Chapter 232
Bryan’s handsome visage retained a hint of anger, mingled with a myriad of complex emotions. The room was bathed in a crimson hue, cast by the sunlight streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Even before Eileen stepped inside, her silhouette was tinged with red. As she moved forward, every feature of her face and attire was accentuated by the crimson ambiance.
The room’s decor was all red, with everything draped in shades of red, save for the lone white wall adorned with vintage posters featuring plump children from the ’80s. “Where did Stella get all these posters?” Eileen muttered, her mind drifting back to her childhood. She vaguely remembered seeing similar posters in her house when she was still a child, but they seemed to have disappeared as she grew older.
As Bryan entered the room, he wasted no time in opening the window, the wind dispersing the colorful balloon decorations that adorned the ceiling. A string that once held the balloons aloft now dangled between Bryan and Eileen. For a moment, they stood in silence, both taken aback by the absurdity of the scene.
Bryan, feeling slightly uncomfortable with the extravagant decor, began putting away everything, though he couldn’t be bothered to change the bedding. Eileen followed suit, stealing glances at Bryan’s chiseled profile as they worked. She felt the urge to speak several times but found herself at a loss for words. His somber mood lingered, and Eileen sensed his sadness, deciding against probing further out of respect for his feelings. Eventually, Bryan guided her into bed, wrapping his arms around her.
She nestled against him, inhaling the comforting scent of pine and a hint of smoke that clung to his skin. Suddenly, Bryan remembered something and shifted to the bedside, bringing her along. Pointing to the nearby cabinet, he said, “My grandmother said she had prepared a surprise here; I think it’s for you.”
Turning, Eileen opened the drawer only to find it filled with new condoms. With a swift movement, she closed the drawer and turned to lie back on the bed. Bryan’s smile widened as he retrieved a small jewelry box amidst the condoms from the drawer, placing it gently on Eileen’s chest. “This is for you,” he said, his eyes warm with affection. The box bore the mark of an expensive brand, a testament to its value.
“This is too much,” Eileen said, her voice filled with astonishment. As far as she knew, even the most affordable pieces from that brand cost hundreds of thousands. Bryan, however, remained unfazed. “Just accept it. After all, you’re the person who’s going to use all the condoms with me.”
Lλtєѕτ чhαρτєrѕ ιn g𝓪lɳovєls.𝓬𝗼𝗺
Rolling her eyes, Eileen snatched the box of condoms from his hand and tossed it back into the drawer. “Stop joking around,” she chided lightly.
Bryan leaned closer, their noses touching. His gaze softened, the darkness that had clouded his eyes dissipating. “Bryan, let me share something about my childhood,” Eileen said, pulling him to sit up beside her.
Together, they sat cross-legged on the crimson bed. Eileen’s long hair cascaded over her shoulders, slightly tousled, as she gazed at Bryan with a solemn expression. “My mom left my dad because she couldn’t bear his poverty anymore. She had found a new family before she even divorced him.” These were the bitter truths that Eileen’s father had shared with her, despite her young age making her unable to understand everything at the time.
Her mother had remarried, seeking stability, but her new husband, unable to father children, had pressured her to bring along a son. Tragically, that man had succumbed to an incurable illness, exhausting their savings on futile treatments. Left in dire straits, Eileen’s mother had struggled to provide for the family. Roderick, Eileen’s younger brother, had never had the chance to attend a decent college, while Eileen had endured her father’s constant torment in her tumultuous upbringing.
“Ruby and Bailee are the only hope in my life,” Eileen said. As she nestled into Bryan’s embrace, he tenderly caressed her waist, the silent reassurance of his touch filling her heart with warmth.
Her admission hung in the air, pregnant with unspoken questions, a subtle invitation for Bryan to share his own. But as moments stretched into silence, Bryan remained reticent. Eileen continued, “They lit up the first half of my life, and you are lighting up the rest.”
Ruby had been her beacon of hope, guiding her through the trials of her early years and sending her to college. Yet, her illness had plunged Eileen back into darkness until Stella’s intervention had provided a lifeline. Eileen couldn’t even imagine what might have happened if she hadn’t received Stella’s help.
Eileen’s words about him made Bryan freeze for a moment, a glimmer of light gradually brightening his calm eyes. With a gentle squeeze, he affirmed his commitment to her, recognizing the resilience she had forged in the absence of parental warmth.
“I’ve encountered fortunes and pains. Your parents were cruel in their absence. My mother loved me dearly, but her life was tragically cut short by Brandon,” Bryan’s voice quivered when he said the last sentence, his emotions threatening to overwhelm him.
Sensing his distress, Eileen enveloped him in a tight embrace, offering silent solace. Their moment of intimacy was abruptly shattered by the jarring ring of the phone. Reluctantly pulling away from Eileen, Bryan reached for the phone, his expression unreadable as he listened to the caller’s words. “Mr. Dawson, please tune into the news. Your father has gathered the media for a press conference.”
Eileen and Bryan exchanged knowing glances before Eileen retrieved her phone, their eyes drawn to the headlines revealing Brandon’s latest move. With a quick tap on the link, Eileen accessed the live feed.
In front of the camera, Brandon wore a serious expression. Though he was the one who had called for the press conference, he remained silent the whole time while Lydia spoke beside him. “Brandon is softhearted. He wouldn’t readily sever ties with Bryan. After all, they are father and son, bonded by blood,” Lydia said. The media had always tread cautiously around the Dawson family’s matters, wary of crossing any boundaries without their explicit consent.
.