Shrouded Affections Winning Back My CEO Wife

Chapter 284

Chapter 284:

The entire villa had cameras only in the living room and along the staircases of each floor. Doris and Zola had their conversation in a spot that was out of camera view, but it could be seen from the staircase camera that they had ascended to the second floor one after the other.

Shortly afterward, Zola had headed to Lydia from there, while Doris had gone straight downstairs.

“What a cunning woman!” Stella muttered with a frown. Her mood had shifted from the joy of the evening to deep frustration. Jarred, sensing her distress, quickly reassured her, “Don’t worry, Miss Curtis plans to explain everything to Mr. Dawson, right? Even if they get to Mr. Dawson first, it shouldn’t affect your relationship with Miss Curtis.” Stella believed that. Yet, she sensed the situation wasn’t so simple. Lydia and Zola’s rushed departure suggested they were up to something.

Stella spent a restless night pondering their possible schemes. For the next three days, there was no news from Lydia. Stella finally felt a wave of relief. She believed perhaps they realized that the secret—that Eileen was Bryan’s ex-wife—wouldn’t cause any rifts between them.

It was early winter, and the rain came today, causing temperatures to plummet. Eileen felt unusually sluggish this year, possibly due to her years in the consistently warm West Land or perhaps because Bryan had her out. Each morning, her alarm clock would sound several times before she dragged herself up to start her day.

She returned to her tutoring job, and before she knew it, it was November. The news of her upcoming wedding to Bryan on December 6th was already public, leaving just a month to prepare. Eileen had Phoebe invite to discuss the matter about the lawyer’s letter. Bryan had had Raymond send Julio a check to cover the cost of the lawyer’s letter, but Julio had returned the check to Eileen.

Julio’s refusal to accept the money made it only fair for Eileen to invite him to dinner. When she proposed the idea, Julio agreed and chose a newly opened restaurant. Eileen arrived ten minutes early, only to find Julio already there.

“Julio, I just spoke with Phoebe. She’s caught in traffic and not sure when she’ll arrive. She suggested we start ordering first.” Eileen called the waiter over for the menu and passed it to Julio. Julio chose to order steak. “Do you know Phoebe well?” he asked Eileen.

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“Yes, we’re close. It’s not only because of law and Bryan. She and I were good friends even before everything else happened,” Eileen replied. Even Eileen herself found it hard to believe that her connection with Phoebe hadn’t deepened while in Onaland. For reasons she couldn’t fathom, once she had left Onaland, Phoebe had distanced herself from the Burton family and promptly moved to the West Land to stay with her.

“Have you been acquainted with Phoebe for a long time?” Eileen doubted Julio was an old classmate or a school friend of Phoebe’s.

“We used to be in the same upper-class circle and knew each other quite well.” After a pause, Julio continued, “I also know Brent from the Yates family you’re working with now.”

Eileen wasn’t surprised. Julio had been the only son of the prestigious Ferguson family before. Nevertheless, rivalries were common among the elite, and sudden, profound shifts could happen overnight.

hinted at something more. “Have you thought about returning to the corporate world to help Mr. Dawson after getting married? You have the skills

arise between Bryan and Brandon in the future, she was prepared to step in. Upon hearing her response,

as you think. You can plan something

wedding? Or would that be too much to ask?” Julio took the initiative to request a wedding

and though Eileen wasn’t sure if the Fergusons were invited, she knew Julio wouldn’t be. Considering the

I just brought it up casually. I’ll send a gift instead. Maybe you and Mr. Dawson can invite me to dinner another time.”

across the table and onto Eileen’s attire. He quickly grabbed a napkin, stood up, and offered it

the napkin and dabbed at her clothes. The thick fabric of her seasonal attire

clothes for you as a way to make up for this,” Julio said, feeling apologetic. Just as Eileen was about to decline, she noticed a young

woman pointed

tried to clear up the

and the young woman. “You’re an adult now. I was clear when I sponsored you that

Sampson clenched her teeth and said, “But you didn’t

Julio’s tone was sharp, his look frosty. “How many times must I tell you that I’m not

to respond, but tears started to fall. The commotion drew the waiter over, who

could you ask her to leave?” Julio said firmly, then returned to

was heartbreaking. It was clear to Eileen that Julio was purposefully distancing himself from Dolores. “I’ll wait for you outside. I need to talk to you about something important,” Dolores, having no

observe Dolores perched on the

continues, she might catch a cold,” Eileen proposed. The steak

I planned a mountain trip with friends. Around that time, she got into the best junior high in town but couldn’t

and was at odds with the Ferguson family. But the girl was ten years younger than him, only twenty-two, an age many considered the

she was caught in a half-hour traffic jam and was planning to rush back, thinking there would be nothing left to eat by the time she arrived. Noticing that Dolores was still waiting for Julio, Eileen quickly finished her

on her coat, grabbed her purse, and went to pay the bill. When she returned, Julio was

puzzled. “You

a taxi?” Julio asked with a gentle smile. Before Eileen could respond, he said, “Thank