Reborn, Reawakened, Rekindled

Chapter 447

“I’m off to cook, Russel finally said, his gaze dropping as he headed towards the kitchen.

A pang of sympathy hit me, coupled with a sense of guilt.

Neil, however, seemed oblivious to the emotional undercurrents between Russel and myself. He was absorbed in studying Serena’s face, his eyes filled with a profound sadness.

He looked up at me, his eyes mirroring his sorrow. “Do you think our daughter would have looked like her if she hadn’t passed away?”

I had never told Neil the gender of our first child, yet his question caught me off guard.

A sharp pain pierced my heart at the mention of our lost child.

“How did you know it was a girl?” I asked, my voice laced with bitterness.

“I looked into your medical records before,” Neil said, his gaze unwavering.

“I need a favor.”

“Which is?” I asked, surprised at his confession.

For a moment, Neil hesitated, his usually decisive demeanor faltering. The gravity of the situation was evident.

I couldn’t fathom what I could possibly do for him, apart from a DNA test with Serena, which I had no intention of agreeing to.

“Although I checked your medical records, the only copy of the ultrasound for our baby is with you. Do you still have it?” Neil finally asked, catching me off guard. I froze.

only picture I had of our child. I had kept it safe, never losing

voice. This was uncharacteristic of him; a man of his stature, even in his love for his

child was gone before it was even born. There

it was being suffocated and my eyes began to well up

it. But I didn’t want to rehash the painful memories. Shared pain

anymore. I threw it away because it was too painful to keep.” Neil’s face fell at my words, his lips curving into a forced smile. He didn’t say anything, but went back to looking at

air, painting a picture of warmth and love. In a sudden impulse, I blurted out, “I took

Neil replied instantly, his eyes shining with

of

of the ultrasound image during the scan. Although it wasn’t as clear as the original, one could still make out

baby resembled Neil, or more accurately, resembled

picture stirred up the pain in my heart. I quickly sent

phone to check the picture. While I took Serena from him, she was quiet

with longing

wondered if Neil loved me back then. If he didn’t, then why was he

a man who doesn’t love a woman wouldn’t

mind like overgrown weeds, refusing to be

at me. His eyes were

need to ask you one last time,” he said, his

knew Neil had his doubts, but he didn’t want to resort to a DNA test. If the results weren’t what he hoped for, he’d become the

evening chorus, breaking the heavy silence between us.

= ± ± 3 Z Z

looked at each other, our eyes filled

I finally spoke. My voice was not my own, yet it was firm and resolute. “Serena and Brandon are mine and Russel’s children. Neil, I’m sorry, but my heart changed back then. If you don’t believe me,

Neil’s