Chapter 448
Eileen, lying sideways and playing with the baby, savored the moment of calm.
Half an hour later, dinner was on the table. Eileen and Ruby were deep into their meal when Bryan finally descended the stairs, his expression unreadable.
He pulled out a chair and sat down across from Eileen, giving her a look that spoke volumes.
“What’s up?” Eileen’s heart skipped a beat, as if she had done something wrong and was waiting for the hammer to fall.
Bryan’s voice was calm, but his smirk said otherwise. “Nothing much. You’ve been killing yourself with work today. Eat more.”
He plopped two pieces of Eileen’s least favorite vegetables onto her plate.
Eileen stared at the vegetables in disbelief.
“I’m done with that,” Ruby said abruptly. “I’m going to fetch the laundry from the balcony.” With that, Ruby left the table quickly, leaving behind a palpable tension.
The air was thick with unease, especially for Eileen. Her anxiety never seemed to dissipate when Bryan was upset.
“I don’t like vegetables,” Eileen said, pushing the greens back onto Bryan’s plate. “You eat them.”
Bryan’s fork lifted a piece of braised meat along with the vegetables.
He was far from upset. In one daring bite, he combined the greens with the meat.
“Picky eating is a bad habit that needs to be changed,” Bryan lectured with an almost theatrical seriousness. “Gabriela’s watching. You’re setting a poor example.”
With that, he promptly fed her another piece of greens.
“Come on, just give it a shot.”
Eileen frowned. She cast a worried glance at Gabriela, whose little fists were clenched in anxious anticipation, desperate to grab the food.
Reluctantly, Eileen chewed.
Bryan seized the opportunity to make her eat seven or eight more bites of greens.
Eileen was baffled by Bryan’s sudden “punishment.”
Later that night, she realized that the real consequence had yet to come.
“Do you have time tomorrow evening?” Bryan asked.
“No,” Eileen responded immediately.
Tomorrow was Brandon and Lydia’s wedding anniversary, and she had already promised to attend.
Having tucked Gabriela into bed, Bryan leaned in closer. “What’s the occasion?”
“Um…” Eileen struggled to find a proper excuse.