Chapter 598:
Bryanâs longing to embrace her was palpable, yet he resisted the urge. âTaking me back would only prolong the heartache for you,â he said.
âThen why even bother talking to me now?â Eileen stood abruptly, her hands sifting through the scattered papers on the table. âYou always do what you want. My words wonât change a thing. Do you expect me to thank you for making me miserable?â
She scoffed and added, âYouâve made it clear that looking for you was a mistake. Just stop. Donât make me regret ever knowing you.â
Bryanâs hand stretched out slowly, reaching for her wrist, but Eileen slipped away with graceful agility.
His fingers barely brushed her sleeve as he watched her walk farther away.
Eileen said, âDonât worry. I wonât hold on to you. Whether you seek help or choose to let go, you donât need to stay in this place.â
With those words, she left the room swiftly.
The door swung shut with a soft click, obscuring Bryanâs sight of her completely.
Her retreating figure conveyed a sense of determined detachment.
In the evening, Josue and Jacob hurried to see Bryan.
âWhatâs going on?â Josue asked, passing Bryan a plane ticket. âEileen asked me to give this to you. Have you decided if youâre going back?â
Bryan took the ticket, his eyes briefly scanning it as his fingers traced its edges quietly.
Jacob sat beside Bryan, exchanging a knowing look with Josue. âWith his stubbornness? I donât think so.â
Mâáµ£â ᵤâdââââ áµ¢â gââââáµ¥âââ.ð¸ââ âCome on, guys. Enough with the games. Whatâs really going on? Did Eileen give you the ticket because she figured out youâre not really suffering from amnesia?â Josueâs anxiety was palpable as he scratched his ears and settled into a chair. âBryan, just tell me whatâs going on. Youâll regret not speaking up if you suddenly drop dead without a chance to clear the air.â
After a long pause, Bryan finally spoke. âEileenâs sadness wonât last. Gabriela will fill her life with joy, and sheâll move on. I can handle her forgetting me and moving forward, but I canât bear her resenting me.â
That kind of resentment was deep-seated.
Eileen wasnât being childish.
She was giving him one last warningâif he didnât stop, it would break her heart, and she would end up resenting him for life.
He couldnât bear the thought of her enduring such emotional turmoil.
Jacob suddenly understood and said, âItâs about control, isnât it? Sheâs not okay with you controlling her. If she ends up resenting you, thatâs on you. Itâs not that she canât accept you as you are now; itâs that you canât handle her resentment. Sheâs got you in a bind.â
After a prolonged silence, Bryan smiled suddenly, his gaze drifting to the sky. âThatâs right.â
After a sleepless night, Eileen awoke with a knot of tension in her stomach.
Despite her attempts to hide it, Benjamin sensed her unease.
âThe airportâs a fair drive. We should leave by noon at the latest. Iâll help you pack,â Benjamin said, setting his suitcase aside. âYou seem distracted; maybe youâll forget to bring Gabriela with you.â
Eileen shook her head firmly. âNo, I wonât forget. Sheâs my daughter.â
Benjamin focused on packing for both Eileen and Gabriela.
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