Shrouded Affections Winning Back My CEO Wife

Chapter 206

Chapter 206:

“Not both,” Zola interjected without hesitation. “I grew up with Bryan. We’re like… close siblings. He’s the one I’m closest to.”

Eileen raised an eyebrow. “Then why are you asking me to reconcile with Kian? You know I can’t do that. Kian wants me to leave Bryan so that Vivian can take my place, which Bryan would never agree to. If you truly want to help, you should persuade Kian to stop being stubborn because Bryan does not love Vivian.”

Understanding Zola’s purpose, Eileen laid it all out. She stood up and picked up her phone from the table. “Sorry, I really have work matters to deal with now. If you have anything else to say, let’s discuss it tonight when I come to your place to tutor Milford. Is that okay?”

Zola quickly stood up, a smile of apology on her face. “Okay, you’re right. I didn’t think it through. I thought you might have another way to reconcile with Kian.”

She followed Eileen out of the coffee shop. As they reached the door, Zola spoke again. “Don’t take my earlier words to heart. Growing up in the Dawson family, I always had to read people’s faces, and it made me nervous about everything, just trying to get by. I won’t interfere in your matters anymore.”

Eileen’s clear eyes reflected Zola, who was bathed in sunlight and appeared confident. Zola didn’t seem like someone who had grown up with so much anxiety. However, after years of being groomed as Bryan’s wife without inciting dislike from him or Stella, Zola clearly had her own strategies.

From Eileen’s perspective, while she couldn’t say she liked Zola, she didn’t dislike her either. She resolved to remain polite.

“Then I’ll see you tonight, Miss Murray. I need to get back to work now.” Eileen waved at Zola and turned to leave, crossing the road to the educational agency, too busy to look back.

Zola got back into her car and placed her bag on the passenger seat. Her composed demeanor from earlier vanished. This had been her first “confrontation” with Eileen. Though it wasn’t a major issue, she felt outmaneuvered. She realized she had underestimated Eileen. But there was still time…

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Just three days remained before the court session, and Eileen was fully engrossed in the affairs of the educational agency. Since Bryan was the one driving Eileen to work and back home, she had ample time to work during the commute. However, this arrangement left Bryan deeply dissatisfied.

With his current project running smoothly and having some free time on his hands, Bryan decided to go to the educational agency to wait for Eileen to finish work. However, just as Eileen was wrapping up her tasks, a minor issue arose in Bryan’s project, forcing him to leave to deal with it.

“I’ll have Raymond come to pick you up,” he said to Eileen, already reaching for his phone to call Raymond.

Eileen swiftly intervened, saying, “No need; it’s too late for him to come now. I’ll take a taxi later. You go ahead and deal with your work.”

She believed the problem with Bryan’s project must be significant, considering he had to address it at this hour.

Bryan frowned and glanced at Eileen, then pocketed his phone and left in haste.

Once Eileen finished her tasks, she prepared to leave for her tutoring sessions with Milford and Adalina. As she stepped outside, a taxi pulled up. She got in, giving the driver the address of Denzel’s home to pick up Adalina first.

The driver, a man in his forties wearing a hat and mask, exuded an air of secrecy. A faint fragrance lingered in the car, emanating from a perfume hanging before the air conditioning vent. Eileen barely noticed it as she focused on organizing her students’ data on the online class software, the matter demanding her full attention.

Then, darkness enveloped her vision, and she lost consciousness.

When she woke up, she found her hands bound. Opening her eyes, she was met with the dim surroundings of a room. The faint smell of disinfectant filled the air, and through the partially opened curtains, she could see the treetops swaying in the wind outside.

She deduced that this place was likely on a floor between the third and fifth stories of a mid-sized hotel. Lying on one of the single beds, she noticed the hat of the taxi driver on the opposite bed.

Noticing the driver’s hat on the other bed, Eileen’s eyes widened with shock. She swiftly sat up and twisted her hands to loosen the ropes that bound her. The thick, new hemp rope had clearly been purchased in a hurry, and she was able to loosen it easily.

Was she kidnapped? The kidnappers must be amateurs. Eileen pondered whether they were after money or something else when the door creaked open.

“Why the rush? I told you I’d pay you once this is over,” June grumbled as she entered the room. Spotting Eileen awake and the ropes untied, she instinctively stepped back. “How are you awake?”

Following June, the driver grew anxious upon discovering that Eileen was alert. “She’s awake? If she gets out, we’re both looking at jail time!” He moved to grab the ropes from the floor to tie Eileen up again.

