Reborn, Reawakened, Rekindled

Chapter 400

Was that woman really smoking with such a severe lung condition? That question gave me pause, and I swallowed the words that had come to my lips, “All right, hop in.”

Russel glanced at me but remained silent, not prodding for more details.

After the two strangers got in, they barely conversed. They were mostly buried in their phones, texting away. They seemed exhausted, puffing on cigarettes non-stop, without any consideration for others.

I didn’t stop them from smoking, but their behavior struck me as odd.

After we dropped them off at their destination, they went their separate ways. They didn’t offer any gratitude or payment. It was not like I needed it, but they left me with an unpleasant feeling.

In the rear-view mirror, their figures disappeared into the roadside.

“Serena! Brandon!” The moment I got home, I couldn’t help but rush to find my two little treasures. Seeing me, my parents quickly brought the kids to me.

“Oh, Mommy’s home! Serena and Brandon, Mommy’s back!” My mother handed Serena over to me, her voice laced with laughter, “How was your trip? Did you have fun?”

They surely didn’t know about my encounter with Neil and Karina. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have asked.

To keep my mother’s spirits up, I nodded and responded, “It was great, but I missed the kids too much. So, I came back early.”

Just then, Russel walked in with a cell phone in his hand. “I think this phone belongs to those people from earlier, They must have accidentally left it in the

car.”

to my mother and took the phone. It was an old, nondescript model. It was not worth much. I wondered how

find the contact list, I realized the phone wasn’t password-protected. A message popped up,

seemed like a transaction, but what caught my attention

who had saved the woman on the island, gaining her praise and

became clear that the woman was faking an

she wouldn’t have needed to resort to such tactics unless she was trying to win over the Whitmore

the messages, I felt a sense

asked, noticing

return the phone now. We’ll keep it here for the time being,” I replied. The phone had several debt collection messages. That couple probably

to end up in my hands. So, the next morning, I saw her at my doorstep,

in the yard, basking in the morning sun with Serena and Brandon, when I

behind Karina, shouting, “Daddy,

Neil appeared beside

mother’s face darkened when she saw them, asking, “What are you doing here?”

apologize,” Karina began

guilt in her eyes. “I wanted to apologize on the island, but Ms. Finch didn’t want to talk, so I didn’t get a chance. I’ve been feeling guilty ever since.

hand the gifts to my mother, but my mother refused, “We don’t need your apologies or gifts. And what’s this about an island? Rena, is this related to the trip you and

want to worry her, but with Karina spilling

I admitted, then

ing

nearby at the time. I was wearing a rosy red diving suit. I wonder if you saw me. I didn’t wear my contact