Chapter 323: Chapter 323 Do you admit to losing a hand?

The three of them lined up to buy two servings of meat sandwiches. Eileen Stevens held one in her hand, while Eve had the other, happily enjoying their meal by the roadside—one large, one small.

Niles Hawke pinched the bridge of his nose and asked, "Aren't you going to eat something else?"

Eve was the first to raise her hand. "Daddy, I want a KFC bucket!"

Niles couldn't help but twitch his lips; he honestly didn't expect dinner to be so down-to-earth tonight. But since Eve had already spoken up, Eileen Stevens chimed in, "Can we add a roasted chicken?"

Niles Hawke sighed, "Fine."

In the end, the three of them returned to the apartment with a bucket of chicken and a roasted chicken.

Eileen Stevens pulled up a movie to watch, and the three of them each grabbed a drumstick and a cup of soda, sitting on the carpet and enjoying their feast.

As they reached the end of their meal, Eve was still holding half of an egg tart but had already fallen asleep against Eileen Stevens, drooling.

Niles Hawke glanced over. The media room was dimly lit, with only the screen casting a faint glow.

Eileen Stevens leaned against the table, resting her chin in her hand, drowsy, while Eve snuggled in her arms, sleeping soundly with a bit of sauce at the corners of their mouths.

A warmth spread through Niles Hawke's chest, as if the lonely heart he'd carried for years was finally filled.

He reached out to wipe the sauce from Eileen's lips. In response, she unconsciously flicked her tongue out to taste, causing Niles to tense up.

His throat tightened, but he ultimately refrained from leaning in to savor the moment.

Niles stood up and gently placed Eve aside before lifting Eileen Stevens out of the media room.

After hesitating for a moment in front of the bedroom door, Niles Hawke carried the girl into his room and tucked her into bed.

When he returned, Eve was standing at the door, rubbing her eyes and blinking innocently. "Godfather, can I sleep with Mommy?" she asked.

Niles Hawke replied, "...Sure."

He placed Eve next to Eileen Stevens and watched as the two of them sprawled out in bed. With a sigh, he pinched the bridge of his nose and decided to sleep in Eileen's room instead.

The next morning, Eileen Stevens woke up to find herself in Niles Hawke's bed, feeling a bit dazed as she got up and walked out. "Niles Hawke, last night I..."

She was taken aback when she saw Niles and Eve, both wearing aprons, standing in front of her. "What are you two doing?" she asked, confused.

Eve raised her little hand and chirped, "Good morning, Mommy!"

Eileen nodded, "Good morning."

"We're making breakfast for you!" Eve said with a smile. "It'll be ready soon. Go wash your hands so you can eat!"

Eileen looked up at Niles, who nodded. "Yeah, it's really almost done. Go freshen up."

Still bewildered, Eileen walked back to the bedroom, then turned around and asked, "Eve, that isn't an apron you're wearing, right?"

Eve nodded. "Yep, it's Mommy's tank top."

Eileen was speechless.

Niles cleared his throat and said, "We didn't have any aprons that small, so..."

Eileen glanced at the stains on Eve's outfit and asked, "Why didn't you just use one of your shirts as an apron for her?"

Niles Hawke said seriously, "My shirt doesn't have a structure for her to hang around her neck; yours fits perfectly."

Eileen Stevens was left speechless.

After finishing her morning routine, Eileen walked into the dining area, where the two had actually prepared breakfast. The toast was perfectly toasted, and while the eggs were slightly burnt, they still tasted good.

After they finished eating, Niles and Eileen took Eve back to Jasper's place and casually picked up Anne Ross's dress on the way.

Eileen asked, "Where to now?"

Niles replied, "Time for some payback."

Eileen paused, "You mean Yesenia Stevens?"

Niles shook his head, "Hyrum."

He drove to Hiram Hawke's villa, where Hiram was sitting at home, bored out of his mind. When he saw them, he broke into a huge grin. "Bro! I've already got the guy!"

He then ran over to Eileen, smiling, "Eileen, you’re safe now! Otherwise, my brother would have gone on a rampage!"

Niles said coldly, "Where is he?"

Hiram raised his hand, "In the basement."

Eileen gasped, "Isn't he Lynx Black's younger brother? Does Lynx Black not mind him being locked up in the basement?"

Hiram laughed, "Even if he does mind, it doesn’t matter. If Hyrum dares to touch you, my brother would consider it charity if he didn’t kill him."

The three of them headed to the basement, where they found Hyrum sitting on a military-style bed, holding a deck of cards. He shouted, "Three of a kind! Want to play?"

The basement was eerily silent as Hyrum laid down his cards and moved to the opposite side of the table. He picked up his hand and sorted through it. "Pair of sixes! Beat that!"

Then he shifted back, tossing down two cards. "Pair of tens!"

He leaned over again, frustration evident on his face as he glanced at his cards. "Not good enough!"

Eileen Stevens cleared her throat, hesitantly asking, "Is he... is he schizophrenic?"

Hiram Hawke leaned against the wall and replied, "No, he’s just a bit off. You get used to it."

After saying that, Hiram shouted, "Hyrum!"

Hyrum looked up and immediately dashed over, wailing, "Niles, let me out! I’ve won twenty-seven times playing against myself, it’s so boring!"

"I swear I didn't mean to! I thought she was my brother's girl, that's why I made my move!"

Eileen Stevens sighed, "So I'm taking the blame for Lynx Black's future girlfriend?"

Niles Hawke remained silent, taking the gun from Hiram's hands. The dark barrel was pointed at Hyrum's wrist. "If I take out one of your hands, will you accept it?"

Hyrum's pupils dilated sharply. With his medical background, he knew losing a hand would mean the end of his career.

His face paled, but he gritted his teeth and said, "Fine! Go ahead!"

Niles Hawke swiftly loaded the gun, while Hyrum tightly shut his eyes. Suddenly, he yelled, "But after you shoot, take me to the hospital, okay?"

After a two-second pause, he shouted again, "Once this is over, it’s done, right?"

"Alright." Niles Hawke's finger gently rested on the trigger.

Eileen Stevens suddenly reached out and grabbed Niles Hawke's wrist, saying, "Forget it."

Niles Hawke was taken aback. "What did you say?"

Eileen shook her head. "Forget it. He's Lynx Black's younger brother. If you break his arm, how are you going to face Lynx Black later?"

Niles replied coldly, "Lynx Black knows what's what. He won't hold this against me."

Eileen countered, "What about me? I still want to be friends with him. How am I supposed to face him?"

She pressed down on the gun in Niles's hand. "Forget it. Besides, I don't have anything major going on. Eve is safe now."

Niles hesitated. "Are you sure? You almost lost your life."

Eileen nodded. "I'm sure. Don't let Yesenia Stevens's malice hurt Lynx Black."

Niles tossed the gun to Hiram Hawke. Hyrum quietly opened one eye and sighed, "Man, my brother really has a lot of pull."

Eileen raised an eyebrow. "Not hitting you doesn't mean this is over."

Hyrum looked at her with a wary smile, shivering slightly. "What are you planning to do?"