Chapter 201
“You have the illogical reasoning of a lunatic, Miss Warren. As a rational person, I can’t agree with you,” Eileen retorted, slipping her phone into her pocket. She cast a glance at the door behind Vivian, which was slightly ajar, noting June was hiding behind it and sneaking a peek.
“You’re still so stubborn! Have you not learned from your disgrace in Onaland, which drove you to obscurity in Wist Land? Who gave you the nerve to speak to me this way?” Vivian exclaimed.
Eileen sensed a change in Vivian. In Onaland, Eileen had always been submissive and respectful, never bold enough to stand her ground. But now, she was different.
Vivian sneered, “Does Bryan’s affection make you this confident? Do you really think you can become part of the Dawson family? With your background, you’re like a curse! You grew up without a mother and barely survived with a stepmother who’s now on her deathbed, clinging to life. She’ll likely die because of you.”
Vivian’s harsh words took Eileen by surprise. While Eileen’s upbringing had taught her not to respond harshly, they did not restrain her from acting decisively.
A sharp slap resonated through the quiet corridor, silencing Vivian’s harsh words abruptly. Eileen had slapped her with all her might, sending Vivian reeling back against the wall.
“I’ve wanted to slap you since that day a year ago in the hospital, but I never had the chance. Now that you’ve provoked me, don’t hold it against me for being rude,” Eileen said.
Eileen’s gaze was cold as she stepped forward, her slender fingers gripping Vivian’s collar, forcing her to look into her eyes. “If you think I’m still the same Eileen as before, you’re terribly mistaken. Think before you target me again. Your stupidity only makes you look pathetic!”
Eileen let go of Vivian and disdainfully wiped her hand.
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Vivian, holding her reddened cheek, snapped back to reality and exclaimed, “How dare you hit me? Eileen, do you realize that the fate of your educational institution depends entirely on my mood? Without it, and with your tarnished reputation, your career is finished. If you beg me and acknowledge your mistakes now, perhaps I’ll consider forgiving you, you bitch!”
Grasping Eileen’s wrist tightly, Vivian spat out the cruelest words, stooping to her lowest, practically pleading for Eileen to beg her.
Suddenly, the door to the private room swung open. June, looking distressed, gestured at her phone, too upset to speak.
Eileen took a breath and said, “The influencer who plagiarized my content and the professor who spread lies have both been sued. As for you, June, I’ve posted all the surveillance footage of you stealing my confidential documents online. Get ready to face the legal consequences.”
Eileen removed Vivian’s fingers from her wrist one by one, observing as Vivian’s eyes went wild, teetering on the edge of a meltdown.
With a look of pity and resolve, Eileen turned and walked back into her private room.
The incident quickly became a major topic during Christmas. Several teachers shared the videos of June stealing lesson materials in parents’ group chats and across various social media platforms, as Eileen had instructed. Within minutes, the influencer and the well-known professor’s social media accounts were flooded with criticism. Some news outlets even attempted to contact them for comments, but they remained unreachable.
“Ms. Curtis, you’re incredible,” one teacher said, her voice filled with admiration.
“Yes, this kind of retaliation is truly satisfying!” another chimed in.
“I’ve been feeling overwhelmed these past few days. June was constantly slandering you, and I… I almost believed her,” a third teacher confessed, their eyes glistening with emotion.
The teachers, feeling emotional, shared their thoughts, while a few of the more sensitive ones were nearly brought to tears. Eileen had faced all kinds of challenges while working for Bryan, so she found these accusations and slander trivial now. However, seeing her colleagues so happy brought a smile to her face.
“Tonight, let’s enjoy ourselves! Order whatever you want—food and drinks are on me. But when we’re back to work in a few days, we might be short-handed since some teachers have resigned. I’ll need everyone to step up and fill the gaps,” Eileen announced, making the teachers cheer up even more as they indulged in food and drinks.
While they were enjoying themselves, the sound of hurried footsteps outside caught their attention. Curious, someone cracked the door open and peeked in. “Oh dear, it looks like a woman is having a breakdown. Several doctors are trying to restrain her.”
“I am the daughter of the Warren family! Don’t you dare lay a hand on me! Who do you think you are?” Vivian’s piercing voice, though muffled by the door, was still audible. Eileen arched an eyebrow, realizing Vivian’s situation was more serious than anticipated. Yet Kian had allowed Vivian to come and stir up trouble here. Clearly, he was not being a responsible brother.
Suddenly, the door to their room burst open.
June, disheveled and with the mark of a slap on her face, frantically scanned the room before rushing to Eileen’s side and falling to her knees.
“Ms. Curtis, please forgive me. I realize now that I made a terrible mistake. I shouldn’t have acted as I did. My mother is sick and needs money. Your mother has been ill too, so you must understand how desperate I am to gather funds for treatment! Please, give me another chance. I’m willing to work for you without pay for the rest of my life!”
