Shrouded Affections Winning Back My CEO Wife

Chapter 54 Chapter 54: Ruby's life hung in the balance, teetering on the edge of Eileen's crucial decision to stay or leave her job. Tears streamed down Bailee's face as she held Eileen close. "I'm so sorry, Eileen. It seems I've only made things harder for you." "It's not your fault," Eileen reassured her, gently breaking away to offer stissues to Bailee. Bailee dabbed at her eyes, the tissues quickly becoming soaked. Self-reproach gnawed at her for her inability to support Eileen, and Eileen, moved by Bailee's and Ruby's concern for her, also felt a deep sting of helplessness.

"I can only quit my job after my internship is over," Bailee confessed, drying her eyes again. “Kian wantsas his secretary and says I can't leave." Eileen raised an eyebrow. Accepting such a role might be fine if it entailed simple tasks like Vivian's—making coffee and filing papers. But with Kian, it was probably more complicated than that.

Eileen's voice was steady as she asked, "What's the cost for breaking your contract?" "Sixty thousand," Bailee answered with a heavy heart. "It's a steep tenfold of what I earn each month." Eileen rose and ascended the stairs. She took out a card from a drawer and presented it to Bailee. “There is a hundred thousand in this card. Take it. Leave the Warren Group. Once you've handed over your duties in seven days, you won't have to go to the Warren Group ever again, whether they give their approval or not," she said. Since Kian was deliberately making things difficult for Bailee, he would most likely not approve of her resignation. Bailee, upon fulfilling her handover duties in seven days, could pay the sixty thousand penalty for breaking the contract. That amount would sever her ties with the Warren Group regardless of any legal fuss. Bailee paused, then returned the card. "Eileen, sixty thousand will suffice. I don't need more than that." "Okay." Eileen didn't press further. She took out her phone and promptly transferred the specified amount to Bailee.

Discover your next read at gVlnovsThree days trickled by; Bryan was nowhere to be seen at the company. Eileen had neither glimpsed him nor received any word from him, though she was certain of his whereabouts-he must have been at the hospital. Aware that Vivian might not welcher presence, Eileen still felt compelled to go there to see Bryan.

The weight of unfinished business pressed upon her. There were things in the company that needed to be dealt with by Bryan. Eileen gathered the pressing paperwork and drove to the hospital. Halfway there, she bought a fruit basket as a courteous gesture.

At the hospital, the Warrens were absent; only Bryan remained. Peering through the ward door's window, Eileen noticed his lean shape. He bore unmistakable signs of countless nights without rest, his face unshaven. He was still clad in the shirt he had worn since departing from her place. He must have been tending to Vivian 24/7, leaving no moment to spare for his own needs.

Eileen chose not to enter. The last thing she wanted was to upset Vivian. Instead, she watched Bryan for a moment. She retreated to the end of the corridor and rang Bryan's number. The ringtone sliced through the quiet, and she turned to find Bryan emerging, phone in hand, his penetrating gaze finding hers.

Ending the call, Eileen steadied herself and approached him with a slight nod. "Mr. Dawson, I didn't mean to disturb you, but there's pressing work at the company that needs your attention. Do you wish to return, or should I bring the paperwork to you?" While she spoke, Bryan advanced toward her, and her pulse quickened. He brushed past her without a word, stopping by a window to light a cigarette. He exhaled a smoke ring into the still air and then spoke with a chill in his voice, "Disturb?" It was unclear if he was genuinely inquiring. Eileen turned to face him. "There is a video conference at eight. I've brought a suit for you. You could make it if you start preparing for it now." His gaze met hers, the changes in him stark. His shirt was tucked in, his waist noticeably narrower. Dark shadows lay beneath his eyes. He remained silent. As Eileen raised her eyes, she happened to meet his dark eyes staring at her. His gaze was unreadable.

"Bryan." Vivian's voice pierced the quiet. Eileen turned to find Vivian by the door, draped in an ill-fitting hospital gown, her complexion pale. Vivian said, "You promised to be by my side all the time. I woke up alone and feared you'd left." She walked over and wrapped her arms around Bryan's waist tightly, standing very close to Eileen. Eileen remained silent, her gaze cast downward.

In a gentle tone, Bryan urged, "It's chilly out here. Let's go back inside." Nodding, Vivian agreed. Not loosening her hold on Bryan, she began to walk back. Pausing beside Eileen, she questioned, "Bryan, you've got work piling up, right? Can it be done from here?" Bryan gave Eileen a quick look. "Bring everything to the ward. We've got a video conference to set up." Without hesitation, Eileen sprang into action, retrieving the documents and supplies from her car and delivering them to Vivian's ward. Bryan was taking a shower in the private bathroom.

