Reborn, Reawakened, Rekindled novel Chapter 403

When I got home, my mom had already prepared dinner, and my dad was tinkering with the plants in the yard. Seeing Russel and me return, he waved, "Russel, can you check out this tree for me?"

Russel immediately stepped forward to investigate with my dad. He was a doctor, but not a botanist of any sort, and my dad loved to ask questions that were way out of his field of knowledge.

Fortunately, Russel was very patient with those inquiries. No matter what my dad asked, he seriously studied it alongside him.

My parents were increasingly pleased with Russel. Their only concern was that I wasn’t going to be able to have children anymore. If I did end up with Russel, that would have meant sacrificing his chance of having a family.

"All right, enough with the tree! Come in and eat!" my mom called out after she finished cooking.

My dad and Russel washed their hands and joined us at the table.

During dinner, I mentioned running into Ryan and Faith today, and my parents' faces immediately changed. They were deeply worried about the situation.

Their concerns were similar to Russel's. The better Ryan and Faith were to me, the more inappropriate it was.

"Dad, Mom, don't worry too much. Neil has done many wrong things, but his parents have been really good to me. I can't completely ignore them, but I won't initiate contact."

"How long are they planning to stay here?" my dad asked.

"I'm not sure. Maybe they'll leave once Neil and Mitch finish the project they're working on," I responded. I hadn't asked Ryan and Faith about their plans.

My mom sighed and said, "Rena, don't let them drag you back into Neil's life, okay?"

I nodded.

…

Fortunately, I didn't get any calls from Faith after that day. I was genuinely worried that she would have come to find me.

Russel went back to work, leaving me, my parents, and the nanny, Norah, to take care of little Brandon.

"Don't worry. Norah and I can handle it. We will get back quickly after we buy the clothes; help me take care of Brandon," I said, preparing to take Serena out for a bit to buy some clothes. The weather was growing hot, and the kids needed some new outfits for the season.

I left Brandon with my parents at home and went out with Norah and Serena.

Because of the kids, I rarely went shopping, so I only planned to stroll around the nearby pedestrian street, buy some clothes, and then return home.

"Do you have this onesie in a boys' version?" I asked the saleswoman, pointing to a yellow duck onesie that I wanted for Brandon.

"Yes. Just one moment, please," she politely responded.

Just then, I heard a familiar voice that made my heart sink. "Grandma, I like that one!"

It was Hiram's voice.