Chapter 164: Chapter 164

Chapter 164:

In the quiet garden, Arthur’s voice, though not loud, cut through the stillness like a sharp blade, catching everyone’s attention instantly.

Bryan’s gaze darkened as he took a cigarette from his pocket. He walked to the roadside to smoke. Raymond hesitated, unsure whether to follow Bryan or talk to Eileen. Eileen ended the call and approached the trio.

“Are you leaving the hospital?” she asked Raymond.

“Yes.” Raymond nodded with a smile, then turned to glance at Bryan. Bryan stood under the streetlight, a solitary figure enveloped in smoke. His silence was deafening, his gaze fixed elsewhere.

“You can hurry back now; it’s late,” Eileen said, her heart sinking as she glanced at Bryan. It was just a glance, but his image etched itself into her mind. After thinking for a while, Raymond decided to leave. “Ms. Curtis, you should go back and rest, too,” he said.

Milford chimed in, “Don’t linger outside at this hour, especially dressed like that.” With that, they departed, leaving Eileen alone with Bryan. Bryan remained motionless, a half-smoked cigarette in his hand.

Eileen wondered whether Bryan wanted to finish his cigarette before leaving or if he had something to say to her. She didn’t leave either, her hands clutching her cell phone, her fingertips pale. As she contemplated speaking, the ringing of her phone interrupted her thoughts—a video call from Arthur. She frowned and declined the call.

However, Arthur persisted, calling again.

“What’s wrong?” Bryan crushed the cigarette butt against the tray of a nearby dustbin, his gaze meeting Eileen’s with a quizzical tilt of his head. “Are you avoiding the call because I’m here?”

“Of course not,” Eileen quickly denied it. She hadn’t planned to answer Arthur’s call regardless. She hadn’t agreed to answer Arthur’s video call, after all.

gαℓησν𝒆𝓁s․com is your fiction sanctuary Observing the sardonic twist of Bryan’s lips, Eileen suddenly understood something. Bryan flicked the almost spent cigarette into the trash, hands sliding into his pockets as he turned and walked away. After a long while, Eileen took a deep breath and made her way back to the ward.

Arthur bombarded her with more messages, questioning her why she had dismissed his video calls. Eileen brushed him off, citing her family’s sleep as an excuse. Then, she asked him about the identity of the person who had been impersonating her. Arthur proposed to visit her at the education agency on Monday to discuss it further.

It appeared that Arthur saw this as an opportunity to have more interaction with her; he didn’t intend to tell her directly. But since Arthur chose to meet at the education agency, a location that posed no threat, Eileen agreed.

As two days flew by, Eileen found herself on a weekend evening, leaving the hospital and strolling towards the intersection, a sudden realization dawning upon her. Her luggage was still at Bryan’s place, and with Raymond discharged from the hospital, it was clear she couldn’t continue living at Pianoforte Villas.

Yet, remembering Bryan’s retreating figure from that night, Eileen felt a knot of uncertainty tighten in her chest. She couldn’t fathom how she would broach the topic with him. She reached out to Raymond via WhatsApp first, probing for any insight into Bryan’s mood.

Raymond replied that Bryan had gone out for dinner with Jacob and Milford, likely returning home late. Left with no other choice, Eileen decided to head back to her own place for the time being, planning to retrieve her belongings from Bryan’s house when she found the opportunity.

On Monday morning, she dressed in a pair of loose jeans, a crisp white shirt, and a beige windbreaker. Her hair was tied back in a ponytail, a few strands cascading over her shoulders. Opting for a natural look, devoid of any makeup, she exuded an aura of youth. But her eyes betrayed a hint of unreadable emotion, adding an intriguing mystique to her demeanor.

Arriving at the education agency, she was greeted warmly by several colleagues at the door. With a smile, she made her way straight to her office, eager to tackle the tasks left untouched from the previous week.

Around ten o’clock, Arthur messaged her and asked her to go downstairs. Glancing out the window, she spotted his car, recognizing him as the sole occupant. She rose from her desk, donned her coat, and descended the stairs, approaching Arthur’s car with measured steps.

“Mr. Blake,” she greeted, bending down beside the vehicle.

“Get in the car,” Arthur gestured.

Eileen furrowed her brow and said coldly, “You can just tell me that person’s name. No need for me to enter the car.”

Arthur said, “Back at the café, I misjudged you and mistook that person for you. I played dirty, and for that, I apologize. I see now, you’re not that type of woman.”

Despite his flaws, Arthur was a playboy. He knew how to navigate the intricacies of female interaction. He knew that a woman like Eileen couldn’t be forced. He thrust the car keys towards Eileen and said, “Take them. I’m not kidnapping you or anything. I just need a witness for what’s about to go down.”

After hesitating for a few seconds, Eileen accepted the keys and slipped into the driver’s seat. As soon as she got into the car, a suffocating cloud of perfume assaulted her senses, making her recoil with a frown of distaste. Suddenly, she found herself appreciating the pleasant scent of Bryan more.