Eileen quickly snatched a cup from the bedside table and smashed it against the edge, holding the sharp fragment toward them. “Don’t come any closer. Otherwise, this kidnapping will turn into murder, and you’ll both face the death penalty.”

June’s eyes widened in terror as she grabbed the driver’s arm. “Don’t provoke her! We just need photos. With those, we can threaten her, and she won’t dare mention this kidnapping!”

The driver angrily threw the ropes onto the other bed. June, desperate and frustrated, said, “You’ve put me in this situation, Eileen. Strip off your clothes and let me take a few photos. Withdraw the lawsuit, or you won’t leave here alive today!”

more concerned about me dying here,” Eileen shot back. “What’s this?

hesitated for a moment before exclaiming, “That’s not important! If you

her threat sounded absurd. Eventually, she continued, “Fine, then let’s all not leave this place. Our lives will be simple—just food and clothing. But you’re

bed, a calm demeanor masking her anxiety. “I don’t mind. I’m okay with staying here. I’ve been exhausted lately, so thank you for this opportunity to rest. But I’m hungry. Go get

driver exchanged surprised

persisted, “What are you waiting for? I want good food, or I’ll start yelling. The soundproofing here isn’t great, so I won’t have to shout myself hoarse for someone to hear. If you’re

into such a scheme, and the driver was merely a petty criminal who had just

a thousand, and I’ve already spent most of it on fuel. If I splurge on food for you, how much will I have left? Stop talking nonsense and take off your clothes. It’s just a few

off her clothes. Eileen couldn’t dodge in time, and her coat was

cowered in the background, the driver’s reckless aggression caught

kicked him hard between the legs. She then threw a blanket over him as she jumped down from the

floor, the blanket trapping him. Eileen pounced, hitting and kicking him through the fabric with all her might, eliciting howls

you keep hitting him like that! I’ll call the police!” June

to the driver

eyes widened in terror. “Please calm

met June’s gaze, her expression fierce. “Don’t you know who I’m dating? Bryan Dawson. Ever heard of him? He can fix anything—even if I were to kill two

She spun around and flung the door open, her voice rising in

chaos erupted in the building. Guests spilled from their rooms, racing down the stairs,

against the tide—Bryan and Jacob, determined to reach

my God!” Jacob murmured, urgency lining his voice.

determination setting in. He shoved his

third floor, Bryan noticed every door was ajar. He turned

caught sight of Eileen, struggling to drag

movement behind her, turned to find Jacob standing there. “Jacob! Don’t just stand there! Come help me!” she urged,

was worried that the driver might escape once he regained

pulling the driver out. “What the hell happened here?” he asked, glancing at the injured man, a mixture

in his brow as he

we need to get him downstairs,” Eileen replied, her focus sharp. “I don’t want him waking up and trying to

then, Bryan arrived at the door, his expression shifting from concern to determination as he took in

said, her tone leaving no room for argument. Together, they worked to maneuver the driver down the hallway, adrenaline surging as the sound of approaching sirens filled

at Jacob and Bryan. “We need to block

actions as they hurried down the stairs, the weight of the moment

Jacob recoiled, pressing against the wall. His eyes widened as

hearing Jacob’s reaction, Bryan glanced his way. Noticing Jacob’s fixation on the room, he

wiping her hands on her dress just as Bryan appeared in the doorway, blocking much of the hallway

Eileen unharmed, Bryan’s expression shifted from surprise to relief. However, a quick glance at the

he turned to Jacob and delivered a light

Eileen was usually gentle

killing, his first thought had been that Eileen was the one in

pulling on his suit jacket. She could sense his frustration and knew it wasn’t fair to let him take it

expression, Bryan shrugged off his jacket and draped it over Eileen’s shoulders,

began to question everyone about the incident. Eileen cooperated fully; after all, her actions were in

the hotel owner, who refused to let her leave. If anything went awry, June would be a key

approached Bryan. “Mr. Dawson, there are several reporters

in Onaland. No media outlet

you. Please handle the reporters.

was clear: he wouldn’t let Eileen ride in the police car. They planned to exit discreetly, blending in with ordinary passersby. After all, Eileen was a

one officer to handle the reporters, helping Bryan and Eileen exit

stood out, but the evening gloom and the few

car, Eileen buckled up as Bryan started the engine, a tense mood

busy on my phone and didn’t notice anything off. It was all an accident. June tried to intimidate me into dropping the lawsuit, which was out of character for her. Plus, the driver was an amateur. The problem

gravity of the situation, Eileen found the whole ordeal somewhat absurd