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.

serious with Ariana, he might have been able to convince Stella to give him

he was a fool, his

see,” was all Stella said before ending our

asleep on the bed. Her dad

sent me a text. [Ms.

checked the time, it

to check on Yara, but she was

by lightning. I shot up and checked under the bed and in the blankets, but Yara was nowhere

and kidnapped her? The thought chilled me to the

dashed out of the

“Bark! Bark!”

“Meow~”

Boomer were playing. Seeing me running down, they happily came to rub against me.

no mood to play. I wanted to go out and search for Yara or call

delicious smells

Russel’s voice

around in surprise. Russel was wearing an apron, carrying a steaming bowl of greens. His

him was a baby stroller,

down, feeling as if I could

didn’t you wake me? You scared me

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

room, set down the bowl of greens, and removed his apron. He wiped his well-defined hands

was surprised I’d slept in so late. I was a bit hungry, but I wanted to check on Serena and Brandon first. I’d spent the

mind. He pulled out a chair, “Sit down. I’ll

I quickly