Defying Fate: The Unstoppable Eileen



The latest financial news was blaring on the television in the living room.

Eileen, sitting cross-legged on the couch, hugging a cushion, eating an apple as her dessert. She occupied the very spot that Egbert usually claimed for his reading sessions.

Of course, she knew that Egbert's reading was merely a pretense, a guise to keep an eye on her. She never called him out on it.

The knocking and ringing from the front door had ceased.

Eileen took another bite of her apple, her attention fixed on the news, occasionally jotting down the latest figures on her phone.

After a while, the nanny brought in some sliced kiwi.

With a quick "thank you", Eileen took the plate from the nanny.

The nanny hesitated for a while before she finally said, "Ms. Lopez, it seems it's going to get chilly tonight."

Eileen popped a piece of kiwi in her mouth, and replied, "He's got money, and there are plenty of hotels nearby."

"But..." The nanny began.

Eileen waved her off, "He's craftier than a fox. Don't worry about him. He never loses out. I've been on the losing end more times than I can count. But not this time! He needs to learn his lesson!"

Finally, the nanny sighed and asked, "Do you want a late-night snack?"

"Oh yes, please! I'll be up late going through some documents, I'll need the fuel!" Eileen responded promptly.

With a smile, the nanny promised to prepare something and headed for the kitchen.

Two hours later, the nanny went to rest, leaving some nutritious soup and chicken wraps in the kitchen for Eileen to eat whenever she felt hungry. Now, the only sounds in the living room were the murmurs of the financial news and the tapping of Eileen's fingers on her keyboard.

After a while, Eileen stretched lazily, her fingers stilling on the keyboard. Glancing at the clock above the television, she noted it was already 11 PM. She looked out of the nearby floor-to-ceiling window, contemplating for a moment before she stood up and peeked outside through the curtains. From her vantage point, she could see a bit of the view outside the front door. But she didn't spot Egbert, and neither was his car in sight. Did he really leave?

With a grimace, Eileen sat back down on the carpet and continued with her work.

Eileen continued to work until 2 AM. Exhaustion coupled with hunger finally made her get up and head to the kitchen.

The chicken wraps and nutritious soup were in the oven. But when she opened the oven, she found nothing. Confused, she checked again. Still nothing.

Frowning, Eileen checked the oven again, but it was empty.

Scratching her head, she muttered, "Did I forget that I already ate?"

"Are you looking for something?" A familiar male voice asked from behind her.

Startled, Eileen turned around to see Egbert, dressed in a white robe, holding an empty bowl, standing in the doorway.

Eileen gaped at him, "How did you get in?!"

He glanced at her as he walked past, placed the empty bowl in the sink, washed his hands, and while drying them with a towel, he casually said, "I parked the car outside the garage, climbed on top of it, scaled the garage wall, climbed up to the third-floor window, and slipped in."

Eileen was stunned, she had forgotten that he was a former soldier, capable of such feats.

Egbert then opened the refrigerator, took out some ingredients, and asked, "Hungry?"

Eileen said nothing, just stared at him.

"I think I can make some pasta," Egbert offered.

Fifteen minutes later, Eileen was staring at the pasta in disbelief.

When Egbert said he thought he can make pasta, he wasn't being modest. All he knew was to put the pasta in boiling water and then take it out after a while.

Eileen looked at the plain pasta, took a tentative bite, and almost gagged. It was the worst pasta she had ever tasted!

The pasta was overcooked and clumped together. The seasoning was off, it was too salty, and there was too little tomato sauce.

After one bite, Eileen glared at Egbert across the table and asked, "Is this your payback?" Egbert said nothing, merely resting his chin on his hand as he watched her, his eyes tired. Eileen stood up, leaned over the table, and placed her hand on Egbert's forehead. He didn't move, just watched her, looking rather listless.

He was warm.novelbin

Frowning, Eileen said, "You caught a cold just like that? Are you made of glass?"

Eileen moved around the table and gently held Egbert's face, tilting it up to look at her.

Egbert complied, his gaze never leaving hers.

Eileen held one side of Egbert's face, used her other hand to lift his eyelid to check his eyes, and said, "You're just a little warm. Nothing else seems off. Take some Tylenol, get some sleep, and you'll be fine by morning."

She turned to get the first aid kit. But as she moved away, Egbert grabbed her wrist and pulled her back. Eileen spun around, and the next thing she knew, Egbert had her waist in his grip.

He buried his face into her stomach, his forehead resting against her white robe. With a lazy tone, he mumbled, "I'm so sleepy."

Eileen held her hands up in the air, looking down at Egbert.

He seemed to be comfortable and closed his eyes, as if ready to fall asleep.

Eileen waited for a moment, seeing he really didn't let go, she raised an eyebrow and...

She pinched Egbert's ear!

Egbert was forced to let go of her and sit back up straight.

One hand on her hip and the other still holding Egbert's ear, Eileen scolded him, "Here we go again, right?! Still feeling sleepy?!"

Egbert looked at her, an innocent expression on his face. He stayed silent.

Eileen released Egbert's ear, raising her voice. "Get your own medicine. Tylenol is in the medicine cab. Take two and go back to sleep!"

With that, she picked up her plate of pasta from the dining table, walked over to the coffee table, and sat down on the carpet. As she ate, she was also going over some paperwork.

Egbert lingered at the dining table for a while, noticing that Eileen was genuinely ignoring him.

He could only sigh, bracing his knees to stand up and search for the medicine in the drawer.

Finding the medicine, he brought the medicine box to the living room and sat down behind Eileen. "This one?" He asked.

Eileen glanced at it and confirmed, "Mmhmm."

Egbert opened the medicine box and said, "I don't want to take it."

Eileen turned her head, frowning at him. "Egbert, I'm still upset, so don't push your luck!"

Egbert looked down at the girl in front of him. He took a napkin, wiped the tomato sauce from the corner of her mouth, and asked, "So, how can I make it up to you?"

Eileen took the napkin, wiped her own mouth, and said, "Take your medicine, go to sleep, and stop bothering me. What's wrong with you? Why are you so clingy when you're sick?"