Defying Fate: The Unstoppable Eileen novel Chapter 404

Time ticked by, each second stretching longer than the last.

The tiny room remained cloaked in silence.

Egbert wrapped Eileen in his arms, feeling the tremor running through her slender frame.

In moments like this, he never knew what to say—what words could possibly comfort her?

Eileen didn’t cry. She just clenched her hands so tightly that her fingernails dug deep into her palms.

Gently, Egbert pried her fingers open and held her hand in his.

Great actors always feel deeply. If she could go through something this painful and not shed a single tear, it could only mean one thing—she was forcing herself to hold it all in.

Maybe she’d been used to that for a long time…

Eileen sat quietly for ages. At last, her lips parted, her voice hoarse and uncertain. “Can I… can I read the rest by myself?”

Egbert pressed a feather-light kiss to her temple. “Are you sure?”

She nodded, sniffed, and lifted her chin. “I want to see it myself.”

He hesitated, but finally agreed.

There wasn’t much left to read.

When she finished, her face was perfectly calm.

But no one could tell if that calm was real, or just a mask she’d carefully put on.

She handed the phone back to Egbert. “So my father’s death was connected to that man with the codename ‘Eagle,’ right?”

“That’s what earlier investigations suggested,” Egbert replied.

“But Mr. Magee said when he died, there were two little boys with him,” Eileen pressed.

Egbert nodded. “That’s what the report from a few years ago said.”

She shot him a sharp look. “Who am I supposed to believe?”

Egbert cupped her cheeks, his eyes searching hers. “Trust me.”

Eileen fell silent.

She bit her lip and dropped her gaze. After a moment, she asked, “Is there anything I can do to help?”

He shook his head. “No.”

“Nothing at all?” she frowned.

He brushed his hand through her hair. “You’re not a soldier, Eileen. No one expects you to take risks. Take it easy.”

She grabbed his sleeve, her expression determined. “I want to call NightKing.”

Egbert narrowed his eyes.

“I know he probably won’t tell the truth,” Eileen said. “But I want to hear what he has to say, just in case. What do you think?”

She needed to do something—anything—no matter how small.

Egbert saw the resolve in her eyes and, after a long pause, finally agreed. “Okay.”

Eileen immediately pulled out her phone and dialed.

No answer.

She tried again.

Still nothing.

She kept going, stubbornly, until finally, on the fourth call, a cold, menacing voice picked up. “What?”

Eileen gripped the phone and snapped, “Took you long enough! Next time you make me wait ten seconds, I swear I’ll come over and knock some sense into you!”

NightKing on the other end: “…”

She was on edge, strung out by the news about her father. But she couldn’t bring herself to take it out on Egbert, so she vented on the next unlucky target.

NightKing sounded as annoyed as she felt. “Do I owe you an answer every time you call?”

Eileen snorted, “You think you’re so tough, huh, Bubba?”

“…”

A long pause. Then: “How… how do you know that name?”

She laughed dryly. “What do you think?”

Apparently, something clicked for him. He gritted his teeth. “What do you want?”

Eileen glanced at Egbert, then asked, “Did you know my dad?”

Silence.

She looked away, embarrassed. “I don’t have his number.”

Egbert rubbed his temples. “And you think I do?”

The room fell into awkward silence.

Suddenly, Eileen’s phone lit up where it lay on the bed, flashing so brightly it was almost blinding. The screen flickered, then went black, and in the center a tiny, animated angel appeared, crying.

A message popped up over its head—Baby, I thought you’d forgotten about me! Why haven’t you called? Are you afraid you’re not good enough for me?

Eileen: “…”

Egbert: “…”

Eileen mouthed at Egbert, “He’s spying on me again!”

Egbert patted her hand soothingly, then addressed the virus-infected phone. “Can we talk?”

The angel’s message changed—Not with you! Don’t like you! Go away!

Egbert: “…”

Eileen frowned. “What about me? Will you talk to me?”

The little angel grinned mischievously—Nope! Not even for you! I’ll just blow a raspberry! Pfffft!

Eileen’s patience snapped. “Fine, forget it.”

She moved to pop the battery out, threatening to kill the phone.

The little angel panicked—Wait, wait, wait! Don’t go! Stay with me! Play with me!

Eileen grabbed the phone. “Then will you talk?”

The angel pouted, fingers twiddling—…Fine.

She raised her brow. “Did you know my dad?”

The angel answered—Of course!

Eileen’s eyes lit up, but before she could ask more, it added—He’s right here. It’s me! Hahahaha!

“Come on!” Eileen shouted, slamming the phone back onto the bed.

It rolled to a stop, and from inside, a clear male voice suddenly rang out: “The farmer lifts you up with pride, beaming as he says, ‘What a fine crop! What a fine crop!’”