Defying Fate: The Unstoppable Eileen



Terrence paused, a hint of concern in his voice. "I heard you got hurt, kiddo. Come here, let me take a look."

Isabel took a couple of steps back.

Terrence sighed, a touch of helplessness in his voice. "Isabel?"

With the speed of a sprinter, Isabel dashed to Eileen's side, using her as a shield. She peered out from behind Eileen and said with a pout, "I'm not going anywhere."

Poor Eileen was on the verge of a panic attack!

She was already nervous, and although her brother Terrence hadn't noticed her before, Isabel's sudden dash had drawn his attention straight to her. Oh boy, what should she say? How should she greet him? Would "Hey Terrence" be too forward? But then, "Mr. Lopez" might sound too distant. Maybe just go with "handsome"? Eileen's thoughts were a whirlwind of indecision.

Egbert, sensing Eileen's discomfort, cut in with a practical solution. "Let's eat first."

Soon, the four of them were seated around the dining table.

Eileen kept her head down, unable to utter a single word.

Terrence, ever so gentle, turned to her and said warmly, "Eileen."

Eileen looked up cautiously, nodding hesitantly as she replied, "Hello, sir."

Terrence chuckled softly. "No need to be formal, we're all family here."novelbin

Not sure how to respond, Eileen's fingers nervously fiddled beneath the table, tugging at Egbert's shirt.

Understanding the cue, Egbert took her hand with his left and served her a slice of roast beef, trying to ease the tension. "Let's enjoy the meal and chat later."

Terrence observed the discreet exchange between Egbert and Eileen, hiding a knowing smile as he picked up a slice of beef and took a bite.

Next second.

Terrence nearly choked on the meat, washing it down with a gulp of water, he asked, "Did Eileen cook this?"

With her ears turning a bright shade of red, Eileen quickly said, "Yes, I did."

Terrence nodded in approval. "It's delicious."

Eileen breathed a sigh of relief and, with a newfound confidence, ate the slice of beef Egbert had given her.

Next second.

Eileen sputtered, grabbing a napkin to spit out the meat. She was in shock, suddenly remembering that while she had been on the phone with Terrence, Egbert had taken over the cooking for a while.

Eileen felt like her brain had stopped working as she asked Egbert, "Did you add salt?"

Egbert, a bit startled, looked at Eileen's expression and then back at the dish, finally saying with a straight face, "Believe it or not, I saw the salt jump in by itself."

Eileen was at a loss for words. She pushed the beef to the side and awkwardly suggested to Terrence, "Try something else, please."

Terrence smoothly picked up another dish, tactfully moving past the culinary mishap.

As the meal progressed, most of the conversation was between Egbert and Terrence.

Midway through the meal, Egbert glanced at Isabel, who was being spoon-fed by Eileen, and said to Terrence, "Did you come to pick up your daughter?"

Terrence replied, "I got a call from my brother saying she got hurt, so I came to check on her."

Egbert nodded solemnly. "It was a serious injury. The doctor said it could have been worse; she might have broken her hand."

Eileen couldn't believe how he lie like that.

Isabel piped up, "Isabel doesn't want to go, Daddy. I want to stay with Auntie. Uncle Reed said I could stay here until Monday!"

Terrence, in a difficult position, reasoned, "Well, if Mr. Reed said it's okay..."

Isabel clung to Eileen's clothes, near tears.

Eileen, eager to prove herself, quickly assured, "Don't worry, I won't let Isabel get hurt again! I really mean it!"

Terrence looked from Eileen to Egbert, then with a helpless shake of his head, he gave Eileen a warm smile. "Alright, then it's settled. Isabel stays with Aunt Eileen for another day."

Eileen's cheeks flushed with pride as she declared, "It's no trouble at all!"

In a moment of boldness, Eileen served Terrence a spare rib, and he reciprocated by placing a slice of meat in her bowl.

The dinner table became peaceful and warm, the awkwardness melting away.

As for Egbert, thwarted in his little scheme, he could only look on in silent defeat.

Isabel, finding the exchange of food between her aunt and father amusing, clumsily scooped up some ground beef with her spoon and plopped it into her father's bowl.

"Thank you, Isabel," Terrence said with a smile.

The little girl beamed and served Eileen as well, to which Eileen responded with equal gratitude.

Egbert, seizing his chance, pushed his bowl forward with a hopeful look, but Isabel simply sat down and contentedly ate her own meal, leaving him out of the loop.

Isabel glared at Mr. Reed with a huff, her voice dripping with mock concern, "Oh, Mr. Reed, you want some too? Maybe you should lay off the meat. If you're really that hungry, why don't you go confess your love to Aunt Eileen? She might just serve you a nice cold shoulder."

Egbert was speechless.

Eileen couldn't help but snort with laughter from the sidelines. She scooped some minced meat into Egbert's bowl and whispered, "That's what you get for riling her up."

Egbert just sighed, at a loss for words.

Terrence, on the other hand, paused, taken aback.

He hadn't expected Egbert to still be pursuing his little sister.

Terrence and Egbert's friendship had been cemented since they were kids.

The Lopez and the Reed families were close, and the children often mingled.

But Egbert never quite clicked with Blake and Carlson Lopez, the older brothers with a wide age gap. It was only Terrence, who was close in age to Egbert, with whom he shared a deep bond.

If anyone from the Lopez family genuinely wanted Egbert to end up happily with his little sister, it was Terrence.

Glancing at his carefree younger sister, Terrence suddenly felt the urge to put in a good word for Egbert. "You know, Egbert's been a responsible guy since he was little," he offered.

Egbert looked at Terrence, surprised. Eileen turned to her fifth brother as well.

Terrence, with a playful smile, invented a story on the spot: "I remember asking Egbert when we were just kids what his plans were for when he got married. He told me that what he wanted most was to start afresh with the love of his life, maybe under a new identity, in a place untouched by the past, a sort of Eden where it would be just the two of them, beginning anew."

Egbert was at a loss for words.

Eileen frowned at Egbert, and after a moment of silence, she said, "You know, people with that kind of dream usually have skeletons in their closet."