Reborn, Reawakened, Rekindled

Chapter 443

I couldn’t help but feel a pang of sadness for Serena and Brandon, thinking of Neil’s gentle tone when he’d picked up Hiram earlier.

Neil would have been such a wonderful father, if only…

O

After spending some time with the kids, I carried little Yara out and headed over to Russel’s place.

He was already at work, but I knew the key and the code to the front door, so I let myself in with no trouble.

Daisy and Boomer were sleeping but awakened at my entrance. Daisy barked a few times, thinking we had an intruder, but upon recognizing me, her barks turned into happy tail wags.

I gave the two adorable creatures a smile before carrying Yara up to the guest room on the second floor.

After settling her down, I sent Norah a text asking her to stay over at my place tonight and keep Serena and Brandon company.

Once everything was arranged, my phone rang. It was a call from Stella. She must have shown great restraint to hold off calling me this long. Her temperament had clearly mellowed over the past few days. The old Stella would have been hounding me with calls every minute.

“Rena, tell me you knocked that vixen out cold!” Stella demanded hotly.

“I didn’t, but she’ll probably quit tomorrow,” I replied.

“Quit? She can do that? Women like her are experts at clinging to men. I know she won’t be easy to get rid of. That jackass Mitch, trying to take my child, getting tangled with a woman like that. I’m so over it,” Stella scoffed bitterly.

I filled Stella in on the details, and she fell silent for a while.

I wasn’t sure what she was thinking, but I was certain she still had feelings for Mitch, which were shattered by Ariana’s appearance.

he’d apologized sincerely before things got too serious with Ariana,

was a fool, his

Stella said before ending our conversation.

sighed, glancing at Yara asleep on the bed. Her dad was such

morning, Norah sent me a text. [Ms. Finch, Mitch has left.]

the time, it was already ten!

quickly turned to check on Yara,

felt as if I’d been struck by lightning. I shot up and checked under the bed and in the blankets, but Yara was nowhere to be found.

and kidnapped her? The thought chilled

out of the

“Bark! Bark!”

“Meow~”

Boomer were playing. Seeing me running down, they happily

was in no mood to play. I wanted to go out and

delicious smells of cooking wafting

are you going?” Russel’s voice sounded behind me, puzzled.

an apron, carrying a steaming bowl of greens. His handsome face was

stroller,

heart immediately settled down, feeling as if

get back? Why didn’t you wake me? You scared me half to death!” I complained, patting

I checked in and found you and Yara sleeping soundly. You looked tired, so I didn’t wake you up. I just

removed his apron. He wiped his well-defined hands with a wet

wanted to check on Serena and Brandon first. I’d spent the night away from them,

read my mind. He pulled out a

I quickly replied.