Shrouded Affections Winning Back My CEO Wife

Chapter 19

Chapter 19:

In the elevator’s close quarters, Eileen claimed a corner, her finger pushing the button for her floor. She watched the digits climb, trying to calm her quickened breaths.

Next to Bryan, Vivian’s complexion was flushed with anticipation, her lips a tight line. To quell her rising anxiety, she moved closer to Eileen. “Eileen, your efforts today haven’t gone unnoticed. Thank you. Rest tonight,” she said.

“I appreciate it, Ms. Warren,” Eileen mustered a small smile. As the doors glided open, she stepped through, courteously holding them for the others to step out before trailing behind.

Vivian hung back near Bryan, offering a subtle sign to Eileen with a playful wink.

Noticing Vivian’s bubbling excitement, Eileen paused momentarily before continuing to walk without reciprocating the gesture. A few paces away, she addressed Bryan, “If there’s nothing else, I’ll retire for the evening. If you need anything, I’m a call away.”

Bryan came to a halt, the others following suit, his eyes shadowed. “Why would I need to call you this late? What could I possibly need?” he said.

His jest, laced with undertones of discontent, didn’t escape Eileen. She acknowledged him with a nod, her cheeks warming as she entered her room.

Vivian’s voice was tender with concern, “Bryan, if you’re angry, take it out on me, not Eileen.”

Bryan continued walking, his expression stormy and unseen by all. Suppressing a yawn, Jacob made his way past Bryan, offering a casual farewell. “Enjoy your evening. I’ll go back to my room to rest now,” he said.

Settling in next to Bryan’s room, he inserted his key card, teasing, “Not sure if I’ll be needing earplugs.”

Hardly had the words left his mouth when Bryan’s playful ambush sent him straight into his room. Jacob’s protest was halfhearted and amused. “Watch it, Kian. Will you side with Bryan against me once he’s officially family?”

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Their playful scuffle lightened the mood, and Vivian, feeling somewhat relieved, readied her own entry, slipping into the room with a quick swipe of her card.

Observing Kian and Jacob’s exchange, Bryan smiled. “Why don’t you two join us for a bit? It’s still early,” he said.

with Bryan, whose

acutely aware of the less-than-perfect soundproofing, as sounds from the adjacent room floated through

to the sanctuary of the bathroom for a hot shower. Wrapped in the comfort of her blanket afterward, she reclined in bed and absently scrolled through her phone, finding a string of new messages from Huey awaiting

his abrupt departure from their call earlier was a bit odd, and his later message, insisting he was

her despite him not being her type. As she sent a casual reply, she thought

from the next room, she decided to try the game herself. Diving into a

Huey was already in the game, which explained why he hadn’t responded to her messages. Eileen took some time to get acquainted with the game’s various modes, considering starting with

she was about to enter practice mode, an invite popped up from ‘KnockWood,’ Huey’s account. She

team’s chatter, Huey received a barrage of questions. “Who’s this new player? A

are you sure you invited the

here, and you bring in a

with the gaming tiers,

could grasp the

had no trouble circumventing the rules. He initiated a new game with

my team game with you,” he declared with a hint of pride.

comment on his youthful eagerness might ruffle his feathers, yet she found

followed Huey’s lead, selecting her character with only a vague understanding of the game. She mimicked Huey’s movements on screen. As the symphony of game effects filled

on a winning streak, claiming eight consecutive victories that catapulted her from the humble bronze tier to the illustrious Glory gold. Yet the thrill of

getting late. Time to rest,” Huey announced, signaling the end of their

longer. “You should get some rest too. Hope your mom doesn’t have to remind

in jest, unexpectedly set Huey off. “Sleep?

she had inadvertently hit a sensitive chord, Eileen replied,

dissatisfaction, Eileen quickly exited the game, casting her phone aside and trying to find rest. But sleep evaded her, adrenaline keeping her restless and alert throughout the night. The

the fatigue of a sleepless night weighed heavily

the signs of her restless night, she ventured out, making a beeline for the dining area in search

making room for her and filling her in on the day’s plans for a hike behind the