Chapter 290 Chapter 290: Zola was teetering on the edge, frantic in her search for Bryan, when Phoebe appeared. Initially, Zola was reluctant to talk to Phoebe.
"There's no need to rush in finding Bryan. He's actually fine,” Phoebe said calmly. Her words halted Zola in her tracks. "Do you know where he is?" Zola asked, pausing to shut the car door and face Phoebe.
With a nod and her hand still in her pocket, Phoebe replied, "Interested in his whereabouts? First, you'll need to fillin on what happened with him and Eileen." Outside Zola's apartment, the piercing chill made the duo standing in the cold and chatting quite noticeable, drawing the attention of several passersby.
Zola's brow furrowed in thought. "Let's go inside. It's a long story." She led the way and entered first. Phoebe followed, but not before catching a glimpse of Judie lurking nearby. Phoebe remembered Judie well from their two prior meetings; Judie had made quite the impression.
What was Judie doing here now? With no tto ponder, Phoebe hurried inside after Zola. She peered through the living room window to keep an eye on Judie as she listened to Zola's revelations about deceiving Bryan. She was chosen by his grandmother to mother his child, a key to securing the Dawson family fortune from Bryan's father. Zola was blunt. But before she could elaborate, Phoebe, growing impatient, dismissed her words.
"Skip the lies; I want the real story," Phoebe demanded.
Eileen's affection for Bryan was evident, and Phoebe had no interest in discussing with Zola the absurd idea of a contract for Eileen to bear Bryan's child.
Phoebe's persistence clearly irritated Zola, prompting a frown from her as she spoke. "That's the extent of my knowledge. Eileen and Bryan's grandmother have an arrangement. If you want details, you'd have to ask Bryan's grandmother herself. I don't have all the information." Find the latest stories gVlnov_lsUpon hearing this, Phoebe abruptly stood and left the room.
"Wait, you haven't toldwhere Bryan is!" Zola called out. She hurried after Phoebe.
But she only caught up with Phoebe outside in the yard.
"Bryan is still in Onaland. Since you've only givenirrelevant stuff, that's all I can share in return," Phoebe replied.
As Zola reached for her, Phoebe jerked her arm away so forcefully that it almost caused Zola to trip.
Just then, Phoebe noticed a fresh wound on Zola's chin. Before she could address it, Judie rushed over, seized Zola by the hair, and thrust her to the ground.
"You bitch! How could you hide from me? Eileen and Bryan's wedding is off. Was that your doing? The information I gave you must be worth something. Pay up!" Judie pinned Zola down, leaving her struggling for air. "Judie, you crazy bitch, I'm calling the police!" Zola shouted back.
"Go ahead! And if you do, I'll let everyone know you schemed against Eileen!" Judie retorted.
Judie had witnessed Zola's duplicitous behavior around Eileen and Bryan, recognizing that Zola was skilled at manipulating and pretending before others.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtShe believed that such a person probably dreaded being exposed. She had leverage over Zola! Phoebe, assessing the situation with a clear head, quickly pulled out her phone and started recording.
Unable to defend herself, Zola was overpowered by Judie and reluctantly agreed to pay her.
But Judie no longer trusted Zola. Zola was forced by Judie to return to her apartment to transfer the money via her phone.
Only when Judie confirmed the receipt of five hundred thousand dollars did she depart, satisfied.
At that moment, a realization struck Zola. She rushed outside, only to see that Phoebe was already gone. Though Phoebe didn't grasp the full story, she pieced together why Bryan and Eileen had fought.
The catalyst was the billion-dollar contract that Eileen had signed. And the orchestrator behind Eileen's signing was clear-it had to be Stella.
Choosing not to probe into Stella's motives, Phoebe sent the video of Zola's confrontation with Judie to Jacob. Upon viewing the video, Jacob intended to show it to Bryan directly. But catching Bryan's stern look, he laid his hand on the carpet, hesitated, and instead sent the video to Bryan's phone.
"It's about Eileen. Take a look," he said.
Bryan's fury mounted, and he refused to even glance at his phone.
He was still waiting for an explanation from Eileen.
Yet, she remained silent.
Was she done lying to him? If she had just offered one more lie, he would have accepted it.
The news of Stella's hospitalization eventually drove Bryan out of the house.
Urged by Jacob, Bryan dashed out still clad in his hclothes.
Eileen began to retch uncontrollably. Having not eaten for days, she was too weak to stand.
Ruby decided it was tto take her to the hospital. Milford carried her downstairs with great care, watching over her the entire way.
Upon their arrival, the doctor inquired about Eileen's symptoms and prepared to conduct a thorough examination, starting with her stomach.
"Doctor, could she be pregnant? She's married," Ruby interjected, fabricating a pregnancy to safeguard Eileen's reputation.
"That's vital information; when did she last eat?" the doctor asked.
Ruby could only shake her head in response, prompting the doctor to prioritize a color ultrasound test.
