?Chapter 1317:


    “Doesn’t it strike you as odd how much she knows about us?” Eileen asked. While her falling out with Bryan and running away to Wist Land wasn’t difficult to uncover, Phoebe’s quiet stay there was far lessmon knowledge.


    Phoebe’s eyes narrowed. “There’s something familiar about her. I can’t shake the feeling I’ve seen her before.” Eileen nced at her dark phone screen, a pang of heartache emerging as she recalled Raymond’s recent job change. Once tasked with investigating Amoura, Raymond had now switched allegiances to her side.


    Eileen sniffled, her voice neutral. “Let’s set her aside for now. We need to focus on Milford’s situation first.” Phoebe nodded emphatically, equally concerned about Milford.


    As thest guests departed and the annual party wound down, the clock struck ten in the evening. Normally, Raymond would have seen to the farewells, but his absence had left Bryan to handle the task alone. After that, Bryan found Eileen asleep in a lounge chair, holding Gabri in her arms. Eileen’s slender frame curled protectively around her daughter’s chubby form, the child’s cheeks flushing in her sleep, a toy still clutched in her tiny hand.


    Without hesitation, Bryan arranged for a hotel suite. He scooped up Eileen and Gabri, carrying them to the reserved suite. He gently put Gabri onto one bed and then climbed into the other with Eileen, having carefully removed her party attire. Sleep imed him swiftly.


    As the year drew to a close, businessesrge and small shut their doors for the holidays. The streets teemed with people dragging suitcases, all rushing home for Christmas celebrations. Eileen had lost count of the Christmases she had spent in Onnd, but this marked the first Christmas since her marriage to Bryan.


    Ste had called repeatedly, probing to learn where Eileen and Bryan would spend Christmas this year. Ruby and Le were staying at Eileen’s ce, while Ste was alone at the Dawson Mansion. Eileen found herself unable tomit. Without a solid decision, Eileen only gave vague responses, but it became a knot in her heart.


    “No one can make this decision for you,” Ruby said gently. “But if you choose to spend Christmas at the Dawson Mansion, I’ll look after Le.”


    Ruby wouldn’t dare offer such advice in Le’s presence. If she were in Eileen’s ce alone, she would have urged Eileen to spend Christmas with Ste.


    Eileen sighed softly, resting her head on Ruby’s shoulder. “This is Le’s first visit to Onnd since I returned to the Vazquez family, and our first Christmas together… But it’s also the first Christmas since I married Bryan.” She was caught in a dilemma.


    “You’re lucky your biological mother isn’t close to you. Otherwise, you would be in a more difficult situation now.” Le’s voice startled both Ruby and Eileen as she approached, having overheard their conversation. She settled onto the sofa. “I don’t want to make things difficult for you, Eileen. Spend Christmas wherever you like. As long as I can see you often, I’m happy.” Despite Le’s words, Eileen could see the hopeful anticipation lingering in Le’s eyes.


    She remained quiet, an idea already taking shape in her mind.


    Bryan returned home well past midnight, having finallypleted thest bit of the year’s work. Thepany had officially begun its holiday break.


    As Bryan entered the bedroom, he saw Eileen sitting there, carefully applying ayer of olive oil to her slightly protruding belly, giving it a gentle sheen.


    “Why are you still awake?” Bryan asked, shrugging off his suit jacket. After washing his hands with warm water in the bathroom, he returned to sit on the edge of the bed. Gently, he took the olive oil from Eileen and began massaging her belly with it. Hisrge hand easily covered her abdomen.


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