Chapter 214 I’ll Miss You

When Fiona first met Mrs. Solomon, her health was already in decline. The company’s leadership were gradually handed over to Darwin and the then-rising star, Anniston.

Despite having heard about Mrs. Solomon’s many callous deeds while by Darwin's side, and because Mrs. Solomon had always been kind to her. Despite this, Fiona’s perception of Mrs. Solomon had remained relatively positive.

But in that moment, as Darwin unveiled his origins, Fiona began to grasp why Mrs. Solomon ended up alienated by the Solomon family.

And Darwin… he had known about his improbable roots since he was eleven. His thinking had been skewed towards this dogma of maximizing benefits, which influenced him for many years to come.

“This sort of secret should have been kept by Mr. Solomon, not shared with anyone,” Fiona mused, struggling to articulate her thoughts.

Darwin looked at her, waiting for words of comfort and guidance that never came, and his heart ached even more. In the past, even the smallest setback would have her patiently and gently consoling him.

Would she now offer the same comfort to that other man? The thought intensified Darwin’s dark thoughts. Not getting divorced might be an option, but widowhood seemed like an even better solution.

“What are you staring at?” Fiona felt unnerved under his intense gaze.

Darwin looked away, “Just feeling dizzy…”

Fiona furrowed her brows. “You should go to the hospital!”

“No,” Darwin wrapped the blanket around himself, let out a deep sigh and closed his eyes.

“You’re sleeping here?” Fiona poked his arm.

He murmured a yes, then, as if worried Fiona wouldn’t ask further, added, “I haven’t been able to sleep in a bed for years; I always sleep on the couch.”

Fiona felt a weight in her heart. How many years had he been on the couch?

“Why?” she blurted out the question before her mind could catch up.

Darwin fell silent for a moment.
"I'll miss you so much, I can't bear the thought of it," he replied.

Fiona was taken aback.

Then, acting on instinct, she tried to leave.

But an arm snatched hers.

In the next instant, as her balance thrown off, she stumbled into Darwin's embrace.

After a brief struggle.

Finally, she managed to adjust herself into a more comfortable position cradled on the couch in Darwin's arms.

"Darwin, don't push it!" Fiona snapped, pounding her fist against his chest.

Darwin grunted but held on tight.

" Just stay still, I won't do anything... just stay with me for a little while," Darwin pleaded, his voice carrying an unfamiliar note of desperation.

Fiona wanted to resist.

Then she heard Darwin's voice, despondent, "At least... don't leave me alone tonight."

Darwin's feelings for Mrs. Solomon were complex. Anniston was a strict mother, often too busy with work to give Darwin the care he needed. In contrast, Mrs. Solomon was far more affectionate. It seemed she had learned from her past mistakes with her eldest son, taking a different approach in raising and teaching Darwin. That is, until the day Darwin learned about his origins. His feelings for his grandmother then shifted.

As he grew older, Darwin came to understand that his grandmother's love was largely out of guilt for her first son, redirected and bestowed upon him. To put it bluntly, he was just a replacement.

But when she finally passed away...

Darwin looked around in a daze; he had arrived in a desolate place.

Fortunately, fate showed mercy, bringing his beloved back to his side at this time, saving him from being consumed by unspeakable emotions through the long night.

That night, Fiona had indeed not left him alone.

On the crowded couch, Darwin held her tight, his painful memories lulling him into a deep sleep.

Fiona did not rest well.

She was frequently awakened by the sound of Darwin's distressed mumbling.

Sometimes he called for his grandmother, but more often, it was Fiona's name that escaped his lips.

Fiona grimaced.

She really didn't understand Darwin.

Why did he always crave what he didn't have, always wanting what he couldn't have?

When she was by his side, he always pined for Lilian.

Yet when Lilian was with him, he seemed unable to forget Fiona.

As dawn approached, Fiona, who hardly slept the previous night, was overwhelmed by exhaustion.

Nestled against Darwin, she drifted into a deep sleep.

Her sleep was interrupted by the shrill ring of her cell phone alarm..

Barely able to open her eyes, Fiona reached out blindly for her phone; She reached for the phone, and a hand gently guided hers to it.

She didn't feel anything was amiss.

Fiona picked up the phone.

"Is that you, Fiona?" The voice on the other end sounded vaguely familiar.

After a moment, Fiona recognized the caller. "Mrs. Maria?"

Maria quickly laughed, "Still in bed, huh?"

"I was working late last night. What's up, Aunt Maria?" Fiona sat up, shaking off the grogginess.

Hesitating for a few seconds, Maria said, "About the incident with Ashton's grandmother... I heard you were there?"

There was a brief silence.

Fiona's face turned colder. "Yes, I was there. she sustained a head injury that required four stitches. The doctor said it was a hair's breadth from being serious."

Maria forced a chuckle, "See, the thing is, the person who hurt her... it's my Chris's fiancée's grandmother. I was hoping..."

"Aunt Maria, please don't tell me you want me to convince Ashton to drop the case," Fiona interrupted.

Maria was silent for a moment.

"Chris is about to marry Crystal," she replied. "I just can’t handle this situation getting any messier., although, of course, if Ashton's granny was really hurt, I'd absolutely support pursuing the matter. But, she’s alright, isn't she?"

Fiona rubbed her temples, visibly losing patience.

She was sure she had already warned Chris and Miss Ayre not to drag Maria into this mess. Fiona had pretty much been living with Ashton for years now. As for her mom... she wasn't awful to Ashton. But she always made Ashton suppress her feelings for the sake of their delicate new family, to act obedient and compliant—even once to appalling lengths.

There was that one time... A relative of Justin's wanted to land a deal, and, knowing there was a widowed, middle-aged man involved, he had the gall to suggest setting up a match.

The widower in question was forty-five, with a daughter and two sons, and was thrice-divorced due to domestic abuse, a past Maria herself had recounted to Ashton. Yet that day, she told Ashton, "Honey, just do your little uncle a favor and pretend to go on a date."

The Substitute's Revenge: From Secretary to Queen
Detail
Share
Font Size
40
Bgcolor