?Chapter 231:


    Lydia continued to smile. “Do you know how to respect your elders?”


    “Mrs. Dawson, it seems you are quite familiar with these moral concepts,” Eileen responded, her voice steady. “How can you expect respect from others when you don’t show them any?” The smile vanished from Lydia’s face. She knew that Eileen had once been a special assistant and now served as a family tutor. Lydia had presumed that Eileen, after bing ustomed to such humble roles, would not dare to stand up against her. She had thought Eileen would only feel embarrassed and frustrated when confronted with challenges. She had believed that if things got too difficult, Eileen would probably seekfort in Bryan’s embrace, weeping.


    Yet, Lydia had not anticipated Eileen’s articte and assertive response.


    “Is this the woman you want to marry?” Brandon set his fork down on the table with a thud, looking sternly at Bryan. “She clearlycks manners!”


    “And what might the manners of the Dawson family entail?” Eileen challenged. “Does it include elders insulting or belittling the younger ones at will?”


    This time, Brandon did not allow Eileen the opportunity to continue. “You have no right to speak here,” he said.


    Ste snorted coldly. “She has no right? I am your mother! How dare you show such disrespect in my presence?”


    “Mom!” Brandon’s voice showed clear disapproval, but he tempered his demeanor. “You’ve cut ties with Bryan. His choice of a wife is no longer your concern!” Ste was clearly defending Eileen and Bryan. Bryan, silent throughout the confrontation, carefully removed the shell of Eileen’s favorite lobster. After some time, he gently ced a piece of lobster meat on her te.


    Turning to Ste with a smile, Lydia said, “Mom, Brandon doesn’t truly mean it. As the head of the Dawson family, if he disapproves of Eileen, she will not be embraced by our family or rest in our family cemetery.”


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    This was likely why Brandon had dared to cut ties with Bryan. When Lydia brought that up, a coldness seemed to emanate from Bryan.


    Bryan removed his disposable gloves and leaned back in his chair, his hands gripping the seat. His jaw was clenched tightly; he appeared to be holding back intense emotions.


    “The atmosphere has be too tense,” Lydia remarked, cing her fork down. “Brandon, you’re here not to stir conflict but to heal the rift between you and your son.”


    The room fell silent as Ste looked toward Brandon, anticipating his response. But since their arrival, the air between Bryan and Brandon had been icy, with neither saying a word to the other. If Brandon acknowledged his purpose was to mend their rtionship now, it would mean that he was apologizing to Bryan. Unwilling to do that, Brandon simply snorted and averted his gaze, remaining silent.


    “They are truly alike. Neither will back down when they argue,” Lydia said, turning to Z and patting her shoulder reassuringly. “Today, we’re here to rify our stance. We’re not forcing Bryan to marry Z; he is free to choose his partner.”


    As Eileen’s gaze rested on Z’s face, Z offered a nod. Lydia continued, “Family happinesses first. My son will be returning soon. He has always liked Brandon, and I’ve hoped Brandon would set a good example for him.”


    Lydia’s words seemed to boast of the close bond between Brandon and Travis Dawson. Lydia and Brandon’s son was hinting that Brandon was easing his rtionship with Bryan to be a role model for Travis.


    Lydia’s narrative made Eileen feel sympathy for Bryan. She turned her eyes to Bryan, who was smoking now. It wasmonly said that he was a cold and formidable figure in business, known for his decisive actions. However, Eileen knew Bryan aspassionate and principled, his stern exterior masking a warm heart. She reached out, her fingers lightly tracing the pronounced veins on the back of his hand.


    Bryan took a drag from his cigarette, allowing her to hold his hand. “Bryan, it’s been years since you and your father sat down for a heart-to-heart. As his son, maybe you should take the initiative to do something. When was thest time you called him ‘Dad’?” Lydia said to Bryan, nudging him toward making the first conciliatory move.


    Ste remained silent, watching Bryan with a mix of anticipation and concern. After a long while, Bryan extinguished his cigarette on the table, the spark dying swiftly. It seemed as if the light had gone out in his eyes. He looked up, fixing his gaze on Brandon.


    “He doesn’t deserve it,” he said.


    Brandon reacted immediately, standing up, the dishes before him ttering sharply because of his action. “How dare you say that? How could I have such a disrespectful son?” His voice was thick with anger.


    Yet, Bryan remained rxed in his chair, a stark contrast to Brandon’s agitation. “Enough,” Lydia said, cing a hand on Brandon’s chest and guiding him to sit down again. “He’s your only son. Why lose your temper with him? Let’s eat. Remember, there’s a press conferenceter. Our family has been the talk of the town for too long. It’s time for you to do something.”


