Reborn, Reawakened, Rekindled novel Chapter 575

Mom has always been a savvy businesswoman. Despite her emotional tendencies, she's exceptional at weighing the pros and cons.

After hearing me out, she chose to believe in me, albeit with some reservations.

“Mom, we need to either quickly find a new cosmetic formula or compensate the partner company for their losses. That's our only option. If we choose to collaborate with Karina, our future losses could be even greater!” I stated firmly, without a hint of hesitation.

“Alright, after your dad's surgery in a couple of days, if his condition stabilizes, I'll arrange for someone to take care of him here, and I'll join you in following up on this project,” Mom replied.

With her support, I felt a wave of reassurance, and the anxiety that had been gnawing at me began to fade.

After a relaxing shower, our housekeeper hurried upstairs to find me, “Ms. Finch, Mr. Whitmore was here again last night, waiting at the door.”

Neil?!

There I was, face mask on, utterly shocked by the news. He should be swamped with work, both at the company and at home. Why wasn’t he burning the midnight oil in his study?

“Tell him I've gone to bed,” I said, already in my pajamas and not in the mood to head downstairs again.

“He brought a little boy with him, said he wanted to see you,” the housekeeper added.

A little boy? My heart skipped a beat. Could it be Hiram?

Hadn’t Karina said Neil had left everything in Rosemont to come here? Could it be he brought Hiram along too?

I did miss Hiram, but I'd been too caught up with everything to dwell on it.

If Neil brought him over…

Compelled, I grabbed a coat and hurried downstairs, crossing the yard to find Neil outside on the phone. Seeing me, he whispered, “Got something on, talk tomorrow.”

Looking around, I noticed Hiram wasn’t in sight, leaving me a bit disappointed.

“Looking for something?” Neil asked.

“The housekeeper mentioned you brought a kid along, how come it’s just you?” I inquired directly.

Neil's expression darkened, “What, if Hiram isn’t here, you wouldn’t have come out to see me?”

He was spot on, but I kept my mouth shut, my eyes saying it all.

Looking annoyed, Neil glanced towards his car, and as the doors unlocked, Hiram emerged, calling out excitedly, “Ms. Finch!”

Wearing a denim jacket and a cozy grey beanie, Hiram ran over to me. I bent down to hug him, feeling his slight frame beneath the layers of clothing.

He planted a kiss on my cheek, openly expressing his affection, “Ms. Finch, I missed you so much.”

“I missed you too,” I kissed his cheek in return, then stood up to address Neil, “How could you take him out of the hospital on your own? Is he alright?”

“Shouldn’t you have expected as much? Why the surprise?” His gaze was unreadable, calm yet probing.

“Well, my mom mentioned it. What were you thinking, showing up like that?” I dabbed at my lips with a napkin, trying to maintain my composure despite his known standing with my parents.

Neil frowned, “I was just trying to be nice. Is that a problem?”

A huge one, but I couldn't get the words out, just shook my head instead, “No problem at all. Very thoughtful of you. But maybe don’t visit again.”

I was worried my dad would recover from lung cancer only to suffer a heart attack out of sheer frustration.

“By the way, I spoke to his doctor. Sent your dad’s files to some specialists. It might not be as straightforward as we thought,” Neil said, his words making my heart sink.

“What do you mean?” I asked, locking eyes with him, seeking clarity.

“Might be best to hold off on surgery at that hospital. A rushed procedure could aggravate the cancer cells, speeding up their growth,” he advised, not directly answering my question but hinting at a serious issue with my dad’s diagnosis.

My heart sank, but knowing Neil wasn’t a doctor, I couldn’t fully take his word for it.

"My dad's going under the knife soon, Neil. Do you have any proof to back up your claims?" I asked, trying to keep a steady voice despite the turmoil inside me.

Neil unlocked his phone and handed it over to me. It displayed profiles of several doctors, some from the States and others from abroad, all evidently top-notch in their field. "These are their collective conclusions. You don't have to take my word for it, but I'd hate for you to have regrets later on."