StartNovelChapter 1321: Eileen descended the stairs to find Ruby chatting while Roderick stood uncomfortably in the living room.
"Eileen." Her footsteps echoed softly as she descended the stairs, each step deliberate.
Roderick, quick to notice her, walked briskly to the base of the staircase to greet her. “Eileen, I just talked with Ruby. Is it true? Are you pregnant again?" "Yes, I am," Eileen replied, her figure still as lithe as ever, showing no signs of her pregnancy.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtEileen led Roderick back to the living room, gently guiding him to sit beside her on the couch. Only when they both settled down did Roderick seem to relax.
"So, how've you been lately?" Eileen asked.
Ever since her return from Alverton, their conversations had been limited to just a few text messages-brief pleasantries exchanged via WhatsApp.
"I've been managing," Roderick replied, his answer vague. "My daughter's about eight months old now. Mom takes care of her most days while I juggle the restaurant." Eileen raised an eyebrow. "Have you really gone through with the divorce from Judie? It's been, what—six months? How's the restaurant holding up?" Roderick frowned for a fleeting moment, betraying the storm that loomed over his life. Eileen noticed it instantly, her instincts sharp.
"Something's wrong, isn't it? What's going on?" she asked, leaning in slightly, her concern palpable.
With a heavy sigh, Roderick ran a hand through his hair, the weight of his frustration clear. "Yeah, it's been more than six months since the divorce, but Judie refuses to let go. She's demanding half of the restaurant's profits until she finds someone else to marry." Fresh updates available at G@IEileen's mouth twitched in disbelief. "You gave her six months' worth of profits after the divorce because she was struggling. The whole deal was supposed to help her get back on her feet. Your only shared asset was the restaurant, so the arrangement made sense to cover her share, but that wasn't meant to last forever. You don't have to support her financially now." Without Roderick needing to elaborate, Eileen could easily envision Judie's manipulative tactics.
Years of familiarity had given her keen insight into Judie's character.
"I've tried talking about it with her," Roderick admitted, frustration evident in his voice. "But every time, it ends with her crying, making a scene, or threatening me. She's already caused trouble at the restaurant twice, so I had to compromise." The restaurant was his chance at a better life, but it was also becoming a source of constant stress. If Judie really tried something, it could ruin the restaurant. There was nothing he could do about her now.
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"I will just take it step by step," Roderick continued. “The restaurant averages a profit of about thirty t thousand dollars a month, which is enough forto raise my kid." Sensing his reluctance to dwell on the topic, Eileen steered their conversation to lighter subjects.
As they chatted, Leyla quietly slipped back to her room. Noticing this, Roderick said, "Eileen, I know you don't have a good impression of my m parents. They brought you Gету back then and weren't kind to you.
But they weren't the main reason you were kidnapped. Even if it weren't them, someone else would have taken you." He paused, choosing his words carefully. "I'm apologizing on their behalf for the pain caused to your family. Could you not hate them? And maybe say sorry to your grandmother for me?"
Eileen's lips curved into a gentle smile. "I don't blthem, Roderick.
Before the divorce, they might not! have been good to me, but they did En.
raisefor several years. Don't worry; I'll speak with my grandmother about this. You shouldn't let this weigh on your mind."
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