Chapter 516
Zola’s heart raced as she realized this man wanted to play with others’ lives as if they were mere pawns in a game.
After a long, tense pause, she finally asked, “What do you need from me?”
“I must admit, the opponent you chose for me is quite formidable. You will need to help me track their movements and draw them out when the time is right.” The man spoke of such dark schemes with a disconcerting lightness, as if human lives meant nothing to him.
Faced with such a person, Zola felt she had no choice but to comply. The image of Bryan announcing he had a daughter with Eileen flashed through her mind. She gripped her clothes tightly, her knuckles whitening as she struggled to calm herself.
After a long silence, Zola suddenly smiled. “Don’t worry. I won’t let you down. You made the right choice in choosing to work with me…”
Meanwhile, Ruby had yet to hear back from Winona after sending her a message.
In the evening, when Eileen returned home, Ruby couldn’t help but bring it up. “How much longer is this back-and-forth going to drag on? Bailee and Huey have been legally married for a long time. Why is Huey always so busy? What could possibly be more important than their marriage?”
“What did Bailee say about it?” Eileen frowned, sensing that Huey wasn’t entirely to blame for the delays. Bailee clearly hadn’t pressured Huey enough.
Though Ruby was eager to help, she didn’t know where to start.
“I haven’t heard anything directly from Bailee, but the receptionist at the educational center mentioned that Bailee hasn’t been doing well recently. She has been arriving late in the mornings, and today, she looked unwell,” Ruby said, her concern evident.
How could she not be worried? Bailee wasn’t young anymore. The situation would be troubling enough if Bailee and Huey weren’t legally married, but with Bailee being legally married without Huey’s parents’ recognition, it only added to Ruby’s anxiety.
“Mom, don’t worry. I have the day off tomorrow. I’ll swing by the educational center, have a chat with Bailee, and find out what she thinks. You’re right—we need to settle this soon,” Eileen said, trying to soothe Ruby. Indeed, this issue had dragged on for far too long.
Saturday morning arrived with a soft golden light spilling over the streets as Eileen made her way to the educational center. She spent hours waiting until, finally, Bailee appeared, looking exhausted. The dark circles under her eyes told the whole story.
She moved through the crowd of parents and students with a forced energy, clearly lacking the usual spark she often carried.
“Eileen, what are you doing here?” Bailee asked, clutching her bag tightly.
“You know why I’m here,” Eileen replied, flashing a brief smile at a passing tutor. “This isn’t the place for us to talk. Let’s head to that café down the street.”
The café was just a short walk away, and Eileen noticed that Bailee was unusually quiet, her mind seeming miles away.
Once inside, they ordered their coffees, and as soon as the waiter left, Bailee sighed, her shoulders sagging. “Eileen, just ask whatever you want to know.”