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.

absent; 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 the shirt he had worn since departing from her place. He must

to the end of the corridor and

him with a slight nod. “Mr. Dawson, I didn’t mean to disturb you, but there’s pressing work at the company that needs your attention. Do you wish to return, or should I

she spoke, Bryan advanced toward her, and her pulse quickened. He brushed past her without a word, stopping by a window to light a cigarette. He exhaled a smoke ring into the still air and then spoke with a chill in

him. “There is a video conference at eight. I’ve brought a suit for you. You could make it if you

lay beneath his eyes. He remained silent. As

Vivian by the door, draped in an ill-fitting hospital gown, her complexion pale. Vivian said, “You promised to be by my side all the time. I woke up alone and feared

wrapped her arms around Bryan’s waist tightly, standing very close to Eileen. Eileen remained silent, her gaze cast

inside.” Nodding, Vivian agreed. Not loosening her hold on Bryan, she

to the ward. We’ve got a

hesitation, Eileen sprang into action, retrieving the documents and supplies from her car and delivering them to Vivian’s ward. Bryan was taking a shower in

in an armful of paperwork and a fruit basket. “She bought imported fruits for me. I don’t need your cheap things,” Vivian said, her tone subdued, perhaps mindful of Bryan overhearing her. Her demeanor had shifted dramatically from the vulnerability

the fruit basket neatly on the nightstand and placed the documents on the coffee table across from the bed.

intensity. “Why do you

Eileen replied calmly, “My place has always been clear to me. Your actions seem more about affirming your own

Dawson’s heart now. You don’t have to hold grudges against me.” It was evident where

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

Bryan’s voice came from the bathroom. Eileen reached for his clothes, only for Vivian to intercept with a swift

but Bryan only allowed her to open it a crack. Bryan’s hand grabbed the clothes from Vivian’s grasp before he shut the

had taken a seat at the coffee table, seemingly indifferent to the petty squabble over who would present the clothes to Bryan. To Eileen, the entire ordeal seemed unnecessary.

had been distant since her arrival, avoiding her gaze, his demeanor icy. It was clear to Eileen that he disliked

she glanced up to find Bryan restored to his composed self. 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

of

the room. Sunlight streamed through the window, casting its warmth on Eileen and Bryan. Bryan was absorbed in the laptop’s glow, while Eileen

could hardly conceal her distaste for the harmonious scene. The hours melted away as Eileen and Bryan