?Chapter 272:


    Eileen’s life had been entangled in the web of Denise’s various actions. Should Denise persist in her maneuvers, Eileen resolved to initiate legal proceedings to hold her ountable.


    “By the way, the apartment your mother resides in is registered under Benita’s name,” Julio reminded her as Eileen brought up where Denise was living.


    Eileen was well aware of this but responded with a hint of regret, “Weck the concrete evidence to prove that the apartment belongs to Benita. If this matter gets exposed, Benita can easily deal with it. Without solid proof, I might provoke a counterattack from the Freguson family. Without tangible evidence, going against the Freguson family seems impossible.”


    Phoebe suddenly chuckled. “If thewyer’s letter is issued from Julio’s office, we don’t need evidence. If he says it’s Benita’s, then it’s Benita’s.”


    Benita Freguson? Julio Freguson? Eileen began to piece together the puzzle. Onnd’s social circle was not expansive; two individuals bearing the Freguson surname likely came from the same family. But since they were kin, why would Julio assist her in dealing with Benita?


    Recalling Phoebe’s remark about thewyer’s ability to infuriate Benita to the core, Eileen spected boldly that this was an internal strife within the Freguson family. However, considering it was their private affair, Eileen pondered for a moment and said, “As long as it doesn’t cause any trouble for you, Julio, you can include this point in thewyer’s letter. Benita instigated Denise, and she owes me an exnation.”


    “Not only is it no trouble, but it will also make me feel much better,” Julio assured her, his fingers dancing swiftly over the keyboard as he incorporated the point about Benita.


    In a mere half-hour, Julio had crafted thewyer’s letter and invited Eileen to review it.


    Legally speaking, if Denise persisted in her demands, Eileen was obligated to provide her with only a minimal living allowance. If Denise continued to spread malicious rumors, she would face legal action.


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    Meanwhile, Benita was used of bribing and instigating Denise. Since Denise resided at her ce, Benita owed Eileen a reasonable exnation.


    If Benita failed to exin, she would have to issue a public apology.


    “Everything looks good,” Eileen said after thoroughly reading through it, appreciating the letter’s meticulous construction. She then posted thewyer’s letter on all her social media tforms.


    Julio also posted it on hisw firm’s website, standing publicly by Eileen and revealing the truth.


    Although it waste at night, thewyer’s letter quickly spread across major tforms.


    After managing these matters, Julio’s phone rang. The room was silent, making the voice on the other end distinctly audible.


    It was a woman. Her tone was gentle, and Julio’s eyes reflected tenderness.


    “Julio, don’t worry. I’ll be home as soon as I finish up here…”


    Seeing this, Eileen gathered her belongings and signaled to Phoebe that they would depart once Juliopleted the call.


    Julio, ever considerate, concluded the phone call with a fewforting words. “Juli, it’ste, and I’m sorry for disturbing you at this hour. We can discuss the fees another day. Thank you for your dedication,” Eileen said, rising to leave.


    Julio didn’t insist on them staying. He picked up his jacket from the chair and draped it over his arm, saying, “I’m heading out too. Let’s go together.”


    The elevator was small, and Julio carried a faint scent of gardenias, reminiscent of a woman’s fragrance.


    Phoebe couldn’t resist a yful jab. “Julio, has someone already captured your heart? Your wife sounds like a real…”


    “She’s not my wife yet,” Julio exined without a hint of embarrassment. Then he inquired, “And what is your current line of work, Eileen?”


    Caught off guard by the question, Eileen replied, “I’m tutoring.”


    Julio said with a tinge of regret, “You were a standout in your graduating ss, and after working with Mr. Dawson for so many years, you must be exceptionally skilled. Don’t you n to return to the field?” Eileen hadn’t considered this before and didn’t know how to respond.


    “Forgive me; it was merely a passing thought,” Julio said, sensing her difort and swiftly changing the subject. “I heard you’re nning to marry Mr. Dawson?”


    “The exact date has not been set; we’re still in the midst of preparations,” Eileen answered honestly.


    The trio parted ways at the building’s entrance, with Eileen and Phoebe driving off into the night. It was already past two in the morning.


    In truth, thewyer’s letter could have been drafted the following day, but Eileen’s eagerness to provide Bryan with an exnation hadpelled her to act swiftly. However, theirte return had left Bryan feeling anxious. He had been standing by the window, awaiting her arrival, for as long as she had been away.


    The moment he heard the door open, he moved with haste and quickly stood before her.


    The room was softly illuminated by the warm glow of the hallway, casting a gentle radiance on Eileen and revealing her weary expression.


    She leaned against the entryway cab, ready to change her shoes. When Bryan suddenly approached, he startled her.


    She had noted the darkened house from downstairs and had assumed he had retired for the evening.


    “Why are you still awake?” Eileen asked, quickly changing her shoes and approaching him, turning her head to meet his gaze.


    “Where have you been?” Bryan’s voice, while not raised, carried a barely perceptible tremor.


