Chapter 212 How Old Is Your Daughter Now?
Darwin massaged his temples.
"Ah, just filled the tank when I got in the car."
"Which building are you in? I can drop you off downstairs."
"Building 2," Darwin replied.
Fiona started the car, pretended to search for direction, then steered the wheel toward Building 2.
Building 2.
The building she had lived in for five years was also Building 2. She prayed he wouldn't tell her that he'd been living there all these years. The media even captured Darwin and Lilian emerging from a villa at Emerald Pool. Paparazzi. Exceptionally good at framing a shot. That day, the garden was bursting with life under the brilliant sunshine, making the couple in the photo look as sweet as fairy tale characters.
All of a sudden, a strong urge surged in Fiona's heart. Whatever Darwin's reasons were for bringing her here, she wanted to go up and see for herself and expose whatever game he was playing, see through his clumsy attempt.
But... reason overruled this childish and pointless impulse. Soon, Building 2 came into view.
"Thanks. I owe you big time," Darwin said as he turned to her. "Are you coming to my grandmother's memorial?"
Fiona shook her head. She had already paid her last respects to the old lady. She could well imagine who would attend a memorial service, many of whom had seen Fiona before. To make a scene there would be distasteful. And she certainly didn't want to become gossip fodder.
"Okay," Darwin said, looking slightly disappointed but surprisingly not insisting.
Where was the authoritarian, unreasonable Darwin she knew? Fiona was amazed.
"Thanks for the ride home, good night."
Darwin then opened the car door and rose, wobbling a bit but managed to stabilize himself. After he shut the door, Fiona was ready to drive off, half-worried that Darwin might pull some sort of trick. But it turned out he really just wanted a simple ride home. She breathed a sigh of relief and buried that tiny hint of odd feeling deep down, unwilling to acknowledge it.
Just as she was about to leave, Darwin, a few steps away, slowed down, then swayed as if about to fall. He quickly grabbed onto a pillar for support.
Seeing this, Fiona killed the engine and rushed out of the car.
"Mr. Solomon, are you all right?" she called out.
Darwin was covered in a cold sweat, breathing unevenly. He looked at Fiona, "I'm fine, Miss Rhoads. Please go back, I just need to rest a moment before heading up."
"Stomachache?" Fiona hesitated before inquiring.
Darwin nodded weakly: "These past few days, taking care of my grandmother, I haven't eaten much...ah..."
He was wincing in agony, his fist pressed hard against his stomach.
"Let me take you to the hospital," Fiona said firmly.
"No need," Darwin shook his head, the pain etched on his face. "I’ve got medicine at home."
Home? Here?
Fiona's brows knitted in confusion. How could he possibly consider this place home? He'd never liked it here.
“Look, let me at least help you upstairs,” she offered.
Darwin didn’t meet her eyes, weighing whether he should bring her along. He didn't want to seem too eager or let her catch on to anything that might give him away. And yet, to Fiona...
Exactly as she suspected, he didn’t actually live here and hesitated to let her come up for fear of being found out.
“Then I appreciate it, Miss Rhoads," he finally conceded, with a nod, grimacing in pain.
It was clear she’d have to support him since he could barely take a step on his own.
Fiona reached out and took his arm. "Come on."
"Thank you,” he said, managing to retain his composure.
But inside, a mischievous voice in his head was screaming: Take her back, lock her up, hide her away, and never let her leave again!
The elevator slowly ascended.
When the doors opened on the first floor, they were met with a surprising exclamation.
"Oh my gosh, what a coincidence, sir!" The flower shop owner, clutching a bouquet, stood at the door, her voice laced with surprise.
Then she spotted Fiona and her surprise doubled. "Oh, you know this gentleman?"
Fiona felt like she needed to visit a church tomorrow and say a prayer of thanks. Surely luck couldn't be this bad?
"You two know each other?" Darwin asked.
“Remember last time you picked up flowers, I mentioned a lady bought all the sunflowers? That's her!” the florist said with a smile, turning to Fiona. "Dear, did your daughter enjoy the sunflowers?"
Darwin stiffened.
And Fiona was internally panicking, though she kept her cool on the surface.
"She loved them," she answered, her voice steady and calm.
Darwin glanced down at her. Daughter? Was she married?
That was the rumor, wasn't it? That Janna Rhoads's granddaughter had married young...
"That's wonderful!" the florist beamed, oblivious to the tension.
She was heading to the sixth floor to deliver flowers. As soon as she stepped out, Fiona silently rejoiced.
Throughout the ride to their floor, Darwin didn’t utter a word. Fiona sensed something dangerous in his silence. Thus, when the elevator doors opened, she made a decision.
"Mr. Solomon, I’ll leave you here," she said softly.
But before she could refuse his next proposal...
“Since we're here, come in for a moment."
Without waiting for her to decline, Darwin grasped her wrist and stepped out of the elevator with a purposeful stride.
Upon successful fingerprint verification, Fiona found herself being thrust into the pitch-black house, followed closely by him as he stepped inside. With a swift and deliberate motion, he secured the door behind them.
"Mr. Solomon, what are you trying to pull here?" Fiona demanded, inching forward, seeking an escape route.
The flip of a switch and a sudden burst of light made her squint painfully.
After a moment of discomfort, Fiona lowered her hands from her eyes and let her gaze wander involuntarily across the room. Then, she paused, taken aback.
The interior was nearly identical to what it was when she left; only now, some objects had aged. There were fresh flowers on the coffee table and the dining table—flowers she often purchased herself. Her mind raced back to the night the lady at the store mentioned reserved flowers... Could it have been him?
"How old is your daughter now?" Darwin asked, though each word was a sharp stab to his heart. They were supposed to have a child together. But now...
"Four years old," Fiona replied, her voice steady, not betraying the lie.
Darwin simply furrowed his brow.
"Married?"
"Marri..." Fiona's response was cut off as Darwin suddenly cupped her cheeks and silenced her with a deep, overpowering kiss, stopping her words in their tracks.
He felt like he was losing his mind! Married, with a daughter...
He wanted to strangle the man responsible!
Caught off guard by Darwin's abrupt actions mid-conversation, Fiona initially tried to resist. However, Darwin knew all too well how to stir her passions. Before long, she found herself too weak to resist, and even her attempt to bite him was futile; it only gave him the opportunity to become even bolder.
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