Chapter 214 We Have Guest Rooms
“The raviolis are ready,” Sharon announced as she walked out of the kitchen, carrying two bowls of ravioli and placing them in front of Eileen. “I know you don’t like parsley, so I made you a bowl with just meat,” she explained.
Eileen looked at the layer of green floating in the bowl. “I… don’t eat basil, Sharon.”
Sharon was genuinely taken aback for a moment. She laughed and slapped her forehead. “Look at my memory. How long has it been since you last came home? I completely forgot. Let me go and make you another bowl.”
A slight sense of indescribable loss welled up in Eileen’s heart. Sharon used to remember her preferences.
“No worries. I’ll just pick them out.” Eileen pulled out a tissue, spread it on the table, and started to pick out the basil.
Suddenly, the atmosphere became noticeably silent.
Eileen closed her book and turned around, only to see Eric holding a spoon, picking out the basil for her. He said, “Still as fussy as ever.”
“Actually, Eileen is just like Mrs. Swan. She also doesn’t enjoy eating green onions.”
Eileen didn’t say anything and quietly ate her ravioli. But for some reason, they didn’t taste as good as they used to.
Having eaten half a bowl of sweet potato gnocchi, Vera found it a bit too sweet for her liking, so she pushed it toward Eric. “Eric, it’s too sweet. Let me try yours. You can have mine. It’s been a long time since the three of us ate together. I really miss those times! I used to give you all the leftovers that Eileen and I couldn’t finish. You would always remind us not to waste food.”
Sharon went to tidy up the kitchen, leaving just the three of them in the living room.
Vera was enjoying Eric’s bowl of ravioli, but he hadn’t touched her sweet potato gnocchi.
Actually, Eric, like her, didn’t really have a sweet tooth either.
Eileen had eaten half of hers but found she couldn’t finish the rest. She got up, ready to head to the kitchen.
“If you can’t finish yours, you can pour them into my bowl.”
Eileen’s grip tightened on the bowl she was holding.
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Vera also spoke up. “Give it to me. I’m not quite full yet.”
Eileen lowered her gaze and spoke. “I’ve caught a cold. I don’t want to pa*s it on to you.” After saying this, she walked toward the kitchen and poured the leftovers into the trash.
After all, they were just pretending to be harmonious with one another. They didn’t really
need to bother about her.
Eileen washed the dishes and put them in the cupboard.
Sharon said, “Once you’re done eating, just leave the dishes. I’ll wash them. You’re a lady. You shouldn’t be doing such menial tasks.”
Eileen’s l*ps curled up into a faint smile. “It’s okay.”
“Do you
live like this at the Smith residence as well? Eileen… to be honest, you were raised by me since you were little. Other people’s homes are not like your own. I’m worried about you living outside. You should move back in! I haven’t seen you for so many days, and you’ve lost a lot of weight. It hurts me to see you like this.”
Eileen looked thoughtfully at Sharon. She then turned her head, wiped her hands with a tissue, and said, “He treats me very well. There’s no need to worry.”
“You’ve become much more sensible than before, and you’re no longer clinging to me all the time.”
“Everyone grows up, and I won’t always be the child who never grows up.” As soon as her words fell, Eileen saw a beam of light swiftly sweep across the wall. Recognizing the familiar vehicle, she knew he had arrived.
Just then, the phone in her pocket rang.
Eileen picked up the phone, a faint smile still lingering on her l*ps.
“Are you
done? I’m here to pick you up.”
“All right. I’ll be right out.”
Eileen picked up her backpack from the couch. “I’m leaving first.”
Vera was bending over, wiping the table.
Eric fixed his hawk-like gaze on her. “Won’t you stay? We have guest rooms here”
She had no idea why he was suddenly looking at her with such an expression
No. It’s not convenient”
Eileen left a remark and ran out.
Eric’s gaze followed her constantly. As he watched her eagerness to leave, his eyes darkened.
Vera suddenly said, “Eric, I don’t know if it’s just my imagination, but why do I always feel. that Eileen doesn’t want to stay in her own home? It seems as if this place is terrifying to her, but isn’t this her home?”
Jasper stood in front of the pa*senger seat, opening his arms to the approaching figure. Eileen stepped forward, wrapping her arms around his waist, feeling the chill that permeated his entire b*dy.
Noticing that he was wearing his usual gray suit today, covered by a black overcoat, with clear droplets of water on his shoulders, she asked, “Why are you wet?”
Jasper bent his index finger, gently brushing it against her soft face, his gaze filled with affection. “It started to rain a bit when I came to pick you up after work. Shall we head home?”
Eileen nodded. “Mmhm.”
Today, Jasper was the one driving the car. As Eileen settled into the pa*senger seat, she couldn’t shake off the feeling that someone else had been in her spot before.
He seldom drove himself. Usually, it was Jasper who drove, and Eileen sat in the pa*senger seat. The last time she sat in the pa*senger seat, the position had clearly been adjusted backward.
Jasper fastened her seatbelt. “What’s the matter?”
“It’s nothing. The seat is a bit too far back. I’ll adjust it.”
Jasper’s expression changed slightly. “All right.” He pressed down on the accelerator, then added, “I’m aware of what happened today. Rest a*sured. Such incidents won’t occur again in
the future.”
Eileen’s fingers scraped against the seatbelt. “Jasper… I’m not ready for many people to know about our relationship yet, and those magazines…”
“Why? Have those people been causing you trouble?” The man’s grip on the steering wheel tightened.
Eileen pursed her l*ps, her voice sounding somewhat discontented. She wasn’t sure it she should continue speaking
“You don’t need to worry about those people. I’ll have the b*dyguards handle it in the future
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Before he could finish, Eileen interrupted him, “Jasper, this isn’t about b*dyguards. Our relationship is something only we need to understand. There’s no need to make it public. Due to the changes in school dismissal times, there’s already enough gossip about me. I don’t want to become their topic of conversation after dinner. There are only a few days left before my exam, and I don’t want these issues to affect my studies. You know how important this exam is to me.”
“I understand,” he said, his words vague and insincere.
Eileen wasn’t oblivious to his unhappiness. It was precisely because she feared his reaction that she hesitated, unsure whether she should tell him about this matter or not.
Because she relied on him, she didn’t have the confidence to ask him for anything.
Eileen wasn’t like this, but she simply had no choice.
Jasper also provided her with an escape, and Eileen silently took it.
The conversation between the two didn’t continue.
This must be their first argument after being together for so long.
People who knew she was with Jasper always a*sumed she must be incredibly happy. Little did they know, she was carrying a burden in her heart that left her feeling suffocated.
By the time they arrived at the Smith residence, it was already nearly half
past ten.
The two of them walked into the living room, one after the other.
Richard asked, “Mr. Jasper, the soup is ready. Would you like a bowl now?”
Jasper turned his head to look at Eileen. “Would you like a drink?”
Eileen felt agitated inside, but she couldn’t express her emotions. She pursed her l*ps and said, “All right.”
