?Chapter 294:


    Huey had seemingly disappeared, not responding to Bailee’s messages, though he was still active, posting about gamingpetitions.


    So it seemed Huey had seen her messages but had chosen to ignore them. Justst night, in a state of panic, she had called him twice, and he had hung up on both calls.


    What should she do?


    Tears streamed down Bailee’s face, driven by either sorrow or remorse, as she crafted a message to Huey: “Huey, if you dare to stand me up today, it’ll be over between us. The wedding is set for half past nine. I’ll wait for you until nine.”


    After sending the message, she set her phone aside and took a seat on the sofa in the lobby.


    In therge makeup room, several artists were busy attending to Phoebe.


    They styled her short, tidy hair with gel and adorned her with a veil, enhancing her look with delicate makeup. Her usual tomboy appearance now had a hint of feminine allure.


    “Did you find someone?” Phoebe inquired, looking at Eileen through the makeup mirror.


    Eileen shook her head. “No. So sadly, I can’t be your bridesmaid.”


    Phoebe’s face fell with disappointment. She hesitantly offered, “I have someone in mind as a recement. Would you like to consider him?”


    Besides Julio, there was no one else she and Phoebe mutually knew, so Eileen knew who Phoebe was talking about.


    “No,” Eileen replied firmly, aware that with the Ferguson family attending today, it would be like a walking minefield, with anyone getting too close undergoing thorough scrutiny by the Fergusons.


    Phoebe, always direct, hadn’t thought of this and could only utter an “oh” before she resumed getting her makeup done.


    Eileen settled on a nearby sofa, lowering her head to focus on her phone.


    Suddenly, the door swung open, and Jacob walked in, d in a silver suit and holding a bouquet.


    He nodded at Eileen first, then made his way directly to Phoebe.


    A tall figure behind Jacob appeared at the door, catching Eileen’s eye.


    Bryan was dressed in a ck suit that now seemedrge for him since he had lost weight.


    The best man’s suit, tailored long ago, now draped loosely over him.


    His white shirt was set off by a dark red tie, highlighting his striking Adam’s apple and chiseled chin.


    Eileen looked up, her eyes resting on his sharply defined features and the iciness in his gaze.


    He paused at the doorway, one hand in his pocket, the other holding a cigarette, leaning casually against the doorframe without stepping inside.


    Eileen averted her eyes, deciding to disregard his presence.


    As she looked away, Bryan nced over at her, observing her fair skin and her figure, slender yet alluring. Her expression was detached, her lips pressed tightly together, with a few locks of hair partly hiding her face. A thought shed through Bryan’s mind, causing his expression to darken. He took a drag from his cigarette, struggling to calm his emotions.


    At ten to nine, Bailee ascended the stairs by herself. She hesitated when she saw Bryan and then lowered her head and walked in.


    “Phoebe, Jacob, I…” she began, standing behind Phoebe. After a brief pause, she asked, “Can I change the best man apanying me?”


    Jacob turned around, eximing, “Ladies, are you trying to kill me? What’s the problem now?”


    Bailee exined, “Huey isn’ting. I’ve just run into Brent, and since we know each other from tutoring, he’s somewhat familiar, so I was friendly. If the Bilton and Meyer families have no objections, he is prepared to step in as Bailee’s plus one.”


    “The Yates family is well-regarded in our circle, and if Brent is willing to be my and Jacob’s best man, we certainly have no objections,” Phoebe said, giving Jacob a look.


    Jacob quickly responded, “Sure, I’ll go with you to find Brent. Consider it a formal invitation from me.”


    With that, Jacob ced the bouquet down and exited the makeup room with Bailee.


    Phoebe’s makeup was finished, and the stylist escorted her to the dressing room to change into her wedding dress.


    The makeup artists also hurriedly gathered their things and departed. Suddenly, Eileen realized that she and Bryan were the only ones left.


    Bryan continued to smoke at the door, standing a bit further away. From her vantage point, Eileen could only see his fingers holding the cigarette as smoke spiraled upwards.


    He had stopped smoking a long time ago because Eileen had once mentioned that smoking was harmful to children, and he had quit decisively.


    Everything had changed. Eileen lowered her head, lost in thought.


    Only when the hotel staff approached to escort Phoebe to the banquet hall for wedding preparations did Eileen put away her phone and apany Phoebe downstairs. Bailee and Brent, alongside another duo of best man and bridesmaid, assumed their positions.


    Eileen headed through a side door into the banquet hall and chose an empty seat.


    As Bryan entered, he was immediately drawn into friendly conversation and encouraged to sit at a front-row table.


    Both the Meyer and Bilton families were notably hospitable to him, offering warm smiles.


    Bryan’smanding presence stood out even among the group of elders; he was now a key figure in the business world.


    Even Brandon had to sit at a table further back.


    After all, even though Brandon held shares in the Apex Group, hecked the necessary operational skills.


