Chapter 99


    Chapter 99


    “I ain’t going over there this year, why don’t you take Bonnie instead?” I casually tossed the opportunity


    over to Bonnie, with my hands tucked into my coat pockets I believed she could use this chance.


    Neil’s forehead creased creating a small mountain peak, and his eyes held aplex mixture of


    emotions. It was not quite outright displeasure, but a kind of restrained dissatisfaction.


    “We’re not getting a divorce. I’ll take care of Bonnie’s situation”


    Honestly, upon hearing this, I felt like I was hallucinating. It sounded like he was choosing me over


    Bonnie. Wasn’t that just nuts? He was just going to ditch his dream girl like that?


    “Neil, quit pulling my leg. Don’t give me empty promises. No, they can’t even be considered promises “I


    calmly rejected him.


    I turned to go inside, but Neil grabbed my arm.


    “Let me try” He pleaded for the first time.


    He’d never humbled himself like this, not even when he wanted a divorce in my previous life. I felt my


    heart skip a beat.


    Could Neil really be in love with me? But there was no way he loved me more than Bonnie. If he had to


    give someone up, it would be me.


    I figured Neil was probably under pressure from his family and wasn’t ready to take on the world for


    Bonnie yet, so he wanted to keep using me to appease his family. That was the only usible


    exnation I could think of..


    “Don’t bother, go home. My dad hasn’te back yet. If he sees you here when he does, it would be


    awkward” I maintained my rationality.


    Speaking of the devil, my dad was just out dealing with some emergency. My mom was busy cooking


    and didn’t know Neil was here. Upon seeing Neil, my dad’s face darkened as if he had seen some ill


    omen. “What are you doing here?” He asked sternly.


    “Hello, sir,” Neil greeted politely.


    “Don’t call me that I can’t take it. You’ll have a new father–inw soon, so go call him that my dad


    retorted without giving Neil any respect.


    Fearing a scene, I quickly went over and took my dad’s arm. ‘Dad, Mom needs help in the kitchen. You


    go, I’ll handle this.”


    My dad had promised not to interfere in matters between Neil and me, so he reluctantly left.


    “You’ve seen it. My family has a very bad impression of you, Neil. Even if we don’t divorce right now,


    there won’t be a happy ending. I’ve convinced my parents not to interfere in our affairs. You should go


    and exin things to your family” I told Neil calmly.


    Neil looked at me heavily “I don’t n on getting a divorce. What is there to exin?”


    “How much longer do you n on wasting my time?‘ I blurted out “How can you be so cruel? Even if I


    agreed to marry you to please your grandfather and ease the pressure from your parents, you agreed


    to it too. You saw benefits in it. Why is it all my fault?”


    Neil’s eyes contained a sudden surge of emotion. “Irene, do you really not know what you’ve caused


    me to lose?”


    I looked at him uprehendingly. “Freedom?”


    Neil scoffed. “Bullshit freedom”


    #


    He had a point. He was just as nonchnt after marriage, showing no restraint despite being a married


    man. Freedom was simply a matter of desire for him But beyond that, I really had no idea.


    Just then, my phone rang. It was Faith. Despite the tension between Neil and me, Faith had always


    been on my side. It would be rude not to answer.


    I stepped aside to take the call “Irene, are youing over for the New Year’s Eve dinner with Neil?”


    Faith asked.


    “Um… I probably won’t make it this year.” I hesitated before refusing


    Faith sighed on the other end “Come over. I have something to tell you. Maybe you’ll understand what


    Neil has been up to these past few years.”


    I nced back at Neil, who was also looking at me. After loving him for ten years, I became intimately


    familiar with his life, personality, and preferences. What else could there be that I didn’t know? My


    curiosity was piqued


    “Alright” I agreed. It would be good to know why Neil had been so cold to me all these years before we


    finally ended things.


    After hanging up. I told Ne, “Let’s go. We’re going to your parents‘”


    He didn’t say a word. He just turned and walked towards his car. I followed him, initially intending to sit


    in the front passenger seat but then deciding to sit in the back instead The front seat was Bonnie’s by


    right, and I had no desire topete with her for it, even when she wasn’t around


    This caused Neil’s face to darken even more, but he didn’tment and just drove off towards


    Springvale.


    During the ride, I texted my parents, exining the situation. Thankfully, they understood and just


    asked me to return as soon as possible.


    Due to the cold weather, snow, and asional traffic jams, our journey took longer than usual. What


    would normally be a four–hour drive took us six hours. We missed lunch and had to wait until dinner.


    “Hi, Mom “I greeted Ryan and Faith as warmly as ever


    Honestly, after the Bonnie incident, I felt even closer to them. The thought of losing such wonderful in–


    laws to someone else after the divorce made me a


    bit reluctant to let go


    “Irene, you’re back” Faith greeted, pulling my hand into hers and ring at Neil.


    Neil ignored her. He just took off his coat and sat down on the couch.


    Ryan snorted, turning his face away from his son to call me over. “Irene,e sit here.”


    Faith and I sat down, and she asked, “How long was the drive? Did you eat on the way? I had the


    kitchen save some food for you. Have some now, and eat more at dinner.”


    “Sure” I nodded


    RêAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    After the food was served, Neil and I ate a bit to stave off our hunger The atmosphere was a bit tense


    with Ryan and Faith watching us.


    “Eat more, you’re too thin. It’s heartbreaking Faith served me some more food


    “Thank you” I smiled at her warmly


    Neil was scarfing down his food, not making a single peep, there was no eye contact either. After


    finishing, he went upstairs alone. Ryan said he had some work to deal with in the study, leaving Faith


    and me in the living room.


    “Irene, hang on a sec.”


    A few minutester, Faith came down from upstairs holding a leather envelope. With a puzzled look on


    her face, she opened the envelope and pulled out a few photos, handing them to me. “Take a look at


    this.”


    I looked over the photos, and immediately my expression changed, my mind was filled with shock.


    There were seven photos in total, each one hitting me with a wave of disbelief and astonishment like I’d


    never felt before. By the time I’d seen them all, I waspletely gobsmacked.