Chapter 63: Chapter 63

Chapter 63:

Harlan’s discomfort was immediate, given the blunt nature of his son’s inquiry. Taken aback, Eileen listened as Aaron clarified with earnestness, “I hope I haven’t crossed a line. I was wondering about Miss Curtis’s personal life—solely to avoid any imposition if she’s committed to her family or something.”

The underlying assumption was clear; Aaron’s directness sought to simplify, not complicate. Eileen, her cheeks warming slightly, took a moment before responding. “That’s very thoughtful of you. To be clear, I am married.”

“What?” Harlan’s shock was palpable. “Miss Curtis, there’s no need for pretense on your part—not at the expense of your integrity.”

Yet Eileen said with sincerity, “No, it’s the truth. I am indeed married.”

Harlan’s features were etched with disappointment. He pressed his lips together and offered Aaron a bitter smile.

Aaron gave a look to his father before pivoting to discuss his academic pursuits. During the dinner, Aaron and Eileen’s conversation mostly revolved around Aaron’s educational endeavors. Harlan, attempting to maintain his composure, seemed to be disappointed.

Alone with his wine, Harlan would occasionally steal glances at Aaron and Eileen, his expression a bittersweet tapestry of melancholy and acceptance.

Midway through dinner, Aaron excused himself to use the restroom. Harlan’s face had already flushed from the wine. He carried his glass over and settled next to Eileen.

“Are you actually married, Ms. Curtis?” he asked.

He knitted his brows together. Though forty, he seemed younger in his uncertainty. Eileen subtly moved her chair back to create some distance between them.

“Indeed, Mr. Clarkson. I am married,” she said.

Harlan sighed and reclined in his chair, glancing over his shoulder to ensure Aaron’s absence.

He spoke softly, a note of realization in his voice. “I’m beginning to see why Aaron’s performance at school is declining. An altercation with his peers left him labeled as one without a mother, which must have cut deep.”

Eileen had been privy to Aaron’s yearning for a mother.

Harlan cracked a slight grin and shared his thoughts. “He hopes you will fill that role. Yet, it might be best for you to stay as his mentor. If you were to become his stepmother and he didn’t like you anymore once we’re living together, it could complicate things.”

Eileen nodded. “You’re right.”

Taking a deep breath, Harlan met Eileen’s gaze. “What if you were his godmother?” he proposed.

Eileen was momentarily speechless. That seemed far-fetched, given she was not old enough to be Aaron’s godmother.

Harlan quickly added, “No need for worries. There’s no financial burden on you, and you wouldn’t be stepping into a parental role. Your guidance in his education is what we value. You could also be a friend and mentor.”

Eileen knitted her brows together, signaling doubt.

Harlan stood up abruptly, returning to his original seat. “Give it some thought, and let me know your decision when we meet again.”

No sooner had he finished than Aaron returned.

When they had finished eating, Harlan was adamant about escorting Eileen home.

Eileen declined with a polite hand wave. “Really, Mr. Clarkson, I’ll manage. The last bus will pick me up just over there.”

“I’ll take you to the bus stop then,” Harlan offered. “It’s late.”

Eileen accepted his offer and slid into his car.

Meanwhile, a figure lingered by a window on the second floor. He had a lit cigarette in hand, casting a faint glow.

Bryan’s eyes followed Eileen’s form, which the streetlight faintly outlined. She and Harlan seemed deep in conversation.

The young teenager peered out, his gaze lingering on Eileen as she laughed and chatted. Then, Bryan watched Eileen climb into the vehicle.

His expression grew troubled as he watched, the cigarette’s ember flaring briefly as he exhaled, and then the car was gone, swallowed by the night.

With a frown, he adjusted his tie, anger bubbling inside him.

“Why are you here, Bryan?” Vivian emerged and approached him. “Aren’t you enjoying your meal?”

She confessed, “It’s on me—I accidentally canceled our original restaurant booking. I assumed the dinner tonight was off when Eileen left. But I heard the client loved this restaurant, so I booked here.”

Bryan shrugged off her concern. “It’s okay.” He put his cigarette out and tossed it into the trash can, offering her a nonchalant look. “Should we go back now?”

At the bus stop, Eileen alighted from Harlan’s vehicle just as a bus arrived. Without hesitation, she boarded.

Beneath the streetlamp, her face was touched by a soft light, reflecting her peaceful enjoyment of the night’s stillness. As the bus made its way to a quieter part of town, she couldn’t help but feel uplifted.

The ringing of her phone shattered her peace. The call was from Emilio, Ruby’s doctor.

“Eileen, sorry to disturb you at this late hour,” Emilio said.

Eileen tensed up, her hold on the phone tightening. “Is my mother alright, Dr. White?”

Emilio paused for a while and replied, “She’s okay, but I have another concern. Have you offended someone?”

