Chapter 111 Your Phone Call
Not wanting to disturb them further, Sharon decided to let them study in peace.
At half-past six, Vera closed her book and put down her pen. “Eileen, did Mr. Swan pressure you? Coming from a good family like yours, you don’t have to work so hard.”
Eileen’s hands stopped moving as her train of thought was interrupted. “It has nothing to do with my father. I just set high standards for myself and always feel like I should try harder.”
Eileen didn’t want to stop. She didn’t want to be like her past self, relying on money to get a degree. She wanted to be independent and self-reliant like Sarah, not needing anyone’s help. Even if she were to leave, she could support herself.
“I understand. There’s a lot of pressure in Cla*s One. Just make sure you don’t overwork yourself. I’m going to grab something to eat. Don’t stay up too late studying,” Vera advised.
Eileen nodded.
After Vera left, Eileen finished the rest of her homework and then joined the others.
Most of the dishes prepared by Sharon were Eileen’s favorites. Eileen preferred lighter dishes, while Vera and Eric enjoyed spicy food. There were also plates of hot wings and shakshuka.
Eileen decided to skip the spicy dishes and reached for the sweet and sour pork with her fork. As she tasted it, she found the flavor to be just as delicious as always.
The dining table was relatively quiet. Will had set a rule for Eileen to not speak while eating or before going to bed, so she rarely talked during meals.
Vera, on the other hand, was free to do as she pleased.
…
“Sharon, please sit down and join us for dinner!” Vera invited.
“No need. You guys go ahead and eat,” Sharon declined.
While enjoying her food, Eileen casually suggested, “Let’s eat together. We’re not at home, so there’s no need for so many formalities.”
Sharon smiled and said, “I’ve made chicken stew, just wait a moment…” There was an indescribable emotion in her eyes. She hadn’t been home for a few days, and Eileen seemed to be growing more and more melancholic, not smiling as much as before.
Seeing Eileen in that state saddened Sharon.
Eileen nodded.
Eileen ate an extra bowl of food than usual. After finishing, Vera helped Sharon clean up the table and wash the dishes.
Feeling like an outsider, Eileen didn’t know what to do. She decided to sweep the floor, but it still didn’t feel clean enough, so she mopped the entire living room. She had mysophobia, so she couldn’t stand anything dirty. It was one of her weaknesses… She also neatly arranged the shoes in the foyer. After completing these tasks, she felt a bit more at ease.
By then, it was almost eight o’clock.
It seemed that she couldn’t change her habits.
However, she felt the need to do something in return for living under someone else’s roof.
Even staying with close relatives couldn’t compare to the comfort of one’s own home. Even if it was allowed, freeloading could still make one feel uneasy.
As Sharon walked into the bathroom, she took the mop from Eileen’s hands. “Why are you doing all this? Let me handle it from now on.”
Eileen replied, “It’s okay. I can’t just eat and drink here without contributing anything.”
“Look at what you’re saying. Mr. Snow treats you like his own sister. It’s only right that you don’t have to do anything while you’re staying here for a while.”
Eileen didn’t say anything. Really? I never considered him as family.
She knew one thing for certain, anything given by others that wasn’t originally hers must be returned.
Eileen took a bath in the bathroom. Emerging with a misty aura, she dried her damp hair, water droplets clinging to her strands. As she closed the door behind her, she heard voices from the living room. It was a familiar voice. Eric had returned.
Eileen walked to the door, gently closing it behind her. She then retrieved her hairdryer and stepped into the bathroom to blow-dry her hair until it was completely dry.
Gavin helped the drunken Eric back home, with Vera quickly stepping forward to lend a hand. They settled him onto the couch while Sharon was still in the kitchen preparing a hangover remedy.
“I’ll leave Mr. Snow to you,” Gavin said.
“Sure. I will take good care of Eric. Be careful on your way back,” Vera replied.
Gavin nodded slightly and quickly walked out.
Eric was sprawled out on the couch, reeking of alcohol. Drinking to that extent had become a habit for him, and Vera had grown accustomed to taking care of him.
“Eric, are you still feeling unwell?” Vera asked as she ma*saged his temples.
“I’m okay,” Eric answered.
“Don’t drink so much next time. You know your stomach can’t handle it.”
Sharon brought the hangover remedy and quickly served it. “Vera, please feed Mr. Snow quickly.”
Hearing the commotion outside, Eileen didn’t want to get involved. She put on her headphones and continued silently reciting Uprian vocabulary until half-past nine in the evening.
Vera returned to her room exhausted. She glanced at the ringing phone on the bedside table that had been charging for quite some time and reminded, “Eileen, your phone.”
Eileen didn’t respond.
“Eileen?”
Vera walked over and looked at the incoming call on the screen. Her eyes dimmed slightly when she saw the phone number. She unplugged the charger and placed the phone in front of Eileen.
Eileen took off her headphones. Vera said, “Your phone is ringing.”
“Thank you,” Eileen replied as she looked at the incoming call. Shortly after, the call had already hung up automatically.
Without much thought, Eileen put the phone aside.
“Aren’t
you going to return the call?” Vera asked.
Eileen nonchalantly said, “The person must have called me by mistake.”
Vera nodded thoughtfully without saying anything further. She picked up her change of clothes and headed to the bathroom.
Upon hearing the door close, Eileen picked up her phone again, glancing at the numerous unread messages.
Suppressing her emotions, she turned off her phone abruptly.
Eileen always went to bed before eleven.
Concerned, Vera went to Eric’s room to take care of him.
up
After an unspecified amount of time, Eileen heard the sound of people talking. She woke groggily for a moment but quickly fell back asleep. Her sleep was always light, and she would wake up at the slightest disturbance.
It was only after Vera returned to her room that she finally fell into a deep sleep.
The next morning, the alarm clock promptly rang at six o’clock.
Causing only a slight commotion, Eileen quickly finished washing up. She tied her hair into a ponytail with a hairband, slung her backpack over her shoulder, and left without disturbing Vera, who was still sound asleep.
Cla*s Six had an early self-study session that started at seven o’clock.
Supposedly, she could reach there on time because the condominium wasn’t far from the school.
At that time, Sharon was still preparing breakfast.
Sharon was shocked when she saw Eileen walking out. “Why are you awake so early? Don’t you only have cla*s at nine?”
Eileen was changing her shoes at the door when she answered, “I’ve switched to Cla*s Six now, and we have morning self-study starting at seven.”
“At least have breakfast before you leave!” Sharon urged.
“No need. I’ll miss the bus if I wait any longer.”
Sharon quickly took out a lunch box from the refrigerator. “Take your lunch with
you first. Regardless of the cla*s or the location, it’s all the same. Now, you’re even skipping breakfast. Why are you in such a hurry? Aren’t you going to wait for Vera? You could let Mr. Snow drive you to school.”
“I woke up early, so I won’t disturb her.” Eileen took the lunch box and put it in her backpack, then hurriedly left.
After a while, Sharon suddenly remembered that she didn’t have a driver. She hurriedly went outside, but Eileen was already gone.
The bus stop was right outside the door.
Conveniently, and fortunately, Eileen managed to catch the earliest bus. At such an early
hour, she was the only person on board.
Just as the bus door was about to close, it opened again. Eileen saw a person with a backpack slung over one shoulder, an air of defiance about him, wearing a black headband and a pair of Blake headphones hanging behind his ear. It was only when he turned around after dropping in his coins that Eileen got a clear look at his face.