    Eileen frowned at Lydia’s mention of Bryan as Brandon’s “only son.” This did not seem like a slip of the tongue. If Bryan was Brandon’s only son, what was Travis’s rtionship with Brandon?


    The table fell silent again. Brandon did not touch his food, while Lydia heaped servings onto Z’s te. Suddenly, Z winced as juice identally sshed onto her clothes.


    Lydia frowned, her tone cool. “You’re being so careless. Go change.”


    “Okay, Mrs. Dawson.” Z stood and headed upstairs. Z’s room was on the third floor, a familiar space she had upied before studying abroad. Since Z came back this time, Ste had not asked her to stay in the house, so she resided elsewhere, though her belongings still filled the room.


    After changing into a new dress, a figure appeared at the door of her cloakroom. “Miss Murray.”


    “I’m here,” Z replied without turning. “What’s up?”


    “I overheard Ste and Eileen talking today,” the servant said. She was a woman in her thirties with a submissive demeanor. Z finished adjusting her hair and faced the mirror. “What did they say?”


    “They spoke of an agreement, marriage, and divorce. They kept their voices low and didn’t dare get too close; it seems they were unsure about telling Mr. Dawson the truth,” the servant replied.


    As Z adjusted her hair, she furrowed her brow in contemtion. She knew that Bryan’s marriage to his first wife was an arranged one, orchestrated by Ste. But what had prompted this sudden discussion in the past? Was Bryan’s first wife seeking financialpensation now? And had Ste been strategizing with Eileen to devise a n?


    Z felt that the situation seemed moreplex than a mere financial demand. If it were just about money, Ste and Eileen wouldn’t have been concerned. And there would be no need for them to hide the matter from Bryan.


    “Doris, keep an eye on Ste and inform me of any developments,” Z instructed.


    Doris Seymour, the servant, nodded in agreement. “Okay, I will leave now.” She then cautiously opened the door, peering out to ensure the coast was clear before exiting stealthily.


    Although Z remained in the dark about the specifics of Ste and Eileen’s conversation, she now knew they were keeping secrets from Bryan.


    After dinner, Brandon, Lydia, and Z departed, leaving much of the sumptuous meal untouched. Since their arrival earlier, a coldness had surrounded Bryan, and he had spoken little.


    Ste sighed. “Why can’t you just call him Dad? Your mother hasn’t even beenid to rest in our family’s cemetery yet.”


    “She won’t be buried in there,” Bryan replied with finality. “That man doesn’t deserve to rest beside my mother.”


    Ste opened her mouth to respond to that, but words failed her. After a moment, she said, “I’m tired. I’m going to take a nap. You should also get some rest. I’ve prepared a surprise for you in the cupboard next to your bed.” Then she winked at Eileen, adding, “I had Bryan’s room redone. I wanted you both to move back here right away, but he told me you needed to care for your mother. Perhaps you can stay here asionally.”


    “Thank you,” Eileen responded politely.


    “He needs you by his side right now,” Ste whispered to her. With a thoughtful nod, Eileen followed Bryan up the grand staircase.


    The crystal chandelier cast sparkling reflections of the sunlight streaming through therge French windows. Eileen squinted slightly, her eyes tracing Bryan’s tall figure before he stepped inside his room.


    She hadn’t eaten much during the meal, feeling ack of appetite amid the family’s secrets and tensions. She mulled over the fact that Bryan’s mother was not interred in the family cemetery, though she couldn’t determine whether it was Brandon or Bryan who was responsible for that decision. The rift between Brandon and Bryan seemed rooted in deep-seated conflicts, not just over Brandon’s disapproval of Bryan wanting to marry Eileen. Lydia’s remark about Bryan being Brandon’s “only son” also puzzled Eileen.


    On the second floor, Bryan opened the door and stepped inside, but a secondter, he hurried out, quickly shutting the door behind him.


    “What’s wrong?” Eileen almost collided with him. His awkward demeanor prompted her to ask him that.


    Bryan clutched the doorknob, hesitating before he said in a low voice, “Grandma just said she redid my room; everything there now has nothing to do with me.”


    “What?” Eileen was puzzled. “In the room?”


    Bryan’s expression was so troubled that Eileen half-wondered if Ste had filled the room with something as startling as a row of sex dolls. What had he seen inside that had left him so embarrassed and reluctant to share?


    “You can go in and take a look,” Bryan said, opening the door again and gesturing for Eileen to enter.


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