    Had he maintained a good rtionship with Bryan, he might have enjoyed a more prominent position, but now Brandon gritted his teeth and looked at Lydia and Z, whispering, “I saw Eileen and Bryan enter one after the other earlier.”


    Z was behind them, and they didn’t interact, not even a nce or word exchanged. Z had trailed them into the hall before finding her own seat.


    Now, Bryan and Eileen were seated at opposite ends of the hall, unable to see each other even if they wanted to. “That’s good,” Brandon said, ncing toward Bryan as he spoke to Z. “Keep working at thepany tomorrow. Monitor him and manage thepany’s affairs.”


    Z had always regarded herself as the general manager of the Apex Group, though thepany was used to Bryan’s leadership.


    While Bryan had previously been away in West Land, she had indeed managed quite a bit of work. However, Bryan’s return had significantly diminished her influence.


    “Okay, I understand,” Z said.


    After she replied, she looked around the room and noticed Kian on the second-floor railing.


    Kian smiled at her, signaled an “OK” with his hand, and then walked away.


    The wedding unfolded smoothly, except for Jacob’s tearful outburst, which left Phoebe feeling embarrassed and prompted her to signal the staff to hasten through the sentimental part of the ceremony.


    The alliance between the Meyer and Bilton families appeared cordial on the surface, and the event concluded quickly.


    Bailee and Brent, along with the other best man and bridesmaid, joined Eileen at her table to rx while waiting for the banquet to start.


    Several others of a simr age also gathered at the table, creating a lively and jovial atmosphere.


    “Mr. Yates, thanks for today,” Eileen said, extending her gratitude to Brent.


    Brent smiled and nced at Bailee before responding, “Please, Ms. Curtis, don’t be so formal. I’m a bit embarrassed about the tutoring with my sister. This was a great chance to smooth things over between us. Tutoring was my mother’s decision; honestly, I’d prefer to stay out of theplexities of these prominent families.” Brent’s candidness was evident in his slightly uneasy smile as he spoke.


    Bailee, preupied with her own thoughts, merely offered a polite smile. “You’re overthinking it.”


    “Indeed, if your sister ever needs help with her studies, just let me know. We’re friends now,” Eileen said, kindly giving Brent an easy way out.


    Their conversation mainly revolved around academic topics, while the others at the table talked about the day’s wedding, all enjoying a harmonious atmosphere. Suddenly, Huey appeared next to Bailee, out of breath in his best man’s suit. “Sorry, I’mte; I got caught in traffic.”


    Bailee’s smile faded as she looked down, her lips pressed tightly together.


    “Is the wedding over? I really didn’t mean to bete. I had a gamingpetitionst night…” Huey began to exin.


    “The wedding is over, and there’s no point in talking about it now. Let’s discuss thister,” Bailee interjected, unwilling to talk. Huey was taken aback, looking over at Brent, who was sitting beside Bailee, wearing the best man’s boutonniere.


    “Did you give him your best man spot? Did you two walk down the aisle together?” Huey asked, his voice rising suddenly.


    At that, many heads turned toward them, and Bailee bit her lip in disbelief, staring at Huey.


    Eileen said with a firm tone, “Huey, you werete to begin with. You have no reason or right to question Bailee. This is a wedding; please, keep your discussions forter.”


    “Why don’t I have the right to question her? You and Bryan had fallen out, and you’d rather stay single than just find anyone to be your plus one. She’s still my girlfriend, and she just reces me with some other guy,” Huey blurted out, delivered by his frustration.


    Bailee, overwhelmed with emotion, stood up and shoved him. “Huey, you are a jerk! From now on, we are no longer together.”


    Grabbing her bag, Bailee said, “Eileen, please apologize to Phoebe for me; I have to go now.”


    She needed to leave before Huey escted the situation, not wanting to disrupt Phoebe’s wedding. Bailee hurried out.


    Huey followed her, but his words continued to resonate among the guests.


    “You and Bryan had fallen out…”


    Suddenly, many guests turned their attention to Eileen and Bryan, who were seated far apart.


    Particrly Brandon, who observed them intently.


    The atmosphere felt awkward to everyone, but Eileen and Bryan appeared detached from the situation.


    Remaining seated, they carried on with their respective activities.


    The tension slowly lifted as guests began eating, and a dance hall on the second floor was opened for a mini-theater performance, leading everyone to relocate to the designated area on the second floor.


    A two-meter-tall crystal chandelier cast a radiant, mesmerizing light over the entire hall.


    Phoebe and Jacob changed into their dancing attire and initiated the first dance, with others slowly joining the dance floor.


    Eileen, worried about Bailee, was inadvertently pushed by the crowd into the center of the dance floor.


    Suddenly, the crystal lights went out, leaving only a single faint light above.


    As Eileen looked up toward the lone source of light, a sharp clinking sound of ss echoed through the air. The intricate crystal chandelier above her began to sway, threatening to crash down at any moment!


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