Chapter 307: Chapter 307

Chapter 307:

The female doctor paused briefly after treating Dalores’ wounds, then placed two more ointments on the table.

“Use these twice daily. She needs to rest for at least a week,” the doctor instructed.

After giving her instructions, the doctor departed. In the dimly lit lounge, the figure on the bed appeared exceptionally delicate.

Julio watched her for a moment before tossing his cigarette into the trash and making his way to his office.

“I have a meeting,” he muttered before walking out.

Once he was gone, Dalores opened her eyes. Tears gathered and rolled down her face.

She struggled to put on her torn clothes and limped out of the office, enduring the pain.

She didn’t look back as she left.

Hurrying away, she failed to notice the person observing her from a window outside the office. His gaze was cold and detached.

Meanwhile, Eileen and Josue had two additional meetings, with Wayne present. Following thorough discussions about the project, Josue agreed to sign the contract.

It had only taken two weeks to finalize the agreement, and Eileen felt fortunate.

But Josue knew luck had little to do with it. Bryan had played a pivotal role in making it happen.

Josue emailed the signed contract to Bryan and video-called him late that night.

gαℓησν𝒆𝓁s․com, home to unforgettable stories The light in Bryan’s room was still on, revealing a corner of a wooden bookshelf. It was clear he hadn’t retired for the night yet.

“Just tell me. What’s going on?” Josue asked, taken aback. “Is Apex Group going under? You can’t sleep because you’re worried?”

“Stop beating around the bush. Did you sign the contract?” Bryan’s voice was calm but firm as he absentmindedly stroked the spine of a book with his fingertip.

He was in West Villas, a place he hadn’t visited in a long time.

It felt slightly unfamiliar. Eileen hadn’t come here often, yet her presence seemed to linger in the space.

“Yes, I signed it. Don’t I always follow your directions?” Josue replied with a hint of frustration.

Josue gave a wry smile. “Aren’t you swamped with Apex Group’s matters? How do you find time to interfere here?”

His tone was laced with subtle curiosity, probing for details about Bryan and Eileen’s connection.

Bryan didn’t take the bait. “Don’t release the rest of the funds yet, and keep the promising projects on hold. Transfer them back home when the time is right.”

“It’s fortunate to have you as a business partner, yet unfortunate to have to dip into my profits to assist you,” Josue sighed deeply.

With Bryan refusing to open up, Josue decided to drop the subject.

After ending the call, Bryan sat still in his chair, his gaze distant and unfocused.

It felt like he had forgotten the life he’d lived before Eileen had entered it.

Chronic sleeplessness had left its mark on him, his face looking more worn and tired than ever.

He opened a book to pass the time, flipping through its pages until a letter slipped out.

It fluttered onto his lap.

His eyes narrowed as he instantly recognized Eileen’s handwriting.

With a slight frown, he picked up the letter with his slender, clean fingers.

His breath hitched as memories came rushing back.

He could almost pinpoint when she had left it there.

It was a simple white A4 paper with neat black handwriting.

Although the words were few, Bryan read them with great attention, his gaze lingering on every letter.

It took about ten minutes for him to finish reading the letter.

She had written:

“Mr. Dawson, I regret entering and exiting your life in such a manner. I never had any expectations of being your wife, yet I was compelled to sign a contract with your grandmother during difficult times. I don’t expect you to understand my hardships, but I only hope you’ll allow me the opportunity to earn a living after I leave Apex Group. I’m sorry. —Eileen.”

There was a subtle undertone of melancholy in Eileen’s words. It had been difficult for her not to feel disheartened at that time.

She had been forced to marry him merely to cover Ruby’s medical expenses.

Even when the truth had come to light, her primary concern had been about survival.

Whether she was dealing with Vivian or him, Eileen had no other option but to persevere. Her only goal had been to sustain herself and avoid falling into poverty.

The events that unfolded after she had slept with him had been beyond her control.

When he realized that Eileen was the woman he had been married to for seven years, his astonishment was quickly overshadowed by the anger of discovering that she had agreed to bear a child in exchange for a billion.

Had he taken even the slightest interest in his nominal wife over those years, their story might have been different.

Perhaps their paths wouldn’t have led to such a tragic outcome.

The plea expressed in her letter stirred memories of their past together in Bryan’s mind.

Things were progressing smoothly overseas. Eileen had effectively managed a significant project, and Ferguson Group’s branch was earning widespread recognition.

Minor projects were also moving forward seamlessly.

In addition to supervising project development daily, Eileen was also under Ruby’s vigilant watch to ensure the safety of her baby.

Now in her third trimester, Eileen’s figure had noticeably changed. Even her bulky down jacket could no longer hide her pregnancy.

She seldom visited her office at Ferguson Group, opting to work remotely instead.

Sometimes, Bailee would seek her advice on matters concerning the education agency, but Eileen was too preoccupied to dwell on thoughts of Bryan.

Nevertheless, she couldn’t shake off the eerie feeling that Bryan was somehow nearby.

That feeling frequently disrupted her sleep.

Initially, she attributed her restlessness to jet lag to ease Ruby’s concerns. But it soon became clear that it was more than that.

