Chapter 113
After Neil left, Russel and the others gave me a look.
If the call Neil got was from Bonnie, it meant his ex–wife and current girlfriend would have to share a meal.
Stella couldn’t take it anymore. She got up abruptly and said, “I’m not eating!”
“It’s okay “I was worried that Stella’s agitation might affect her baby.
Mitch quickly patted her belly, “Don’t worry, baby! Your mom’s just a little pissed off!”
Stella lashed out at Mitch, “Just the thought that you’re friends with Neil makes me not want to marry you!”
Mitch didn’t say anything, holding his head
“Stella, you’re pregnant. Don’t get upset.” I reminded Stella again.
Just when the atmosphere was awkward, the door to the box opened again.
Neil walked in with a man. They were laughing and their relationship seemed good.
But I didn’t know the man.
“Louis Aldridge?‘ Russel recognized the man, sounding a little surprised.
“Russel, long time no see! Louis, who was about Neil’s age and looked quite refined, greeted Russel with a smile.
Once Neil and Louis sat back down, I cast them a few glances. I had assumed Neil was going to pick up Bonnie, but instead he brought back a man.
Louis took the seat across from me. I faintly felt like I had seen him somewhere before. After some thought, I remembered that I had seen him in Neil’s photo album.
Neil’s album recorded some key moments from his childhood till now. There was a photo of him, Russel, and another boy of the same age.
It was their high school graduation photo. The face of the boy I didn’t recognize in the photo looked very similar to Louis in front of me.
I hadn’t met Louis in my previous life, and I hadn’t noticed him in the photos either.
“Louis!” Mitch and Cooper also recognized Louis.
Louis greeted them with a smile. Finally, his gaze fell on me, “Is this Mrs. Whitmore?”
I was surprised and looked at Neil, signaling him to explain.
How did Louis know I was Neil’s ex–wife?
“We’re divorced.” Neil explained calmly
The atmosphere instantly became awkward.
Louis was startled, and then he said, “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay.” I shook my head.
Russel glanced at me, then at Neil, and then lowered his head, seemingly in deep thought.
The dinner was lively enough. Louis‘ arrival put Neil and the other men in a good mood. From their conversation, I learned that Louis, Neil, and Russel grew up together, but Louis was different. He was the son of the Whitmore family’s driver.
Although Louis‘ social standing was different from Neil’s, he was very talkative, polite, and well–dressed. It seemed like he was doing well in life now. After graduating from high school, Neil and Russel continued to study at university in the country, while Louis was admitted to a school abroad. This had kept them apart for many years.
“How’s your father?” Neil asked.
“He…” Louis gave a bitter smile, “He passed away last year from cancer.”
Neil and Russel exchanged a look. Both of their faces looked a little heavy
I ate my food silently, listening to their conversation.
Russel also spoke up, “My condolences. Why didn’t you tell us? We should have been there for your father’s funeral.”
Louis replied. “What’s done is done, no point in bothering too many people.”
His words made sense I appreciated Louis‘ perspective.
I forked a piece of fish and put it in my mouth. Suddenly, I smelled a very strange odor. A strong discomfort in my stomach made me feel like throwing
up
The piece of fish felt like it was stuck in my throat.
I got up and rushed to the bathroom.
“Urgh…” I threw up everything I’d eaten.
My throat felt a bit sore, probably because of the stomach acid.
After a while, I washed my hands and wiped my face. Looking in the mirror, I was filled with doubts.
Did I have a stomach disease, or…?
asn’t hke Stella. My periods weren’t regular, so I didn’t pay much attention to it when I didn’t get my period for two months
Could I be pregnant?
The thought startled me Ned and I had only been intimate a few times. The most recent time was after I was discharged from the hospital after being kidnapped by Norman
The next moming. I rushed to the hospital for a checkup because I wasn’t feeling well, so I forgot to take my birth control pill
Surely couldn’t get pregnant from one time?
What’s more, Ive been taking a lot of medication over the past two months, including cold medicine, painkillers, and stomach medicine
Rena what’s wrong” Barbara came to the bathroom to fad me Seeing me standing in front of the sink in a daze, she was worried
tcame back to my senses, shaking my head nervously, “Nothing 1 just ate too much, so my stomach’s a bit upset.”
“Everyone’s almost done eating and is planning to find a place to rest. Stella said she wants to go back to your place with us. Mitch will pick her up and take her to the airport tomorrow morning” Barbara said.
“Okay, let’s go regained my composure after washing my hands
Barbara and I went to the hotels parking lot. I was driving. Stella sat in the passenger seat, and Barbara sat in the back.
Neil probably had a residence here, rather than staying in a hotel. He told Russel and Cooper, “You guys can stay at my place.”
Ts is that okay” Cooper asked.
Everyone thought Bonnie was living with Neil
“What’s not okay? Louis, you come too. We can have drinks and chat.” Neil said to Louis.
“No problem” Louis was more than happy to
I powered up the car window and left before them. When I got home, Barbara packed up a bit, and then we each went to bed after washing up.
But I couldn’t sleep.
After tossing and turning for a while, I got up, found the remaining pregnancy test stick that Stella had left behind, and went to the bathroom to test myself.
I took a deep breath, let my pee touch one end of the pregnancy test, and then stared intensely at the little window displaying the results.
A line appeared real quick
My heart raced, I was freaking out, eyes still glued to the stick.
Ten seconds later, a barely visible red line gradually surfaced, getting more and more apparent.
I held the stick in my hand, crouched in the bathroom, and was literally gobsmacked for quite a while.
Holy moly, I’m pregnant!
But I just got divorced with Neil… What am I supposed to do now?
“Rena, are you in the bathroom? I gotta use it!” At that moment, Stella’s voice echoed from outside the door. Panicked, I quickly wrapped the pregnancy stick in toilet paper, lifted the lid of the trash can and dumped it in.
