Chapter 51 What Is Their Relationship
Chapter 51 What Is Their Relationship
The person in the photo looked exactly the same as Irene. Edric suspected that there was something
wrong with his eyes. He studied it carefully and realized that he was right. It was Irene. She dressed
plainly and looked 18 or 19 years old in the photo.
How did Irene's photo end up in Steven's book? Edric also noticed two words -- "my love" -- written on
the back of the photo when he was about to put it back in the book.
My love? How was Irene Steven's lover?
How could it be? How could Irene be Steven's lover? Steven was old enough to be Irene's father.
Suddenly, Edric remembered how Steven pulled Irene's hand outside of the teahouse. Did Steven fall
in love with Irene? Was that why Steven handed Irene the project?
This could also explain why Steven wanted to compensate him with the sports event. He was feeling
guilty.
While Edric was pondering, Steven had finished his call and turned around to continue to talk to Edric
about the sports event.
Edric was not in the mood to listen to it anymore. He collected himself and put the book back to its
original place. "I also heard about the sports event. But the Reed Family seems to be interested in
sharing a piece of cake as well. I'm afraid that it won't be so easy if they get involved."
Steven was stunned. "Who told you that?"
"Inside news. But it's likely to be true. The Reed Family will definitely not let such a good opportunity
slide by," Edric said while observing Steven's face, "I'm afraid that there will be changes in this matter
at that time."
Steven's expression changed obviously. Irene and Lily were both his daughters that he loved equally.
But he would definitely try to satisfy Irene first if she made the request since he owed more to her.
Edric noticed all the changes in Steven's expression. He felt emotional for some inexplicable reason.
He always thought that Steven was an upright official, rare in the government.
And he never expected him to be the same as everyone else. He controlled his anger and left with an
excuse.
Edric's heart was filled with mixed feelings. He couldn't imagine that Steven and Irene would have that
kind of relationship? Had they slept together already? Or was it a one-sided crush?
Irene was not that kind of person. She would never get involved with someone old enough to be her
father! So it was Steven who was obsessed with Irene?
It must be so! Steven must covet Irene's beauty, and Jordan was so cunning that he lured Steven with
Irene as the bait.
It seemed that Jordan didn't have any true affection for Irene. He was just using her. "I knew this
playboy was not up to anything good," Edric thought to himself while driving to Irene's neighborhood.
After Irene went home, she had dinner with Thomas and Eden, took Eden out for a walk, and watched
two episodes of a TV show. When it was time to sleep, she bathed Eden and helped him put on his
pajamas. When Eden wanted a glass of milk before going to bed, Irene opened the fridge and realized
that they ran out of milk. So she had to go out and buy more.
She suddenly felt that someone was watching her when she walked out of the alley. An inconspicuous
car was parked outside of the alley. Irene trembled when she saw the person sitting in the car.
Irene could feel his piercing gaze even through the window. She didn't dare to look at him longer but
turned around and went straight to the convenience store.
She only ran a few steps when she heard the car door closing behind. Soon, a familiar smell caught up
to her.
Edric stopped Irene without saying a word. Irene realized that she couldn't go around him and said in a
cold voice, "Sir, excuse me!"
Edric looked at her frosty face and remembered how she used to smile at him in the past. He felt
congested in his chest. "Irene, what's your relationship with Steven Cook?"
Irene was stunned. What did Edric mean? Did he know her relationship with Steven? Even if he knew,
so what? It was all over! Everything was over! "Does it have anything to do with you?"
Irene's answer made Edric's heart twist in pain. Was she admitting it indirectly? "How can you be so
shameless? Steven is old enough to be your father!"
Only then did Irene know what Edric meant. She sneered and enunciated, "I said, does it have
anything to do with you? Sir?"
"You..." Edric's face was gloomy. Irene saw that Edric was gritting his teeth as if he was going to hit
someone. She was a little scared, but she still held her head high and stared at him. Edric was
speechless for a long time and finally said, "Is this the life you strived for?"
"Why can't it be?" Irene asked.
"Irene, I really regret to know you!" Edric glared at Irene in agony. He would rather Irene stay with
Nathan or Jordan than an old man like Steven.
"We have long been strangers! Sir! Excuse me!" Irene didn't back off. Edric didn't stop her this time. He
let her go.
