Chapter 175 Wanting a Cell Phone
"All good." Ashton paused, "Charles, take Chicago to wash her hands and face."
Charles nodded. Tugging his sister, who was staring at their mom, he headed for the bathroom.
"What's wrong?" Fiona asked in a hushed voice after the kids left the room.
Seeing her composed demeanor, Roy internally breathed a sigh of relief. He thought to himself, she truly comes from a great financial dynasty.
Throughout the tour, Lilian was constantly talking to Roy, while Fiona spoke very little. However, each question she asked was sharp and insightful.
Lilian initially felt she had the upper hand. But gradually, she realized something was off.
Fiona may have spoken infrequently, but she had the rhythm of the entire tour under her control.
By the latter part of the tour, Lilian wanted to chime in but couldn't find the right moment.
Ashton sighed, "Chicago and Charles met Darwin's grandmother."
"Huh?" Fiona was astonished.
Ashton held her forehead, "Not only did they meet, but Chicago volunteered to tell the old lady stories!"
The story goes back to the hospital, Chicago and Charles were having lunch with Grandma and then went walking in the hospital garden for digestion.
At that time, most of the patients were napping in their rooms.
There were very few people in the small garden.
When Ashton, Chicago, and Charles arrived, they overheard a caretaker chatting with a middle-aged woman.
"The patient's condition... I give her at most three months." the caretaker expressed.
"Her grandson is probably aware, which is why he asked for end-of-life care." the middle-aged woman responded.
"She's completely muddled now. Does she still need end-of-life care?" the caretaker shook her head doubtfully.
Chicago, tightly grasping Ashton's finger, squeezed harder upon hearing this.
She looked across the corridor, towards the old woman sitting in the wheelchair under the sunlight.
Frankly, Chicago felt a bit scared the first time she saw her.
The lady was so thin that she seemed to be just skin draped over bones.
"Ashton, what is end-of-life care?" Chicago asked, looking up at Ashton.
Ashton, busy with WhatsApp, casually replied, "It's the care given before someone dies, meant to help them pass more peacefully."
"Oh." Chicago nodded thoughtfully.
"Go play, but stay within my sight," Ashton said, letting go of Chicago's hand, then to Charles she said, "Charles, don't fall over and keep an eye on your sister."
"Okay." Charles nodded.
Set free, Chicago ran into the garden, with Charles following reluctantly.
A moment later, Chicago zigzagged her way to the elderly woman.
These days, Grandma Solomon was fairly spirited even though she was confused. Seeing Chicago, she smiled kindly.
Chicago's large eyes sparkled as she looked at her, then at the fairy tale book resting on her lap.
"Do you like this story book too?" Chicago asked with bright eyes.
Grandma Solomon didn't hear well and thought the child wanted the book, so she shakily picked it up and handed it over, "Here..."
Charles stepped forward, "Thank you, Grandma, but we don't need it."
After saying that, he took Chicago by the hand, "Let's not disturb Grandma's rest, come play over there."
Chicago was pulled away by Charles for a couple of steps when suddenly she broke free and ran back to the old woman.
"Grandma, let me tell you a story! I'm really good at storytelling!" announced the child.
That's how it was.
By the time Ashton realized what was going on and came to fetch them, Chicago had already leisurely told two fairy tales.
"Sorry, sorry to interrupt!" Ashton scooped up Chicago quickly, apologizing.
At this point, the caregiver came over upon seeing this.
"Who are you people?" The caregiver's tone was rather unfriendly.
"Are you the caregiver?" Ashton held Chicago and sized up the caregiver, "The midday sun is so harsh, you left the elderly lady all alone here. My five-year-old child felt so sorry for her that she ran over to look after her!"
"If anything had happened to the elderly lady at her age, what would you have done to compensate!" After saying this, Ashton walked away carrying one child and leading another.
After taking a few steps, the elderly lady in the wheelchair suddenly spoke up. "Fiona, don't leave!"
Ashton paused, instinctively looking back.
The elderly lady's face was filled with anxiety as she struggled to get up, reaching out towards them, "Fiona, come back!"
"Ma'am, Miss Woods is still overseas on business, and she'll be back soon, let's sit down for now..."
Fiona?
Ashton looked at the elderly woman. It then dawned on her who she was. This was Grandma Solomon, who once dominated high society and almost rivaled Janna in her heyday.
She hadn't expected Chicago to be so adept at finding relatives.
After returning to the country, she found a father and a great-grandmother.
Ashton cast a complicated glance at Chicago.
Watching the old lady being wheeled away, Ashton thought Grandma Solomon might be the only one in the Solomon family who genuinely cared for Fiona.
Even at the end of her life, she was still searching for Fiona.
After hearing what Ashton said, Fiona fell into a prolonged silence.
"Mommy!" Chicago, who had washed her hands, came running out again.
She wrapped her arms around Fiona's legs, gazing up at her in adoration.
"Chicago, I heard you were telling stories to the elderly in the hospital?" Fiona squatted down to ask.
"Yes!" Chicago nodded, "The old lady is so pitiful, she's about to die."
Chicago had witnessed the death of some animals.
Fiona had also educated her about death.
So, she understood what death was.
"Why did you want to tell stories to the elderly lady, Chicago?" Fiona touched her little cheek.
"The fairy tale book on her lap, it's the same one you read to me before bed, Mommy. I know every story by heart, and since the old lady can't read and I had some free time, I told her the stories." Chicago responded earnestly and endearingly.
Fiona looked at her, a smile of relief on her face.
Chicago had always been like a little sun. Always warm, always eager to share her warmth with others.
"Chicago is awesome." Fiona praised sincerely.
Chicago's eyes sparkled, "If I'm so awesome, can I have a present?"
Chicago hardly ever asks for presents.
"What do you want?" Fiona asked, piqued by curiosity.
"A cell phone!" Chicago responded without hesitation, "With a cell phone, I can contact Mommy anytime."
And the handsome uncle! Chicago added silently to herself.
"At most, I'll get you a phone watch!" Ashton tapped the back of Chicago's head, "What five-year-old kid has a cell phone!"
Chicago glared at Ashton with a sense of grievance.
Bad person Ashton!
She withdrew her gaze, looking pitifully at Fiona.
"You're still too young for a cell phone. Think of something else?" Fiona coaxed gently.
Chicago hung her head. She knew it would end like this.
"Mommy, go to work. I'll talk to Chicago." Charles said from behind.
"Okay, thanks for your help." Fiona stroked Chicago's head, reminded Ashton of a few things, and then left for work.
As soon as she left, Chicago and Ashton faced off.
The two of them, one big and one small, one tall and one short, arms crossed, glaring at each other.
"Why do you want a phone?" Ashton asked.
There hadn't been any sign of her wanting to easily contact Mommy before.
"I won't tell you!" Chicago huffed and turned her head away stubbornly.
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