Reborn, Reawakened, Rekindled novel Chapter 632

"Nothing much, where are you at right now?" I didn't delve into details with Russel, but instead, I inquired about his current location.

Given the magnitude of the issue I was embroiled in, he surely must have been aware, yet his silence on the matter was uncharacteristic of him.

After a brief pause, Russel didn't answer my question directly but vaguely replied, "Abroad, dealing with some stuff."

Instantly, my mind raced to Karina—was Russel also scrambling over Karina's issues?

It made sense. They were both in the same boat. If Karina went off the rails again, airing dirty laundry about Russel, it could potentially backfire on him too.

My mood soured at the thought. I've always considered Russel a friend, even knowing his allegiance was with Karina, believing he'd still have my back when push comes to shove.

Maybe I was being selfish, incapable of accepting others yet proudly exploiting their affections, expecting them to be on my side.

But why should they?

Russel's decision to stick with Karina for their mutual benefit was perfectly logical.

After recalibrating my mindset, I took a deep breath, "Alright, I got it. You do your thing."

"You..." Russel seemed to have more to say but eventually didn't. He replied, "Alright, take care of yourself. I'll be back home in a few days."

He was aware of my situation, hence his reminder for me to rest. I acknowledged with a "hm" before hanging up.

Post-call, I reflected on my behavior, realizing how unfair I was being. Continuously treating Russel as a mere tool, and feeling aggrieved the moment he ceased to serve my interests.

Soon after, a nurse informed me that they failed to apprehend the impostor doctor, who likely changed clothes before leaving the hospital.

"Pull up the surveillance footage, every entrance and exit of the hospital," I instructed, aiming to confirm whether Louis had made an appearance.

The gravity of someone posing as a doctor to administer treatments was not lost on the hospital staff, who took the matter seriously, agreeing to my request and deciding to involve the police.

Once everything was in motion, I dialed Louis' number, only to find it disconnected. He must have changed his number.

My mom returned with a pot of chicken soup, sensing my unease, she inquired about the situation.

I relayed the events, including Karina's state and Neil's whereabouts abroad.

Even Russel's scenario wasn't left out.

"How could this be? No, I must arrange someone to stay with you day and night until you're discharged!" My mom's concern was palpable, and I didn't object, fearing what Louis and Karina might concoct next.

Assuming a swift recovery, a few days of surveillance were acceptable.

Of course, I didn't wish for any lasting complications, but it wasn't up to me; I could only hope for the best.

"How about you? You still haven't answered. Hiram was taken by the orphanage, which must be sketchy since Dylan's people are there. He and Karina..." My thoughts drifted to Dylan, a shady character Neil had mentioned but never elaborated on. A sudden realization hit me, "Wait, what exactly led to Karina's hysterectomy? Wasn't it related to her suicide attempt?"

"It's unrelated. She ended up there because of her tumultuous relationship with Dylan, leading to multiple miscarriages and eventually the removal of her uterus due to medical complications," Neil explained coldly, devoid of anger but filled with disappointment.

Deceived by Karina time and again, it seemed anger was all Neil could muster, devoid of sorrow.

Perhaps Neil hadn't lied to me. Taking Karina back was indeed for the sake of their child, a responsibility he felt compelled to bear.

And now, with that responsibility lifted, there was no room for heartache.

I couldn't believe it when I found out Karina had been pregnant with Dylan's child and had an abortion... It's hard to imagine how wild her life abroad must have been. No wonder Dylan came all the way here to find her, probably aiming to blackmail her. He must have had two aces up his sleeve - one being their past affair, and the other, the true parentage of Hiram.

"Yeah, I got it. If you haven't sorted things out by the time I'm discharged, I'll come over and we can tackle it together," I said, feeling a bit guilty for not being more involved. Neil didn't have to take Hiram's situation so to heart.

"Stay put and take care of Serena and Brandon. With Louis still around here, he'll definitely try something against you, especially now that the family heirloom, that jade pendant, is back with me," Neil warned me.

Neil's concern hit home. We were in the middle of a high-stakes game, and it felt like every move was critical. The mention of the jade pendant – a symbol of legacy and heritage in our story – got me thinking about safeguarding our own family's future. It was a reminder of the tangled web of relationships and secrets that seemed to define our lives.