Chapter 265 Ulterior Motives
Lilian clutched her mug of hot water, barely containing her overwhelming joy.
She had been plotting to conceive Darwin's baby for some time.
But Darwin was incredibly cautious. He lived alone in the apartment once occupied by Fiona. He was so guarded that there were always bodyguards stationed outside his door, even when he traveled and stayed in hotels.
During a visit to an art exhibit with Darwin, she had prepared herself. That night, she planned to drug him, take advantage of him, and also retain some of his semen. That way, if she didn't get pregnant immediately, she could use it for IVF later.
But her plan was ruined by a damned child.
It was only yesterday she discovered that Anniston held what she desired in her grasp. Her initial strategy was to subtly gain Anniston's favor and, once pregnant, she would find a way to eliminate her.
Darwin adored children, and with Chelsea gone, if she were pregnant, he would stay with her for the child, if not for love.
She hadn’t expected things to unfold so quickly—to her surprise, Anniston brought up the subject herself. If Darwin tragically passed away, bearing his child would secure her wealth and status.
Lilian dabbed at the tears in the corners of her eyes, pretending to be stricken with grief.
Anniston, witnessing this display, felt even more confident in her decision. Lilian's love for Darwin was clear, so allowing her to have a child with him seemed fitting. But how would she control that child and extract the rights of Solomon and the Solomons’ fortune?
She planned to follow Grandma Solomon's footsteps—take the baby away right after birth. If Lilian ever contested, Anniston would simply claim the child wasn't hers.
Such plans they both harbored, each with their own cunning schemes, neither showing their true hand.
Doing a DNA test or anything of the sort would be pointless.
Both parties had their own ulterior motives.
Darwin's surgery went on as the light outside slowly faded into darkness.
At some point, Kenny had checked in to see how it was going. The situation was basically this: the debridement was difficult, and his internal injuries were severe.
With such a close-range blast, even Fiona, whom he was shielding, had sustained minor internal injuries.
Let alone Darwin, who had directly used his body as a shield.
After sending Lilian and Anniston away, Fiona had become very quiet.
She just sat there.
She took her medication when it was time, changed her IV as needed, and in the evening, she managed to eat a little.
Just past ten o'clock.
Finally, Darwin was wheeled out of the operating room and into the ICU.
“If he makes it through the night, we can say he's out of the woods,” the attending physician said, weariness etched across his face. "The patient has a very strong will to live; he's fighting hard to stay with us."
Fiona, supporting herself against the windowsill, peered through the thick glass into the room.
Darwin looked truly pitiable.
His head was bandaged, his face marred with wounds, and a breathing mask obscured his features, making even his breathing appear labored.
Fiona's mind seemed to be grappling with something.
Yet she couldn't quite grasp those fleeting thoughts.
Circling back to just one plea: "Darwin, you have to wake up, you just have to!"
Ashton was always anxious.
After she and Kenny saw the doctor out, she muttered restlessly to Kenny, “He's got to wake up. Right now, I'm more worried that he's hurt his head—what if there are complications? What if he ends up... I don't know, with amnesia or something?”
What if he did have amnesia?
What if he reverted back to being the unpleasant Darwin of the past?
Fiona heard this.
But she hardly reacted.
It was enough for him to be alive. Amnesia wouldn't matter.
Neither would it if he stopped loving her.
She never really expected to grow old with Darwin anyway.
If it came down to it, she would carry on just like she had for the past five years.
Living with Charles and Chicago.
No difference.
As long as he was alive!
That was what mattered most.
"Ms. Chelsea , your ride is here."
Before long, a bodyguard approached.
Fiona turned away from the window. "Where are Charles and Chicago?"
“The young miss didn't come; the young master arrived with Mrs. Rhoads.”
They probably hadn't mentioned to Chicago about her injuries.
And right now, it was Chicago's bedtime.
Fiona took another look at Darwin.
ICU visiting hours were limited to begin with.
Her staying here this long was already bending the rules.
"Let's not have them come up. Let's go," she said, giving Darwin one last lingering look. As she walked away, she instructed the ICU nurse, “Please, if he wakes up and I’m not here, tell him I’ll be back soon.”
The nurse nodded while looking at Fiona with eyes full of sympathy. "Miss Rhoads, take care of yourself now, internal injuries require plenty of rest," the nurse advised with a gentle sternness.
Fiona offered a tepid smile in response.
Then, she was wheeled away by Ashton.
The moment Fiona was out of earshot, the nurses began to buzz with gossip.
"Did you catch the trending topic?" One nurse whispered to the other.
"It's blowing up everywhere; how could I miss it? Even my mom's asking me about it since it's our hospital."
"Before the explosion, those two looked so sweet together... Then suddenly... Ah!"
"Miss Rhoads is out of danger now, thankfully. Mr. Solomon really took one for the team by acting like a human shield. They must really be in love, huh?"
"It's hard to say... Up close, Miss Rhoads reminds me more and more of Secretary Woods from back in the day—apart from her aura, they could almost pass for the same person!"
"Life really does have its privileges for some—I mean, born with status, stunningly beautiful, and with a love life straight out of a movie... So dramatic and unexpected!"
Whispers carried on as Fiona's elevator reached her floor.
The doors slid open.
Lifting her gaze, Fiona's eyes met with the tear-filled eyes of Charles . Her face, though marred by pain, brightened with a rare smile.
"Son."
"Mommy!"
As Ashton helped Fiona out, Charles rushed towards her, torn between a desperate urge to hug her and fear of causing pain, he stood helplessly before her.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you."
Fiona reached out first, embracing Charles gently and patting his back.
"You're okay, aren't you?" Charles choked out, a question he had asked countless times over the phone already.
"I'm fine," Fiona soothed him as she caressed his head, "Just bruised my knee when I fell. I'll be off this wheelchair in a few days."
Charles nodded fiercely, struggling to hold back his tears, but they rolled down his cheeks, dampening Fiona's neck.
"Don't worry..."
Fiona continued her tender embrace, softly comforting him. Charles remained silent.
On the way back, Chicago felt exhilarated, unaware of the crisis at home—eager to see Mommy, perhaps even looking forward to a rendezvous with her handsome uncle. But for Charles, the journey had been fraught with tension, his heart in a vice-like grip.
He had prayed to every deity he knew in desperation.
Janna Rhoads saw his anxiety and tried to ease it, but to no avail.
Only by seeing Mommy, feeling her, confirming her breath, and making sure she wasn't gravely hurt, could he find peace.