?Chapter 270:


    “Enough! What do you want from me?” Eileen said. Denise’s words had hit Eileen like a ton of bricks. If Eileen could, she wished she could give her life back to Denise.


    Denise said without hesitation, “Do you even see me as your mother? I traveled all the way to Onnd, and you can’t even sort me a ce to stay.”


    Eileen regarded Denise and Judie with an indifferent gaze. “Your amodation is of concern to me. My responsibility towards you extends only to providing a monthly living allowance. I have no intention of residing with you.”


    Judie quickly said, “Eileen, that’s heartless. You ssh cash on someone who’s not even rted to you but won’t give your own mom a roof.”


    Denise stamped her foot, hands on her hips. “Yeah, Eileen! You’ve moved up in the world, and now you’re ditching me? I could take you to court!”


    The breeze carried Denise’s words, spreading them to the onlookers.


    “Are you done?” Eileen tried hard to keep her cool. “Do we really have to go over everything again? When did you even consider bringing me along?”


    Denise clenched her teeth, whirled around, and shouted, “Hey, everyone! Come and see! My own daughter is cutting ties with me! She’s marrying into a wealthy family and bing a richdy, but she doesn’t want me as her mother!”


    Her shameless performance drew many people, especially since it was rush hour and the streets were crowded.


    Eileen had no intention of talking to someone as shameless as Denise. She turned to head back to the educational agency, but Judie grabbed her wrist to stop her. Denise continued, “Hey, everyone, gather around! You won’t believe this. My own daughter is being so ungrateful!” Denise’s voice rang out, while Judie clung tightly to Eileen, stopping her from leaving.


    Feeling utterly helpless, Eileen stood amidst the judgmental stares.


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    Facing the intense scrutiny of the crowd, Eileen eximed, “I said I would cut ties with you! I promised to send you money every month ording to thew, so you can livefortably back home!”


    “I knew it! You still see me as a burden!” Denise’s tone softened momentarily before she changed the topic. “But why are you trying to kick me out of Onnd? Is it because having me around will ruin your chances of marrying into a wealthy family?”


    Before Eileen could reply, Denise turned to the crowd, asking, “Any of you folks heard of the Dawson family? My daughter’s marrying into the Dawson family, but she’s from an ordinary background. The Dawson family must want her to cut ties with me!”


    The wild usations against the family caught Eileen off guard.


    Lately, with Kian’s news stirring up attention, many eyes were on Bryan’s press conference where he had announced his marriage to Eileen. Initially, people had been there for Kian’s scandal, but instead, they had found a ssic rags-to-riches story.


    So, when Denise brought up the Dawson family, everyone recognized Eileen as the woman who was about to marry into a wealthy family.


    But was the price of marrying into wealth this high? Denise was causing such a fuss; surely the Dawson family wouldn’t want her as their inw. So, was Eileen really ditching her mother for wealth?


    “This isn’t about the Dawson family. You divorced my dad ages ago. I’ve got no emotional ties to you. Besides what I’m legally bound to do, I don’t want to be around you. Got it?” Eileen’s anger boiled over as she forcefully shook off Judie’s grip, ring daggers at Denise. “Back off. Leave Onnd now. If you keep bothering me, I’ll kick you out of Onnd without a second thought!”


    Taken aback by Eileen’s demeanor, both Judie and Denise stood frozen for a moment.


    Eileen motioned to the two bodyguards, signaling them to clear a path through the crowd as she made to make her exit.


    That was when she spotted Benita nearby, apanied by a stylishly dressed woman.


    “Benita, can you confirm if she’s really the one marrying into the Dawson family?” the woman asked, not bothering to lower her voice.


    With a smile, Benita nodded. “Mrs. Kennedy, she’s the one who’s going to marry Bryan.”


    Karen Kennedy, a hint of disappointment evident on her face, said, “Why not choose from the noble women? If the Dawson family epts this woman, they should ept her mother, too. So what if she’s a bit greedy? Those poor folks wouldn’t know what to do with a few million. The Dawson family can afford the money easily, yet they’re asking her to cut ties with her mother!”


    “Exactly. We were just passing by, but my curiosity got the best of me. I couldn’t resist stopping to see what was happening. Who would’ve thought we’de across someone we know?” Benita remarked, linking arms with Karen as they walked off. “It’s none of our business. Let’s go.”


    “Yeah, I’ve got a meeting with Mrs. Dawsonter tonight,” Karen’s voice trailed off as she got into the waiting car.


    Eileen pressed her lips together, a realization sinking in. She nced at Denise, surrounded by the crowd offeringfort, feeling a coldness settle over her.


    Even after Eileen got back to her office, the warmth of the room did nothing to thaw the chill in her body.


    Had Denise been manipted by Benita?


