t have Eileen, then you want to be with Yvette! Eric, you promised me you wouldn¡¯t fall in love with anyone else.¡± Eric didn¡¯t know how much she had heard. His face remainedrgely expressionless throughout ¡°Let¡¯s 23 talk about thister.¡± ¡°You¡¯re marrying Yvette too, aren¡¯t you? All for your power!¡± Vera¡¯s tone began to tense, her emotions ring, causing the blood in the intravenous tube to start flowing backward. ¡°Vera, I won¡¯t leave.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been deceiving me! And even now, you continue to deceive me! You imed that you didn¡¯t have feelings for Eileen, but you do, don¡¯t you? You visited herst night, didn¡¯t you? Every time we stay at the Swan residence, I can hear you going upstairs and staying there the entire night. Did you think I wasn¡¯t aware? You believed you could fool everyone, but you can¡¯t fool anyone! Do you have any idea how I manage those nights when you¡¯re with her, all alone? I¡¯m terrified, Eric! I¡¯m truly terrified. I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll find me repulsive, and I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll no longer want me. I despise myself. Why must I remember how those three men degraded and tormented me? In my darkest moments, I kept calling out your name, desperately hoping you would appear before me¡­ Vera could no longer hold back her tears and began sobbing loudly, her heart breaking. Eric held her, gentlyforting her, and said, ¡°I¡¯ve never considered abandoning you, Vera¡­ I¡¯ll never leave you. Vera said, ¡°Then, will you promise to stop pursuing Eileen and not to leave with Yvette, okay?¡± Eric¡¯s voice softened. ¡°Alright.¡± Zachary arrived at the doorway just in time to witness this poignant scene. Seeing the approaching nurse, he ced his finger on his lips, signaling her to remain silent. When ites to dealing with women, I am trulyckingpared to this beast. Can he really give up on Eileen? Even though they are fully aware of their blood ties to her, they still feel a connection. How can he easily let go of such emotions? I¡¯ve warned him before to keep his vulnerabilities hidden! Once someone has leverage, even the most powerful individuals can be easily manipted. And when that happens, there¡¯s always the risk of imminent danger. Jasper is the perfect example. Chapter 271 Chapter 271 Chapter 271 Keep In Mind Just then, Zachary received an intriguing message on his phone. Has Nancy, who was once imprisoned, been released from jail? That¡¯s interesting. It¡¯s quite a coincidence that they released her from prison at this particr time. just a month before the engagement. Are we getting started so soon? ¡°Dr. Xenos, a woman named Daisy wishes to see you.¡± Zachary¡¯s medical assistant approached. Zachary put away his phone and asked, ¡°Where is she now?¡± ¡°I have invited her to your office.¡± ¡°All right.¡± Zachary proceeded to give some instructions to his assistant. As Zachary walked into the office, he saw a figure standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling window that bore a striking resemnce to someone he knew. The woman, dressed in a light-colored long dress with xen hair, had her arms crossed over her chest. Hearing the footsteps behind her, Daisy turned around. ¡°Long time no see, Dr. Xenos!¡± Her greeting was filled with emotion. Zachary waved his hand, signaling his assistant to step away for a moment. The assistant left, closing the office door behind him.. ¡°Ms. Hackett! It¡¯s been three years, and you seem to have recovered well. What brings you here this time?¡± Zachary asked. Daisy, stepping forward in her stiletto strap sandals, confronted him. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me? You knew the woman whose face I got from the stic surgery! Do you have any idea how many people are criticizing me now that I¡¯m back in the country?¡± With a light and carefree smile, Zachary looked even more charming. The allure of his face seemed as if he was teasing someone. He then ced the medical report he was holding on the office desk. ¡°Star stic Surgery has always adhered to the principle of putting customers first. The grinding board you chose was your own selection, and I naturally respected your choice. Now you¡¯re ming me for it. How does that make any sense?¡± Daisy became even angrier at the mention of this. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right! But I thought it was a photo synthesized by AI. If you had told me then that she was someone you knew, I would never have modeled it after her. Isn¡¯t this yourpany¡¯s responsibility?¡± Zachary was somewhat nonchnt. He reversed their roles with a single move, pulling her toward him, relentlessly closing in. Daisy was flustered, watching him warily as she backed away. ¡°W-What are you trying to do?¡± She found herself backed against a table, with nowhere else to retreat. When she tried to leave, Zachary blocked her escape by cing his hands on the edge of the table. His long, deep-set, peach-blossom eyes shimmered with ripples of emotion as if they were trying to draw her into their depths. ¡°I must say there¡¯s a unique charm about you, Ms. Hackett. Apart from your face, you also have a great figure. As long as one is beautiful enough, why should they care about others¡¯ opinions, don¡¯t you think? Besides, the desire for beauty is human nature. Why would your suitors care about your past? The taste of being the center of attention must be quite delightful, don¡¯t you think?¡± Daisy had spent many years abroad, attracting countless admirers, most of whom were drawn to her for her beauty. However, those foreign men were always fickle, never satisfied with just one. 1/3 Content held by N?velDrama.Org. She only spoke once about the pain of a past rtionship, and after that, she never spoke of it again. During her time in the country, Daisy had made acquaintances with quite a few wealthy individuals, all of whom hailed from prestigious families. However, their gazes toward her were extremely aggressive, revealing their hidden, unsavory intentions. It was clear as day. Moreover, the wealthy ones were either ugly or potbellied. Some even proposed to keep her as their sugar baby. Daisy naturally avoided such people at all costs. A man like Zachary, who was naturally devilishly handsome, could effortlessly make countless women willingly surrender themselves with just a casual beckon of his finger. Even she sometimes couldn¡¯t help but feel her heart flutter around him. Looking at him, Daisy was reminded of the time she had mustered the courage to step into the stic surgery clinic. The man who had taken her breath away at first sight was unlike anyone she had ever seen before. Back then, she was incredibly unattractive, filled with self-loathing, and too afraid to even look in the mirror. Every man she encountered would cast a nce of disgust and disdain her way. Yet, he didn¡¯t. Instead, as he was on the operating table, he whispered in her ear, ¡°Don¡¯t be nervous. From now on, you will surely be the center of attention. This is the surprise I¡¯m giving you. You won¡¯t be disappointed.¡± In the three months of recovery that followed, he indeed did not disappoint her. However, it was his single sentence that she remembered for three years. Daisy awkwardly averted her gaze. ¡°What are you hiding from?¡± The voice was beguiling. Daisy¡¯s chin was lifted by the man, a faint blush spreading across her face. The moment she felt the soft touch on her lips, Daisy¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. Before she could react, the man skillfully pried open her lips, invading her like a conqueror seizing a city. Stirred by a physical desire, Daisy felt an impulse to just go with the flow, and she responded to the man¡¯s kiss. Seeing her not resist, he deepened the kiss even more. He would never reject a woman who came to him on her own ord. Suddenly, that hand lifted the hem of the skirt, covering the woman¡¯s sensual, peach-like buttocks with the palm. It felt soft and tender. Daisy was somewhat out of breath, and the two of them took a break from cach other for a while Zachary asked, ¡°Would you like to go to the bed?¡± Daisy was shy, and her blush hadn¡¯t faded yet She nodded slightly In the next moment, Daisy felt a sudden lightness in her body. Zachary had swept her up in lus arms. carrying her into the secluded rest area of the office 111 2/3 The woman was thrown onto the bed with force, her body sinking in before bouncing back up. Before she could react, the man flipped her over, pulling off thest piece of thin underwear she had on. It seemed as if she sensed something, her hand tightly clutching the bedsheet. As a woman who hadn¡¯t been intimate for a long time, she suddenly felt a wave of painful tearing in her lower body. After that, the intensity kept escting, and waves of pleasure swiftly swept over, giving a sensation akin to floating on clouds. The whole person seemed adrift. The next second, it felt as if plunged into hell¡­ She wasn¡¯t sure how much time had passed. Just as she began to feel ufortable, the person on top of her abruptly stopped moving. ¡°Could you please move a bit? I¡¯m feeling really ufortable.¡± Confronted with the woman beneath him who was actively seeking pleasure, Zachary nced towards the person who had appeared and then left at the door, and immediately lost interest. Zachary was still dressed neatly. He stood up, got out of bed, and walked out. Cynthia had been waiting outside for him for a while. When Zachary emerged, he had a post-coital cigarette in his mouth. ¡°What a surprise. I didn¡¯t expect you toe looking for me at the hospital. Did you miss me?¡± He casually sat on the sofa with his leg propped up. Cynthia thought about his usual gentlemanly demeanor, but behind the scenes, he was nothing more than a well-dressed scoundrel. She couldn¡¯t help but feel a wave of nausea rising in her chest. The woman inside had already dressed and came out, hastily saying, ¡°I¡¯m heading back first.¡± Zachary waved at Daisy. ¡°Babe, take care on the road.¡± Daisy, too embarrassed to respond, grabbed her bag and ran off. Cynthia then got straight to the point and said, ¡°Dad is sick. I¡¯ve brought him to the hospital. Please take good care of him. This afternoon, I¡¯m flying abroad with Stefan for treatment. I might not be back for a few years. You¡¯re not getting any younger. Try not to let Dad worry too much. Once Dad is discharged from the hospital, no one can stop you from doing what you want.¡± Cynthia nced at the old Patek Philippe on her wrist. The strap looked somewhat worn out, yet after all these years, she still hadn¡¯t reced it. ¡°Remember what I¡¯ve told you. Stefan is still downstairs, and I¡¯m in a rush. That¡¯s all I want to say. If you don¡¯t understand anything, ask the housekeepers at home.¡± Just as Cynthia was about to leave, her wrist was suddenly seized by a strong force. With a tug, she lost her bnce and fell to the ground. Chapter 272 Chapter 272 Chapter 272 Now And In The Future ¡°Let go of me!¡± Cynthia detected a foreign scent on him, a sickly sweet perfume, and noticed a lipstick mark on his neck. The red streak on his rumpled clothes hinted at the intensity of their encounter. Cynthia struggled, her gaze filled with undisguised disgust. ¡°Are you jealous?¡± Cynthia¡¯s nails scraped across his face, tearing ayer of skin from the devilishly handsome man. Zachary released his grip in pain, a shadow of gloom crossing his face. Cynthia angrily stood up from hisp, straightened her clothes, and pped him. ¡°Keep your filthy hands off me!¡± Zachary¡¯s face was knocked to the side, but instead of getting angry, heughed. ¡°That was too light. I would prefer a harder hit.¡± His gaze, hungry and aggressive, brimmed with excitement. Cynthia frowned, regarding him as if he were insane. ¡°Let¡¯s pretend that the previous two incidents never happened. Even if you threaten me with those photos, I won¡¯t give in.¡± She took a deep breath. ¡°It¡¯s only because you and Stefan are brothers that I¡¯m speaking to you calmly right now. You¡¯re free to seek other women to satisfy your needs, but I am your sister-inw now and in the future!¡± She was determined not to divorce Stefan, no matter what. Zachary caressed his face with his thumb as he watched her leave. Seeing the trace of blood on his fingertip, he began tough as if he had lost his mind. The sound of hisughter echoed, making Cynthia feel nauseous. She quickened her pace and pressed the elevator button to go downstairs. Seeing the man waiting in a wheelchair by the door, Cynthia quicklyposed herself and walked over. Stefan wore a mask, and Cynthia stepped forward to adjust his scarf. ¡°I¡¯ve already spoken to Zachary about Dad¡¯s situation. He will take care of it.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to force yourself to stay if you want to leave,¡± Stefan said. ¡°Wherever you go, I¡¯ll be there. We¡¯re husband and wife, aren¡¯t we?¡± Cynthia replied. ¡°If I don¡¯t recover in six months, I¡¯ll agree to a divorce. You¡¯ll receive half of the Xenos family¡¯s wealth, and it won¡¯t affect your chances of remarrying.¡± A pang of bitter pain swept through Cynthia¡¯s heart. ¡°I won¡¯t divorce you, no matter what happens. Even if you don¡¯t recover, even if we can¡¯t have children, I¡¯ll always be your wife. Besides, we can adopt if we want kids. Can we please stop talking about this now?¡± The driver approached and reminded them, ¡°Sir, Madam, we can leave now. The ne will take off in an hour.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Cynthia said. She helped him into the car and sat in the back seat. However, there was something she hadn¡¯t told Stefan. The Xenos family had previously invested in a sessful overseaspany. She had obtained a green card, and regardless of the treatment¡¯s oue, Cynthia had no ns to return to her home country. 1/3 She had decided to leave and start anew with him somewhere else. Upstairs, Zachary watched the familiar car drive away through the floor-to-ceiling window. His gaze was deep and mysterious, like a pool of ink spreading in his eyes. You don¡¯t get to decide when it ends, Cynthia! Only when the car disappeared from sight did Zachary casually shift his gaze away. With over a month to go, the Smith family had already begun preparations for the engagement. Jasper and La personally arranged everything. The invitations for the banquet were written with gold leaf made of real gold. Each invitation alone held great value. Eileen couldn¡¯t imagine how extravagant the Smith family would be on their wedding day. Jasper used a brush pen to write the names of prestigious and wealthy families on the invitation cards. The people he invited were well-known figures in Hulbury, including political officials, wealthy businessmen, and popr actors and celebrities in the entertainment industry. After returning from the hospital, Jasper had been busy until now. He even delegatedpany matters to Fabian. Eileen was in the study, reviewing her lessons and finishing her homework. Setting down her pen, she walked over curiously and picked up an invitation. The calligraphy on it was pleasing to the eye, with neat characters and every stroke a delight. ¡°Do we really need to invite so many people? It¡¯s just an engagement, after all.¡± The ink on the surface hadn¡¯t dried yet, so Eileen took a nce and set it aside. ¡°Of course. You are the future matriarch of the Smith family, and you will inevitably have to interact with these people. Take a look at the list, and if there¡¯s anyone you don¡¯t want to meet, we can simply cross their names off.¡± On a sheet of paper, a multitude of names were densely written. Eileen shook her head. ¡°I never thought getting engaged would be so troublesome. If it were up to me, I¡¯d surely be overwhelmed.¡± As she spoke, a vague memory surged in Eileen¡¯s mind. In the shback, a woman in a ke dress with long, straight ck hair could be seen. On the eve of her university graduation, she didn¡¯t go to take graduation photos. Instead, she returned to the home she shared with Eric, beginning preparations for their uing wedding. She went online and looked up what she needed to prepare for a wedding. When she had made a list and happily walked up to him, she coquettishlyined, ¡°There¡¯s so much. to prepare for our wedding, Eric! My head is about to explode! I¡¯ve looked at the list of guests we need to invite. Do you think this will work? This is the wedding favors packaging I¡¯ve chosen, do you like it? Is it okay if I wear this when we go collect our marriage certificateter? Look at the camera, Eric! I want to capture every beautiful moment of our certificate collection day. In the future, every year on our wedding anniversary, you¡¯ll have to watch it with me!¡± A sudden, tearing pain surged in Eileen¡¯s chest, spreading from her heart to every limb of her body. ||| 2/3 For some unknown reason, these memories suddenly came back to her. An inexplicable suffocation overwhelmed Eileen. It was as if the events of her past life had only just recently urred. Jasper lifted his head. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Is something amiss?¡± Eileen quickly regained herposure and concealed her pain with a smile. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Can I assist you with anything?¡± ¡°Are you bored?¡± Jasper asked. ¡°I just want to help you,¡± Eileen replied. Content held by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°You don¡¯t have to do anything, future Mrs. Smith. If you¡¯re bored keeping mepany, you can go downstairs and watch some TV. I¡¯ll be finished very soon.¡± The more kindly he treated her, the more Eileen felt indebted to him. In her previous rtionship, she had given her all. Now, there was someone willing to do the same for her. Perhaps she would never find someone who treated her as well as he did. Since rtionships are mutual, Eileen had also considered doing something for him in return. ¡°Is the packaging for the wedding favors ready? If not, how about I design it?¡± ¡°Grandma is in charge of that. However, it would certainly be appreciated if you are willing to help. ¡°Then I¡¯ll go get ready.¡± Eileen put away her book, hurried back to her room to grab a sketchbook, and began drawing patterns for the packaging on the nk paper. The pencil in her hand had just finished a stroke when the tip suddenly snapped, puncturing a hole in the smooth paper. A sense of foreboding started to creep in. This was not a good sign. She simply hoped that she was overthinking things. Chapter 273 Chapter 273 Chapter 273 The Secret When the warden of the women¡¯s prison paid a special visit to Nancy, who was in solitary confinement, she was furious. The Smith family had instructed her to make Nancy suffer in prison, but they never said to kill her. If the warden hadn¡¯t shown up, Nancy might have died. On the fifth day after Nancy was rushed to the hospital, she woke up in a state ofplete mental breakdown. She was desperate to meet someone from the Smith family, but Jasper wasn¡¯t someone she could meet whenever she wanted. Everyone simply regarded her as mentally ill. Many people had seen reports about Nancy on television, but no one would believe what someone like her said. They simply regarded her as a madwoman. ¡°Just do as you see fit!¡± said the superior. Nancy was sent to a mental hospital and locked up for five days straight. She was shackled to the head of the bed, forcibly injected with sedatives, and made to swallow medicine. She did not have a good time there at all. When she encountered those male doctors. Nancy had to endure the feeling of being taken advantage of She endured all these humiliations alone. From the initial struggles to the overwhelming hatred in the end, all these humiliations were brought upon by him. She was brutally beaten and trampled by a group of people. The sharp de left one wound after another on her body, now healing and scabbing over. Every drop of blood she shed, she would never forget in this lifetime. One day, she would surely make these people pay. I¡¯ll make sure you regret treating me this way, Jasper! Nancy¡¯s efforts at struggling were all in vain. A nurse from the mental hospital wasing over to give her medication. This time, she didn¡¯t struggle or scream anymore. Instead, she quietly epted everything. Even if the doctors were being indecent toward her. Nancy¡¯s mobile phone was taken away. Other than a gambling-addicted father who constantly pestered her for money, she had no other rtives or friends. She wanted to leave, but she didn¡¯t know who to turn to for help except for that person. She knew he must have a way to help her. As such, she needed to have a cell phone to connect with the outside world. Only then would she have a 111 < 1/4 glimmer of hope to leave this ce. At nightfall, in a pitch-ck room, aside from the scent of disinfectant, there was a beam of light coming. from a window. In the quiet hospital corridor, a figure quietly and slowly approached. The sound of a chain being unlocked echoed in Nancy¡¯s ward. The door creaked open slightly, and an ordinary-looking man stepped in. He had a greedy look in his eyes as he kept his gaze fixated on the person on the bed and reached his hand out toward her. At this moment, Nancy also opened her eyes when she felt his hand, which had reached into her thin hospital gown and was fondling her breasts. The man let out a satisfied grunt. ¡°Do you want to y?¡± Nancy asked all of a sudden, giving him quite the shock. The man was preparing to make a hasty escape. Listening to his voice, he didn¡¯t sound like a madman at all, but rather somewhat normal. Ronald Dup knew that molesting a female patient was a serious crime punishable byw, and it could also lead to the revocation of his medical license. He saw that Nancy was sedated and fell unconscious, which was why he dared to make his move. Ronald remained silent, about to run, when Nancy called out to him, ¡°Don¡¯t worry; I won¡¯t tell anyone. I¡¯ll do whatever you want as long as you let me go, okay?¡± Bathed in the light of the corridor, Nancy listened as the man¡¯s footsteps came to a halt. Undoubtedly, he must have been moved. She continued, ¡°The truth is, I was framed. That¡¯s why I was sent to this mental hospital. If you lend me your phone, I¡¯ll let you do whatever you want with me. If you¡¯re uneasy and afraid that I¡¯ll see your face, you can blindfold me. I won¡¯t utter a word about this, and rest assured, I will be sure to reward you well after I leave this ce.¡± Ronald still didn¡¯t dare to speak. This time, he mustered up the courage to return to the bedside, his hand trembling as he reached toward her chest. Nancy let out an enticing sound, moaning softly as she said, ¡°Keep going¡­ Go a bit harder.¡± The desire in the man¡¯s eyes gradually intensified, his actions bing more unrestrained. Once the mes of desire were ignited, it would be hard to extinguish. Nancy felt like a puppet being manipted at will, enduring the foul odor from the man as he continued to take advantage of her. The vacant, numb look in her eyes was fierce and ruthless. Jasper, I won¡¯t rest until I get my revenge on you! Nearly an hour had passed, the man¡¯s movements ceased, and he contentedly disengaged himselt from Nancy. 24 After getting dressed, he even thoughtfully wiped her down. Nancy was somewhat breathless as she said, ¡°Don¡¯t forget what you promised me.¡± The man simply departed in silence. By the next day, when Nancy woke up, the shackles on her hands had been removed. The nurse said, ¡°Your condition has been improvingtely, so we¡¯ll remove your shackles for now. However, if you have another episode and start shouting, we¡¯ll have no choice but to take the same measures again.¡± Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. Nancy remained silent. She sat up, massaged her wrist, and epted the medicine handed to her by the nurse. Without hesitation, she swallowed it in one gulp. Once the nurse had left, Nancy retrieved a mobile phone from under her pillow and dialed a string of numbers, but the call didn¡¯t go through. About five minutester, a call came in from a new virtual number. ¡°Have you been released from prison?¡± With a gaze filled with hatred, Nancy stared intently at the wall, her hand clutching the bedsheets. Her fingernails dug into the palm of her hand through the sheets as she said, ¡°I need your help to ruin this engagement! Once I¡¯ve had my revenge, I promise to help you get half of the Smith family¡¯s fortune.¡± ¡°Even your life was a gift from me. Don¡¯t forget that you have nothing right now.¡± ¡°I do have something! I am the real Mrs. Smith! If it weren¡¯t for her showing up out of nowhere, she couldn¡¯t possibly take my ce in his heart! All you need to do is save me and let me reim everything that belongs to me!¡± A hint of ruthlessness shed in Nancy¡¯s nearly insane eyes as she continued, ¡°As long as I¡¯m alive, he can forget about marrying any other woman!¡± ¡°Why should I trust your words? Even if I rescue you, you won¡¯t benefit unless you have a foolproof n!¡± ¡°Would you assist me if I persuade you and offer you the greatest advantage?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± It appeared that Nancy had reached a decision. She continued slowly, ¡°I have an email ount that I frequently use in Atharia. I can provide you with the password. Inside, you can uncover all my secrets. Once you have read them, you will understand.¡± Meanwhile, at Caerulus Corporation, Eric entered the foreign email address, but he did not input the password. Instead, he hacked into the email directly. He then essed her inbox and began reading the emails that Nancy had sent and received over the past few years. Of course, this included the secrets she had mentioned. Those pictures held far greater value than the information he had gathered from his investigation. Five minutes quickly passed. ||| 34 ¡°Well? What do you think? Will you believe me now?¡± Nancy urged him impatiently. The corners of Eric¡¯s thin lips slowly curled up. ¡°Tonight at eleven, someone wille to take you away.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Nancy had entrusted him with her most significant secret. Although it was something she had never intended to reveal, she had no other way out of her predicament. We had an agreement, Jasper! Chapter 274 Chapter 274 Chapter 274 Growing Fond Of You For her, a day of waiting felt longer than a day spent in prison. She couldn¡¯t wait to leave. Late at night, the clock struck eleven. The mental hospital waspletely deserted, yet the corridor lights remained on. The silent hallway was bathed in a green light, leading to pitch ckness, like an abyss without a bottom. From the icy cold. bathroom, the faint sound of water dripping from the faucet could be heard. It seemed eerily strange no matter how one looked at it. The door to the ward swung open, and Nancy saw a dark figure silently passing by. On the ground, a car key and a sharp dagger were dropped. It was a mystery how the person moved around the hospital so effortlessly. Nancy¡¯s feelings of hatred had consumed her mind, so she couldn¡¯t be bothered to worry about that. Instead of leaving in a hurry after picking up the items, she simply sat quietly on the bed, as if waiting for something. At midnight, the door swung open once again, and Ronald made no attempt to hide his eagerness this time. He strode over to the person on the bed and, without hesitation, pulled her into his arms. ¡°Have you taken a bath? You smell so good.¡± In the next moment, Ronald was caught off guard. He didn¡¯t even have a chance to catch his breath as a dagger plunged directly into his chest. Nancy suddenly let out a mockingugh, her eyes filled with ruthless malice. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Why aren¡¯t you talking anymore?