Reborn, Reawakened, Rekindled novel Chapter 192

"What did you say? Irene, don't think I won't slap you!" Malinda was all fired up, seemingly bothered by me calling her Bonnie's lapdog.

My friends, hearing Malinda's outburst, gathered around.

"You think we wouldn't slap you too?" Barbara rolled up her sleeves.

Louis looked helpless. As a guy, he shouldn't get involved in a catfight, but Malinda was his girlfriend, and we were all acquainted with him.

He pulled Malinda behind him, "Enough, enough. We're all friends here. Can we stop this hostility?"

"Louis, are you blind? Why would you pick her as your girlfriend? She has no conscience; do you have one?" Stella bluntly asked.

Louis's face changed slightly. He awkwardly chuckled, not responding.

Malinda was at her breaking point. She was the one who persistently went after Louis, and now Stella was saying she didn't deserve him?

"Say that again?!" Malinda pointed at Stella, her eyes blazing.

Tension was in the air. Some staff had come over to try to defuse the situation.

"Malinda, what's wrong?" Suddenly, Bonnie's voice chimed in. Her eyes were red and swollen as if she'd just been crying. She looked at us, puzzled.

Kate Aaron was in the same state. They probably just got back from the cemetery.

I had to admire Bonnie. She really considered herself Karina.

"Bonnie, Kate, are you okay?" Malinda immediately asked with concern as soon as she saw them.

Kate shook her head, "We're fine, just a little upset. What's going on between you and them…"

She glanced at me, her distaste for me apparent in her eyes.

Malinda immediately felt bolstered, "Louis and I came here to wait for you guys, but we ran into Irene. They have no manners, even openly insulted me, calling me a bitch!"

At that moment, a woman nearby spoke up, "It was you who started it all with your ranting, disturbing them. Isn't that why they said those things about you?"

I turned to look at the woman. She had short hair with red highlights, silver earrings, and a nose ring, giving her a rebellious look.

Seeing me look at her, she gave me a smile.

I inexplicably liked her appearance, so I returned her smile with a grateful one.

"I…" Malinda was at a loss for words after being exposed by the short-haired woman.

"Malinda, it's fine. Let's just drop it!" Bonnie wiped her eyes and put on a magnanimous face.

Kate checked the time and urged, "Bonnie, let's go. My mom and Neil are waiting for us."

She emphasized Neil's name as if afraid I wouldn't hear it clearly.

Bonnie nodded and took Malinda's hand, "Malinda, why don't you and Louis come with us? We can all have dinner together."

"Sure!" Malinda cheered up immediately, "After all, Louis and Neil are good friends. It's just like a friends' get-together!"

Louis gave me an apologetic look, seemingly helpless.

Without a second thought, I hung up.

After hanging up four or five calls in a row, I turned off my phone. I didn't want to hear Neil's crap. If he was going to have dinner with Bonnie and her group, why would he still have time to contact me?

As soon as I turned off my phone, Stella's phone rang.

Again, it was Neil.

"What do you want?" Stella answered on speakerphone.

"Is Irene with you?" Neil asked.

"Do you have a split personality? Waiting for Bonnie on one hand and contacting Rena on the other?" Stella cursed, "Bastard! Leave Rena alone! Since things between you and Bonnie are unclear, stop bothering her!"

Neil paused for a moment, then asked, somewhat speechless, "I'm waiting for Bonnie to have dinner together. Who said that?"

"Cut the act. Weren't you just worshiping at the altar of Karina today? Neil, you told Mitch you regretted it and wanted to make it up to Rena. All lies, huh?" Stella's anger grew with every word she said. Finally, she just started cursing, "You jerk! Stay the hell away from her!"

I listened to their conversation without uttering a word.

Before Neil could explain, Stella had already hung up. She turned to me and said, "Rena, don't you listen to Neil's crap. He's not trying to make things right with you; he’s just playing you!"

"Don't worry, I'm not that naive," I laughed, "My mom wants me to start working at her company in a few days. I'll be a working woman then, won't have much time to think about all this."

"Good," Stella breathed a sigh of relief. Suddenly, her eyes caught something in the distance, "Isn't that Russel standing in front of my house?"

I took a closer look, and it was indeed him. Russel was chatting with Mitch about something. He looked noticeably more run-down than he was a few days ago.