Chapter 210 Critical Condition
It wasn't the first time Fiona had thought about visiting Mrs. Solomon.
After all, during those years, Mrs. Solomon had been one of the few who genuinely cared for her.
Now, as Mrs. Solomon reached the end of her life and still thought of her, it was only right, both emotionally and morally, for Fiona to make this visit.
She had even gotten hold of the hospital room number.
She crossed a corridor overgrown with green vines, turned right, took the elevator to the 8th floor, where Mrs. Solomon was the sole patient.
The elevator doors opened.
As Fiona stepped out, she saw medical staff rushing out of the office.
She felt a momentary shock.
Suddenly, she had an ominous feeling, remembering how on the day her grandmother had passed, the staff had hurried in the same panic.
Instinctively, she quickened her pace, following behind the medical personnel.
After the staff dashed into the room, Fiona's steps came to an abrupt halt.
A pale Darwin emerged from the room.
In that instant, Fiona's mind went blank.
She thought Darwin should be resting in the hospital...
Was it still possible to get away now?
Quickly, Darwin gave her the answer. He lifted his gaze, and in his handsome eyes, there was a weariness Fiona had rarely seen.
Their eyes locked.
Fiona spoke first, "A friend's grandmother is here... I seem to have come to the wrong place."
Darwin said nothing at first, then after a moment, he spoke, "Grandma is leaving us."
Fiona's heart felt like it had been fiercely struck.
"I'm sorry," Darwin said, his deep gaze seeming to look through her, back to the Fiona of six years ago.
It was in this same time of the year.
She had been alone, bidding farewell to her only relative when she was back in her hometown.
And during her most desperate and helpless moment, he had been by Lilian's side, coldly hanging up her call.
Fiona pursed her lips.
Logic told her she should leave but if Mrs. Solomon were to pass away today, she would never see the old woman who had loved her again.
In the end, she resolutely walked toward the room.
Darwin stood in his place, his eyes red, watching her approach.
"I've admired Mrs. Solomon since I was a child," Fiona said, still justifying her presence, "even though I came here by mistake..."
Before Fiona could finish, Darwin's tall figure seemed to sag instantaneously. He bent down, his forehead wearily resting on Fiona's shoulder.
Fiona's voice stopped abruptly.
She thought the whole situation was absurd.
Darwin was certain of her identity, and she knew that her disguise was pointless.
Yet the act had to continue.
The show, it seemed, could no longer go on.
"I know you're not..." Darwin's deep voice resonated in her ear.
Fiona remained silent.
Moments passed.
Darwin let out a long sigh and stood up straight.
Then he walked back to the hospital room door, "Stop it."
The attending physician looked at Darwin with a complex expression.
"Give her the last injection," Darwin continued.
The attending physician knew that Mrs. Solomon was beyond saving. It was time for her to say her goodbyes to her family.
"Shouldn't we wait for anyone else?" the doctor asked.
"No one will come."
The Solomon family had fallen apart long ago.
Fiona lowered her eyelids.
Mrs. Solomon had two sons and a daughter. The daughter died young in an accident. Darwin's father was the younger son.
The one who should have inherited the Solomon legacy was the older son.
Mrs. Solomon, to make her eldest son a worthy heir, was exceptionally strict with him.
Perhaps too strict.
Unable to withstand the pressure, the eldest son wrote a letter accusing his mother of his torment and took his own life at the age of twenty.
It was said he did it so decisively that there was no chance of saving him.
Darwin's father, to put it kindly, was an artist. But in reality, he was simply incompetent at everything.
He initially thought that after his brother's death, he would inherit the Solomon.
However, Mrs. Solomon knew he was not capable.
Thus, she kept hold of the Solomons, with no intention of passing it on to him.
Instead, it was his wife, whom he brought back after marrying, who gained Mrs. Solomon's favor.
And with Darwin's birth and growth, his father's chance of inheriting the Solomon estate vanished completely.
Also because of this, Mrs. Solomon and her younger son were never close, and after she fell ill, he was unwilling even to maintain a superficial relationship.
It seemed that in recent years, Darwin had delivered some heavy blows to the Solomon.
Anniston was nearly overwhelmed by Darwin.
This couple finally stopped pretending to care and altogether ceased visiting Grandma Solomon.
As for other members of the Solomon family.
Their hatred for Darwin was now deep and intense.
To them, Mrs. Solomon held no value, so they naturally paid her no attention.
Among them were those who were supported by Mrs. Solomon from a young age.
Fiona had not anticipated that such a formidable person in her youth would face such a scene at the end of her life.
The medical staff administered the final injection to Mrs. Solomon.
Darwin glanced toward the doorway at Fiona, "Chelsea, may I ask a favor from you?"
Fiona pondered for a moment, "What is it, Mr. Solomon?"
"My grandmother has been worried about someone who resembles you. To ease her mind, I was hoping you could pretend to be that person for a bit, to resolve a matter that's been weighing on her heart."
Fiona looked at him. Was he providing her with a valid reason to visit Mrs. Solomon?
"Hmm," Fiona nodded.
Darwin managed a pale smile, "Thank you."
Fiona said nothing as she stepped into the hospital room. She sat beside Mrs. Solomon, taking her swollen hand in hers, waiting for the medication to take effect. It had been so long.
Mrs. Solomon seemed worse than ever, very fragile. After a while, she slowly came to her senses, her gaze drifting toward Fiona until her eyes cleared.
"Fiona?" she said weakly.
"Are you awake?" Fiona responded, a gentle smile on her face.
"Fiona…" Mrs. Solomon began to choke up, "Why did you only come to see me now? I've waited so long for you."
Tears nearly spilled from Fiona's eyes. She fought them back, "I'm sorry, Mr. Solomon has been overloading me with work. I just couldn't get it all done…"
"Why didn't you come to complain to me?" the elderly woman asked with a pained expression, reaching out to touch Fiona's cheek.
But she was too weak. Her arm lifted halfway and then could go no further.
Fiona understood and bowed her head to press her cheek into the palm of Mrs. Solomon's hand. Her warmth was fading and her hand was cold, causing a sharp pain in Fiona's heart.
She should have come sooner. What would it matter if Darwin had found out? At least... at least it could've spared Mrs. Solomon some regret.
"Are you tired? You've lost weight," Mrs. Solomon asked with concern.
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