?Chapter 169:


    From her position inside the car, Eileen observed Bryan as he circled to the front of the vehicle and climbed into the driver’s seat. No sooner had Bryan ignited the engine than Jacob hastened toward them and tapped on the window. Bryan responded by lowering the window halfway. Jacob smiled at Eileen before addressing Bryan in a subdued tone, “I’ll look after Phoebe tonight. Feel free to enjoy yourselves.”


    “Is there anything else you’d like to add?” Bryan asked, his finger poised over the window switch, indicating his readiness to close the window. Jacob said, “Also, you don’t need to worry about the White family’s financial issues. I’ll handle the investigation. You’ve been putting in a lot of effort recently; it’s time for a break.” He then stepped back and waved goodbye to Eileen.


    Though not in the mood, Eileen tried to smile at Jacob. However, before her smile fully materialized, Bryan had already closed the window. With a quick adjustment of the steering wheel, he drove off.


    As they traveled in silence, Jacob’s mention of investigating the White family’s financial issues lingered in Eileen’s thoughts. It was peculiar for the White family to encounter such financial difficulties just after agreeing to coborate with Bryan. Eileen pondered who would dare to challenge Bryan as she studied his focused expression.


    “Have you been very busytely?” she asked.


    “Not really, but I’m definitely busier than you. After all, my nights aren’t spent at bars,” Bryan replied with a slight edge in his voice as he maneuvered the car past another vehicle.


    “I… I’m an adult. My social life is hardly your concern,” Eileen retorted. She softened her tone slightly, adding, “Thank you for earlier. Just drop me off at the next intersection. I can get a taxi from there.” Her mind was made up; she would not go to his ce with him.


    “Your thanks seem somewhat insincere,” Bryan remarked, stopping the car at a red light and ncing her way. Eileen’s appearance was striking; her crossed legs, entuated by the rising hem of her floral dress, revealed more than intended. Even though she had a lean frame, she had curves in all the right ces.


    As they neared the intersection, Eileen was about to remind him of her decision to go home. But to her surprise, he was already steering the car toward her ce. The remainder of the drive was enveloped in silence until the vehicle halted near Eileen’s ce.


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    Eileen expressed her gratitude once again as she reached for the door, only to find it locked. With deliberate calmness, Bryan lit a cigarette and cracked the window open. Turning to face her, he asked, “Are you really going to leave without inviting me to your ce?”


    “Sorry, but tonight’s no good,” Eileen responded curtly. They were both adults, and from their past encounters, Eileen knew that he was interested in sleeping with her. Inviting him to her ce would clearly imply an invitation to her bed.


    Eileen asked, “Do you have anything else to say to me?” Her clear eyes captured the reflection of his rxed posture as he leanedzily against the window, smoke curling up from the cigarette in his hand. He massaged the bridge of his nose, revealing the fatigue etched on his face.


    “You still owe me for thest one,” he said after a pause, taking a puff from his cigarette. Eileen was taken aback. Feeling a mix of annoyance and amusement, she pulled out a hundred-dor bill from her wallet. “Do you have change?”


    Bryan’s face darkened. “How much do you intend to give me?”


    “Fifty dors,” Eileen stated. The transaction was nothing but a pretense. So she intended to give him as little money as possible. Before she could think further, Bryan had already snatched the bill from her hand.


    The next second, he discarded his cigarette, closed the window, and unbuckled her seatbelt. With a firm grasp, he pulled her onto hisp. He then gently reminded her, “Lower your head.” Eileen instinctivelyplied, her heading close to his, avoiding any potential bump with the car.


    “Eileen, your obedience iscking,” Bryan whispered. His voice was soft, yet he made no further moves, his hands steady on her waist. As he tilted his head slightly, his Adam’s apple became more visible.


    “What… What do you mean?” Eileen’s pulse quickened.


    Bryan’s hold on her waist tightened. In a maic voice, he said, “When we were together, you were all I had. But now, you visit bars while I’m away. What’s your intention?” His words carried a tone of rightful questioning, somehow making Eileen feel guilty. She hadn’t realized that their rtionship permitted such inquiries.


    “It was just a curious visit with Phoebe, nothing more,” she rified sincerely. In such a situation, lying would have only worsened matters. Bryan snorted, then spoke in a low, husky voice. “So, how will you make it up to me?”


    “Keep the hundred dors,” Eileen responded promptly. Bryan frowned. He slid his hands from her waist up to her head and pulled her into a kiss. Their lips met, mingling the residual smokiness of his cigarette with the sweet cherry vor of her lipstick. Although the car was spacious, it still felt too cramped for them, especially with the lights from the nearby buildings making it hard to get into the mood.


