Defying Fate: The Unstoppable Eileen



Egbert looked at Isabel in front of him in silence as Isabel turned her back to Egbert and rested her head on Eileen's shoulder. Eileen sighed at Egbert, "Why did you have to stir the pot?"

Egbert remained quiet, eyes still fixed on Isabel. Eileen peered curiously into the house, then asked Simon, "Who all made it?" Simon chuckled, "The whole gang's here."

Her words made Eileen freeze, taking a step back, her desire to enter waning.

Simon laughed off her worry, "Eileen, it's fine. You know everyone except for Carlson."

She was right.

Eileen shuffled closer to Egbert's side.

Egbert's complexion softened, he gently supported Eileen's back, whispering, "Don't worry, I'm here."

Isabel glanced at Egbert and chimed in, "Yeah, Eileen, don't be scared. I'm here too."

Eileen cracked a smile, planting a quick kiss on Isabel's forehead.

But the next moment, Isabel in her arms was abruptly whisked away.

Startled, Eileen watched as Egbert grabbed Isabel by the collar, tossing her straight into Simon's arms.

They were all shocked.

Egbert took Eileen's hand, calmly saying, "Let's go." With that, he led her inside the house.

The mansion was spacious, and as soon as they entered, Eileen could hear the boisterous laughter and chatter from within.

Her heart tightened, and she instinctively clutched Egbert's fingers.

Egbert glanced at her, softly assuring, "It's okay."

Just then, Sonia spotted them, exclaiming, "Eileen's here."

The living room fell silent at her words, and a sea of eyes turned their way.

Eileen quickly let go of Egbert's hand, standing straight with her hands behind her back, uncomfortably greeting, "Hi, everyone..."

In the blink of an eye, she was swarmed by the crowd.

"Eileen."

People rushed forward, and soon Eileen was engulfed in a warm embrace.

Rosalind's face was beaming, her eyes moist with happiness, "I'm so glad you're here, dear."

Feeling out of place, Eileen squeezed Rosalind's hand back, but her eyes were searching for Egbert.

As she turned, she didn't find Egbert but saw Sawyer standing there, grinning foolishly.

Eileen was speechless.

Sawyer, seeing Eileen's gaze, cheerfully greeted, "Eileen."

Eileen's eyebrow twitched. Suppressing the urge to kick Sawyer away, she took a deep breath and inquired, "I heard Carlson's back today." Rosalind patted Eileen's hand, nodding, "He is in the study with Derek. That old man called your brothers in for a talk."

Eileen was puzzled why Rosalind referred to Derek as 'that old man.'

Then she heard Rosalind hesitate, "I know you're close to your foster father, and there's no rush. If you don't want to acknowledge your biological father, Derek, we don't have to. It's really okay."

Eileen shook her head, "I..."

"Mom, don't say such things."

Flossie, her sister-in-law, couldn't hold back any longer, speaking up with displeasure, "Eileen hardly ever visits, why bring up Derek and spoil the mood?"

Stunned, Eileen looked at Flossie.

Flossie, noticing Eileen's gaze, smiled reassuringly and patted her arm, "You don't have to call him Dad. When he comes down, just call him 'Uncle Lopez.""

Eileen thought, "No, it's not a big deal."

Eileen had been mentally prepared for a long time. Regardless of whether she had a biological father or not, her feelings for her foster father wouldn't change, and that was enough.

Rosalind, chided by Flossie, wasn't upset and seemed to agree, turning to Eileen, "Then it's settled. Call him 'Uncle Lopez.' If you're not comfortable with that, it's okay to act like he's not there."

Eileen helplessly replied, "Mom, I really..."

"Eileen."

From the kitchen, following a shout, Elaine, in an apron, fluttered out like a moth.

Elaine's hands were smeared with something sticky, and upon seeing Eileen, she excitedly dragged her toward the kitchen, exclaiming, "Eileen, you're here. I made cupcakes for you, come taste them."

Sonia quickly grabbed Eileen's other hand, warning, "Don't go. The dogs wouldn't even eat her cupcakes."

Eileen was speechless.

Elaine frowned, "Sonia."

Rosalind extracted Eileen from Elaine's clutches, shielding her, and scolded Elaine, "Who blew up Sonia's oven this morning? You've got some nerve. You're banned from the kitchen."

Elaine pouted, "Grandma..."

Rosalind called out, "Where is Burton?"novelbin

Burton, busy eating fruit, raised his hand, "I'm here."

Rosalind commanded, "Watch out Elaine. She's not to set foot in the kitchen again."

Burton scratched his nose, grabbed Elaine's hand, and dragged her off to wash up.

Elaine, pulled away, still defiantly calling back to Eileen, "Eileen, try them, I worked so hard."

The door slammed shut.

The bathroom door slammed shut with a dramatic thud.

Eileen just blinked, speechless.

Rosalind took Eileen's hand again, guiding her to the couch and sitting down beside her, "Don't mind her. Ever since she enlisted, she's been like that. She's not as quiet as the other girls."

Eileen understood Elaine well enough, and she knew Elaine had a good heart. She felt the urge to defend Elaine. But just then, Sonia cleared her throat and shot a meaningful glance at Rosalind.

Rosalind caught on quickly and backpedaled. "Oh no, I didn't mean it like that, honey. It's not that I have any issue with girls in the military. If you want to enlist, Eileen, I'm all for it. I support you no matter what."

Eileen paused, caught off guard by this turn in the conversation. Rosalind seemed so anxious, worried Eileen might take her words the wrong way.

Eileen sighed.

She finally understood why she felt so tense around the Lopez family.

It wasn't just her who was struggling to adjust, they were too.

They treated her with kid gloves as if she were some delicate heirloom. Even living under the same roof, their awkwardness matched hers.

Twenty years of missing affection couldn't be replenished with a mere acknowledgment of kinship.

Relationships require time and continued interaction to build.

Eileen began to reflect on herself, realizing that perhaps she bore the greatest responsibility. She should be more proactive in reaching out to the Lopezes.

Just then, footsteps echoed from upstairs.

Eileen looked up to see Derek leading her three brothers down the staircase.

She stood up, determined to start by greeting Derek.

Taking a deep breath and just about to speak, she heard Rosalind suddenly say, "Derek, get back upstairs."

Eileen was dumbstruck.

Derek, who was about to descend, let out a derisive snort at the command and, with a look of disdain, said, "Fine." He turned on his heel and marched back up the stairs.