Reborn, Reawakened, Rekindled novel Chapter 522

Hiram touched his nose and his eyes widened at the sight of his own blood.

"What's going on here?" As the elevator doors slid open, Karina quickly ushered Hiram out and dabbed his nose with a tissue to stop the bleeding. She then turned her accusing eyes on Neil and me. "What did you two do to him?"

"We didn't do anything," I defended. "We're in a hospital, why not let him get checked out?" I didn't want to be blamed, and Hiram suddenly getting a nosebleed without any previous injuries was indeed strange. It seemed sensible to have him examined.

"No need, I am a doctor," Karina coldly dismissed my suggestion. "If I can't resolve the situation, it's highly unlikely anyone else can. Neil, arrange a room for Hiram and me."

She commanded Neil, who, despite his indifference towards Karina, had to put aside their personal grudges for the sake of Hiram's health.

"Okay." Neil nodded and immediately set out to arrange a room. The hospital would provide all of Karina's medical supplies and medication.

I was supposed to head back to Rosemont today, but that plan was scrapped. I was stuck in the hospital, waiting, with Russel alongside me.

Though I had only been apart from Russel for a couple of days, he felt like a stranger. A wall had built up between us due to his multiple setups, even if they were not meant to harm me.

"You should go ahead," Neil suddenly emerged from the room and said to me. "You know the address."

"No worries, I'll just get a hotel room later." I shook my head, not keen on going back to Neil's parents' place. If Ryan was there, it would be even more awkward.

"Just stay at my place. I've sent you the address and passcode." Neil refused my idea of staying in a hotel, for reasons unknown to me. I checked my phone and saw the details for his property in Springvale.

Upon hearing Neil's words, Russel's gaze turned cold as he stared at me.

I felt torn between accepting and declining Neil's offer.

Suddenly, Hiram's cries echoed from the room. Neil hastily returned to the room, leaving me with an unsettling feeling. Hiram's lifestyle, nurtured by Karina, of not eating proper meals but only sipping cola and munching on junk food would eventually lead his health downhill, especially considering he was just a kid.

As Neil was preoccupied with Hiram, I decided to leave. I didn't plan on going to his place, but instead thought of finding a nearby hotel to rest. What to do about Hiram could wait until the next day.

Unexpectedly, Russel followed me out of the hospital.

"Why are you following me?" I asked Russel as we reached the hospital entrance.

"I need a place to rest too. Are you really planning on going to Neil's?" Russel's eyebrows furrowed. "If you want to reject me, you don't need to use Neil."

"I'm not using him to reject you. Can we not talk about feelings between us?" I didn't want to discuss this, my focus wasn't on romance at the moment.

"Fine, where are you planning to go?" Russel seemed to change the subject, or perhaps he didn't.

I was hesitant and took a few minutes to think. He patiently waited for my response.

I decided to go to a hotel, not to Neil's place.

"A hotel," I answered.