Reborn, Reawakened, Rekindled novel Chapter 17

"Mom, don't worry, Neil and I have been to doctors. We're all good. Probably we are just taking longer to have a kid because he's always so busy with work." I said, feeling touched, but with a pang of regret that I might not be her daughter-in-law for much longer.

"Ryan and I have read about his affairs in the paper, you know. We've given him lectures plenty of times. But you're his wife. You need to keep an eye on him, understand?" Faith advised.

Even though I knew I couldn't control Neil, and that he might soon be chasing other skirts, I nodded at her in a sincere look, "Alright, mom."

After our chat, I had breakfast with my parents-in-law and learned that Neil had left early in the morning. I didn't really care. I'd decided to just let him do whatever.

After breakfast, I left home and made a beeline for the hospital to give Russel a piece of my mind.

I stopped Russel just as he was getting back to his office after him making rounds of the wards. With a smile, I asked, "Dr. Russel, got a minute?"

"Nope." He replied, his handsome face devoid of any smile.

"Scared to face me, are you?" I sat down next to him and started giving him a lecture. "I asked you to convince Neil to divorce me, but instead you convinced my parents-in-law to move to Sterling Estates! Since when did Dr. Russel become such a proponent of preserving marriages?"

Russel gave me a glance and spoke in an indifferent tone, "They asked about how things were between Neil and you. I just said you wanted a divorce."

Hearing that, I wanted to make a scene right then and there! Did he trade in his social skills for his good looks? With all the problems between Neil and me, he just chose to tell them "she wants a divorce." What are my parents-in-law supposed to think of me now?

Just as I was about to lose my temper, Russel was called away by a nurse. Left alone in his office, I saw his thermos on his desk and threw some lipstick in it from my bag.

Might as well poison him, I cursed in my head, and then stormed out of the hospital.

With no job to go to, I had nowhere else to be. So I went home after a bit of aimless wandering. It was lunchtime, and the smell of food wafting from the kitchen was tempting.

Neil and his parents were sitting in the living room, talking about something. The atmosphere was tense. Seeing me return, Faith broke into a smile, "Irene, you’re back."

I nodded and sat down next to her. As soon as I did, she grabbed my hand and said to Neil, "Neil, your father and I had a clear talk with you today. If you continue to have affairs with unsuitable women, don't call yourself our son!"

"What the..." I was taken aback by Faith's words.

"Irene, I know you've had a tough time in this marriage. Neil's behavior these past few years has been very disappointing. He's been living a life of corruption, and few people could tolerate him like you have," Faith sighed. "Give him another chance. Your father and I will help keep an eye on him."

Me saying I wanted a divorce got them so serious?

In my past life, I never realized they cared so much about me, liked me this much. But when Neil decided to divorce me and brought Bonnie to the Whitmore family, their words of persuasion were to no avail.

Neil sat across from me and gazed me coldly. He probably thought all of this was my plan. Even though I had already brought out the divorce papers last night, he wouldn't change his mind.

"Don't worry. Most of Neil's affairs are just rumors, just business stunts. I trust him." I said, trying to ease their fears.

Ryan added, "Irene, you're a sensible woman. Your understanding and trust in Neil are commendable, but we've seen how he's treated you these past years. You don't need to indulge him too much. Men can be very presumptuous."

"Yes, the nicer you are to him, the more likely he is to take it for granted. You always want what you can't have," Faith agreed with her husband.

My parents-in-law patiently teaching me how to handle my marriage was both touching and funny. Neil was clearly not amused.