Chapter 172 Confession
It took a while before Fiona spoke up, "Ashton, do you think I should have a romance, get married?"
Ashton looked at her, "Just to find a father for the kids?"
Fiona fell silent. Probably because that time with Darwin had hurt too much, it was as if she had lost the ability to fall in love.
Plus, for these five years, she had been busy with studies, working, and raising children, hardly having a chance to dwell on personal issues.
"Idiot." Ashton clicked her tongue, "Even after becoming a mother, you are still you. Marriage is about your lifelong happiness, better to be alone than in bad company."
"Is that why you never date?" Fiona asked with a smile.
"We're talking about you, why drag me into it?" Ashton rolled her eyes, "But, if the person were Dagmar, I would support that!"
Dagmar...
Fiona swirled her wine glass, her eyelids drooping.
Years ago, she had entrusted Dagmar to look after Janna. Over the years, although Dagmar was no longer practicing medicine, he gradually took over the Rhoads family's medical consortium.
Now he was relatively successful, but at first, Dagmar was so devastated by the news of Fiona's death that he nearly gave up on himself. Fiona had no choice but to take a risk and meet him.
These past few years, whenever Dagmar had a vacation, he would come to see her and the children.
He had even brought up marriage initially. However, Fiona didn't love Dagmar romantically, and she was clearer about that than anyone else. Dagmar was such a good person, how could she bear to hold him back? So, she rejected him.
Over the years, although Dagmar stopped bringing up marriage, he also hadn't dated or married. He just silently stayed by her side.
"Forget it." Fiona downed her glass in one go, "I can't hold Dagmar back for a lifetime, I already owe him enough."
"Owe him?" Ashton looked incredulous. "If it weren't for the past events, Dagmar would probably still be in pediatrics, right? How could being a president now compare to that?"
Before Fiona could speak, Ashton seemed to anticipate what she was about to say, drawing out her words, "I know, being a pediatrician was his dream, right? Since you care so much about his dreams, why not hurry up and marry him? Marrying you, becoming the father of your kids, that's his real dream now!"
Ashton saw that Fiona had become silent.
Bored, she picked up her phone and started scrolling through Facebook.
It was almost time for dinner. Maria had posted pictures on Facebook of a table full of delicious food. Ashton looked through the photos one by one. Eventually, her gaze settled on one particular image.
In the photo, Chris was dressed in a white casual shirt and sweatpants, sitting with a girl.
The girl was entirely different from her, an epitome of soft femininity and beauty.
What a jerk.
He was wearing the clothes she had bought for him, laughing and chatting with a prospective match.
Ashton wanted to swipe to the next photo, but her finger was frozen, unable to move until the screen went black.
Fiona had had a couple of drinks. Feeling slightly tipsy, she was about to go upstairs.
Out of the blue, Ashton spoke up, "I was with Chris for four years."
Fiona's legs wobbled for a moment. She looked at Ashton in astonishment, "Chris?"
"Yes, Chris." Ashton looked at Fiona with a wistful smile, "I've really made a mess of things, haven't I?"
"Weren't you scared of him?" Fiona sat down beside her, "When did these four years start?"
"Right after you... had passed away, I was in bad shape. My mom was worried, so she asked Chris to take care of me."
"When people are vulnerable, they always want to cling to something. I clung to Chris. But because I was concerned about our relationship, we never made it official." Ashton looked toward the lamp, "Until half a year later, on Charles and Chicago's first birthday party. I was so overjoyed I drank too much, bought a plane ticket, and flew to see Chris."
Ashton paused for a moment.
"It was raining heavily that day. Chris said when I showed up at his apartment door, I looked like a drenched stray dog." This memory seemed to be a happy one for Ashton as she recounted it with a smile, "That night, I became intimate with Chris. Remember you asked me where I had been for those few days? I spent three days and four nights at Chris's apartment."
Fiona listened with a serious expression, "So the four years began from that day?"
"Yes." Ashton nodded, "Actually, the past year has been quite rough. The pressure from our parents to get married scattered all the courage and plans of being in love. I wanted to tell my mom, but Chris firmly objected, he kept asking me to wait. But that waiting turned into him starting to see other matches. And I decided not to wait any longer."
"Why didn't you tell me?" Fiona looked at Ashton's distressed state and felt her heart ache.
Ashton was always an optimist. Now, however, she looked utterly heartbroken.
"Chris didn't allow it." Ashton said, as tears began to stream uncontrollably, "I really did listen to him too much!"
Fiona had never interacted with Chris.
She truly couldn't claim to understand him.
But, just from the bits and pieces she picked up from Ashton, she could tell Chris was no good.
Ashton was young and naïve.
He was not.
He's only now worried about his parents, but what about before?
"Ashton, if there's an abyss ahead, retreat." Fiona gently advised, "He's not worth it."
"Yeah, he's not worth it." Ashton repeated, echoing Fiona's sentiment.
The more Fiona thought about it, the angrier she became.
"No, I'll go find him! I'll give him a thrashing!" Fiona declared, rising to her feet.
Ashton quickly grabbed her hand, looking at her with tearful eyes, "Forget about it."
Fiona looked at her, her forehead furrowed in concern.
"In these past years, aside from those few terrifying moments, I was honestly happy." Ashton said earnestly, "That's enough for me."
"That makes two of us." Fiona sat back down, chuckling wordlessly.
Ashton joined in the laughter, "Both of us are just unlucky."
Fiona turned to her, "Cheer up and find a handsome guy to fall in love with. That'll show Chris!"
Ashton clicked her tongue thoughtfully, "You know, that makes a lot of sense."
It was actually just a jest from Fiona.
"That settles it, then. I need to find someone young and attractive!" Ashton mused with interest, "Old men are no fun!"
Fiona couldn't help but burst into laughter.
"Or maybe I should line up a few options for you?" Fiona suggested playfully, raising an eyebrow.
Memories of the past surfaced in their minds.
Ashton laughed, "Don't even joke about it. I set you up with those guys, and now one by one they're married or engaged. They're all great guys!"
Reflecting, Ashton shook her head, "What a pity, back then I didn't think to keep one for myself. If I had, I might have never met Chris."
Fiona wrapped an arm around her shoulders, "It's not too late, you're so wonderful, what kind of man could resist you?"
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