Eileen was somewhat familiar with June’s family situation. It was true that June’s mother was ill with a chronic condition that wasn’t life-threatening but required continuous treatment. However, June’s earnings were typically enough to cover her mother’s medical expenses and provide for their basic needs. This situation couldn’t compare to what Eileen had endured; without the medication that had kept Ruby stable until more advanced treatments were available, Ruby would not have made it this far.
Eileen said, “I truly understand the need for money to save a life, but I can’t forgive you for betraying others for financial gain. Honestly, I used to struggle to raise funds to save my own mother, but I never compromised someone else to do so.”
She reached out to help June up, but June refused to get up, clinging to Eileen’s leg with desperation.
Faced with no alternative, Eileen stepped back, her frown deepening as she said, “You need to take responsibility for your own actions.”
June’s body trembled as she collapsed against the sofa and then slid to the floor, tears streaming down her cheeks. The commotion caught the staff’s attention, who hurried in and escorted June out. While some teachers felt sympathy for June, none intervened on her behalf.
By ten o’clock, Eileen decided it was time for her to leave the gathering, allowing the teachers to continue enjoying themselves. She made her way to where Milford and his friends were gathered. The group was lively, engrossed in card games and singing. The room was bathed in dim, colorful lighting, obscuring their faces.
Adalina was the first to spot Eileen and quickly fetched Milford from where he was engrossed in a game. As soon as Milford noticed Eileen, he abandoned his cards and walked over. “Adalina, why don’t you join us? Ms. Curtis can drive you home. It’s late, and it’s not safe for you to be out alone,” Milford suggested as he approached the door.
Adalina hesitated, seeking confirmation from Eileen.
Eileen nodded, saying, “I’ll drive you home.”
“Thank you, Ms. Curtis,” Adalina replied with a smile, her dimples showing as she glanced briefly at Milford before looking away.
Back in the private room, the atmosphere remained lively, but when Eileen switched on the lights, the room fell silent. All eyes turned toward her as she smiled and said, “It’s getting late. Milford and Adalina will head home now. Everyone, don’t make your parents worry; try to get home early.”
Following her reminder, Adalina and Milford said their goodbyes and left with her.
Though driving Adalina home wasn’t exactly on Eileen’s way, it was only a twenty-minute detour and not overly inconvenient. Inside the car, the air was quiet for a moment before Adalina broke the silence.
“Milford, your classmates still like you as before. They’ll be thrilled when you’re back at school,” Adalina said gently, her tone shy.
Distracted by his phone, Milford let a fleeting look of anticipation show but then scoffed, “What’s there to be happy about? They won’t all be my classmates in high school anyway.”
His dismissive response left Adalina at a loss for words. Eileen felt resigned and added, “If you’re considering high school, you should get back into a school setting in advance. The longer you’re out, the tougher it’ll be to adapt.”
Milford’s defiant attitude had softened considerably recently, yet he still seemed out of place among his former classmates.
“I have no say over this matter. Whether I return to school or not isn’t important; I have you to tutor me,” Milford replied with a shrug.
Eileen acknowledged his point; further discussion wouldn’t change the situation. She resolved to speak with Zola when she could.
After ensuring Adalina was safely home, Eileen and Milford returned to their house. When they arrived, the home was quiet, everyone asleep. Eileen checked on the ongoing plagiarism issue online and began preparing for her return to work in a few days.
She noticed that Bryan hadn’t responded to her message informing him that she had arrived home. This was out of character for him, as he usually replied promptly. Frowning, Eileen stayed awake, waiting for his response, but eventually, it was past one in the morning. Figuring he was likely asleep, she went to bed.
Images of Bryan filled her dreams, making it feel as if he were there with her.
The next day, Eileen and Bailee woke up early to take Ruby to her appointment with the rehabilitation doctor. Recommended by Austen, the doctor was already well-acquainted with Ruby’s condition and had prepared a rehabilitation plan.
They spent roughly an hour at the rehabilitation center.
“Over the last year, your family has managed very well. Your mother’s neural and muscular functions are well-preserved, which should help her recover quickly. Keep her limbs active at home, but don’t push her to stand too soon,” the doctor advised.
Eileen and Bailee took this guidance seriously.
A sparkle of anticipation lit up Ruby’s eyes, and her lips twitched occasionally as if she were trying to speak. With the doctor’s advice in mind, they left the hospital, brimming with hope.
Engrossed in the positive feedback from the doctor, Eileen and Bailee hadn’t noticed Kian and Zola passing by. However, Kian and Zola saw them and paused, observing as Eileen and Bailee assisted Ruby into the car before driving off.
“Was that…” Zola began.
“That was Eileen’s stepmother and her daughter,” Kian said coldly.