Shrouded Affections Winning Back My CEO Wife

Chapter 261

Chapter 261:

“It’s a pleasure to finally meet you,” Bailee said, pleasantly surprised by Stella’s warm demeanor. With one hand holding Eileen and the other guiding Bailee, Stella led the trio into the building. Their laughter and lively conversation filled the air, instantly easing Bailee’s initial jitters. The three-bedroom apartment greeted them with spaciousness and impeccable cleanliness. Yet, as the room filled with people and gifts, the cozy ambiance quickly turned bustling.

Since the moment the door swung open, Ruby had been in a state of awe. “Mom, this is Bryan Dawson. Remember him?” Eileen introduced Bryan to Ruby once they settled on the couch. Ruby hesitated briefly before nodding. “Ah, yes, from the elevator. I’ve seen him there.”

Bryan’s encounter with Ruby had been confined to that brief elevator ride. “Nice to meet you,” Bryan said, his posture stiffening as he got up, his serious expression indicating he was nervous.

Eileen then swiftly introduced Stella to Ruby, “This is Bryan’s grandmother.” Ruby’s reaction caught Eileen off guard; she had assumed her mother understood the implications of her words about bringing someone home. Yet, Ruby seemed bewildered, as if not understanding the situation. “Stella… It’s a pleasure,” Ruby said, her effort to speak palpable.

Stella, sensing Ruby’s difficulty speaking, opted for a gentle exchange of greetings, not wanting to rush her. “Hello. Bryan has no parents, so I’m here to handle their matters with you,” Stella said.

No parents. Eileen’s mouth twitched slightly, a pang of realization hitting her. Stella seemed to have overlooked her own son entirely.

“Excuse me for a moment,” Ruby said before she steadied herself on a walker and rose. “Come.” Ruby navigated past the gifts, heading toward her bedroom with deliberate steps.

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“I apologize, Mrs. Dawson. My mother may not be very talkative due to her health. I’ll go check on her,” Eileen explained to Stella, her attention momentarily caught by Bryan’s clenched fist at his side, a sign of his nerves, which she found somewhat amusing.

In the privacy of the room, Ruby stood by the window. “Mom, what’s—” Eileen closed the door behind her, lowering her voice. “You don’t like Bryan?”

“It’s not like that…” Ruby shook her head. Bryan was clearly no ordinary man, and there was an aura about him that made him different from other men. Ruby’s concern was evident in her question. “You… Didn’t you marry Benjamin?”

Eileen was dumbfounded. Her eyes widened in disbelief as she gazed at Ruby. It took a moment for her to process the misunderstanding. “What are you talking about? Benjamin and I are just friends and classmates. Before you fell into a coma, I showed you the marriage certificate between Bryan and me,” Eileen clarified.

Eileen and Bailee hadn’t mentioned Bryan to Ruby before, so it was understandable that Ruby had little impression of him. Had Bailee’s frequent mentions of Benjamin led to this misunderstanding?

equally stunned, questioned her own understanding. Had she mistaken Bryan? “When I brought you away from Onaland a year ago, I initiated divorce proceedings with Bryan. Our marriage then was just arranged, so we kept it private. But now that we’re actually together, I wanted

suddenly understood everything.

thought of leaving their guests waiting troubled Ruby. Without bothering with

rude just now,”

to marry, unwilling to wait until you’ve recovered more to visit you. My fault for rushing things. How about this: you listen, and if there’s anything unsatisfactory, just raise your hand. We

seat next to Bryan. Stella continued, “I only have this one grandson in my family. I intend to throw a lavish wedding. I can’t bear to see Eileen shortchanged. I’ve heard you’ll be mobile again in about two months, and I know you’ll want to be there for Eileen’s big day. So, we’ll wait until you’re

since she learned you were coming to visit my mom. She’s

whispered back. Eileen grumbled a bit, expressing her frustration that Bryan hadn’t informed her earlier about such a significant matter.

noticed Bryan’s attention was elsewhere. His gaze was fixed on Stella and Ruby, and he

“I haven’t decided the

6th would be perfect for the wedding,” Bryan interjected quickly. Eileen

“You’ve already picked the date?” Had someone checked the date before? “As long as Eileen’s

respect for Eileen’s wishes regarding her wedding. Before Eileen could respond, Bryan gently covered her hand with his and flashed a reassuring smile. “She won’t

told, Bryan would have preferred to get the marriage certificate with Eileen right away without a

I’m getting old and you shouldn’t exert yourself too much,

needed in the conversation. But she was pleased to see

go help you,” Eileen offered, realizing her input in the wedding planning was minimal. The date had been chosen by Bryan, and it seemed likely that Stella had also taken charge of arranging everything

ingredients; I’ll take

about

deftly as she prepared the ingredients.

a moment. Indeed, Bryan typically maintained a serious expression in public. And at home, he was much the same. Except—in the intimacy of

Eileen’s arm.

Bailee hadn’t noticed it. Clearing her throat, she replied, “Yes,

too dull