Reborn, Reawakened, Rekindled novel Chapter 566

"Mmm, they're finally sitting up by themselves. Serena's not big on crawling, but Brandon's a little adventurer." My heart held a mix of emotions. Relationships between people aren't always black and white; there's always that gray area in between.

"Boys tend to be more active, maybe that's why Brandon's coordination is a bit better. Try to encourage Serena to crawl more; it's good for her development," Russel advised me.

I was well aware of that and had already asked the nanny to try and get Serena to crawl more.

"Got it," I replied.

After hanging up, I wasn't sure what else to say, so the conversation just faded into silence. Russel didn't call back, and I felt a weight lift off my shoulders.

---

After my dad was hospitalized, Mom became visibly busier, juggling the company and her concerns for Dad. It hurt to see her so stressed, so I offered to help out at the company.

I'd managed to keep our family business afloat single-handedly for a while, gaining some invaluable experience along the way. Helping out temporarily seemed doable, especially with Mom's guidance.

"Rena, are you sure you can handle it?" Mom was worried. In her eyes, I was a bit of a business novice, easily overwhelmed by the slightest mention of corporate affairs.

"Trust me, Mom." I didn't go into details. After all, if Mom and Dad couldn't run the company in the future, it would be up to me to take over. This was just getting a head start.

Mom must have realized this too, because she quickly agreed. I could ask her anything I didn't understand.

Lucas's company was similar to ours, so I was confident I could get the hang of things quickly. I threw myself into work, eager to ease some of my mom's burden.

Despite the hectic pace, I found the work fulfilling.

"Ms. Finch, here's the project file for our latest cosmeceutical development. Please review it," my assistant handed me a document. It was a project that had been in the works for a while, just one step away from completion - securing a patent license from the owner.

The owner had been difficult to reach and had refused all previous cooperation offers. However, we recently heard they were open to talks, but only if I was involved.

"Alright, give me the details for the meeting," I instructed after reviewing the documents.

Just as engagement talks were underway, Sean flew back from Ylandia, demanding she cancel her plans.

"Did you agree to his demands?" I asked, concerned.

"No, I didn't," she sobbed, revealing how Sean's actions had inadvertently caused her blind date to be hospitalized after an attack.

"Was it Sean?" I guessed, shocked at the possibility.

Alicia's ordeal was a stark reminder of the complexities of love and the lengths some would go to claim it, leaving us in a world far from the simple right and wrong we often yearn for.

"Ugh, he admitted it," Alicia's voice cracked, her eyes welling up with tears. "And he said it didn't matter who I talked to or what I did, he'd ruin every chance I had with anyone else. He'd tear it all apart, piece by piece." She paused, her voice a mix of frustration and despair. "But then, when I press him to call off the engagement with his fiancée, he says he can't, not yet. He needs 'more time'. I can't trust him anymore, Rena. Do you get it? I feel like a total idiot around him!"

Seeing Alicia on the verge of breaking down again, I quickly wrapped my arms around her, offering a comforting hug as I gently patted her back.