Chapter 387


    Chapter 387


    “All right, let’s head in too,” Russel suggested as he watched Neil and his crew depart, swinging open


    the gate to my homestead.


    I called out, “Dad, Mom!”


    Quick as a sh, my parents hurried out. There was a surprised look on their faces as they took in my


    limp.


    They took charge of pushing the kids in, while Russel supported me.


    Once we settled into the living room, Serena and Brandon had already drifted off to sleep. I ryed the


    events of the evening at the beach to my parents and Russel, sparing no detail.


    Upon hearing that Serena had almost had an ident, my dad paled, “I told you not to take the kids


    out sote at night. It gets crowded there. You need to always set the brake on the stroller when it’s


    parked. How could you just leave Serena there and walk away?”


    His affection for me, once boundless, then seemed divided between Serena and Brandon. Yet, I felt no


    jealousy. I knew that the love my parents held for their grandchildren was simply a natural thing.


    “Absolutely,” my mother chimed in, “Next time, one of us must apany you!” She immediately went


    to check on Serena. Her heart ached with concern.


    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    Meanwhile, Russel had fetched some ointment, urging me to take off my shoes so he could apply it.


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    Staring at my swollen ankle, he sighed, “Try not to rush while walking. Twisted ankles can get worse


    over time and affect your ligaments.”


    I nodded, epting his advice despite the frustrating inevitability of my missteps.


    When Ste and her group returned, it waste into the night. Russel had prepared a feast for them.


    “Damn! This smells good!” Coopervished praise without reservation. “Russel, howe I never


    knew you were such a great cook? Have you been honing your skillstely?”


    “You never made time for it before,” Russel retorted, peeling a shrimp and effortlessly cing it in my


    bowl. “Eat up.”


    Ste smirked at the exchange, “Putting on a lovers’ show for us, are you? A man as devoted and


    upright as Dr. Russel is rare these days. How envious!”


    Mitch sat up straighter at her teasing, quickly peeling a few shrimps into Ste’s bowl, dering with a


    serious face, “Whatever other women have, my woman should have too!”


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    His cheesy and dramatic deration almost made everyone burst intoughter.


    The lively and rxed atmosphere dispelled the bitter mood from earlier. After tucking everyone in, I


    limped towards the gate to see Russel out.


    He stopped me, “Go to sleep, I’m just next door. You don’t need to see me out.”


    “Thanks for applying ointment for me and cooking for everyone,” I sincerely thanked Russel.


    “No problem. I enjoyed it,” Russel replied with a wry smile, “It’s been a while since I had a meal with


    Cooper and Mitch.”


    I felt guilty, knowing that it was my situation that had distanced Russel from Mitch and Cooper.


    They stood by Neil, believing that Russel had crossed a line by being interested in his friend’s wife,


    regardless of my marital status with Neil.


    “Mitch and Ste will be here for a while, working on a project with Whitmore Co. If you want to mend


    your rtionship with them, now’s the time,” I suggested.


    “I’ll keep that in mind. Now, get some rest,” Russel replied simply, urging me to sleep.


    “All right, you should rest too,” I said. Then suddenly I recalled something and asked, “By the way,


    how’s your father?”


    A flicker of unease crossed Russel’s eyes before he looked away, replying casually, “He’s fine. Just


    some minor health issues thate with age.”


    After staying for a couple of days, Ste and her crew moved to a house they had rented nearby, as


    they nned to stay longer.


    Alicia and Barbara’s family returned to Rosemont.


    My parents took Serena and Brandon out for a walk, leaving the once lively house quiet. I almost dozed


    off on the couch.


    My phone buzzed, jolting me awake. It was Mitch.


    I picked up, puzzled, since we rarely contacted each other directly. Usually, wemunicated through


    Ste.


    Mitch’s pitiful voice came over the line, “Rena, I need a favor…”


    “What is it this time? Did Ste hit you again?” I asked, suspecting the most probable cause.


    “Not this time. But if she finds out, I might get a real beating,” Mitch sounded nervous.


    I was curious, wondering what could have possibly made Mitch so anxious.


    Mitch then exined me the favor he wanted, after which I also felt like hitting him. How could he have


    been so forgetful?


    Mitch had left a USB sh drive at my house. It was in the drawer of the room he and Ste had


    upied. He was supposed to deliver it to Neil, but had to rush back to Rosemont to fetch something


    “Could you do me a favor? Can you please deliver this sh drive to Neil’s ce? He has a meeting in


    an hour, and he needs it. I wouldn’t make it even if I sprouted wings and flew… Mitch sounded like he


    was on the brink of tears. “If my wife finds out, I’m toast.”


    “Mitch, are you getting senile in your youth? You’re as forgetful as a goldfish!” I was fuming, not


    because I didn’t want to help Mitch, but because I wasn’t thrilled about the idea of seeing Neil or


    delivering some random sh drive.


    But at that moment, it seemed like I was the only one who could have helped him out. It didn’t feel right


    to refuse.


    So, after some more pleading from Mitch, I reluctantly agreed to take the sh drive to Neil.