Defying Fate: The Unstoppable Eileen novel Chapter 80

Eileen was busy scheming 108 ways to pack her stuff when suddenly she felt a piercing gaze on her.

She turned her head in confusion.

It was Egbert.

She frowned and asked, "Why are you eyeballing me? Just so you know, even if I can't fit all this stuff, I'm not sharing with you."

Egbert chuckled softly, stood up and walked over to her.

He looked at the mess on the floor and asked, "Ever heard of the military packing method?"

Eileen was taken aback and looked up at him.

Egbert squatted down, emptied Eileen's bag and started packing it anew.

As he was doing this, he explained, "When out on a mission, the logistics team ensures the supplies are packed to the brim and sorted out."

Eileen watched as he managed to fit the large items that she previously couldn't into the bag. Her eyes widened with surprise.

A moment later, although many things still didn't fit, her bag could now carry a third more than before.

And thanks to his systematic packing method, retrieving items was a breeze.

Eileen was surprised, "Didn't expect you to be so handy, did you learn this on a movie set?"

Egbert looked at her, paused for a moment, and then said, "I learned it at a military academy."

Eileen was stunned, "You attended a military academy?"

Egbert averted his gaze, "Someone in my family did."

Eileen looked at him for a moment, then at her bulging bag, and nodded approvingly, "Pretty good."

It was unclear whether she was praising his packing skills or the military academy.

Egbert added, "Go get some rest. I'll take first watch."

Eileen scoffed, "No need, you go sleep. I'll wait for Burton to take over later."

Suddenly, Egbert stood up, took Eileen's hand and helped her up.

Eileen, taken by surprise, swayed a little.

She asked unhappily, "What are you doing?"

Egbert, still holding her hand, led her to the tent and whispered, "Get some rest since you've had a long day."

Eileen frowned.

Egbert coaxed her, "Come on, I'll wake you up if anything happens."

It had been an eventful day and Eileen hesitated for a moment before finally stepping into the tent to rest.

But, perhaps because of Egbert's mention of the military academy, Eileen had a dream that night.

She dreamed of a time long, long ago.

One afternoon, a 10-year-old girl in a red plaid dress sat in a room full of clocks.

"Eileen, it's time for dinner," a sprightly old man called from the doorway.

The little girl didn't move. She pouted, her back to the door, refusing to leave out of anger.

After a while, her kind old grandmother came in, stroked her hair and soothed, "Your dad got called away on some work and can't make it home for your birthday. How about grandma and grandpa accompany Eileen for a big meal?"

The little girl turned her head in disappointment, buried her face in her grandmother's lap, and said, "Daddy promised."

Her white-haired grandpa laughed from the doorway, "Oh dear, is our little Eileen going to cry?"

The little girl quickly wiped away the tears at the corners of her eyes with her tiny hands and replied loudly, "No way, I'm not crying!"

Her grandpa and grandma both laughed heartily.

As the orange light from the window flooded in, the phone in the living room suddenly rang.

"It's father!" The little girl jumped up excitedly and rushed to answer the phone, "Father!"

On the other end of the line, however, was not her father, but a stranger's voice, "May I speak to the Howard family?"

The little girl lowered her head in disappointment, but still politely replied, "Yes, who are you looking for?"

"I'm looking for ... Mr. Howard."

The little girl carefully handed the phone to her grandpa who walked over.

Grandpa took the phone with a smile, but within moments, his face turned pale.

That night, the little girl didn't go to the restaurant to celebrate her birthday with her grandpa and grandma.