¡± she asked while plunging the dagger even deeper into his chest. When she pulled it out, the tip of the dagger was dripping with blood. Her face, twisted in a strange smile, resembled a monster thirsty for blood. As the dagger was pulled from Ronald¡¯s chest, a surge of blood gushed out, sttering onto her face. A crimson hue filled her vision, a sight that seemed all too familiar to her. It was as if this wasn¡¯t the first time she had experienced such a thing. With a swift push, Nancy shoved him away. Ronald, with wide-open eyes, fell to the ground, breathless. Nancy left the mental hospital unimpeded, and a car was already waiting for her outside the gate. She drove into the darkness, and in the empty night, chillingughter echoed. In thetter part of the night, dark clouds hung low in the sky, illuminated by a streak of purple lightning. Not long after, a fine drizzle began to fall. The cold wind carried a chill, and as the gale picked up, the raindrops gradually grewrger and fell more heavily. The rain pitter-pattered on the ground, sshing droplets everywhere as the downpour washed everything away. When the nurse on the early shift arrived, she saw blood flowing on the floor. 1/4 Startled, she bolted out of the ward. With trembling hands, she dialed the number for the police station. No one expected this matter to escte so much. Nancy, who had her sentence temporarily suspended, hadmitted murder and was now on the run. Eileen woke up an hour and a half earlier than usual. The sky was already bright at half past six, but it seemed like the weather wasn¡¯t going to be very good that day. Looking at the gloomy sky, she decided to bring an extra coat. As she descended the stairs, she happened to see Jasper at the door. Dressed in a dark blue suit with one hand in his pocket, his posture upright while he talked on the phone. He had his back toward her, but he was alert to the sound of footstepsing down from above. A shadow crossed Jasper¡¯s face. ¡°You don¡¯t need to tell me about this. Just handle it as you see fit.¡± With these words, he hung up the phone. Eileen pulled out a chair, sipping the oatmeal in her bowl as she asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? What happened?¡± N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. When Jasper faced her, his expression softened as he sat down beside her. ¡°Fabian is already handling thepany matters. You¡¯ve been working hard these past few days, so you should eat more. I¡¯ll pick you up after school for a photo shoot.¡± ¡°Alright. I might be a bitte today, though. I have a test after school that will take about forty-five minutes. I can¡¯t skip it.¡± Jasper affectionately ruffled her hair. ¡°It¡¯s okay. Just call me after your exam, and I¡¯lle pick you up.¡± -¡°Okay,¡± Eileen replied. Sincest night, her right eye had twitched several times, causing a sense of unease within her. She couldn¡¯t pinpoint the source of this feeling, wondering if it was due to the uing exams. After breakfast, she got in the car and returned to school. Jasper was unusually quiet throughout the ride When Eileen looked at him, it was clear that he was concealing something. After giving it some thought, Eileen figured out who could be causing him distress, but she chose not to question him about it. Both of them remained silent. They soon arrived at the school. Im getting off now. Remember to have a proper lunch at noon,¡± Eileen said in a soft voice Jasper nodded. ¡°Okay¡± Eileen got out of the car. The vehicle, which usually would have stayed, had already driven away She arrived quite carly ¡°Eileen! Eileen¡± Sweating and panting. Natalie rushed over, clutching her backpack When she reached Fileen, she asked 111 24 anxiously, ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Eileen? I¡¯ve been calling you several times! Why didn¡¯t you respond? What happened?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± Eileen replied. ¡°I thought you wouldn¡¯te to school anymore after getting into the art academy. I never expected someone as outstanding and independent as you to be even more diligent than me,¡± Natalie said. Eileen¡¯s lips curled up slightly. ¡°It¡¯s always good to learn more.¡± When she took the exam for the Hulbury Central Art Academy, her results came out the day before yesterday. She was admitted with the top score. In theory, she really didn¡¯t need toe to school anymore. However, she didn¡¯t have anything better to do if she skipped school. Her friends and the person she wanted to see were all here at school. ¡°What about you? Why are you up so early today?¡± ¡°My parents are heading back to our hometown and need to catch a flight, so I came here early. I didn¡¯t expect to run into you by chance. It sure is wonderful!¡± Natalie replied. She wasughing joyfully all by herself. Seeing her carefree and untroubled, Eileen thought it was quite pleasant. She didn¡¯t have a multitude of worries, nor did she have to stress about failing exams. Given her family¡¯s financial situation, she could continue to livefortably and pursue her desires. ¡°Have you had breakfast yet? I brought some pastries. Last time you mentioned you wanted to try the donut, so I made some extra for you,¡± Eileen said. ¡± Natalie was overjoyed. ¡°Yes, I want it!¡± Ever since Natalie had a close call, Eileen felt helpless to make amends. Knowing her love for food, she decided to spend some time each day preparing different snacks for her. Eileen took out some snacks from her bag and handed them to her. Natalie couldn¡¯t wait to open them. She ate eagerly, her mouth full. Natalie¡¯s eyes squinted in delight as she savored her food. ¡°This is so delicious, Eileen! I¡¯m growing more fond of you every day.¡± ¡°In the future, if there¡¯s something you want to eat, could you let me know? I¡¯ll learn how to make it for you,¡± Eileen said. Natalie nodded, then shook her head. ¡°Forget it. It would be too much trouble for you. I¡¯m already very happy just to have you listen to me talk every day.¡± ¡°Eileen!¡± A familiar voice echoed from behind. Eileen and Natalie turned to look behind them simultaneously. 34 It was none other than Yvette with Eric by her side. Eileen quickly moved away from him. Yvette was dressed mboyantly, her hair dyed a striking bright red. She wore a tight-fitting long dress and knee-high boots. It had been almost two to three months since Yvettest returned to school. She walked in with an air of grace and said, ¡°I rushed back from Friyx just for your engagement with Jasper! Should I start calling you my sister-inw now?¡± Turning her head with a yful smile, she looked at Eric, who was walking beside her, and asked, ¡°Don¡¯t you agree, Eric?¡± Chapter 275 Chapter 275 Chapter 275 Think About Her Did he make a move on Yvette so quickly? For the sake of the Friedman family¡¯s connections? It¡¯s still about money and status! What¡¯s the difference between Yvette¡¯s current life and her past life? Falling into his hands, she would only be living a life worse than death. Suddenly, Eric took a step forward, brushing away the stray hair on her forehead. This unexpected move caught her off guard. ¡°It¡¯s been such a long time. Aren¡¯t you going to greet me, Eileen?¡± Eileen forgot to dodge, causing Eric to smile faintly. His gaze was profoundly deep, harboring a potent mix of suppressed aggression and insanity. Eileen could discern the true nature of his character hidden behind that hypocritical smile. He was no different from beasts and animals. Eileen took a step back, her gaze shifting away from him. ¡°I have some things to attend to. I¡¯ll be leaving first.¡± Natalie nced at Eric. When their eyes met, his smile suddenly vanished, reced by a fierce look. Natalie was taken aback. At that moment, she felt goosebumps all over her body. It was terrifying. ¡°Eileen!¡± Natalie followed her, stealthily whispering into Eileen¡¯s ear, ¡°Eileen, is Yvette dating your brother?¡± Eileen wondered, Does this have anything to do with her? Natalie was ying with her finger as she asked, ¡°She¡¯s with your brother, and you¡¯re with Yvette¡¯s brother. Eileen, I¡¯m so confused right now.¡± Her innocent, bewildered eyes were filled with curiosity. Eileen quickly covered her mouth. ¡°Stop talking.¡± They hadn¡¯t left yet, and they had been speaking so loudly. The people behind them might have already heard everything. Eileen was tall with long legs, so Natalie had to jog all the way just to keep up. Yvette curled her red lips, looking at the mature and restrained older man beside her with interest Mr. Snow, haye you given it any thought? Would you like toe with me to Atharta? You only need to apany me for half a year, but of course if you think that¡¯s too short, you can wait until I finish my business management studies, then we can return together! You know, others wouldn¡¯t miss such a great opportunity. After all, I have both money and power, and I can give you anything you want In the future everyone in Hulbury will be looking up to you. I must say, you¡¯re quite good looking Yvette slowly trailed her red-painted index finger down his ck shirt, stopping at his abdomen ¡°Do you, by any chance, have a sexy six pack underneath? How about you give in to me. Mr Snow? Ill show you what it means to live a good life! 13 Yvette¡¯s tone was frivolous and arrogant. She treated Eric as if he was just a toy. However, the man in front of her seemed uninterested in her every move. Eric¡¯s expression remained indifferent. He caught her restless hand, his wolf-like eyes ncing at her chest, then shifting to meet her eyes. ¡°If you¡¯re looking to toy with someone, Ms. Friedman, I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ve got the wrong person.¡± Eric casually put his hand in his pocket and left without looking back. Pressing the car key to unlock it, he got into the driver¡¯s seat, sat down, and without looking back, he drove off. All Yvette could see was the exhaust fumes of the car. For Eric, ascending to power and status was simply a matter of time. But for now, there was something he wanted even more. Looking at the car that left, Yvette seemed somewhat lost. The reason she left was to forget him in some other way. Yvette herself found it unbelievable. How could she have fallen for a man who was much older than her? With her attributes, she had plenty of choices. Any man woulde running at her slightest beckoning. She had always gotten everything she wanted with ease. Now, for the first time, she had fallen head over heels for someone and was experiencing the taste of rejection. This feeling was far from pleasant. When she couldn¡¯t see him, he was all she could think about. If she didn¡¯t do something to distract herself, these thoughts would slowly consume her mind, pervading her entire nervous system, every cell, as if he was the only thing that existed. She had thought she could let go. Who does he really like, Vera or Eileen? Eileen is already set to marry Jasper. If it¡¯s Vera¡­ He has never looked at Vera the way he looks at Eileen before¡­ Perhaps his feelings for Vera are merely familial love. As long as Eileen marries Jasper, then¡­ I still have a chance! Eric¡¯s strength is simply not enough to contend with the entire Smith family. Regardless of whether Mom agrees or not, if I want something, there¡¯s nothing I can¡¯t have. At Smith Corporation, Fabian was hesitating whether or not to share this news with Jasper. He was afraid that Jasper might be too soft-hearted. His engagement ceremony with Eileen was approaching, and he couldn¡¯t afford a repeat of what happenedst time when Nancy seized the opportunity to forcefully break them apart. In the end, Fabian chose to keep this matter a secret. For the future of the corporation, even if he were to be medter, he was willing to shoulder it all by himself. He was all set to enter the room and submit the thousand-word document. He knocked on the door, and as he pushed it open, he saw a man dressed in a blue shirt and ck suit pants standing by the floor-to- ceiling window with one hand in his pocket. The man¡¯s expression was serious as he spoke on the phone. ¡°What kind of game are you nning to y this time?¡± ¡°Mr. Smith?¡± Jasper furrowed his brows. ¡°Who are you?¡± The other party said, ¡°I¡¯m calling from the police station. We received an alert from Hepta Psychiatric Hospital in Hulbury. The suspect, Nancy Mulligan, killed someone during her treatment at the hospital. During our pursuit, Nancy¡¯s car was hit by arge truck with brake failure and plunged off a cliff. We are ||| 2/3 currently doing our utmost to locate her. We found her phone, and she happened to be on a call with Content held by N?velDrama.Org. you¡­¡± Jasper was struck with disbelief. Just five minutes ago, he had received a call from an unfamiliar number. It was a call from Nancy. ¡°Congrattions! You will soon be engaged and have a perfect family. I believe you will be a great father when you get married and have children. Jasper¡­ I have never forgotten about you in these ten years. You know¡­ I love you more than anyone else. I am even willing to sacrifice my life for you! Because¡­ in this world, you are the only one I have! If I were to die, would you still be with me in the next life?¡± Jasper then heard a sudden loud noise. Instead of receiving a response from Nancy, he heard the police delivering the news of Nancy¡¯s ident. ¡°Mr. Smith?¡± Fabian called out.. With a sense of urgency, Jasper pushed Fabian aside. ¡°I need to step out for a moment. You take over this meeting and report back to me once it is finished.¡± Nancy had started causing trouble again. Fabian couldn¡¯t bear to watch him continue making the same mistakes. ¡°Mr. Smith, for Ms. Eileen¡¯s sake, you can¡¯t go! Think about her!¡± Chapter 276 Chapter 276 Chapter 276 You Have Feelings For Me ¡°Have you forgotten who you¡¯re working for?¡± The man¡¯s tone was icy. A hint of hesitation appeared in Jasper¡¯s eyes, yet he was still overwhelmed by the decision deep within his heart. He knew the consequences of his actions today, but he had no other choice. Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°She will understand.¡± After saying that to Fabian, Jasper drove away from thepany. Fabian pursed his lips. ¡°I only hope that you won¡¯t regret this time! In truth, if Ms. Eileen had any other choice, perhaps¡­ she wouldn¡¯t have chosen this path of engagement with Mr. Smith. Her sole purpose was to escape her current situation. With her abilities, she got into the Hulbury Central Art Academy. The day wille when she no longer needs him, and by then, Mr. Smith will only be filled with regret.¡± The scene on the highway was aplete mess, with only the two silver sedans involved in the ident. The perpetrator had already disappeared. ¡°Mr. Smith¡­ when we arrived, the car had already exploded.¡± Jasper grabbed the policeman by the cor, his eyes wild like a crazed beast. ¡°Who told you to chase her!¡± The others quickly separated them, with one person saying, ¡°Mr. Smith, even though you are a powerful man in Hulbury, you cannot disregard thew. Assaulting a police officer is a serious crime. Someone has already exined to you over the phone that Nancy Mulligan is in a mental hospital, suspected of murder. We are also acting in ordance with thew.¡± ¡°A mental hospital?¡± How could she possibly end up in a mental hospital when she was clearly in prison? ¡°Yes, we are still investigating the specific reasons. We will record the matter regarding Nancy when we return. Furthermore, we will intensify our search. If there are any developments, Mr. Smith, it would be best if you report to us promptly. After all, we¡¯re dealing with a mental patient, and there¡¯s no telling what she might do next.¡± The scene of the car ident had already been handed over to other relevant departments. Jasper¡¯s heart had turned into a tangled mess, torn between Eileen on one side and Nancy on the other. It was only when something had happened to Nancy that she upied all his thoughts. A light rain began to fall from the sky, immediately shrouding the atmosphere in a veil of gloom. Jasper sat in the car, wearily resting his head on the steering wheel. Nancy is dead! It¡¯s all my own doing. Just then, a text message alert sounded from the phone on the passenger seat. He read the text and his face grew even more serious. He pressed hard on the elerator, driving straight into the rain. In a mansion in the western suburbs, Nancy looked at the long-unseen living room, feeling as if a lifetime had passed. This ce held all their memories. Every corner of the mansion, from the cozy couch to the bustling kitchen, and the serene rooftop terrace, had been a silent witness to their shared intimacy. In those moments, their deepest desire had been to dissolve into each other, to be an inseparable entity. Nancy sat quietly on the couch, waiting for his arrival. Indeed, she was all right. She had staged a car crash scene on purpose just to see what Jasper would be like if he thought she was dead. She had photos of Jasper going crazy for her at the scene and already knew the answer. An hour and a halfter, the mansion front door was opened. The password for the vi was her birthday. Look, he still remembers. Upon seeing Nancy, Jasper was consumed by rage. He had assumed she was safe and unharmed until he 1/2 saw the scars on her face and arms and the mental patient uniform she was wearing. Jasper¡¯s fury instantly dissipated, and he just stared at her, not looking good either. ¡°Who let you out of prison? I don¡¯t have time to y these boring games with you.¡± Jasper was about to turn around and leave when Nancy¡¯s hysterical voice stopped him. ¡°Why do you think I was released? It¡¯s all because of you! Do you know how much I¡¯ve suffered because you sent me to jail with just your words? They pinned me to the ground, shed me with sharp knives across my body and my arms, and called me a delusional and shameless person, a b*tch! They treated me like this just because I said we were once together. I was treated like a madman, and everyone was free to trample on me. I was severely beaten, teetering on the brink of survival. Had it not been for someone finding me when I was down to my Tears streamed down Nancy¡¯s face, slipping off her chin. At this point, she felt no different from a madwoman. Her heart had already be twisted and irreparably broken long ago. Jasper had no idea about all that Nancy had been through. He was at a loss for words, unable to utter a single sentence. ¡°I was sent to a mental hospital, forced to take injections and medication¡­ I¡¯m not sick, but they simply wouldn¡¯t listen to me¡­¡± Nancy kept pouring out her grievances to him, feeling as if she could only feel better by telling him everything. ¡°I wanted to get out, but I couldn¡¯t. Even if I¡¯m not sick, I have to take the medicine. I could only cooperate with them¡­¡± Her trembling voice and mournful cries echoed throughout the silent mansion. Jasper replied to her indifferently, ¡°What kind ofpensation do you want? Is five million enough? Upon hearing this, Nancy burst into a fit of hystericalughter. ¡°Five million! Jasper¡­ do you truly believe that the pain I¡¯ve suffered can be offset by marypensation? Does this money of yours also include the price for my life? If you¡¯re just going to dismiss me with money, I¡¯d rather have died in that car ident. It would be better than hearing these heartless words from you. I have nothing left anyway. If I die, it will just be the end of everything. Without me, you can peacefully get engaged to another woman, without any unnecessary obstacles in your way.¡± The wounds on Nancy¡¯s body were nothingpared to the pain she felt in her heart. The rain outside intensified. She stepped into it, letting the downpour wash away the blood on her. However, it wasn¡¯t her blood; it was Ronald¡¯s. Jasper followed her closely, guiding her from the rain into the living room. ¡°Enough! How much longer do you n to continue like this? You made the choice to leave. You shouldn¡¯t have returned.¡± ¡°Well then, I¡¯m leaving now. I won¡¯t be a bother to you anymore. After all, I¡¯m just considered crazy I don¡¯t care how others perceive me.¡± Nancy was about to depart, but Jasper pulled her back. ¡°You¡¯ve taken a life. Where do you think you¡¯re going?¡± Nancy suddenly burst intoughter. ¡°Jasper, is it truly so difficult for you to admit that you have feelings for me? If you truly don¡¯t care about me, why did youe here today?¡± Nancy reached out to caress his face, her eyes filled with affection and tenderness. However, they were both drenched to the bone at the moment, appearing a bit disheveled She stood on her tiptoes and passionately kissed him. Jasper pushed her away, but Nancy seized the opportunity, releasing her frustration by biting his lip forcefully Chapter 277 Chapter 277 Chapter 277 Did She Ask About Anything The exam was over. Eileen stood at the school gate, holding an umbre. The rain was pouring down, soaking her trousers and socks. In the past, he would alwayse to pick her up and was rarelyte. She waited for nearly ten minutes, then decided to give him a call. The voice prompt from his phone informed her that his mobile number was not in the service area. Eileen rubbed her arms, lowering her head to send him a message. Several messages went unanswered. Today was supposed to be the day for their engagement photo shoot, so he really shouldn¡¯t bete. Did something hold him up? Eileen wanted to contact Fabian, but then she realized she didn¡¯t have his phone number. As the rain continued to pour heavily, Eileen found a convenience store and took a seat by the window. She pulled out her homework from her bag. Time ticked away gradually, and a staff member came over. ¡°Excuse me, it¡¯s almost eight o¡¯clock now. We¡¯re about to close.¡± ¡°Sorry, I lost track of time. I¡¯m leaving right now. Eileen quickly tidied up her things, surprised at how long she had spent working on her homework. Outside, the sky had turned pitch ck. Apart from the students who had just finished their evening study session at Cloudburg Public School, the streets were now practically deserted. In reality, Eileen didn¡¯t wait too long, just an hour and a half. He didn¡¯te. Eileen couldn¡¯t quite express her feelings. If she had to describe it, perhaps there was a hint of disappointment. It seemed that waiting like this was amon urrence for her. At this hour, to catch a cab, she needed to walk a distance to Central za. Suddenly, an orange cat darted out from the roadside. Soaked to the bone, it rubbed against her feet. meowing from deep within its throat. Eileen crouched down slightly. ¡°Are you sick? I¡¯m sorry. I can¡¯t take you home. It¡¯s already veryte Ill come and check on you tomorrow, all right?¡± The orange cat meowed again as if it was agreeing. ¡°Ms. Eileen.¡± Eileen turned her head toward the sound, and there, not far from her, was that familiar car She didn¡¯t know when it had pulled up. It was Richard. ||| 14 She didn¡¯t expect him to drive over himself today. Eileen lowered her head to look at the cat. ¡°Looks like I can take you home now.¡± ¡°She took off her school uniform and picked up the orange cat.¡± She then folded her umbre, letting the drizzle drench her as she dashed into the back seat of the car. As she closed the door behind her, she felt the warmth inside the car, which dispelled some of the coldness. T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. Richard pressed down on the elerator. ¡°Ms. Eileen, the stray cats outside might carry viruses. It¡¯s better not to bring them home casually.¡± Eileen pulled out a few tissues, lowered her head, and wiped its fur. ¡°It¡¯s okay. Once we return, we¡¯ll get it vinated and dewormed. However, this cat appears to be nearly fully grown.¡± Richard seemed deep in thought as he nced at Eileen through the rearview mirror. She unperturbed. ¡°Ms. Eileen, I hope you¡¯re not upset about today. Mr. Jasper¡¯s absence is purely due to some appeared issues at thepany,¡± he said. Eileen¡¯s hand paused as she was petting the cat. ¡°I see. I understand.¡± Seeing that she was still fine, Richard didn¡¯t say anything more. In less than an hour, they arrived at the Smith residence. The housekeeper stepped forward to take Eileen¡¯s schoolbag, ¡°Ms. Eileen, your dinner is ready. Why are you wet?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine. Marissa, could you please give this cat a bath and bring it to my room after drying it?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Eileen went upstairs for a bath, changed her clothes, and then had dinner. This was the first time she had sat alone at such arge table for dinner. She held the study materials given by Benjamin in her hand, munching leisurely while memorizing them silently. After finishing her meal, she went upstairs. Eileen didn¡¯t have time to think about anything else. With less than ten days left until the exam, she had to be in her best condition to face it even though she had already been epted into Hulbury Central Art Academy. She couldn¡¯t afford to perform poorly. At half past eleven at night, she jotted down a few words before bed, put down her book, and was about to turn off the light when the orange cat under the bed jumped up. Ity down beside her pillow at the head of the bed, kneading back and forth with its paws. Eileen left only a bedsidemp on, patting its head. ¡°How are you still kneading at this age? Goodnight. Orange.¡± With her eyes closed and hands sped together under her face, Eileen quickly drifted off to sleep. When Jasper returned, it was already half past two in the morning. 2/44 ¡°Mr. Jasper.¡± The wound on Jasper¡¯s mouth caused the housekeeper¡¯s heart to skip a beat. Having been. around the block, she understood all too well how such a wound came about. When Jasper left today, he was perfectly fine. But upon his return, a wound had mysteriously appeared on his lips. The reason behind it was left unsaid, yet it was clear as day. Jasper was exhausted, a heavy gloom radiating from him. ¡°Where¡¯s Eileen?¡± The housekeeper said, ¡°Ms. Eileen has already gone to bed.¡± A mysterious light shed in Jasper¡¯s eyes. ¡°Did she ask about anything?¡± The housekeeper shook her head. ¡°No, but¡­ Ms. Eileen didn¡¯t return until almost nine o¡¯clock. After having dinner, she went upstairs to rest. I guess she must be exhausted. Mr. Jasper, have you eaten yet? The food is still warm.¡± ¡°No, thanks.¡± Jasper¡¯s face didn¡¯t betray much emotion as he ascended the stairs. ¡°If she asks, just say I never came back.¡± ¡°Huh? A-All right, Mr. Jasper.¡± The housekeeper watched as he ascended the stairs, lost in thought. Did Mr. Jasper have another disagreement with Ms. Eileen? He was fine when he left this morning. But now that he¡¯s back, it¡¯s as if he¡¯s be a different person. As dawn broke, a hint of soft red sunlight ascended over the mountain peak. The morning sun shone brightly, and the air was incredibly fresh after the rain. With her hair tied in a braid, Eileen hurriedly descended the stairs. ¡°Starting today, I will have two hours of exams every day. I won¡¯t be able to have dinner at home. If Jasperes back, please let him know. If he¡¯s been busy with worktely, I can take a taxi by myself. I¡¯ll be leaving first.¡± She quickly finished her milk and grabbed a pretzel, using a napkin. The housekeeper said, ¡°Ms. Eileen, you¡¯re eating so little. It won¡¯t be enough. Why don¡¯t you take a piece of toast as well?¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± Every minute of her time was now precious, and she couldn¡¯t afford to waste it. In the following days, Eileen rarely saw Jasper in the mansion. Most of the time, she was alone. That night, as she went downstairs to get a drink of water, she found someone sitting on the couch. smoking. The air was filled with a suffocating smell of smoke. ¡°When did you get back?¡± Eileen askedzily, squinting at his face, which was blurry to her. ¡°A while ago. Why haven¡¯t you gone to bed yet?¡± Jasper put down his foot that was resting on the coffee table, stood up to put out the cigarette in his hand, and looked at Eileen with a somewhat indifferent gaze ¡°I want to have some water.¡± Eileen ruffled her hair, dressed only in a thin, knee-length nightgown Tm going upstairs now. You should get some sleep soon too.