The truth surfaced swiftly. Eileen was seven weeks pregnant and battling malnutrition. Immediately, the doctor arranged for her to receive nutrition intravenously. Eileen's pregnancy marked a significant turning point. Upon waking and learning the news, Eileen's initial response was disbelief. She had just had her period two weeks ago.
"Is your period this tunusually light? And the days are also shorter?" the doctor inquired.
Eileen nodded in confirmation. "Yes." "This represents the early stages of pregnancy, not a period. You're young and otherwise healthy, and the baby is doing well, but your malnutrition is concerning. You will require nutritional injections over the next few days," the doctor patiently explained before departing. Ruby settled beside Eileen's bed as she observed Eileen's pallid complexion.
After a lengthy silence, Ruby felt compelled to ask, "Eileen, will you keep the baby?" Should she choose to keep the baby, it would inevitably link her to the Dawson family. The significance of this child was profound. With the discovery of her pregnancy, risks and complications were bound to escalate. Yet, the thought of an abortion weighed heavily on Eileen. Her heart ached with sorrow.
This child was Bryan's, a future member of the Dawson family, yet it was also unmistakably hers. She had longed for a child of her own bloodline.
The dilemma remained: Should she keep the baby or not? "The doctor advised that the safest period to have the abortion is within the first fifty days to avoid any health risks," Ruby said, her tone soft but firm. "You have, at most, two days to consider your options. Whatever you decide, I'll support you." She gave Eileen's arm a comforting pat and tucked the blankets snugly around her.
The next two days would be agonizing for Eileen. No one else knew Eileen was in the hospital-no visitors came.
In the solitude of her hospital room, Eileen wrestled with the decision to either keep the baby or not. Meanwhile, one floor below, in a different ward, Stella was recuperating from a chronic illness that had flared up again. A few days of resting in the hospital were expected to help her recover.
When she saw Bryan walk into her ward, his usual vibrancy missing, she felt sorry for him. She knew that Eileen, too, must be faring poorly.
Eileen and Bryan's bond was profound, deeper than Stella had imagined.
"Bryan!" Stella called out just as he entered. Before Stella could talk, Bryan, visibly frail, collapsed. He had survived on nothing but water for the past five days.
Jacob was quick to support him while Jarred dashed to summon the doctor. Stella, acting swiftly, disconnected her IV and rushed to Bryan's side.
Soon, Bryan was being wheeled into the examination room. His endurance over the past sleepless and foodless days was nothing short of miraculous.
Following the treatment, the doctor stressed the importance of resting adequately in the days ahead. Without it, Bryan's chances of recovery from his precarious condition were uncertain.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmAs Jacob and the nurses wheeled Bryan back to his room, Stella was consumed by guilt and agony.
"Mrs. Dawson..." Jarred began cautiously. "If things continue this way, I'm concerned Bryan may not be able to hold on any longer."
His voice lowered as he added, "Wasn't this merely the first phase of your plan? Your act has been quite been quite persuasive Perhaps it's tto proceed to the next stage.” With a grave look, Stella paused for a moment before responding with a heavy sigh, "I just hope they both understand why I'm doing this." At night, Ruby decided to stay and help Bailee look after Eileen.
Exhaustion had overtaken them lately. Eileen was already weary, but the baby inside her made sleep elusive.
Gazing out the window, she was lost in thought.
The dim light from the hallway spilled through the windows and the door, casting a soft glow that made her suddenly buzzing phone stand out.
Eileen viewed the lengthy message on her screen with a resigned expression and tightened lips.
Despite the cold determination she had built up over the past few days, her heart involuntarily softened.
"Eileen, why don't you try to get ssleep?" Bailee, noticing the phone's glow, sat up.
Eileen placed her phone aside, turned over, and lay flat on her back. She glanced at Bailee and inquired, "Who else knows about my pregnancy?"
"Nobody," Bailee responded quickly.
"Aside from Mom and myself, I've only told Milford. I made him promise not to tell anyone. I've also paid the doctor to keep it confidential and registered your hospital admission under my name." Bailee knew the spread of this news could significantly affect matters between Eileen and Bryan.
For instance, if the Dawson family learned of the child's existence, they might influence Eileen's decision or attempt to claim custody.
Considering this, Bailee had managed to keep the secret well under wraps.
"Eileen, is something wrong?" Bailee, now putting on her shoes in a rush, looked concerned.
"It's nothing serious. Don't worry. Just go back and rest," Eileen reassured her. "I just wanted to remind you how crucial it is to keep this a secret." Relieved, Bailee nodded and returned to her bed.
Fortunately, Eileen wasn't a focus of significant attention, and Bailee had cleverly used her own nfor the hospital records. Thus, Stella was likely unaware of the pregnancy.
Eileen surmised that the message she had received was sent in the m assumption that Stella wasn't aware of her pregnancy. Stella valued her, not the unborn child. After the restless night, dawn broke. Ruby was the first to rise, busying herself with washing up.
Seizing a moment of solitude, Eileen picked up her phone and replied to the message.
With that, a wave of pent-up emotions within her began to fade away.