?Chapter 206:


    “Not both,” Z interjected without hesitation. “I grew up with Bryan. We’re like… close siblings. He’s the one I’m closest to.”


    Eileen raised an eyebrow. “Then why are you asking me to reconcile with Kian? You know I can’t do that. Kian wants me to leave Bryan so that Vivian can take my ce, which Bryan would never agree to. If you truly want to help, you should persuade Kian to stop being stubborn because Bryan does not love Vivian.”


    Understanding Z’s purpose, Eileenid it all out. She stood up and picked up her phone from the table. “Sorry, I really have work matters to deal with now. If you have anything else to say, let’s discuss it tonight when Ie to your ce to tutor Milford. Is that okay?”


    Z quickly stood up, a smile of apology on her face. “Okay, you’re right. I didn’t think it through. I thought you might have another way to reconcile with Kian.”


    She followed Eileen out of the coffee shop. As they reached the door, Z spoke again. “Don’t take my earlier words to heart. Growing up in the Dawson family, I always had to read people’s faces, and it made me nervous about everything, just trying to get by. I won’t interfere in your matters anymore.”


    Eileen’s clear eyes reflected Z, who was bathed in sunlight and appeared confident. Z didn’t seem like someone who had grown up with so much anxiety. However, after years of being groomed as Bryan’s wife without inciting dislike from him or Ste, Z clearly had her own strategies.


    From Eileen’s perspective, while she couldn’t say she liked Z, she didn’t dislike her either. She resolved to remain polite.


    “Then I’ll see you tonight, Miss Murray. I need to get back to work now.” Eileen waved at Z and turned to leave, crossing the road to the educational agency, too busy to look back.


    Z got back into her car and ced her bag on the passenger seat. Herposed demeanor from earlier vanished. This had been her first “confrontation” with Eileen. Though it wasn’t a major issue, she felt outmaneuvered. She realized she had underestimated Eileen. But there was still time…


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    Just three days remained before the court session, and Eileen was fully engrossed in the affairs of the educational agency. Since Bryan was the one driving Eileen to work and back home, she had ample time to work during themute. However, this arrangement left Bryan deeply dissatisfied.


    With his current project running smoothly and having some free time on his hands, Bryan decided to go to the educational agency to wait for Eileen to finish work. However, just as Eileen was wrapping up her tasks, a minor issue arose in Bryan’s project, forcing him to leave to deal with it.


    “I’ll have Raymonde to pick you up,” he said to Eileen, already reaching for his phone to call Raymond.


    Eileen swiftly intervened, saying, “No need; it’s toote for him toe now. I’ll take a taxiter. You go ahead and deal with your work.”


    She believed the problem with Bryan’s project must be significant, considering he had to address it at this hour.


    Bryan frowned and nced at Eileen, then pocketed his phone and left in haste.


    Once Eileen finished her tasks, she prepared to leave for her tutoring sessions with Milford and Adalina. As she stepped outside, a taxi pulled up. She got in, giving the driver the address of Denzel’s home to pick up Adalina first.


    The driver, a man in his forties wearing a hat and mask, exuded an air of secrecy. A faint fragrance lingered in the car, emanating from a perfume hanging before the air conditioning vent. Eileen barely noticed it as she focused on organizing her students’ data on the online ss software, the matter demanding her full attention.


    Then, darkness enveloped her vision, and she lost consciousness.


    When she woke up, she found her hands bound. Opening her eyes, she was met with the dim surroundings of a room. The faint smell of disinfectant filled the air, and through the partially opened curtains, she could see the treetops swaying in the wind outside.


    She deduced that this ce was likely on a floor between the third and fifth stories of a mid-sized hotel. Lying on one of the single beds, she noticed the hat of the taxi driver on the opposite bed.


    Noticing the driver’s hat on the other bed, Eileen’s eyes widened with shock. She swiftly sat up and twisted her hands to loosen the ropes that bound her. The thick, new hemp rope had clearly been purchased in a hurry, and she was able to loosen it easily.


    Was she kidnapped? The kidnappers must be amateurs. Eileen pondered whether they were after money or something else when the door creaked open.


    “Why the rush? I told you I’d pay you once this is over,” June grumbled as she entered the room. Spotting Eileen awake and the ropes untied, she instinctively stepped back. “How are you awake?”


    Following June, the driver grew anxious upon discovering that Eileen was alert. “She’s awake? If she gets out, we’re both looking at jail time!” He moved to grab the ropes from the floor to tie Eileen up again.