¡± < 3:4 ¡°Tilen he called out to her. Hmm¡± Eileen, holding the cup of water, paused in her tracks. She turned to look at him. ¡°What¡¯s the matter Tve discussed it with my grandmother. We¡¯re going to postpone our engagement party for now! The tone of this statement implied that regardless of Eileen¡¯s agreement, Jasper had already made the decision for her. Chapter 278 Chapter 278 Chapter 278 I Am Not Your Only Choice Eileen raised her cup and took a sip of the cold water. As she heard his words, her sleepiness slowly faded. away. Lost in her thoughts, she listened to the ticking of the pendulum clock in the living room. Five seconds passed. With a calm gaze, she looked at Jasper, her lips slightly pursed as she spoke in an unruffled tone, ¡°Alright. Do you want me to temporarily move out?¡± Eileen remained incredibly calm, and Jasper couldn¡¯t detect any signs of resentment or unhappiness in her demeanor. In truth, she had noticed it too. The warmth that once existed in Jasper¡¯s eyes was gone. Now, when he looked at her, it was as if he was looking at a stranger, with a hint of scrutiny as if he wanted to see right through her. His sudden change in attitude did note without reason. These days, he rarely came home, and when he did, it was usually in the middle of the night. Deep down, Eileen knew the answer. She had experienced it herself. How can one easily forget someone they once loved so deeply and passionately? Moreover, Nancy hadn¡¯t done anything wrong. Jasper looked at Eileen with his jet-ck eyes, but he didn¡¯t continue the conversation in the direction Eileen was leading. Eileen nodded, a slight curve forming at the corners of her lips. ¡°You don¡¯t need to feel anything else. I respect your decision. I¡¯m going to rest in my room now. You should also get some sleep soon.¡± Upstairs, she entered the unlit room. Sitting at the end of the bed, she finished the water in her hand in one gulp. Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. Eileen looked towards the dressing table. A figure emerged from the darkness, sitting in front of the chair, but she still couldn¡¯t see her face clearly. ¡°If you¡¯re feeling upset, just let it out and cry. You don¡¯t have to force yourself, Lenie. In my eyes, you¡¯ll always be a child.¡± Eileen lowered her head to look at the water cup in her hand, drawing circles at the bottom of the cup with her finger. ¡°I¡¯m not upset because I¡¯ve done what I wanted to do. Mom¡­ I¡¯ve always wanted to be an excellent painter like you. I want to follow in your footsteps and keep going forever. Father has never supported my choice. Will you support me no matter what I do?¡± ¡°Of course, Lenie. Remember, don¡¯t be too hard on yourself. Do whatever you want to do¡­¡± ¡°Thank you, Mom!¡± Meow. It leaped down from the chair in front of the dressing table, sniffing Eileen¡¯s scent. Then it jumped up again,nding on Eileen¡¯sp, rolling over onto its back, seeking her touch. Last night, Eileen didn¡¯t sleep well. When she came downstairs, she was surprised to see Jasper at the dining table, along with La, who was dressed in old, somewhat tattered clothes. The wall clock chimed, marking the precise arrival of seven o¡¯clock. ||| 13 The housekeeper looked at the personing down the stairs and called out, ¡°Ms. Eileen.¡± ¡°Eileen,e join me for some breakfast.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Eileen nodded, descending the stairs. Jasper, dressed in light-colored casual attire, was sitting on the couch, reading today¡¯s newspaper while sipping his coffee. La asked, ¡°How did you sleep?¡± Eileen replied, ¡°It was fine.¡± La¡¯s expression suddenly turned serious. Her eyes were filled with tender affection. Holding Eileen¡¯s hand, she said, ¡°Richie has already told me about the postponement of the engagement party. I came early just to ask you if you truly agree. If you want to proceed with the engagement ceremony with Richie, just give me a nod. No matter what he says, I will make sure he¡¯s there even if he doesn¡¯t want to go.¡± Jasper put down the newspaper in his hand and stood up from the couch. ¡°We¡¯re just postponing the engagement party for now. The date on the invitations can be changed.¡± As he turned around, his gaze remained on Eileen as if trying to discern something from her. La scolded him, ¡°Shut up. I didn¡¯t ask for your opinion! Don¡¯t forget that you begged for this marriage yourself. Now the whole Hulbury knows about it. You think you can just call it off? Have you considered what people outside will say? Have you thought about Eileen¡¯s feelings?¡± La rarely spoke to Jasper in such a tone. Eileen lowered her gaze, feeling as if her throat was filled with cotton. After a long and thoughtful silence. she finally said, ¡°I think Jasper probably hasn¡¯t made up his mind yet. He may have his own reasons for temporarily calling off the engagement. After all, this is a matter concerning his entire life. I agree to temporarily call off the engagement. I¡¯ll have a proper talk with my father about it. He won¡¯t have any objections. Besides, I¡¯m about to take my exams now, and I don¡¯t want to be distracted by anything else. Can we discuss it again after I¡¯m done with my exams, please?¡± La didn¡¯t say anything further. She was afraid that Eileen¡¯s nonchnt demeanor was just a facade, a show of strength. She was certain that Eileen must be hurting inside. When she looked at Eileen, her eyes were filled with sorrow. After breakfast, La asked Jasper to drive and take Eileen to school. He responded nonchntly, without making any excuses. Eileen settled into the passenger seat, fastening her seatbelt. Only then did he slowly step on the elerator, driving smoothly all the way. When the light turned red, the car came to a stop. Jasper rolled down the car window, lit a cigarette, and rested his hand on the window frame ¡°Regarding the temporary cancetion of the engagement, I need a few days to think it over, but the promise I made to you won¡¯t change¡± ¡°Affection is straightforward. It¡¯s either present or it¡¯s not. Emotions aren¡¯t asplex as they¡¯re often perceived to be. Regardless of our engagement status, I deeply appreciate all that you¡¯ve done for me in the past. Eileen looked at the road ahead, twirling the ring on her right middle finger. This was the ring that Jasper had taken her to pick out on the third day after they sent out the invitations She easily removed the ring. 23 ¡°Jasper¡­ I¡¯m not a child anymore, you know. Even though you¡¯re a few years older than me, there are things that I understand perfectly well. You haven¡¯t really let her go, have you? If you truly love her, then win her back and be with her properly because I¡­ I¡¯m not your only option.¡± When Eileen uttered these words, she did so with genuine emotion, as she too would experience. heartbreak. However, she rarely disyed these emotions now. She ced the ring on the table between them. ¡°I couldn¡¯t say anything earlier when Grandma was present, but now I am returning it to you.¡± Jasper stared at the ring, his expression suddenly turning dark. The frustration and fear he had suppressed for so long finally erupted in this moment. As soon as the traffic light turned green, he pulled the car over to the side and flicked the cigarette butt from his hand. ¡°So, are you threatening me? If we can¡¯t proceed with our engagement as nned, you¡¯re going to leave?¡± ¡°You no longer need me, do you? Your leg has healed, and you have regained full control over your emotions. Besides our social status, I have no reason to stay with you.¡± She wore an innocent expression, as harmless as amb. It was this very innocence that had once easily deceived him, making him dance to her tune. All she had done for such a long time was a performance she had directed herself, aiming to be Mrs. Smith and gain control over the Smith family¡¯s resources for her partner. ||| Chapter 279 Chapter 279 Chapter 279 Too Much Of A Coincidence A surge of fury consumed Jasper¡¯s heart. Like a man possessed, he pressed down hard on the elerator, venting his anger all the way to the school gate. Eileen couldn¡¯tprehend how he had ended up in such a state. The atmosphere inside the car was chillingly cold. ¡°Get out!¡± Eileen unbuckled her seatbelt and silently exited the car. He stared intently at her retreating figure, his eyes filled with a somber light, brimming with anger and jealousy. The fact that Eileen had betrayed him was something he found unbearable. How could he possibly forgive her? Should he turn a blind eye or pretend as if nothing had ever happened and continue to be with her? He loved her so deeply, yet he had to endure her deception time and time again. Jasper mmed his hand against the car window with such force that the skin over his knuckles split, and thin streams of blood began to flow out. The Maybach stopped at the school gate for a good ten minutes. Jasper tried his best to suppress in his heart. The ring lying in his palm was tightly clenched in his hand. theText content ? N?velDrama.Org. rage Before long, Jasper received a call from Fabian. He sounded hesitant as he said, ¡°Mr. Smith, I¡¯ve found all the information you asked for.¡± A shadow fell over Jasper¡¯s eyes. ¡°Speak.¡± ¡°Ms. Eileen¡­ indeed has had intimate interactions with Eric. Through his transaction history, it was found that he had bought quite a few¡­ lingerie¡­ from a lingerie store.¡± Fabian seemed to have some dithculty epting this fact. ¡°All of them were in Ms. Eileen¡¯s size. When Ms. Eileen disappeared, she spent most of her time with Eric. The street surveince footage also confirmed that he had indeed entered the house rented by Ms. Eileen. Besides, we¡¯ve also hacked into Eric¡¯s email and found quite a few exchanges with Ms. Eileen, including photos¡­¡± At the mention of the photos, Fabian seemed to find it hard to speak, his voice unusually fraught with tension. ¡°What photos?¡± ¡°Well..¡± Fabian started to speak, then hesitated. ¡°Speak up!¡± ¡°Mr. Smith, I¡¯ve already sent them to your email Even without looking, Jasper already knew what those photos were ¡°Bring out the contract we prepared earlier for investing in Caerulus Corporation I want to see signatures on it within three days Jasper¡¯s voice was icy cold. 13 ¡°Understood, Mr. Smith.¡± Fabian didn¡¯t dare to delve deeply into Jasper¡¯s thoughts. If it hadn¡¯t been for Jasper suddenly requesting an investigation into Eileen¡¯s involvement with Eric, they would still be kept in the dark. Fabian couldn¡¯t believe what he was seeing either. Ms. Eileen, of all people, turns out to be this kind of person. She¡¯s quite skilled to have kept up the pretense until now. After all, Ms. Eileen did have a past record of bullying the weak, and she enjoyed spending her time in chaotic ces like bars and clubs¡­ For the sake of his adopted brother, she had done quite a few unconventional things. Fabian had conducted numerous investigations to verify the truth. However, upon receiving the results, he was greatly shocked to find that everything was not a fabrication. In the past, Ms. Eileen would often skip ss to spend time with Eric at hispany, persistently seeking his attention. She even publicly dered herself to be his girlfriend. Eric was not interested in Ms. Eileen. It was always her who had been relentlessly pursuing him. At Caerulus Corporation, any employee who looked even slightly attractive would be dismissed by her with just a sentence. Those who refused to leave would be publicly humiliated by her until they could no longer bear it and resigned on their own. This was well-known among all the employees at Caerulus Corporation. They also knew how infatuated Ms. Eileen was with Eric. Mr. Smith didn¡¯t investigate before because he trusted Ms. Eileen! But upon delving deeper into the investigation now, he¡¯s realizing that things are not as simple as initially imagined. The current Ms. Eileen/is simply unrecognizablepared to before. But she did truly betray Mr. Smith, secretly communicating with Eric and carrying on their affair under the radar. The goal is the benefits that Smith Corporation brings to Caerulus Corporation. Just when the engagement is about to happen, this incident urs. Is all of this just too much of a coincidence? It just had to be at this moment. They had obtained evidence of Eileen secretlymunicating and colluding with Eric. Each piece of evidence could sentence Eileen to death, yet, Fabian felt something was off, but he couldn¡¯t pinpoint what was wrong. Eric is the protege personally trained by Will. There is no telling what he has up his sleeves. Storing such important photos in an email inbox without setting a password is a bit too simple, isn¡¯t it? What¡¯s even stranger is that there are only these photos in the inbox, no other files¡­ As the reigning power in Hulbury, even the covert investigations by the police into the Swan family¡¯s criminal evidence have yielded no results in twenty years. Reflecting on these photos, Fabian found it somewhat unbelievable that such important items were found by them so easily. In the evening, Jasper drank himself into a stupor. Despite the risk of getting into an ident, he drove home drunk and returned to the Smith residence. Suddenly, there was a loud bang at the door. Eileen was in the middle of dinner when she heard the sound, and it truly scared her out of her wits The housekeeper walked up to the door and eximed, ¡°My goodness! The door!¡± Eileen put down her fork and walked over, noticing the dent in the door from the impact as well as the clear imprint of a car¡¯s front end. The housekeeper hurriedly opened the door, only to find the familiar car now wrecked Jasper stumbled out of the car, his clothes disheveled, his face streaked with dark traces of blood as it he had been in a fight. The housekeeper hurried forward to assist him. ¡°Mr. Jasper, what happened to you? How did you get 23 injured?¡± ¡°Get lost!¡± Jasper roared at her. Jasper walked into the foyer, spotting Eileen on one side. Yet, he pretended as if he hadn¡¯t seen her, walking past her nonchntly. Eileen looked at him, her steps unhurried as she followed behind him. Seeing that he was about to fall, she quickly steadied him with one hand. ¡°Jasper, drunk driving is very dangerous.¡± ¡°Are you not tired of this charade after all this time?¡± Jasper nced at the housekeepers in the living room. ¡°Leave, all of you!¡± The housekeepers bowed their heads and quietly exited. Jasper, leaning on the corridor railing, climbed the stairs with unsteady steps, swaying from side to side. Eileen, feeling uneasy, asked a housekeeper to prepare a hangover remedy. She then followed him up the stairs. Jasper walked over to the wine rack in his bedroom. He uncorked a bottle of expensive red wine and poured it directly into his mouth. Eileen reached out to stop him. ¡°Stop drinking. Your leg hasn¡¯t healed yet. You can¡¯t drink.¡± ¡°I told you to leave!¡± Jasper was furious. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you wanted to go? Why are you still here? Leave!¡± He angrily threw the bottle of red wine onto the floor, shattering it. The broken ss flew up and grazed Eileen¡¯s leg, causing a sudden sharp pain. In that moment, Jasper appearedpletely insane, resembling the old Jasper who was always irritable and contemting ending his own life. Eileen didn¡¯t say anything. She simply stepped forward and embraced him, pressing herself against his chest, her hand gently patting his back. ¡°That¡¯s enough. Can you stop being angry? I¡¯ve told you before that no matter what happens, we can solve it together¡­¡± Chapter 280 Chapter 280 Chapter 280 What Do You n To Do A powerful force pushed her away, and she fell to the ground. The shards cut her palm, causing sharp pain Blood flowed from her hand, staining her clothes. Reluctance shed in Jasper¡¯s eyes. He took a step forward, but then stopped himself, suppressing his emotions. He turned his back to her, staring out the window. ¡°You should leave first.¡± He didn¡¯t want to hurt her. He just couldn¡¯t ept her betrayal. He loved her deeply, giving her everything she wanted. Yet, she treated him like a fool, deceiving him repeatedly. Was she mocking him while she was with Eric, lost in their passionate encounters? Eileen grimaced in pain as she pulled out the ss shard from her palm. She looked down and said, ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s talk when you¡¯ve calmed down.¡± She turned around and left the room. Jasper turned around and saw the bloodstain where she had been. His gaze, filled with anguish, rested on the firmly closed door. The housekeeper was surprised to see the injured Eileen. ¡°Eileen got hurt, but Jasper surprisingly didn¡¯t care. In the past, Jasper was very fond of Eileen. He wouldn¡¯t even let her hold a kitchen knife, fearing she might cut herself.¡± The housekeeper brought the first aid kit and treated Eileen¡¯s wound. Thankfully, it wasn¡¯t deep. Eileen said, ¡°You can leave now. Remember to bring some food to his roomter and remind him to take his medicine.¡± ¡°Alright, Eileen. Please rest well.¡± As the housekeeper left, she nced worriedly at Jasper sitting at the end of the bed. After a long wait, Eileen finally had some peace and quiet. Suddenly, the phone on the desk rang. Eileen didn¡¯t feel like answering, but it kept ringing. She looked at the caller ID information. Eileen¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Just before the call was about to end, she picked it up, feeling anxious and panicked. ¡°Father!¡± ¡°Why did the Smith family call off the engagement ceremony?¡± Will sounded angry. ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know,¡± Eileen stuttered, lowering her head. 1/3 Will furrowed his brows and fell silent for a momet Do you know that Jasper has been secretly meeting with Nancy these past few days Eileen felt a heaviness in her chest ¡°I don¡¯t know¡± Will sad. ¡°You don¡¯t know anything What do you really know? You¡¯s been with the Smith family for se Jong Haven¡¯t you noticed anything unusual about Jasper Eileen didn¡¯t know how to respond. Wil added. Just tell us if there¡¯s any problem No matter what happens, Eric and I will help you understand I will handle the matter with Nancy and make sure you be Mrs Smith Eileen hesitated before asking. What do you n to do about her?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about that. Just focus on what you need to do. No matter what approach you take you must ensure the engagement proceeds as nned. Understood?¡± Eileen responded softly. ¡°Alright, Father.¡± In the study of Unde Mansion, Will hung up the phone and looked at Eric. ¡°How did you find out that Jasper wants to call off the engagement?¡± Will looked at him deeply. He realized that his son had be more shrewd and cunning over the years. He was no longer the easily manipted child. ¡°Whether Eileen can sessfully marry into the Smith family also concerns thepany¡¯s interests. As her brother, I naturally have to consider this matter for your sake,¡± Eric replied. Will was speechless. ¡°Knowing that you¡¯re thinking of thepany brings mefort. It shows that over the years, you¡¯ve epted me as your father.¡± A sharp glint shed in Eric¡¯s eyes, too quick for Will to notice. ¡°You nted someone in the Smith residence?¡± Will asked. Eric nodded without denying. ¡°Jasper recently took over thepany. Firstly, it¡¯s to monitor his every move, and secondly, it¡¯s because he and Eileen might encounter unexpected situations.¡± For example, Nancy who appeared out of nowhere. Will patted Eric¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I¡¯ve always trusted you to handle things, and these years have proven that I was right about you.¡± Eric¡¯s lips curled up slightly. ¡°For you, it should be so.¡± The housekeeper brought a meal to Jasper, but he threw it all away in a fit of anger. Eileen hurried over and helped the housekeeper up. ¡°Are you okay?¡± The housekeeper nodded fearfully. ¡°Eileen, you should see for yourself. Jasper has beening home every night these past few days. He hasn¡¯t eaten anything and has been drinking in his room. If this T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. ||| T 2/3 Eileen, please take a look at this.¡± Another housekeeper climbed up the stairs and handed her a file. ¡°We found this in Jasper¡¯s car.¡± Eileen took it. ¡°I¡¯ll give it to him. You guys can continue with your work. I can handle things here.¡± The housekeepers quickly left. As Eileen was about to give the file to Jasper, a photo fell out. She picked up the photo and her heart skipped a beat. The person in the photo was captivating, effortlessly striking poses on the bed that were both alluring and slightly menacing. ¡°It¡¯s him again!¡± she thought. Besides Eric, Eileen couldn¡¯t think of anyone else. Eileen¡¯s hand trembled as she held the file. ¡°Is he really so determined to destroy everything I have?¡± she wondered. A sour sting in her nose and a painful lump in her throat left her speechless. However, Eileen couldn¡¯t recall ever taking these photos. If it was a still from a video recording, the pose wouldn¡¯t look like this at all. Upon closer inspection, Eileen noticed something was off. ¡°Could it be possible that the photo is fake? Is Jasper so angry because of these?¡± Hesitantly, Eileen opened the door to Jasper¡¯s room, leaving only a small gap. She overheard a conversation from inside. ¡°Mr. Smith, your flight to Sloummont has been booked. However, all the recent flights are fully booked. The earliest avable is in a week.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Chapter 281 Chapter 281 Chapter 281 Sarah Swire ¡°Are you leaving?¡± Eileen¡¯s voice rang out. Jasper looked at her impassively. When his gaze fell on her bandaged hand, his eyes darkened slightly. ¡°The engagement will proceed as nned. After all, it¡¯s something I sought. Abruptly canceling it would affect the Smith family¡¯s reputation, but I can¡¯t guarantee when I might call it off in the meantime. From now on, you are only allowed to go to school and stay at home, nowhere else.¡± Eileen didn¡¯t respond to his words. Instead, she walked over and ced the file she was holding on the table. In a calm tone, she said, ¡°The car is broken and needs to be repaired. The housekeeper took this out of your car. Drink less. I¡¯m going back to my room first.¡± ¡°Hold on,¡± Jasper called out to her the moment she turned to leave. Eileen turned around. ¡°Is there anything else?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you curious about what¡¯s inside?¡± Eileen narrowed her eyes. ¡°It belongs to you. I have no right to open it without your permission.¡± Jasper walked up to her, towering over her, his aura icy as he looked at her. ¡°I¡¯m giving you this right now. Open it.¡± Eileen remained motionless for a long time. Jasper narrowed his eyes dangerously. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? You don¡¯t dare to open it? Or are you scared?¡± Eileen silently opened the file. ¡°Take out what¡¯s inside,¡± hemanded. Eileen did as told and pulled out a photo. Jasper looked at her reaction intently. To his surprise, she was calm. ¡°What do you have to say?¡± Eileen calmly met his gaze. ¡°Is this why you haven¡¯t been back these days? It fell out just now, and I saw it. Do you know what I was thinking at that moment? I was wondering, what else don¡¯t I know about your investigation into me? Such a thing happened, and you wouldn¡¯t even say a word to me. I would have exined it to you if only you had questioned me. But you didn¡¯t. Jasper, no matter what I do, is it not worth exining to you? And yet, you can believe in Nancy. If we don¡¯t even have the most basic trust between us, we won¡¯t get far. If¡­ postponing the engagement is your decision, I will respect your choice. Giving me the silent treatment won¡¯t solve anything. Father has already informed me that you went to look for Nancy. There¡¯s no need for you to hide it from me, Jasper¡­ There are things I don¡¯t want to lie to you about, but I also don¡¯t want to be deceived.¡± For some unknown reason, Jasper suddenly felt an inexplicable sense of panic. He felt as if something was slipping away, something he wanted to hold on to but couldn¡¯t. ¡°Whether it¡¯s my fault, or for whatever other reason, if the engagement needs to be called off, then let it be so. Three days ago, Professor Combs, as a special guest lecturer, was invited to teach at Pillere Art 1/3 He¡­ asked me if I wanted to apany him!¡± This was a rare opportunity for further study, with only one spot avable. Not everyone could secure this spot. In fact, Eileen was also contemting whether or not to go. If she went, it would be a long time before they saw each other again. ¡°If you haven¡¯t made up your mind yet, I will say yes to him. We¡¯re setting off the day after tomorrow, and I¡¯ll be back in three months. By then, if you still want to be with me, we¡¯ll be together. Three months is enough time for us to figure things out¡­ to see if we¡¯re still right for each other and if we should continue being together. I¡¯ve never asked you to forget her. It¡¯s okay to have her in your heart. After all, I¡¯m the one who came into your lifeter¡­¡± Eileen¡¯s lips curved into a gentle smile, her eyes as tender as ever. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. I have sses tomorrow, so I¡¯ll head back to rest. We can talk more when you¡¯re sober.¡± Upon returning to her room, Eileen took a bath, turned off the lights, and quickly fell asleep. Orange was nowhere to be found today, leaving the room feeling empty. Without it around, Eileen felt as if something was missing. In the middle of the night, Eileeny in a state between sleep and wakefulness, listening to the chirping of cicadas outside the window. She had no idea how much time had passed when suddenly, she heard a faint noise. She felt the bed beside her sink. A hand appeared around her waist, and an unpleasant smell of alcohol hit her nostrils. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­ I shouldn¡¯t have investigated you, and I didn¡¯t speak up about it right away. I was just scared!¡± With a voice filled with sorrow, he added, ¡°I fear that once you know everything, you will leave without hesitation, and all I can do is watch you go. I¡¯ve never had the heart to hurt you. I can¡¯t even bring myself to say anything harsh to you. Eileen¡­ I love you! The more I love you, the harder it bes for me to ept the truth I¡¯ve uncovered. I¡¯ve never thought of letting you go. Even those remarks about ending the engagement were merely uttered to upset you. I¡­ I only have you left! Please, don¡¯t leave, okay? Whether this matter is true or not, I don¡¯t care anymore. I just want you to stay by my side. I don¡¯t want to lose you.¡± He had already lost so many people. He didn¡¯t want to lose the only person he truly cared about as well. ¡°Tell me that none of this is real even if it¡¯s a lie that deceives me.¡± Jasper held her tightly. In the pitch-ck room, Eileen opened her eyes calmly. ¡°The person in the photo was never me.¡± ¡°All right!¡± ¡°Can you promise not to keep things to yourself from now on?¡± Indeed, the person in the photo was not her. Thest time she was forced to wear those clothes was against her will. She simply couldn¡¯t resist. ¡°All right!¡± 2/3 ¡°You should take a bath before going to sleep. You¡¯re not smelling very pleasant.¡± ¡°Let me hug you a little longer.¡± She really should go to sleep. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t be able to get up tomorrow. She closed her eyes, feeling as if a knot in her heart had been untied. Soon, she fell asleep. Two hourster, she was gently rolled over in her drowsy state. The subtle scent of post-bath freshness. drifted into her nostrils, immediately lulling her back to sleep. Three days flew by, and the time for the university entrance exam arrived quickly. Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. The scorching weather of June created a lively atmosphere outside the school. The entrance of Cloudburg Public School was crowded with numerous parents, their anticipation and nervousness reaching its peak. on this day. ¡°Good luck on your exam. I¡¯ll pick you up when it¡¯s over.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± H ¡°Don¡¯t be too nervous.¡± ¡°Mm-hmm.