Chapter 448


    Chapter 448


    Russel looked at me with a certain sadness in his eyes.


    “You think I haven’t thought of all these things?” he sighed deeply, his smile puzzling.


    He was a man of careful thought; how could he not have considered all these? He probably thought


    more than I did.


    “So if you’ve thought of it all, you should know when to cut your losses, Russel. You’d make a great


    husband and father, but your happiness isn’t with me.” My voice choked up, barely audible by the end.


    “I can’t do it. I fear more than anything your absence. How should I cope?” Russel’s eyes were full of


    mncholy, exacerbating my guilt.


    Once upon a time, Russel was aloof and indifferent to everyone, seemingly impervious to all but when


    he had turned for Bonnie in my past life. Every other time, he remained in control. Now, it seemed like I


    had made him this way.


    It was not my intention; the situation had simply spiraled beyond my expectations.


    Let’s get married.” Suddenly, Russel spoke again. His lips were pale but delicate and moist. His voice


    was clear and maic.


    He then pulled out the diamond ring from his pocket, staring at me steadfastly, “Irene, will you marry


    me? Even if I pay a price in the future, I’m willing.” “Stop being foolish, will you?” I wiped the lingering


    tears from my eyes, sighing softly, “Have you forgotten your mother’s opposition? Even though she’s


    no longer here, but…”


    Speaking of his mother, Lauretta Dawson, Russel’s expression changed. Lauretta had once strongly


    opposed our rtionship, hoping on her deathbed that he would end up with Chloe Reynolds.


    Unfortunately, Chloe too was no longer here. Everything had changed.


    Russel put the ring away, removed his apron and ced it on the rattan chair next to him. He didn’t


    answer my question, instead smiled faintly, “Let’s eat before the food gets cold.”


    “Russel, I’m serious. I won’t get back with Neil, but you and I won’t work out either.” I was blunt, feeling


    terrible; some problems couldn’t be solved by being tactful.


    “Eat first.” Russel remained stubborn, his gaze never leaving me. I didn’t want to understand the


    emotions in his eyes, fearing it would only increase my guilt.


    Norah then emerged, holding Brandon who was crying, looking a bit awkward, “Miss Finch, Brandon


    won’t stop crying. Could you maybe take a look?”


    Brandon’s face was flushed from crying, looking pitiful. I was holding Serena and couldn’t spare a


    hand, so Russel immediately came forward to take Brandon.


    When Neil wasn’t around, Serena and Brandon were usually easy to soothe. Russel managed to do it


    in a few minutes, even Norah was impressed.


    But the better Russel was with my children, the more uneasy I felt.


    “Miss Finch!” Suddenly, Karina’s voice rang from the doorway. I turned to see her standing alone with


    her bag, looking indifferent, “Has Neil been here?”


    I found that Karina liked toe looking for Neil at my ce, and coincidentally, Neil was always just


    there.


    “He just left a while ago. Go catch him.” I lowered my gaze to avoid Karina’s eyes, as my eyes were red


    from crying.


    “I actually came to see you.” Karina didn’t leave; she even came in and stood in front of me, “About


    Mitch’s child, I think we need to clear things up.”


    “Stay away from me.” I warned, feeling ufortable being close to Karina.


    “Your hostility towards me is unnecessary.” Karina smiled quietly, “I just wanted to exin that Mitch


    found out about the baby here, not from me, but from Hiram. He is a smart boy, remembering that


    Mitch had mentioned the baby, hoping you wouldn’t me him or Neil.”


    Neil and her had been taking turns to exin the same issue to me, and I was ttered.


    But I felt Karina was using Hiram as a scapegoat, pushing everything onto him. After all, Hiram was a


    child and was adored by Ryan and Faith. Even if he made a mistake, it wouldn’t be too serious.


    “Do you think I’ll believe you?” I asked back.


    “Does it matter if you believe me? What matters is that Neil believes me, isn’t it?” Karina’s words were


    layered, seemingly innocent, but they were purposeful.


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    Karina and Bonnie had this inmon: they liked to use Neil to provoke me.


    When Neil came to exin about Hiram earlier, I was upset because I felt like a fool being deceived so


    easily.


    “Now that he believes you, isn’t that enough? Whye to exin to me? Karina, don’t you think your


    actions are a little too conspicuous?” I looked at Karina, my eyes were still red from crying, but I didn’t


    care anymore.


    Karina stared at my tear-streaked eyes and asked sensitively, “Did you two fight? Over Hiram?”


    Then, she looked at Russel, “Russel, aren’t you her husband? Can’t you control her?”


    “Our matters are none of your business.” Russel’s response to Karina was cold, which surprised me.


    Didn’t they have a friendly chat when we went ind hopping2


    Russel and Karina’s rtionship was like a foggy San Francisco morning. Something about it just didn’t


    sit right with me, yet I couldn’t put my finger on it. And yet, one thing I was sure of, it wasn’t because of


    any romantic entanglement.


    Karina seemed unfazed by Russel’s cold indifference. Her smile, if anything, deepened, “Alright, this is


    your business, but you have to exin this for me; you know I’m not that type of girl, right?”


    With those words, Karina turned on her heel and walked away, showing no intention of sticking around.


    Meanwhile, Russel’s expression had turned as grim as a Gotham City night, a frown forming a small


    crease between his brows, obviously upset. “You’re exining for her?” I asked, puzzled.


    “No, I guess she thinks we were friends once, and that I should trust her.” Russel’s frown smoothed


    out, his expression easing naturally.