Chapter 122: Chapter 122

Chapter 122:

Eileen asked bluntly, “Judie has been fired. What’s your plan now?”

Several days had gone by since Judie was let go, yet she stubbornly remained in the city, even begging Roderick to ask Eileen for money.

But when she heard that Eileen was also quitting and planning to leave, she finally agreed to go back home.

“I’m getting ready to head back, Eileen. Here, take this money. It’s all I’ve got, and it’s the least I can do to help you out,” Roderick said.

He pulled a bundle of cash from inside his jacket, the bills catching the light in Eileen’s eyes. Eileen blinked twice, her lashes fluttering, and gave a small, relieved smile.

She pushed the money back towards Roderick and said, “No need; I have my own money, and you’ll need to spend a lot when you return. Keep it for yourself.”

“I’ll be staying in the old house; there’s not much to spend on. Just take the money.” Roderick stubbornly pressed the money into her hands. “I know I’ve caused trouble for you… But don’t hold it against Judie. She got manipulated by Vivian too. We come from a humble background; we can’t match the slickness of those wealthy folks.”

It wasn’t that they lacked the craftiness of someone like Vivian; it was that Roderick was simply less shrewd than Judie.

Eileen saw it all too clearly, but there was no need for her to spell it out for Roderick.

“Then think of it as me holding onto the money for you. If you ever need money, you can come and find me,” Eileen said.

She accepted the money without further protest and slipped it into her bag. “When do you plan to leave?” she asked.

Discover where it all happens: gⱯlnσν𝒆𝓁s․cøm “I’m catching the early bus tomorrow morning,” Roderick replied.

“Alright, take care on your journey,” Eileen advised, giving his shoulder a reassuring pat. The little boy she remembered from her childhood now stood half a head taller than her.

“Are you heading to the airport?” Roderick inquired, eyeing the luggage behind her.

Eileen nodded, and with a smile, pointed to his electric scooter. “Could you drop me off at the bus station?”

“Absolutely!” Roderick moved to her, hoisted her suitcase onto the scooter’s footrest, and climbed on.

He then patted the seat behind him. “Hop on.”

Eileen, somewhat hindered by her down jacket, managed to mount the scooter.

Ten minutes later, she was on the bus, gazing out the window.

Roderick stood at the bus stop, his eyes lingering on her until the bus began to move. At that moment, Eileen saw a tear escape Roderick’s eye. He quickly wiped it away and waved enthusiastically, his bulky clown jacket making him look even larger.

Two hours later, Eileen arrived at the airport, suitcase in tow.

Benjamin and Bailee were already there waiting.

Bailee couldn’t hold back her tears.

Eileen said, “Why didn’t we take Wish Land? Isn’t this what we always wanted?” She smoothed Bailee’s tousled hair. “The hospital has arranged for Mom to go to Wish Land. We’ll get settled, and this can all be together from now on.”

Bailee knew that Eileen had married Bryan and that Eileen loved Bryan deeply.

After three years together, the love had grown deep, almost ingrained in Eileen. It wasn’t simple for Eileen to just pack up and leave.

Eileen’s eyes reddened as she glanced at Benjamin.

Catching her look, Benjamin held her gaze for a brief moment before he dropped his eyes and then turned to Bailee. “Why don’t you go ahead and check in? I need to talk to Eileen alone for a bit.”

“Okay.” Bailee took her suitcase to the check-in counter.

Now, only Eileen and Benjamin remained.

Eileen was dressed in a black wool coat, skinny jeans, and a white shirt.

Her face was bare, just as it had been during their university days, and Benjamin noticed the familiar look.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t help you,” Benjamin said.

Eileen smiled as she shook her head. “Even if you had tried to help me, it wouldn’t have made a difference. Not even ten more people could have stood up to the Warren family’s pressure.”

“Then leaving is probably for the best.” Benjamin glanced at the passersby and casually asked, “Are you heading to Wish Land?”

“Yes.” Eileen moved to stand in front of the window, gazing at the snowy landscape nearby. “Since winter started, Onaland has had a lot of snow. Wish Land is different; it’s spring there all year, and it never snows.”

Benjamin stood next to her, hands in his trench coat pockets. After a moment of silence, he ventured, “Is… Is your husband not going with you to Wish Land?”

“Husband?” Eileen was taken aback, and she took a moment to grasp his meaning.

After six years of marriage, she still found it hard to get used to Bryan being her husband.

She looked at Benjamin in surprise.

Benjamin raised an eyebrow and said, “I saw a marriage certificate in your bag on graduation day. Is your husband Julio?”

Julio Ferguson had been popular at the university, and Eileen had once joined others in collecting his photos.

However, she didn’t really like him. Ruby had teased her once, suggesting she should bring him home.

She had tried to explain, but Ruby had been unconvinced.

“No.” Eileen hadn’t expected Benjamin to think she had feelings for Julio. “And… I’m divorced now.”

She looked down, a wave of pain washing over her.

