Chapter 246 Contradictions
Darwin, who had been smiling, knitted his brows instantly at her words: "Lilian is not my darling."
Fiona crossed her arms and watched him coldly.
Darwin took a couple of steps towards her: "What are you talking about? If Lilian were my darling, why would I be pleading with you like this?"
The initial barrier between Fiona and Darwin had been none other than Lilian.
That barrier was still there.
The barrage of texts Lilian sent during the day, if Fiona cared about them, they would be heart-wrenching.
If there wasn't something more between her and Darwin, why would she be so furious?
Fiona remembered being someone else's stand-in. She would never forget the terror and helplessness that engulfed her in that hospital room when she had seen Lilian.
She didn't like Lilian.
But having been out in the rain herself, she never wanted to become someone like Lilian.
So.
If she was really considering giving Darwin another chance, the issue of him and Lilian had to be addressed.
She resolved that if Darwin had spent the past five years with Lilian, no matter the pretense or genuine affection, Fiona would never look back.
"Over these five years, the tabloids were filled with stories of you and Lilian's love life. They say she was by your side through sickness and health, and she stood with you against the turmoil with the Solomons. And you...you've been Miss Robbins's support all this time..."
"Gossip columns are full of crap!" Darwin's voice was heavy, "Just look at those media outlets that spread rumors; how many of them have survived? As for being a support... Indeed, I helped her, but it was because of a debt of gratitude I owed her for saving my life."
Fiona looked skeptical, "Are you telling me that you and Lilian haven't made up?"
"Of course not!" Darwin replied with utmost seriousness. "It's always been you. I'm not that kind of sleazy guy you're thinking of."
Fiona fell silent.
She remembered how she had lashed out at Darwin's arranged match, the Hathaway sibling, and he had actually remembered it.
"Where's the first aid kit?" she asked, wanting to change the subject.
Truthfully, she wasn't sure about Darwin during the years they were together. Whether he was ever truly faithful or had his occasional wild escapades, Fiona couldn't tell. Back then, her persona was that of the obedient girl, the little sweetheart who would never question Darwin's desires or actions.
Why would such a sweetheart ask him about the other women he might have slept with? However, she did occasionally hear whispers of Darwin's escapades.
So, when it came to his claim of 'it's always been you,' she found herself torn between belief and doubt. She wanted to believe him because Darwin didn't seem the type to stoop so low as to lie to her. Yet she doubted because... well, with Darwin in his current half-mad state, who knew what nonsense he might spout to reconcile?
Darwin had one of the kids bring over the first aid kit.
Fiona sat opposite him, unwrapping the bandage. Seeing the wound, she frowned instinctively.
Darwin, feeling her concern rather than the pain, was filled with joy.
"I'll clean it up one more time. If it doesn't start looking better by tomorrow, you're off to the hospital," Fiona said firmly as she carefully treated the wound.
"Okay," Darwin murmured in response.
Fiona meticulously helped him clean the scab. Darwin couldn't help but smile.
"You're smiling?" Fiona glanced at him. "If this gets infected and goes septic, you can say goodbye to your whole arm."
"It won't get infected when you're treating it," Darwin had immense faith in Fiona's care – more than he did in himself.
After she finished treating the area, Fiona spoke calmly, "My kids are a handful. If they're not getting hurt fighting with geese, they're scraping themselves up skateboarding. I don't trust the staff to handle it properly, so I do it myself."
Darwin paused, suddenly reminded that she had a daughter.
"Did you say fighting with geese?" he asked softly.
"Yep," Fiona confirmed, "Janna spoils her rotten. She's even set aside a yard with a whole bunch of animals, and the first thing my daughter does every morning is say hi to all the little creatures. She was supposed to eat that goose, but when she saw it, she threw such a tantrum, crying and begging, we had no choice but to keep it."
Darwin just listened, picturing a lively and kind-hearted child, much like Chicago.
"The next day she got into a tussle with the goose and got a nasty peck on her arm. Janna was livid and cooked the goose for dinner that night."
Fiona couldn't help but laugh at the memory.
In Chicago, they knew that geese were a culinary delight. And though it broke hearts for just a moment—the taste was simply irresistible—apologies were whispered to the goose between tearful bites. After that incident, all poultry that arrived on the island had to be processed already.
Janna certainly didn't want Chicago on a whim to bond with chickens and ducks again.
"She's so sweet," Darwin spoke with a tender voice.
Fiona glanced up at him then returned to her task, nodding, "Yeah, she is quite the charmer, wins over everyone who meets her."
"I'd be a fan too!" Darwin quickly added.
Fiona stayed silent, avoiding engagement in further conversation.
Yeah, you sure would, Fiona thought.
"It's set now."
Without picking up his conversational thread, Fiona carefully redressed the wound, "Keep it dry and don't let it split open again. I'm swamped tomorrow, won't have time to patch you up."
"Got it," Darwin nodded.
"I should go."
Fiona wiped her hands, grabbed her bag, and walked towards the exit.
"I'll walk you out," said Darwin, rising to follow her.
Hearing no more of Anniston's curses, Fiona didn't object.
Together they walked along the quiet, ancient path under the evening sky.
"Have they set a date for the burial?" Fiona asked.
"The 17th," he replied, "Do you want to come?"
"No," Fiona shook her head, "After the RH Company seminar, I need to spend time with my daughter."
Darwin paused mid-step. Then, finally reaching out, he grabbed Fiona's arm and pulled her into his embrace—rather abruptly.
The sudden move caused Fiona's forehead to bump against his chest. She winced, covering her forehead and looking up at him with furrowed brows.
"Have your aunt bring her over," Darwin said sternly, "I won't allow you to see that man again!"
There it was—the act had dropped.
"He's not there!" Fiona retorted through clenched teeth.
"Are you separated? Is he treating you poorly?" Darwin asked with a heavy voice.
He was so conflicted—wishing the man would treat her badly so she'd return to his side without a second thought, yet fearing her unhappiness if she was mistreated.
"Why does it matter to you? Weren't you forcing me to choose between divorce or becoming a widow?" Fiona held back an eye roll.
"If he's mistreating you, there's no choice needed—you can become a widow, plain and simple," Darwin said gravely.
Fiona just looked at him, a silent laugh escaping her.
"If mistreatment equals death, then what about you?" she challenged.
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