?Chapter 342:


    The nurse looked at her with surprise, then reassured her, “Don’t worry, it’s normal to have a fever after an injury and significant blood loss.”


    Eileen didn’t fully understand. She was worried that the fever might make Bryan’s condition worse and was also concerned about how ufortable he must feel with the fever. Even if he remained unconscious, he could still be experiencing a lot of pain.


    After the nurse left, Eileen couldn’t bring herself to sleep. She vigntly checked to see if Bryan’s fever was decreasing. By early morning, the sky began to lighten, and she realized she had stayed awake the entire night. Her eyes were sore, but she didn’t feel overly tired.


    Her main concern was that Bryan hadn’t awakened at all.


    She called the nurse again, who conducted another examination.


    “He’s just exhausted and needs more sleep. You should use this time to freshen up and eat something. When he awakens, you’ll need the energy to look after him.”


    The nurse could see her exhaustion and concern.


    Eileen thanked the nurse and saw her out.


    Despite not eating much the previous day due to issues with Ste and skipping dinner, she didn’t feel hungry.


    Resting her chin on her hand, she leaned over the bed, gazing at Bryan’s profile.


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    Truth be told, no matter how attractive someone was, bandages could diminish their appearance. They even made Bryan look a bit less handsome.


    As morning arrived, sunlight filled the room, and a breeze gently fluttered through the window, dispersing the smell of disinfectant. The breeze caused Bryan’s long eyshes to flutter slightly. His eyebrows furrowed unconsciously, and in the next moment, he opened his eyes.


    “Bryan?” Eileen quickly stood, poured a ss of warm water, and inserted a straw into it. “You had a feverst night, and the doctor said you’d likely have a dry throat when you woke up. Drinking some water should help.” She positioned the straw at his lips. He shifted slightly, his lips parting to take the straw.


    The contours of his jawline were striking, and his Adam’s apple bobbed as he drank. Even with half his face covered, the visible portion was still quite appealing.


    Eileen found herself momentarily distracted. It wasn’t until she heard the soft slurping sound that she realized he had finished the water.


    She refilled the ss, and he drank it down in less than ten seconds.


    He cleared his throat and said, his voice raspy, “You didn’t leave?”


    “Where would I go?” Eileen set down the ss and had just sat back down when he lifted his arm, his hand cradling her cheek. His fingertips tenderly traced her eyebrows, nose, and lips.


    “Who are you?” Bryan suddenly parted his lips, a slight smile ying at the corners of his mouth as he asked the question.


    Eileen was startled. Her clear eyes blinked a few times. Was he pretending to have amnesia? “Who do you think I am?”


    She decided to y along and said, “You tell me. Who do I look like?”


    “Like the mother of my future child,” Bryan answered bluntly.


    A future child? They already had one. However, Eileen chose to remain silent about this for now.


    “Answer my question. Who are you?” Bryan asked again.


    Eileen was stunned. Was he still pretending? Did the concussion affect his thinking? He kept repeating the same question.


    Her eyebrows lifted slightly, and she said cautiously, “I am Eileen Curtis.”


    He shook his head but identally pulled at his wound, wincing in pain. “No, try again.”


    Seeing his difort, she became rmed. “I can be anyone; please stop shaking your head.”


    Bryan squeezed his eyes shut in pain, sweat dripping from his forehead. He struggled to grasp her chin, but despite his trembling fingers, she could barely feel his grip.


    “Answer me, who are you?”


    Eileen, growing frustrated, grabbed his hand and said sharply, “I am your mother! Are you happy now?”


    Bryan couldn’t suppress augh, though it made his whole body ache.


    “Idiot!” he scolded. “You are Mrs. Dawson. If you get it wrong again, I’ll have to punish you.”


    Eileen hadn’t anticipated that when he woke up, he wouldn’t cry out in pain or express hunger, but instead, he would begin with such yful banter.


    She settled into her seat, gently grasped his hand, and said, “Okay, I’m Mrs. Dawson now. Let me ask you—are you hungry? Would you like something to eat?”


    “I’m not very hungry, but I’ll eat something. You should have some food too,” Bryan said, his smile unwavering.


    His gaze stayed on her, his mind, heart, and words focused entirely on her.


    “You might not feel hungry, but you should eat. Your body needs to heal, and for that, it needs nutrients.” Eileen looked down at their intertwined hands, realizing she couldn’t go out to get breakfast.


    She decided to call Dalores and asked her to bring breakfast from Nero’s. The ce was only a ten-minute drive from Freguson Group, making it easy for Dalores to run this errand.


    “I need at least enough strength to kiss you,” Bryan said earnestly.


    She had been by his side, watching over him all night, yet he hadn’t awakened.


    Bryan made a point of eating nutritiously during each meal to recover his strength and vitality. If he needed to sleep when she was present, it would squander their precious time together.


    As Bryan was lost in thought, a warm, soft sensation brushed against his lips. Eileen’s hair tickled his face.


