Chapter 217: Chapter 217

Chapter 217:

Ruby sat on the sofa, smiling warmly at Benjamin. She gestured for Eileen to invite Benjamin to sit and signaled Bailee to fetch some fruit.

Benjamin set down his gift and said gently, “Mrs. Curtis, I just stopped by and will be leaving shortly.”

Bailee eagerly urged him to stay. “Just stay a bit longer! It’s getting dark. You can have dinner with us and leave afterward. Your flight is tomorrow anyway.”

Ruby quickly nodded, her subtle movements clearly expressing her wish for Benjamin to stay longer.

“I can’t; I have some matters to deal with tonight,” Benjamin insisted, his tone firm.

Bailee and Ruby then turned to look at Eileen, expecting her to persuade Benjamin to stay. Feeling the weight of their gazes, Eileen snapped back to the moment. After a moment of thought, she said, “He has other plans. We can always have dinner together another time.”

Ruby looked at Eileen with disappointment, and Bailee appeared puzzled as to why Eileen didn’t try harder to convince Benjamin to stay.

Benjamin offered a resigned smile and said, “Let’s plan to have a meal together another time.”

After exchanging a few more words, he bid them farewell and asked, “Eileen, could you walk me out?”

“Of course.” Eileen stood up and accompanied Benjamin to the door.

It was early evening, and the neighborhood was illuminated by streetlights. Eileen was dressed in a shirt and jeans, her long hair tied back in a ponytail. Benjamin noticed how much more mature Eileen seemed compared to her college days, and he felt a greater distance between them than during their last encounter.

Start your next adventure at gαℓησv𝒆ℓs․com “Have you decided to be with Bryan?” Benjamin stopped to look directly at Eileen.

Hearing that, Eileen paused and turned to face him. “Whatever decision I make, it’s after careful consideration, not on a whim.”

Benjamin studied her for a moment before letting out a deep sigh and looking away. “I can’t offer you my blessings. It seems we’re destined to be adversaries moving forward.”

“I won’t help you anymore. Take care of yourself.”

“Okay,” Eileen replied. Benjamin’s frankness was disarming; even if he were to do something unforgivable in the future, Eileen believed she might find it hard to hold it against him.

“Regardless, you’ve been a great help in the past, and for that, I’m thankful. If you need anything going forward, I’ll do my best to assist,” she added.

While she appreciated his support, she understood the importance of setting boundaries. She chose not to mention that Bailee was moving back to Onaland.

After seeing Benjamin off, Eileen quickly texted Huey as she walked back.

“Bailee is returning to Onaland next Monday. Please look after her for me.”

Huey responded almost instantly, his tone brimming with excitement as he asked how long Bailee would be staying in Onaland. Upon confirming that Bailee would stay there permanently, Huey sent several happy emojis.

After contemplating her thoughts, Eileen’s unease persisted, prompting her to provide Bailee with further instructions. She urged Bailee to avoid the Warren family and distance herself from Benjamin once she returned to Onaland.

Bailee replied, “If you hadn’t mentioned it, I might have forgotten that you and Benjamin have to sneak around just to remain friends.”

“Don’t consider him a friend,” Eileen said without hesitation. “Think of him as just another stranger.”

Bailee acknowledged her with a nod. “Understood.”

Their conversation was away from Ruby. Eileen glanced at Ruby, who was practicing walking by the windows, and suggested, “Spend more time with Mom tomorrow. I’ve arranged your flight for you, and I’ll drive you to the airport the day after tomorrow.”

After speaking with Bailee, Eileen returned to Bryan’s place. As she entered the villa, the scent of cooking wafted through the air. She switched to her slippers and noticed Bryan in the kitchen. Several dishes were already laid out on the table, and she walked over with a smile.

“Don’t come in here.” Before Eileen could step into the kitchen, Bryan stopped her. He remained focused on his cooking, not turning around, which led her to believe he simply didn’t want her in the kitchen.

“Let me help you,” Eileen offered.

“No, that’s okay.” Bryan finally turned, leaning back against the cupboard, his gaze landing on Eileen’s face. “Didn’t you invite Benjamin to dinner before he left?”

Eileen tensed, her smile momentarily faltering. After a few seconds, she couldn’t help but chuckle.

Bryan’s irritation was palpable. He remained motionless, a frown etching displeasure on his face.

“I did invite him for dinner, but he declined,” Eileen replied, deliberately choosing words she knew Bryan wouldn’t like to hear. “He works for Kian, so he felt that getting too close to me might cause problems. I didn’t pressure him.”

She gave Bryan an innocent look, her eyes slightly narrowed, noticing even the faintest twitch of his facial muscles.