¡± In reality, she wasn¡¯t really nervous, but rather quite calm. Eileen stepped out of the car. Since that night, their rtionship had returned to its previous state. However, Jasper¡¯s desire to control her was growing increasingly intense. He longed to be by her side every moment of every day. Just then, a bus honked as it approached, and Eileen turned to look. The bus came to a stop and the doors opened. Just as she was about to turn around, she caught sight of someone and her face turned pale. It was Sarah. Chapter 282 Chapter 282 Chapter 282 Eileen Would Never Do Such A Thing The first time she met Sarah in her previous life, she initiated the meeting at a caf¨¦ in the same building ast Golden Corporation. It was also in June when Hulbury had already be the number one city for economic development. Towering skyscrapers surrounded the area, The majority of the economic zone consisted of Golden Corporation employees. The weather was scorching hot, the asphalt road simmering under the sun¡¯s re, subtly releasing tendrils of ke smoke. The scent was acrid. In the caf¨¦, Sarah, with her lustrous, wavy hair gathered into a low ponytail, exuded an aura of competence and resilience. One look was enough to discern that she was a woman of formidable independence and power. Facing such a person, Eileen couldn¡¯t help but feel inferior. She had known her for a very long time. Sarah was her husband¡¯s most capable assistant. Her eyes held a look of contempt and disdain. Eileen clutched her expensive handbag, feigning calmness as she asked, ¡°Do you need something from me?¡± With her red lips lifted in a confident smile, Sarah looked elegant and captivating! Surely, no man could resist such a woman. ¡°My time is precious. In ten minutes, I¡¯ll be flying to Epea with Mr. Snow to discuss a business deal, so let¡¯s keep this conversation brief.¡± They were going to Epea, but Eric didin¡¯t tell her.¡± Sarah tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. ¡°Actually, I know all about Mr. Snow¡¯s past. He was adopted by your family. Although you¡¯re the only one left today, I still want to say thank you on his behalf. To be honest, your father raised a good man. I quite like him too. After graduating from university, I¡¯ve been by his side for a decade now. Mrs. Snow, you must have se it too from Caerulus Corporation to the current Golden Corporation. To put it modestly, the Golden Corporation today also owes a part of its sess to my efforts. I am the most suitable person to be with him.¡± T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. Eileen¡¯s face turned pale. ¡°What exactly are you trying to say?¡± Sarahughed as if mocking her for being a clown. ¡°Don¡¯t you get it even after all this talk? Has being a housewife for so long affected your thinking abilities? To put it inly, the reason I asked to meet you. today is to encourage you to step back, divorce Eric, and relinquish your position as Mrs. Snow. Now, have you understood what I¡¯ve said? Let me tell you something you don¡¯t know! During the day, I may be Eric¡¯s. assistant, but when night falls¡­ I be his woman. The moment I joined the c he proposed to take care of me financially, and I agreed! Everyone says you¡¯re magnanimous, but I think you¡¯re just at fool¡­¡± Regaining her senses, Eileen felt a heart-wrenching pain that left her breathless. She clutched her chest, struggling to breathe. Sarah was the nightmare of her life. Every time Eileen saw her, she couldn¡¯t help but recall the words she had spoken and the pain that she and 1/3 Eric had inflicted upon her. Suddenly, a hand patted her shoulder. Eileen quickly wiped away her tears and turned around, pretending as if nothing had happened. Natalie looked at her with concern. ¡°Eileen, have you been crying? What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine. The fine dust got into my eyes.¡± ¡°Do you want me to blow on them for you?¡± Natalie pouted, looking somewhat adorable. ¡°No need. I¡¯m heading back to the exam hall. Don¡¯t bete.¡±¡± ¡°Wait for me. Let¡¯s go together.¡± Lionel was the one who drove to school today. Eric said, ¡°If you¡¯re not feeling well, there¡¯s no need to push yourself.¡± Vera said, ¡°It¡¯s okay. I have to take the exam no matter what. Eric, you¡¯lle to pick me up when it¡¯s over. right?¡± Eric responded with a hum. ¡°If you¡¯re not feeling well, there¡¯s no need to force yourself to continue the exam. Just give me a call.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Vera got out of the car.. Lionel drove away. ¡°The Smith family has no intention of canceling the engagement with Ms. Eileen. They will proceed with the engagement ceremony as nned in three days. I don¡¯t understand why you want to ruin this engagement, Mr. Snow. It would be entirely beneficial for you if Ms. Eileen married into the Smith family. And even if you want to ruin it, why don¡¯t you directly reveal Nancy¡¯s secrets to the Smith family? In this way, we won¡¯t have to do so much.¡± Eric appeared indifferent, his hand resting against the car window, his index finger rhythmically tapping at his temple. He seemed to be in high spirits today, so he candidly shared his thoughts. ¡°The photo of Eileen is just a test for Jasper to see to what extent he can forgive Eileen.¡± From what it seems, Jasper has truly fallen for Eileen. Ordinary people simply cannot tolerate betrayal. Eric had expected Jasper to be able to forgive Eileen. He continued, ¡°And all she wants is to escape from me, to escape from the Swan family. Therefore, she can tolerate their past again and again. It¡¯s a pity she still doesn¡¯t understand me. The photo is just the beginning. No matter how powerful the Smith family is, Jasper is nothing more than a young man raised in a wealthy family. He doesn¡¯t understand the wickedness of human nature. He doesn¡¯t know the number of traps an animal, ustomed to years in the shadows, can set in its pursuit of prey.¡± Even the most upright person can struggle to handle the hidden attacks from a viin. In the end, it will be nothing but a tragic demise. ¡°Nancy¡¯s secret is indeed a very useful weapon, but this is far from enough. Now is not the time to reveal it. What I want¡­ is for her to remember deeply. As long as she doesn¡¯t forget, there¡¯s no chance for her to turn back. Having known her for over a decade, I understand her. Jasper may be forgiven for a single 2/3 betrayal, but repeated offenses? If Eileen¡¯s disappointment in him continues to mount, she will eventually leave him.¡± ¡°Nancy has been hiding this for so many years. Are you nning to reveal it at the engagement party?¡± ¡°As I said, these matters can only arise at the right time.¡± It was just an engagement. If Eileen were to get married, perhaps Eric would have done more. He had always been sessful in obtaining what he desired. Even if he couldn¡¯t attain it, he didn¡¯t mind destroying it, just like Will¡¯s feelings towards her. The two days of examinations passed quickly. Afterward, they took a graduation photo together. Jason had prepared a celebratory meal. Eileen didn¡¯t participate because she had to rush to take photos for her engagement ceremony the day. after tomorrow. Jasper had agreed to the n of her studying at Pillere Art Academy for three months after their engagement. It would only be for three months. Jasper intended to make it their honeymoon, apanying her in Pillere because he didn¡¯t want to miss out either. Inside the car. Jasper was on a call with Nancy. ¡°I won¡¯t break off the engagement. Leaving Hulbury and going to Sloummont is your only option. This is the extent of my patience with you.¡± On the other end of the phone, Nancy screamed hysterically, ¡°I was sent to prison because of you, and all the pain and suffering I endured was because of her. I heard it with my own ears. It was all orchestrated by Eileen. She had those people torture me. I almost died in prison! Now you¡¯re telling me you believe her? What makes you believe her?¡± ¡°I will thoroughly investigate the person who attacked you in prison. Eileen would never do such a thing.¡± Chapter 283 Chapter 283 Chapter 283 Engagement Upon seeing the approaching girl, Jasper ended the phone call. The temperature outside was quite high. Many students, who had finished their exams, were being picked up by their parents. Eileen quickly opened the passenger door and got into the car, using her pencil case to shield her forehead from the sun. The temperature inside the car was cool. Jasper handed her a bottle of icy water. ¡°How do you feel after finishing the exam?¡± Eileen took a sip, feeling the heat in her body quickly dissipate. ¡°It¡¯s not as bad as I imagined,¡± she said. After picking her up, Jasper drove to the pre-arranged photography studio, From childhood to adulthood, Eileen rarely took photos, so this was a rare asion. Once the shoot was over, Eileen was so exhausted that she could barely move. She hugged a pillow in the car, on the verge of falling asleep. Jasper noticed her body about to tilt over as he was driving. He nced at her and reached out to cup her face. When the light turned green, he pulled the car over, adjusted the passenger seat, and let her lie down to sleep peacefully. Her makeup was still intact on her face, and she didn¡¯t wake up even when they smoothly drove all the way to the Smith residence. Jasper lifted her from the passenger seat, carrying her in a bridal style into the foyer. The housekeeper walked over. ¡°Mr. Jasper¡­¡± Upon seeing the person in his arms, she immediately fell silent. ¡°Save whatever you have to say forter,¡± Jasper said, carrying Eileen upstairs. Inside the room, Jasper carefully ced her on the bed. The ringing of his cell phone from his pocket interrupted the moment. ncing at the caller ID, he immediately rejected the call and promptly turned off his phone. With the impending exams and recent events, Eileen had been deprived of a good night¡¯s sleep for several days. Jasper walked up to the dressing table, spending a considerable amount of time looking through an array of bottles and jars. Finally, he found a bottle of makeup remover cream and a bottle of makeup remover water. He carefully examined the ingredients list before choosing a gentler makeup remover cream. Then, he went to the bedside and slowly removed the makeup from her face. Eileen caught a whiff of a refreshing citrus scent, her eyes fluttering open from a drowsy slumber. Her voice was soft and muffled as she asked, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Sleeping with makeup on is bad for your skin. Let me remove it for you. It¡¯ll be quick,¡± Jasper spoke in a gentle whisper. ¡°Mm.¡± After removing her makeup, Jasper gently cleansed her face with water, bit by bit, before applying a moisturizing lotion. 111 1/3 Having done all that, he nted a kiss on her lips. ¡°Goodnight.¡± Only then did he leave with a heart full of satisfaction. Inside the study, Jasper was on the phone. Fabian reported. ¡°Ms. Mulligan has declined the request to go to Sloummont, and¡­ she¡¯s now missing, not in the mansion. Should we search for her, Mr. Smith?¡± Jasper lowered his gaze. ¡°No need. Just let her be. On the day of the engagement, I must ensure that everything goes perfectly.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Smith! A few days ago, Caerulus Corporation rejected our share acquisition agreement. Now, as per your instructions, anypany that continues to cooperate with Caerulus Corporation has been dealt. with by Smith Corporation. As a result, manypanies have terminated their partnerships with Caerulus Corporation. Furthermore, ongoing projects have been halted. If they cannot acquire thend in Newcove andplete the development within half a year, Caerulus Corporation will have to pay ten times the amount of the breach of contract. The head of Caerulus Corporation, Eric, applied for a substantial amount of funds from Xuereb Bank in Hulbury three days ago. It seems he¡¯s trying to fill the financial gap. Jasperughed. ¡°Then tell Xuereb Bank that without my permission, they are not allowed to make any special approvals.¡± ¡°Understood, Mr. Smith.¡± Eric would perhaps risk the entire Swan family¡¯s assets to fill that void. The engagement ceremony would be held in three days. At the Friedman residence, upon learning about Jasper¡¯s engagement, Jacqueline called the Smiths. ¡°Old Mrs. Smith, why am I thest to know about Richie¡¯s engagement? I am his mother. Don¡¯t I even have the right to know about such a significant event?¡± La replied, ¡°This is Richie¡¯s own decision, and I have no right to interfere. He has finally managed to emerge from his shadows, and if you truly care for him as his mother, you should not disturb him. You no longer have any ties with the Smith family. I am only speaking to you on the phone because you were once Richie¡¯s mother. You tortured Richie and locked him up in the basement when he was just a kid. He almost didn¡¯t survive. It¡¯s toote for you to feel guilty now. Don¡¯t bother calling again in the future. As far as the Smith family is concerned, you no longer exist. Hmph!¡± With that, she hung up. Jacqueline was in despair. She sat down on the couch, covering her face with her hands. Yvette couldn¡¯t bear it any longer. She walked over and sat next to her. ¡°Mom¡­are you okay? The doctor said you can¡¯t be stressed anymore. As long as we exin things properly to Jasper, he will surely forgive us. If you want to go to his engagement ceremony, I can call Eileen right now. With her persuasion, he will let us attend.¡± After all, it¡¯s his engagement party. What kind of engagement party would it be if both sets of parents weren¡¯t there? So many years have passed since then. It¡¯s about time he let it go. Yvette¡¯s words seemed to give Jacqueline hope. She lifted her head, her eyes filled with tears. ¡°Yvette, I¡¯m entrusting this matter to you. I already owe your older brother so much.¡± ||| 2/3 ¡°I understand, Mom. Don¡¯t worry. Jasper will surely forgive you one day.¡± Jacqueline had always wanted to make it up to him, but he wouldn¡¯t give her a chance. She already knew she was wrong. Back then, she simply couldn¡¯t ept John¡¯s betrayal. He was involved with Ruth outside, noting home for nights on end, and even had an illegitimate child with her. How could she not have broken down, spending her days drowning in alcohol? Jacqueline agreed to divorce John because she didn¡¯t want to hurt him any further. Leaving him was a choice she was forced to make. After the divorce, she dedicated most of her time to undergoing psychotherapy. She left her homnd in search of treatment, and throughout the years, she had never been able to escape the guilt she felt towards Jasper. The illness had worsened significantly. In just a few months, Jacqueline had visibly aged. Her complexion appeared tired, and she looked as if she had aged by more than ten years. At Regal Castle Hotel, Eileen looked dignified and stunning in a simple yet luxurious privately tailored wedding gown. Arm in arm with Jasper, they gracefully mingled among the important guests. Jasper consumed most of the wine, while Eileen only took a small sip. As congrattions poured in, Eileen¡¯s palms grew damp with anxiety. A hint of intoxication was evident on Jasper¡¯s face as he held her hand. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Don¡¯t be nervous. I¡¯m here.¡± Eileen nodded, revealing a faint smile. Today, her beauty surpassed everyone around her. Even the most renowneddies of Hulbury couldn¡¯tpare to her. Eileen, from head to toe, from her face to every strand of her hair, was exquisite in every way. At Jasper¡¯s family table, only La sat, apanied by some unfamiliar men. Content held by N?velDrama.Org. As Eileen approached, she could feel Eric¡¯s intense and profound gaze fixed upon her. Her body became tense, and her mind went nk. Beside him sat Vera, dressed in simple ke attire. Her long hair was straight and smooth, and her features were pure and captivating, perfectlyplementing him. Chapter 284 Chapter 284 Chapter 284 Has The Engagement Ceremony Ended. The Smith family didn¡¯t have many rtives in attendance. John¡¯s absence remained a mystery known only to the Smith family. However, no one mentioned it. Everyone in their social circle remembered the scandal when Jacqueline divorced John years ago. No one dared to gossip about the affairs of Hulbury¡¯s most prestigious family. John also had two brothers and a sister. They rarely made public appearances as they managed the Smith Corporation¡¯s subsidiaries, so Eileen. rarely had the chance to see them. T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. Eileen greeted each person ording to their seniority, receiving several mary gifts in the process. With a thick stack in hand, she handed them over to the attendant by her side. She received a mary gift that contained enough money to cover the down payment for a t in the heart of Hulbury. When it came to material possessions, Jasper was never stingy. Eileen even knew thebination of the safe in Jasper¡¯s room. Inside, apart from gold bars, there was cash they used for their leisurely outings. Eric leaned in close to Vera, whispering something in her ear that couldn¡¯t be heard. She set down her wine ss, and Eric handed her a new one, pouring her a ss of non-alcoholic fruit juice. The atmosphere seemed peaceful, but underneath the surface, it was tumultuous. Will narrowed his eyes. his smile insincere. ¡°From now on, I¡¯ll leave Eileen in your care. She¡¯s never suffered much since she was little. She¡¯s the one I cherish the most. If she¡¯s spoiled and willful, I hope you can be patient with her. She¡¯s young and doesn¡¯t understand things yet.¡± Jasper had slicked his hair back, donning a ck suit that made him look dashing and handsome. The scar on his neck, a remnant from a removed tattoo, was concealed by Eileen with foundation. From a distance, it waspletely unnoticeable. Normally, a makeup artist would handle this, but Jasper refused to let anyone else touch him, so she had to do it. Jasper looked at Eileen with deep affection. ¡°Eileen will be my wife from now on. No matter what she does, I will, of course, pamper her. It¡¯s only right for her to be willful at this age.¡± Vera walked over, holding a wine ss in both hands, a smile ying at the corners of her mouth. ¡°Congrattions, Eileen. You look truly beautiful today. Here¡¯s to your future filled with happiness and joy. Eric and I will always be your family. Make sure to visit home often when you have the time. Eric and I will always be delighted to see you.¡± Eileen clinked her wine ss with Vera¡¯s. ¡°I will.¡± Eric, dressed in a suit, walked over to Vera, exuding a calm and restrained demeanor. He put his arm around her shoulder and said, ¡°I didn¡¯t realize how quickly Eileen has grown up. If you ever feel mistreated in the future, I will always stand by your side.¡± With a charming smile, Jasper stepped forward, positioning himself in front of her. ¡°From now on, Eileen is a part of the Smith family. If anyone dares to bully her, I won¡¯t let them off easily. There¡¯s no need for you to worry about this, Mr. Snow.¡± Eric¡¯s lips curled up slightly as he remained silent. 1/3 A waiter approached and whispered something mto Eileen¡¯s ear Eileen nodded, her gaze apologetic as she looked at them. ¡°I have an important call to take. I¡¯ll be right back¡± ¡°Go ahead¡± Jasper said. Eileen took the phone from the waiter and walked out to the quiet garden. The entire hotel was decorated in festive colors for the engagement banquet, with balloons tied to a wooden chair. Eileen pressed the answer button. ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± Eileen recognized Yvette¡¯s voice. ¡°Is there something you need?¡± ¡°Has the engagement ceremony ended? I have a favor to ask of you. For the first time, the usually proud Yvette spoke humbly. ¡°Eileen, my mother wants to attend the engagement banquet. You know my brother¡¯s temper. If we just show up like this, he will definitely be very angry, and his dislike for my mom will only increase. So, I want to ask you a favor. Could you arrange for my mom to meet with you guys. today? Her greatest wish in life is to see my brother get married and have children. Will you help me with this *L..¡° Eileen hesitated. The Friedman family was a territory that Jasper could not touch. ¡°Eileen, don¡¯t you want my mom and brother to reconcile? Given our rtionship, you should also start calling her Mom. We¡¯re all family, aren¡¯t we? So¡­ right now, you¡¯re the only one who can persuade Jasper. You must help us with this matter. Neither Mom nor I will let you down.¡± After a long silence, Eileen slowly began to speak. ¡°Yvette¡­ this matter isn¡¯t as simple as you think. I will discuss Mrs. Friedman¡¯s situation with Jasperter, but I can¡¯t guarantee whether he will agree or not.¡± ¡°Eileen! Do you have any idea how much my mom wishes to mend her rtionship with Jasper? Or is it that you simply don¡¯t want to help us at all?¡± Yvette barely contained her anger. Eileen furrowed her beautiful brows. ¡°Yvette, you really have no idea what¡¯s going on. If Mrs. Friedman wants to bless us, we will appreciate her kindness.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Who is it?¡± Jasper¡¯s gentle voice sounded from behind, Eileen put down the phone that had just been hung up, hesitating whether or not to tell him about this matter. Perhaps it¡¯s better to let it be. Bringing them up at this time would only upset him. Eileen shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s Natalie. She¡¯s regretful that she couldn¡¯t make it to my engagement. She was just crying to me about it.¡± Jasper smiled and pulled her into his embrace, looking up at the bright moon in the sky. The weather was perfect today, the moon was full, and the stars were dazzling and twinkling. In Hulbury, he rarely saw such a bright night sky. ¡°Eileen, I¡¯m very happy. You still belong to me, and from now on¡­ I won¡¯t part with you again.¡± Eileen reciprocated his embrace, resting against his chest. She took in the scent of alcohol on him¡ªnot exactly unpleasant, yet not quite pleasing either. Her response was a simple, ¡°Mm-hmm.¡± 23 From that moment on, Eric, Vera, Elsie, and Sarah would no longer be a part of her life. The absence of her past encounters brought about numerous changes. She believed that living a peaceful and stable life like this was sufficient for a lifetime. Noticing that Yvette had finished her phone call, Jacqueline asked anxiously. ¡°So, did they agree?¡± Suppressing her displeasure, Yvette forced a smile. ¡°I just spoke with them, Mom. We can go now.¡± ¡°Really? That¡¯s wonderful!¡± Jacqueline¡¯s anxiety instantly dissipated, leaving her almost speechless with joy. She nced at her attire. ¡°Am I dressed appropriately for this?¡± ¡°Mom, there¡¯s nothing inappropriate about your outfit. You look great as you are.¡± up for the Jacqueline chuckled. ¡°No, today is Richie¡¯s engagement day. As his mother, I must dress asion. This outfit is too in. I need to change. I can¡¯t disappoint Richie. He¡¯ll be unhappy. You should change as well and put on some makeup. We¡¯re leaving in half an hour.¡± ¡°Alright, Mom. Yvette had no choice but to agree in order to fulfill her mother¡¯s wishes. Once we arrive, Jasper wouldn¡¯t dare to drive us away in front of all the guests. Chapter 285 Chapter 285 Chapter 285 Apologize La left the banquet early and returned to the Smith residence. Richard handed her a file. ¡°Someone just came by and said that Mr. Jasper forgot to give this to you. He insisted that you must open it yourself.¡± T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. La expressed her confusion. ¡°This child has learned to keep me in suspense too. You all may leave now. Let me see what it is by myself.¡± After the housekeepers left, only Martha, who had been with La for many years, stayed behind. La sat on the couch and opened the file. She pulled out a marriage health check report from the file. The name on it was Eileen. When she saw thest column, her eyes widened instantly and her breathing. quickened. ¡°This is¡­¡± Even her hand holding the report was trembling. ¡°Old Mrs. Smith, are you all right?¡± Martha noticed something was wrong with La. It was a sign of heart. disease. She quickly took out a bottle of medicine and fed it to her. La finally caught her breath. Martha picked up the scattered medical reports from the floor. Upon seeing the information on them, she was shocked. ¡°What? Ms. Eileen doesn¡¯t have a uterus, and she can¡¯t get pregnant? How is this possible? Does Mr. Jasper know about it?¡± La ordered, ¡°Call him! Call him right now! Why wasn¡¯t I informed of such a big issue earlier?¡± In order not to upset her further, Martha quickly put it away. She reached for the phone ced on the coffee table and made a few calls, but no one answered them. Just then, a housekeeper hurried in from outside. ¡°Old Mrs. Smith, there¡¯s a child outside iming to be looking for his father.¡± ¡°Whose child is it? Hurry and take them to the police station.¡± The housekeeper eximed anxiously, ¡°Oh dear, Old Mrs. Smith, you should go and see for yourself.¡± La stepped outside and saw a little boy who appeared to be only four or five years old standing at the door. He was dressed in denim overalls, clutching a teddy bear in his arms. He looked up and said, ¡°Grandma¡­ my mommy said I could find my daddy here. Can you tell me where my daddy is?¡± ¡°W-What¡¯s your name?¡± La spoke with difficulty, Martha also eximed in astonishment, ¡°They¡¯re so alike. It¡¯s as if they were carved from the same mold. How is this even possible!¡± La asked, ¡°Child¡­ what¡¯s your mother¡¯s name?¡± The innocent voice of the little one began, ¡°My mom¡¯s name is¡­¡± After hearing this, La was caught off guard. Her face turned pale and she fainted. The entire Smith residence was instantly thrown into chaos. ¡°Quickly call Mr. Jasper!¡± The little one walked away to a corner, turned to the person standing in front of him with a disheartened. face, and said, ¡°Mommy¡­ Grandma doesn¡¯t like me.¡± 1/3 ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Grandma will like you. Shall we go home? In a few days, Daddy wille to take us back.¡± ¡°Okay. Mommy.¡± The woman, holding the hand of the little one, walked into the darkness until they were out of sight. Jasper was engaged in lively conversation with the guests in the business arena, while Eileen, ustomed to such asions, was at his side, her obliging smile ying its part. Right then, the banquet hall doors were flung open. Everyone¡¯s gaze was directed toward the entrance. Jacqueline had arrived.. The surroundings were eerily silent. Eileen cast a frantic nce at the man beside her. Instantly, a gloomy aura emanated from him, and his face contorted. Yvette followed behind Jacqueline nervously. To hide the ke hair on her head, she wore a hat. She was dressed in formal attire and held a gift in her ke-gloved hands. Dressed like an elegantdy of high society, she walked toward them. Facing him, Jacqueline felt nervous and was on the verge of tears. Her child had grown up. He was even engaged. She held out the gift box in her hand. ¡°Jasper, I¡¯m sorry for beingte. I¡¯ve prepared an engagement gift for you. It¡¯s something I¡¯ve specially prepared for you. I hope you and Eileen will like it.¡± Jasper, Eileen¡­ Mom has been meticulously preparing this gift for a long time.¡± She opened it to reveal a set of porcin dinnerware. These were items that outsiders could hardly obtain. Everyone gasped in surprise. However, in the very next second, everything was knocked to the ground by Jasper¡¯s raised hand. His face was gloomy and cold. ¡°Who asked you toe? Get lost!¡± He didn¡¯t show any mercy. Eric sat leisurely in his seat, taking a sip of the coffee in his hand. His expressions were concealed, with just a hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. The previously joyful atmosphere was instantly shrouded by a cloud of gloom. Most spectators, engrossed in the unfolding drama, dared not utter a sound. The smile on Jacqueline¡¯s face faded away, reced by a profound sadness in her eyes. Yvette quickly reacted and stood up to say, ¡°It was Eileen who asked us toe. I just called her a while ago. As she spoke, she looked at Eileen. ¡°Eileen, did you forget to tell my brother that my mom and I would being?