Shrouded Affections Winning Back My CEO Wife

Chapter 96 Chapter 96: "I'm fine standing," Eileen responded. She wasn't intimidated by Bryan; rather, she preferred not to confront his aloofness and cold demeanor at close range.

Bryan lit a cigarette and placed it between his lips, casting a glance at Aaron, who was taking a rest. He then walked over to the ceiling window.

"Look at him!" Harlan remarked with a laugh. "He's making sure not to smoke near the child. He'll definitely be a great father in the future." This commendation inadvertently drew Eileen's attention to Bryan, who was silhouetted against the light, his tall frsharply outlined.

He was scrolling through his phone with one hand while holding his cigarette with the other.

After a long while, Eileen took a deep breath and stood up. "I'm going to head upstairs to prepare for the next tutoring session." She then walked away, the emotional discomfort twisting inside her like a sharp knife. It seemed better not to see him at all.

Once she had left, Bryan's gaze briefly turned to the staircase. He narrowed his eyes slightly and flicked the cigarette butt into a trash can before settling back on the sofa.

Harlan, absorbed in discussing educational strategies with Aaron, didn't notice anything amiss between Bryan and Eileen.

Ten minutes later, Eileen and Aaron began the last morning session, which concluded promptly after fifty minutes.

When Eileen and Aaron returned downstairs, they found Harlan and Bryan already seated in the dining room. ‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒. - more stories here Harlan occupied the head of the table, with Bryan taking the seat to his right. Aaron, without any hesitation, claimed the seat on the left side of Harlan.

By custom, Eileen should sit beside Bryan on the guest's side.

However, she paused, eyeing the empty chair next to Bryan that had his coat on it with hesitation.

"Eileen, don't just stand there; cand sit down," Harlan called out, gesturing to the servants to start serving the meal.

Eileen replied and walked toward them. She initially aimed to sit one seat away from Bryan, but as she approached, Bryan removed his coat and pulled out the chair next to him, gesturing for her to sit there.

Now, Eileen had to take the seat next to Bryan.

Bryan carried a refreshing pine scent, underlined by a hint of sandalwood and a trace of smoke. Breathing it in brought Eileen an unexpected comfort.

This familiar sensation seemed to mend the sense of emptiness she had been feeling for stime.

The atmosphere during the meal was light, dominated by discussions between Harlan and Bryan about academic progress.

Bryan's voice was deep and resonant like a cello; it made Eileen's heart flutter slightly.

"If Aaron secures a spot in a prestigious high school for his middle school exams, I'll reward you both!" Harlan declared, his excitement palpable.

After a pause, he added, “Now, let's toast to that! Don't worry; we don't have to get drunk.” Aware of the afternoon lessons, Harlan instructed the servants to serve slow-alcohol fruit wine, pouring a bit for Eileen and Bryan.

Eileen drank a small cup and politely declined when Harlan offered to pour another.

However, Harlan's high spirits knew no bounds, and he continued to drink several more glasses with Bryan. Eventually, Harlan had becslightly inebriated, so he excused himself to rest in his room, advising Eileen and Bryan to do the same.

Having a question about his studies, Aaron kept Eileen in the dining room for a few minutes longer.

By the tEileen finished addressing Aaron's question, Bryan had already left the dining room, presumably to rest.

Not prone to taking naps during lunchtime, Eileen headed to the library, which housed not only academic resources but also a variety of .

Selecting a book at random, she walked toward the window but stopped abruptly upon rounding the bookshelf. There, in front of the window, sat Bryan on a sofa.

Bryan turned his head just then, his deep gaze meeting her slightly startled expression.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Dawson. I didn't know you were resting here. I'll leave right now," Eileen said, turning around to leave. But as she moved to leave, her wrist was suddenly caught in a firm grip.

She found herself pulled into his arms, her body pressing against his legs.

The faint smell of alcohol on his breath made her eyes waver slightly, caught in the moment.

"Are you afraid of me?" Bryan inquired, noting her lowered gaze and the tense furrow of her brow.

"No," Eileen replied.

"Then you must be feeling guilty?" Bryan arched an eyebrow slightly, his expression turning unintentionally sarcastic. "Shouldn't you be happy that I still want to touch you?" His biting words felt like a dagger to Eileen's heart.

"Mr. Dawson..." Eileen muttered, biting her lip, her soft voice barely audible, resonating like a faint echo against his heart.

Bryan felt a surge of emotion, his throat tightening as he observed her delicate features.

Despite the boiling rage within him and his resentment over that m incident he found it impossible to be ΕΠ harsh with her. "If you truly despised me, you wouldn't want to touchat all," Eileen thought.

However, the hands on her waist tightened, pressing her with almost crushing force.

Bryan didn't mind that she thought he was drunk right now.

His fingers shifted from her waist to gently pinch her slightly pointed chin, and he covered her lips with his own.

Eileen's body stiffened, and her hands moved to his shoulders, clutching tightly at his collar.

His kiss was unexpectedly gentle, as if he were savoring a rare treat.

Eileen's eyelashes trembled slightly during the kiss, and Bryan's eyes slowly burned with a smoldering intensity. His restless hands clung to her waist, moving upwards. Eileen's body shuddered, and a soft moan escaped her lips involuntarily.

Bryan believed she must be a poison potent enough to drive him insane.

Desire stirred within him, threatening to break free, but he knew this was not the place.

He caught himself just in time, tilting his head back to stare at the ceiling, his Adam's apple bobbing as he fought to quell the rising lust within him.