When Irene came back with milk, Edric was already gone. She rushed home with milk in her hands.
Thomas was surprised to see her in a panic. "What's wrong, Irene?"
"Uncle, I just saw Edric outside of the alley." Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.
"Why did he come here so late?" Thomas was also surprised. "Did he see Eden? No, I left with Eden in
my arms before he got a clear look at Eden's face."
"We can't stay here any longer whether or not he saw Eden clearly. Let's go to the new apartment
tomorrow and clean it up. We will move right away,"
"Okay! I'll listen to you," Thomas agreed.
When Edric returned home wearily, Margaret was waiting for him in the living room. "Edric, you're
back!"
Edric mumbled in a low mood. He went through the living room and was about to go upstairs. Margaret
stopped him and said, "Come and talk to me."
Edric glanced at Margaret and sat down on the couch on the opposite side. "What do you want to talk
about?"
Edric said in an impatient tone with a deadpan face. Margaret was stunned and wondered why her son
was in a bad mood. "What did they say when you went to the Cook family's house for dinner today?"
"What do you want them to say?" Edric asked.
"I thought you were going to talk about the engagement."
"Engagement?" Edric sneered, "Didn't you take over the engagement?"
"Even though I'm in charge of it, as the groom, you need to talk to Steven and the others. It's better to
ask Lily what she wants to do."
"You wanted this engagement. Do whatever you want!" Edric spoke in a harsh tone.
"How can you talk to me like this?"
"Did I say something wrong?" Edric sneered, "Mom, do you remember what you said to me?"
"What?" Margaret was confused. She had said so much to Edric and had no idea what he was referring
to.
"You said that you would leave me alone as long as I promise you two things. You want me to divorce
Irene, and I did it. You want me to be engaged to Lily, I agreed as well. I hope you will keep your
promise and leave me alone after the engagement!"
Margaret was astounded. She seemed to have said that in the past, how could a mother leave her son
alone? Seeing that Edric was in a foul mood, she had to comfort him, "I will leave you alone as long as
you get engaged to Lily."
Edric's face eased a little. "Thank you, mom!"
"I have exchanged some ideas with Mr. Cook and his wife about your engagement with Lily. Mr. Cook
doesn't have any request and believes that we should keep things simple. He needs to set an example
in light of his position. But we're businessmen without so many scruples. I think we'd better plan it
carefully and inform the media first!"
"I'm not a celebrity. Why should I talk to the media?" Edric asked.
"The press will be paying attention to the engagement. Instead of letting them poke around and print
nonsense, it's better for us to control the narrative."
Edric was a little impatient. "It's just an engagement ceremony. What's the point?"
"You're right, but we can't make it too basic. After all, we have to respect Steven."
"Respect Steven? Does he deserve that?" Edric suddenly became enraged. It was the first time he
flipped out Margaret. "Do you all have nothing else to do? Why are you making a fuss about an
insignificant engagement ceremony?"
Edric got up and went upstairs after that. Insignificant engagement ceremony? Margaret didn't like how
he described it. It sounded like something she said to Irene back then. But now it was Edric who was
saying it.
Margaret stared at her son's receding figure and felt very strange. What happened to her son today?
This seemed to be the first time he got angry at her after the divorce. What on earth happened?
Edric shut the door and collapsed in bed. He really didn't want to believe that Irene and Steven had that
kind of relationship. There must be some misunderstanding.
Irene was not that kind of woman. How could she be with a man old enough to be her father?
There must be something he didn't know about. Edric's head started to ache again when he thought
about how the Golden Age Group won the bid with ease and how Steven hesitated when Edric brought
up the Golden Age Group during their conversation about the sports event.
He was certain that there was a secret between Irene and Steven. He must figure out what the secret
was!
Edric tossed and turned in bed and couldn't fall asleep until early in the morning. He had a dream about
Irene. She whispered to him with a bright smile and deep affection, "Edric, Edric!"
Her voice had an indescribable charm that trapped him. "Irene!" He reached out to grab her hand, but
she dodged gently and walked in another direction.
A tall and handsome man was waiting for her with a warm smile on his face. Edric stood in a daze and
watched them hug each other and leave hand in hand. His heart ached like it was being torn apart.
The pain made him open his eyes. "D*mn, it's a dream again!"