¡± Eileen looked at Jasper, whose face was twisted, and couldn¡¯t utter a single word. 2/3 Yvette¡¯s voice of reproach rose again. ¡°How could you not tell him about such a big matter? Now it has caused such a mess. Eileen¡­ what were you thinking? Do you have any idea how valuable this gift is?¡± Jacqueline forced a smile and said, ¡°It¡¯s okay. Eileen probably didn¡¯t do it on purpose. She might have forgotten while greeting the guests. Jasper, if you don¡¯t like the gift that I have prepared for you, I will get you a new one.¡± No sooner had the words been spoken than a crisp sound echoed throughout the banquet hall. The pnded hard on Yvette¡¯s face, the sound of it indicating nock of force. Yvette¡¯s vision went dark. She covered her face, taking a long time to regain herposure. Vera, standing to the side, jumped in fright. She leaned toward Eric. ¡°Eric, there won¡¯t be any trouble, right?¡± Will gave Vera a warning nce. Vera was so frightened that she immediately shut her mouth. ¡°What gives you the authority to criticize her actions? Be mindful of your words and apologize!¡± Jasper stared at Yvette intently. Yvette bit her lip, avoiding eye contact and remaining silent. Jacqueline interjected, ¡°Jasper is right. Yvie, apologize to Eileen immediately.¡± Yvette retorted, ¡°Why should I apologize to her? I absolutely refuse!¡± Eileen quickly pulled Jasper aside. The current situation was bing too hostile, and it was not benefiting anyone. She furrowed her brows and nced at Yvette, then at Jasper. ¡°I was indeed at fault in this matter. I¡­¡± She struggled to find the right words. ¡°I truly agreed to it. It¡¯s my fault that Mrs. Friedman is present at our engagement party today. I forgot to inform you. Can you please not be angry?¡± Eileen hadn¡¯t anticipated Yvette¡¯s disregard for her words. Jasper turned to the person beside him, gazing deeply at her. Despite the lingering sadness in his eyes, his icy demeanor had softened somewhat. However, his voice still carried a cold, stern tone as he instructed, ¡°Fabian, please arrange the seating.¡± Chapter 286 Chapter 286 Chapter 286 Can You Help Me Unzip Under the pretext of sobering up. Jasper led Eileen to the rest area. Upon entering the room, Eileen felt guilty. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± she said. ¡°The call earlier was indeed from Yvette. I didn¡¯t tell you because I didn¡¯t want to worry you. I didn¡¯t expect them to show up.¡± Jasper appeared somewhat tipsy, his eyes filled with exhaustion. He had been busy all day, starting preparations from four in the morning, and he hadn¡¯t had a good rest the night before.. Eileen poured a cup of warm water and sat next to him. Jasper looked at her without any intention of ming her. He gently stroked her long hair and said, ¡°I know. Don¡¯t take what they said to heart. If they bother you again and you don¡¯t know how to handle it, let me know, okay?¡± ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t keep things from you next time. I know you don¡¯t like it when people discuss these matters in front of you, which is why I didn¡¯t tell you.¡± ¡°Hug?¡± Eileen moved closer, allowing him to hold her for a while. After the engagement party, they nned to stay at a hotel because it was close to the airport. Their schedule was tight, as she was leaving for Pillere the next day. Jacqueline had barely sat down when she headed to the rest area. However, she was stopped at the door by Fabian. ¡°Mrs. Friedman, this is a private rest area. You cannot enter.¡± ¡°I just want to have a few words with him and then I¡¯ll leave. Can you let me in, please? Or perhaps you could go in and tell him. I¡¯ll wait outside for a moment.¡± With an expressionless face, Fabian spoke in a professional manner. ¡°The attendance of the Friedman family is solely on the ount of Mrs. Smith. I believe you understand this very well.¡± Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. Yvette was visibly upset as she spoke. ¡°Mr. Sherwood! In the end, you¡¯re just an assistant to Jasper. What right do you have to say such things? If you don¡¯t go in and ask, how would you know that Jasper doesn¡¯t want to see me?¡± Fabian replied, ¡°You¡¯re right. I¡¯m just an assistant who follows Mr. Snow¡¯s orders. I hope you won¡¯t put me in a difficult position.¡± Yvette eximed, ¡°You!¡± She took a step forward. Her confrontational demeanor suggested that she wasn¡¯t going to back down. ¡°Enough, Yvie,¡± said Jacqueline, who tried to stop her. Yvette didn¡¯t say anything. In a gentle and polite tone, Jacqueline said, ¡°I¡¯m already very happy that you let me stay today. Please convey my apologies to Jasper. Whateverpensation he wants, I will agree to it, even if it involves shares in Friedman Group.¡± Yvette hastily said, ¡°Mom, how can you do this?¡± ¡°Shut up! Based on seniority, a portion of Friedman Group is due to your brother anyway.¡± Yvette gritted her teeth. She could only seethe, as she didn¡¯t dare act recklessly. Her mother was right. That was what her mother owed him. ||| 1/3 All these years, Mom has only been concerned with Jasper. She never once considered my feelings. Aside from nurturing me to be an excellent sessor for Friedman Group, all her love and attention were devoted to him. Fabian nodded. ¡°Rest assured, Mrs. Friedman, I will ry your message to Mr. Smith.¡± Jacqueline gently brushed off the dust from the gift box she had just picked up from the ground. ¡°The contents are intact. It¡¯s a token of my affection. I would appreciate it if you could pass it to Jasper for me.¡± Fabian hesitated. Jacqueline added, ¡°This represents a mother¡¯s heartfelt concern. I would appreciate it if you could help me.¡± After much hesitation, Fabian finally agreed. ¡°Alright.¡± Even if she hadn¡¯t spoken much to him, it was already enough for her. This was just the beginning. One day, she would make him ept her again, to make up for the hurt she had caused him in the past. Jacqueline exited the hotel and got into the car. Unable to hold back any longer, she finally broke down and started crying. Yvette silentlyforted her. The sudden surge of emotions in Jacqueline was amon urrence for Yvette. Sometimes, her mother would repeat Jasper¡¯s name in her dream, crying in sorrow as she apologized to him. Inside the break room, Jaspery on Eileen¡¯sp for an hour. Just then, Fabian suddenly burst through the door. I have bad news, Mr. Smith. Old Mrs. Smith has been hospitalized.¡± Jasper¡¯s eyes opened in an instant. Sitting up, his eyes narrowed, a glint shing across them. ¡°What happened?¡± Fabian replied, ¡°You should go home now. Ms. Eileen, there¡¯s no need for you to apany him.¡± Eileen asked in confusion, ¡°Why?¡± Jasper stared at her. ¡°I¡¯m not sure, but they said it was Old Mrs. Smith¡¯s intention. It¡¯s not surprising at all because she probably knows that you are about to leave the country and didn¡¯t want you to worry.¡± It does sound like Grandma¡¯s way of doing things. Jasper furrowed his brows, feeling that things weren¡¯t as simple as they seemed. ¡°How is she doing now?¡± Fabian replied, ¡°The family doctor has already rushed over.¡± Jasper stood up, picked up his suit from the couch, and said to Eileen, ¡°You rest at the hotel for now. I¡¯ll head home first.¡± However, Eileen insisted, ¡°I¡¯ll go with you.¡± O 2/3 rest, your body won¡¯t be able to handle the jetg. The situation with Grandma isn¡¯t good. I¡¯ll call you again.¡± Eileen nodded. ¡°Remember to keep your phone close at all times. If you can¡¯t make it tomorrow, you don¡¯t have to apany me.¡± Jasper gently touched her long hair. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll definitelye back early.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± After Jasper left, it wasn¡¯t long before the hotel staff delivered a roo card for the presidential suite. Fabian bid farewell to the guests, and it was almost eleven o¡¯clock. Eileen made her way to the room on the sixty-sixth floor. Upon opening the door, she was greeted by a romantic scene of candlelight and rose petals scattered across the floor. In the darkness, the lights shimmered like stars. It was unfortunate that she found herself alone on their wedding night. As Eileen pushed open the bedroom door, she was taken aback. There, on the bed,y an overwhelming number of nine thousand nine hundred and ny-nine red roses. Did he¡­ Did he buy all the roses in the entire city? The room was also filled with a captivating fragrance, so rich that it made her slightly dizzy. Holding her head, her vision suddenly became blurry. In the dimly lit surroundings, she saw a figure approaching. Without a word, he pressed her against the floor-to-ceiling window, passionately kissing her. When he finally released her, Eileen felt as if her entire body was floating, her mind in aplete haze. ¡°Take a good look at who I am!¡± Eileen shook her head, quickly pushing him away. ¡°Don¡¯te near me, I¡¯m feeling warm. I want to take a shower!¡± The man leaned over, gently nibbling her earlobe. He slid down the strap of her dress from her shoulder, nting a kiss. ¡°Shall I assist you with your shower?¡± His voice was enchanting and maic, as if it emanated from the divine. Eileen felt as though her entire body was no longer under her control, as if she was in a dream. Everything became surreal to her. Eileen squinted, reaching out to touch his face. ¡°Who are you? Why can¡¯t I see your face clearly? I¡¯m really warm, could you help me unzip this, please?¡± Chapter 287 Chapter 287 Chapter 287 Continuing The Smith Family Line The room was filled with a misty haze, as humid heat wafted through the air. Eileen sat in the steam-filled bathroom, immersed in the hot tub under the cold light. Her skin was as ke as snow, and her slender arms hung over the edge of the tub. Her eyes had a listless look, showing no resistance. As her naked body moved beneath the water, it sparked wild imaginations. Eric meticulously wiped every inch of her skin, his movements slow and lingering, leaving no spot untouched. His deep, inscrutable eyes were fixed on Eileen. The way he looked at her was as if she was a piece of art, rather than a person. The desire to possess her thaty within his eyes now surfaced in his gaze. An hour had passed since they left the bathroom. Reflected in the floor-to-ceiling window was a scene of a stunningly beautiful woman being held by a tall and imposing man. Eileen¡¯s long hair cascaded down, and Eric¡¯s handsome yet sinister profile was visible. His lips, soft yet cold, formed a grin as he gentlyid her on the bed. He climbed on top of her, kissing her lips slowly, then moved down to her neck, and further down to her chest¡­ He continued further down¡­. When Eileen suddenly moaned, he intensified his actions, fervently thrusting himself at her. Her voice grew increasingly breathless. Eileen didn¡¯t know how many times she felt as if she had soared into the clouds, only to plummet back. down again. This thrilling sensation excited her. Content held by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°No¡­ Enough¡­ Later, her voice broke as she burst into tears. She was forced to wrap her arms around his back, her breathing growing heavier with each breath. ¡°I¡¯ve pleasured you for quite some time now. Isn¡¯t it your turn to return the favor? Hmm?¡± Eric¡¯s maic voice resonated in her ear. ¡°No more! It¡¯s not pleasurable at all. Why haven¡¯t I woken up yet?¡± Ericughed softly. ¡°Eileen, this is not a dream. It¡¯s real.¡± Eileen heard someone speaking in her mind, but everything was a chaotic blur. She couldn¡¯t make out anything clearly. Sobbing, she refuted him, ¡°No, it must be a dream. It¡¯s not real. You¡¯re lying to me!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never deceived you before. From now on, wouldn¡¯t it be nice if you stayed with me?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to¡­¡± ¡°Disobedient pets are bound to be locked up.¡± 111 13 ¡°I feel ufortable. Please, keep going Eileen¡¯s voice was filled with tears as her hand gripped his waist, urging him to continue. Eric asked, ¡°Where do you feel ufortable?¡± Eileen¡¯s gaze was hazy, the corners of her eyes shimmering with crystal-clear tears her voice was soft and mellow. The sound she made only intensified Eric¡¯s lust, filling him with the urge to be one with her so that she would never leave. ¡°I don¡¯t know.. ¡°Is it here?¡± Eric¡¯s deepening thrust caused Eileen to tilt her head back, clutching the quilt beneath her. She pushed herself up forcefully, letting out a seductive cry that stimted his senses. ¡°Give it to me, please.¡± The scent within the room had an aphrodisiac effect. It was like countless tiny insects, ceaselessly burrowing into her skin, gnawing at her bones. At that moment, she didn¡¯t want to think about anything. All she wanted was to ease her own difort. Eric was in the same condition. However, his strong willpower helped him keep himself in check. Eric demanded. ¡°Say my name¡­¡± Eileen replied, ¡°Eric¡­¡± Eric¡¯s muscr body glistened with sweat as it slid down his chiseled arm. In the next moment, he leaned over and firmly held her down, pressing his body onto hers and giving her no chance to catch her breath. Struck by a sharp pain, Eileen briefly regained her senses. As her soft lips were sealed, her voice could only emanate from her throat. Everything else was swallowed by him. It wasn¡¯t until the sting of pain disappeared that Eileen¡¯s moaning evolved into cries for mercy. From the bed to the bathroom¡­ and finally, to the floor-to-ceiling window. The entire room exuded a decadent aura. Unsure of how much time had passed, Eileen lost and regained consciousness more times than she could count. Only at three o¡¯clock in the morning did the room gradually fall silent. Eileen unknowingly drifted off to sleep, cradled in Eric¡¯s arms. The phone by the bed lit up, disying a call from Jasper. You¡¯ve got your reading rewards; tap the on the right top of the page to collect them Is this book as grammatically readable as you expected? ¡°I feel ufortable¡­ Please, keep going.¡± Eileen¡¯s voice was filled with tears as her hand gripped his waist, urging him to continue. Eric asked, ¡°Where do you feel ufortable?¡± Eileen¡¯s gaze was hazy, the corners of her eyes shimmering with crystal-clear tears. Her voice was soft and mellow. The sound she made only intensified Eric¡¯s lust, filling him with the urge to be one with her so that she would never leave. ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­¡± ¡°Is it here?¡± Eric¡¯s deepening thrust caused Eileen to tilt her head back, clutching the quilt beneath her. She pushed herself up forcefully, letting out a seductive cry that stimted his senses. ¡°Give it to me, please.¡± The scent within the room had an aphrodisiac effect. It was like countless tiny insects, ceaselessly. burrowing into her skin, gnawing at her bones. At that moment, she didn¡¯t want to think about anything. All she wanted was to ease her own difort. Eric was in the same condition. However, his strong willpower helped him keep himself in check. Eric demanded. ¡°Say my name¡­¡± Eileen replied, ¡°Eric¡­¡± Eric¡¯s muscr body glistened with sweat as it slid down his chiseled arm. In the next moment, he leaned over and firmly held her down, pressing his body onto hers and giving her no chance to catch her breath. Struck by a sharp pain, Eileen briefly regained her senses. As her soft lips were sealed, her voice could only emanate from her throat. Everything else was swallowed by him. It wasn¡¯t until the sting of pain disappeared that Eileen¡¯s moaning evolved into cries for mercy. From the bed to the bathroom¡­ and finally, to the floor-to-ceiling window. The entire room exuded a decadent aura. Unsure of how much time had passed, Eileen lost and regained consciousness more times than she could count. Only at three o¡¯clock in the morning did the room gradually fall silent. Eileen unknowingly drifted off to sleep, cradled in Eric¡¯s arms. The phone by the bed lit up, disying a call from Jasper. Eric merely nced at it indifferently. Discarding the finished cigarette, he let the phone continue to ring. Outside the window of the Smith residence, it was pitch ck. Lay in bed, her expression troubled. ¡°Do you know about Eileen¡¯s infertility?¡± she asked. Jasper did not deny it. ¡°I do, but what does it matter? Eileen is already the designated daughter-inw of 2/3 the Smith family. No matter what, this fact will never change. Whether she can bear children or not doesn¡¯t matter.¡± Upon hearing those words, La felt a squeeze in her chest. Her face turned pale as she said emotionally. ¡°You heartless person, do you even realize how important an heir is to the Smith family? When that woman was pregnant with you, it was I who protected you. It was because of my actions back then that the Smith family line continued and there was someone to inherit everything of the Smith family,¡± Jasper sneered, ¡°So? Is everything you¡¯ve done just to protect Smith Corporation? If that¡¯s the case, you shouldn¡¯t have allowed me to be born. Wouldn¡¯t it be better to let that bastard inherit it? I¡¯ll say it again, Eileen¡¯s status will never change. Regardless of whether she can bear children or not, she will always be my wife.¡± La eximed, ¡°Why do you insist on defying me?¡± After saying this, she started coughing violently. Martha quickly stepped forward to intervene. ¡°Mr. Jasper, please refrain from further upsetting the elderly.dy. She speaks this way because she has her own difficulties. The Smith family has a century-old establishment in the capital, and the family business has been passed down through generations. We cannot afford a situation where there is no sessor to thepany. You are well aware of how significant the legacy is to the Smith family. Old Mr. Smith once held great affection for you. Surely, you wouldn¡¯t want to see the Smith family without any sessors, would you?¡± La let out a sigh. She knew her grandson all too well. He was stubborn in his actions, never considering the consequences. Otherwise, the incident from years ago wouldn¡¯t have urred. ¡°Alright! Considering the past, I ept Eileen as your wife. However, I expect a biological heir from you. It doesn¡¯t matter which woman the heires from, as long as the child belongs to the Smith family, I won¡¯t object to your rtionship with Eileen. After the child is born, you can let Eileen raise them. This is my only request. There is no room for negotiation.¡± Jasper raised his eyes, a malicious glint flickering in their depths. ¡°Why must you threaten me in this manner?¡± La¡¯s voice slightly increased. ¡°This is the only way to ensure Eileen can rightfully be the Smith family¡¯s daughter-inw. Don¡¯t forget that you only got engaged yesterday. You are not legally married. yet. As long as I do not give my consent, she won¡¯t be able to marry into the Smith family.¡± When La noticed Jasper wavering in his silence, she softened her tone. ¡°Eileen is truly remarkable, both in demeanor and appearance. I genuinely like her a lot. However, for the sake of continuing the Smith. family lineage, I will absolutely not back down! Just consider it. What is more important to you, Smith Corporation or her? Are you willing to abandon your family and disregard me just for her?¡± Chapter 288 Chapter 288 Chapter 288 Did Someone Visit My Room Last Night? After returning home, Jasper sat on the living room couch, smoking throughout the night. The ashtray was filled with cigarette butts. As dawn broke around six in the morning, the sky began to brighten. The housekeeper who arrived to clean up was taken aback when she found the living room filled with thick smoke. Shouldn¡¯t Mr. Jasper, who just got engaged to Ms. Eileen yesterday, be at the hotel with her at this time? ¡°What time is it now?¡± Jasper suddenly spoke, startling the servant. ¡°Mr. Jasper, it¡¯s almost six o¡¯clock.¡± | Is it already daylight? Jasper nced outside with his bloodshot eyes. As he stood up from the couch, his body swayed unsteadily. Suddenly, without any warning, he closed his eyes and inexplicably fainted. ¡°Mr. Jasper!¡± The servant eximed in shock, quickly calling for the family doctor. The family doctor arrived half an hourter, and after conducting a thorough examination, he said. ¡°Mr. Jasper is merely suffering from fatigue due tock of rest. Let him have a good sleep, and he¡¯ll be fine when he wakes up.¡± La, too, didn¡¯t sleep a wink the night before. Upon learning that Jasper had fainted, she could only sigh deeply. Martha stepped forward to tuck her in ¡°Old Mrs. Smith, you should really get some sleep now. It¡¯s already dawn.¡± Suddenly, La asked, ¡°Has the child been found?¡± Martha said, ¡°Just now, Mr. Zimmer checked the surveince feeds. He found that the child was walking together with a woman. After they left¡­ we couldn¡¯t find out anything about the child¡¯s background! It¡¯s really strange. Mr. Jasper has always been chaste and never fond of stirring up trouble outside, so how could there be a child who looks exactly like him? If I hadn¡¯t seen it with my own eyes, I would find it hard. to believe.¡± ¡°There was a time when Richie was acting foolishly¡­¡± La suddenly thought of something. ¡°Where is the photo? Show me the photo of the child leaving ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go get it right away. Please don¡¯t worry, Old Mrs. Smith.¡± After Martha handed her the photos, La¡¯s hands trembled, while excitement began to show on her face. In several of the photos, the child¡¯s facial features were somewhat blurred due to the darkness of the night, but at a nce, one could still make them out. La meticulously searched for something. It wasn¡¯t clear through one thing after another, unsure of what she was looking for until she stopped at thest picture. In the photograph, a woman was seen holding the hand of the child they were looking for. She had turned her head, revealing her side profile. Upon seeing her, La¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°It¡¯s her. It really is her.¡± 1/3 + Martha asked. ¡°Who is she?¡± ¡°Who else could it be but her? When she agreed so easily back then, I knew she was hiding something.¡± La¡¯s gaze darkened. ¡°Do everything you can to contact Nancy. If it¡¯s a child of the Smith family, we must bring him in.¡± Martha was surprised. ¡°It really is Nancy. But if Nancyes back, what will Ms. Eileen do? Given her temperament, I¡¯m afraid she won¡¯t stay with Mr. Jasper. If Ms. Eileen is not around, Mr. Jasper will definitely be the same as before, and by then, none of us will be able to do anything.¡± La fell silent, lost in thought. On one side was her grandson, and on the other was the Smith family. She couldn¡¯t bear to let go of either. After a while, she said, ¡°Don¡¯t let Eileen know about this. She¡¯s going to Pillere for three months today. Let¡¯s resolve this matter within this period.¡± The timing of this child¡¯s appearance is just perfect! Someone like Nancy would never be epted by the Smith family, for La would absolutely not allow at second Ruth to ruin the family. ¡°Yes, Old Mrs. Smith.¡± At eight o¡¯clock in the morning, Eileen was roused by the persistent ringing of her phone. She sat up. rubbing her groggy head. Dressed in a ke nightgown, she leaned on the bed. What¡¯s going on? Why does my head hurt so much? Did I not sleep wellst night? She then stared at the ruined roses in the room, petals scattered all over the floor. Why have the beautiful flowerse to this? What happenedst night? Why can¡¯t I remember anything at all? All she remembered was taking the room card from the bellboy. When she returned to her room, she felt a bit warm. It seemed like she had taken a bath in the bathroom. After that, she seemed to recall that she had fallen asleep. She hurriedly threw off the covers and got out of bed. The moment her bare feet touched the floor, her entire body suddenly gave way, causing her to fall to the ground. At the same time, she felt a fearing pain in her lower body, and her lower abdomen was slightly bloated. No longer a virgin, Eileen understood what happened. Only after being intimate with a man, do I experience this kind of feeling. Could it be that Jasper came backst night? If we slept with each other, why don¡¯t I remember anything? Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. Just then, the hotel room door swung open from the outside, and a hotel housekeeper walked in, ¡°Miss, are you alright?¡± Eileen replied, ¡°Who let you in? I didn¡¯t call for anyone.¡± The hotel housekeeper revealed a professional smile, respectfully saying, ¡°Mr. Smith requested a wake-up call, saying you have a flight to catch today. I knocked on the door several times, but there was no response, so I had toe in. Ms. Swan, you have three hours left before your flight. It¡¯s time to get up. She stepped forward to help Eileen. up. Eileen sat on the bed, looking at her haggard reflection in the ss window. Tentatively, she asked, ¡°Did 2/3 someonee to my roomst night?¡± The hotel housekeeper replied, ¡°We¡¯re not sure about that! However, we do have staff on duty at our hotel who might know. I can ask them for you.¡± Eileen held her forehead, her breath short and her whole body in difort. The housekeeper informed Ms. Swan, ¡°You had a drinkst night, so it¡¯s natural for you to have a headache this morning. We have prepared a remedy for hangover, and we will bring it to you shortly,¡± Eileen replied, ¡°But¡­ I mostly had fruit winest night, which wasn¡¯t very strong.¡± The housekeeper smiled slightly. ¡°You must not be a regr drinker. Indeed, the fruit wine in our hotel might not be strong enough for those who frequently drink, but for those who don¡¯t, it can have quite an effect. Usually, you won¡¯t feel much at first, butter on, you¡¯ll start to feel a warmth spreading throughout your body, and your head might feel dizzy. These are all normal reactions.¡± Is that really the case? I don¡¯t usually consume alcohol, nor do I have much of a taste for it. However, I did end up drinking quite a bit during the toastsst night. Nevertheless, that still doesn¡¯t exin the physical pain I¡¯m experiencing. Eileen felt too embarrassed to ask this question. Immediately after, the housekeeper stepped forward and touched Eileen¡¯s forehead. ¡°Ms. Swan, are you feeling weak all over, experiencing a headache, and a bit nauseous?¡± Eileen nodded. ¡°Yes, a little.¡± ¡°That¡¯s normal. You might feel better after you finish the hangover remedy.¡± Eileen replied, ¡°Okay.¡± Chapter 289 Chapter 289 Chapter 289 Not Bad Enduring her aching body, Eileen went to the bathroom to take a shower. The warm water cascaded down. from her head, neither cold nor hot. She closed her eyes but still felt something was off. She reached down to touch the sensitive area below, finding no signs of swelling. The pain had also significantly subsided. In truth, there was a red mark on the inside of her thigh, a ce she couldn¡¯t see. It was hidden so well that Eileen didn¡¯t notice it. Could it be that I¡¯m overthinking things? Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. Nothing happenedst night, and even if something did, it was just me having another drunken spree. Otherwise, why would I destroy such beautiful roses? She recalled that she had indeed seen news about people who, after getting drunk, truly knew nothing at all. Eileen swiftly brushed off these unnecessary worries. Half an hourter, she exited the bathroom, wrapped in a bath towel. If she were to nce back at this moment, she would see, reflected in the mirror, her slender back also bearing marks. After changing her clothes, Eileen called Jasper. The phone was answered after half a minute. ¡°Jasper, how is Grandma doing?¡± ¡°Ms. Eileen!¡± The person answering the phone was Fabian. ¡°Mr. Sherwood?¡± ¡°It¡¯s me. Mr. Smith has some urgent business to attend to and might not be able to apany you to Pillere. I¡¯ve already arranged for the hotel¡¯s driver to take you to the airport. Mr. Smith has made arrangements in Pillere, so there will be someone to pick you up when yound. We¡¯ll meet you there in a week. Mr. Smith is in a meeting, and he asked me to apologize on his behalf.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. Thepany matters are much more important. How is Grandma doing?