Reborn, Reawakened, Rekindled

Chapter 447

“I’m off to cook, Russel finally said, his gaze dropping as he headed towards the kitchen.

A pang of sympathy hit me, coupled with a sense of guilt.

Neil, however, seemed oblivious to the emotional undercurrents between Russel and myself. He was absorbed in studying Serena’s face, his eyes filled with a profound sadness.

He looked up at me, his eyes mirroring his sorrow. “Do you think our daughter would have looked like her if she hadn’t passed away?”

I had never told Neil the gender of our first child, yet his question caught me off guard.

A sharp pain pierced my heart at the mention of our lost child.

“How did you know it was a girl?” I asked, my voice laced with bitterness.

“I looked into your medical records before,” Neil said, his gaze unwavering.

“I need a favor.”

“Which is?” I asked, surprised at his confession.

For a moment, Neil hesitated, his usually decisive demeanor faltering. The gravity of the situation was evident.

I couldn’t fathom what I could possibly do for him, apart from a DNA test with Serena, which I had no intention of agreeing to.

“Although I checked your medical records, the only copy of the ultrasound for our baby is with you. Do you still have it?” Neil finally asked, catching me off guard. I froze.

The ultrasound image was the only picture I had of our child. I had kept it safe, never losing it.

hint of pleading in his voice. This was uncharacteristic of him; a man of his stature, even in his love for his child, would never stoop

child was gone before

felt like it was being suffocated and my eyes began to well

I didn’t want to rehash the painful memories. Shared pain could bind people together, in a way that was

smile. “I don’t have it anymore. I threw it away because it was too painful to keep.” Neil’s face fell at my words,

In a sudden impulse, I blurted out, “I took

replied instantly, his

of it

my phone, flipping through my mobile album. I had taken a picture of the ultrasound image during the scan. Although it wasn’t as clear as the original, one could still make out the basic features.

or more accurately, resembled Brandon now,

pain in my heart. I quickly sent the picture to Neil and closed

phone to check the picture. While I took Serena

picture, his eyes filled with longing and sorrow. I had never seen him

Neil loved me back then. If he didn’t,

that a man who doesn’t

filled my mind like overgrown weeds, refusing to

me.

said, his voice filled with pain.

a DNA test. If the results weren’t what he hoped for, he’d become the laughing stock.

cicadas began their evening chorus, breaking the heavy silence between us.

± ± 3 Z Z Z Z

looked at each other, our

was not my own, yet it was firm and resolute. “Serena and Brandon are mine

Neil’s