?Chapter 433:


    Eileen had been a beacon of hope in his life, a guiding light amidst the darkness of his existence. If he could persevere and seed in his studies, he might finally free himself from Z’s grip. If he failed, however, he risked tumbling back into the same abyss from which he had once struggled to escape.


    The choices before him left him silent, lost in thought, over and over again.


    Eileen’s methods in dealing with Z were not just about retaliation for the attempts Z had made to ruin her reputation—they were a calcted strategy to expose Z’s true nature.


    After a brief period of recovery, Apex Group had recently secured several new projects. However, within the week, Eileen had made bold moves to intercept these deals, shaking up the agreements Apex Group was close to finalizing.


    Freguson Group was notcking in opportunities, and by pulling projects away from Apex Group, Eileen strengthened their own position. If outright acquisition wasn’t possible, she was ready to stir things up.


    Sitting together, Jacob and Josue shared a candid assessment of her tactics.


    “Bryan, Eileen was never this aggressive before. It seems she’s learned a few tricks from you,” Jacobmented.


    Josue, caught off guard, pressed further. “What was Eileen like in the past? By the time I met her, she was already a force—juggling her duties expertly even while pregnant.”


    Jacob lounged on the sofa, a toothpick dangling from his lips, lost in thought. He struggled to recall the earlier days. Now, his memories were dominated by Eileen’s formidable presence as a business titan.


    In the spacious room, Gabri’s babble filled the air as she reached for the pacifier in Bryan’s hand. The pretext for this meeting had been to use Jacob as a casual reunion bait, but Josue’s real motive was to see Gabri. Since Gabri’s arrival, Bryan had been inseparable from her, constantly cradling her. Josue, relegated to the role of observer, found it preferable to watch her than miss her presence entirely.


    “Bryan, she’s tough, but don’t forget she’s also a woman. You staying home to care for the child while not working isn’t fitting for a man,” Josue remarked, suggesting Bryan should return to his professional life.


    As Gabri grew restless, Bryan soothingly returned the pacifier to her, casting a knowing nce at Josue. “Weren’t you once quite content living off a woman?” he retorted.


    The color drained from Josue’s face at the reminder.


    Jacob weighed in, “His situation was different. He was with a wealthy heiress and embraced the role of consort by choice.”


    And what about Bryan’s circumstances? Before winning Eileen’s heart, he had been her steadfast protector. Afterward, it seemed he had let go of those burdens.


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