Chapter 279: Chapter 279

Chapter 279:

At that moment, Denise’s words caused a mixture of shame and anger to wash over Roderick.

“I would never stoop to such disgraceful acts!” Roderick said firmly. “I have too much pride to do such a thing. To think that my own mother’s failings might drag my sister down, a sister I barely grew up with—how could I stoop so low? Listen, if I succeed, we’ll all enjoy the good life together. If not, then we’ll have to endure hardships. But I stand by my word: you two are with me; anyone who dares to mention my sister again will have to leave!”

Denise’s throat tightened, and her face turned red with emotion.

Judie trembled as her mind raced. What was she supposed to do now? Was she going to live a miserable life with Roderick from now on? Or should she just divorce him? Would Eileen really not help Roderick? What if Eileen were to give Roderick money later because she pitied him? Judie was left wondering if she could ever find a man as good as Roderick if she divorced him.

She was in a dilemma and didn’t know what to do.

“Judie, I’m not going to persuade you to stay. But if you choose to, I promise I will clear my mother’s debts within five years and build a wonderful life for us,” Roderick said. He was aware that Judie might not share his willingness to work toward settling his mother’s debts.

He pledged his commitment, aiming to share his future aspirations with Judie and unwilling to let her endure hardships without being fully informed. His promise also served as motivation for himself.

After some thought, Judie said, “I need some time to make a decision. I want to see if you can sort things out with Bagot first. If he says that debt’s going to spiral out of control, and you might never be able to pay it off… I’m not getting any younger. If I agree, I’ll be stuck with this for five years, and I’ll be in my thirties by then…”

“Sure,” Roderick responded, a bit of sadness in his voice, but he understood Judie. “I’ll take Mom back to South Town for now. You can make your decision after I sort things out with Bagot, okay?”

Let your mind wander with gⱯlnσν𝒆𝓁s﹒𝓬𝓸𝗺 Thereafter, he and Denise left, with Judie following closely behind.

Eileen drove them. Instead of returning to her place, she checked them into a cozy hotel for the night. Unbeknownst to Eileen, after she departed, Judie made her way back to her colleague’s home to await further news before making any decisions.

As the chilly early winter winds swept through the night, the cold seemed to seep into their bones. Bryan was still at his office, working late.

Having informed Bryan earlier, Eileen drove to Apex Group to pick him up.

There, she encountered Zola just as she finished work. Zola served as the general manager and second in command at Apex Group. She had been placed in the company by Brandon to monitor Bryan.

“Eileen, are you here to pick up Bryan after work?” Zola asked, holding her handbag as she and Eileen stood in the lobby.

Eileen replied, “Yes. I was nearby and thought I’d swing by. I just finished for the day.”

Zola nodded and said, “Yes, I’ve just wrapped up a meeting with Bryan. He’ll be here shortly.”

As they conversed, the elevator doors parted. Bryan stepped out of the elevator and approached, clad in a black suit beneath a dark blue trench coat. His features were sharply defined under the lighting, and he looked at Eileen with a soft expression.

“Didn’t you say you would work overtime tonight?” Eileen asked.

Bryan had informed Eileen that it would be a long wait, so she was actually surprised to see him this early. Bryan glanced at his watch before casually draping his arm around Eileen’s waist, indifferent to Zola’s presence.

“Grandma called earlier, insisting we join her for dinner. I forgot about it until she called me again just now, so I had to bring the unfinished work home,” he explained.

It was getting dark outside. Eileen sighed softly. “You should have told me about this earlier; I would have reminded you. She’s probably been waiting for ages.”

“She doesn’t mind waiting for me,” Bryan replied, turning to acknowledge Zola with a nod. While leading Eileen out of the building, he added, “All she wants to know is if you’ve handled everything. She’s eager to discuss wedding gifts with you tonight. As long as we go back tonight, she’ll be happy.” What he said was indeed true.

But Eileen still gently reminded him to inform her sooner next time and avoid keeping Stella waiting.

Whispering quietly, their silhouettes slowly melded into the neon-lit surroundings. Zola stood alone in the lobby, her face drained of color.

Discussing wedding gifts? There wasn’t much time left before December 6th.

Zola gripped her bag strap tightly, her fingertips growing pale. After a while, she finally retrieved her phone and dialed Lydia’s number.

When Eileen and Bryan arrived at the Dawson Mansion, darkness had completely enveloped the surroundings. Dinner had been prepared in the kitchen before seven o’clock. Upon their arrival, it was promptly served.

Stella inquired about the matter with Denise and also expressed her desire to invite Ruby to a meal tomorrow to discuss the wedding gifts.

She said, “It’s good that everything’s sorted out now. But just in case, I’d like to invite your mother and the others for dinner tomorrow night at Dawson Mansion. What do you think, Eileen?”

Stella hoped to avoid any unexpected complications, especially since Denise hadn’t yet left Onaland. If something went awry and Denise caused a scene at the hotel, she wouldn’t be able to give Eileen that money and gift again.

“Okay, it’s up to you,” Eileen replied, understanding Stella’s concerns well.

Stella said, “Perhaps you should check with your mother first. If she’s uncomfortable, I can find another place. But I do think this is the best option.”

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