Bryan gritted his teeth and pressed his hand against the edge of the cupboard. “Haven’t you thought that being close to him might also bring you trouble?” His tone shifted from annoyance to something more threatening.

“What trouble could I possibly face?” Eileen teased playfully, stepping closer, wrapping her arms around his waist, and resting her chin against his chest. “I have you to protect me.”

Why would she need to worry about trouble when her protector was right there?

She felt warmth on her wrist as Bryan tried to pull her hand away, but she tightened her embrace.

“Don’t be mad. I was just joking,” she said, rising on her toes to kiss him on the lips.

Bryan replied, his tone gentler, “I’m not mad, just a bit upset.”

“You’re jealous,” Eileen teased, her eyes lighting up at his reaction. “Don’t you know what it’s like to be jealous?”

She could immediately tell that the man holding her stiffened.

Jealous? Bryan recalled often feeling this way when he had been in Onaland.

“Benjamin has made it very clear to me that he’ll continue to work for Kian. He knows we’ll be at odds from now on. There’s nothing more between us,” Eileen clarified, her body bathed in a halo of light reflecting from the ceiling.

Her lips, shiny and red, moved as Bryan inhaled her subtle scent. He tightened his embrace around her slim waist, leaned down, and kissed her forehead gently. His kisses trailed from her forehead to the corners of her eyes, from the tip of her nose to her lips. His fingers ran through her hair, and as the kiss deepened, his breathing grew heavy.

The simmering sound of the soup on the stove filled the room. The warm air from the soup swirled around them, and Bryan entertained the thought of having sex with Eileen right there.

Suddenly, the sound of the door interrupted them. In the next moment, Milford burst into the villa. Eileen quickly stepped away from Bryan’s embrace. Despite their composed exteriors, their breaths were still uneven. Eileen’s lips were slightly red and swollen from being bitten the night before, and her ears flushed. To an observant person like Zola, it was clear what Eileen and Bryan had been doing.

The desire in Bryan’s eyes was apparent—a look Zola had never seen before.

“You’re being too reckless,” Zola said, diverting her gaze from them to Milford, who looked visibly uncomfortable. Milford seemed to realize something as his ears turned red. “It’s almost time for dinner. How could I have known…” His voice carried a hint of complaint.

“Have you two sorted things out?” Bryan asked. Seeing Eileen’s embarrassed expression, he acted as though nothing unusual had happened. Zola smiled at Eileen and replied, “What does it matter if we haven’t? Milford has decided to stay with you. I suppose he’ll be troubling you from now on. Don’t worry; I’ll cover all his expenses.”

After saying that, Zola turned to Milford and told him to behave. Eileen recalled Bryan’s advice to Milford, urging him to discuss his living arrangements directly with Zola.

“I don’t need your financial support,” Milford said sharply to Zola. “Using your money means you get to meddle in my life. If I don’t take anything from you, you’ll have no right to interfere!”

After saying this, Milford walked into the living room, with Zola following behind. They exchanged a few more words before their conversation escalated into another argument.

Bryan turned down the heat on the stove and faced Eileen. “They’re loud, but it’s better they sort this out themselves.” Whatever conclusion they reached was theirs to make; as outsiders, Bryan believed he and Eileen shouldn’t interfere.

Eileen looked at Bryan and questioned, “Why did you agree to let Milford stay here?” She knew Bryan was kind, but he wasn’t the type to make such a decision lightly. There were many ways he could have helped Milford, but he had chosen the one that could offer him some much-needed warmth.

“No reason,” Bryan replied, turning to check the soup. Memories flashed through his mind, bringing a barely noticeable sadness to his eyes.

Before Eileen could say anything, the debate in the living room grew louder. She approached the kitchen door and saw Milford standing on the couch, towering over Zola. He shouted angrily, “I didn’t ask you to meddle in my life! Mom and Dad didn’t put you in charge of me. If you don’t like me, just stay away!”

“Stay away from you?” Zola retorted sharply, pointing a finger at him. “Why do you have to be so arrogant? Do you think they genuinely want to look after you? Without me, do you think they’d care whether you were alive or dead?”

Zola’s harsh words made Eileen’s heart sink. Suddenly, the sound of the stove turning off caught Eileen’s attention. Before she could look back, Bryan brushed past her.

“Step outside with me,” Bryan said to Zola, taking her arm firmly and guiding her out, his expression stern. Milford, still on the couch, watched as Bryan escorted Zola away. His gaze then shifted to Eileen.

Their eyes met, and Eileen noticed that Milford’s were reddening. She walked toward him slowly. Before she could reach him, he asked, “Why did you bring me back here? Is it because you see an opportunity to profit from tutoring me, or is it for Zola’s sake?”

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