Reborn, Reawakened, Rekindled novel Chapter 678

"Hey there, Mr. Finch, pleasure to see you!"

"Mr. Whitmore, it's been a while! Please, have a seat."

In the Whitmores' backyard, an elaborately carved stone table was set with an array of exquisite pastries and tea, the May sunlight warm but not overbearing, casting a cheerful glow over everyone present.

This was Irene's first visit to the Whitmores with her parents.

The meeting was arranged because Whitmore Inc. was about to invest in a significant project in Rosemont, and as the mayor of Rosemont, Irene's father, Hutchins Finch, naturally placed great importance on this venture. Thus, a face-to-face discussion was warranted.

For Irene, a high school senior bogged down by the stress of impending exams, this outing was a welcomed break. She frequently accompanied her parents to various social events, but she hadn't expected this visit to lead her to a life-altering encounter.

While sitting politely next to her parents, listening to their conversation with the chairman of Whitmore Inc., a figure approached. Dressed in a casual grey hoodie and blue jeans, the simplicity of his attire did nothing to dim his striking presence. The youthful vigor mixed with a touch of aloofness in his features caught Irene off guard.

Her heart raced as this young man emerged from the shadows, a wild fluttering sensation in her chest akin to a deer prancing in her ribcage.

He was Neil, the first person to ever stir such feelings in Irene.

"Neil, come say hello to Mr. Finch," Ryan Whitmore called out, beckoning Neil to greet the Finches.

Drawing closer, Neil's greeting was cool, "Hello."

Hutchins admired the handsome young man before him, making polite conversation, "What brings you home, Neil?"

Given Neil appeared a bit older than Irene, Hutchins assumed he might be in college.

Ryan chuckled, "Oh, he's studying at Rosemont College. Comes home when he can, you know, college life is a bit more relaxed."

Rosemont College, Irene noted mentally, her eyes shyly avoiding Neil's until his impending departure made her look up, only to catch a fleeting glance of his indifferent eyes, causing her heartbeat to skip.

Who would have thought her, Ms. Finch, known for her vivacity at school, would turn into a timid mouse, too nervous to even hold Neil's gaze?

Ryan, though displeased with his son's lack of hospitality, waited until the Finches had left before reprimanding Neil, "What was that about? I asked you to show the young lady around, and you have her sit watching you play?"

"What's there to see?" Neil responded, frustrated, setting down his controller. "Dad, I just came to play some games. Why drag a stranger around the house?"

Ryan sternly replied, "We might need their cooperation for future projects. Stranger? Spend some time together, and you might become friends."

Neil scoffed, "I don't need more friends. And as you said, it's about cooperation, not dependency."

Ryan was seriously irked. His son, Neil, had it all—looks, brains, athleticism—but his pride and cold demeanor towards others were not traits Ryan was fond of. Yet, paradoxically, these very qualities seemed to make Neil irresistibly attractive to the opposite sex. Girls went out of their way, even tracking down their home address, just to deliver birthday gifts they had crafted with their own hands to Neil.

Seeing Neil had no intention of engaging further, Ryan let the subject drop. Another worry nagged at him though. If Neil did end up spending time with Irene, it was all too likely that the young pair might develop a bit of romantic chemistry. And Ryan feared that could end up hurting the young girl.

What he didn't know was that Irene, from that day on, was hopelessly smitten. That night, she dreamt of Neil for the first time. In her dream, he didn't ignore her as he had in real life. Instead, he held her hand, took her out for burgers, strolled through the mall, and even watched a movie together—just like a real couple.

It was the first time Irene had met Neil, the first time she had dreamt of him, and the very first time she had fallen for a boy.