Shrouded Affections Winning Back My CEO Wife

Chapter 322 Chapter 322: Thus, whether it was to deal with Bryan or to oversee the operations of Apex Group, Brandon and Lydia had to depend on Zola.

They were familiar with Zola's ability to manage the company; when Bryan had been away in West Land, Zola had handled the operations of Apex Group well.

They believed that even with the fallout with Bryan and the spreading rumors of their bet, making managing the Apex Group challenging, these issues shouldn't have resulted in such significant losses! Lydia approached Zola, gripping her collar firmly. "Don't you owean explanation?" "I have nothing to say. Our projects keep getting intercepted, and somehow, the Ferguson Group can predict our strategies and even our lowest bids, indicating clear sabotage. Eileen is a likely suspect!" With that, Zola turned her head away and fell silent.

Without concrete evidence, her words carried little weight.

Lydia said, "It's premature to place blnow. We will visit the Ferguson Group to see Eileen together. She would agree to meet us considering Brandon's presence. We need to secure our part in this project, no matter what." Lydia let go of Zola, straightened her collar, and looked at her intently. "You're merely paving the way; even if you fail this time, it's inconsequential. Brandon has other plans, but don't think about escaping our control, or you will regret it." Even though Brandon had a bad temper, Zola wasn't intimidated by him.

It was Lydia whom Zola truly feared.

Explore more fiction on galnovs.☐☐☐ Lydia had transitioned from a modest upbringing to a life of opulence upon marrying into the Dawson family. Over the years, she had shown no trace of her life before marrying Brandon.

She was somewhat stout, her demeanor kind, and her voice soft.

Zola vividly recalled the moment when Lydia had reassuringly told her, "Zola, don't worry. They'll use anesthesia for the surgery. You won't feel a thing." Lydia had then personally escorted Zola to the operating room, where Zola had undergone a procedure to remove her uterus.

"Go back and rest to prepare for tomorrow's meeting with Eileen, and make sure to maintain a polite attitude. We're currently at a disadvantage, so it's important to adjust your mindset accordingly." Lydia patted Zola on the shoulder, and after a stiff response, Zola departed.

As soon as Zola left, Brandon asked Lydia, "Do you really trust her that much?" Lydia sat down and pulled out a tissue to clean her hands since she had just touched Zola.

She replied, "Bryan doesn't favor her, so she wouldn't dare cross us. Under these circumstances, she's unlikely to covertly assist Bryan. She knows better than to undertake something so unrewarding and challenging." After all, Lydia had raised Zola herself and knew her well.

Brandon furrowed his brows. "If we truly face failure, we might have to use the shares we once gave Bryan to coerce him into staying. Once he stabilizes the Apex Group, we'll bring out the share transfer agreement, prove it never existed, and reclaim the shares. We can dismiss Bryan for good then. It's a convoluted route, but at least the outcis manageable." "I still think it's not that simple." Lydia paused and then said, "Eileen has becthe general manager of the Ferguson Group without any complications. Do you think Bryan is really out of the game?" "What do you mean?" Brandon felt uneasy. "Other than his endless days of drinking, what has he accomplished? We've been keeping an eye on him, haven't we?" Seeing Brandon's expression, Lydia chose not to elaborate further, merely saying, "I'm just pointing it out. Don't dwell on it for now. We have a backup plan, so what's there to worry about?" For sreason, or perhaps because of the mention of the backup plan, Brandon's expression soured.

He glanced at Lydia, stood up, and began to walk.

Lydia said, "You should test these next few days. Travis will be back soon. He'll worry if he sees you looking so... tense." Her voice was gentle and carried a hint of pride as she followed him.

At Ferguson Group, Eileen had just arrived at the office when the receptionist informed her that Zola, Brandon, and Lydia were waiting for her.

"I won't see them," Eileen stated firmly and stepped into the elevator to go upstairs. Brandon, upon being rebuffed, appeared visibly upset.

"She's certainly learned to stand her ground," Brandon remarked angrily. Lydia was about to suggest that Brandon calm down when he abruptly, visibly irritated, said, "She won't meet with us? Then forget it. I'm not here to waste my time." With that, Brandon stormed off.

Lydia watched him leave with a raised eyebrow but remained in place. She turned to Zola and said, "Let's wait a little longer. I'm sure we can see her." Her idea of waiting wasn't merely sitting idly by, hoping Eileen would change her mind.

At lunchtime, Lydia and Zola followed Eileen to a restaurant.

Eileen was scheduled to meet with Leland to discuss and finalize the contract, which she had already prepared for his review.

"Mr. Walsh, please letknow if there is anything you'd like to change," Eileen said politely.

"Okay," Leland responded, scrutinizing each clause of the contract attentively.

Suddenly, the door to the private room swung open, and Zola and Lydia entered.

The waiter behind them looked slightly surprised.

"Ms. Curtis, still working, huh?" Lydia said with a smile as she sat down uninvited next to Eileen.

Zola also took a seat.

