Shrouded Affections Winning Back My CEO Wife

Chapter 299 Chapter 299: Bryan's cold gaze shifted slightly, locking onto Raymond. He stated icily, "She won't attend." After a moment, Raymond ventured another piece of advice. "The Apex Group is in turmoil now. How can you even think about heading to the club? Aren't you concerned about the consequences?" "About what?" Bryan cut him off sharply. "Worried you'll lose out on perks if you stick with me? Then you might want to start job hunting." Raymond was left at a loss for words.

He watched as Bryan slipped into a suit and departed from the hospital room.

Today, Jacob and Phoebe had each invited their friends separately to meals to sidestep any awkward encounters. Eileen, having attended Phoebe's wedding, had initially stayed hbut decided to cout after receiving several calls from Phoebe.

She knew that as her pregnancy advanced, it would becharder for her to go out in the future.

Alongside her were Bailee, Julio, and a handful of Phoebe's longtfriends—seven people in total—who gathered at the entrance of a posh private club. Phoebe led them into the reserved room.

Upon opening the door to the private room, a mix of smoke and alcohol wafted out. Inside, the room buzzed with talking and laughter, with Jacob at the center, microphone in hand, playfully singing.

For a moment, Eileen was stunned.

After a short pause, Jacob set the microphone down and approached Phoebe, asking softly, “Honey, why are you here?" Fresh updates loaded galnovs"What do you mean, why am I here?" Phoebe responded sharply. "I'm the one who booked this room." The waiter, still holding the door open, was visibly confused and asked, "Mr. Meyer, Mrs. Meyer, aren't you two together?" At this, Phoebe slapped her forehead and exclaimed, "I forgot I used Jacob's membership card to book the room." That chance encounter had also led the club staff to believe they were together and thus prepared only one room.

"Honey, our timing is unbelievably perfect," Jacob joked, glancing next to Phoebe, stepping aside. In a shadowy corner was Bryan, with his dark eyes and chiseled features set in an unreadable expression. His legs were casually crossed, a cigarette dangling from his fingers, the smoke swirling around him.

"Isn't he supposed to be in the hospital?" Phoebe had intentionally planned separate invitations to avoid exactly this type of awkward encounter.

She hadn't anticipated her careful arrangements would be in vain.

"I assumed he wouldn't attend since he was hospitalized, so I just called him on a whim. Yet, he was the first one here," Jacob said. “He looks rough, but he's mingling with these tough kids as if he is a different person now." "Then..." Phoebe turned to Eileen and said, "Let's find a different room." The waiter quickly interjected, "Mrs. Meyer, there are no more private rooms available now." "Then we'll go somewhere else,” Phoebe decided promptly and began leading Eileen out. "Hey, Phoebe, why leave just as you've arrived?" "Yeah, we didn't even get to clink glasses at your wedding. Now that we've finally got the chance, you can't just leave." Several affluent young men burst out of the private room, halting Phoebe's exit and gently nudging her group back inside.

After dealing with them, Phoebe turned to see Eileen and Bailee already settled in a corner.

The other ladies she had brought began socializing with the young men they knew there.

Finding herself unable to leave, Phoebe approached Eileen with a look of apology and whispered, "I'm sorry; I didn't expect things to turn out like this." "It's okay." Eileen stayed composed, pointedly ignoring the intense stares coming from a specific direction. She and Juinteracted sparingly, maintaining a distance that suggested they weren't close, especially under the watchful eyes around them.

The conversation only flowed when Phoebe reminisced about their school days.

Meanwhile, Bryan, stationed in a corner, was the center of attention among the young men, actively participating in every discussion and game.

He accepted every cigarette offered to him and engaged in each game, his cigarette seemingly permanently affixed to his lips.

Witnessing his demeanor, Phoebe felt overwhelmed. She impulsively pulled out her phone and began showing Eileen pictures of potential suitors. "You're not getting any younger; it's tto think about settling down. Look, here are ssuitable men from respectable families-tall, short, heavy, slim-pick anyone you like," she said. These photos had been collected earlier while she searched for a suitable groomsman for Eileen. cob had halted her efforts, fearing it might set Bryan off.

Yet, there was no outburst. Bryan continued smoking, playing cards, and enjoying himself, seemingly without a care.

Phoebe's aim was simply to get revenge for Eileen, who played along, examining the photos with a serious demeanor and occasionally remarking, "This one isn't bad; he looks quite dependable... Yeah, that one is good too; he seems trustworthy. This one's not great; he looks a bit difficult to deal with." The mood grew noticeably tense, and the chatter around Bryan slowly died down.

Yet Bryan kept on, nonchalantly smoking and shuffling cards, his eyes dark and intense.

The veins in his hands stood out, his grip on the cards tight.

Each of Eileen's seemingly casual remarks pierced his heart like daggers.

He snuffed out his cigarette, seized an uncorked bottle of wine, and started drinking heavily.

Wine dribbled from his mouth, tracing a path down his sharply defined chin and pronounced Adam's apple, staining his white shirt.

