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.

of pleading in his voice. This was uncharacteristic of him; a man of his stature, even in his

son, Hiram, and our first child was gone before it

being suffocated and my eyes

Neil see it. But I didn’t want to rehash the painful memories. Shared pain could bind people

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, his lips curving into a forced smile. He didn’t say anything, but went

magic seemed to fill the air, painting a picture of warmth and love. In a sudden impulse, I blurted out, “I took a on my phone. Do you

his eyes

of it

picture of the ultrasound image during the scan. Although it

accurately, resembled Brandon now, especially the

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

the picture. While I took Serena from him, she was quiet

filled with longing and sorrow. I had never seen him

wondered if Neil loved me back then. If he didn’t, then why was

is a saying that a man who doesn’t love a

my mind like overgrown

looked up at me. His eyes

one last time,” he said, his voice

I knew Neil had his doubts, but he didn’t want to resort to a DNA test. If the results weren’t what he hoped for, he’d become the laughing stock. His

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

± ± 3 Z Z

at each other, our

own, yet it was firm and resolute. “Serena and Brandon are mine and Russel’s children. Neil, I’m sorry, but my heart changed back then. If you don’t believe me, you can

Neil’s