Chapter 383
Chapter 383
*Kids are too young to tell who they resemble. And there are many strangers in the world who look alike,” I said, suppressing a hint of unease in my heart and wearing a calm and composed smile.
Barbara immediately chimed in, “Exactly. My daughter still looks like a bit of a mixed bag. She doesn’t resemble me, her father, or any of the grandparents. Guess we’ll have to wait until she grows up.”
She had a daughter, nearly one year old then, who indeed doesn’t resemble her or Silas much.
“Right. Upon closer inspection, she doesn’t seem to resemble anyone.” Cooper, realizing he misspoke, hurriedly corrected himself.
I laughed it off, not dwelling on that issue any longer. Even if everyone said Brandon looked like Neil Whitmore, so what? I wouldn’t admit it.
The topic was dropped and the atmosphere returned to normal. Everyone chatted and laughed, but a sense of unease lingered in my heart.
Appearance is beyond control.
What if Brandon grew up to resemble Neil more and more, just like Hiram, who could have been recognized as Neil’s son with just one glance? What would I do
then?
How would I explain it?
At noon, my parents prepared a feast of dishes, delicious and plentiful. The tables were full and the lively atmosphere gradually improved my mood. Setting aside my worries, I enjoyed the gathering with
my friends.
After lunch, everyone was enjoying their dessert and coffee. The children who could walk and run were playing together, while the infants were being held and cooed.
Suddenly, Mitch received a phone call. After glancing at the caller ID, he gave me a guilty look.
He took his phone outside to answer the call. Even though I couldn’t hear what he said, he didn’t come back in right after the call. Instead, he lingered by the front door as if waiting for someone.
“Holy cow! I can’t hold it any longer!” After a while, Mitch rushed in, “Rena, where’s the restroom? I drank a bit too much!”
I pointed him to the bathroom, and he dashed over.
The front door was left wide open. I was about to close it when a figure walked in from outside.
Neil was in a gray shirt with his sleeves rolled up, revealing the beautiful lines of his toned arms. His black wristwatch glinted in the sunlight. His outstanding figure was like a walking model.
Why was he here? I immediately frowned.
Soon, Stella and the others noticed Neil’s arrival, and everyone exchanged looks.
My mom, looking unhappy, walked out ready to chase him away.
Just then, Mitch emerged from the bathroom. Seeing the situation, he quickly sped up and reached Neil before my mom, “Neil, you’re here. I was just in the
restroom!”
Wasn’t Neil supposed to be in Rosemont? What was he doing here for?
Neil’s gaze never landed on me, as if deliberately ignoring me. I didn’t mind; it actually made me feel more at ease.
“Where’s the stuff?” Neil asked coldly.
“It’s in my car. I’ll take you to get it!” Mitch quickly led Neil out of the yard, looking guilty.
Neil followed him out. But just then, Serena and Brandon started crying loudly, as if they were unhappy.
I hurried to soothe the children, but I couldn’t hold both at once. I had to hand Brandon to my mom.
But for some reason, both little ones were very stubborn today and wouldn’t stop crying no matter how much we cooed. I decided to take Serena outside for some fresh air, sometimes they just wanted to enjoy the sun and scenery.
Sure enough, once I took Serena outside, she stopped crying. I called my mom over, “Mom, bring Brandon out to sunbathe.”
My mom brought Brandon out, and everyone was in the yard.
Alicia came over and reached out, “Let me hold Serena!”
I handed Serena to Alicia, but the next second, the little one started crying again. She seemed unwilling, which startled me, so I quickly took her back.
Alicia was puzzled and tried to hold Brandon, but he also refused.
Seeing that, Stella and the others put their own children aside and tried to hold Serena and Brandon. But none of them succeeded.
“That’s strange. These two are usually good kids, and anyone can hold them. What’s going on today?” My mom wondered aloud.
I was also surprised and thought of Neil. It couldn’t have been some sort of bloodline intuition, could it?
No way! That just seemed too mystical!
“Honey, where’s your bag? I put something in there and forgot to take it out.” Mitch rushed in to ask Stella.
Stella pointed to the living room. “It’s in there!”
Mitch hurried to get it, and Neil once again followed him back into the yard. He faced us all with a cold expression and indifferent eyes.
Serena was still crying, and Brandon in my arms had quieted down. I was a bit at a loss.
“What should I do if he keeps crying?” Cooper, now holding Serena, also seemed at a loss. Suddenly, he handed Serena to Neil, “Can you hold her for a bit? She cries when anyone else holds her.”
My eyes widened, and I was about to intervene, but Neil beat me to it, ‘No, I’m not interested.”
My heart sank, feeling an inexplicable discomfort, but I also breathed a sigh of relief.
Cooper awkwardly pulled his arm back. For a single guy his age, he held the baby quite well. Just as he was about to hand Serena to my mom, Serena waved her little arm towards Neil.
She was too young to reach out for someone to hold her, so the motion seemed more like random flailing. But it looked like she wanted to be held.
Neil’s gaze fell on her chubby little hand, and his eyebrows unconsciously furrowed. Despite his indifferent expression, his hand raised as if he wanted to hold Serena.
“Neil.” Suddenly, Karina’s voice emanated from the doorway. She glanced around the room. There was a warm smile on her face. She then finally locked eyes with Neil. “Hiram told me you were here.”
I then noticed Hiram by the door, squatting on the floor, engrossed in some plaything, not having entered the room.
Neil’s hand dropped back down, not reaching out for Serena.
Cooper handed the crying Serena to my mom.
Karina naturally positioned herself next to Neil. She was a bit taller than Bonnie Tueley. Her aura was brighter and more radiant, making her and Neil a perfect match as they stood there together.
A flashback hit me and for a moment, I saw an image of them from years prior when they were in love. The young couple standing together were indeed a sight for sore eyes.
