Reborn, Reawakened, Rekindled

Chapter 348

Just as I nodded in agreement, my phone rang. The sudden noise in the quiet living room sent my

heartbeat racing. Seeing the caller ID, I felt a headache coming on.

Sure enough, it was my mom.

I didn’t want to answer it, but I was worried that ignoring it would make her suspicious. So I gave Neil a

look and picked up the call,

“Rena, where are you? Why haven’t you come home yet?” My mom’s stern voice put me under a lot of

pressure.

“I’m on my way home. I was out shopping with Alicia Rider.” I quickly made up an excuse, my insides

churning with anxiety.

“You’re with Alicia? Really?” My mom asked doubtfully, “Then where is she? Let her talk to me.”

Well, that was a pickle. I glanced nervously at Neil, who was quietly watching me with a serious

expression.

“She just left. I’ll have her call you later, okay? I’m about to head home too.” I had no choice but to keep

up the lie.

My mom wasn’t easily fooled. “No need. I’ll call Alicia directly. I have her number!”

She hung up before I could coordinate with Alicia. Cold sweat trickled down my back, and I felt

extremely uneasy.

Neil’s gaze was piercing, as if seeing right through me. He suddenly said, “I’ve already texted Alicia. It

should be fine.”

I was taken aback, “Really?”

“Yeah.” Neil raised an eyebrow and said, “Feels like we’re having an affair with our current situation.”

That description made me cringe.

I didn’t respond to Neil. I just waited in silence. A couple of minutes later, my phone rang again. It was

my mom.

Thanks to Neil’s quick thinking and Alicia seeing his message in time, my lie was salvaged. My mom

only told me to get home soon. I thought that was it, but then she suddenly brought up Russel Dawson,

“Rena, did Russel say anything to you? After he brought you food, did he say anything?”

Her voice, previously calm, suddenly spiked. I quickly looked at Neil, worried he had heard.

Unfortunately, his expression had already changed. There was a clear flash of anger in his eyes.

I had a feeling my mom did that intentionally. Even though Alicia vouched for me, she was still

suspicious.

If Neil wasn’t by my side, or if I didn’t care about him anymore, what she said wouldn’t be a problem.

But if Neil heard, it would definitely cause trouble between us, which was exactly what she wanted.

“Mom, there’s nothing between Russel and me. Stop doing this.” I was speechless at my mom’s

behavior; her illness had changed her.

After hanging up, I fell into an awkward silence, not knowing how to face Neil.

His eyes darkened, like gathering storm clouds that he couldn’t sweep away. He just looked at me, with

no trace of a smile on his face. After a while, he asked, “Why was Russel in your room?”

I frowned as I explained about Russel coming over for dinner.

I thought my explanation would make him understand. But surprisingly, he got even angrier, “You knew

he was at your house. Why didn’t you lock your door? Did you do it on purpose to give him a chance?”

His question confused me. I never had such intentions. And Russel had never entered my room without

my permission before. I thought he wouldn’t do such a thing.

“Have you started seeing him again while I was away?” Neil accused me. His voice was filled with

jealousy. “Why can’t you cut him off completely?”

“Neil, I didn’t approach him. My mom invited him. After waking up, her personality seems to have

changed. She doesn’t approve of us being together. In her mind, she wants me to be with Russel, so

she deliberately arranged for us to be together. You get it?” I was getting angry then. Russel’s actions

made me uncomfortable, and then Neil was blaming me for it.

Did I give Russel any hints? I’m pretty sure I didn’t. I made my point v

Neil’s possessiveness was on full display as he scoffed, “Is that so? Then why didn’t you handle things

more decisively? When he showed up at your house, you should’ve told him to leave. Or you could’ve

told your mom that we’re not just seeing each other but planning to remarry, have children, and spend

our lives together. How about that?”

“My mom can’t deal with the shock right now. I can’t do that.” I replied.

“So I’m supposed to deal with these shocks instead?” Neil’s voice turned icy, “This is something your

mom will have to accept sooner or later. The sooner she knows, the sooner she can prepare herself,

Isn’t that better?”

I didn’t dare tell Neil that I couldn’t say those things, and I had even promis

cut all ties with him, and we would leave Rosemont.

my mom that after my dad’s issues were resolved, I would

1 was never one to have big ambitions in my career. The only reason I was sticking around was

because I thought the company was the

result of my mom’s hard work, and I didn’t want it to go to waste.

But since my mom had said she no longer cared about her career and just wanted a simple life with her

family, I wouldn’t refuse.

Being with Neil would have meant my future would have been filled with difficulties. Even if we made

up, there would be scars. But if I listened to my mom, I could have had a calm and stable life.

“Let’s talk about this later. I should get going.” I didn’t want to continue that topic since I was afraid I

might let something slip.

Neil didn’t stop me that time. He just sat there, watching me leave with a blank expression.

Another conflict was over, and my mood plummeted from its calm state. I was caught between Neil and

my mom. I was constantly walking on eggshells.

With my mind in a mess, I drove back to Sapphire River Community. My mom was still awake, waiting

for me in the living room. It was clear she had some questions.

I felt incredibly tired. Up till now, my mom had never put that much pressure on me. But then, it all

came at once, leaving me feeling suffocated.

“Where have you and Alicia been, and how come you guys didn’t buy anything?” My mom questioned

me right off the bat.

“Mom, you weren’t like this before; can’t you cut me some slack? I’m not a three-year-old kid anymore.”

I sighed, answering with exhaustion.