    The public outrage wasn’t directed at Eileen but at the Dawson family.


    Seated at her desk, Eileen pondered for a while before calling Raymond.


    “Eileen, what’s going on? What made you reach out to me?” Raymond was surprised.


    “I need the contact info for the two people who have been protecting me secretly. There’s something I need them to handle,” Eileen said calmly. “And let’s keep this between us, okay? Don’t tell anyone about this.”


    “Sure thing. I’ll send it to you soon. And if anything goes wrong, don’t try to handle it alone, Miss Curtis,” Raymond replied promptly.


    He had heard about the incident with Denise and knew Denise was troublesome.


    “Got it,” Eileen responded.


    Shortly after ending the call with Raymond, Eileen received the details from him. She then made a call. “Eileen Curtis here. I need you to track down Judie Curtis and Denise Moran. Find out where they are staying and who they’re with.”


    The two bodyguards readily agreed.


    After much thought, Eileen decided to give Roderick a call. They had been chatting regrly for over a year, but it had been a couple of months since Eileenst heard from him.


    With Denise and Judie showing up in Onnd, Eileen couldn’t help but wonder where Roderick was. She dialed his number, but the call ended after a few rings. When she tried again, his phone was turned off. A sense of worry crept into Eileen’s heart.


    Time seemed to slip away as she sat there, the room gradually being swallowed by darkness.


    The streetlights outside cast a gentle glow, and suddenly, Bryan’s name shed on Eileen’s phone.


    Composing herself, Eileen answered the call. “Have you arrived? I’lle down—”


    “Eileen, there’s an urgent issue with my grandmother. I need to go and check on her. You head home first,” Bryan interjected. He seemed to be driving.


    Eileen quickly sprang to her feet. “What’s the matter with your grandmother? I’ming with you.”


    “I can handle it on my own. Just be careful heading home,” Bryan replied firmly, ending the call when Eileen stayed silent.


    Inside the Dawson Mansion, tension filled the air. Bright lights flooded the room as Brandon and Lydia confronted Ste, who sat on the sofa.


    “Mom, our family’s never been so embarrassed! Karen is spreading rumors that we forced Eileen to cut ties with her mother. How am I supposed to face anyone now?” Brandon’s frustration boiled over.


    Bryan entered, loosening his tie, his irritation palpable. “If you can’t face them, then don’t. Our family doesn’t need to show your weaknesses.”


    Bryan’s entrance ratcheted up the tension in the room. “Why choose someone so unsuitable when there are plenty of other eligible women? Are you set on tarnishing our family’s reputation?” Brandon’s frustration came through loud and clear, hitting a nerve with Bryan.


    Ste waved her hand dismissively. “I don’t see any disgrace. Eileen is a decent girl. It’s her mother who’s the problem! Bryan, we need to stand united. We can handle whateveres our way. Our family is strong and resilient. We won’t let criticism shake us!”


    Her words momentarily silenced Brandon. She continued, “Brandon, if you’re ashamed, you can cut ties with us and give up your shares. You’re free to leave this family.”


    “Mom!” Brandon gritted his teeth, clearly unable to find a retort.


    “Brandon, since your mother has a solution, let’s not dwell on it,” Lydia said, offering aforting pat on Brandon’s chest. “Let’s just leave.”


    The rift between Brandon and Bryan wasmon knowledge, and any public ridicule would likely target Bryan. Instead of confronting Bryan and Ste directly in this delicate moment, it seemed smarter to pull the strings from behind the scenes, letting the Dawson family endure more humiliation.


    Then they would see if Ste could truly handle the pressure!


    Following Lydia’s advice, Brandon turned and made his exit.


    In the spacious living room, only Ste and Bryan remained.


    Ste’s earlier confidence waned, reced by a soft sigh. “Eileen’s mother is quite the troublemaker, and Karen told a lot of people that… I was so embarrassed by it!” Before Bryan’s arrival, he had already tasked Raymond with uncovering the source of this absurdity.


    In a low voice, he said, “Denise and Judie are shameless. Dealing with such troublemakers requires being firm.”


    “We can be firm, but you shouldn’t get involved. Your involvement will only bring me upon our family,” Ste asserted without hesitation. “It’s all about money, isn’t it? Let Eileen ask them how much money they need for them to leave here. We can give them the money.”


    While Ste would defend Eileen in front of Brandon, she preferred resolving the matter without further conflict. No one wanted things to escte.


    She didn’t mind facing ridicule herself, but she dreaded the potential fallout for Bryan due to the scandal. “Brandon, I couldn’t care less about others’ opinions. I only care about what Eileen thinks,” Bryan said as he nced at his watch. “Leave the matter to me. Eileen should be home by now. I’ll go find her.”


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