Vivian, alone in the room now, watched Eileen as she brought in an armful of paperwork and a fruit basket. “She bought imported fruits for me. I don't need your cheap things," Vivian said, her tone subdued, perhaps mindful of Bryan overhearing her. Her demeanor had shifted tically from the vulnerability she had displayed just moments before.

Eileen arranged the fruit basket neatly on the nightstand and placed the documents on the coffee table across from the bed. She said, "It doesn't matter toif you accept them or not. They were brought as a courtesy." Vivian emerged from the warmth of her quilt, approaching Eileen with a hushed intensity. "Why do you insist on speaking tothis way? Have you not learned your place?" While connecting the laptop for the upcoming conference, Eileen replied calmly, "My place has always been clear to me. Your actions seem more about affirming your own standing." She arched an eyebrow as she added, "Miss Warren, surely you're aware of your place in Mr. Dawson's heart now. You don't have to hold grudges against me." It was evident where Bryan's affections lay.

Vivian's composure wavered, uncertainty flickering in her eyes. She retreated to the bed and warned, "If you expect no further complications, then act accordingly. Don't provokewith attempts to seduce Bryan.” "Eileen, my clothes." Suddenly, the showering stopped, and Bryan's voice cfrom the bathroom. Eileen reached for his clothes, only for Vivian to intercept with a swift hand, claiming, "I'll take them to him." She moved to open the bathroom door, but Bryan only allowed her to open it a crack. Bryan's hand grabbed the clothes from Vivian's grasp before he shut the door.

As Vivian spun around, she noticed Eileen, who had taken a seat at the coffee table, seemingly indifferent to the petty squabble over who would present the clothes to Bryan. To Eileen, the entire ordeal seemed unnecessary. She knew that even if she had been the one to deliver the clothes, nothing would happen between her and Bryan.

Bryan had been distant since her arrival, avoiding her gaze, his demeanor icy. It was clear to Eileen that he disliked her now.

The sound of the bathroom door interrupted Eileen's thoughts, and she glanced up to find Bryan restored to his composed self. He casually rolled up his sleeves as he approached and took a seat on the couch near her. The distance between them was minimal, and his familiar scent was a subtle reminder of their past encounters. Eileen's gaze briefly lingered on the damp strands of his hair, then on the stern set of his jaw. He carried an air of effortless poise without a care. "Let's begin,” he said.

Promptly, Eileen positioned the laptop before him, ready to commence their task. Bryan's voice filled the room. Sunlight streamed through the window, casting its warmth on Eileen and Bryan. Bryan was absorbed in the laptop's glow, while Eileen diligently took notes. Their silent exchanges spoke volumes, their teamwork seamless.

Vivian, silently watching them, could hardly conceal her distaste for the harmonious scene. The hours melted away as Eileen and Bryan navigated through a sea of paperwork.

Approaching noon, Kian arrived with a selection of Vivian's favorite dishes.

"Bryan, your dedication to Vivian's care at the expense of your work hasn't gone unnoticed Kian set down the meals and casually suggested, "Why not take a break for lunch? Work isn't going anywhere." After a glance at Bryan, who was finalizing a document, Eileen tidied the space. She then announced, "Mr. Dawson, Mr. Warren, Miss Warren, enjoy your meal. I'll return in the afternoon for work." Before she could depart, Kian said, "I won't stay. Bryan and Vivian could use salone time. Let's leave together."

Eileen's reaction was subtle-a tight press of her lips directed at Kian's words. "You needn't cback later today," Bryan told Eileen, gesturing towards the organized documents. "Take these to the office. See to your matters. I'll notify you when to collect the remainder." Eileen gathered the papers. "Understood, Mr. Dawson." She exited the ward, the stack of documents a heavy load in her arms, Kian trailing with a casual stride.

As they awaited the elevator, Kian said, "Bailee has submitted her resignation. Was that on your advice?" Eileen affirmed with a nod, fearing Bailee might struggle with the demands of being your secretary, Mr. Warren. Kian replied, "That's hardly the case. It's a challenge to find someone of her caliber. I have no intention of accepting her resignation." Eileen understood that he wasn't going to let Bailee leave the group easily, but she didn't say anything more. At worst, she might have to resort to legal proceedings.

In the solitude of her car, Eileen sought a moment's peace, though her spirits continued to plummet Bryan hadn't said more than ten sentences to her the whole morning; their interactions had been strictly professional. His cold demeanor left her feeling her thoughts involuntarily circling back to him. As she ran her fingers through her hair with a deep sigh, an unexpected knock at the window jarred her. Lifting her head, she met Bryan's deep eyes.