Chapter 360
Chapter 360
I had been digging for info on Snow, hoping to unmask her real identity. But I never imagined that I would find out her true identity from Russel
She was actually Karina Aaron, who was supposed to have been dead a long time ago.
I just couldn’t wrap my head around it. I just sat there, stunned.
“What’s up? Can’t handle it?” Russel asked me.
“But isn’t she supposed to be dead?” I retorted.
“No, the heart Bonnie got wasn’t Karina’s. Karina has been abroad all these years.” Russel explained, “The reason I know this is because Gloria and Bonnie once asked me to look into Karina’s pregnancy. I didn’t expect to find this.”
So, Russel found the info on Karina’s pregnancy. Back then, he was indeed on Bonnie’s side. Were they trying to screw me and Neil over?
At this moment, I was utterly bewildered. I couldn’t figure out whether I was sad or shocked. My mind was just blank.
“How… How did you know she’s back?” I finally managed to ask after a while.
“Weren’t you looking for info on Snow last time? I did some digging too. I’ve known Karina for a while now. I could recognize her eyes.” Russel answered calmly.
Just from a few blurry photos, Russel managed to recognize Karina.
And the last time Karina came to my apartment to see me, Neil sat face-to-face with Karina on the couch but didn’t recognize her. Even though she was wearing a mask and sunglasses, did he not notice that they sounded similar?
I didn’t know if Neil didn’t recognize Karina or if he was pretending not to.
Everyone knew Karina was dead, so Neil wouldn’t think she could still be alive. He would naturally think the person was someone who just sounded like Karina.
On the other hand, Russel, because he had looked into Karina’s case before, knew she wasn’t dead. That’s why he was so sure.
“Is that little boy with Karina Neil’s?” I laughed numbly and asked.
“Little boy?” Russel seemed surprised. He didn’t seem to know about it.
“You didn’t know that Karina has a kid? He’s about six or seven years old and looks a lot like Neil…” I said while feeling a sense of unease, “Did they get intimate during the few months they were together?”
Such a direct question was kind of awkward.
Neil and I had been divorced for a while now. And once my plan was over, I might just take my mother’s advice and leave this place. Even if Karina was alive, what did it mean to me? Why was I still asking these questions?
But I just wanted to know. It was like some sort of masochistic urge.
Russel looked at me for a moment and then said, “You already know the answer.”
His answer confirmed my suspicion. That kid was indeed Neil’s, but Neil himself didn’t know.
“Haha…” I suddenly burst into laughter. Neil always wanted a kid. Now he not only had one, but the kid was already old. He would really be happy when he found
out.
“Why are you laughing? If you still care about Neil, you should be sad.” Russel frowned.
“I’m happy for Neil.” My laughter grew louder. It was as if I heard a hilarious joke. It seemed like fate just wouldn’t let me and Neil have a happy ending, neither in my past life nor in this one.
Just as Neil started to develop feelings for me and was constantly pestering me, hoping we could make up and willing to do many things for me, Karina, who was supposed to be dead a long time ago, suddenly showed up, along with their child.
Russel looked at me as his eyes filled with sympathy. “Irene, stop laughing. Have you lost your mind?”
“I’m not crazy. I just find this whole thing funny.” I wiped the tears from my eyes as my voice grew shaky. “Once we’ve settled things with Bonnie and Ethan Foster, Neil can reunite with Karina. Isn’t that a good thing? But until then, unless Karina comes to Neil on her own, I hope you won’t tell him about this. After all, I still need his help.”
“Don’t make it sound like you’re just using Neil. Don’t you have any feelings for him anymore?” Russel’s gaze was trying to see through my heart; it was so deep and penetrating.
“None, are you satisfied?” I didn’t know whether I was angry or saddenied by the news. I answered his question bluntly.
Even though nothing had happened yet, Neil hadn’t seen Karina and didn’t know she was alive, let alone that he had a kid. I had already prepared for the worst.
If Bonnie was the obstacle between me and Neil, I could find a way to deal with it. But Karina was a mountain between us that I couldn’t overcome in this lifetime.
Russel fell silent for a moment.
“If you truly have no feelings for him anymore, can I have a place in your heart?”
“Russel, are you nuts?” I was baffled, “Why would you belittle yourself like this? You’re so much better than this. You don’t need to get involved. Haven’t I used you enough already? You want me to use you again?”
If Neil and Karina formed a happy family, then me being with Russel could indeed make him uncomfortable.
But there was no need for that. I agreed to try with Russel, before not just to get back at Neil.
“You might think I’m just pulling myself down. But as long as you’re with me, I can accept anything. Maybe it’s because I’ve never loved anyone before, so I suddenly understand what it feels like to be head over heels in love and can’t help myself. Russel chuckled, “I barely recognize myself anymore. If I weren’t afraid that you’d really despise me, I might lose control and do some things I shouldn’t. Irene, the one who drives me nuts is you, and the one who keeps me in check is also you. What do you reckon I should do?”
You should stay the hell away from us.” Nell’s cold voice rang out, brimming with danger.
I spun around in surprise. I hadn’t closed the living room door because Daisy was still outside. At this moment, Neil was standing in the doorway, holding Daisy’s
leash.
He looked grim, his gaze frosty as he stared at me and Russel.
I had no idea when he’d arrived or how much he’d heard, but I guessed he must’ve just gotten here, only catching the tail end of Russel’s spiel; otherwise, his first question would’ve been about Karina.
“I should get going.” This time, Russel didn’t get into it with Neil; instead, he got up to bid me goodbye.
Perhaps because Karina had returned, Russel figured there was hardly any hope left for me and Neil, so he didn’t provoke Neil.
