?Chapter 233:
Even though everyone knew that Brandon had issues with Bryan, the media had refrained from reporting the news. Now, taking center stage to hold a press conference about the brewing tensions between him and Bryan, reporters had flocked in, eager to capture every moment. Lydia now found herself bombarded with sharp questions from the press.
A female reporter boldly raised her arm, catching Lydia’s attention. “Excuse me, Mrs. Dawson. Allow me to ask a daring question. Murray standing beside you is rumored to be the chosen wife for Bryan Dawson. Can you enlighten us on when we can expect to hear wedding bells?”
Before Lydia could respond, another reporter seized the moment, firing off another question. “It’s been spected that your husband intended to sever all ties with his son Bryan due to Bryan’s romantic involvement with a certain woman. Now that they appear to be on better terms, is it because Bryan ended his rtionship with that woman, or is it because he’s set to marry Miss Murray?”
This second question sought to uncover the underlying reason behind the reconciliation between Bryan and Brandon. As the spotlight shifted back to Lydia, she nced at Z, carefully choosing her words. “My husband holds a deep affection for Z, who has grown up in our home. He has raised her as his own and is discerning when ites to her future spouse. While Z and Bryan share a close friendship, we won’t impose any decisions upon them. Bryan has no shortage of admirers, and we trust he will find a suitable match.”
After all, Z was merely a person who had been raised within the confines of the Dawson family, and there were countless eligible daughters of affluent households vying for Bryan’s attention. With a deft maneuver, Lydia had deflected any direct mention of Eileen, subtly implying that Bryan would not be forced to marry Z.
The affluent families eager to secure prestigious marriages for their daughters wasted no time in strategizing. Lydia’s words were a clear signal that Brandon had no qualms about Bryan’s marital choices and that the rift between Brandon and Bryan had been resolved. It felt like an open invitation for women vying for Bryan’s affection.
Bryan, sensing the ulterior motives in Lydia’s words, snatched Eileen’s phone from her hand with a hint of frustration flickering in his typicallyposed demeanor. “I knew they were plotting something,” he muttered, rising from the bed to straighten his disheveled attire.
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Eileen quietly got out of bed, methodically making it with a sense of foreboding weighing on her mind. Brandon’s attempt to undermine her position with the support of other influential families was evident. Previously, Z had been the obstacle standing in the way of Bryan’s suitors, shielded by his father’s favoritism. Now, with Eileen as Bryan’s girlfriend, the other young women who wanted to win Bryan’s heart would likely direct their animosity toward Eileen.
Word spread swiftly among the elite circles, stirring excitement among families who had long sought alliances with the prestigious Dawson family. Some began devising ns to betroth their daughters to Bryan, envisioning advantageous unions that would elevate their own standing in society.
It was nearly September, and the night was chilly. A cold breeze seeped into the room. Standing before her desk, Z was lost in thought with a pen in hand. After a while, she carefully wrote on the paper. “Kill a person using another’s heart.”
“Eileen, you’ve forced my hand time and again, but this time, I doubt you’ll wriggle free. Letting someone else deal with your fate seems the most prudent,” she muttered. Once the ink had dried, she bound the paper with a red string, stowing it away in the safe like before.
In moments of idleness, she often found herself pondering the secrets concealed by Eileen and Ste from Bryan. Yet, before she could unravel the mystery, an unexpected call interrupted her thoughts. The clock had struck one, thete hour signaling the urgency of the call.
Answering the phone, Z was met not by Bryan’s voice. A waiter was on the other end of the line. “Hello, Miss Murray. Mr. Kian is drunk and asks to see you. Could you pleasee over?” the waiter said.
The sound ofmotion and chatter in the background hinted at the bustling atmosphere of a bar or a club. All things considered, Z believed Kian was still useful to her. She said, “Please, look after him for now. I’ll be there soon.”
The waiter gave her the name of the club. Luckily, it was a ce they both frequented, so Z knew exactly where to go. Thirty minutester, Z arrived at the private room on the club’s third floor.
Amidst the dim ambiance, Kian sprawled on the floor, a bottle of wine in hand. This marked Z’s first encounter with Kian since her return from West Land. Vivian remained locked up, her fate sealed. Despite Kian’s swift return and efforts to intervene, Bryan’s moves proved quicker. Kian was barred from seeing Vivian, who had received a grim sentence of life imprisonment in a mental hospital.
Upon learning that, Kian had felt like he had been struck by lightning. He had orchestrated everything for Vivian to be with Bryan, mostly because of his reluctance for Bryan to marry Z. The other driving force behind his actions was his deep love for Vivian, knowing that Vivian liked Bryan. That was why he had gone to great lengths to facilitate Vivian and Bryan’s connection, never foreseeing this tragic oue. He grappled with the realization that his actions had led to his sister’s current plight.
Vivian, his sister, the person he adored, and he had been Vivian’s protector since childhood. Meanwhile, Debby’s tears flowed ceaselessly at home, a heartbreaking reminder of the pain Kian’s actions had caused. To numb his own anguish, Kian sought refuge in alcohol.
Relief had washed over him as he had watched Brandon’s press conference earlier that day. At least Z was spared from marrying Bryan. Setting aside the battle, Kian reached out to Z. “Z,e here. I need to hold you.”
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