Defying Fate: The Unstoppable Eileen



Eileen returned from the grocery store in no time.

As she began to cook, Egbert rose from his seat to lend a hand.

But as he made his way to the kitchen, he couldn't help but shoot a sideways glance at Isabel, who was squatting on the dining room floor, playing with the cat.

Isabel caught the tail end of Mr. Reed's gaze.

She quickly buried her head down, shrugging her shoulders as if to pretend she hadn't noticed anything.

The meal was ready in a jiffy.

Knowing how self-sufficient Isabel was at mealtime, Eileen handed her a spoon and let her dig in on her own.

Isabel ate her food diligently, soon enough ending up with a shiny, greasy little mouth.

Egbert reached for a napkin and gently wiped her face clean.

After cleaning her up, he didn't let go of the child. Instead, he ran his fingers through her hair, hinting at something as he asked, "Isabel, didn't you say you had something to tell Mommy?"

Eileen was taken aback. She looked at Isabel and asked, "What did you want to tell me?"

Isabel froze, the food in her mouth suddenly losing its appeal. The little girl timidly glanced at Mr. Reed, her expression fraught with conflict.

Egbert encouraged her gently, "Go on, say it. It's okay, Daddy's here."

Isabel hesitated, then lowered her head. After a long contemplation, she finally looked up at Eileen across the table and said, "Mommy, I want a little brother or sister. You and Daddy should have one soon."

Eileen was speechless. Egbert, however, wore a smile.

About to respond to the child's innocent request, Egbert was interrupted by Isabel's next statement, "You told me when mommy comes back, just tell her that, right?"

Eileen and Egbert exchanged a look of stunned silence.

Isabel, looking for approval, beamed up at Egbertd and said, "Daddy, I remembered it right, didn't I?"

Egbert was at a loss for words.

A piercing glare shot across the room from Eileen, in an instant, the air was thick with tension.

"Egbert!! Reed!!"

Caught off guard, Egbert tried to explain awkwardly, "It was... just a joke."

"A joke? This is no time for jokes!" Eileen slammed her hand on the table and chased after Egbert, intent on giving him a piece of her mind. Egbert stepped back, trying to soothe her with, "I was wrong, I admit it."

"Stay right there! Don't you run!"

"Bang!"

The house erupted into chaos.

Meanwhile, Isabel scooped up another spoonful of food, then continued to eat her meal quietly.

Later that evening, after a bubbly bath, Eileen tucked Isabel into the big bed in the guest room, asking, "What time is your school tomorrow?"

Wrapped in a fluffy blanket, Isabel replied obediently, "I don't have school tomorrow."

Realizing it was Saturday, Eileen nodded, then inquired, "And how long are you staying here?"

Isabel pouted, "Does Auntie not like Isabel visiting? Mr. Reed doesn't like it when Isabel comes..."

Eileen chuckled, pinching the little girl's nose affectionately, "So you enjoy teasing Mr. Reed, huh? Was it fun watching him get scolded?"

Caught off guard, Isabel's ears turned red. She shyly looked down and swiftly changed the subject, "I'm only staying for two days. Uncle said he would pick me up on Monday!"

Two days seemed about right, considering the filming schedule of the show couldn't possibly allow for guests to be with the children indefinitely. A two-day "family segment" was sufficient.

After getting Isabel into her pajamas, Eileen pulled the covers up to her chin and said, "Alright, time to sleep. I'll wake you for breakfast." "Auntie," Isabel suddenly grasped Eileen's sleeve, her curiosity piqued, "will you really marry Mr. Reed someday?"

Eileen paused, tapping Isabel's forehead lightly, "Mind your own business, little one."

Isabel hummed discontentedly, "But I want to know. Please tell me."

"Sleep!" Eileen withdrew her hand coldly, tucked Isabel's hands back under the covers, turned off the light, and left the room.

The hallway was silent as Eileen glanced at the door to Egbert's room. Shaking off the thoughts prompted by Isabel's question, she hurried back to her own room.

Come the next morning, the production team delivered new task cards, suggesting the guests take the children out for some fun.

During breakfast, Eileen asked Isabel, "Where would you like to go today?"

Isabel blinked her big eyes and said demurely, "I'll go wherever Mommy and Daddy want."

Recalling past grievances, Egbert suggested with a flat tone, "There might be a math enrichment center nearby."

Isabel and Eileen shared a look of dismay.

Eileen glared at Egbert, "She's too young for that! She's probably just getting the hang of basic arithmetic!"

Isabel didn't dare admit she already knew how to calculate sums and products into the hundreds; fearing she might actually end up getting math tutor lessons.

Just then, the doorbell rang.

Egbert went to answer it, finding Hobson and Sylvia with their "son" Bain on the doorstep.

Upon seeing Egbert, Bain greeted him with a well-mannered, "Hello, Sir."

Egbert nodded warmly, "Hello, young man."

Hobson ruffled Bain's hair, "Mr. Reed, did you get the task as well? Where are you planning to take the kids today?"

Egbert glanced back into the house, "We're still deciding."

Peering inside, Hobson called out to Eileen, "Ms. Lopez, why don't we join forces? We were thinking of taking Bain to the amusement park."

Hearing the suggestion, Eileen approached the door, hesitating, "Don't you think the amusement park might be too crowded?"

Sylvia whispered, "It's no biggie, just wear a mask. It's harder to recognize you that way, and if worse comes to worst, we'll just stick to the less crowded spots."

Eileen frowned slightly before replying, "But even last time, when I wore a mask, sunglasses, and a hat to grab some coffee, I still got spotted. The barista was like, 'Hey, gorgeous, what can I get for you?""

Sylvia and Hobson were speechless at this joke.

Egbert sighed, ruffling Eileen's hair in a resigned gesture while addressing the two visitors, "Sorry for the scene."

Eileen glared at him.

In the end, they all decided to hit the amusement park together.

Since it was crowded, they requested a seven-seater van from the production team.

The van was parked at the entrance of the residential area, so they had to walk up to the gate to get on board.

Along the way, Bain was a bundle of energy, chatting nonstop with Isabel.

Isabel, who was usually kept on a tight leash at home, didn't often hang out with boys, so when Bain kept rattling on, she listened earnestly.

At that moment, an elderly gentleman was strolling along the sidewalk with his golden retriever.

Upon seeing the dog, Bain excitedly ran over and gestured for Isabel to join him, calling out, "Isabel, come check this out!"novelbin

Isabel hesitated, not moving until she caught her aunt's approving nod, and then she scampered over in little steps.

Bain didn't pet the dog; instead, he just asked the old man, "Sir, what's his name?"

The gentleman smiled kindly, "His name's Buddy." He then said to the dog, "Buddy, say hello."

As if understanding, the golden retriever barked cheerfully, "Woof woof!"

"Wow!" Bain and Isabel were both startled.

Eileen walked over with a smile, patting Isabel on the head and teasingly said, "You are supposed to greet people, honey."

Isabel, taken aback, glanced at Buddy, then back at her aunt, and in a moment of pressure, she blurted out a playful, "Woof woof!"