Reborn, Reawakened, Rekindled novel Chapter 538

"\"Dad.\"

Spotting Neil entering the room, Hiram called out to him with an unusual hint of apprehension in his voice. The way he looked at Neil was also different than usual.

Neil strolled in, his expression back to normal.

\"What were you two talking about?\" he asked, sitting down beside Hiram's hospital bed and taking the boy's hand, yet his gaze was on me.

\"Not much. Hiram's just a bit scared and wanted to see his mother,\" I responded.

Hearing my answer, Hiram turned to Neil, pleading, \"Dad, can I see Mom? I haven't seen her for days. Where is she? Has she abandoned me?\"

Tears welled up in Hiram's eyes as he spoke. Ever since he fell ill, the seven-year-old boy seemed to have grown up overnight. The energetic, lively child was replaced by a silent, contemplative boy who spent his days lying in bed.

Neil gently patted Hiram's head. \"Once your surgery is done, you'll see Mom.\"

\"But I want to see her now,\" Hiram replied, anxiety creeping into his voice.

\"Be patient, it won't be long,\" Neil reassured him.

His voice was as soft as always, but I sensed a subtle change in his tone. I think Hiram felt it too because he stopped pleading and obediently fell silent.

Soon, Hiram was asleep. With his lack of energy, he spent most of his time sleeping or undergoing treatment.

Remembering what the doctor had said, I asked Neil, \"Did the results come out?\"

Neil, being Hiram's biological father, should have a chance of being a bone marrow match for Hiram. If he were successful, it would eliminate the last risk facing my children.

Neil met my gaze with a deep, unreadable look in his eyes but didn't answer right away.

I found it odd. Even if the match wasn't successful, his reaction seemed excessive.

\"Let's go outside and talk,\" Neil suggested, despite Hiram being asleep. It was as if he was worried that Hiram would overhear something in his semi-conscious state.

I had a bad feeling about this and followed Neil out.

The bodyguard at the door was vigilant, on duty 24/7, so a temporary departure wouldn't be a problem.

Sure enough, Neil's first words stunned me.

\"Hiram is not my son.\" Neil's calm demeanor was a testament to his exceptional self-control.

\"What?!\" I exclaimed, unable to believe what I was hearing.

\"The test results came back. Not only was I not a match, but it also revealed that Hiram is not my biological son.\" Neil managed a bitter smile. \"This is the second time Karina has tricked me.\"

The first time was when she faked her death, the second was when she returned to the country with Hiram, claiming he was Neil's son. Each step she took was daring and ruthless.

I still found it hard to believe. Hiram looked so much like Neil, as if they were cut from the same cloth.

Just by their strikingly similar appearances, anyone would believe they were father and son.

\"You can leave the hospital soon. Thank you for your help,\" Neil had made up his mind.

I nodded silently. It was best to stay out of this mess.

But when we returned to Hiram's room, we found Karina standing at the door. She didn't seem to have any intention of barging in but stood upright, watching Neil and me.

\"Neil, I want to talk to you,\" she said, ignoring me and turning towards Neil.

\"If it's about Hiram, there's no need. You can take him now,\" Neil's voice was indifferent. He wasn't the type to be soft-hearted. His kindness towards Hiram was because he thought the boy was his son.

\"So you think he's not your son?\" Karina asked, her voice steady as if she already knew everything.

Neil nodded, not intending to discuss further with Karina. Although he was calm now, it didn't mean he had forgiven Karina for tricking him. He just preferred to keep his emotions under control.

Once he finished speaking, he was ready to take his leave. I had intended to go back to the hospital room to check on Hiram, but Karina sought me out. I didn’t want any trouble, so I decided to just leave with her.

But Karina called out to Neil again, \"Hiram's been calling you 'Dad' for so long, don't you feel it? Isn't he your son?\"

Neil stopped in his tracks. He had pampered Hiram as if he were his own child for such a long time. It would be a lie to say that he felt no affection for Hiram, even if he was known to be cold-hearted, his heart was still made of flesh.

Moreover, the hope and joy that Hiram brought to the Whitmore family were all real and tangible.

\"Mr. Whitmore!\"

Suddenly, a doctor rushed over with a look of urgency on his face."