Shrouded Affections Winning Back My CEO Wife

Chapter 54

Chapter 54:

Ruby’s life hung in the balance, teetering on the edge of Eileen’s crucial decision to stay or leave her job. Tears streamed down Bailee’s face as she held Eileen close. “I’m so sorry, Eileen. It seems I’ve only made things harder for you.”

“It’s not your fault,” Eileen reassured her, gently breaking away to offer some tissues to Bailee. Bailee dabbed at her eyes, the tissues quickly becoming soaked. Self-reproach gnawed at her for her inability to support Eileen, and Eileen, moved by Bailee’s and Ruby’s concern for her, also felt a deep sting of helplessness.

“I can only quit my job after my internship is over,” Bailee confessed, drying her eyes again. “Kian wants me as his secretary and says I can’t leave.”

Eileen raised an eyebrow. Accepting such a role might be fine if it entailed simple tasks like Vivian’s—making coffee and filing papers. But with Kian, it was probably more complicated than that.

Eileen’s voice was steady as she asked, “What’s the cost for breaking your contract?”

“Sixty thousand,” Bailee answered with a heavy heart. “It’s a steep tenfold of what I earn each month.”

Eileen rose and ascended the stairs. She took out a card from a drawer and presented it to Bailee. “There is a hundred thousand in this card. Take it. Leave the Warren Group. Once you’ve handed over your duties in seven days, you won’t have to go to the Warren Group ever again, whether they give their approval or not,” she said.

Since Kian was deliberately making things difficult for Bailee, he would most likely not approve of her resignation. Bailee, upon fulfilling her handover duties in seven days, could pay the sixty thousand penalty for breaking the contract. That amount would sever her ties with the Warren Group regardless of any legal fuss.

Bailee paused, then returned the card. “Eileen, sixty thousand will suffice. I don’t need more than that.”

“Okay.” Eileen didn’t press further. She took out her phone and promptly transferred the specified amount to Bailee.

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Three days trickled by; Bryan was nowhere to be seen at the company. Eileen had neither glimpsed him nor received any word from him, though she was certain of his whereabouts—he must have been at the hospital. Aware that Vivian might not welcome her presence, Eileen still felt compelled to go there to see Bryan.

The weight of unfinished business pressed upon her. There were things in the company that needed to be dealt with by Bryan. Eileen gathered the pressing paperwork and drove to the hospital. Halfway there, she bought a fruit basket as a courteous gesture.

only Bryan remained. Peering through the ward door’s window, Eileen noticed his lean shape. He bore unmistakable signs of countless nights without rest, his face unshaven. He was still clad in

to enter. The last thing she wanted was to upset Vivian. Instead, she watched Bryan for a moment. She retreated to the end of the corridor and rang Bryan’s

there’s

without a word, stopping by a window to light a cigarette. He exhaled a smoke ring into the still air and then

“There is a video conference at

met hers, the changes in him stark. His shirt was tucked in, his waist noticeably narrower. Dark shadows lay beneath his

ill-fitting hospital gown, her complexion pale. Vivian said,

and wrapped her arms around Bryan’s waist tightly, standing very

chilly out here. Let’s go back inside.” Nodding, Vivian agreed. Not loosening her hold on Bryan, she began to walk back. Pausing beside Eileen, she questioned, “Bryan, you’ve got work piling up, right? Can it be

Eileen a quick look. “Bring everything to the ward. We’ve got a video conference to

from her car and delivering them to Vivian’s ward. Bryan was taking a shower in

imported fruits for me. I don’t need your cheap things,” Vivian said, her tone subdued, perhaps mindful

nightstand and placed the documents on the coffee table across from the

with a hushed intensity. “Why do you

laptop for the upcoming conference, Eileen replied calmly, “My place has always been clear to me. Your actions seem

arched an eyebrow as she added, “Miss Warren, surely you’re aware of your place in Mr. Dawson’s heart now. You don’t have to hold grudges against me.” It was

her eyes. She retreated to the bed and warned, “If

for his clothes, only for

the bathroom door, but Bryan only allowed her to open it

indifferent to the petty squabble over who would present the clothes to Bryan. To Eileen, the entire ordeal seemed unnecessary. She knew that even if she had been the one to

arrival, avoiding her gaze, his demeanor icy. It

He casually rolled up his sleeves as he approached and took a seat on the couch near her. The distance between them was minimal, and his familiar scent was a subtle reminder of their

on the damp strands of his hair, then on the stern set of his jaw. He carried an air of effortless poise without

casting its warmth on Eileen and Bryan. Bryan was absorbed

for the harmonious scene. The hours melted away as