¡± Eileen was indeed a bit disappointed. This was her first time leaving Hulbury to go to an unfamiliar ce. She had never been to such a far ce before, and it would be a lie to say she wasn¡¯t nervous or scared. ¡°Ms. Eileen, rest assured, Old Mrs. Smith is fine.¡± ¡°I¡¯m relieved to hear that Grandma is okay. Please return to your work. I need to get going now.¡± ¡°Have a safe journey, Ms. Eileen.¡± ¡°Thanks¡± After hanging up the phone, Fabian looked up. ¡°Rest assured, Mr. Smith, Ms. Eileen will be fine on her own. The bodyguards will also ensure her safety around the clock.¡± ¡°Mm-hmm.¡± As the saying goes, man proposes, God disposes? 1/4 In the end, Mr. Smith couldn¡¯t escape Nancy¡¯s grasp. Fortunately, Ms. Eileen¡¯s departure will give Mr. Smith time to resolve the issue. If Ms. Eileen were to find out, the consequences would truly be unthinkable. This matter is no longer as simple as it was at the beginning. A week¡¯s time should be enough to sort out these troubles. I just wonder if Ms. Eileen will ept the existence of this child. The flight to Pillere took off punctually at twelve o¡¯clock. Outside the airport, a car was parked in an open space. The airne roared as it flew overhead, leaving behind a ke trail. ¡°It seems like you lost this bet, but it also feels like you¡¯re the winner. Congrattions! You finally got your little sister in your grasp.¡± With Zachary¡¯s yful tease, the man sitting in the driver¡¯s seat, for once, didn¡¯t show any signs of anger on his face. Instead, his aura was even more gentle than usual. Beasts that have had their fill of meat lose their aggressiveness. Eric stated, ¡°The game has just begun.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t the Swan family enough for you? You want the Smith family too?¡± Zachary squinted his eyes at him. ¡°Eric, I think you¡¯ve truly gone mad. Don¡¯t you think you¡¯re overestimating your abilities and trying to attempt the impossible?¡± Eric watched as the ne ascended into the blue sky, disappearing into the clouds before he finally shifted his gaze. With a faint smile on his thin lips, he asked, ¡°Are you so eager to see me slip up?¡± Zachary clicked his tongue. ¡°It¡¯s truly terrifying to be on the mind of a freak like you. I must say Eileen is really unlucky. A perfectly good life was ruined because of you, all for knowing someone like you. Are you messing with Jasper because you¡¯re still holding a grudge? Because Jasper wanted to buy shares in Caerulus Corporation and dismiss you from your position?¡± Seeing that Eric didn¡¯t respond, Zachary took it as his silent agreement. Rather than being adversaries with such cunning people, Zachary actually felt somewhat relieved he was on the same side as Eric. Eric was too scheming and sly, and Zachary was afraid that when the time came, he might just be another pawn in the former¡¯s plots. He admitted that when it came to plotting, he was inferior to Eric. After that, he reached a hand out toward Eric. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you return the remaining drug to me? I spent quite a bit of money to develop it. Currently, there¡¯s only this one bottle of fifty milliliters. I didn¡¯t even dare to use it myself.¡± Eric stepped on the gas, making a U-turn to leave. ¡°The drug is good. Remember it for next time.¡± ||| 2/4 ¡°I¡¯ll remember this, Eric! Don¡¯t let me catch you slipping. That drug had an aphrodisiac and hallucinogenic effect. Once used, it would cause one to forget the events of the previous night. Previously, when Eric took it without permission, Zachary already knew he was up to no good. Zachary looked out the car window, a mysterious smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. Just as Eric said, their game had only just begun. Eileen was exhrated and thrilled. It was her first time on a ne, leaving her homnd to venture into an unfamiliar ce. Looking out the airne window, everything below seemed so insignificant. Before boarding the ne, she had called Gideon, who then sent her the hotel address. Natalie and Benjamin had also sent her messages, which Eileen responded to one by one. The flight from Hulbury to Pillere departed at twelve o¡¯clock and would take nine hours. It was already past nine in the evening when the nended. The person who came to pick up Eileen was a local from Pillere, a woman in her forties with blonde hair and blue eyes who could speak Clusian. She introduced herself as Ariel, the butler of Baston Hotel. They got into the car and headed towards the hotel. Eileen¡¯s Uprian was quite good, enough for casual conversation. She had prepared herself beforeing. Eileen had looked up the price of the hotel online. It was nearly five thousand Clusian currency per night for a luxurious suite. Eileen tried to dissuade, ¡°How much money would it cost to stay here for three months?¡± She didn¡¯t dare to think about it. Upon arriving at the hotel entrance, the ce was as luxurious as a castle. Eileen stepped out of the car. A young woman dressed in ck, wearing ck-rimmed sses and with a high ponytail approached. Her face was freckled, and she wore a somewhat serious expression as she adjusted her sses. ¡°Hello, my name is Delh Mason. I¡¯m a student of Professor Combs, and I¡¯m here to participate in this training,¡± she said.. She extended her hand, and Eileen shook it. ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Eileen Swan, a freshman for the next term.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard about you. Your painting is still disyed in Professor Combs¡¯ office. I didn¡¯t expect someone as young as you to have such remarkable talent. He was certainly right about you.¡± Eileen gav¨¦ a slight smile. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°When we arranged your arrival, we booked a room for you. It might be a bit inconvenient, but you¡¯ll have to share a room with me for the next three months.¡± Chapter 290 Chapter 290 Chapter 290 Eileen was about to agree when Ariel interjected, ¡°Ms. Eileen, your room is separate. We have already prepared it.¡± Eileen said, ¡°There¡¯s no need for that. Could you please cancel it for me?¡± Eileen arrived with just one suitcase, as she didn¡¯t bring much luggage. The room she was assigned to was quite spacious. Delh informed Eileen, ¡°Once you finish tidying up, I¡¯ll introduce you to two people. They also came with Professor Combs and, based on seniority, they are your fellow senior apprentices.¡± Eileen asked, ¡°Where is Professor Combs?¡± ¡°He went to meet with several leaders from Pillere Art Academy. He has a social engagement tonight and might returnte.¡± At that moment, there was a knock on the hotel room door. Delh went to answer it and found the hotel¡¯s concierge and room service staff. After a brief exchange, Delh called out to Eileen, who was inside the room, ¡°Eileen, they¡¯re here to see you.¡± Eileen put down what she was holding and approached the door. Delh looked at her and asked, ¡°Do you need my help with trantion?¡± Eileen smiled slightly and replied, ¡°No need to trouble yourself. My Uprian is quite good.¡± During the conversation, no one noticed the furrowed brow on Delh¡¯s face. Eileen also noticed that the clothes rack by the door was filled with thetest seasonal trends. From dresses and outfits to lingerie, everything was tailored to her figure. There was also a considerable amount of makeup and bags. All of these items were prepared ording to the standards of a presidential suite. However, their room was too small to amodate everything Originally, Eileen only wanted to take a few sets of clothes, but they insisted on opening another room for her, turning the hotel room across the way into her personal wardrobe. Eileen didn¡¯t want to spend too much time on this matter, so she simply went along with their suggestion. After sorting everything out, Delh took her to the restaurant downstairs. As they headed towards a corner by the floor-to-ceiling windows, Delh introduced her, ¡°These are the two seniors I mentioned. This is Grayson Zarate, and this is Isaac Travers. We¡¯re all in our third year at the academy.¡± The moment they saw Eileen, they were filled with awe and admiration. Eileen shook hands with them and greeted them. After they all took their seats, Grayson said, ¡°I never expected you to be even more beautiful in person. Eileen.¡± Isaacughed and agreed, ¡°Indeed, now that Eileen is here, it seems like the title of campus belle has found. a new owner.¡± Eileen maintained her smile throughout. She wasn¡¯t skilled at socializing, so her hands under the table ||| 1/4 were clenched cautiously. ¡°You two must be exaggerating.¡± ¡°We¡¯re just being objective, Eileen. There¡¯s no need to be modest. By the way¡­ I heard that all the expenses. for our trip, including this hotel, were covered by the Smith family. If it weren¡¯t for our good fortune, we wouldn¡¯t have been able to stay in such a nice hotel. We owe you our thanks. Let¡¯s raise our sses to Eileen. As he spoke, Grayson grabbed Eileen¡¯s ss, poured a drink into it, and then raised his own. Eileen had no choice but to go along. Isaac turned to Delh, who was sitting silently beside him. ¡°Delh, why are you staring? Raise your ss!¡± It seemed like Delh had something to say, her eyes filled with unspoken words. However, she remained silent and simply raised her wine ss for a toast. Eileen, always perceptive and alert, noticed the hint of dissatisfaction in Delh¡¯s eyes. She just didn¡¯t understand where Delh¡¯s dissatisfaction wasing from. Eileen subtly lowered her gaze, concealing her emotions. During the meal, Grayson and Isaac chatted with Eileen and shared gossip about other people at school. Eileen responded half-heartedly and asionally asked a few questions. Delh suddenly spoke up. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte, so I¡¯m going back to my room to rest. You all continue eating. I¡¯ll take care of the bill.¡± With that, she waved her hand. Eileen stood up. ¡°Allow me to pay. It¡¯s my first time meeting my seniors, so it¡¯s only right that I treat you.¡± Grayson, sitting next to her, grabbed her wrist and made her sit down. ¡°How could we let our junior pay? Don¡¯t worry; we have enough funds for this outing.¡± The blonde-haired, green-eyed restaurant manager approached as Delh was about to pay the bill. To everyone¡¯s surprise, the manager said, ¡°Mr. Smith is a valued member of our hotel, so his wife can also enjoy our full services. All your expenses are covered; there¡¯s no need to pay. Additionally, you may enjoy all the entertainment provided by our hotel.¡± After the manager finished speaking, Delh, Isaac, and Grayson simultaneously turned their Eileen. Eileen remained silent. This indeed seemed like something Jasper would do. gaze towards But for some reason, the more Jasper did for her, the heavier the burden she felt in her heart. Even though he thought what he was doing was right and proper, she still felt indebted. After finishing their meal, they returned to their respective rooms. Delh barely spoke during the meal. Eileen, following behind, was sending messages to Jasper. Delh took her pajamas from the wardrobe and headed to the bathroom. 2/4 ¡°Why aren¡¯t you staying in the room I arranged for you?¡± His voice sounded somewhat weary. Eileen replied lightly. ¡°I¡¯m not the only one who came this time. There are other students of Professor Combs staying in standard rooms. If I stay in such a high-ss room by myself, people might use me of seeking special treatment. When will youe over? I¡­ miss you.¡± As she uttered those three words, Eileen could feel her heart pounding in her chest and her breath hitching. Jasper chuckled softly, ¡°I miss you too. Give me a few days to sort things out here, and then I¡¯lle over to be with you. By the way, shall we make up for our missed wedding night, hmm?¡± A blush instantly heated Eileen¡¯s face, making her feel somewhat shy. She gazed at the stars in the sky, realizing that it must already be daylight in Hulbury. In an unfamiliar environment, with no familiar faces around, she felt a sense of emptiness in her heart. Jasper said. ¡°Try to get some rest earlier. I¡¯ll give you a call tomorrow.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Good night.¡± After ending the call, Eileen went back to the bedroom. Half of the room¡¯s lights had already been turned off. Delh had finished her shower, tied up her hair, and was lying in bed reading a book. Without looking up, she said, ¡°I¡¯m used to sleeping with the lights on at night. I hope you don¡¯t mind.¡± Eileen replied, ¡°That¡¯s fine.¡± Delh turned a page of her book and continued, ¡°Also, about the skincare products on the table, I made some space so we can share them equally. Most of the items on the table are yours, so I moved some into the drawer when there wasn¡¯t enough room.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Eileen¡¯s initial impression of Delh was that she was somewhat difficult to get along with. There was a certain aloofness about her. Perhaps she¡¯s a little cold towards me because it¡¯s our first meeting. We probably just need some time to adjust and get along. Eileen didn¡¯t pay much attention to these matters. Eileen walked out of the bathroom with her hair wrapped in a shower cap. She then moisturized her face and applied body lotion. ¡°How much longer until you¡¯re done?¡± an impatient voice interrupted. Eileen quickly responded, ¡°You can go to sleep first. I¡¯ll go to the room across to blow-dry my I don¡¯t disturb you.¡± hairter so Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. Delh didn¡¯t say anything else. She put down her book and turned off the bedsidemp. hair and returned, it was already midnight. Delh turned over in her sleep. Eileen tried her best to be as quiet as possible as she lifted the covers, leaving amp on as she went to sleep. Chapter 291 Chapter 291 Chapter 291 Daddy Eileen was very particr about her bed, so she didn¡¯t sleep well that night, drifting in and out of sleep. It wasn¡¯t until the hotel made a wake-up call that she finally woke up. As she got out of bed, she noticed that Delh had already freshened up and was now in front of the vanity mirror, her hair neatly done. Eileen sat on the bed, with dark circles under her eyes, looking somewhat dazed.. Delh looked at her through the mirror and reminded her, ¡°Don¡¯t forget that you have to report to school today. Do you know which ss you¡¯re in?¡± Eileen pinched the bridge of her nose and responded wearily, ¡°Since you already know, I won¡¯t apany you then. If you can¡¯t find your way, feel free to call meter.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Delh had put on makeup that day to conceal the freckles on her face. She put on her ck-rimmed sses and looked at the room key on the table. After a moment of hesitation, she picked it up, slung her bag over her shoulder, and walked out. As she stepped out of the room, Grayson and Isaac happened toe out as well. Grayson asked, ¡°Where is Eileen?¡± Delh adjusted her sses and said, ¡°She just woke up, so let¡¯s not wait for her. We¡¯ll go meet Professor Combs directly. She won¡¯t get lost on her own.¡± Isaac scratched his head and took a deep breath, saying, ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s a good idea. Professor Combs specifically reminded us to safely escort her to school first. If we leave her alone, she might get lost since. she¡¯s unfamiliar with her surroundings. How will we exin that? Don¡¯t forget, she is Mrs. Smith. The Smith family funded our trip to Pillere. If we neglect her like this, and sheins¡­ we three will definitely get an earful.¡± Delh looked at him expressionlessly. ¡°If you want to go, then go by yourself. I don¡¯t have the time. We¡¯re here topete, not to cater to some socialite. Don¡¯t forget what Professor Combs expects from us.¡± The two of them watched Delh leave. Graysonughed and patted Isaac on the shoulder. ¡°Actually, what Delh said isn¡¯t wrong. Even if you were to fawn over Eileen like apdog, she wouldn¡¯t give you a second. nce. She¡¯s already taken, so stop wasting your energy on hopeless causes. You¡¯d be better off focusing on winning thepetition. If you¡¯re so worried, you can wait for her here. I¡¯ll go ahead and grab breakfast with Delh.¡± With that, Grayson dashed off. Isaac was in a state of extreme turmoil. He nced at his watch, then at the tightly shut room door. After a moment of hesitation, he walked up to the room¡¯s door and raised his hand to knock.. Eileen had just finished freshening up and dressing when she went to open the door. ¡°Isaac,¡± she greeted. Isaac questioned, ¡°Eileen, are you ready? Delh doesn¡¯t have time to take you to school, so I¡¯ll take you there to handle your enrollment paperworkter.¡± Eileen nodded. ¡°Give me ten more minutes. I¡¯ll be quick.¡± She opened the door and invited, ¡°Please come in and have a seat.¡± 1/3 The average temperature in Friyx in June was around twenty degrees. Eileen dressed in a light- colored. cotton and linen long-sleeved top paired with a thin long skirt. Her hair was left loose. Fearing the night would be chilly, she brought along a knitted cardigan. As the two of them got into the elevator to go downstairs, Isaac said, ¡°We might not have time for breakfast, so we¡¯ll just grab something on the go.¡± ¡°What about the other two?¡± ¡°They probably went straight to the studio after breakfast.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Eileen was not the type to enjoy causing trouble for others. Isaac was still a bit reserved, deliberately maintaining a safe distance from Eileen in the elevator. They arrived at the hotel entrance just as Delh and Grayson wereing down the elevator after finishing their meal. They saw Eileen and Isaac getting into a Bugatti limousine. The doorman closed the car door, and by the time they stepped out, the car had already left. Grayson eximed in awe, ¡°Wow, such a luxurious car! I¡¯ve never even ridden in one. That guy really lucked out.¡± Holding his hand up to the sunlight, he asked, ¡°Delh, how are we going to get there? I asked around, and our destination is about twenty to thirty kilometers away.¡± Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. It was indeed a bit far. Grayson turned to the concierge and gave him the address they were heading to, then asked, ¡°Could you please tell us if the hotel can arrange for a driver to take us to this location?¡± The concierge said, ¡°The private car service will cost two hundred Atharian currency plus an additional one hundred for service fees.¡± Grayson eximed, ¡°That¡¯s way too expensive! What about them? We¡¯re with the two who just left. They have a car, so why don¡¯t we?¡± The concierge said, ¡°I apologize, sir. This is an exclusive service for our hotel¡¯s VIP guests. Thedy is also a valued member of our hotel. Hence, she enjoys this service for free.¡± Grayson asked curiously, ¡°How much does it cost to be a member?¡± The other party revealed a friendly smile. ¡°Three million Atharian currency, in cash.¡± ¡°What! That¡¯s a lot of money! If I had known, I would have joined her.¡± With a slightly cold expression, Delh said, ¡°It¡¯s hard to get a taxi now. We¡¯ll pay the three hundred, so please help us call a car.¡± Grayson protested, ¡°Hey, don¡¯t mess around! Let¡¯s be frugal with our money since we still have three months to go. I don¡¯t want to end up broke before the end of the month.¡± Delh retorted, ¡°Professor Combs did say that all decisions are up to me.¡± After Isaac had finished arranging her school enrollment documents, he left. Eileen, fearing he might not. be able to get a taxi, asked the driver to take him to his destination. ||| 2/3 When it was time for her to finish school, the hotel driver would naturallye to pick her up. She was currently in the world¡¯s top-tier art academy, which also had the most profound influence in the realm of art. Everything around her seemed unfamiliar, but even though she was alone, she knew she had to conquer her fears. Meanwhile, in Hulbury. Fabian reported. ¡°I just received a message from there. Ms. Eileen has sessfully enrolled. You can now be at ease. Mr. Smith.¡± Jasper leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes. ¡°Every time she goes out alone, she encounters danger. Unlike before, make sure someone is always protecting her and prevent her from facing any danger.¡± Fabian nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mr. Smith. With bodyguards secretly protecting her, Ms. Eileen will be safe.¡± ¡°Have they been found yet?¡± Jasper¡¯s tone instantly became serious. Fabian nodded. ¡°We¡¯ve found them, but¡­ Old Mrs. Smith has already taken Nancy and the child to the Smith residence before us. They might have already arrived by now.¡± No sooner had Fabian spoken than Jasper received a call from the Smith residence, asking him to come over. This was inevitable. Jasper handed his current tasks over to Fabian, then drove alone to the Smith residence. While driving, he felt a sense of panic he had never experienced before. His mind was distracted, and the faces of Eileen and Nancy haunted his thoughts. In addition to them, there was also the child. He first learned about the child¡¯s existence when he saw a paternity test and a photo of a child who seemed to have appeared out of nowhere, bearing a striking resemnce to him in facial features. All in all, it left him feeling frustrated and bewildered. An hourter, he finally arrived at the Smith residence. As Jasper walked through the door, a small figure clung to his leg before he could even get a good look around, calling out to him in a sweet, melodious voice, ¡°Daddy!¡± Chapter 292 Chapter 292 Chapter 292 He Does Not Want Me The child¡¯s eyes were filled with innocent confusion. As Jasper lowered his head to meet his gaze, his heart trembled. Just one look reminded him of the painful memories from his childhood. Jasper¡¯s countenance looked even worse than one could imagine, his expression icy cold. La shot Martha a meaningful look. Catching her eye, Martha stepped forward and picked up the young boy. ¡°Mr. Oliver, let me take you to y with your toys. Mr. Jasper has some important matters to discuss.¡± Oliver Smith reached out to Jasper with tears in his eyes. ¡°I want a hug from Daddy.¡± Jasper¡¯s demeanor was icy as he nced at the child just once before coldly walking away and taking a seat on the couch off to one side. With a smile gracing her face, Nancy¡¯s gaze never left him. Oliver, crying and wanting to get down. quickly ran to Nancy¡¯s side. Nancy reached out, lifting him onto herp. The little one wrapped his arms around her neck, his expression sad as he cried mournfully, ¡°Mommy, why doesn¡¯t Daddy like me? Did I do something wrong? You said as long as I behave, Daddy will like me, but he won¡¯t hug me¡­¡± Tiny teardrops dripped down his face, the child¡¯s crying enough to break one¡¯s heart. Nancy wiped the tears from the child¡¯s face. ¡°Daddy doesn¡¯t dislike you, Ollie. Will you be a good boy and go y with Martha for a while? Once Daddy and Mommy finish talking, we¡¯lle and y with you.¡± ¡°All right.¡± The little one nodded understandingly. As Oliver was led away by Martha, he turned back onest time, casting a pitiful nce at Jasper, who sat coldly on the couch. Jasper stared at Nancy with a chilly gaze. His voice was as cold as frost. ¡°I will not acknowledge this child,¡± he dered resolutely. Nancy didn¡¯t appear flustered. Instead, she calmly waited for La to speak.. La was taken aback by Jasper¡¯s audacious words about denying his own child. A subtle hint of displeasure crept onto her face. Suppressing her inner thoughts, she said to Nancy, ¡°We have conducted at paternity test for the child, and he is indeed an offspring of the Smith family. State your intentions. If you intend to use the child to marry into the Smith family, I will not agree. The Smith family can offer you three million for the child¡¯s custody rights, including a property in the city center. This money should be enough for you to start anew and remarry into a good family.¡± Nancyughed and said, ¡°I carried this child for nine months and raised him single-handedly for five. years. Do you think these mere things are enough to dismiss me, or are you saying that the Smith family¡¯s offspring is only worth this much? If I remember correctly, bing Mrs. Smith will me far more than this. I haven¡¯t forgotten it was you who asked me to leave back then. I agreed mostly because of this child. If Lhad stayed in Hulbury, given your nature, I¡¯m afraid I wouldn¡¯t have been able to keep the baby.. I really have to thank you for your decision to force me away all those years ago, Old Mrs. Smith. In truth, I¡¯m not asking for much. All I want is for Jasper to marry me and give Ollie a complete family. If I were to marry into the Smith family, I could give up everything, but everything in the Smith family must be left. to Ollie in the future.¡± Turning to Jasper, she went on, ¡°Jasper, she was why I had to leave. Back then, I truly wanted to be with. you. If it weren¡¯t for her, we wouldn¡¯t have been apart for so many years. Your grandmother has always 1/3 looked down on me because of my background, because I have a father who is a gambler. Back then, I didn¡¯t tell you I was pregnant for a reason. If your grandmother had known, she would never have let us keep our child. Do you still remember what you once promised me? You said that when we have a child. you would provide it aplete home, unlike your own broken one. You would do everything in your power to give them the best of everything. Now that we have a child, you¡¯re going back on your word. Is everything you¡¯ve said and done fair to me? Because of another woman, you sent me to prison with a single sentence, and I almost died in a mental hospital. Can you honestly tell me you don¡¯t feel you owe me anything? Right now, Eileen can¡¯t get pregnant, but I¡­ I can give you aplete family. Can¡¯t we just forget everything from the past and be a happy family of three? All that Nancy said was indeed enough to leave Jasper in turmoil. He silently caressed the engagement ring on his middle finger. Suddenly, after a long silence, he spoke. ¡°Ms. Mulligan, you certainly know how to make your moves. Unfortunately, your stakes are not threatening to me. You will never be Mrs. Smith, but I will agree to your other demands. Everything that has happened in the past did indeed ur and existed; I cannot deny that. Butpared to before, I cherish what I have now even more. Eileen is the wife I risked my life for, so she¡¯s not the one who should be stepping out of this rtionship. Whether she can bear children or not, Eileen will always be my Mrs. Smith. As for the issue of the Smith family¡¯s heir¡­ Grandma, I¡¯m not dead yet! Isn¡¯t it too early to be discussing this now? Anyway, there¡¯s an important meeting at thepany, so I need to hurry back.¡± Jasper turned around, his steps halting once more. He looked at Nancy with a cold gaze. ¡°Let me remind you that not everyone cane and go freely in the Smith residence. Outsiders should leave as soon as possible.¡± Nancy chased after him. She was already conceding on this matter, so why wouldn¡¯t he return to her side? Could she really be inferior to Eileen, who couldn¡¯t even have children? In that case, what was the point of everything she had done and all the suffering she had endured over the past five years? She refused to let this matter go. The position of Mrs. Smith should have originally been hers. Why should Eileen, who hadeter, get the position? Nancy refused to ept it. She couldn¡¯t bear it! Jasper says he risked his life for Eileen, but what about me? Now that I¡¯ve returned, what does it all mean? ¡°Fine! You don¡¯t want me or the child, do you? Jasper, I want you to regret this for the rest of your life!¡± Jasper nced coldly, his gaze slightly tilted, and uttered one word in an icy tone, ¡°Whatever.¡± Oliver was engrossed in ying with his toy car. When he saw Jasper about to leave, he immediately. abandoned his favorite toy without hesitation. His little legs moved swiftly as he chased after the man. crying out, ¡°Daddy, please don¡¯t leave me! I can¡¯t bear to be without you!