Chapter 467


    Chapter 467


    Hiram knew that his mother and I were as different as oil and water, so it surprised me when he


    believed what I told him.


    His blues eyes widened in disbelief, “Really? Mommy apologized to me?”


    I blinked in surprise and then nodded assuredly, “Yes, she said she had no choice but to make you do


    what she did. She usually avoids discussing it with you, but since she doesn’t get along well with me,


    she was pretty candid about it. So, you don’t have to hide anything from me.”


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    The kid felt like he was starved of affection.


    It didn’t make sense. Even if he was deprived of love, it would be from his father. Karina, his mother,


    had been raising him alone. She couldn’t have been that bad, could she?


    The moment he heard Karina had apologized to him, he dropped his video game. He looked at me with


    hopeful eyes, “What else did Mommy say?”


    I racked my brains to concoct some things Karina allegedly said to Hiram, all of which were positive.


    My intuition told me that Karina might not be so nice to her son in private.


    I didn’t understand why. After all, Hiram was her child with Neil, the only heir to the Whitmore’s fortune


    and her golden ticket into the Whitmore family. Why wouldn’t she cherish him?


    “Were you scared when your mom told you to follow your dad on your own?” It was time to get back to


    that question.


    Hiram let his guard down. He nodded, “I was scared!”


    I continued, “And when she said that the message sent to Uncle Mitch was from you, were you upset?


    Your dad might not like you if he knew about it.”


    I was gently leading him on.


    Hiram was not only afraid that Karina didn’t like him but also terrified that Neil wouldn’t. So, without a


    second thought, he replied, “I won’t me Mommy. Besides, she said Dad loves me so much, and he


    wouldn’t hate me!”


    My smile faltered. It seemed that Karina was the mastermind behind the previous incidents. Always


    using Hiram as a shield, she managed to pull the wool over everyone’s eyes.


    Hiram didn’t notice my change in mood. He just lowered his head and continued ying his game. He


    wouldn’t know that the wicked woman sitting next to him had started recording.


    About ten minutester, Hiram’s wristwatch rang. It was a call from Neil, “Dad, I’ming home now!”


    “Didn’t I tell you not to wander around?” Neil’s voice came through.


    “I got it, Dad. I’ll behave next time.” Hiram obediently replied. After hanging up, he handed me his


    phone, “Ms. Finch, I need to go. I’ll teach you how to y the game next time!”


    I took his phone with a faint smile, “Is your dad also at the hospital?”


    Hiram nodded, “Yes. My grandma is sick. He took her to the hospital. We’ll head home after she’s


    done.”


    My fabricated story seemed to have bridged the gap between Hiram and me. He had warmed up to


    me.


    Faith was sick?


    I didn’t know about that.


    After Hiram left, I turned off the recorder and returned to my room.


    The next morning, I checked out of the hospital. During this period, Russel called several times, but I


    didn’t pick up.


    The first thing I did once I got home was to hug Serena and Brandon. All my troubles seemed to


    evaporate when I saw them.


    “Ms. Finch, Dr. Russel is back.” Norah suddenly informed me when I was ying with the kids.


    I turned my head and there he was in the living room.


    Seeing him annoyed me. The memory of him forcing a kiss on me in the hospital made me feel


    repulsed.


    I didn’t know if it was because had no romantic feelings for him or if it was just my natural reaction.


    Russel had a bouquet of pink roses in his hand. The color of the flowers matched his light blue shirt,


    giving him a fresh and appealing look.


    I averted my gaze, pretending not to notice him.


    “I’m sorry about yesterday. I want to apologize to you properly.” Russel walked in, handed me the


    flowers, and looked somewhat nervous. “A colleague suggested this. I’m not sure if it will work on you.”


    “I nced at the bouquet. They were vibrant and gorgeous. Any woman would have loved them.


    But I couldn’t bring myself to ept them.


    Would epting these flowers mean forgiving him?


    “Put them there. I don’t want to bring up yesterday’s incident. Russel, I think I need to make myself


    clear.” I sat on the couch, speaking to Russel earnestly.


    Russel put the flowers on the table and sat across from me. He looked at me for a few seconds, his


    eyes filled with hesitation, but he nodded eventually, “Go ahead. I’m listening.”


    “I will not marry you. I mean it.” I knew it would hurt Russel, but I didn’t know what else to do. The


    harsher the rejection, the better the chance of keeping him at bay.


    As expected, Russel’s face changed instantly.


    But he didn’t immediately respond. He simply waited for me to continue.


    “You can propose to me a hundred times, it won’t change my mind. I’m not the naive girl in her twenties


    anymore. I’ve been married, I have children, and I’ve given all my love and youth to Neil. I can’t love


    someone else with the same intensity. I’ve rejected you many times. Why do you keep doing this?


    Sure, you might be okay with it, but have you ever thought that your affection is a burden and a


    nuisance to me?”


    The color drained from Russel’s face, indicating his worsening mood.


    After I finished speaking, I quietly waited for his response. Perhaps it was time to sever all ties and


    avoid any future entanglement.


    However, Russel’s response baffled me. His focus was on Neil, “So, you’re still not over Neil. You’ve


    given him your best years and love, and you can’t open your heart to anyone else because of him.


    Right?”


    I was rendered speechless. A peculiar silence fell over the room, broken only by the asional


    babbling of Serena and Brandon.


    I’ve moved on from Neil. I have. As long as I didn’t dwell on the past or the pain that it caused me, I’m


    alright.


    Still, everyone seemed to think that I’m still hung up on him, and no amount of exining would


    convince them otherwise.


    Russel, in particr, would never believe that I’m over Neil.


    After all, Serena and Brandon were my kids with Neil. He knew that all too well.


    “Russel,” I sighed, “Why are you so damn stubborn? You’ve got your whole life ahead of you. Why


    waste it on me?”


    “I’ve lost to you, Irene. What can I do?” Russel sped his hands together, a pained look in his eyes.


    “You really think I want this? I just can’t control my heart.”