?Chapter 212:


    The police officer had previously advised Eileen to try and settle the matter privately. He wondered if Eileen had been unable to control her fury and taken action. Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Eileen said calmly, “Except for the im that I was going to kill Vivian, which is untrue, everything else is correct. I indeed attacked her.”


    Upon hearing this, the police officer hesitated momentarily before writing down her statement. Bryan stood beside Eileen, studying herposed face with a frown.


    “I’m going to sue her and put her in prison,” Kian said, fixing his intense gaze on Bryan. Seeing Bryan’s tense demeanor gave Kian a sense of victory. He believed the evidence was indisputable. Eileen had confessed, and Kian knew that Bryan was unable to help her now.


    Phoebe approached Eileen from behind, gently pulling at her sleeve, saying, “What are you doing?”


    Jacob watched the unfolding drama with bewilderment. Was Eileen really going to end up in prison because of this?


    “Sorry to disappoint you, Mr. Warren, but I’m not going to jail,” Eileen replied, pulling out a medical report from her pocket and showing it to the police officer. Then she asked, “Can I leave now?”


    After a quick look at the report, the officer’s lips twitched, and he nodded. “Yes.”


    Everyone stretched their necks, curious about the contents of the report Eileen was holding. But Eileen swiftly put it away, took hold of one of Bryan’s fingers, and said, “Let’s go.” She then made her way through the crowd and left with Bryan.


    Behind them, Megan,ing to her senses, started shouting at the police officer, “Why did you let her go?”


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    Phoebe and Jacob hurried after Eileen and Bryan, while Z, who had been observing the scene from a distance, watched their departing figures.


    At the club’s entrance, Eileen was intercepted by Phoebe and Jacob. Bryan, with an arm protectively wrapped around Eileen, shielded her from Jacob and Phoebe.


    “Don’t stop me! I want to know what Eileen showed to the police!”


    “What’s on that report?” Phoebe and Jacob were eager for answers.


    Eileen hung her head in silence. This was her first time handling things this way, and it made her feel somewhat embarrassed. The smile on Bryan’s face grew, but he maintained a serious tone in his voice. “Enough with the fuss. We’ll discuss this at home.”


    “It’s still early. We’ll head over to your ce,” Jacob said, ushering Phoebe into his car and driving to Eileen’s without waiting for a response.


    As Jacob’s car vanished from view, Eileen bit her lip and looked up at Bryan, suggesting seriously, “Maybe we shouldn’t go back home tonight.”


    Bryan took the car keys from his pocket, opened the door for Eileen, and kissed her forehead. “What’s there to fear? Any idea that fixes the problem is a good one.”


    Eileen wasn’t sure whether Bryan had seen the contents of the medical report, but at that moment, the report in her pocket felt hot, as if it were burning. As the engine started, the car began to pull away slowly. In the rearview mirror, Z’s figure at the club’s entrance appeared very small, and both Bryan and Eileen didn’t notice her.


    After a while, Eileen broke the silence. She asked Bryan, “You saw what’s on the report, didn’t you?” Noticing the subtle smile on Bryan’s face, she guessed he had seen it.


    Bryan gave a slight nod, his eyes steady as he responded, “Is the report fake?”


    “The report is real,” Eileen said in a hushed tone. She took out the medical report from her pocket, pointing to the neurologist’s signature and the hospital’s official stamp.


    Suddenly, Bryan hit the brakes, stopping the car in the middle of the road, and stared at her in disbelief.


    “But I’m not mentally ill,” Eileen rified. “It’s challenging for someone who is mentally ill to prove they are not, but it’s quite easy for a sane person to obtain a diagnosis of mental illness.” She had answered the doctor’s questions inurately on purpose and behaved erratically. In less than thirty minutes, she had obtained the report. Before leaving, the doctor had even earnestly advised her to seek treatment soon.


    Cars behind them started honking impatiently.


    Bryan snapped out of his thoughts, let out a chuckle, and restarted the car. The streetlights cast an orange glow on him, highlighting his barely contained amusement. “Eileen, what were you thinking?” Hisughter filled the car, catching Eileen off guard.


    Eileen had anticipated that the medical report might make Bryan question whether she was actually mentally stable. But she hadn’t expected him to react withughter, which left her feeling even more embarrassed.


    “Don’tugh. What else was I supposed to do? Vivian is a lunatic and constantly causing problems for me. I can barely work normally. If I didn’te up with this trick, how would I continue to make money to support our family?” Eileen said.


    She was telling the truth. Even though the method was a bit extreme, it could at least effectively handle Vivian and Megan. Now, she wouldn’t technically be breaking thew by responding physically to their provocations. They could keep trying her patience if they dared.


    Bryan nodded, indicating that the medical report was a good idea. Yet, he silently considered that Vivian still had plenty of free time to harass Eileen, meaning their conflicts would likely persist, continuing to affect Eileen’s life.