    Her lips carried a subtle scent of lipstick, which he inhaled deeply, feeling unsatisfied even after their brief kiss ended.


    “Kissing doesn’t help you get stronger. Just let me lead, focus on getting better first, and everything else can wait until you’re out of the woods,” Eileen said softly.


    Her cheeks flushed as the sunlight streaming through the window highlighted her delicate, pink earlobes.


    She worried that Bryan might not recover well here, and once he found out about Gabri back home, he would obsessively watch over her, disrupting his rest.


    Bryan, however, had a mischievous idea. He nced at the hospital bed, which was not nearly as cozy as their double bed at home. He pondered if it could endure for long.


    “Last time you mentioned that once your role at Freguson Group was secure, you wanted to discuss something with me. What was it?” Bryan asked quietly.


    Eileen responded, “I’ll tell you once you’re discharged, so make sure you take good care of yourself. I’ll only tell you after you’ve fully recovered.”


    “Alright, we’ll talk about it after I’m discharged then,” Bryan said, shifting to ce his hand on her shoulder.


    “I want to hug you.”


    Eileen slipped off her shoes andy beside him, resting her head on his chest, attuned to his slightlybored breathing. She kissed his chin and said, “The doctor mentioned that the anesthesia from your head surgery has worn off, it’s going to be quite painful, Should I get you same painkillers?’


    Bryan, his eyes half-closed, refused. “No need. I can handle it. Painkillers might interfere with the healing process.”


    “It won’t impact it much. If the healing takes a month, with painkillers, it might take forty days at most. The main issue is the pain being too severe,” Eileen exined. “As for work, let Josue take over for now. You shouldn’t work for at least a month.”


    He slightly opened his eyes, nced at her, and said, “Holding you, I feel no pain. If you kiss me every five minutes, it will hurt even less.”


    Eileen was at a loss for words.


    She didn’t understand his aversion to painkillers, but she couldn’t stand seeing him suffer.


    After breakfast, she nned to give him some medication with his anti-inmmatory drugs.


    Unexpectedly, the breakfast she had expected to arrive in thirty minutes took nearly two hours.


    Dalores arrived out of breath, with mud stains on her clothes. By then, Eileen had already gotten out of bed, knowing Bryan was weak. They remained silent, just quietly looking at each other.


    Dalores burst in, her eyes slightly red, prompting Eileen to sense that something was wrong.


    Eileen stood,id out the breakfast on the table, and adjusted the bed so Bryan could eat.


    Then she led Dalores out of the room and asked, “Did you run here?”


    “No, I took a taxi. I’m sorry, there was a dy on the road,” Dalores answered, wringing her hands, her expression filled with guilt and distraction.


    “Tell me what really happened.” Eileen could tell something was troubling Dalores.


    Encouraged by Eileen’s question, tears immediately began to fall from Dalores’s eyes.


    Dalores had received Eileen’s call and had gone straight to a breakfast restaurant near the Ferguson Group building to get their food. Unexpectedly, she had seen Julio there with a woman.


    The two of them appeared to be on a date, and the woman resembled ady from a prominent family, exuding beauty and grace.


    During this encounter, Julio behaved like apletely different person, very gentlemanly and kind in front of the woman. He reminded Dalores of the Julio she once knew.


    For a moment, Dalores wondered if the harsh Julio who had mistreated her might have a split personality. She remained there, captivated by the sight of Julio, until the woman noticed her and seemingly whispered something to him.


    Turning his head, Julio finally saw Dalores, who had been watching them for quite some time.


    Julio gazed at her for a few moments, then subtly lifted the corner of his mouth, motioning for her toe over with a wave of his hand.


    Reluctantly, Dalores approached and stood beside their table. “Julio…” Dalores called out, her voice hopeful, sensing some familiarity in Julio’s gaze.


    Unexpectedly, Julio introduced her, “Miss Harrison, this is an underprivileged student I sponsored ten years ago.”


    “An underprivileged student?” Mabel asked, her tone skeptical. “She doesn’t really look the part.”


    “Indeed, she doesn’t appear as expected,” Julio replied. “Perhaps because of my long-term support, she’s developed ambitious aspirations, aiming to climb the socialdder, often scowling at me.”


    Julio’s smile was mocking, and as he turned away, the warmth in his eyes disappeared. He looked at Dalores and asked, “Did you follow me here? You’ve got some nerve.”


    Mabel’s eyes roamed over Dalores, finally pausing on her chest. Sheughed openly and said, “She does have her charms. Why not give it a shot?”


    “How could I?” Julio responded seriously, his tone carrying an edge of difort. “With you here, I wouldn’t dare.”


    “In reality, I’m quite liberal-minded,” Mabel remarked, subtly hinting at her more rxed views. “I don’t find these things bothersome. Considering we’re both single, a few flings before marriage aren’t such a big deal.”


    Julio shrugged and replied, “I don’t mind either. But her… I wouldn’t dare get involved with her. She’s trouble.”


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