Chapter 381
Chapter 381
Two children, a girl named Serena and a boy named Brandon.
Those were the names I had chosen for them, without any particular meaning. I just thought they sounded nice.
Thinking I lacked culture, my dad sifted through an English dictionary, wanting to change them. But Russel stood up for me, saying, “We shouldn’t burden children with adult expectations through their names. They’ll have their own lives.”
Finally, my dad backed down and accepted the names.
“Alright, you stay at home. I’ll accompany Rena to the hospital,” my mom decided when I had to go for a postpartum checkup after my confinement period. My dad wanted to join, but my mom stopped it.
I took my daughter to the hospital, leaving my son at home under my dad’s care.
The hospital we chose was close and well-equipped, but Karina worked there, and I avoided crossing paths with her at all costs.
“Mom, can you hold Serena while I go for my checkup?” Thanded my daughter to my mom when it was my turn for the checkup.
“Sure,” my mom took Serena with a smile and sat down on a chair, playing with her.
After the checkup, the doctor suggested I should have a postpartum recovery treatment. Although my condition wasn’t bad, having given birth to twins, my pelvic floor muscles needed some restorative treatment.
When the doctor explained the process to me, her phone rang.
“Dinner? Sure, aren’t you working today?” Her tone was enthusiastic. “I’ll come to see you after I finish work at noon. Is your significant other around?”
“No, he’s swamped with work and has returned to Rosemont. That’s why I wanted to catch up with you,” came Karina’s voice from the speakerphone.
I was taken aback. I hadn’t expected this doctor to know Karina.
However, she didn’t recognize me, even though I was a significant character in the story of Neil and Karina.
“No problem. I’ll come to see you after I finish work at noon,” the doctor cheerfully replied before hanging up and resuming our conversation about the postpartum recovery package.
I decided against it. The thought of her knowing Karina was a little irritating. I’d rather spend more money and find a postpartum recovery center.
“No need, thank you,” I politely declined her offer and quickly left.
At that moment, Serena started crying, probably because she was hungry. I quickly picked her up to soothe her, and only after she fell asleep did I breathe a sigh of relief and head back home.
My car was parked just outside the hospital. As my mom and I were about to leave, we saw Karina approaching.
Her long hair dyed a gentle light brown, shimmered under the sun, making her look like a doll.
I was puzzled. The doctor had arranged to have lunch with Karina. Why was she here so soon?
My mom recognized her immediately, took Serena from me, and urged me, “Go start the car. Let’s go home!”
“Alright,” I ignored Karina and headed straight for my car.
Karina called out to me, “Ms. Finch, I think I owe you an apology.”
I didn’t respond. I didn’t care about her apology; I just didn’t want to be bothered.
Like Bonnie, Karina was thick-skinned.
“Neil came to see you and said some unpleasant things to you, Russel, and the kids. I want to apologize on his behalf. That wasn’t his intention,” Karina sincerely apologized.
I stopped and turned around, “Don’t mention Neil to me anymore. We’re not close, and I’m not interested in having a long conversation with you.”
After saying that, I got into my car, and my mom placed Serena in the car seat in the back.
Karina didn’t look too pleased from outside the car window. I glanced at her before driving away.
I had hoped to avoid the people who bothered me by moving away from Rosemont. I hadn’t expected Karina to start working in the same city. It felt like an unfortunate coincidence.
On the way home, I received a call from Stella. She gave birth around the same time as me. Now, she, Barbara Sands, and Lspend our days talking about our kids.
When they found out I was pregnant with twins, they were shocked. Before that, I was seen as infertile.
Many people mocked and pitied me, thinking that Neil and I had broken up because of this and that Karina, who came back with a child, replaced me.
But soon after, I gave birth to twins, which was a huge surprise for everyone.
Stella and the others first accused me of not sharing the news with them, and then they were genuinely happy for me.
In the end, they all had one question: who’s the father of the kids?
Apart from my parents and Russel, I denied everyone’s guess that Neil was the father.
“Rena, I’ll visit you in a few days. Barbara wants to join, too! Stella said excitedly.
“You’re bringing your three kids? Are you sure?” I admired Stella’s energy. She was vibrant and lively, which suited her large family.
Stella chuckled, “Mitch Hebert is also coming. You don’t mind, right? Now that you and Neil have gone your separate ways, you don’t need to worry about anything.” That was true. Life had been easy lately. The bitter words thrown during our final argument left a scar, but they also allowed me to leave the past behind.
I think this time, Neil wouldn’t bother me again.
“Sure, I’d love to have you all over,” I hadn’t seen Stella and the others in a long time. Being in a new city, I missed my friends back in Rosemont
Now that I had started a new life, it was only right to catch up with friends.
“Great! We’ll be there in a few days!” Stella sounded even happier when I agreed.
But then she brought up Karina, “Isn’t Karina working there too? She’s just like Bonnie, always around. Did you know? Your former in-laws still haven’t accepted her. That’s why she moved so far away.”.
“Why? If Neil’s parents were not welcoming her, shouldn’t she make an extra effort to make her presence felt in the Whitmore family? She has a kid that should help her score some brownie points with the Whitmores, right?” I asked, a bit puzzled.
“Duh, she needs to win over Neil’s heart. That’s why she came all the way out here. It’s a way to make Neil feel guilty and concerned about her. She’s playing a higher card game than Bonnie. Bonnie’s just naively trying to push herself into Neil’s life, Stella added, enjoying the analysis.
Was that Karina’s plan? I hadn’t given it much thought.
Whatever tactic she used to win Neil over didn’t matter to me. If she could just pack her bags and head back to Rosemont right now, settle down with Neil, I’d be happier.