    His mind had been consumed by thoughts of Eileen’s whereabouts, so he had neglected to check his phone, unaware of thewyer’s letter.


    Eileen softened her tone. “I went to see awyer to draft a formal letter. By tomorrow morning, those rumors will be dispelled. I won’t let you or your family bear the burden of such baseless usations.”


    “I don’t care about that,” Bryan said, his brow furrowing slightly. He believed he knew the contents of thewyer’s letter.


    The critical part of thewyer’s letter wasn’t the loomingwsuit against Denise but the unearthing of Eileen’s haunting past, which would sever her ties to Denise once and for all.


    The moment Eileenid bare the past she had kept hidden, she would reopen the old wounds in her heart in front of Bryan.


    After a prolonged silence, Bryan drew a deep breath, enveloping Eileen in a tight embrace. “As long as you’re safe, the Dawson family’s reputation is inconsequential. Even my life is yours if you need it.”


    His chest was a firm and warm refuge, gradually thawing her cold body.


    Eileen felt immensely fortunate to have Bryan by her side. She clung to his waist, her eyes brimming with tears, though she managed to maintain a steady tone. “Bryan, you need to stay alive. I want to have a child with you. I want someone in this world who shares my blood and loves me deeply. I will love them, and together we will give them a home. Is that okay?”


    Though Ruby was incredibly kind to her, there was always a sense of distance in her heart.


    Ruby cared more about Eileen’s feelings than those of her own biological daughter, Bailee, which ced an invisible burden on Eileen. Never before had Eileen wanted a child as much as she did now.


    “Okay,” Bryan replied, releasing her and looking into her clear eyes, her eyelids reddened.


    His heart softened, and he kissed the tears from the corners of her eyes.


    Their breaths mingled, and his kisses traveled downward, enveloping her lips, as though desperate to make a child with her right then and there to ease her sorrow. In the stillness of the early morning, the outdoor temperature continued to drop while the indoor warmth rose.


    Eileen thought she must be crazy to bring up such an absurd idea; with just two months until their wedding, she could have waited.


    Yet, she lost herself in his passion. He was particrly fervent that night, with a determination that seemed to aim for a baby.


    As dawn’s first light filtered through the clouds, it bathed the city in a warm hue.


    Eileen’s long hair, damp with sweat, clung to her body, her beautiful figure discernible beneath the thin nket. Shey in Bryan’s embrace, his rough hand resting passively on her waist.


    Though she was fast asleep, he was wide awake, one arm cradling her while the other thumbed through his phone. Overnight, thewyer’s letter had gone viral, drawing a deluge of condemnation toward Denise for her reprehensible actions.


    People quickly realized that this wasn’t a case of a mother longing for her daughter, but rather a cunning attempt to extort money.


    But how could a woman as witless and vile as Denise have devised such a plot to leverage public opinion against the Dawson family?


    The answer was clear: Benita was involved, as hinted by the cautionary note at the end of thewyer’s letter.


    Having been out partying, Benita stumbled home at four in the morning.


    Utterly spent, she neglected her phone and copsed into bed.


    Shortly thereafter, her family’s calls jolted her awake, their voices filled with reproach and urgent demands for her to address the situation.


    “Given your contributions to the family, I’ve overlooked your disgraceful behavior. But if you cause trouble, I won’t forgive you!”


    Benita’s father’s stern warning reverberated in her mind as she groggily woke up. Trouble?


    Benita grabbed her phone and saw thewyer’s letter, her expression shifting.


    The Freguson family’s leniency only extended to her wild lifestyle and tarnished reputation.


    But stirring up trouble was a different matter; they wouldn’t protect her.


    Benita immediately called Z to scold her, unleashing a torrent of frustration.


    “How could Denise even be considered Eileen’s mother?” she said.


    Had she known Denise and Eileen hadn’t seen each other in twenty years and that Denise had coldly abandoned Eileen, she never would have suggested exploiting the family angle.


    Z, who had received the letter first thing in the morning and was already in a foul mood, snapped back at being med.


    “Why didn’t you think this through before you acted? If Denise and Eileen were close, why wouldn’t Eileen be supporting her?” Z replied.


    Being reprimanded by Z was too much for Benita. Benita said, “Fine, if that’s how it’s going to be, then let’s go down together. You’ll see!”


    Benita’s readiness to expose Z sent a chill down thetter’s spine.


    When the call ended abruptly, Z tried calling back, only to find herself blocked.


    Panicked, she hurriedly got dressed and rushed to Kian’s ce.


    During this period, Kian had been buried in work, and aside from fleeting encounters at the press conference, he and Z hadn’t crossed paths.


    Seeing Z at his doorstep early in the morning took him by surprise. Though he was about to head into a meeting, Kian promptly called Benjamin to reschedule.


    “Z, what brings you here so early?” Kian asked, guiding her inside, a hint of delight in his eyes.


    Z said, “Kian, I know how stressed and busy you’ve beentely, and I wanted to lighten your load. So, I secretly teamed up with Benita to plot against Eileen’s mother, but things didn’t go as nned…”


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