Reborn, Reawakened, Rekindled novel Chapter 598

With the help of Ryan and Faith, Neil got out of the car and was quickly taken to the emergency room.

It turned out to be another case of gastroenteritis. When the doctor asked if he had eaten anything unusual, Neil glanced at me. I pretended to be calm and looked away; after all, he had insisted on choosing that restaurant himself.

"Uh, had some dodgy grub," Neil admitted.

While Neil was receiving treatment, I quietly slipped out, only to find Faith following me.

I braced myself for her to inquire about what had led to Neil's condition, ready to apologize. However, her question caught me off guard.

"Irene, you and Neil shared a meal, right? You’re feeling okay?" Faith asked with genuine concern.

I was momentarily speechless, my prepared apology stuck in my throat.

"I'm fine. Didn’t really eat much," I managed to say after a few seconds, the guilt weighing heavier on me, feeling like I had somehow let Neil down.

Faith exhaled in relief. "Glad to hear you're okay. I had a long chat with your dad earlier. His spirits are high, which is good. Proper treatment should set everything right."

"Yeah, thanks for checking on my dad, Faith. Are you and Ryan free tonight? Let’s have dinner together. It’s the least I can do," I said, eager to extend the invitation, feeling indebted.

Faith seemed about to decline, her lips forming the word "No," but then she hesitated. "Irene, Ryan and I have been avoiding eating out lately. How about we come over to your place, catch up with Serena and Brandon, and have dinner there, if that’s okay?"

Her eyes were hopeful, waiting for my response.

I hesitated at the idea of having Ryan and Faith over to my current place, though hiding it seemed pointless as they could easily find out.

Seeing my hesitation, Faith looked slightly disappointed but didn’t press further. She smiled, adding, "If it's inconvenient, we understand. We just miss those little ones. For some reason, they feel so close to us, maybe because in our hearts, you’re still very much part of the family."

I didn’t know how to respond to Faith’s words.

This natural closeness, for some reason, felt somewhat daunting to me.

Ryan then stepped out, likely unaware of the conversation I had with Faith. "Are we staying over tonight or heading back?" he asked.

"Let’s stay a couple of days. Neil might need us to keep an eye on him," Faith replied, her maternal concern for Neil evident.

"He’s only got himself to blame. Irene warned us about that diner, but he insisted!" Ryan expressed his disdain, clearly informed by Neil about the choice of the diner.

Ryan glanced at me, a look of approval in his eyes. "Irene’s smart. Saw the diner was a no-go and didn’t touch a thing. Unlike Neil, eating anything in sight and look where that got him."

I could only offer a weak smile in response.

"So, what’s your plan now? Moving again?" I inquired.

"Can't. I’m practically under siege," Stella lamented, sounding utterly defeated. "Feels like I’m trapped in some sort of fantasy world…"

With Mitch ensuring Stella couldn’t easily escape, she was brainstorming ways to break free.

Learning that I was researching hospitals for my dad, she didn’t want to keep me. We ended the call shortly after.

After narrowing down the hospital choices, I discussed them with my mom. We agreed on the options and planned to consult with the doctors.

While discussing Ryan and Faith's visit to my dad with my mom, she immediately showed resistance, "Why would they come over?"

"They came to see Hiram. When they learned about my dad's condition, they stopped by to see him too," I explained.

"Neil's here too, huh? Looking at his folks, I can tell they're still hoping you'll come back around, give it another go with Neil. You gotta keep Serena and Brandon in the loop, make sure they don't catch wind of what's really happening, got it?" Mom warned me with that serious tone of hers.

"Got it," I nodded, understanding the gravity of her words. After finishing her meal, Mom headed upstairs to take a shower and get some rest. She had been running herself ragged with all the work at the office, looking more worn out by the day.

Feeling the weight of exhaustion myself, I asked the nanny to take Serena and Brandon upstairs to get them settled for the night. I was just about to draw myself a nice, relaxing bath when my phone chose the worst possible moment to ring. Neil's name flashing on the screen sent a wave of unease through me.