    Eileen quickly snatched a cup from the bedside table and smashed it against the edge, holding the sharp fragment toward them. “Don’te any closer. Otherwise, this kidnapping will turn into murder, and you’ll both face the death penalty.”


    June’s eyes widened in terror as she grabbed the driver’s arm. “Don’t provoke her! We just need photos. With those, we can threaten her, and she won’t dare mention this kidnapping!”


    The driver angrily threw the ropes onto the other bed. June, desperate and frustrated, said, “You’ve put me in this situation, Eileen. Strip off your clothes and let me take a few photos. Withdraw thewsuit, or you won’t leave here alive today!”


    “Instead of worrying about me leaving alive, you should be more concerned about me dying here,” Eileen shot back. “What’s this? nning to use nude photos of me to ckmail me into dropping thewsuit? Whose pathetic idea was this?”


    June hesitated for a moment before eximing, “That’s not important! If you don’tply today, I…”


    She abruptly stopped, realizing her threat sounded absurd. Eventually, she continued, “Fine, then let’s all not leave this ce. Our lives will be simple—just food and clothing. But you’re different. You have plenty to lose if you’re trapped here.”


    Eileen discarded the ss shard and sat down on the bed, a calm demeanor masking her anxiety. “I don’t mind. I’m okay with staying here. I’ve been exhaustedtely, so thank you for this opportunity to rest. But I’m hungry. Go get some food.”


    June and the driver exchanged surprised nces.


    Eileen persisted, “What are you waiting for? I want good food, or I’ll start yelling. The soundproofing here isn’t great, so I won’t have to shout myself hoarse for someone to hear. If you’re not afraid—”


    “Shut up!” June interjected, her voice seething with embarrassment. This was her first foray into such a scheme, and the driver was merely a petty criminal who had just been released. Their inexperience felt painfully obvious under Eileen’s defiance.


    “Who has the money to buy you a good meal?” the driver eximed in frustration. “She only gave me a thousand, and I’ve already spent most of it on fuel. If I splurge on food for you, how much will I have left? Stop talking nonsense and take off your clothes. It’s just a few photos. Don’t waste our time!”


    Driven by desperation and emboldened by his criminal nature, the driver lunged at Eileen, trying to tear off her clothes. Eileen couldn’t dodge in time, and her coat was ripped away. Reacting quickly, she wrapped her arms around herself.


    While June cowered in the background, the driver’s reckless aggression caught Eileen off guard, making her realize she had underestimated him.


    As he attempted to expose her, the driver paused, momentarily stunned by her beauty. Seizing the opportunity, Eileen kicked him hard between the legs. She then threw a nket over him as she jumped down from the bed.


    The driver instinctively bent over, clutching his injury, and copsed to the floor, the nket trapping him. Eileen pounced, hitting and kicking him through the fabric with all her might, eliciting howls of pain.


    “You… You’ll kill him if you keep hitting him like that! I’ll call the police!” June blurted out instinctively, her fear evident.


    “Shut your mouth!” Eileen shouted, delivering another kick to the driver without lifting her head. “If he dies from this, you’re next.”


    June’s eyes widened in terror. “Please calm down! It’s illegal to kill someone!”


    Eileen met June’s gaze, her expression fierce. “Don’t you know who I’m dating? Bryan Dawson. Ever heard of him? He can fix anything—even if I were to kill two people.”


    The boldness of Eileen’s im hit June like a p, leaving her momentarily speechless. She spun around and flung the door open, her voice rising in panic. “Help! There’s a murderer here!”


    Immediately, chaos erupted in the building. Guests spilled from their rooms, racing down the stairs, each more eager to escape than to find out what was happening.


    Among the crowd, two tall figures pushed against the tide—Bryan and Jacob, determined to reach the source of themotion.


    “Oh my God!” Jacob murmured, urgency lining his voice. “We’rete…”


    June’s cries echoed through the halls as Bryan’s frown deepened, a cold determination setting in. He shoved his way through the throngs of onlookers, who instinctively stepped aside at the sight of his intense expression.


    Navigating the now nearly empty third floor, Bryan noticed every door was ajar. He turned to Jacob, urgency in his tone. “Let’s split up and look for her.”


    They began checking each room methodically. In the third room, Jacob caught sight of Eileen, struggling to drag a man with a bruised face toward the door.


