Reborn, Reawakened, Rekindled

Chapter 396

I couldn’t be sure. The moment the thought took root, though, I couldn’t suppress it.

If Karina simply ignored me during my ordeal, I might have accused her of having an icy heart but if she intentionally tied that rope around my ankle, that’s a different kettle of fish. Wasn’t that akin to attempted murder?

“Neil, could you fetch me some wet wipes from my bag? My hands are all greasy,” Karina requested, shaking her oil-slicked hands in mild exasperation.

Karina had brought a bag, which was placed just a few feet away from me.

Neil responded, “Sure, in a moment.””

I got up first, “I’ll get it for you!”

Seeing me approach her bag, Karina’s expression momentarily flinched in resistance, she quickly stepped forward, “It’s okay, I’ll get it. God knows this bag is already dirty enough.”

She then moved her bag away to a place beyond my sight, only then did she proceed to take out a pack of wet wipes.

This action of hers seemed a bit odd. Was she worried that I would have seen something in her bag? Or was she just being protective of her privacy?

“What’s up?” My distracted demeanor caught Russel’s attention; he asked in a low voice.

“Nothing,” I snapped back to reality, shaking my head.

A while later, Karina and Neil prepared lunch, which was all seafood, complemented by a bottle of wine provided by the hotel. The spread was quite lavish.

Russel and I sat on one side, with Neil and Karina opposite us.

her culinary achievement. She beamed at us, “Ms. Finch, Russel,

fresh,” I praised, even before starting

Russel a meaningful look, “Russel, shouldn’t you be more attentive to your wife? She’s hurt her hand. You

unexpectedly,

my left hand, but I was right-handed, so my daily activities weren’t much affected, especially when it came to something as simple as eating.

when Neil said it, it sounded

Russel’s expression cooled a bit, but Karina remained relaxed, even offering Neil a smile, “Right, I forgot one can eat with one hand. I just wanted to give Russel an opportunity to show his caring side. He’s always been so slow on the emotional uptake. I’m

laughed lightly, and turned my head towards Russel, “He’s just a bit introverted in front of others, but he’s

with Russel to Neil, I decided to play along.

hint of a smile tugged at his lips. He seemed

his eyes on his plate and not participating much in

and Karina. Only Karina was enjoying herself, initiating most of the topics.

to the restroom,” Karina announced midway through the

departure, it was just Russel, Neil, and me left. My gaze fell on the bag lying on the edge of the table: She was so

my hand with sauce, “Where are the wipes? I think

think twice, and only glanced at Neil once. After all, meddling with

present.

“Yeah, go ahead.”

few glances. That’s when I noticed something odd. There was a piece of rope in

me. If Karina really was the one behind it, why didn’t she just dispose of the rope in the ocean instead of keeping part of it in her bag? Wasn’t she

restroom. It was as if she was

I decided against it. Instead, I took the wipes, cleaned my

did was check her bag. Noticing it had been moved, she glanced at