    Taking a moment, Eileen collected her thoughts and steadied her breath. “I dislike outstanding debts. This kiss is enough to cover the fifty dors you owe me,” Bryan said, his eyes lingering on Eileen. Seeing the transfer of her lipstick onto his lips, Eileen quickly grabbed a tissue and wiped it off. She then got off hisp, straightened her attire, opened the car door, and swiftly exited.


    A small sense of triumph washed over her for having unlocked the car door earlier, though she was oblivious to Bryan having noticed her discreet action. Bryan was preupied with other matters tonight, so he had decided to let her go for the time being.


    Just as Eileen stepped inside her home, her phone rang. It was Phoebe, calling with a reminder. “Make sure to collect your bra from the balcony before Bryan sees it.”


    “I didn’t let him in,” Eileen told Phoebe while ncing out the window to see Bryan’s car still parked outside. Bryan was leaning his arm out of his window, smoking. He flicked ash from his cigarette and took another drag. Clearly, he felt the need to calm down a bit before leaving.


    “Really?” Phoebe sounded surprised. “So I set all that up for nothing?” Eileen sank into the sofa and lowered her voice. “Quit joking around. Phoebe, next time, try to see things from my perspective before doing something like that.” Eileen believed she couldn’t possibly be with Bryan. She was deeply tangled in her own feelings and wanted to break free, yet Phoebe was still nudging Bryan her way.


    “Don’t you like him?” Phoebe cut straight to the point. Eileen massaged the bridge of her nose. “Does that even matter?” After a brief silence, Phoebe responded earnestly, “It does matter. Bryan’s attitude toward you is obvious. Consider this: why would he pick the project in Wist Land if not for you? Do you honestly believe your two hundred dors could entice him to sell himself? There’s more you need to know. Jacob told me recently that Bryan’s feelings for Vivian had faded long ago. He only endured herpany because of his agreement with Kian, made to support Vivian through her depressive episodes.”


    Taking a moment to catch her breath, Phoebe concluded, “I truly believe he has developed feelings for you.” The notion that Bryan harbored feelings for her gently impacted Eileen, rendering her momentarily without words. She was aware of Vivian’s struggles with depression. She had assumed before that Ste was the main obstacle in Bryan and Vivian’s rtionship, which had caused Vivian’s depression. But it turned out that Vivian’s depression predated her return to the country and that Bryan’s involvement with Vivian was merely a facade to aid her recovery.


    Eileen was convinced that Bryan had been merely ying a role, whereas Vivian and Kian had thought otherwise. Phoebe continued, “You’re both adults. Given your intimacy, there’s no need for total avoidance. Give it a try. And don’t fuss over who wins or loses. Besides, Bryan’s not nning to go back to Onnd soon, so you can’t just wait for him to leave.” Then, Jacob’s murmurs came from Phoebe’s end before the call was abruptly ended.


    Looking out the window at the moonlight, Eileen’s expression was a mix of contemtion and uncertainty. If Bryan was not leaving anytime soon, she might have to give serious thought to their rtionship. The following day, while picking up Adalina, Denzelplimented Bryan’s character in front of Eileen, calling him a good man. His gaze implied that Eileen had stumbled upon something priceless. After talking with Denzel more, Eileen discovered the impact of Bryan’s words at the bar the previous night.


    Bryan’s deration had reached the ears of almost every notable figure in Wist Land. Everyone now knew that Eileen was his. Though Wist Land was far away from Onnd, those monitoring Bryan’s activities were now well aware of this news.


    In the Dawson Mansion, on the third floor, Z stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, wine ss in hand. The red wine caught the light as she swirled it gently. She nced at her phone, frowning as she read thetest updates. “Kian… You are incredibly useless,” she muttered, emptying the ss of red wine in one swift motion.


    A spark of curiosity then lit up her eyes. “I’m intrigued by what sort of woman Eileen is.” She wondered how Eileen had captivated Bryan’s heart. Without hesitation, she reached for her phone and made a call. “Expedite Bryan’s urgent tasks and arrange my travel to Wist Land,” she instructed.


    When Eileen went to tutor Milford, she didn’t see Bryan at Pianoforte Vis. She had nned to address the swirling rumors about them, yet she hesitated to meet him solely for this purpose. She resolved to wait for a more fitting moment.


    After the session, as she approached her home, she found Bryan perched on her doorstep with a cigarette in hand. Several spent cigarette butts were collected inside an empty water bottle near his feet. Holding her house key, Eileen paused, her eyes wide with astonishment upon seeing him.


    “Why are you still standing there? Aren’t you going in?” Bryan asked as he snuffed out his cigarette and tossed the butt into the bottle, rising to his feet and picking up the bottle. Eileen was skeptical of his motives for visiting sote, doubting it was merely for coffee or casual conversation. Nevertheless, she unlocked the door and, almost reflexively, fetched a new pair of slippers from the cab, setting them down by his feet.


    Bryan slipped them on and stepped inside, surveying the interior with a slight furrow of his brows.


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