Benjamin’s eyes darkened, his tone laced with a strange edge.

“Really?”

“Thanks anyway.” Eileen had never expected she would stand there talking to Benjamin calmly.

And Benjamin had even helped her.

Benjamin said, “I already told you there’s no need to thank me. I just gave you a few tips. I wasn’t much help.”

As the airport loudspeaker announced boarding details, reminding them it was time to head to the waiting hall, Eileen said, “When Jonathan used Bailee to threaten me, you were the one who helped me handle it, right? So, I should thank you.”

“That incident?” Benjamin thought back and replied, “That was Mr. Dawson’s doing. I couldn’t do much, so I turned to him.”

Hearing that, Eileen’s body stiffened. She clenched her hands into fists in her pockets.

The image of Bryan and the uncontrollable anger he had displayed as he walked away flashed in her mind.

She bit her lower lip, numb to the pain, until she tasted blood.

Benjamin added, “Still, he only helped because it was Jonathan. If it had been the Warren family, the result would have been clear, so leaving was the right decision for you.”

Benjamin analyzed it very rationally.

He even managed to pull Eileen’s logical side back to the forefront. Eileen knew that Bryan helping her didn’t mean she was on par with Vivian in Bryan’s heart.

Eileen had buried Bryan’s offer to be with her deep in her heart, treating it as if he hadn’t meant it seriously.

“Goodbye.” When Bailee came back, Eileen waved at Benjamin and quickly led Bailee toward the waiting area.

Benjamin watched Eileen until she turned the corner and vanished from sight.

On the plane, Eileen gazed at a photo of Bryan on her phone.

She had snapped it casually during a meeting. His gaze was downcast, his eyebrows slightly knitted, highlighting his straight nose and thin lips.

Each detail was perfectly distinct, permanently imprinted in her mind.

She sighed deeply, deleted the photo, and also removed Bryan’s contact information from her phone, even though she had memorized his number long ago.

At the Apex Group headquarters, Raymond walked into the office and was immediately hit by a strong scent of smoke. He coughed as he approached Bryan, who hadn’t put down his cigarette for days.

He said with respect, “Mr. Dawson, this is Eileen’s resignation letter. The manager of Vicin Mall sent it here. He didn’t feel right approving it…”

“Resignation?” Bryan sneered, snuffing out his cigarette and taking the resignation letter.

The neat handwriting was familiar.

Raymond said, “I discovered that Eileen has already booked a flight.”

Before Raymond could finish, Bryan interjected, “That’s enough.”

His face grew cold. “Focus on work matters.”

Raymond quickly switched to another topic. “There are some big disagreements among the senior executives at Apex Group about where to locate the new project. They’re completely divided, and it looks like it’ll need your final say.”

In the haze of smoke, Bryan’s gaze shifted slightly. “Any proposals for Wish Land?”

“No,” Raymond hesitated. “Wish Land is too remote, and…”

“Then we’ll go with Wish Land,” Bryan stated firmly, his decision made in an instant.

Raymond struggled to speak his persuasive words, only managing to say, “Understood.”

He watched as Bryan lit another cigarette, chain-smoking intensely.

He sighed in his heart.

A year later…

In November, Wish Land retained a touch of warmth. Eileen, dressed in a floral dress, walked from the educational institution to the Fred Hotel. In just five minutes, sweat formed on her forehead.

She stood outside Room 208 at the Fred Hotel and knocked. A waiter responded by opening the door.

“Hello, I’m here to deliver an invoice to Denzel Vance,” Eileen said.

Since arriving in Wish Land, Eileen had set up an educational institution, offering tutoring for students of different ages, both individually and in groups, as well as creating online educational content.

Her life had been busy yet fulfilling, and she had adapted well to her life in Wish Land.

As for certain memories in her mind, they were fading, except for the faces of some unforgettable people.

The table inside the room buzzed with businesspeople clinking their glasses and talking. Eileen’s eyes settled on the empty main seat, draped with a black, custom-made suit jacket adorned with a familiar logo.

Standing by the window was a figure, his back to her, silhouetted faintly by the dim light, exuding a familiar aura.

“Eileen, over here.” Denzel rose from the chair beside the main seat and walked around the table toward Eileen.

Eileen turned her gaze quickly, greeting Denzel with a smile. “Mr. Vance, here’s the invoice for your daughter’s one-on-one tutoring sessions. I’ll start teaching her next week.”

“Thank you for coming all this way.” Taking the invoice from Eileen, Denzel exchanged a few more pleasantries.

Eileen nodded, smiling, as they set time for her to tutor Denzel’s daughter.

Then, feeling it was time to leave, Eileen let her gaze drift once more to the corner. The figure seemed to be on a call. Turning away, she left the room.

As she stepped out of the Fred Hotel, she felt slightly dazed.

Flashes of some memories flickered through her mind. Then, her phone rang.

Regaining her focus, she walked down the steps and swiped her finger across the screen to answer the call.

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