¡± Jasper didn¡¯t pause for a moment. Even when the little boy chased him to the door and fell down. Jasper didn¡¯t turn around to take a nce. 111 23 scraped palm, her heart ached even more. ¡°Quickly, take him to get medical attention,¡± she said. Martha picked up the child. ¡°Yes, Mrs. Smith.¡± ¡°Waaaah! Mommy, Daddy doesn¡¯t want me!¡± T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. The living room echoed with the sound of the child¡¯s crying, and no matter what was tried, he couldn¡¯t beforted. Nancy picked up the child and left. La sternly reprimanded, ¡°Stop right there! Where are you taking my great-grandson?¡± Nancy didn¡¯t pause in her steps. ¡°Since there¡¯s nothing to discuss, there¡¯s no need for further conversation. Ollie is my child, and I will never leave him here alone.¡± Martha was about to chase after them, but La waved her hand, signaling her to stop. ¡°Mrs. Smith, are you just going to let her take the child away like this?¡± La replied, ¡°We need to take our time to consider this matter.¡± Nancy got into the car and drove off. Hearing the incessant crying and the wiping of tears from the passenger seat, she grew impatient. Pulling over, she got out of the car and walked around to the passenger side, forcefully pulling the child out of the seat. Oliver was thrown to the ground, his forehead harshly hitting the floor. ¡°Is crying all you know how to do? What good are you? You¡¯re a child whose father doesn¡¯t even want you. I never should have brought you into this world. I should have abandoned you or left you to die!¡± Blood trickled down from Oliver¡¯s forehead, flowing past his eyes. He wiped his face with his small hand, now stained with red, ¡°Mommy, please don¡¯t abandon me! I was wrong. I¡¯ll never cry again!¡± Chapter 293 Chapter 293 Chapter 293 Laying Low Upon returning to the hotel, Nancy provided Oliver with some basic first-aid. He had cried all the way back and waspletely exhausted, falling into a deep sleep. When Oliver woke up, he felt an intense chill. ¡°Mommy, what are you doing?¡± In the bathroom, Nancy poured cold water over Oliver from above. Shivering from the cold, Oliver struggled to stand up from the bathtub, but she pushed him back down with one hand. ¡°M-Mommy, I¡¯m s-so cold.¡± Oliver¡¯s body turned blue as he shivered uncontrobly. He hugged himself, trying to keep warm. Nancy gently stroked his hair with a smile. ¡°Be good, Ollie. Just endure a little longer. Daddy wille to see you soon. Our family will be together, and you¡¯ll have a Daddy soon.¡± The little one opened his innocent eyes wide and nodded. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll listen to you, Mommy¡± ¡°Good boy. Later, I¡¯ll get you your favorite ice cream,¡± ¡°Okay!¡± The room service attendant brought another bucket of ice cubes, which Nancy dumped into the bathtub. ¡°Mommy, I don¡¯t feel well¡­ ¡°We¡¯ll be done in a moment.¡± After half an hour, Nancy finally lifted him out of the icy bathtub. Without even drying him off, she let him sleep on the couch,pletely naked, facing the window. During the night, Oliver developed a high fever, with his body temperature reaching thirty-nine degrees. He fell into a state of unconsciousness, his entire body burning hot like a furnace. Nancy took him to the hospital overnight, and the doctor immediately gave him an acetaminophen injection. Oliver¡¯s condition began to improve at six o¡¯clock in the morning. The nurse told Nancy, ¡°The child¡¯s fever has almost subsided. You can go downstairs to settle the bill, and by the afternoon, you can proceed with the discharge procedures.¡± ¡°Alright. Thank you for your help, nurse.¡± The nurse found her somewhat familiar but couldn¡¯t remember where she had seen her before. Original content from N?velDrama.Org. Once the nurse left the ward, Nancy¡¯s expression returned to its icy demeanor. Her gaze was fierce and cold as she looked at the child still attached to the IV drip. She murmured softly, ¡°Don¡¯t me me for doing this; I had no other choice. I can¡¯t just stand by and watch him marry another woman. If we want him toe back to us, this is the only way.¡± With a heart of stone, Nancy left, leaving no one to watch over the lonely and helpless child. Time passed, bit by bit, yet the hospital room remained silent. ||| 13 In a luxurious private room in Primas za, Will should naturally sit in the main seat due to his seniority. However, they were discussing business now, and in the business world, familial rtionships held no weight. Moreover, everyone who came to Hulbury had to show respect to the Smith family, regardless of their status. ¡°Is there really no room for negotiation, Mr. Smith?¡± Will¡¯s fingers moved rhythmically over the rosary in his hand. His facial expression remained steady, a hint of a smile ying on his lips, betraying no sign of any unusual emotions. Will had always been like that. When he smiled, it appeared sincere and honest, making him seem. harmless. He truly appeared like a benevolent man who would save the world. But beneath that facade was nothing but a disgusting, evil man, enough to make one¡¯s stomach churn. Even the most ferocious wildcat was nothing when it encountered a tiger. Jasper wiped his hands with a warm towel. ¡°As I¡¯ve said before, Mr. Swan, in front of Eileen, I call you. father-inw because we are family, after all. I¡¯m doing this for your own good. Having Caerulus. Corporation be a subsidiary of Smith Corporation is a win-win situation. Currently, Caerulus Corporation¡¯s annual ie is around fifty million. Once Caerulus Corporation joins Smith Corporation, the projected annual ie will be at least three hundred million. To the Smith family, this three hundred million is insignificant. Furthermore, under non-essential circumstances, Smith Corporation will not interfere with Caerulus Corporation¡¯s decisions for any reason. You will still hold your position as director, Mr. Swan. It¡¯s just that the position of CEO needs to be filled by someone else.¡± Will¡¯s temples throbbed with visible veins, his eyes zing with anger. Yet, he maintained a smile on his face. ¡°Mr. Smith, over the years, everyone in thepany has witnessed Eric¡¯s management. If we suddenly rece him now, what about the projects under his charge?¡± Jasper answered, ¡°There¡¯s no need for you to worry about these matters, Mr. Swan. I will arrange for someone to handle the transition. Of course, if there¡¯s anyone else you trust, they can also be involved. Oh, by the way, I heard that Caerulus Corporation has been facing some financial issuestely. Xuereb Bank has been slow to release the funds you need. It seems that the sessor you¡¯ve been grooming is somewhatcking in ability, I think it would be better to dismiss the person who brought crisis to the company now to avoid causing bigger troublester.¡± Turning to shoot Will an indifferent gaze, the corners of Jasper¡¯s mouth lifted slightly. ¡°After everything that¡¯s been said, I believe you should understand, Mr. Swan, my only intention is for you to sign this contract. The benefits Smith Corporation offers to Caerulus Corporation will not be taken back, not even a single penny. Furthermore, we will provide you with a check to ensure the projects continue. I wouldn¡¯t want to have my wedding with Eileen without seeing my father-inw there.¡± If the development of thend in Newcove wasn¡¯tpleted as scheduled, there were two consequences. Firstly, there was a tenfold penalty for breach of contract. Secondly, if the penalty couldn¡¯t be paid, Will faced the risk of imprisonment. Before he could speak, Jasper stood up, his gaze fixed on him as he began, ¡°I¡¯ll leave the contract here for you to review at your leisure, Father. If there are any shorings, we can discuss them at any time. You have half a day, no extensions!¡± After saying that, he left immediately. Fabian left the attached contract in front of Will. After a half-minute of silence, Will kicked over the table in front of him. The waitress who was about to come in and clean up was immediately stunned on the spot upon seeing this. ||| 2/3 The waitress nervously stammered, ¡°Um, okay, sir.¡± Irst, and dont tell anyone what you saw.¡± Before she could get a good look at him, the waitress hurriedly left the area. ¡°Jasper¡¯s intention is simply to undermine my authority. There¡¯s no need for you to get so upset, Father,¡± Eric poured a cup of tea and walked over to the couch to offer it to Will. Will scoffed coldly, taking the teacup. ¡°Did you hear everything that was just said?¡± Eric nodded. ¡°He simply doesn¡¯t like me being part of the family. My presence is nothing but a threat to him, especially because of Eileen¡­¡± It seemed that the matter he had investigated had truly upset him greatly, to the point where he had lost. hisposure! But for Eric, this was just the beginning. Will took a sip of his drink, his anger subsiding considerably. ¡°I told you to consider going abroad with Ms. Friedman. What¡¯s your decision? This is a good opportunity for you to leave. It would be a chance to learn and also toy low for a while.¡± Eric stood to the side, chuckling lightly. ¡°Father, are you really taking a young woman¡¯s words seriously? Our alliance with the Friedman family is nothing more than a public deration of opposition against the Smith family. You saw what happened at the engagement banquet. Now is not the right time to align with the Friedman family.¡± Will nced at him. ¡°From what you¡¯re saying, does that mean you have your own matters to attend to?¡± Eric replied, ¡°There have been some issues at Raven Gang recently that need to be addressed.¡± ¡°Alright, once thepany¡¯s issues are resolved, I¡¯ll find a way to get you back in. For now, take some time. to rest. ¡°Yes, Father.¡± Chapter 294 Chapter 294 Chapter 294 Cheating It is understandable that men cannot tolerate their partners cheating on them. Eric walked out of the private room next to Will. ¡°I n to choose a date to publicly acknowledge your identity. You have been by my side for a long time, and it is time for you to be officially recognized as part of the Swan family. This will also put an end to the gossip. Additionally, Jasper will lower his guard against. you.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± A sharp gleam appeared in Eric¡¯s eyes. ¡°What good are you if you can¡¯t even handle such a simple task? All you had to do was have a drink. Who are you trying to impress with that sad face of yours? You are here to earn money, not to sulk and draw attention to yourself. If it weren¡¯t for your looks, do you really think you would have a ce in Primas. za?¡± At the end of the hallway, a portly manager was angrily scolding a server. Sarah was poked on the forehead but remained silent, her gaze defiant. She stood tall and endured the scolding without saying a word. Suddenly, her gazended on the man by the elevator. He was dressed in a ck shirt, exuded a calm demeanor, and was remarkably handsome. Her eyes remained fixed on him, and shepletely ignored the lecture she was receiving. Eric noticed her gaze, and their eyes met. Sarah was slightly taken aback, but she sensed a familiar yet dangerous auraing from him. In just a few seconds, the man she had noticed had already entered the elevator. T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. Seeing her distracted, the managerunched into another round of scolding. After the scolding ended, Sarah went to clear the table. The person who served the private room with her came over tofort her, saying, ¡°Sarah, are you okay? Did the manager give you a hard time?¡± ¡°No. Let¡¯s quickly get to work. Once we¡¯re done, we can clock out, Sarah replied softly, her voice indifferent. ¡°Okay.¡± Primas za operated around the clock, with three rotating shifts. Once she finished cleaning that table, she could leave work early for the day. Taking advantage of the summer break, she nned to work more so that she could afford her tuition fees and continue attending university. Life was inherently unfair. The amount of money the wealthy spent in one night there might be more than she could earn in her entire lifetime. Some people could easily obtain certain things, while she had to bow and scrape, sacrificing her own dignity. Time flew by. Two days passed in the blink of an eye. ||| 1/3 icone from the nning department¡¯s senior management to take over Caerulus Corporation, and book me the earliest flight to Pillere for tomorrow,¡± he ordered. ¡°Are you going to visit Ms. Eileen?¡± Fabian asked. ¡°She has never traveled far. I¡¯m worried about her being alone out there. I won¡¯t be at the office for the next two months, so cancel all unnecessary social engagements. Only contact me by phone for important matters. Everything else can wait until I return.¡± ¡°Understood, Mr. Smith.¡± Jasper was about to go for lunch when his phone buzzed in his suit pocket as he stepped out of the elevator. He initially thought it was Eileen.. But when he took his phone out, the caller ID showed a string of unfamiliar numbers. He answered the call. ¡°Hello. This is Jasper Smith speaking. Who is this?¡± The person on the other end of the phone greeted, ¡°Hello, Mr. Smith. I am the head nurse of Capital Sunshine Children¡¯s Hospital in Hulbury. We have a child in our hospital who has fallen ill with a high fever. After examination, we found that this child has another illness. I originally wanted to contact the child¡¯s mother, but she said she went out to raise money for the medical expenses. Right now, she hasn¡¯t returned for two or three days. Out of desperation, we had no choice but to call you using the phone number we got from the child. Mr. Smith, it¡¯s hard to exin over the phone. If possible, as the child¡¯s father, could you find some time toe to the hospital in person? The situation is critical for this child. now. If we dy any further, his life might be at risk. Unpaid bills from before are still pending, and the hospital has a policy of not providing medication to the child until they¡¯re cleared.¡± Jasper had no idea what game Nancy was ying this time. His voice was cold as he said, ¡°You have the wrong number. I am not the child¡¯s father.¡± With that, he hung up the phone, his face expressionless. Upon hearing the contents of the phone call, Fabian also remained silent. It seems that Oliver fell ill and was hospitalized. Nancy left the child at the hospital because she ran out of money. Such a thing is indeed something she is capable of doing. Regardless, the child is innocent. If we were to do nothing, it would be bad if something happened to the child. Old Mrs. Smith is most concerned about having an heir for Smith Corporation. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that Ms. Eileen couldn¡¯t conceive, Nancy wouldn¡¯t stand a chance at all. They were originally heading to the staff cafeteria. Just as they were about to arrive, Jasper pressed the button for the parking lot on the basement level. ¡°Stay at the office. I¡¯ll go and see what¡¯s going on.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± As expected, Mr. Smith still can¡¯t bring himself topletely sever ties. Jasper drove off, stepping on the gas pedal as he sped out of the parking lot. Upon arriving at the hospital, he saw Nancy being kicked out of the hospital while cradling Oliver, whose head was bandaged, in her arms. Following closely behind, the security personnel threw out a stic bag filled with medicine. 2/3 ¡°This is the hospital¡¯s policy. The cost depends on the illness. You can¡¯t even pay a penny, yet you want to have surgery. Get out, get out! Leave immediately!¡± Nancy knelt on the ground with the child in her arms, tears streaming down her face as she prostrated herself. ¡°Please, I beg you, save him! He¡¯s only five years old. I¡¯ll find a way to get the money. I promise. Please give me a little more time.¡± ¡°Miss, there¡¯s no point in causing a scene. Who doesn¡¯t pay for medical treatment these days? Dr. Larson has already covered your hospitalization fees for the past few days. If you continue, we¡¯ll have to involve the police.¡± Smith was slumped on Nancy¡¯s shoulder, his delicate face pale and severely dehydrated. In just a few days, he had lost a significant amount of weight. ¡°Mommy¡­ am I going to die? I don¡¯t feel well. Didn¡¯t you say¡­. if I got sick. Daddy woulde and visit me? Why hasn¡¯t hee yet? I miss him!¡± Jasper happened to overhear every word the little boy said. Instantly, his body tensed up and a flicker of pain crossed his eyes. It seemed as if he had remembered something. ¡°Mommy, has Daddy abandoned us? The housekeeper told me that he has a new family now. I even have a younger brother. Is he with my younger brother that he didn¡¯te when I got sick?¡± Just as the security personnel were about to touch Nancy, she closed her eyes in fear. Before she could open them again, she heard a chilling scream in her ear, followed by a familiar cold voice. ¡°How much longer do you n to kneel? Stop embarrassing yourself here? Nancy stood up, but didn¡¯t bother thanking Jasper. She wiped away her tears with one hand. Not wanting to show him her vulnerable side, she turned around to leave with Oliver in her arms. Without saying another word, Jasper stepped forward and began to pull Nancy away. ¡°What are you doing? Let go of me! I don¡¯t need you to interfere!¡± Jasper didn¡¯t say a word, he simply forced her into the passenger seat. Chapter 295 Chapter 295 Chapter 295 Bone Marrow Transnt Nancy sat in Jasper¡¯s car, refusing to back down. Even during their past arguments and silent treatments. when they were dating, he had always been the one to give in. However, Nancy¡¯s determination remained unwavering. With her gaze fixed on the car window, Nancy spoke defiantly, ¡°Who told you to care about me and my child? You¡¯re already engaged, Mr. Smith. Be careful not to let your fianc¨¦e find out about this. It¡¯s better for us to keep our distance.¡± Jasper focused on the road ahead, driving attentively. ¡°Who shamelessly imed she wanted to be Mrs. Smith at the Smith residencest time? There¡¯s no need to put on an act in front of me now.¡± Through gritted teeth, Nancy resentfully replied, ¡°If it weren¡¯t for Ollie, do you think I¡¯d want to go to the Smith residence and endure your grandmother? Besides, you haven¡¯t cared for our child all these years, so you don¡¯t need to start now. Just leave us by the roadside. I¡¯ll find my own way backter.¡± Jasper¡¯s gaze turned icy, his voice cold. ¡°I¡¯ve had mywyer draft a custody agreement. You won¡¯t be able to fight me. The court won¡¯t award custody of a child to a mother with mental illness.¡± ¡°So, you n to let Eileen raise this child and let Ollie call a stranger ¡®mom? Jasper, I¡¯m not dead yet! So what if I¡¯m mentally ill? What about you? How good are you? Don¡¯t forget that you¡¯re also a madman!¡± Nancy sneered. T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. Nancy hit the nail on the head, for he was indeed a madman. Nancy looked at him, a smirk tugging at the corners of her mouth. Her voice was calm and unhurried. ¡°Jasper, haven¡¯t you realized it yet? The current Ollie is you from the past. Meanwhile, Eileen¡­ is the Ruth from years ago. Don¡¯t forget how she destroyed your family back then. From now on. Eileen will be no different from her, simrly destroying us.¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Jasper mmed on the brakes forcefully. Nancy almost suffered a hit while cradling Oliver. She protected the child¡¯s head. ¡°Am I wrong? What did we do wrong back then? Even if someone did something wrong, it would be your grandmother. If it weren¡¯t for her constant obstruction, we would have been together long ago, and Ollie wouldn¡¯t have had to endure all this.¡± ¡°Eileen has never been a homewrecker, nor will she ever be one. You can neverpare to her. She won¡¯t scheme and plot like you all the time.¡± Jasper drove them to a private hospital funded by the Smith family. Oliver was taken into the examination room. After making a phone call, Jasper walked over to Nancy with an indifferent expression. ¡°The Smith family¡¯s stance is clear. This child cannot stay with you any longer. I¡¯ve arranged for a bodyguard. From now on, you are not allowed in the hospital without my permission.¡± As he spoke, he pulled out a check for thirty million from his pocket. This money is enough for you to live on for the rest of your life and remarry.¡± ¡°No way.¡± Her eyes zing scarlet, Nancy reached out and tore the check to pieces. It seemed as though her actions were within Jasper¡¯s expectations. He merely watched her hysterical antics, letting her do as she pleased. 1/3 ¡°All you¡¯ve ever wanted is the title of Mrs. Smith. Your feelings for me have never been about love. Have you ever considered if you would still be so relentless in pursuing me if I weren¡¯t the president of Smith. Corporation, Nancy?¡± Nancy was taken aback by his words. Jasper continued, ¡°Not everything in life has to bear fruit. Eileen is a choice I made while fully sober. Conversely, you¡­ just happened to appear at the right moment and offered me a sliver of warmth. Your slightest kindness, however insignificant, I took it as everything. Back then, we were still young and reckless. From the very beginning, our meeting was a mistake, and I¡¯ve been paying for it ever since. I had a car ident because of you and was paralyzed for five years. Back then, I sought treatment to stand again for her sake, and that remains true even now. My biggest concession is to allow the child to return to the Smith family. However, the title of Mrs. Smith will absolutely never be yours.¡± He left with his hand in his pocket. Nancy copsed onto the ground, all the light in her eyes extinguished, leaving nothing but destion. I¡¯m the only one living in the past! Our meeting was a mistake? What about our child, then? Is his only worth to secure the position of Mrs. Smith for Eileen, who can¡¯t bear children? What gives? This is my child, a child I gave birth to. Why should she benefit from it? Even if I were to die, I would never allow them to be together in this lifetime. As the nurse listened to the hysterical cries echoing from the corridor, she was chilled to the bone. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that Jasper brought the woman over, the hospital would have called the police, suspecting a disturbed individual on the loose. Upon learning about Oliver¡¯s illness, La hurriedly called a taxi and rushed to the hospital. Oliver was initially suffering from a fever and cold but was suddenly diagnosed with leukemia. Fortunately, the diagnosis was timely, and the hospital quickly searched for apatible bone marrow. It was none other than Jasper whose bone marrow waspatible. Generally, the sess rate of bone marrow matching was rtively high among those with blood rtions. Jasper did not refuse but agreed to the surgery that very night. They were wheeled into the operating room together. Nancy came uninvited and waited at the doors of the operating room. La was also filled with fear and trepidation, ceaselessly praying inwardly, hoping for the safety of both father and son.. Fabian said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Old Mrs. Smith. The chances of the surgery being sessful are high. Mr. Smith will be fine.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t tell Eileen about this matter for now. Let her study abroad in peace. Knowing her, she will definitely return to the country when the timees,¡± La ordered. Otherwise, the child¡¯s existence wouldn¡¯t be able to remain a secret for long. She¡¯s the person Jasper cares about the most. They¡¯ve finally gotten together, but until everything has been resolved, we can¡¯t reveal a thing to the public. Upon catching sight of a figure approaching, La turned her gaze towards them. Her expression. immediately turned cold. ¡°Why are you here?¡± Nancy nced at the words above the doors of the operating room, which were shing red, indicating that surgery was in progress. ||| 2/3 dys she was missing, but she seemed somewhat unrecognizable now. ¡°Why can¡¯t I be here? Ollie is my son. You have no right to prevent me from being here, Mrs. Smith,¡± Nancy retorted. La let out a cold snort. Just then, Fabian¡¯s phone started vibrating. Upon seeing the caller ID, he turned around and walked away without hesitation. He made his way to a quiet balcony. ¡°Ms. Eileen!¡± Fabian greeted. On the other end of the phone, Eileen was tidying up the hotel room, putting on a duvet cover while bncing the phone on her shoulder. ¡°Mr. Sherwood, I remember Jasper is visiting soon, right? When have you scheduled his visit? I need to make some arrangements.¡± Fabian nced back at the tightly closed operating room. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ms. Eileen. Mr. Smith¡­ might not be able toe over for quite some time. Thepany¡¯s affairs are tooplicated. Rest assured that once everything has been taken care of, Mr. Smith wille over immediately, Ms. Eileen.¡± ¡°Oh, I see. Sounding somewhat disappointed, Eileen stopped what she was doing and sat on the bed. ¡°Tell him not to rush over to keep mepany. I¡¯ll be fine on my own. I¡¯ve familiarized myself with all the nearby routes these past few days, and I won¡¯t get lost. I apologize for disturbing you thiste.¡± ¡°Not at all, Ms. Eileen,¡± Fabian replied. When Eileen ended the call, the doors of the operating room swung open, signaling the end of the surgery. Chapter 296 Chapter 296 Chapter 296 Another Spender In The Future The surgerysted for four hours, and after a night had passed, both individuals were out of danger. When Jasper woke up, it was already daytime. Fabian stood by the bedside, updating him on Oliver¡¯s situation. ¡°The child is now out of danger. The illness was detected in time, and he should recover about three months after the surgery. There¡¯s no need for you to worry, Mr. Smith.¡± Jasper pondered for a moment. ¡°Three months¡­ that¡¯s exactly when Eileen will return.¡± Jasper coughed a few times, and as he was about to get out of bed, Fabian immediately stopped him. ¡°Mr. Smith, you can¡¯t get out of bed yet. You need ten days to recover.¡± ¡°Did Eileen¡­ did she¡­ call?¡± When he thought of her, besides the urgent desire to see her, what overwhelmed him more was the panic of how to exin things to her. The matter of the child was like a ticking time bomb.. Fabian pursed his lips lightly and slowly said, ¡°An hour before the surgery, Ms. Eileen did indeed call. I exined that you have important matters to deal with at thepany and that you¡¯ve been resting under the doctor¡¯s orders recently. Ms. Eileen is understanding, and if she had known, she would have also understood your decision. So, you need not worry. Once he gains custody, things with Ms. Eileen will be as they were before.¡± Having just undergone surgery, Jasper looked somewhat pale. His short, choppy hair hung low over his forehead, obscuring his obsidian eyes. He appeared deep in thought, his eyes seeming as if they had been stained with ck ink, a darkness that lingered for a long time. He wasn¡¯t sure whether keeping this secret from Eileen was right or wrong. No sooner had Fabian finished speaking than Nancy, who had been listening at the door, concealed the gloom on her face and walked in with the thermos in her hand. ¡°I heard you¡¯re awake. Thank you for what you did for Ollie. I¡¯ll try to repay the medical expenses gradually. This is the pork and bean stew I made. The doctor said it¡¯s good for your health.¡± Nancy spoke as she set down the items. She nced emotionlessly at the person on the bed, and without. lingering, she had already left. ¡°She has changed.¡± She used to be arrogant and domineering, fearing no one. From a young age, Nancy lived in a chaotic and unsafe civilian district wherew and order were not well maintained. Street thugs and hooligans were amon sight. Yet, she dared to walk alone at night and even had the courage to confront a gang of ruffians single-handedly. Even if she lost, she never bowed her head in defeat. However,pared to her past, she had be much more restrained now. Fabian responded, ¡°Not only Ms. Mulligan, but you have also changed. Initially, Old Mrs. Smith was worried about your illness, and you would lock yourself in your room all day, refusing toe out. If it weren¡¯t for Ms. Eileen, you might still be trapped in his past shadows.