Reborn, Reawakened, Rekindled

Chapter 396

I couldn’t be sure. The moment the thought took root, though, I couldn’t suppress it.

If Karina simply ignored me during my ordeal, I might have accused her of having an icy heart but if she intentionally tied that rope around my ankle, that’s a different kettle of fish. Wasn’t that akin to attempted murder?

“Neil, could you fetch me some wet wipes from my bag? My hands are all greasy,” Karina requested, shaking her oil-slicked hands in mild exasperation.

Karina had brought a bag, which was placed just a few feet away from me.

Neil responded, “Sure, in a moment.””

I got up first, “I’ll get it for you!”

Seeing me approach her bag, Karina’s expression momentarily flinched in resistance, she quickly stepped forward, “It’s okay, I’ll get it. God knows this bag is already dirty enough.”

She then moved her bag away to a place beyond my sight, only then did she proceed to take out a pack of wet wipes.

This action of hers seemed a bit odd. Was she worried that I would have seen something in her bag? Or was she just being protective of her privacy?

“What’s up?” My distracted demeanor caught Russel’s attention; he asked in a low voice.

“Nothing,” I snapped back to reality, shaking my head.

A while later, Karina and Neil prepared lunch, which was all seafood, complemented by a bottle of wine provided by the hotel. The spread was quite lavish.

Russel and I sat on one side, with Neil and Karina opposite us.

beamed at us, “Ms. Finch,

very fresh,” I praised, even before starting my

meaningful look, “Russel, shouldn’t you be more attentive to your wife? She’s hurt her hand. You should be helping her with her food, or even feeding her.”

chimed in unexpectedly,

my left hand, but I was right-handed, so my daily activities weren’t much

when Neil

to give Russel an opportunity to show his caring side. He’s always been so

head towards Russel, “He’s just a bit introverted in front of others, but he’s actually quite attentive

my relationship with Russel to

hint of a smile tugged at his lips. He seemed to relish my

sitting opposite us, had an inscrutable expression, mostly keeping his eyes on his plate and not participating much in our

to face Neil and Karina. Only

restroom,” Karina announced midway

the bag lying on the edge of the table: She was so protective of that bag earlier. Why didn’t she just take it with her?

a piece of lobster, and ‘accidentally’ smeared my hand with sauce, “Where are the wipes? I think Dr.

once. After all,

present.

responded indifferently, “Yeah,

the bag and as he opened it. I deliberately took a few glances. That’s when I noticed something odd. There was a piece of rope in the bag,

one behind it, why didn’t she just dispose of the rope in the ocean instead of keeping part of it in her bag? Wasn’t she leaving evidence behind?

which she was so protective of earlier was then left unattended as she went to the restroom. It was as if she was deliberately drawing my

confronted Karina with it as evidence when she returned. But I decided against it. Instead, I took the wipes, cleaned my hands, and continued

minutes later, Karina returned. The first thing she did was check her bag. Noticing