Reborn, Reawakened, Rekindled novel Chapter 644

My mom handed me the phone, and I couldn't wait to ask, "How's Neil? What hospital are you guys at now?"

Faith's voice was choked with emotion, "Irene, you need to focus on getting better right now. Neil... we're taking care of him, but he might need to be moved to a hospital abroad."

Moved again? That sounded serious, perhaps even more serious than what my mom had told me. My heart clenched tighter in an instant.

"Where are you now? Has he woken up yet?" I asked anxiously.

"Irene, don't worry, alright? Just focus on healing. Take care of Serena and Brandon for us," Faith said, before hanging up.

I tried calling back in shock, but she didn't pick up.

Seeing me desperately trying to contact Neil, my mom came over and took the phone from me, looking at me with pained eyes, "Rena, try not to panic. Let's just wait for news about Neil, okay?"

How could I not panic? For some reason, it felt like there were needles piercing my heart, causing a dense pain.

But right now, I was powerless because my gut was telling me that Neil was in deep trouble this time.

Suddenly feeling agitated, I tried to get up, wanting to leave, ignoring the pain from the injuries on my back. My sudden movement alarmed my parents, who immediately called for the doctor and nurse.

Eventually, I fell into a deep sleep under the effect of a sedative.

I dreamt that I was attending someone's funeral, surrounded by people in black clothes. I tried to see their faces clearly but couldn't. Just as I was getting anxious, the scene changed, and I found myself in a cemetery. There, in front of a tombstone with a photo, shockingly, it was me!

The immense shock woke me up from the terrifying nightmare.

The effect of the sedative had worn off, and the room was empty, my parents nowhere in sight.

Exhausted, I looked at the ceiling, contemplating getting up and leaving the hospital on my own when the door opened again.

This time, a group of people came in, including Stella, Mitch, Barbara, Silas, and even Cooper...

And to my surprise, Alicia had come back too. It was only then I noticed she was pregnant, her belly visibly showing.

But my mind was preoccupied with thoughts of Neil, feeling like he was drifting further away from me. I had once wanted to distance myself from him and start anew, but now, I found myself longing to see him again.

"Rena, are you feeling any better?" Stella sat down beside me, her brows knit together in worry, tears in her eyes. "Please, take care of yourself first, okay?"

"Neil, he..." Mitch started, his fists clenched as if holding back the pain, his voice subdued. "He'll pull through. He caught you to protect you, wanting you to survive. If you don't take care of yourself, his sacrifice would be in vain."

I knew all that, but I couldn't convince myself to keep waiting. If Neil was in a coma or, worse, paralyzed, I'd rather be by his side, feeling somewhat at ease.

It was in facing the threat to his life that I realized my hatred for him had faded over time. In my past life, he was my tormentor, deeply wounding me, but in this life, I became his, making him pay for his past actions.

Recovering in the hospital was tough, my mind constantly worrying over Neil, but I refrained from mentioning him, promising my parents to prioritize my well-being for the sake of the children.

Mitch occasionally updated me on Neil's condition, but never with photos or videos, making me fear he was deceiving me.

Thankfully, Stella secretly sent me a photo of Neil lying in the hospital, still unconscious but no longer in critical condition.

However, after my discharge, Mitch's updates ceased.

Anxious, I couldn't resist dialing Neil's number after about half a month, my heart racing at the thought of hearing his voice.

Someone picked up, and I eagerly asked, "Neil? Is that you?"

"Irene, it's me," came Faith's aged voice, my heart sinking.

"What's really going on with Neil? Can we video call to see him?" I tried to keep calm, "Neil got hurt trying to save me. I should take responsibility. You don't need to hide anything from me."

Faith paused for a moment, letting out a sigh. "Irene, don't worry about Neil. He's alright. He just feels like he owed you and now considers his debt paid. He's decided to move on and not hold onto you anymore. Just focus on living a good life with your kid."

Her words hit me like a truck. I had thought Neil was still recovering, maybe still unconscious, and that's why I hadn't heard from him.

But it turns out, he's fine. He just doesn't want anything to do with me anymore, thinking he doesn't owe me anything.