Chapter 374
Chapter 374
When I heard my mom’s words, I was kind of taken aback. I knew what she was getting at; she deeply hoped that Russel and I could end up together.
That harmonious scene before her eyes was what she wished for.
But you know what? Some things just can’t be forced. People who are not meant to be together will never be together.
That was the case with me and Neil.
Russel and I made eye contact for a while, but neither of us said anything.
“I was thinking of making a seafood platter today. Are you down for that?” Russel changed the subject.
“Sure. Do you have the ingredients? Or do we need to run to the store?” I asked. The previous time when I was pregnant, I couldn’t stand the smell of seafood, but this time, I was game for anything.
Seeing my food-craving face, Russel chuckled and said, “I’ve got it covered. I’ll go get it.”
After he left to get the ingredients, my mom finally blurted out, “Rena, Russel’s really good to you. If you guys were together, you could put an end to the mess with
Neil.”
Her words were similar to what Russel had suggested before. I was shocked and asked, “Have you lost your mind? If you think Russel is a good man, don’t screw him over. You want him to play daddy to someone else’s kids?”
“Ah…” My mom probably realized she went too far. Russel was a great guy; why should he have been the father of someone else’s kids?
Russel was also kind of scary deep down. His attitude towards Chloe Reynolds was pretty harsh. Sometimes I worried if being with him and possibly having conflicts might have put me in danger.
Though those thoughts were all over the place, they were there in my mind.
“Stop pushing Rena. Just focus on raising the kids.” My dad shared my views. As a man, he surely wanted Russel to choose someone better.
My mom looked upset. I guess she needed time to digest all of that.
I didn’t bother explaining further, as I started to feel a bit unwell. I decided to lie down and rest.
Soon, my dad found a private hospital for me. The medical facilities were top-notch, just a bit farther away. I’d have to endure a longer ride for my check-ups.
“Ms. Finch, you should consider staying here.” After several checks, the doctor suggested.
“Is there a problem with the babies?” I asked anxiously.
“No, you’re approaching your due date, and twins might come early. If your water breaks or if you bleed at home, it could get messy. You should rest in the hospital to ensure the safety of you and the babies.” The doctor advised responsibly.
Before I could respond, my mom jumped in and said, “Alright, let’s get her settled in!”
“OK.”
That’s how I ended up in the hospital until the day I gave birth. I was bedridden, only allowed to go to the restroom or eat. Pregnancy was indeed tiring, but I was happy, eagerly waiting for my babies to
arrive safely.
However, a phone call ruined my cheerful mood.
“Is this… Ms. Finch?” Karina’s hesitant voice came over the phone.
I was about to hang up, but Karina spoke quickly, “Are you pregnant?”
I paused and put the phone back near my ear. I was alone in the single room as my mom had gone to fetch something for me.
“What is it?” My voice was dull and cold.
“You had your prenatal check-ups in our hospital. Why haven’t you come by lately? It’s dangerous not to have regular check-ups as you’re approaching your due date.” Karina sounded very professional, questioning me for not following the check-up schedule. Her tone didn’t reveal any abnormality.
“I switched hospitals. Is there a problem?” I replied calmly.
“Did you stop coming to our hospital because you saw me on your last visit half a month ago?” Karina was relentless. After discovering my pregnancy, she must have dug up my record in the hospital.
Since she already knew, there was no point in denying it. “Yes, I am pregnant. Maybe your treatment had a bit of an effect.”
Karina was silent for a while and then asked, “Is Neil the father of the babies?”
If I said yes, she might be hostile toward me. I was about to give birth and couldn’t afford any complications at this crucial time. So I flatly denied, “No, it’s not his. I had a baby with him once, but it didn’t work out. We’re not meant to be together.”
“But based on your pregnancy timeline, you should have been with Neil during that time. Ms. Finch, Hiram is my only child, and I can’t have any more kids. If you’re carrying Neil’s child, it means Hiram will have a sibling, which is a good thing. Do you understand?” Karina patiently explained, which I found quite laughable. A half-sibling? Who would have wanted that?
Karina was just trying to dig up who the father of my child was. Back in the previous hospital, I only mentioned that I was a single mother, so there was no information about the father of the child.
I divorced Neil a long time ago. We just had some unresolved issues. Who said he was the only man in my life?” I scoffed, “You can tell him directly and let him do a paternity test if you’re not afraid to stir up trouble for yourself.”
Karina certainly didn’t want to create more trouble. Even if I admitted that Neil was the father of my babies, she would have hoped that Neil never found out, or else Hiram’s love would have been divided.
‘Since Ms. Finch said it’s not, of course, I believe you. Take care of your health and prepare for delivery” Karina paused, “But who is the father of the child? Is he also in Eldoria?”
“Yes, he’s here too. You don’t need to worry.” I replied succinctly.
“If you have time, I’d like to invite you and him for a meal. You had your treatment with me and paid a lot of fees, but the treatment was not completed. There’s some balance left, and I’d like to return it to you personally.” Karina extended an invitation.
I didn’t need that meal. Besides, with the babies on the way, I didn’t have much time for schmoozing. So, I flat-out said no, “No need. Consider that money my wedding gift to you and Neil; just a small token of my goodwill.”
After I said that, I hung up, not wanting Karina to mess with my mood anymore. Being late in my pregnancy, I needed to keep my emotions steady. I couldn’t let them affect the babies.
A few minutes later, there was chatter outside the door.
“Just heard about a car crash; a little boy got his head banged up and bled quite a bit. Poor thing!”
“Is the little boy’s name Hiram? I saw it, but heard the injuries aren’t too bad, though his dad seemed pretty freaked out.”
