Chapter 507
Neil certainly didn’t arrive with Russel, but they made their grand entrance together.
I find it challenging to explain this uncanny connection to Stella.
“They didn’t come together.” I simply clarified.
“Alright, he hasn’t spotted us yet. You should get out now. I’ll grab my purse, and we’ll head straight home.” Stella suggested.
I turned and walked a good distance away, waiting for Stella to reappear with her bag. After a few moments passed, I began to worry and decided to look for her.
Just as I suspected, Neil grabbed the opportunity to keep Stella occupied, because I just went out with Russel and didn’t return. At this point, Stella was rolling her eyes in
exasperation.
Neil was holding her petite, fashionable handbag. Upon seeing me return, she sarcastically remarked, “If this wasn’t a limited edition, I’d have dumped it by now!”
“Go.” Neil tossed the bag at Stella, uttering the single word with disdain. His intention was clearly to have me come find Stella.
Stella caught her bag but didn’t move. “I’m not leaving. Whatever you have to say to her, say it in front of me.”
Neil looked at the immovable Stella speechlessly.
“What I’m curious about, Neil, is what could you possibly have to say to Rena?” Stella sat and crossed her legs, looking utterly relaxed. She ‘hmphed’ before continuing, “Let me hear it. I’ll analyze it for you.”
Neil, of course, had no interest in wasting words on Stella. He stood up, walked over and grabbed my hand, intending to lead me away.
I pulled my hand away from Neil and stated coldly, “Stella is right. Whatever you have to say, say it here. There’s no need for private discussion.”
Just then, Stella’s phone rang. She quickly retreated to a quieter area to take the call. I was
left to face off with Neil.
Within a matter of minutes, neither Neil nor I had spoken a word. Then, Stella returned looking quite anxious. “Rena, we need to hurry back. Your child isn’t feeling well!”
Upon hearing this, my mind went into overdrive. “What’s wrong?”
“Our nanny called, saying Serena just started vomiting suddenly. It’s quite severe, as she’s also having a diarrhea. I asked the nanny to take Serena to the hospital. We should head there directly!” Stella grabbed my hand, rushing us out the door.
I was panicked, regretting having gone out tonight. If I were by my child’s side, I would’ve noticed her discomfort immediately.
This area was busy and the night life had just kicked off, so it was difficult to hail a cab. Stella and I had both had drinks earlier and hadn’t driven here. As we stood on the
sideline, desperately trying to hail a cab, it felt as though the universe was playing a cruel joke on us.
That was until Neil’s car pulled up in front of us. Without waiting for him to offer, I climbed into the passenger seat, with Stella following suit in the back.
“Could you drop me at the hospital?” I asked Neil.
“Sure.” Neil didn’t waste any time. Stella gave him the hospital address and we sped off into the night.
Fifteen minutes later, I burst into the pediatric emergency room of the hospital. Our nanny was there, holding my daughter, Serena. The doctor had examined her, suspected a gastrointestinal infection as the cause of the vomiting and diarrhea, and recommended
IV fluids.
I took Serena from the nanny. Her usually rosy cheeks were pale, and she looked exhausted. She looked at me with such a pitiful expression that my heart ached.
Just then, the nurse called us over. “Serena needs an injection!”
I quickly carried Serena over.
“We need another person to hold the baby’s legs. We’re afraid she’ll squirm. We need to draw some blood from her neck.” The nurse waved Neil over, “You handsome guy, you’re with them, right? Are you the child’s father?”
Serena did bear some resemblance to Neil, although not as strikingly as she did to Brandon. The nurse mistaking Neil for my child’s father was understandable.
Neil paused. He didn’t deny it, but simply complied with the nurse’s request and firmly held Serena’s legs.
My little girl, only a few months old, didn’t have much strength. But her veins were delicate, and her skin was sensitive, so we had to be careful.
Neil held Serena’s legs firmly. Serena sensed it and began to cry loudly. Her heart-wrenching cries made my eyes well up with tears.
The nurse tried to insert the needle into her head but failed twice due to the dim light and her tiny veins. Serena’s cries weakened with her strength.
I wanted to blame the nurse but forced myself to remain calm so as not to make her more nervous. That would only make things worse for Serena.
“Can’t you get someone else to do it if you can’t?!” Neil suddenly snapped, livid. “She’s only
six months old! How many times do you plan to poke her head? Get someone else!”
Neil’s stern face frightened the nurse, who didn’t dare to argue and quickly ran out to fetch someone else.
Seeing Serena’s shaved head with spots of blood felt like a stab to my own heart.
She didn’t have the strength to cry anymore and just whimpered. I held her and tried to soothe her. But she kept looking at Neil. Her teary eyes were heart-breaking.
“I’ll hold her.” Neil suddenly offered.
He took Serena from me before I could respond. He held her gently and carefully, with one hand supporting her bottom and the other protecting her waist. She looked like a cute, cuddly doll against his shoulder.
Stella, watching from the side, was speechless and simply stared in awe as Neil comforted the baby.
Neil walked out to the waiting area with Serena to get some fresh air. Stella came over and asked, “Was Neil this good with your kids back in Eldoria too?”
“How could it be!” I shook my head, “He just lent me a hand now and then. Serena and Brandon seemed to take a liking to him too. I had no clue why.”
Stella was oblivious to the fact that Neil was the biological father of my kids. I once thought about faking it until I made it, so I never told a soul about it.
Stella watched Neil pacing back and forth from a distance with bewilderment on her face. “Really? Is it some sort of genetic inheritance?”
“Genetic inheritance? Don’t talk nonsense!” I am a bit taken aback.
“Well, it’s true, isn’t it? You fell head over heels for Neil the moment you saw him. You’re just into his type. So, it’s not surprising that your kids like him too. Aren’t they just following their mom’s footsteps?” Stella explains earnestly.