¡± As Jasper thought of her, his lips unconsciously curled into a smile. ¡°Indeed, if it weren¡¯t for her, perhaps I wouldn¡¯t have made it to this day.¡± Jasper turned his head to look at Fabian and said, ¡°Go and arrange the discharge procedures to return to 1/3 ¡°But you¡¯ve just had surgery- Jasper cut him off, ¡°Just do it.¡± Fabian nodded helplessly. ¡°Okay.¡± Mr. Smith probably doesn¡¯t want to stay in the hospital because of Nancy. Now that he is with Ms. Eileen, it would indeed be inappropriate for the two to meet. Afterpleting the discharge procedures, Fabian left the hospital, pushing a wheelchair. The bodyguard also entered the hospital ward where Oliver was staying. A burly man warned, ¡°Mr. Smith. instructed that when he wakes up, a nanny from the Smith family will take care of him. Ms. Mulligan, it would be best if you leave on your own in an hour. If you don¡¯t, we will personally escort you out.¡± After the bodyguard left, Nancy forcefully smashed the soup bowl in her hand against the door, her gaze fierce. She watched the car drive away from the window and said, ¡°Jasper, don¡¯t think you can get away with this by just leaving. I¡¯m telling you, it¡¯s far from over between us.¡± Five dayster. Primas za A private room in Nightshade Club. The card table was upied by two men and two women; Eric and Zachary were opponents. The chips in front of them had piled up like a mountain, all won from their hands. ¡°You were kicked out of Caerulus Corporation by Jasper, but you don¡¯t seem angry at all. In fact, you look quite happy, huh?¡± Eric remained silent. Interestingly, Zachary kept losing one game after another, and the hundreds of thousands he had were all won by Eric. Now, he was left with only a few small changes, and he had lost interest in ying cards due to his continuous losses. Feeling agitated and craving a smoke, Zachary could only hold a cigarette in his mouth to satisfy his addiction, as Eric couldn¡¯t stand the smell of smoke. It¡¯s really quite strange. I¡¯ve never won against him even once. Just then, the waiter outside opened the private room door. Daisy nced around the private room, taking in the various women of all types. She noticed how they were almost clinging to Zachary, dressed in revealing clothes, a hint of dissatisfaction in her eyes. ¡°What did you want to see me about?¡± she asked. A yful smile tinted Zachary¡¯s handsome eyes. ¡°Come here, Babe. Help me draw the cards. I need to use the restroom.¡± Daisy hadn¡¯t expected this person to be here as well. Eric had always masqueraded as a high-ss gentleman, his every move reflecting the demeanor of a modest and reserved man. Now, it seemed he had shed his disguise. A few buttons of his ck shirt were undone, and his tie was casually loosened. ||| 2/3 Zachary rarely saw him in this state. He thought he had gotten used to pretending, forgetting that he used. to be a ¡°scoundrel.¡± Upon seeing the person in front of him, Eric put his cards together and leaned back, tilting his head to look at Zachary. ¡°Did youe here just to disgust me?¡± It was unclear whether this remark was directed at Daisy or Zachary After all, Daisy¡¯s appearance was personally crafted by Zachary, bearing a remarkable resemnce to Eileen, approximately seventy to eighty percent alike. Now that Eileen was overseas, it just so happened. that Daisy hade over. Daisy was so furious she wanted to confront him. ¡°Who are you calling disgusting? We haven¡¯t even resolved the issue concerning my brother yet.¡± No matter how much she investigated Chandler¡¯s situation, the oue remained unchanged. Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. With the current need to handle the chaos at thepany, Daisy simply didn¡¯t have the time to delve into this matter. Eric took out a cigarette from his pocket and ced it in his mouth. The woman beside him, who was there to apany him while drinking, picked up a lighter. Shielding the me with her hand, she lit the end of his cigarette. The man exhaled a puff of ke smoke, a wicked smile ying at the corners of his mouth. He nodded. ¡°If you seek revenge, provide evidence. Otherwise, I don¡¯t have time to waste on you. The color in his eyes darkened, and he discarded the worthless hand of cards he held, reaching for a lighter on the table. The money that was originally concealed under the lighter was also thrown out. ¡°Consider these as a tip.¡± ¡°Thank you, Mr. Snow,¡± said the two hostesses. Zachary pleaded, ¡°No, don¡¯t go! With Eileen not here, I brought her to keep youpany, to add some excitement to your life. If you leave, I¡¯ll lose hundreds of thousands. How am I supposed to win it back?¡± Eric was about to leave. When it came to money, he wasn¡¯t going to make a fuss about it for now. After all, there might be an additional spender in the future. He stopped beside Zachary, ncing at him sideways. ¡°Including the interest, it amounts to a total of four hundred and fifty thousand. Go and get the check tomorrow.¡± ¡°Hold on! Have the courage to exin yourself before you leave¡­¡± Chapter 297 Chapter 297 Chapter 297 Only The Dead Can Keep Secrets Losing interest suddenly, Zachary walked over and sat down on the couch by himself. The two women also took the initiative to snuggle into his arms. Daisy bent over, advancing in annoyance, her Chanel bag swinging toward him. Zachary blocked it with his hand, ¡°Stop making a scene here. There was a hint of anger in his voice. Daisy really didn¡¯t understand why he had any right to be angry with her. ¡°Did you call me here just to embarrass me, to use me as your toy?¡± Zachary, with one leg casually crossed over the other, reached out and pulled the beauty next to him into his arms. ¡°Toy? I don¡¯t mean it that way. Ms. Hackett, you should know that we¡¯re all adults here. We¡¯re just having fun, so don¡¯t take things too seriously.¡± ¡°You jerk. You¡¯ve been avoiding the issue, and you just don¡¯t want to take responsibility for what happenedst time. You know that was my¡­¡± She struggled to finish her sentence. Zachary, however, didn¡¯t see it that way. ¡°Your what? Your first time? So what if I know? Am I supposed to take responsibility for every woman¡¯s first time?¡± He said with a smirk. ¡°We¡¯re all adults here, Ms Hackett. It¡¯s about time you change your old-fashioned, stubborn mindset. It¡¯s all a matter of mutual consent.¡± Daisy had never known that the man she had remembered for so many years turned out to be a frivolous, incorrigible womanizer. She was trembling with anger, and with a sense of humiliation, she stepped forward and pped him across the face. Zachary, you b*stard. You¡¯ll get what¡¯sing to you sooner orter.¡± With augh rather than anger, Zachary said, ¡°I¡¯ll take your words to heart. I¡¯ll be waiting. Watching her turn to leave, the man waved at her retreating figure. It was half past ten in the evening. On his way to the airport, Eric¡¯s car was suddenly forced to stop by a red Maserati. Even the best driving skills didn¡¯t require a million-dor sports car. T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. The ck Audi had a noticeable scratch, stripping off ayer of its paint. With the car window half-open, Eric parked the car and leisurely lit a cigarette. From another red sports car, a young girl dressed mboyantly stepped out. Yvette shouted at the person in the car. ¡°Get out of the car. I won¡¯t let you leave. I forbid you from going to Pillere to find Eileen. She is already my brother¡¯s fianc¨¦e. You and her, it¡¯s impossible. Leave with me now. I won¡¯t let my brother know about this.¡± ¡°If you¡¯ve got so much free time, you¡¯d be better off reading more at home.¡± Eric exhaled a puff of smoke in irritation. His mature and handsome face didn¡¯t reveal much emotion, but his icy voice clearly onveyed his impatience. ¡°Indeed, I am idle. But who can me me when I¡¯m in love with you? Otherwise, I¡¯d just be wasting my time, repeatedly making a fool of myself in front of you,¡± said Yvette, who had always approached him with an open heart and clear intentions. These words were only being spoken now because Yvette was afraid of hearing a rejection from him. ||| 1/3 She would rather be misunderstood by others than disrupt the delicate bnce of their rtionship, which was as close as it was distant. Every time, it was always her who deliberately drew close, maintaining an intimate distance with him. She skillfully made sure he couldn¡¯t shake her off. Relying on her status, she continuously clung to his side. However, when it came to matters of the heart, who could ever be certain? She found herself falling in love, and she didn¡¯t want to deceive herself any longer. Even if her mother disapproved, she was destined to be entwined with this person for life. Eric had lived for twenty-six years. Let alone his pursuers, just the number of confessions he had received. alone was already more times than he could count. Eric tossed his cigarette butt out of the car window, unbuckled his seatbelt, and stepped out. Without uttering a single word, he walked straight up to her and grabbed her by the throat, gradually tightening hist grip. Yvette could sense the murderous intent in his eyes. At that moment, she truly believed he would kill her with his own hands, yet she didn¡¯t struggle at all. ¡°I¡¯ve made it clear. I am no gentleman, and I don¡¯t appreciate others meddling in my affairs. Next time¡­ I can¡¯t guarantee that you will live to see the next day¡¯s sun, Ms. Friedman.¡± The moment Eric saw her about to faint, he loosened his grip. ¡°Cough, cough, cough¡­¡± Yvette clutched her chest, gasping for air, and bent over, coughing non-stop. Tears of helplessness welled up in Yvette¡¯s eyes as she watched the car drive away. She copsed to the ground, drained of all strength. She gritted her teeth, and despite enduring all hardships, she stubbornly staggered to her feet. She got in the car and quickly chased after him. But this time, Yvette lost the chase. She looked around the bustling airport, but she never found him in the crowd. Initially, when Eileen was relentlessly pursuing him, he never had any feelings for her. Now that Eileen was set to be the future Mrs. Smith of the Smith family, he was the one who couldn¡¯t stop pursuing her. It seemed as if Yvette had made up her mind about Eric¡¯s intentions. Knowing that his target was Eileen, she quickly booked a flight to Pillere. Little did she know that all of this was part of Eric¡¯s n.. Eric, who had already returned the same way, received a call from Gavin in just fifteen minutes. Gavin said, ¡°Yvette has already bought a ticket to Pillere. The flight, withyovers, will take twelve hours.¡± Eric replied, ¡°Understood.¡± Ever since Eric stepped down from his position as the CEO of Caerulus Corporation, Yvette would seize every opportunity to appear before him, spending almost all her time tracking Eric.. ||| 2/3 Will insisted that he should move back permanently. By the time Eric returned to Unde Mansion, it was already half past eleven at night. It seemed as if Elsie had been waiting for a long time. The car keys in hand were tossed toward the foyer. Elsie was eating the sour plums in her hand. These plums were specially air-freighted from overseas by Will. She was watching prenatal education videos, feeling bored. ¡°In a few months, this child will no longer be subject to abuse. I have served as your instrument of revenge for long enough, haven¡¯t I? Tomorrow, Will is organizing a press conference to reveal your true identity and confirm your position as the eldest son of the Swan family. I believe¡­ at that time, you wouldn¡¯t want. her to discover your rtionship with her.¡± Eric replied, ¡°Can¡¯t you wait a little longer?¡± ¡°I have vowed to make the Swan family regret their existence!¡± Elsie turned around, her hand cradling her heavily pregnant belly. As she saw Eric¡¯s hatred fade, a smile appeared on her lips. ¡°Of course, except for you.¡± ¡°Eileen¡­ I don¡¯t think I need to handle her myself.¡± She stepped forward, skillfully buttoning up his ck shirt, her eyes filled with seduction and allure. ¡°We have been partners in crime for so many years. No one knows you better than I do. If you desire to inherit his fortune, why not¡­ take me with you and let me be your woman. That would be the ultimate punishment for him. Without us lifting a finger, a mere provocation would be enough to make him suffer and die. This way¡­ we won¡¯t have to get our hands dirty, and no one will be able to trace it back to us.¡± Eric narrowed his dangerous eyes, his hand gripping the back of her neck. Elsie winced in pain, tilting her head back to meet his gaze. ¡°Your caution and n are indeedmendable,¡± she said. ¡°If something happens to Will, she will return on her own, saving me the trouble of searching for her. But¡­ how can you be certain that after Will¡¯s death, I won¡¯t harm you? After all, only the dead can truly keep a secret.¡± Chapter 298 No Fun If You Die So Quickly Chapter 298 No Fun If You Die So Quickly The curriculum at Pillere Art Academy was far from easy. Eileen led a monotonous life every day, filled with eating, sleeping, and attending sses. Seizing the rare opportunity for exchange and learning, Eileen dedicated most of her time to her studies. Every afternoon after school, Eileen would call Jasper to chat about everyday matters. Gideon took his students to participate in an international paintingpetition. Apart from meal times, they rarely saw each other. As soon as Eileen returned to the hotel, she retreated to her room, asionally keeping up with the news from back home. As she was about to put down her phone, a push notification caught her eye. It was news about Caerulus Corporation. She clicked on the news and immediately noticed the prominent headline: Caerulus Corporation Merges with Smith Corporation Subsidiary. The feast hosted by the acting CEO of Caerulus Corporation ended with his dismissal due to improper management. Currently, Clifford Quayle, the director of the nning department of Smith Corporation, has taken over Caerulus Corporation. ording to an internal interview from Smith Corporation, the primary reason for the merger with Caerulus Corporation was the former CEO, Eric, failing toplete the project development on time. The consequences could cost Caerulus Corporation hundreds of millions inpensation, and there¡¯s also a risk that the legal representative might end up in jail. In order to ensure the project started on time, Caerulus Corporation had no choice but to merge with Smith Corporation¡­ Hulbury News reports and continues to monitor this issue. After considering the text, Eileen came to one conclusion-Eric had been sidelined. If he resigned, it would mean that he would no longer have any influence over Caerulus. Corporation. Caerulus Corporation would still be a Swan family business. Suddenly, Eileen felt clear-headed. Eric was the sessor her father had nurtured and the one he valued the most. This incident must have been a huge blow to her father. To avoid any contact, Eileen turned off her phone immediately after reading the news. With Eric¡¯s capabilities, even without Caerulus Corporation, he would find other ways. However, this was also good, as it could dy the time Eric used to wreak havoc on the Swan family. At this moment, the dealer was indeed getting in touch with Eileen, but the person reaching out to her was not Eric but Elsie. Eileen spent a restless night, her heart filled with unease. Today, Delh was preparing for a competition. Recently, she rarely came home, leaving Eileen alone most of the time. That day was the weekend, so there was no need to go to school. At eight in the morning, there was a knock on Eileen¡¯s door. She had just finished freshening up and went to answer it. ¡°Grayson?¡± Grayson¡¯s expression was serious as he held a ne ticket in his hand. ¡°Eileen, why didn¡¯t you answer your phone? It seems like something has happened at your home.¡± Upon hearing the news, Eileen was¡¯ momentarily taken aback. ¡°What¡­ What did you say?¡± Grayson replied, ¡°Yesterday, a person named Elsie called Professor Combs¡¯ mobile phone, saying that your father suddenly fell ill and was taken to the hospital. Upon hearing this news, Professor Combs immediately arranged a flight for you at noon. There¡¯s still time, so you should quickly pack up. I¡¯ll drive you to the airport.¡± Eileen didn¡¯t pack anything. In a hurry, she hopped into Grayson¡¯s car, and they left. She turned off her phonest night, which was why she didn¡¯t receive Elsie¡¯s call. She never expected thatst night¡¯s unease was a harbinger of things toe. The weather today was far from good, with rain falling and the sky gloomy, mirroring her inner state. It was as if her heart was shrouded by ayer of dark clouds that just wouldn¡¯t disperse. On the road, Grayson also tried tofort her. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Eileen. Nothing bad will happen. Professor Combs has already arranged your leave.¡± Eileen hummed in response. Why would Father fall ill at this time? ording to the timeline, it should have been after my university graduation. Could it be that Eric elerated his actions, which is why it happened earlier? In his previous life, Will¡¯s death came without any warning. He passed away suddenly one night. It was the day she was preparing to marry Eric. The traffic was rather heavy on the road. An hour and a halfter, Grayson dropped her off at the airport and then left. Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. Eileen didn¡¯t wait long at the airport before she boarded the ne ahead of schedule. The flight to Hulbury would take over eight hours. She should be able to reach the hospital by around nine o¡¯clock in the evening at the earliest. At the same time, Eric also received news of Eileen¡¯s return to the country. Serene Hospital. Willy unconscious on the hospital bed, a breathing mask covering his face. The heart rate) monitor showed normal readings, yet there was no sign of him waking up. In the exclusive VIP ward, Zachary was the one receiving treatment this time. In an unspoken understanding between the two, Zachary calmly discussed Will¡¯s current situation. As Zachary was writing his report, he scoffed without lifting his head. ¡°You really went all out just to get her back. You¡¯ll stop at nothing to achieve your goal. I really underestimated you before.¡± Eric asked, ¡°How long until he wakes up?¡± Zachary put down his pen with a smile, crossed his legs, and said, ¡°That¡¯s up to you. What do you want him to be? After all, I owe you a favor.¡± Eric turned around, his inscrutable gaze carrying a hint of scrutiny. A smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. ¡°So, you¡¯re willing to do anything for my sake, and my ns against the Swan family just happen to align with your interests? Are you also thinking of using my methods to deal with the Swan family? But as far as I know, the Swans had no prior involvement with you.¡± Both of them were testing each other; both were as cunning as foxes. It was as if they were ying some twisted game. The two men grabbed into each other¡¯s weaknesses. In another sense, Zachary was indeed on the same line as Eric, being in the same boat. A hint of curiosity flickered in Zachary¡¯s eyes. ¡°Tsk, don¡¯t give me that look. I¡¯m not Eileen.¡± He approached Eric, his gaze fixed on the view beyond the floor-to-ceiling window. ¡°I don¡¯t owe you any favors. Once I¡¯ve repaid you, we¡¯re even. Next time you need my help, it won¡¯t be as simple.¡± ¡°Whether we hold a grudge or not, there¡¯s one thing you must remember-as long as you destroy the Swan family, I will always support you. Otherwise¡­ I wouldn¡¯t have dedicated so many years to studying medicine. Regardless of the reason, even if you investigate, you won¡¯t find anything. It has been many years, and everything has already been destroyed and erased by him.¡± He had promised her that he wouldn¡¯t take any action against the Swan family. However, he never promised not to seek assistance from others. This was simply the consequence that Will himself had brought upon. ¡°He should regain consciousness in approximately two days. The medication he received earlier is not lethal, but upon waking up, he may exhibit signs of having suffered a stroke. If you want him to maintain his current condition, administer the medication once every three days. Overdosing him would result in a quick death due to poisoning, and that wouldn¡¯t be enjoyable at all.¡± That would be letting him off too easily. Around nine o¡¯clock, Eileen disembarked from the airne. In her hasty departure, she forgot to inform Jasper. He still remained unaware of her return to her homnd. I think I¡¯ll n a surprise for him. Eileen stepped out of the airport terminal. Amidst the hustle and bustle of the pick-up area, her eyes immediately caught sight of Eric, who was staring right at her. Eileen couldn¡¯t help but feel like she was being observed by a predator. She knew that returning to her home country was a trap, but she had no choice. After all, Will was her father, and he was ill¡­ She had toe back eventually. Chapter 299 Desire Eileen Chapter 299 Desire Eileen Eric opened the passenger door of the car, only to find that Eileen remained motionless. ¡°Where are the others? Why are you the only one here?¡± Eileen hesitated, reluctant to get in the car ¡°The matters of the household are not to be taken lightly Father is seriously ill, and we cannot let even a hint of this leak out. Also, don¡¯t expect an outsider toe to our aid ¡°Why are you so afraid that I will harm you?¡± Noticing his invasive and possessive gaze. Eileen took a step back. No matter how she thought about it, she felt that Eric¡¯s invitation was a trap she was being lured into. After the engagement banquet. Eileen hadn¡¯t seen Eric again. He had been relieved of his position, yet his face still bore an expression of calm and tranquility as if nothing had happened. ¡°Stop wasting time, and get in the car!¡± Eric¡¯s attitude changed rapidly, his narrowed eyes radiating a warning. Eileen was cautious and alert around him, but in the end, she still got in the car. Eric inched closer to her, and Eileen knew what he intended. She quickly buckled her seatbelt first, saying. ¡°I can do it myself¡± Eric¡¯s mouth curved into an inscrutable smile, his fingers lightly lifting a strand of her hair. ¡°Did you get a haircut?¡± With feigned calm, Eileen averted her gaze and casually responded. ¡°Yes, because it¡¯s too long.¡± In reality, she didn¡¯t cut much off, just the split ends caused by the weather. Who knew that Eric would pay such close attention? The more he behaved this way, the more Eileen felt a numbness in her heart. ¡°Don¡¯t cut it again,¡± he said, tucking her hair behind her ear. Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. Eileen gently moved his hand away. ¡°Eric, you¡¯re being too controlling. It¡¯s my hair, after all. Let¡¯s just focus on driving¡± ¡°Alright¡± Ericughed, his gaze casually drifting over her fair, delicate hand adorned with a simple silver ring. His eyes held a hidden tumult, like the vast sea stirring up colossal waves. He suppressed his emotions and quickly drove away from the airport. There weren¡¯t many people traveling by ne at night. Eileen was still not ustomed to the time difference in Hulbury. She was still very alert and fully awake throughout the journey. Watching the trees rapidly receding, Eileen suddenly spoke. Father has always been health-conscious, abstaining from smoking and drinking. How did he fall ill?¡± ¡°Are you suspecting me?¡± Eileen stated. ¡®Eric, you don¡¯t need to beat around the bush with me. I know you¡¯re behind this. I¡¯ve never understood why you won¡¯t let him go. Father had already nned to hand over Caerulus Corporation to you. Yet, why can¡¯t you let him be? Father values you more than me. I simply can¡¯t think of any other reason why you would want to harm our father.¡± In this life, Vera did not die. If Vera¡¯s death in the previous life was the reason for Eric to take action against the Swan family, then what about this time? Vera was perfectly fine. Eileen had changed Jasper and also altered the fate of Vera. Logically speaking, Eric had no reason to take action. In her previous life, she didn¡¯t understand. In this life, she still didn¡¯t understand why Eric chose to act this way. Eric drove the car closer to a fork in the road. This ce was devoid of surveince cameras and was perfectly concealed in the shadows. Even vehicles passing by with their high beams on would not easily spot it. He stopped the car. ¡°Don¡¯t you understand yet, Eileen? If one were to say that everything that I have done was all for you¡­¡± Upon hearing these words, Eileen felt it was so absurd that she almost wanted tough. ¡°You don¡¯t need to tell me all these grandiose words. You¡¯ve never done anything for the sake of someone else. Do you think I would believe what you¡¯re saying, Eric? Besides¡­ I don¡¯t need you to do anything for me right now. You have Vera and also Yvette¡­ Isn¡¯t that enough for you?¡± Perhaps he might even meet Sarah again soon. When the timees, will he still express these words to me? He always likes to treat me as an innocent child, using sweet words to deceive me. Eric looked at her leisurely. ¡°What should we do now if I want you again?¡± Eileen¡¯s eyes widened in an instant as she looked at him in disbelief. Suddenly, he reached out, pulling her toward him. The seatbelt that had somehow been unbuckled was now held by Eric, who also had one hand around her waist. His eyes seemed to hold a burning me. Seeing her startled and covering herself, he was reminded of the first time in the hotel when he had taken her and made her cry. He couldn¡¯t help but feel sad for her pitiful state. This made him feel a bout of dry mouth. It was also Eric¡¯s first time. Unexpectedly, once the line was crossed and the taste of intimate union between man and woman was experienced, the sensation was so deeply satisfying that it prated to the core. The urge to have her grew more and more intense. The allure of ying with womeny in power and status. No wonder so many people yearned for a ce in Hulbury. ¡°I¡¯m telling you. I¡¯ve already called Jasper beforeing here. If you darey a hand on me, he won¡¯t let you off.¡± Ericughed, looking at her flustered appearance. Suddenly, he found himself intrigued by something else. If his previous intention was to possess Eileen¡¯s body, then¡­ he was willing to spend more time to capture her heart. He desired her and wished he could savor her essence anytime, anywhere. Rather than repeatedly resorting to force, he preferred the girl before him to be as she once was, willingly giving her heart to him. ¡°Let¡¯s see, then, how he intends to make me suffer.¡± His voice became low and husky,ced with a sense of restraint. Eric¡¯s hand slid through her long hair, gripping the back of her head, his warm lips capturing hers in a kiss. Eileen struggled in vain until she felt the ring on her hand slip off. Suddenly, Eileen found an unknown strength and forcefully pushed him away. ¡°Give me back¡­ Give me back my ring.¡± Eileen was panting heavily; her clothes and hair were in disarray as if she had been through a rough ordeal. Eric lowered the window, pursed his lips, and threw the ring out of the window. A sharp metallic sound reverberated as the ring hit the ground. ¡°No!¡± Eileen stood up to retrieve it, but lost her bnce and fell onto Eric. ¡°What gives you the right to throw away my ring? Eric, have you lost your mind?¡± Eric held her tightly, wiping the moisture from the corner of her mouth. ¡°I will exin in the future. But for now, let¡¯s go home.¡± ¡°No, I need to find the ring,¡± Eileen said, flustered as she tried to get up. This is my engagement ring. If I lose it like this, how am I going to exin it to Jasper? Moreover¡­ there¡¯s only one of these in the entire Hulbury. Following that, Eric reversed the car, and Eileen fiercely clung to his chest as they sped off onto the highway again. No matter how she pounded on the car window, Eric resolutely drove away. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!