“Wait and see.” Arthur closed the window, pulled out his phone, opened WhatsApp, and dialed Danielle for a voice call. A few seconds later, the call connected, and Danielle was clearly speaking in a hushed tone. “Arthur, why are you calling me now?”

“I had a friend buy you a bag overseas, but I couldn’t deliver it myself. He’s waiting outside the education agency with it, in a black BMW. Just go out and get it,” Arthur replied. Upon hearing that, Danielle’s voice brimmed with excitement. She promised to head out immediately before ending the call.

Eileen suddenly realized something. “Is she an employee of my education agency?” After pondering for a brief moment, Eileen’s mind settled on a particular individual. A few minutes later, Danielle emerged from the education agency. Spotting the car, she hurried over, tapping on the window.

As the window rolled down, Danielle said with a friendly smile, “Hi, Arthur told me to—” But she stopped abruptly as she caught sight of the occupants in the car, her expression shifting in an instant.

“Why don’t you finish your sentence? Feeling guilty now?” Arthur exclaimed, his hand reaching for the door, ready to get out. Reacting on instinct, Danielle turned on her heel and dashed back into the education agency, her high heels clicking against the pavement in a comically awkward manner.

Realizing he couldn’t catch up with Danielle, Arthur resigned himself to the situation. “The first time I came here to see you, she claimed to know you well. It turns out she gave me her WhatsApp contact, telling me that it’s yours,” he explained.

“I see.” Eileen nodded, her expression somber. Danielle’s flirtation with Arthur was of no concern to Eileen. But now, Danielle had created a significant problem for her, and she knew she had to deal with it.

Eileen told Arthur, “Thank you for letting me know. I’ll handle it.” She then reached for the door handle, only to find it locked. Turning her gaze to Arthur, she realized he had locked the car door.

“Wait, there’s something I need to tell you,” Arthur said, turning to face Eileen directly. “Do you know who told me about your job here?” Given Arthur’s influence, it wouldn’t have been challenging for him to uncover this. If he hadn’t delved into her personal details himself, then who had informed him?

Eileen frowned slightly, releasing her grip on the car door. “Mr. Blake, if you have something to say, spit it out. No need to dance around the topic.”

“Alright, I’ll cut to the chase. It’s Emmett’s mother. She urged me to pursue you. Seems she believes you’re influencing her son and wants to cause you trouble,” Arthur replied.

Karla? In an instant, Eileen pieced together the situation. Arthur was not stubborn. If he couldn’t win her over, he would have set his sights on someone else. So Karla must have played a significant role in Arthur’s persistence.

“The Bryant family holds considerable sway around here. If they decide to make things difficult for you, you’ll be at a disadvantage. Perhaps it’s worth weighing the options. If you choose to be with me, I can ensure Mrs. Deleon won’t be able to touch you,” Arthur proposed, his tone persuasive.

Upon hearing Arthur’s proposition, Eileen fell silent for a few moments before she asked, “Be with you? In what way?”

“We’re both adults here. You should know what I’m suggesting, and… I believe you’re wise enough to make this decision,” Arthur replied. He wouldn’t consider marrying someone like Eileen, who lacked a powerful family background.

After a pause, he continued, “In reality, for someone like me, marriage is merely a formality. Even if I were to marry, I’d still have freedom outside the bounds of matrimony. As long as you comply, I can provide you with anything you desire, aside from marriage.”

He wanted her to be his lifetime secret lover. Eileen was taken aback, her thoughts reeling. Was she destined to be some man’s clandestine affair for the rest of her life?

“Thank you for your ‘generosity’,” Eileen replied, her tone laced with sarcasm. “But I’m not the woman you think I am. I’m not in need of money, and I’m certainly not afraid of Mrs. Deleon or anyone else. I’ll relocate if I must, but I refuse your offer of assistance. Now, if you don’t mind, I have work to attend to.”

With a gesture, Eileen signaled for Arthur to unlock the car door. After a moment’s hesitation, Arthur said, “You could get married or find a boyfriend in the future. Plus, you could lead your own life and benefit financially from me. Why not consider it?”

“What you said may bring joy to someone like Danielle, but it’s insulting to me,” Eileen said firmly. “Different personalities lead to different perspectives and stances, so you and I will never see eye to eye on this matter.” Growing impatient, Eileen rapped her knuckles on the car door. “Unlock the door.”

Ignoring her request, Arthur spun around and retrieved a large bouquet of roses from the backseat, thrusting them into her arms. “I refuse to believe there’s a woman who doesn’t appreciate money. You’re only saying that because you haven’t experienced the happiness it can bring. Take these flowers and get out of the car!” Then, he reminded her, “Don’t you have the car keys?”

A realization struck Eileen—she had indeed taken the car keys when she entered the vehicle. In her frustration upon seeing Danielle, she must have put the keys somewhere, and now, she had no clue where. Observing her predicament, Arthur unlocked the car door. He told her to get out of the car with the flowers while he searched for the keys himself.

Eileen stepped out of the car, clutching the bouquet. As she turned around, her gaze fell upon a car parked outside the education agency. Through the partially open window, she caught a glimpse of a man’s angular profile.

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