Seeing this, Eileen frowned, slightly puzzled about why the two had not greeted Leland.

"Ms. Curtis, you seem quite occupied today. I'll take the contract back and review it myself," Leland said as he stood with a serious expression. "Sindividuals harbor ill intentions. Ms. Curtis, you should be cautious when dealing with them." "Thank you for the warning, Mr. Walsh," replied Eileen, rising to see him out. Zola and Lydia also stood, following Eileen.

It was clear Eileen would have to talk to them today.

Leland gestured for Eileen to deal with Lydia and Zola and exited with the waiter's guidance.

"Apologies for the disruption, Ms. Curtis. I had no idea you were involved in other projects beyond the Walsh Group's," Lydia said, her tone lacking genuine remorse.

Her last sentence was tinged with jealousy.

Eileen turned to face Lydia and Zola. "Don't you recognize Mr. Walsh?" Many in the business realm bear the Walsh surname. Zola casually claimed ignorance of him, though she thought this Mr. Walsh looked like the Leland she knew.

Seeing their reaction, Eileen returned to her seat since the dishes were still on the table, untouched. She said, "What do you need from me? I can spare only ten minutes." "Ten minutes will suffice. You know us, and you've dedicated many years to Apex Group. Surely, you wouldn't want to see it struggle," Lydia said.

"You may not grasp the nuances of the business world. Holding a position requires responsibility. The survival of my former employer is irrelevant to me," Eileen reclined in her chair, gazing indifferently at Lydia.

"We are competitors. The fact that we haven't attacked Apex Group now is purely due to past loyalties. You honestly expectto assist Apex Group? If I did that, what would others think of me?" From Ferguson Group's perspective, the fall of Apex Group would make it the dominant force in business. Eileen saw no reason for her to help Apex Group.

"What if I were to offer you an entry into the Dawson family?" Lydia attempted to sway Eileen.

Hearing this, Zola's expression shifted abruptly. "You-" Eileen maintained her composure, observing as Lydia's sharp gaze halted Zola mid-sentence.

Lydia then turned to Eileen. "You've been with Bryan for a long tand shared a deep emotional bond with him. Surely you didn't want things to end as they did. Without our approval, it would be challenging for you to join our family. But if you ensure Apex Group gets a part of this project, I'll discuss your marriage to Bryan with Stella." "How dare you say that?" Eileen's voice was icy, her lips curling into a scornful smile. "You think you can dictate whether I marry Bryan or not? Who do you think you are to control my life?" She seized the glass of red wine before her and splashed it across Lydia's face.

Zola, who was close by, received sof the splash as well. Zola and Lydia looked at the angry Eileen with widened eyes.

Eileen continued, "I will get back at you for every wrong you and your family have done done towandam е share of the project? In your dreams! Stop using Bryan as leverage against me. My decision to marry him or not is up to me!" Eileen grabbed her purse and left.

Lydia was taken aback by Eileen's bold action.

She didn't know she had unwittingly aggravated a deep-seated pain in Eileen's heart.

The unfinished wedding... It stood as a lifelong regret in Eileen's heart, just one step out of reach.

Stella's betrayal was an immovable barrier in her heart.

It revealed the ugliness of the wealthy families to her.

She had been grappling with the pain for a long time.

The incident with Zola and Lydia had soured Eileen's mood, and upon her return to the Ferguson Group, her stern expression instilled fear in the employees.

The temporary secretary entered Eileen's office, her voice shaking as she said, “Ms. Curtis, the Meyer family has invited you to dinner tonight." Phoebe didn't know whether Eileen was busy or not, so she had arranged the dinner amid Eileen's work.

"Do I have any plans for tonight?" inquired Eileen.

The secretary responded, "You have a meeting with the overseas branch at seven o'clock lasting two hours. O There are no other appointments. I've told Karla that I'll work overtto assist you." Upon hearing this, Eileen looked up, prompting the secretary to quickly avert her gaze.

"No need for that," Eileen said. "Postpone the meeting to midnight. I'll conduct it from home. You can get off work at five o'clock as usual." "Okay," the secretary replied. She said nothing more and turned to leave.

Eileen then personally phoned Phoebe, telling her to have dinner at her home.

Phoebe had been eager to see Gabriela but hadn't yet had the chance. Since Gabriela was too young to be taken out, it was more suitable for Phoebe to see Gabriela at Eileen's place.

At six o'clock in the evening, when Eileen walked into her house, she immediately heard Phoebe's and Jacob's Voices. They were watching the baby, captivated by Gabriela's cute face. Gabriela's dark eyes were fixed on them, her fists clenched lightly before her chest.

"Eileen," Eileen set down her bag and approached, gently calling her name. As she did, Gabriela turned her gaze.

Gabriela's eyes mirrored Eileen's smiling face. Though she still couldn't recognize faces, she seemed to react joyfully to Eileen's scent, her little arms waving slightly.

"Can I snap a photo and send it to Bryan?" Jacob had already taken out his phone, seeking Eileen's consent.