“What do you mean?” Eileen was taken aback.

A gust of night air danced through her hair, streetlights casting worried shadows in her eyes.

“Your medication has been switched to a trial variant. It costs a bit more than the previous one, but less than the standard treatment. The trial should last a few more months. But the director of the hospital suddenly asked me to change the price of the medication to that of the standard one,” Emilio said. After a pause, he added, “Her care costs around a hundred thousand dollars a month before the change. If we change the price, it could jump to seven or eight hundred thousand a month. Will you be able to handle that?”

Managing that was beyond Eileen’s reach. The two hundred thousand dollars a month before had already stretched her thin.

Emilio’s voice softened. “The medication’s success led me to believe the hospital wanted to end the trial sooner. But it turned out the director had singled out your mother’s bills for an increase; everyone else’s stayed the same…”

A heavy silence fell before Eileen mustered a response. “I’ll sort it out soon.”

“Three days is all I can give you,” Emilio said. “Settling your mother’s care is crucial. If you still want her to use this medication, you could pay a one-time fee of five hundred thousand dollars for the medication.”

With that, he ended the call.

Leaning her head against the window, Eileen’s gaze was distant, her thoughts a whirlwind.

Her account held only a hundred thousand.

Realization hit Eileen. Bryan hadn’t contributed to her finances after their intimate evenings this week. Torn, she agonized over what to do. Should she go and ask him for money?

The thought pained her. It was akin to selling herself. Yet, she saw an alternative. She intended to broach the subject with Bryan soon, figuring the right time might be in private moments. But Bryan was absent from Springvale Lane today. His car wasn’t there, either.

Restlessness plagued Eileen’s night, her mind captive to thoughts of Ruby’s health costs. At Apex Group, Eileen’s eyes found Bryan behind his office table. There he was, posture straight, lost in his work.

Nearby, Kian paused at Vivian’s desk and set down a box. “Don’t skip breakfast,” he reminded her. “I’ve got a midday meeting with Bryan. You’ll come with me.”

Vivian accepted the breakfast with a grin, her eyes meeting Eileen’s for a moment. Eileen turned away, retreating to the solitude of her office.

But Kian was quick to follow, halting the door’s swing with a swift move. Eileen had to let the door open. “You seem under the weather, Ms. Curtis. Anything on your mind?” Kian’s voice held a note of feigned concern.

He made himself at home, pulling a chair to sit opposite Eileen.

Eileen mulled over a nagging suspicion. Could Kian have been behind the change in the price of the medication? Eileen’s gaze sharpened as the thought took hold. Kian had the power to do that, after all.

“Don’t feel the need to keep your distance,” Kian said, his tone softening under the guise of compassion. “After all, we go way back. I’m here to help with any troubles.”

He paused, a calculated kindness in his eyes. “Yet, given your close work with Bryan, my involvement might stir the pot. Have you considered working for the Warren Group? We could offer you a fresh start—with a two million dollar incentive.”

The two million would barely stretch over several months of care.

Eileen’s response was icy. “Mr. Warren, Benjamin already does an outstanding job. I have no desire to step on his toes. I thought I made myself clear before, but let me lay it out again—I’m not interested in your proposal.”

Kian’s demeanor changed, his brow lifted, a sliver of a warning in his narrowed gaze. “Don’t test my patience!”

Eileen stood her ground. “For me to even consider the position, Mr. Warren, the compensation would have to meet my expectations.”

Her voice was unwavering. “It would have to be twenty million dollars. I’ll leave Bryan for that amount.”

She was well aware that Ruby’s ongoing medical expenses would need at least twenty million.

Kian’s frown deepened as he let out a mocking chuckle. “Really? Who do you think you are to demand twenty million dollars? Do you really think you’re worth that much?”

Eileen offered a measured smile in return. “Maybe I’m not worth twenty million in your eyes, but the value of your sister’s lifelong joy? That’s beyond measure. Think about that, Mr. Warren.”

With those words, Eileen pivoted gracefully and took a seat, her message resonating in the space between them.

The subtext was unmissable—if Kian wasn’t ready to meet her price, it spoke volumes about how little he regarded his own sister’s happiness.

Anxiety crept into Eileen’s grasp, moisture gathering in her hand as she held a pen. Kian rose suddenly, his voice ringing with finality. “Dream on then. We’ll just see how resilient you really are.”

As Kian left in a huff, Eileen let out a sigh of relief and reclined in her chair, the tension draining from her shoulders.

Her mind was a whirl of thoughts. She had played her card. But what good had it done?

Eventually gathering her composure, she stood up, grabbed a document, and made her way to Bryan’s office.

Sunlight spilled through the French windows, causing Eileen to narrow her eyes as she entered Bryan’s office.

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