Reborn, Reawakened, Rekindled

Chapter 399

“Thanks for the advice,” I replied nonchalantly before heading off to the hot springs with Stella.

Throughout, Stella was in a foul mood, constantly bringing up Karina.

She used to detest Bonnie, and when finally, Bonnie was in jail, Karina popped up. Bonnie had been able to interact with Neil only because she looked like Karina and had received a heart transplant from her.

She assured me firmly that she despised Karina more than she did Bonnie.

“Enough about her. Let’s talk about you,” Stella suddenly said with a suggestive smile on her face. “How’s it been going on this trip with Russel? Any progress in your marriage?”

“It’s okay,” I replied in a casual manner. Russel was indeed very kind to me. He was a caring and considerate person. But I was sure that I couldn’t have liked him just yet. Any moments of wavering were mostly due to the kids.

Stella, acting as if she knew everything, said, “Oh, I knew you didn’t have any feelings for him. You’re only together because of the kids. But I must say, I didn’t expect you to be so bold. When the media was widely reporting that you couldn’t have any more kids, you went ahead and had two with Russel. That’s impressive. You really slapped them in the face!”

I said nothing, choosing not to delve into the matter. After all, Russel and I had no relationship to speak of. Not to mention one of the two kids, who everyone thought looked a lot like Neil, though no one dared speak of it.

After we finished at the hot springs, Stella helped me get dressed. The perks of having a good friend were evident.

She then received a call from her husband, Mitch. “Honey, our boy is hungry!”

“I’m coming!” she immediately rushed off to get dressed at the news of her son’s hunger. Once she hung up, she swiftly got ready and said to me, “Rena, I must go. Weren’t you going to have some late-night snacks? I can’t accompany you this time!”

“Okay, you go ahead, I said, watching Stella hustle off. Thoughts of Serena and Brandon crossed my mind. I missed them, but I knew I would have been able to see them the next day.

at dinner due to the incident with Hiram, so I was feeling a bit peckish. The hotel offered late-night

at the time. I grabbed some food and found

Neil’s voice from behind me. He wasn’t speaking to me, though, but was on the phone. “You’re overthinking.

but he managed to

and saw Neil sitting there, his back to me. His white shirt accentuated his broad shoulders, giving off

couldn’t smoke here; a cigarette would’ve suited his aura of melancholy at the time..

he talking to?

no need for

probably his parents.

Neil hung

and Faith were questioning

expected, but it still left me feeling a

turned around, our eyes met for a moment before we both quickly looked away, pretending we

Neil at the restaurant, I wouldn’t have gone

next to each other, we would have had to take the elevator together if we left then. I didn’t see

Neil did the

Neil turned to me and asked, “Who’s

I didn’t really want to be alone with Russel in our

wasting any time, Neil left. I waited for about five minutes before heading toward the elevator to

back. “Where did you go?” he

I got a bit hungry and

Russel said, settling down on the couch and spreading a blanket over himself. He’d been sleeping on the couch for the past couple of