Reborn, Reawakened, Rekindled novel Chapter 203

If my memory served me right, my neighbors moved abroad ages ago and only popped back in for a flying visit every once in a blue moon. I had been living here for donkey years and I had only bumped into them once or twice.

Now, had this mansion been sold to Neil?

I couldn't stop Neil from buying the house, but the thought of us being neighbors again gave me the creeps.

He used to be my neighbor across the way in another country, and now he was my neighbor again.

The idea of him being my neighbor again didn't exactly have me jumping for joy, but there was something else that piqued my interest.

"Russel put Finn behind bars, but someone's got Bonnie's back. I don't buy that her stepparents did it. Was it you?" I asked.

Besides Neil, I couldn't think of anyone else who could keep Russel in check.

I knew Russel must have pulled the family strings, but I didn't get why his parents would let him.

Neil, with his hands in his pockets, radiated a kind of glow.

"She's my girlfriend, so I helped her. What's wrong with that?" He asked me.

I laughed at his response, "Ha, nothing wrong with that. Give her my thanks. If it wasn’t for her drama, I wouldn’t even be with Russel."

Upon hearing my response, Neil's face turned stormy.

I turned on my heel and made a beeline for home.

Upon arriving home, my mom was fussing over a pot of flowers in the living room. She asked, "Did you know that the house next door had been sold?"

I took a seat, speechless.

"I'm not sure who bought it yet. Let's pop over and say 'hi' to our new neighbors tonight." Mom said with a hint of a smile on her face.

It was kind of an unwritten rule here. Every time a new neighbor moved in, the rest of us would go and say ‘hello.’ It was pretty standard.

I put the brakes on Mom's plan, "Let's not. It's not worth it."

"Why?" Mom looked surprised.

"The new neighbor isn't someone you'd want to meet. You'll just end up being extremely angry." I warned her.

Mom looked baffled, "Someone I don't want to meet? A business competitor?"

I didn't say a word, afraid that the mere mention of Neil would set her off.

But Mom wasn’t one to be easily fooled. After I didn’t react to any other names she threw out, she guessed, "Neil?"

"Mhm, that’s him." I confirmed. It wouldn't be long before she found out anyway. It was not like I could tell Neil to get lost.

Mom became anxious, "What on earth is he up to? Why would he move next door? Isn't he with that Bonnie? Is he trying to pester you?"

I also got the feeling Neil was deliberately flaunting his presence, but he and Bonnie were about to get engaged; there was no need for him to stir the pot with me.

"Mom, he and Bonnie are getting engaged next month. Maybe he bought this house as an investment; he's always been a fan of buying properties." I tried to keep my cool and reassure Mom.

Mom looked skeptical, "Really? They're getting engaged?"

I wish I had brought that invitation back as proof to show that everything I said was true.

"Mom, it's true. You can ask Barbara. I was with her at the bridal shop today. She heard Bonnie herself." I replied.

Mom seemed relieved, but her tone quickly changed to one of anger, "I knew those two were up to something behind the scenes, and they even had the nerve to bother you. They're way out of line!"