“If something’s bothering you, you should talk about it. Don’t keep it to yourself,” Ruby said, concerned that stress might affect the baby.

Eileen remained silent for a moment before shaking her head.

It felt as if she had countless things to express but no idea where to begin.

“Love isn’t something that fades easily,” Ruby continued, gently patting Eileen’s hand. “It takes time, and you need to open your heart and be ready to move on. I understand what it feels like to be unloved. It’s tough, but I’m here to support you.”

Ruby was hopeful that the birth of the baby might help Eileen refocus her attention.

“Okay,” Eileen responded with a weak smile, gripping Ruby’s arm and staring at the floor, her expression devoid of emotion.

Roderick had been puzzled about why Eileen and Bryan hadn’t gotten married. He eventually asked her about it.

When Eileen revealed to him that the wedding wouldn’t happen, she could hear his quiet sobs through the phone, though he didn’t ask any further questions.

Later, Phoebe sent her a video showing Judie aggressively confronting Zola. It was clear that Judie had received money from Zola, but the reason behind it remained a mystery.

Eileen had been monitoring Roderick’s situation and noticed that he was still seeking manual labor jobs every day.

Whenever a job offering good pay for manual labor became available, employers would reach out to him directly.

So, Judie had taken the money and left Roderick?

Upon realizing this, Eileen inquired about what had transpired between Roderick and Judie.

Roderick was unaware that Judie had received a large sum of money. He assumed she was still contemplating divorce.

However, three days earlier, Roderick had informed Eileen that Judie had given him some money to settle Denise’s loan.

Bagot had undercharged them by one hundred thousand dollars. That was when Roderick discovered that Eileen had provided Bagot with the extra amount.

He immediately declared his intention to return it to Eileen.

“Keep it,” Eileen said calmly. “Invest that money in starting a small restaurant.”

She had no plans to reclaim the money. Knowing that Judie had cleared Denise’s gambling debt brought her a sense of relief.

“Judie thinks there’s no future in South Town,” Roderick said. “She wants us to relocate to Onaland. We can work hard there, save up, and open a restaurant.”

Starting a restaurant in South Town would cost only one hundred thousand dollars, but in Onaland, it would require about six hundred thousand dollars.

However, by working diligently, they could raise the necessary funds within two to three years.

Eileen saw no reason to oppose the idea. She informed Roderick that she was working overseas but promised to join him for dinner when she returned.

Roderick didn’t press for more details, but when he shared the news with Judie, she was taken aback.

“Eileen’s abroad? Did she mention when she’ll be back?” Judie asked with curiosity.

“No,” Roderick replied.

Judie nudged Roderick’s shoulder and urged him, “Well, ask her!”

“We’re heading to Onaland to work on our own, without relying on my sister. So, whether she’s there or not doesn’t really matter,” Roderick said, bowing his head as he packed his belongings.

Denise’s opinion of Judie had significantly softened since she had helped clear her gambling debt.

Noticing that Judie seemed to have a strategy in mind, Denise pulled her aside.

“Judie, what’s our actual plan for Onaland?” Denise asked, lowering her voice.

They moved towards the corridor, whispering to ensure Roderick couldn’t hear them.

“What else can we do?” Judie replied with a shrug.

After receiving five hundred thousand dollars, she had spent a lot of time thinking about how to use it.

The sum wasn’t enough to buy a house in Onaland, and purchasing one felt unnecessary.

Judie didn’t see herself as business-savvy, but she believed Roderick’s idea to open a restaurant was promising.

Still, Judie suspected that the situation involving Eileen and Bryan’s wedding had something to do with her.

Concerned about the possibility of Eileen seeking revenge, she decided to hand over the money to Roderick.

By doing so, she aimed to put the money to good use while also safeguarding herself from any potential backlash from Eileen.

Upon discovering that Eileen had given Bagot one hundred thousand dollars, she quickly persuaded Roderick to relocate to Onaland.

Her plan was simple: distance herself from any possible fallout with Eileen while working toward a better future with Roderick.

Judie was well aware that Eileen cared about Roderick. She was certain that if they moved to Onaland and proved their worth, Eileen would continue supporting Roderick financially.

The idea of starting over in Onaland thrilled Judie far more than the notion of owning a small restaurant in South Town.

“Listen carefully,” Judie said sternly. “Once we’re in Onaland, you’ll follow my lead. If we want a good life, we need to stay on Eileen’s good side. Don’t do anything to upset her.”

Denise nodded quickly. “I understand. I’ll change for the better and stay out of trouble. Roderick mentioned that cleaners in Onaland earn two or three thousand dollars a month. That sounds good enough for me at my age.”

That afternoon, they purchased train tickets and headed straight to Onaland, where they rented an affordable two-bedroom apartment.

Roderick went back to his previous job delivering food.

With her connections from Apex Group, Judie managed to secure a well-paid job at a small company.

After weeks of being unemployed and under constant pressure from Roderick and Judie, Denise eventually found work as a cleaner.

While Roderick focused on saving up to open a restaurant, Judie waited patiently for Eileen’s return.

She firmly believed that once Eileen came back, she would have a chance at a better future.

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