    The car pulled up in front of the vi, where Jacob and Phoebe had been waiting. They hurried over and opened the passenger door, bombarding Eileen with questions as she stepped out and walked toward the vi.


    Eileen looked back at Bryan, who, after exiting the car, took a cigarette from his pocket and strolled leisurely after her. However, Bryan didn’t enter the vi, apparently engaged in a phone conversation outside.


    Inside, Eileen fetched drinks from the fridge for Phoebe and Jacob. The two, eager for details, sat on the couch with their eyes fixed on Eileen. Then, under their intense stare, Eileen took out the medical report.


    Phoebe and Jacob leaned forward, their gaze fixating on the diagnosis on the medical report. They exchanged a look with each other before bursting intoughter.


    Eileen awkwardly looked away, puzzled about why their first response was tough rather than suspect her of being mentally ill. Her eyes drifted to the French windows, where she could see Bryan leaning against a tree in the yard. He was smoking, holding the phone to his ear, his demeanor serious.


    Phoebe’s and Jacob’sughter continued. Eileen turned to look at them and said firmly, “Stopughing, or I’ll hit you, and it wouldn’t be against thew.” Instantly, Jacob and Phoebe stoppedughing, though smiles still yed on their faces.


    “Eileen, your trick is genius. But it’s also too funny,” Phoebe remarked. Jacob pped his thigh, saying, “This birthday of mine is truly memorable. Now, if only we had somete-night snacks and drinks, today would be perfect.” He reached for his phone, intending to order something.


    “Go home and drink by yourself.” Bryan walked in, changed his shoes at the entryway, and retrieved a first aid kit from a cupboard near the door. He approached Eileen, opened the kit, and pulled out iodine and cotton swabs, saying, “Give me your hand.”


    Eileen hesitated for a moment before extending her hand, revealing a shallow cut on the back of her hand where the blood had dried. It was a small injury from Vivian’s knife, not painful at all. Eileen thought it had gone unnoticed.


    Bryan carefully cleaned the dried blood and applied a Band-Aid over the wound. “You’re injured?” Phoebe had just noticed Eileen’s wound, her voice tinged with concern. Jacob nced at Eileen’s wound and said, “Better take care of that soon, or it’ll heal before you even treat it. Look at how worried Bryan is—”


    Before Jacob could finish, Bryan flicked the cotton swab he was using at Jacob, hitting him precisely on the forehead. “You can head out now. It’ste, and Eileen has to work tomorrow. Come back tomorrow night for dinner,” Bryan said.


    Jacob picked up the cotton swab and tossed it in the trash. “Who were you on the phone with?” he asked Bryan while standing up and giving Phoebe a meaningful look.


    Phoebe blinked and whispered to Eileen, “Your hand is injured; you really shouldn’t be doing any strenuous exercise tonight.”


    Eileen rolled her eyes at Phoebe, then turned to look at Bryan. Bryan was putting away the first aid kit and casually replied to Jacob, “Just sorting out some work on the phone.” Then he headed for the door. “Come on, I’ll see you off.”


    His quick move prompted Jacob and Phoebe to follow, and as soon as they stepped outside, the door shut behind them.


    “So rude,” Jacob grumbled as he walked to the yard to open the car door. Noticing Phoebe heading off in a different direction, he called out, “Get in; I’ll drive you.”


    Without turning around, Phoebe replied, “I’ll walk. You can drive off; you don’t have the strength to walk anyway.”


    Angry at Phoebe’s words, Jacob hurried after her, eventually bending down to scoop her up and carry her toward his car.


    “Jacob, can’t you do anything other than this!” Phoebe eximed, feeling a wave of dizziness as Jacob carried her.


    “Actually, I can!” Jacob opened the car door, ced Phoebe inside, and swiftly climbed into the driver’s seat. He then started the engine and drove off.


    He steered the car away from Lakeside Vi, clearly not intending to take Phoebe back to her home.


    “Where are you taking me?” Phoebe pounded on the car door, eximing, “Let me out!”


    “It’s my birthday today, and you’re going to do as I say.” Jacob straightened his cor, ncing at Phoebe. “We’re going to a hotel.”


    Phoebe fell silent for a moment, then said, “Jacob, you’re engaged now. Come back to me when you’ve ended things with Megan.”


    “Then… Are you going to be with me or not?” Jacob hesitated, his voice tinged with guilt.


    Right after he spoke, Phoebe said angrily, “Are you asking me to be the other woman? If it gets out, I’ll bebeled as the shameless woman who made you and Megan break up!”


    Jacob coughed awkwardly, blurting out, “But think about Eileen and Bryan; they’re doing fine, aren’t they?”


    Phoebe felt a surge of frustration, eximing, “That’s different! Bryan was never in love with his wife!”


    “I don’t care for Megan, either! If you hadn’t left, would I have been pushed into this engagement with her? You owe me, and tonight, you’re going to make it up to me!” With that, Jacob sped up the car, pulling up in front of a five-star hotel.


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