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.”

my mother and took the phone. It was an old, nondescript

the contact list, I realized the phone wasn’t password-protected. A message popped up, saying, “Money has been transferred to your account. You must remain silent about

transaction, but what caught my attention was the contact name. The name

the

that the woman was faking

skills and reputation, she wouldn’t have needed to resort to such tactics unless she

I felt a sense of irony.

wrong?” Russel asked, noticing

We’ll keep it here for the time being,” I replied. The phone had several debt collection messages. That couple probably owed much money and were waiting for Karina to pay them

So, the next morning, I saw her at my doorstep, holding a bunch

the morning sun with Serena and Brandon, when I spotted her. My first instinct was to frown. What was she doing

then, Hiram emerged from behind Karina, shouting, “Daddy, hurry up!”

seconds later, Neil appeared beside

mother’s face darkened when she saw them,

to apologize,”

want to talk, so I didn’t get a chance. I’ve been feeling guilty ever since. So, Neil suggested we come and apologize in person. These

my mother refused, “We don’t need your apologies or gifts. And what’s this about an island? Rena, is

to worry her, but with Karina

coincidence,” I admitted, then

you a ing for? Speak

me. I didn’t wear my contact lenses because I was going underwater, so my