Chapter 71
Stella was feeling bored out of her skull. Every day, all she did was eat, drink, rest, and occasionally complain about her brain slowing down. But when I mentioned needing to find out if Geneva was pregnant, she immediately offered to take on the task.
“Great. I’ll keep investigating Geneva, too, and try to find a way to get those negatives back.” I gratefully squeezed Stella’s hand, “Stella, thank you.”
Why are you thanking me? We’re tight, remember? Let’s go. I’ll go with you to visit your mom in the hospital today.” Stella grabbed her coat and off we went back to the hospital.
Along the way, Stella even picked up some nutritious food to bring along.
As we passed Dean’s room, we noticed Bonnie standing at the door. She was dressed in a sky-blue down jacket, which really suited her. She was as pure and beautiful as ever.
Stella was sharp as a tack and recognized Bonnie from her silhouette. She stopped and said, “Isn’t that the homewrecker?”
She didn’t care about Bonnie’s true nature. As long as Bonnie was messing around with a married man, she was a home-wrecker.
Bonnie heard us and immediately looked back. She forced a smile, and then went back into the room. She seemed to be looking at my mom’s door the whole time. Could Neil have come too?
“Come on, I’ve got something to tell you.” I took Stella to the other end of the hallway and briefly explained what had happened recently, then warned her, “Don’t get mad for me. I knew about all of this. I don’t care. I’m just waiting for Neil to divorce me.”
Stella’s mouth gaped wide open, her eyes nearly popping out. She took a while to digest my words, her voice tinged with excitement and admiration “Rena, you mean Neil’s the one refusing to divorce?”
I nodded.
“Holy cr ap, good for you! No wonder you’re so chill now!” Stella seemed delighted, like she’d won the lottery.
When I first came back to life, I told them that I wanted to divorce Neil, but it hadn’t happened yet. Given my previous personality, it would definitely be Neil proposing the divorce and me refusing. They never would have guessed that I was the one initiating the divorce, and Neil was the one refusing.
With my warning, Stella didn’t pay much attention to Bonnie. The next time we passed Dean’s room, she just rolled her eyes at her.
I slowed down and took a peek inside the room. Bonnie was staring at us as we passed by.
When I arrived at my mom’s room, I saw that Neil was indeed there. He was uncharacteristically peeling an apple for my mom. The room was warm. His coat was draped over the back of a chair, and he was wearing a waistcoat, looking very elegant.
Seeing Stella and me come in, he handed the peeled apple to my mom and said in a gentle tone, “I need to go to the office now.”
“Okay. You’re so busy and you still come to see me, how sweet.” My mom took the apple and smiled in response.
“That’s what I should do,” Neil got up and took his coat, then glanced at me with a meaningful look in his eyes. He added, “Call me if you need anything.”
I knew he was talking to me. I didn’t answer, but avoided his gaze and arranged the nutritional food that Stella had brought.
Neil wasn’t the type to get hung up on things, and he wouldn’t care about my deliberate cold shoulder. After he left the room, Stella immediately followed him out to take a peek, curious to see if Neil would greet Bonnie.
I reminded Stella not to mention Bonnie in front of my mom. Her mood was not good right now. If she knew about Bonnie, she’d probably faint with
anger.
With Neil’s ability, it would be very easy for him to move Dean to another hospital or room. He’d probably try to get rid of Dean and his family in the next few days. Otherwise, it would be too awkward for his future ex-mother-in-law and future father-in-law to be in adjacent rooms, and his future ex-wife and future wife to be running into each other all the time.
“Mom, what do you think about hiring a nurse? That way, Stella and I would have more time to investigate Geneva.” I sat by the bed, holding her hand, discussing with her.
“Okay. Rena, I’ve been thinking, I still believe your dad.” My mom sighed deeply, “Ah…thirty years of marriage can’t be shattered so easily.”
Stella also promised with gusto, “Don’t worry, I’ll help Rena. We’ll definitely drive that bi tch away!”
My mom didn’t blame me for telling Stella about this. Instead, she looked at her gratefully, “Thank you, Stella.”
Stella laughed and said, “No need to thank me. I love catching homewreckers!”
Just as she finished speaking, I saw Bonnie’s figure disappearing quickly from the doorway. I wonder if she heard what Stella said.
After a while, Stella left first. Only my mom and I were left in the room. We didn’t talk much before she fell into a deep sleep. She must have had a couple of sleepless nights. It wasn’t until today, when my dad visited and they resolved their issues, that she could finally get some peaceful sleep.
The room was stuffy. I went to the window and opened it a cr ack. The cold air rushed into the warm room, cooling my slightly feverish face. The next second, my gaze froze. I was looking at the man and woman in the snow below.
Neil hadn’t gone back to the office, but was talking to Bonnie. Meaning that from the time he said goodbye to my mom until now, he hadn’t left the hospital for an entire hour, but was waiting for Bonnie?
I watched them, my expression as blank as if I was looking at two strangers. But inside, there was a surge of emotions I couldn’t suppress, a mix of irony and anger at being played. If he loved Bonnie so much, why won’t he agree to divorce me? Why would he do and say things he shouldn’t with me?
Perhaps sensing my gaze, Neil suddenly looked up at the window where I was. I turned away from the window. Just then, a nurse came in, introduced by
Russel.
“If there’s any problem with my mom, call me right away.” I left a number with the nurse and hurried out.
1/2
10:45
Chapter 71
Later, I hired a private detective, ready to invest some money to investigate Geneva thoroughly.
Though my dad’s company provided pretty comprehensive personnel files, there just weren’t any useful leads in there. Considering Geneva was a Springvale gal, married and with kids, I decided to send someone over to Springvale to snoop around.
By the time I’d sorted all this out, it was already evening. The neon lights on the main street were dazzling. Their glow reflected off the wet ground and shimmered on the snow. There was a mix of glitz and a chilly vibe in the air. I stood on the sidewalk, watching couple after couple stroll by, hand in hand, laughing and chatting away.
Just as I was zoning out, a call from Russel jolted me back. His voice was low, “Where are you?”
“Out on the street, I answered absent-mindedly.
My nonchalant response left Russel silent for a moment before he spoke again, “Send me your location.”
