Chapter 444


    Chapter 444


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    I found myself at a loss for words.


    There was a time I was hopelessly in love with Neil, so much so that nobody could talk me out of it.


    Even when Neil explicitly told me he didn’t fancy me, I held onto the belief that time would reveal true


    feelings.


    Could it be that Russel’s feelings for me were just like mine for Neil all those years ago?


    That would be disastrous. How could I face it?


    After all, I’m not Neil. I couldn’t be that heartless.


    “Hmm?” Russel prompted, noticing my silence. “Why aren’t you answering?”


    It wasn’t that I didn’t want to answer, I just couldn’t.


    Serena and Brandon seemed to sense my difort, crying in unison. Seizing the opportunity to


    escape, I went to check on them. As suspected, they needed a diaper change.


    After swiftly changing their diapers, my phone, which was sitting on the table, started ringing.


    Russel nced at the caller ID before handing it to me. “It’s your friend.”


    I took the phone, expecting to see Ste or one of the others. To my surprise, it was Kitty.


    I hadn’t heard from Kitty in a long time. I didn’t expect her to reach out. She had disappeared for a


    while due to her father’s sudden illness. I wasn’t aware of what had happened since.


    I answered the call.


    “Irene, do you still remember me?” Kitty’s voice wasn’t as vibrant and cheerful as it used to be. Instead,


    it held a strange mncholy.


    “Of course I remember. But we haven’t been in touch for a while. What’s up?” I asked.


    “Well, I need a favor.” Kitty did indeed have a reason for calling.


    I thought it was about Neil, but I was mistaken.


    After roughly ten minutes, I understood what Kitty wanted.


    Her father, Daniel Wilson, hadn’t fully recovered. His condition was critical, and even seeking treatment


    abroad hadn’t yielded favorable results. Kitty had heard about Karina’s reputation and wanted to seek


    her help.


    However, Karina had returned to her job at a new hospital, still specializing in obstetrics and


    gynecology, and no longer treatingplex diseases privately. Despite Kitty’s multiple attempts to


    reach out, Karina remained elusive. Kitty had also approached Neil, but he hadn’t given a definitive


    response.


    This surprised me. Could Neil be so cold-hearted? He wouldn’t even help Kitty, who had been nothing


    but loyal to him.


    “Well…” I hesitated, unsure of what to do. Did she expect me to approach Karina?


    Given Karina’s animosity towards me, seeking her help would be nothing short of a fool’s errand.


    “Irene, I know this is difficult for you. I’m aware of the situation between Karina, Neil, and you. Based on


    her attitude towards you, it’s probably simr to Bonnie’s. But I’m desperate.” Kitty sighed heavily. “I


    was hoping you could help me approach…”


    I didn’t need Kitty to finish the sentence. I knew what she was implying.


    She wanted me to reach out to Neil on her behalf. Since her attempts had been unsessful, maybe


    my intervention could yield different results.


    But I couldn’t do it. Back when my familypany was still operational, and we were coborating with


    her family, I might have agreed to help out of obligation or reason. But now that my familypany had


    been transferred to someone else, I was merely Kitty’s friend with no economic ties. I wouldn’t


    approach Neil for her.


    If I did, I would owe Neil a favor that I could never repay.


    “Kitty, I’m sorry. I can’t help you with this.” I replied regretfully. “I’vepletely severed ties with Neil.


    Besides, he has Karina and their child now. It wouldn’t be right for me to ask him for a favor.”


    Thest time I negotiated with Neil was for Ste’s sake. I couldn’t sit by and do nothing because Ste


    and I share a deep bond.


    There was a moment of silence from Kitty’s end, after which she said, “Okay, I understand your


    decision. Sorry for bothering you, Irene.”


    After hanging up, I felt a bit heavy-hearted, as if I had been too cold-hearted.


    But I couldn’t afford to trap myself in a dilemma./


    Despite Kitty’s seemingly bold and carefree personality and her seemingly distant rtionship with her


    father, she was actually a very filial person. She was now caught in the emotional bonds between


    father and daughter, even going so far as to seek help from others.


    That phone call disrupted my mood. After eating a bit, I found an excuse to take Serena and Brandon


    home.


    Russel helped me carry Yara back to my ce before leaving.


    He had always been perceptive, aware that I wasn’t in the best of moods. The question he had asked


    me earlier was nearly impossible to answer. The answer I had been searching for over the past decade


    was one he couldn’t find either.


    A wave of mncholy washed over me.


    Looking down at Serena and Brandon in the car I murmured “Davou


    Chapter 444


    “Ms. Finch, what kind of question is that?” Norah, who had just washed some fruits, spoke up after


    hearing my mumble. “What child doesn’t need a father? I’ve taken care of many children, and those


    without fathers always seem tock something. Especially when they start school and people start


    asking about their parents. Some even get bullied.”


    Norah’s words only added to my grief. Was I not aware of this? I was just struggling to find a solution!


    I couldn’t choose between Neil and Russel.


    Just as I was agonizing over this, Ste’s voice echoed from the yard, “Rena, I’m back!”


    “Ste?” I eximed in surprise. Wasn’t she in Rosemont? How did she get back so soon?


    “Where’s my little princess?!” Ste entered the house and immediately started looking for Yara. Upon


    finding her, she showered her with kisses, her face full of longing.


    I watched her in amazement. “Don’t tell me you drove back overnight.”


    “What else could I do? I called Mitch, and Ariana answered. I set off immediately.” Ste’s energy


    seemed to have been revitalized after her trip to Rosemont. Her spirits were high again, a stark


    contrast to her previous despondent state. Had the battle with her inws over the children invigorated


    her?


    “What brought you here? And where are your two older ones?” I asked.


    Thanks to you, Rena, the video you took was a game-changer. I showed it to my inws, who had


    always sided with Mitch, thinking I was just misunderstanding him, or being moody. But after seeing the


    video, they had to ept that their son was in the wrong. They didn’t have a word to say. I took Le


    and Quincy to my parents’ house overnight.” Ste’s eyes were sparkling with a hint of joy.


    There were plenty of men out there, but her kids were her flesh and blood, born at the risk of her own


    life. She wasn’t about to hand them over so easily.


    I breathed a sigh of relief, genuinely happy for her. The only thing left was to see what Ariana would


    decide today.