Chapter 178
I was left with a pang of guilt, feeling like Russel’s eyes were filled with disappointment.
In hindsight, me telling him to go with the flow last time was a mistake. It was as if I gave him some sort of hint, and maybe I should’ve been clearer to him to stop wasting his time on me.
When I joined, the dinner table got all weird. Everyone was just minding their own business, eating and hardly speaking, especially Neil and Russel. Their interaction was almost nonexistent
Bonnie’s phone ringing out of the blue broke the awkward silence.
Her face turned all weird after a glance at the caller ID. She waved at Malinda and went out to take the call.
“Stella, I’ve lost my appetite. I’m gonna head out.” The atmosphere was making me feel queasy, let alone eating.
“Alright!” After hearing me out, Stella immediately realized that there was probably no hope of getting Neil’s help. She didn’t blame me though, just told me to be careful on my way.
I waved at Louis and left.
After leaving the private room, I sent the chat log between me and Neil to Stella.
Stella wrote back, “Don’t worry about it, Rena, I won’t let you get screwed over. Who knows what Neil could have made you do?”
I was thinking the same.
Just as I was leaving the hotel, I saw a familiar figure. I couldn’t help but take a second look.
Finn was alone in the hotel lobby, looking around. When he saw me, there was a noticeable change in his eyes, as if he recognized me.
I had a bad feeling about this.
But Finn just looked at me for a few seconds, then took the elevator upstairs. I took note of the floor he was on; it was the same one where I had dinner.
Was this a coincidence?
a while, Finn didn’t come back down, so I decided
was getting in the car, Neil showed up.
are you doing in my car?” I asked Neil, who was sitting in
Neil’s profile was quite exquisite.
“So I don’t owe
Neil turned to look at me, his eyes fixed on me, “How about we go to a
did not see this
to a movie alone was something
us to go to a movie. But if
a moment, “All right, tell me where Halley
sent me an address and
wouldn’t bother with things that don’t concern
Stella, asking her and Mitch to call the police.
“See you tonight. I’ll send you the time
right,” I replied.
then, Russel showed up in the distance.
saw
passed each
felt a headache coming on. Why did it
Neil and I were talking about, but he
I said guiltily, “I had something to
think of.” Russel smiled, but there
away, I felt a pang of bitterness,
get pregnant again. Did he not mind
with me?
he agreed, his
sigh of resignation, I
something and looking a bit
me back, they frowned even more.
what’s wrong?” I
have you been?” My mom
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