Chapter 264 Bearing a Child for Darwin
Fiona knew Anniston well; she was a person who always sought revenge. Anniston had been robbed of her chance to bear her own child due to Grandma Solomon's schemes. Her hatred for Darwin was profound. And yet, only a select few knew the truth of the matter. To the media and the Solomon family, they were still seen as mother and son. Previous headlines had hinted at a family squabble, suggesting a conflict of maternal bonds.
It was clear that not only Grandma Solomon and Darwin were keen on keeping the secret under wraps—so was Anniston. Grandma Solomon's reasons were obvious: to protect Darwin and the family's reputation.
But why would Anniston keep the secret?
Certainly, not to defend the Solomon family or Darwin.
There was only one other reason... she was trying to save face.
Imagine the shame of spending nine months pregnant, joyously awaiting a child, only for it to be another's. She had always been one to boast about her son's accomplishments, courting envy and disdain alike. To now admit he wasn't hers; the mockery of those who once envied her would be ruthless.
That was the reason for Anniston's silence—an unspeakable, private shame.
Anniston's eyes widened in a reflex of panic, sweeping over the people around her, and then she glared venomously at Fiona. "Shut up!"
"Out," Fiona's words were cold and definitive, her thin lips barely moving. "When I lose my temper, no one's dignity is spared. Try me."
"Miss Rhoads, I understand that your family holds a distinguished position, but that's no way to speak to your elders! What happened to the good manners the Rhoads family is known for?" Lilian's voice was grave.
Fiona let out a derisive snort, "Janna Rhoads will be here tonight. If you're so curious, ask her yourself."
Lilian's expression turned even uglier.
Regardless of the role Janna Rhoads played, even when she had been a princess, Janna was welcomed at the royal table—an honor never extended to Lilian.
"Auntie..." Lilian looked desperately at Anniston for help.
Anniston's reputation for being ruthless was well known to her.
With Darwin's fate hanging in the balance, and his inheritance up for grabs, Lilian believed she wouldn't leave, but...
"Chelsea, you just wait and see!"
With gritted teeth, Anniston dropped this venomous promise and signaled to the clueless lead attorney.
Ignoring Lilian's immediate stiffness, Anniston turned on her heel and strode away.
It took a moment for Lilian to react before she hurriedly followed.
Exhausted in body and spirit, Fiona called over Darwin's bodyguard, "Stand guard over there. Until Darwin wakes up, I don't want anyone else causing disturbances."
"Understood."
The bodyguard left promptly, his face set in a serious expression.
Meanwhile, Lilian caught up with Anniston by the elevators.
"Mrs . Potter, you can't just leave! If Darwin dies, Chelsea will surely tamper with something!"
Before she could finish, an infuriated Anniston spun around and delivered a stinging slap to Lilian's face.
Her ears rang with the sound.
Memories flooded back to seven years ago, when upon finding out about Lilian's ambiguous relationship with Darwin, she had slapped her—without a word—in front of everyone.
"Why didn't you tell me she was the Rhoads family heir when you asked me here?" Anniston scolded fiercely, "Lilian, you're still holding a grudge over what happened back then, aren't you? You did this on purpose! You wanted to embarrass me in front of her, right?"
"Mrs . Potter, I didn't!" Tears welled up in Lilian's eyes as one side of her face began to swell, "If I wanted to get even with you, why would I call you to the hospital? Letting Chelsea take everything from Darwin would hurt you far more, wouldn't it?"
Anniston's face was fierce, but the malice in her eyes was not as intense as before.
"I can't stand being in the same room as that tramp. I'm going to wait downstairs. As soon as Darwin kicks the bucket, I'm bringing people up. Yeah, I'll even call some more. Pfft! The Rhoads family? Who cares? This is our turf; the Solomons rule here!"
Anniston seemed to have forgotten that the current state of the Solomons was one thoroughly dominated by Darwin himself.
Lilian remained silent.
She had this nagging feeling that the last few exchanges between Chelsea and Anniston harbored some earth-shattering secret. Anniston was clearly threatened by whatever it was, which was why she agreed to leave.
What could possibly scare Anniston that much?
Making their way to the coffee shop on the first floor of the hospital section, Anniston was still seething with frustration, with no outlet for her anger. She looked disdainfully at Lilian's meek appearance and sneered, "You're not bad-looking yourself. You had Darwin so smitten he couldn't tell up from down. Fiona's been dead for what, five or six years? And you've been by his side all this while without bearing a child. What's wrong with you, sterile or something?"
Lilian's face turned pale.
"Or is it," Anniston arched an eyebrow, "that Darwin never laid a hand on you?"
Lilian bit her lip, "He has always been hung up on Miss Woods."
"Useless," Anniston sneered with contempt.
Then, glancing at Lilian's belly, something seemed to click in her mind.
If Darwin were to die, wouldn't having a child make it easier to stake a claim to his legacy?
Even if he survived, given that bitch Chelsea's domineering nature, if Lilian were to have Darwin's baby, she would never stand for it. That would surely lead to a break between Chelsea and Darwin.
In that scenario, Darwin would lose a powerful ally and gain a formidable enemy...
The more Anniston thought about it, the brighter her eyes shone.
"Lilian, are you really content to let a woman who merely resembles Fiona take everything that's rightfully yours?" Anniston reached out, gently placing her hand on Lilian's, her eyes filled with seductive persuasion.
"What choice do I have? I'm just not capable enough. I'm useless..." Tears welled up in Lilian's eyes as she looked utterly vulnerable.
"What if I could make it possible for you to have Darwin's child?" Anniston asked deliberately.
Lilian looked shocked. "You mean to...falsify?"
"I have no interest in fraud," Anniston said smugly. "After Darwin's accident, when he was in a vegetative state, Grandma Solomon and I were worried he'd pass away, so we had the doctors extract some sperm. It's been cryogenically preserved all these years; it should still be viable."
Lilian's eyelids drooped in silence.
Anniston, noticing her hesitance, added, "Of course, if you don't wish to, it's fine. I can find another woman."
"I do! I really do!" Lilian hastily replied while glancing upstairs. "Auntie, you know how deeply I love Darwin. The chance to bear his child—I couldn't want anything more!"
"We'll get you a health check right away," Anniston said, the excitement clear in her voice. "If all is well, let's hurry and get the IVF done within the next couple of days."
Lilian obediently nodded, thanking Anniston repeatedly.
Anniston's eyes fell, hiding the disdain and sneer in her gaze.
Foolish girl.
Did she really think she would let her have Darwin's child?
She wouldn't dream of using Lilian's eggs.
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