"Damn!" Jacob sprang up, alarmed. "Do you want to die? The doctor strictly forbade alcohol! It could kill you!" He made a grab for the bottle, but Bryan dodged him. After draining the bottle, Bryan threw it aside and glared at Eileen, his harsh words slicing through the air. "You have the right to be choosy? You're just a woman who chases money; why bother complicating things at all? Just pick the wealthiest one. Clinging to money is your safety, isn't it?" "I need someone intelligent so that I won't end up entangled with someone both financially and emotionally involved and hard to get rid of," Eileen said, meeting his gaze with icy detachment. At that, Bryan abruptly rose and stepped out of the shadows.

His long legs, clad in black trousers, carried him toward her as he reached out and firmly grasped her chin. Leaning close, his eyes burned with a rage that seemed to devour all in its path.

"Throwing veiled insults? Eileen Curtis, you have quite a sharp tongue. Let's see if you remain as defiant when facing real money," he said.

Bailee was momentarily shocked by his behavior. As she cto her senses, she swiftly reached for Bryan's wrist, attempting to pull his hand off Eileen.

Yet his icy stare chilled her to the bone, causing her to involuntarily let go.

Phoebe swiftly stepped in, exclaiming, "Bryan, have you lost your mind? This isn't Eileen's fault. Why don't you sort out the Dawson family's troubles by yourself?" The cloud of smoke from Bryan made Eileen uncomfortable, and his firm hold on her jaw left her unable to speak.

Tears welled up in her eyes, but she bravely returned his gaze.

Ignoring everyone else, Bryan's dark eyes mirrored her defiance. He said, "Fond of money? Then be my mistress forever. Spend freely. Whatever you want, it's yours." Eileen suddenly slapped him.

Bryan's head jerked to the side, the imprint of a hand vivid on his cheek, slightly narrowing his eyes. "Bryan, stop!" Jacob dashed over, seizing Bryan and forcefully dragging him back.

Bryan's expression was fierce, suggesting he might crush Eileen's jaw at any moment.

Bryan was compelled to let go of her chin, and Eileen was jolted onto the couch.

Phoebe and Bailee quickly lifted her, checking how she was.

"Are you alright? Eileen, do you feel okay?" Bailee was concerned about the baby but didn't voice it due to the crowd.

Eileen nodded, then got up and fixed her gaze on Bryan. Jacob's forceful handling had aggravated Bryan's injury,

A stain of blood appeared on his white shirt, yet he remained still,allowing Jacob to press down on his as wound as he kept his focus on Eileen.

"Can you handle this? Do you really needthat badly?" "Fine, as long as I pay. I don't care. If not you, I'll simply find someone else, right?" Eileen's words were rp, each one cutting deeply. Jacob couldn't hold back and exclaimed, "Eileen, you're so heartless! Do you want him to die?" "Of course not," Eileen replied as she adjusted her coat, her tone blunt. "He's a valuable benefactor. It would indeed be a shif he died." "Phoebe, get her out of here!" Jacob, feeling his hold on Bryan weakening, called out urgently.

Phoebe, seeing Bryan's furious look, feared for Eileen's safety. She quickly grabbed her bag and escorted Eileen out of the room with Bailee.

Eileen and Bryan's conflict was observed by everyone present.

Once Eileen was gone, Jacob let go of Bryan and immediately suggested they head to the hospital after noticing the blood on Bryan's shirt.

"No need; I'm not going to die." Bryan adjusted his tie and resettled himself on the sofa, returning to his smoking and drinking.

His complexion grew paler, but seated in the dim corner, it was difficult to notice. The room gradually regained its lively atmosphere.

However, Jacob, concerned Bryan might collapse, ended the gathering early and insisted on taking Bryan back to the hospital.

The event concluded on a sour note, and throughout the drive home,, his Jacob continually expressed his frustration that neither he nor Phoebe could influence Eileen and Bryan's tumultuous relationship. The brief one-hour gathering soon becthe talk of the town.

Meanwhile, Brandon was heatedly debating with Lydia over the bet.

"Why didn't you letagree?" Brandon said. The thought of Bryan publicly labeling him a coward cut deep.

"Brandon, don't act rashly. We need to be cautious. The bet might be one of Bryan's tricks. Plus, it's crucial that we keep Zola on our side," Lydia was Zolavo particularly concerned that Zola might waver at a decisive moment. It was clear to her that Zola harbored feelings for Bryan. If they placed all their bets on Zola and she had a change of heart, their plan would definitely fail. Brandon, slowly regaining his composure, settled into deep thought on the sofa. There were several strategies to secure Zola's allegiance, yet deciphering Bryan's true motives proved challenging.

Bryan risked his life for a woman and ignored his business responsibilities. Was he genuinely unraveling, or was this all an act? Suddenly, Lydia's phone interrupted the silence. She answered it, and moments later, she ended the call with a beaming smile. "Brandon, I have good news."