Chapter 487
“Brandon came up the mountain and met with Stella in private. I don’t know what they talked about, but Stella wants you to come back to the Dawson Mansion tonight as well,” Jarred said.
“She’s already on her way back to the Dawson Mansion?” Bryan checked the time. It was nearly six o’clock, and dusk was settling in. Streetlights flickered on amidst the swirling leaves, heralding a chilly autumn evening.
The bad weather outside, visible through the expansive floor-to-ceiling windows, seemed to press in with a palpable intensity, casting a shadow over Bryan’s heart.
Jarred sighed. “Stella left earlier and asked me to handle the packing. She should be at the mansion by now. Something about this feels wrong. Maybe you should go and see her.”
“Got it.” Bryan ended the call and relayed the details to Eileen as he made his way upstairs to change.
Eileen quickly passed Gabriela to Ruby. “Mom, I’ll ask Josue to help look after Gabriela. Can you prepare some food? Feed her, then put her to bed. I’ll go with Bryan.”
Ruby’s heart pounded. “What’s going on? Eileen, is everything okay?”
“Don’t worry. Everything’s fine,” Eileen reassured Ruby, careful not to disclose too much.
Eileen had a hunch that Travis’s theft from Brandon’s safe had been discovered. Brandon’s request for Stella’s presence likely indicated a new strategy in play.
The opulent car zipped along the smooth road, the scenery outside a blur.
Half an hour later, Eileen and Bryan arrived at the gates of Dawson Mansion.
A fleet of luxury cars was parked outside, and Bryan immediately grasped the situation.
Mⱺɍɇ Ʉρȡąţɇş ĩŋ ɢąłņøνɇłş.çøɱ
“Brandon has invited several elders from the family,” Bryan said.
Although Stella presided over the Dawson family, she still needed to consult with the family elders for significant decisions. Brandon had long cultivated relationships with many of them for this very moment.
Inside the expansive mansion, every room was brightly lit. The living room was filled with people dressed in black. Most were men, but there were also two elderly women with white hair and lively faces, wearing gold-rimmed glasses that concealed wise eyes.
Bryan wore a black coat that ended just above his hips, emphasizing his strong legs. His short hair, trimmed slightly shorter on one side, was anything but unkempt. It highlighted his rugged charm, making him stand out among the guests.
Aside from Brandon and Lydia, everyone else in the room was about twice Bryan’s age. But Bryan’s icy presence commanded attention, and his confident stance in the center of the room intimidated them all.
“Long time no see,” Bryan said with a slight nod, then turned to introduce the people in the room to Eileen. “These are the heads of the family branches, all equal in rank to my grandmother. I won’t introduce each one individually; just consider them all family.”
Turning back to the group, he added, “This is my wife, Eileen.”
Eileen followed his lead, offering a polite greeting to the people in the room.
.