Chapter 404
Chapter 404
Karina’s gaze bounced back and forth between Faith and Hiram, before finally landing on me, “Ms. Finch, what brings you here?”
I responded with a nonchalant tone, “Just shopping for clothes.”
“Look at how others mother their children. You could at least bring your child along for shopping!” Faith couldn’t help but interject. I knew she just disliked Karina and was trying to pick a fight. Such a trivial matter didn’t need to be blown out of proportion.
After all, Karina had been raising her child alone overseas for years, putting in a tremendous amount of effort.
But Faith didn’t take any of that into account. She just wanted to make things difficult for Karina over a simple shopping trip.
Karina furrowed her brows, looking towards Neil for support. After all, Faith and Ryan were his parents.
Seeing Karina’s plea for help, Neil finally spoke up, “Mom, she’s been busy with work too. She’s been taking care of Hiram alone overseas all these years. She wouldn’t neglect him. You’re overthinking”
I lowered my gaze, taking Serena from Faith’s arms, and prepared to leave. I didn’t want to get involved in that family’s internal conflicts.
“It’s not like we asked her to raise the child alone overseas!” Faith seemed furious when she mentioned that. After all, they were desperate for a grandchild and Karina had taken their only grandson overseas without telling them, causing them to miss out on Hiram’s growth over the years.
At those words, Karina’s face changed, especially since Faith said it in front of me.
Perhaps sensing Faith had gone too far, Neil stepped in again, “Enough. Weren’t you the one who opposed her back then?”
Faith was taken aback and then looked at me with a complex look. Neil seemed to realize something too and looked at me. But I just found it all rather amusing.
Why were they looking at me? I had seen that coming. In Neil’s heart, Karina was still the most important. After all, she was the first woman he fell in love with. They had gone through family opposition, and Karina’s “death”. Every event was of great significance to Neil, something he could have never forgotten in his lifetime.
Since Karina was finally back with Hiram, of course, he would have been reminded of their past love, continuing that broken fate.
“Ryan, Faith Serena should be getting to bed. I’m going to head back.” I interrupted Neil’s conversation with his mother. My tone was neutral, and I had a faint smile on my face.
At that point, Faith probably felt awkward facing me. Neil’s words just then had brought up the past. I was only with Neil because Karina didn’t marry him
She laughed awkwardly, “All right, Irene. You go back and rest with Serena.”
I nodded and was ready to leave with Serena and the nanny. But just as I reached the door, a clap of thunder echoed from the sky. Serena started crying from the scare and my heart pounded because I was terrified of thunderstorms!
The sky, which had been clear a moment prior, was then overcast. A downpour started instantly, obscuring my view. The wind was strong too, blowing raindrops onto me. I remained in the shop. I was worried about Serena getting wet.
Our car was parked across the street. It was a two to three-minute walk away. I couldn’t let the child get soaked in the rain.
Seeing the sudden storm, Neil and the others were also taken by surprise. The shop assistant closed the door and warmly invited us to stay until the rain stopped. But the shop only had two sofas. It was too crowded for three or four people.
“Irene, take a seat. You must be tired of holding the baby.” Faith immediately offered me a seat.
I didn’t decline and sat down, planning to wait out the rain. That kind of shower usually came and went quickly.
Faith sat beside me and invited Hiram to sit on her lap. The grandmother and grandson seemed to have had a good relationship.
Seeing that, Karina sat down on the other sofa, glancing my way from time to time.
After a couple of minutes, Hiram suddenly jumped off Faith’s lap and ran to Karina. He jumped into her arms, “Mommy, grandma is tired of holding me. You hold me!”
A satisfied smile crossed Karina’s face as she settled Hiram on her lap. I couldn’t help but notice that Hiram seemed smaller than other children his age.
That was abnormal considering Karina’s medical skills. She wouldn’t have had trouble managing her own child’s nutrition.
But that was their business, and I couldn’t have been bothered to interfere.
“Hiram is so considerate.” Faith chuckled, “Just like his father. Neil was also a good boy when he was young, but he became a troublemaker when he grew up, sometimes really asking for a beating.”
Neil listened with a calm expression. It was hard to tell if Faith was praising or criticizing him.
His gaze landed on Serena’s face for a moment. A hint of warmth flashed across his eyes before it turned cold again.
Faith noticed and sighed, “Ah, Neil. You’re such a disappointment. You only gave me one grandchild. I wanted a granddaughter to have the perfect pair.”
“Net and i will plan for a second child.” Karina spoke up. She seemed eager to secure Faith’s trust on that matter.
I had heard her tell Hiram before that he was going to be her only child.
Then she was talking about planning for a second child in front of Faith?
I glanced at Hiram. He wasn’t a clueless toddler anymore, he understood his mother’s words. A look of worry and sadness crossed his face. “Can you guarantee the second one will be a girl?” Faith’s question seemed intentionally provocative. Who could have guaranteed that?/ Karina’s face fell, and she didn’t respond immediately, waiting for Neil to speak.
Neil, looking helpless, said, “Mom, stop making things difficult for her.”
Faith rolled her eyes and suddenly asked, “Why don’t you hold this little one? She’s so cute!”
Neil looked at Serena in my arms, frowning slightly. After contemplating for a few seconds, he declined, “Nah, I’m not good with babies.”
“What’s so hard about this? Isn’t it part of the plan to have a second kid soon? You’ve got to start practicing holding a baby, Faith insisted, seemingly determined to make Karina uncomfortable.
But Karina was a différent breed than Bonnie. She was composed and didn’t exude a sense of vulnerability. There was a certain air of aloofness about her.
I didn’t want Neil to hold Serena, so I gracefully declined, “Faith, don’t push it. When they have their own child, they’ll naturally learn how to hold a baby.”
In other words, Serena wasn’t Neil’s child, so there was no need for him to hold her.
Upon hearing my words, Neil’s face darkened a few shades. A hint of annoyance and irritation etched on his features.
Faith let out a deep sigh, unable to counter my argument.