    Eileen, sensing movement behind her, turned to find Jacob standing there. “Jacob! Don’t just stand there! Come help me!” she urged, her voice tight with urgency.


    She had already called the police and was worried that the driver might escape once he regained consciousness. Every second counted.


    Jacob rushed forward, joining her in pulling the driver out. “What the hell happened here?” he asked, ncing at the injured man, a mixture of concern and confusion on his face.


    “Eileen, are you okay?” Jacob continued, worry etched in his brow as he helped her haul the driver further into the hallway.


    “I’m fine, but we need to get him downstairs,” Eileen replied, her focus sharp. “I don’t want him waking up and trying to escape.”


    Just then, Bryan arrived at the door, his expression shifting from concern to determination as he took in the scene before him. “What happened?” he demanded, his voice steady.


    “We’ll exinter. Right now, we need to get him out of here,” Eileen said, her tone leaving no room for argument. Together, they worked to maneuver the driver down the hallway, adrenaline surging as the sound of approaching sirens filled the air.


    As they reached the staircase, Eileen nced back at Jacob and Bryan. “We need to block the door and keep him quiet until the police arrive.”


    “Let’s move!” Bryan urged, determination fueling their actions as they hurried down the stairs, the weight of the moment pressing heavily on them.


    “Holy shit!” Jacob recoiled, pressing against the wall. His eyes widened as he stared at Eileen.


    Upon hearing Jacob’s reaction, Bryan nced his way. Noticing Jacob’s fixation on the room, he frowned and approached quickly.


    Eileen, hearing the firm footsteps, assumed Bryan was there. She released the man, wiping her hands on her dress just as Bryan appeared in the doorway, blocking much of the hallway light.


    Seeing Eileen unharmed, Bryan’s expression shifted from surprise to relief. However, a quick nce at the beaten man on the floor ignited a flicker of anger in his chest.


    After a moment, he turned to Jacob and delivered a light kick. “Why did you shout?”


    Jacob felt aggrieved; he had been shocked by Eileen’s fierce actions. Eileen was usually gentle and delicate, and he never imagined she could inflict such damage on anyone.


    When he had heard June scream about a killing, his first thought had been that Eileen was the one in danger.


    “I’m okay,” Eileen reassured him as she approached Bryan, gently pulling on his suit jacket. She could sense his frustration and knew it wasn’t fair to let him take it out on Jacob.


    With a stern expression, Bryan shrugged off his jacket and draped it over Eileen’s shoulders, a gesture that softened his demeanor slightly.


    Soon, the police arrived and began to question everyone about the incident. Eileen cooperated fully; after all, her actions were in self-defense. However, she was required to go to the police station to give a formal statement.


    As chaos ensued, June tried to slip away but was stopped by the hotel owner, who refused to let her leave. If anything went awry, June would be a key witness.


    A police officer approached Bryan. “Mr. Dawson, there are several reporters outside. Would you like to avoid them?”


    The news about Bryan severing ties with Brandon wasn’t public knowledge yet, but it had spread among the elite in Onnd. No media outlet dared cover it without the Dawson family’s consent, so the news had circted slowly. Wist Land remained in the dark about it.


    Bryan didn’t move, still holding Eileen close. “No, thank you. Please handle the reporters. I’ll drive her to the police station.”


    His implication was clear: he wouldn’t let Eileen ride in the police car. They nned to exit discreetly, blending in with ordinary passersby. After all, Eileen was a tutor, and the recent publicity surrounding her educational agency had thrust her into the spotlight. Involvement in a case like this could jeopardize her career.


    “Okay, Mr. Dawson.” The police cleared the spectators away, leaving one officer to handle the reporters, helping Bryan and Eileen exit without drawing attention.


    The neighborhood was bustling and chaotic. Bryan’s luxury car stood out, but the evening gloom and the few reporters present meant they didn’t recognize him or Eileen.


    Once inside the car, Eileen buckled up as Bryan started the engine, a tense mood filling the space between them.


    Eileen fiddled with a button on his jacket, stealing a nce at him before looking away. “I hailed a taxi on the street, not realizing the driver would cause trouble. I was busy on my phone and didn’t notice anything off. It was all an ident. June tried to intimidate me into dropping thewsuit, which was out of character for her. Plus, the driver was an amateur. The problem has been resolved now.”


    Despite the gravity of the situation, Eileen found the whole ordeal somewhat absurd and almostughable.


