NovelEnglish
Chapter 476
My words had barely left my mouth when Russell’s demeanor noticeably shifted, his entire presence exuding a
powerful intensity. I seemed to have provoked him, as his face was
painted with an anger I had never seen before.
However, he didn’t lash out at me. He merely clenched his fists, staring at me with a restrained fury.
“Did you visit Neil today?” Russel asked suddenly.
“Yes,” I confirmed, neither denying my actions nor explaining why I had gone. If Russel wanted to misunderstand
my intentions, then let him. I was perfectly content to let him think I was still hung up on Neil, so he could finally let
go.
As expected, Russel’s eyes darkened at my admission. His gaze, sharp as a knife, cut through me like a hot blade
through butter.
But I wasn’t afraid. If we didn’t have this confrontation, we would only be wasting more time.
“Where exactly do I fall short compared to Neil? Anything he can provide, I can offer you even more!” Russel’s
emotions finally started to flare up. I knew he had been holding back for far too long.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtSeeing his emotional unrest, I found myself oddly calm. My voice softened considerably, “It’s not a matter of you
being less than Neil, but me being unable to fall in love with you. Being with someone you don’t love is agonizing,
and I think you understand that.”
Russel had been forced into an engagement with Chloe in the past. During that period, he didn’t even have the
intérest to look at her.
Perhaps because he understood that feeling, he couldn’t respond to my words. The disappointment and
unwillingness in his eyes were painfully apparent.
I had seen that look before, when he told me that Bonnie didn’t love him.
Unconsciously, I had become the second Bonnie, his unattainable goal. In the end, it was hard to tell whether his
pursuit was born out of love or a distorted desire to win.
Our voices must have carried, as my mother came out looking for us again. Seeing Russel’s distressed expression,
she immediately shot me a warning look.
“Mrs. Finch, I need to take my leave,” Russel managed to say in a controlled voice, before swiftly leaving.
“Russel, wait!” my mother called out, but to no avail.
Once Russel had left, she turned to me, her brows furrowed in anger. “Rena, what did you
say to Russel? I’ve never seen him this upset before. I couldn’t even call him back!”
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Chapter 476
‘Mom, I’d rather keep things complicated with Neil than force myself to accept Russel. You and dad should give up
on that idea,” I said firmly, leaving no room for negotiation.
My mother looked stunned, likely not expecting my resistance towards Russel to be this strong, to the point where I
was willing to overlook the potential danger of Neil.
I was too exhausted to argue with my mother any further that day, so I quickly went back to my room to sleep.
My mother knocked on my door a few times, but I didn’t respond. She probably didn’t want to wake the kids, so she
left it at that.
For several days, my mother tried to persuade me to stop rejecting Russel, even suggesting the idea of us getting
married.
The more she pushed, the more I resisted, creating a tense atmosphere in the house.
“Your father will be back in a few days, and he has always hoped you could be with Russel. Since you’ve made up
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmyour mind, you should explain it to him yourself!” my __mother said coldly, clearly disheartened by my
stubbornness.
Regardless of her attitude, I would not back down. If my father was coming back in a few days, then it was the
perfect opportunity to clear things up.
I didn’t respond to my mother’s words, focusing instead on trimming Serena and Brandon’s nails. My phone rang,
and seeing that it was Faith, I set down the nail clippers and walked out into the yard.
“Irene, could we meet tonight?” Faith’s voice was as gentle and kind as always.
“Yes, I’ve been quite busy these past few days and haven’t been in touch. If you’re free tonight, let’s catch up,” I
agreed, not wanting to stay at home in the suffocating atmosphere.
We decided to meet at a nearby private café, Bloom & Brew. Faith enjoyed gardening and the café had a lovely
ambiance, perfect for a chat.
After entrusting Serena and Brandon to Norah’s care, I set out to meet Faith at the café.
Faith was already there when I arrived, dressed in a simple yet elegant navy blue dress. Her hair was neatly pinned
up. The violet bracelet on her wrist, also a gift from me, added a touch of sophistication to her attire.
“Irene, have a seat,” Faith greeted me warmly.
Seeing Faith’s friendly smile eased the tension I had been feeling from my mother’s
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