Reborn, Reawakened, Rekindled novel Chapter 545

There was a moment of silence on Neil's end, an unusual hesitation that caught me off guard. Neil, as I knew him, was always expressive, even in silence. His adoration and indulgence towards Hiram were always evident. But now, that familiar sentiment seemed to have mysteriously disappeared.

"Hmm, why do you suddenly ask about this?" Neil finally responded, but instead of answering me directly, he ambiguously parried with a question of his own.

"Ever since that day at the hospital, when you claimed that Hiram wasn't your biological son, I've noticed a distinct change in your demeanor towards him. Didn't you say later that it was a mistake?" I pressed on.

"I know, and you needn't worry about it. Just let me know when you're heading back," Neil evaded, clearly unwilling to delve into the matter any further.

I decided not to push him and ended the call.

Hiram's call had left me feeling uneasy. His condition was already deteriorating rapidly, and without a suitable bone marrow match, his young life was in serious jeopardy...

Feeling restless, I made my excuses to my mother and prepared to return to Rosemont.

"You said you'd be staying longer this time, didn't you? Why the sudden rush? Is everything okay back in Rosemont?" she asked, puzzled.

"Hiram's not doing well. I thought I'd go and keep him company," I replied, nonchalantly. My mother looked at me curiously.

My attitude towards Hiram had indeed changed dramatically. I used to find the little rascal rather off-putting. But now, I was rushing back to Rosemont at the drop of a hat, just to be with him. A major factor in this transformation was Karina's possible mistreatment of Hiram. Another was Hiram's own behavior. He had shown me a side of him that was obedient, understanding, and terrified of being reprimanded. He was nothing like the bratty kid I had known before.

I was fairly certain that Karina was responsible for corrupting him, just as Ryan and Faith had suspected.

"Just drive carefully," my mother finally said, advising me to stay safe.

Little did I know, her casual warning would soon take on a chilling significance.

After a long drive, I finally exited the freeway and was about to enter the city of Rosemont. The outskirts of Rosemont were always deserted at night, with only a few cars parked by the roadside and dim streetlights casting a lonely glow.

As I approached a junction, my phone suddenly rang. It was Russel calling.

I didn't want to answer, but I instinctively hit the brakes. Just as I did, a small truck appeared out of nowhere, narrowly missing the front of my car as it screeched to a halt.

The near-miss left me shaken. If it hadn't been for Russel's call, I would have collided with the truck, given the speed I was going. With my heart pounding, I glanced at the truck that had abruptly turned around. A sense of unease washed over me, and without a second thought, I floored the accelerator.

I knew the roads around Rosemont well, so I did my best to lose the truck. I was trying to free up a hand to call for help when my car was suddenly rammed from behind. My phone slipped from my hand and fell under the seat, and my head banged against the steering wheel.

The truck revved its engine and came at me again. With a sinking feeling, I swerved towards a narrow bridge in the distance. The bridge was so narrow that a car could barely fit through, let alone a truck.

When I reached the bridge, my heart sank. It was closed for repairs and there was no way for me to turn around.