    After a while, Bryan sighed and stopped at a red light. “I’m not mad,” he stated, his face expressionless.


    He wasn’t lying; he wasn’t angry. His concern for her was overwhelming, evolving into aplex mix of emotions he was still trying to navigate.


    “I know you’re not mad. You were just worried about me. I wanted to fill you in on what happened. It really wasn’t a big deal,” Eileen said, her voice calm and soothing. She leaned back in her seat, looking nothing like the person who had just beaten the driver.


    She had exerted all her strength during the altercation, fearful of being at a disadvantage if the driver regained consciousness.


    “I don’t think this isn’t a big deal.” Bryan’s tone grew stern, sensing her attempt to downy the incident. “Let’s discuss this more at home. Mywyer will meet us at the police station. You can give him all the details, and he’ll advise you on the next steps.”


    They pulled up to the police station, and Bryan got out first. The evening breeze tousled his hair and clung to his shirt. He wasn’t concerned about his appearance; instead, he moved to the passenger side and opened the door for Eileen. Together, they walked into the station.


    Thewyer offeredfort after hearing Eileen’s full story. “Rest easy, Mr. Dawson. Miss Curtis was simply defending herself. She also mentioned a giarism issue. I’ll rify everything to the police, which will help with thewsuit going forward.”


    “Thank you.” Bryan exchanged a few more words with thewyer.


    Shortly after, the police brought in June and the driver. Thewyer apanied Eileen to give her official statement. Afterward, he let her take a break while he handled the rest with the police.


    Eileen turned to see Bryan smoking outside the door. He blended into the shadows in his ck shirt, the tip of his cigarette glowing intermittently. The wind fluttered his shirt, the strap of her handbag draped over his shoulder looking slightly out of ce.


    Eileen walked over to retrieve her handbag. Just as she reached for it, Bryan stopped her, stubbed out his cigarette, and tossed it aside. He seized her wrist and drew her into his arms, enveloping her in the heavy aroma of cigarette smoke.


    As Eileen nced around, she noticed the nearly full ashtray atop the trash can nearby; it was clear Bryan had been smoking heavily.


    “Bryan!” Z’s worried voice called out.


    Eileen nudged Bryan. With a frown, he released her, and they both turned toward the sound.


    Z shut her car door and walked over, followed closely by Milford, who quickly positioned himself in front of Eileen, examining her with concern. “Are you okay, Ms. Curtis? Why do you always find yourself in trouble? Who dislikes you this much to do this to you so often?”


    His irritation revealed his genuine concern for Eileen.


    “I’m fine. A teacher at my educational agency copied my online courses. I sued her, and she wanted me to back down. She’s too young and reckless,” Eileen exined.


    “Why aren’t you more careful? You were nearly framed by someone that young. Aren’t you embarrassed?” Milford scolded, while Z pulled Bryan aside for a private conversation.


    “Kian heard about Eileen’s troubles. It won’t be long before your parents hear about it, too,” Z said, ncing at Eileen. “Yourwyer is the student of the Dawson family’s attorney. He’s loyal to them. Now, you’ve got him helping Eileen. Your parents won’t be pleased.”


    Bryan gently rubbed Eileen’s handbag between his fingers, his eyes lingering on her as Milford continued to lecture her.


    “They’re already displeased. I can instruct mywyer as I wish. If they’re annoyed, they can transfer him. I’m not concerned,” Bryan replied calmly.


    Eileen had the upper hand in this situation. Regardless of whichwyer was involved, she was poised to win the case.


    “Bryan, you…” Z began.


    “That’s enough.” Bryan felt a surge of irritation. “Stop trying to fix our rtionship. We just can’t get along. You need to decide whose side you’re on instead of trying to y peacemaker. Don’t worry. I won’t hold it against you if you choose their side.”


    With that, he returned to Eileen’s side, cutting Milford off. “Enough. Do you think you have the right to criticize her?”


    Milford was momentarily at a loss for words.


    Eileen turned to him, her expression softening. “I’m going to miss the tutoring session tonight. I’ll share some materials in the group chatter for you and Adalina. Expect some questions from me tomorrow.”


    She then tried to push Bryan’s chest but couldn’t move him.


    “Got it,” Milford responded.


    After everyone involved had given their statements, two officers escorted the driver and June out. Seeing that, Z quickly looked away.


    But June caught sight of Z. She halted, broke free from the officers, and rushed towards Z.


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