?Chapter 1131:


    “Seventy-five,” Le replied.


    The awkward conversation promptly ended as Eileen and the others entered the house.


    Ruby rose from the sofa, eager to greet Gabri. She eximed, “Good girl,e let me take a look at you!”


    Gabri happily greeted Ruby and Le. She wriggled free from Eileen’s embrace, only to be swept up and carried by Ruby. Ruby and Le engaged in ytime with Gabri, their faces alight with joy.


    Watching them, Eileen couldn’t help but chuckle at their earlier exchange about their ages.


    In the evening, at the Dry Club in Onnd, it had been a long time since Eileenst visited. The mix of familiarity and strangeness made her feel nostalgic and slightly disoriented. She followed the waiter to the private room, her eyes adjusting to the dim lighting in the corridor.


    Inside, she found Phoebe and Jacob, along with Julio and Benjamin already gathered.


    The get-together was Jacob’s idea. After he and Phoebe got married, their social circle changed, and many of their old friends had drifted apart. Jacob had invited those with whom he still had a strong connection.


    “Eileen! You heartless woman! You’ve abandoned us for Alverton for so long. Were you nning to settle down there for good?” Phoebe sprang up from her seat and enveloped Eileen in a tight embrace, her arms wrapped around Eileen’s neck, nearly cutting off her air supply.


    “Back off, aren’t you? Please… Let go of me! I’m suffocating!” Eileen gasped.


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    Phoebe finally released her grip. As Eileen looked at Phoebe, she saw tears glistening in her eyes.


    “Having a reunion! Why the tears on such a joyful day?” Eileen’s heart warmed as she looked at Phoebe.


    Phoebe’s experiences with postpartum depression had left her more emotionally sensitive. During their time in Alverton, Eileen and Bryan had often heard Jacobment about Phoebe’s mood swings. If he didn’t tread carefully, Phoebe could burst into tears at the slightest provocation.


    Jacob was attentive and considerate of Phoebe’s feelings now. “I know what happened to you in Alverton,” Phoebe said. Phoebe had been feeling sorry for Eileen since she had heard the story of Eileen’s parents.


    Eileen offered a gentle smile and said, “It’s all in the past. No need to be sad. We have to focus on the future.”


    She guided Phoebe to sit down and skillfully shifted the conversation with a few lighthearted words. Phoebe remarked, “Married men are all the same—no good at all!”


    Phoebe’s eyes wandered to Bryan, who wasughing and chatting with the others, a cigarette between his fingers. But when Bryan and the others heard Phoebe’s words, their conversation abruptly ceased, and they turned their eyes to Phoebe and Eileen.


    “You can’t generalize like that. Maybe the person you met just wasn’t a good one,” Eileen immediately said.


    Phoebe snorted in response, “What good person is Bryan? I heard from Jacob that when Bryan was in college—”


    Before Phoebe could finish her words, Jacob swooped in, his hand covering her mouth to silence her.


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