Chapter 404


    Chapter 404


    Karina’s gaze bounced back and forth between Faith and Hiram, before finallynding on me, “Ms.


    Finch, what brings you here?”


    I responded with a nonchnt tone, “Just shopping for clothes.”


    “Look at how others mother their children. You could at least bring your child along for shopping!” Faith


    couldn’t help but interject. I knew she just disliked Karina and was trying to pick a fight. Such a trivial


    matter didn’t need to be blown out of proportion.


    After all, Karina had been raising her child alone overseas for years, putting in a tremendous amount of


    effort.


    But Faith didn’t take any of that into ount. She just wanted to make things difficult for Karina over a


    simple shopping trip.


    Karina furrowed her brows, looking towards Neil for support. After all, Faith and Ryan were his parents.


    Seeing Karina’s plea for help, Neil finally spoke up, “Mom, she’s been busy with work too. She’s been


    taking care of Hiram alone overseas all these years. She wouldn’t neglect him. You’re overthinking”


    I lowered my gaze, taking Serena from Faith’s arms, and prepared to leave. I didn’t want to get


    involved in that family’s internal conflicts.


    “It’s not like we asked her to raise the child alone overseas!” Faith seemed furious when she mentioned


    that. After all, they were desperate for a grandchild and Karina had taken their only grandson overseas


    without telling them, causing them to miss out on Hiram’s growth over the years.


    At those words, Karina’s face changed, especially since Faith said it in front of me.


    Perhaps sensing Faith had gone too far, Neil stepped in again, “Enough. Weren’t you the one who


    opposed her back then?”


    Faith was taken aback and then looked at me with aplex look. Neil seemed to realize something


    too and looked at me. But I just found it all rather amusing.


    Why were they looking at me? I had seen thating. In Neil’s heart, Karina was still the most


    important. After all, she was the first woman he fell in love with. They had gone through family


    opposition, and Karina’s “death”. Every event was of great significance to Neil, something he could


    have never forgotten in his lifetime.


    Since Karina was finally back with Hiram, of course, he would have been reminded of their past love,


    continuing that broken fate.


    “Ryan, Faith Serena should be getting to bed. I’m going to head back.” I interrupted Neil’s conversation


    with his mother. My tone was neutral, and I had a faint smile on my face.


    At that point, Faith probably felt awkward facing me. Neil’s words just then had brought up the past. I


    was only with Neil because Karina didn’t marry him


    Sheughed awkwardly, “All right, Irene. You go back and rest with Serena.”


    I nodded and was ready to leave with Serena and the nanny. But just as I reached the door, a p of


    thunder echoed from the sky. Serena started crying from the scare and my heart pounded because I


    was terrified of thunderstorms!


    The sky, which had been clear a moment prior, was then overcast. A downpour started instantly,


    obscuring my view. The wind was strong too, blowing raindrops onto me. I remained in the shop. I was


    worried about Serena getting wet.


    Our car was parked across the street. It was a two to three-minute walk away. I couldn’t let the child get


    soaked in the rain.


    Seeing the sudden storm, Neil and the others were also taken by surprise. The shop assistant closed


    the door and warmly invited us to stay until the rain stopped. But the shop only had two sofas. It was


    too crowded for three or four people.


    “Irene, take a seat. You must be tired of holding the baby.” Faith immediately offered me a seat.


    I didn’t decline and sat down, nning to wait out the rain. That kind of shower usually came and went


    quickly.


    Faith sat beside me and invited Hiram to sit on herp. The grandmother and grandson seemed to


    have had a good rtionship.


    Seeing that, Karina sat down on the other sofa, ncing my way from time to time.


    After a couple of minutes, Hiram suddenly jumped off Faith’sp and ran to Karina. He jumped into her


    arms, “Mommy, grandma is tired of holding me. You hold me!”


    A satisfied smile crossed Karina’s face as she settled Hiram on herp. I couldn’t help but notice that


    Hiram seemed smaller than other children his age.


    That was abnormal considering Karina’s medical skills. She wouldn’t have had trouble managing her


    own child’s nutrition.


    But that was their business, and I couldn’t have been bothered to interfere.


    “Hiram is so considerate.” Faith chuckled, “Just like his father. Neil was also a good boy when he was


    young, but he became a troublemaker when he grew up, sometimes really asking for a beating.”


    Neil listened with a calm expression. It was hard to tell if Faith was praising or criticizing him.


    His gazended on Serena’s face for a moment. A hint of warmth shed across his eyes before it


    turned cold again.


    Faith noticed and sighed, “Ah, Neil. You’re such a disappointment. You only gave me one grandchild. I


    wanted a granddaughter to have the perfect pair.”


    “Net and i will n for a second child.” Karina spoke up. She seemed eager to secure Faith’s trust on


    that matter.


    I had heard her tell Hiram before that he was going to be her only child.


    Then she was talking about nning for a second child in front of Faith?


    I nced at Hiram. He wasn’t a clueless toddler anymore, he understood his mother’s words. A look of


    worry and sadness crossed his face. “Can you guarantee the second one will be a girl?” Faith’s


    question seemed intentionally provocative. Who could have guaranteed that?/ Karina’s face fell, and


    she didn’t respond immediately, waiting for Neil to speak.


    Neil, looking helpless, said, “Mom, stop making things difficult for her.”


    Faith rolled her eyes and suddenly asked, “Why don’t you hold this little one? She’s so cute!”


    Neil looked at Serena in my arms, frowning slightly. After contemting for a few seconds, he declined,


    “Nah, I’m not good with babies.”


    “What’s so hard about this? Isn’t it part of the n to have a second kid soon? You’ve got to start


    practicing holding a baby, Faith insisted, seemingly determined to make Karina ufortable.


    But Karina was a différent breed than Bonnie. She wasposed and didn’t exude a sense of


    vulnerability. There was a certain air of aloofness about her.


    Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    I didn’t want Neil to hold Serena, so I gracefully declined, “Faith, don’t push it. When they have their


    own child, they’ll naturally learn how to hold a baby.”


    In other words, Serena wasn’t Neil’s child, so there was no need for him to hold her.


    Upon hearing my words, Neil’s face darkened a few shades. A hint of annoyance and irritation etched


    on his features.


    Faith let out a deep sigh, unable to counter my argument.