Chapter 389


    Chapter 389


    “Word has it that Neil’s parents are quite smitten with the boy. They’ve been itching to be grandparents


    for a while now. They must be absolutely thrilled.” My father casually mentioned.


    If Ryan and Faith Whitmore ever found out that Serena and Brandon were their grandchildren, I bet


    they would have been over the moon.


    It was not as though the Whitmores couldn’t afford to provide for them. But it was heartbreaking to


    know that my twins were destined to grow up without the affection of their grandparents.


    No matter what, I had to do everything in my power to fill the void of love they were missing.


    Three dayster, Ste and Mitch returned to Eldoria, this time apanied by their newborn. They


    had left the older twins with the grandparents for the time


    being.


    Bounding into my house with her usual enthusiasm, Ste announced, “Rena, let’s go out and have


    some fun!”


    “Fun? What kind of fun?” I asked absentmindedly while trimming Brandon’s nails.


    “There’s this couple’s retreat on an ind nearby for three days and two nights. It’s just a two-hour


    drive from here. Let’s go!” Ste, ever the restless spirit, proposed. I refused, a bit helpless, “I can’t. I


    have the kids. Why don’t you and Mitch go?”


    N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    Ste pouted, “That’s no fun. You and Russel have kids together and yet you haven’t even thrown a


    wedding party or anything. You need to do something significant.” Then she looked at Russel and


    asked, “Don’t you think so, Russel?”


    Russel was perched by the window, basking Serena in the sunlight. He had ced her on hisp, and


    his arms gently wrapped around her. The scene was heartwarming.


    Every so often, Serena would wave her little hands around, seemingly enjoying the moment.


    “Whatever she wants,” Russel replied softly. “If she wants to go, I’m all for it.”


    Ste gave me a teasing look. “See? He’s willing to go with you. Aren’t you going to give him an


    answer? It seems like he really wants to spend time with you.”


    Russel did not say anything. Instead, he gave me a knowing look, and his eyes were full of affectionate


    indulgence.


    I had never nned on having a wedding with Russel. He was helping me take care of the kids of his


    own ord, and despite how selfish it might be to admit, I couldn’t bring myself to refuse his help.


    Even if I locked him out, my parents would have just let him back in. Deep down, they were hoping for


    a romantic spark to ignite between Russel and me.


    “Go ahead. We’ll take care of the kids. You’re not exclusively breastfeeding. So, we can manage for a


    few days,” my mother chimed in. “We’ll hire a nanny to help out/ before you leave. Everything will be


    fine.”


    “Mom, I’m notfortable leaving the kids.” I tried to refuse; the idea of going on a couple’s retreat with


    Russel felt strange.


    “What are you worried about? We’re their grandparents. Don’t you trust us? We’ll call you if anything


    happens. Consider this a chance to unwind. You’ve been cooped up inside for too long!” my mother


    interrupted.


    My father quickly agreed, “Right. You keptining about being bored at home when you were


    pregnant. Now you have a chance to get out and have some fun. Seize the opportunity.”


    Pressured by my parents’ persuasion and Ste’s encouragement, I reluctantly agreed to go, partly out


    of curiosity.


    Russel’s smile grew brighter. He yfully tickled Serena, radiating warmth and tenderness.


    If I imed that I wasn’t a little swayed or moved, I would have been lying. At that time, I was not just


    thinking for myself, but for my kids as well.


    Serena and Brandon were still too young to recognize their own father. If I could have epted Russel,


    they might have started looking at him as their own father.


    I thought, “As long as Russel could keep showering them with the same level of love and


    tenderness…”


    But such thoughts were selfish. How could I have expected Russel to continue being so good to my


    children? He had every right to have his own children.


    “All right; then it’s settled. We’ll leave this Friday, and I’ll pick you up!” Ste bade me goodbye, then


    took off like a whirlwind.


    We had three days to prepare. During that time, we could have hired a nanny to help my parents with


    Serena and Brandon. I was a bit worried that they might-have struggled to manage, and I was wary of


    the old-fashioned childcare methods they might have employed. A professional nanny would have


    certainly been more knowledgeable.


    The next day, I contacted a nanny service and received profiles of some top-notch nannies. The choice


    was mine to make.


    I chose a rtively young nanny, and without wasting any time, had here to my house on Friday


    morning. After briefing her on the basic childcare needs, Ste arrived, as energetic as ever.


    Mitch was in charge of driving, while Ste sat in the backseat with her baby.


    Russet and I followed in another car, heading towards the ind that was to be our home for the next


    three days.


    During the drive, I listened to music and asionally made small talk, which was mostly about the kids.


    To reach the ind, we had to take a ferry: Russel parked the car, and we met up with Ste and Mitch


    to board the boat.


    That was the first time I was going to be away from my kids for so long, and I was already missing


    them. I kept scrolling through the photos and videos of them on my phone.


    “If you’re having second thoughts, we can still go back, Russel noticed my unease and gently


    suggested.


    “No, it’s just that I miss them already” I replied, putting my phone away.


    Russelforted me, “We’ll be back in a couple of days. With the nanny around, everything should be


    fine.”


    I decided to heed his advice and rx for a few days.


    Our couples’ retreat package cost $19999 and included three days and two nights on the ind, as


    well as meals and various couples’ activities like scuba diving, rock climbing, and camping to watch the


    sunrise.


    The whole idea was to strengthen the bond between couples. I wasn’t sure if it would have worked,


    having never tried it before.


    Once we checked into our hotel, Russel and I received our room key. It was a couple’s suite with a


    large bed, which felt a bit inappropriate to me. But I didn’t want to make a scene in front of Ste and


    Mitch. So, I didn’t say anything.


    There were quite a few other couples participating in the retreat. Some arrived after us, but I didn’t pay


    much attention to them. Instead, I decided to rest in our room with Russel.


    “I’ll take the couch,” Russel offered as soon as we entered the room as if he was concerned about my


    comfort.


    “All right,” I nodded in agreement.


    There was an outdoor movie night happening on the beach of the ind. The event organizers


    suggested dressing up a bit glitz and m, making it feel like the first date for couples on the ind.


    I chose a ck sequined body-con dress. It exposed my shoulders and a bit of cleavage, but not too


    much. It had a tie around the waist that perfectly entuated my figure. The hem of the dress fell mid-


    thigh, showcasing my long legs to their full advantage.