Most of the Finch family's properties were in prime locations with beautiful surroundings, so they were quickly dealt with.
"I'm taking your mom to say goodbye to a few friends. Want to tag along?" My dad stopped to ask me as he was getting ready to leave with my mom.
"Nah, I'm good." I replied casually, engrossed in a TV show.
"Alright." My dad nodded and left with my mom.
With Hannah off to her parents' place, it was just me and Daisy at home. Daisy dozed off on the floor while I distractedly scrolled through my phone, not really paying any attention to the TV show.
"Woof, woof, woof!"
Suddenly, Daisy sprang up and started barking excitedly, wagging its tail towards the door. Startled, I jumped up and looked at the door.
The doorbell rang, and upon checking, it was Neil.
Neil and I had been keeping in touch, but since the day he saw Karina again, we hadn't met. So, I felt indifferent when I saw him, realizing that Russel was right all along.
But why was he here today?
I opened the door without deliberately avoiding him.
"What brings you here?" I asked with a faint smile.
"What kind of treatment did you receive from Karina?" Neil asked with a serious and puzzled look on his face.
Did Karina actually tell him? It seemed like professional ethics didn't matter to her. She had promised not to reveal any information about me, but she ended up telling Neil not long after.
But I understood. She told Neil about my infertility, which could make things even more hopeless between Neil and me, and that was good for her.
I went back to the living room and sat down. Daisy jumped on Neil happily. Neil petted it before it was satisfied.
"Since she told you about the treatment, didn't she tell you what it was for?" I sat down on the sofa, crossing my legs casually, no longer caring about my image.
"Is it because of your previous miscarriage that you can't get pregnant again?" Neil's voice softened, perhaps afraid of touching my wounds.
But I was no longer in pain over that. Maybe I had accepted the fact deep down, or maybe I had expected that when I found out Snow was Karina. What was the point of hiding?
My words were harsh, and Neil's face looked awful. He usually looked cold when he wasn't smiling, but now he was furious.
But I didn't care anymore. Neil and I were never equals. Even if we split up, he would be better off than me. He could have children, but I couldn't.
People are selfish. It hurts to see the one who left you doing well while your life becomes duller.
"Irene, I told you we could adopt a child if we couldn't have one. All I ever wanted was you. But you treated me like this. Well done. You are the first woman to deceive me." Neil clenched his fist, his arm muscles bulging, showing his anger.
"It seems you misunderstood. Someone is better at deceiving you than me. She's at Grandeur Oaks Estates. You should go and ask her." I looked at Neil, smiling, "Neil, your beloved Karina is back with the child you've always wanted. From now on, let's cut ties. I wish you a happy family life, and you wish me to find true love and live a peaceful life."
Neil closed his eyes, his long lashes trembling slightly. He took a deep breath, then opened his eyes to look at me. The hatred and coldness in his eyes intertwined. "Alright, since you said so, I'll cherish those who should be cherished."
With that, he turned and left.
Daisy immediately followed him, wanting to play, but he only glanced at it before closing the door.
I took a deep breath, squeezed my about-to-cry eyes shut, and then leaned my head back on the couch, trying my best not to let the tears spill out.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Reborn, Reawakened, Rekindled