?Chapter 699:


    Eileen’s fingers traced a path down his shoulder, across the hard ne of his bicep, then settled on the back of his hand, mapping the veins beneath his skin. The heat radiating from him was the proof she needed that he was real, that this wasn’t some fever dream.


    “When did you wake up?” Eileen asked, her voice thick with emotion. “And why didn’t you tell me?”


    “Just now,” Bryan replied, his eyes flicking to hers before returning to the road. He pressed on the gas. “I overheard Raymond’s conversation with Josue and Jacob on the phone. I woke up not long after they left.”


    He had been drifting in and out of consciousnesstely, floating between awareness and oblivion.


    Raymond’s call had been the jolt his system needed. It was as if he’d broken through a brick wall to finally wake up.


    After regaining his senses, he had ripped out his IV, tossed the sheets aside, and gotten out of bed. The nurses, frightened, chased after him, but they couldn’t catch up.


    He’d used the phone Eileen had left to call Josue and Jacob, who quickly returned to pick him up.


    On the drive to rescue Eileen, Josue and Jacob had been equally shocked.


    Suddenly, Bryan’s phone rang, snapping him back to reality. It was Josue calling. Bryan answered and put the call on speaker. Josue’s voice filled the car.


    “Eileen, Bryan’s awake! Was it him who saved you just now?”


    Eileen chuckled, a bittersweet smile crossing her lips as tears slid down her cheeks. After a beat of silence, she replied, “You were there, weren’t you? Why are you asking me?”


    Josue and Jacob cursed.


    “What the hell is with him?”


    “The moment he got in the car with us, he refused to answer our questions. All he did was tell me to floor it and go faster!”


    “I swear I’m gonna kill him. I haven’t cried this much in over thirty years!”


    “Me, neither! Not even when my kid was born was I this damn excited!”


    Their loud voices grated on Eileen’s ears. She buried her head in the hospital gown, seeking refuge from the noise.


    Seeing Eileen’s distress, Bryan snapped, “Enough! We can meet up and talk after a few days. I’m hanging up now.”


    “Hold on!” Josue quickly said. “Why wait a few days? What are you going to do tonight? Why wait?”


    “I’m busy,” Bryan said curtly before ending the call.


    He nced at Eileen. Her eyes, clear yet filled with unshed tears, held him captive.


    Twenty minutester, the car came to a halt in front of the vi.


    Eileen and Bryan walked into the vi, where Ruby, who was looking after Gabri, stood up with a smile. “Hey, Gabri, look who’s—”


    She stopped short, noticing Bryan standing there in his suit jacket.


    Ruby was clearly taken aback, her eyes widening in surprise.


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