Chapter 384
Chapter 384
Taverted my gaze, refusing to pay any attention to the duo, nor to the distasteful thoughts they brought
to mind.
“Hello everyone, I’m Karina,” she announced openly, greeting everyone in sight. “I believe you all are
friends with Neil. I haven’t had the pleasure to meet you all formally, but I’d love to treat you all to
dinner someday”
Ste snorted, “Neil’s friend? I’m Rena’s friend!”
Barbara chimed in, “Exactly. Don’t get it twisted”
Unfazed by their hostility, Kanna calmly responded, “Mitch is your husband, and Mitch is good friends
with Neil. We’re all socially connected people. Our businesses have some form of partnership with
Neil’s. If we’re not personal friends, we can at least be considered business associates.”
Her argument was irrefutable, and Ste and Barbara had no choice but to remain silent.
Eventually, Mitch found what he was looking for. It was a stamp.
He handed it over to Neil, sheepishly grinning at Karina as a form of greeting. Karina returned the
gesture, but Mitch dared not reciprocate, fearing Ste’s wrath.
“Well, we should be going now,” Karina announced. Seeing Neil turn to leave, she gave us a friendly
wave.
We watched them leave the courtyard without any further interaction. Ste and the others then turned
their attention to me, with a hint of worry etched onto their
faces.
The unexpected appearance of Neil and Karina had slightly affected me, but it was nothing major.
I turned to my mom and said, “Mom, hand me Serena.”
Brandon, who was nestled in my arms, was fast asleep. After settling him in his room, I took Serena
from my mother’s arms.
The little one soon fell asleep, too, after some fidgeting. I then began arranging rooms for everyone.
Thankfully, we had enough space for everyone tofortably sleep in.
Meanwhile, Ste was grilling Mitch, “Why did Neile here? What did he want? Did you do this on
purpose?”
Mitch defended himself helplessly, “I had genuinely forgotten to give him something. Remember I told
you about our business deal with Whitmore Co.? The project is based here. So, we agreed on a
contract, but I identally left a copy in my car.”
Ste had mentioned this to me before. Their family was nning to stay in Eldoria for a while due to
Mitch’s project, but it seemed she was unaware that Neil was the business partner. Otherwise, she
would have informed me beforehand.
“You’re working with Whitmore Co.? You never mentioned that!” Ste fumed.
Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.
“I didn’t want to upset you. But business is separate from personal matters, and Neil and I are good
friends…” Mitch exined, caught between a rock and a hard ce.
I intervened, “Ste, it’s not Mitch’s fault. It’s perfectly normal for Neil to focus on Eldoria for a while
since Karina is working here.”
“Mitch is right, Neil won’t bother Rena!” Mitch eagerly agreed.
“But…” Ste was still worried.
“Don’t worry. I made it clear to Neil, and our meeting earlier was quite normal, right?” I reassured her.
Reluctantly, Ste acquiesced, “All right, but if he dares to bother you again, you tell me. I won’t
hesitate to give him a piece of my mind!”
Her earnest concern was touching, but unnecessary. With Karina and Hiram around, Neil had no
reason to bother me.
Later that night, there was a fireworks disy at the beach. Ste and the others were eager to attend,
and I joined them, pushing Serena and Brandon in a stroller. The beach was bustling with people, and
the atmosphere was festive. The fireworks show was apanied by a food fair,plete with a
variety of snacks.
“Chase me! Come on!”
“Kids, don’t run around. What if you bump into someone?”
Children’sughter and parents’ scolding filled the air, creating a lively ambiance.
It had been a long time since I had enjoyed such moments, strolling with my kids while enjoying the
food. It was a beautiful feeling.
That was until I ran into my ex-husband and his once-dead sweetheart, along with their son..
“I want a candy apple!” Hiram pointed at a candy apple, looking up at Neil. “Dad, can you buy me a
candy apple?”
As he reached out to hold Neil’s hand, Neil’s gaze met mine. I was pushing a stroller, dressed in a
simple white cotton dress, bare-faced, and without any jewelry. Compared to Karina, who was dolled
up to the nines, I seemed a bit in.
However, it didn’t bother me. I was about to turn away when Ste’s and Barbara’s kids also began to
fuss for candy apples.
Mitch had no choice but to approach Neil, “Neil, you’re here too.”
“Yep. Your kids want candy apples?” Neil asked, offering Mitch three candy apples for them.
Mitch, of course, epted them graciously and handed them to the children.
Suddenly, Karina pulled out three cartoon lollipops from her bag. “Kids, do you want these? These are
candies your big brother bought. One for each of you.”
The sight of the cute candies immediately cheered the kids, “Yes, yes! Thank you!”
Ste immediately intervened, halting her kids, “Eating too much candy will ruin your teeth. No more!”
Barbara also declined the lollipop on behalf of her child.
Karina shed a helpless smile. “If the kid wants a piece of candy, just let him have it. Just ensure his
oral hygiene is maintained. I raised Hiram and he loved his sweets, but we kept strict control over the
quantity and his dental care. His teeth are just fine.”
“We aren’t doctors like you. We don’t understand.” Ste retorted with a sarcastic tone. “Maybe next
time you can teach us something magical, like raising the
dead?”
At the mention of those words, Karina’s face remained impassive. She simply smiled. “You don’t have
to be a doctor to understand some basic knowledge. As parents, we always have to consider our
children’s wellbeing.”
Neil turned his head to look at Karina, who was speaking. His gaze was neither overly warm nor loving.
But it was not cold or indifferent either. It was simply calm
and rxed.
That waspletely different from the way he used to look at Bonnie.