Chapter 266 Steadfast Kenny
Back in the room, once assured that Mommy was fine, Charles could barely keep his eyes open.
Ashton prepared a makeshift bed on the sofa for him.
After lying down, Fiona stayed by his side, gently touching his forehead, "Sleep tight, champ."
Charles nodded off into slumber.
He closed his eyes briefly, then opened them again to look at Fiona. "And him?"
Fiona's eyes suddenly stung with emotion. "He's out of surgery and in the ICU now. The doctors say he's got a strong will to live. Mommy thinks he'll recover quickly." She paused, gently touching his forehead, "Son, when he's better, would you want to see him?"
There was a moment of silence.
He pulled the blanket up just below his eyes.
Then, from beneath the blanket, in a muffled voice, he replied, "I'll think about it."
"Okay," Fiona responded tenderly, "Goodnight, my darling."
"Night, Mommy."
Snuggled close to her, he quickly fell into a deep sleep. Yet, throughout that night, his brows remained furrowed, as if troubled by a nightmare.
After soothing her child, Fiona turned to Janna Rhoads, who had been quietly observing.
"I've reviewed your medical file," said Janna, her eyes reddened and weary, "Fortuitously, there's nothing life-threatening. I'll call in some top doctors tomorrow to prescribe medicine for your internal injuries. You’ll be well soon enough."
"I'm sorry to have worried you," Fiona said sincerely.
Janna shook her head. "What elder doesn't worry for their children? Now, lie down and get some rest. Healing from internal injuries requires peace and rest."
Fiona nodded again.
That was when Ashton said, "Grandma, the conditions in the rest area here are average at best. I'll have Kenny take you home. He can bring you back in the morning."
Janna Rhoads turned to Ashton, finally fixing her gaze on Kenny.
Kenny addressed her with respect, "Grandma Rhoads."
"Clearly a fine young man," Janna remarked, withdrawing her gaze. "I really should make a trip back. Only Stuart and Wendy are in Chicago with me, so I'll be entrusting myself to Mr. Walker's care."
Janna didn’t leave right away. She stayed by Fiona's side for a while longer.
Once she saw Fiona had fallen asleep, she slowly rose to her feet.
The stress of the past few days had taken its toll on her; she’d taken several heart-conserving pills to prevent herself from fainting. Her recently rediscovered granddaughter was indeed her whole world.
As they were parting, Ashton helped Kenny into his jacket, offering a few words of caution.
"I'll play it by ear," Kenny nodded, "You also need to get some sleep. No staying up, understand?"
"Mhm," Ashton nodded vigorously.
Kenny affectionately patted her head.
Ashton handed him the car keys she had kept in her bag.
When he took the keys, he gripped her hand tightly, "I'm off."
Ashton nodded, "Drive safe."
"Okay," Kenny said, making his way toward Janna Rhoads.
Moments later, the pair left together. The explosion had all but confirmed Janna's suspicion: someone was after Fiona's life. This time, she had brought back a significant force with her, and all of them stayed close to the hospital.
Upon disembarking the plane, the latest findings in her investigation had narrowed down the identity of the deceased driver to a specific organization. Janna was resolved—if the exact perpetrator remained elusive, she'd dismantle the entire outfit in a couple of days, obliterating them from any corner of the world that dared to touch her precious granddaughter.
Ashton returned to the hospital room, bypassing the lounge to slip quietly into bed beside Fiona. Exhaustion overwhelmed her. When she'd learned of Fiona's attack, she felt numb with fear for her best and only friend.
Lying next to Fiona, the scent of disinfectants in the air was strong, but it was Fiona's familiar presence that eased her tense mind. She closed her eyes, but concern kept her vigilant. She lifted a hand gently to Fiona's nose—only after confirming the steady rhythm of breath did she allow sleep to take her.
Fiona’s medicine included a sedative, which brought sleep but not peace. Her dreams were restless and drawn out. She envisioned a decrepit corridor, reminiscent of the one overgrown with honeysuckle in an ancient temple, yet far more dilapidated and devoid of life. Gray mists hung all around. Fiona stood in the heart of the corridor, waiting—but for whom, she didn’t know.
It wasn’t until Darwin appeared at the far end that the dream’s intent sharpened. He stood in bloodstained clothes, his face marred, and his expression mournful, looking at her as if he had a world to say.
"Darwin! Come here!" Fiona called out to him.
But he remained still, the fog growing denser around him. Overcome with panic, Fiona ran toward him, fearing the mist would consume him whole. However, the short corridor stretched endlessly ; Darwin remained agonizingly out of reach as the mists enveloped him.
"Darwin!" Her cry of despair filled the corridor.
She woke from the nightmare with a start.
"What's wrong? What happened?" Ashton woke abruptly too.
Sitting up, tears flooded Fiona's eyes. "Did I hurt you? I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!"
"It's not that..." Fiona tried to explain.
Alerted by the commotion, Charles scrambled out of bed and rushed over, "Mommy! What’s wrong?"
"It's nothing, honey. Mommy just had a bad dream," Fiona reassured, even though she couldn't stop crying.
She had once thought she knew the pain of losing Darwin.
But only in this dream did she discover the true agony of loss.
Charles climbed onto the hospital bed, trying to calm his mother down.
He opened his arms and embraced Fiona , "No crying, Mommy, no crying..."
Fiona held Charles tight, desperate to cling to something, anything. The dream was terrifying—no matter how fast she ran or how loudly she called, she couldn't reach him, and he wouldn't respond. It took Fiona a while to calm her emotions.
Glancing at the clock, the hour hand was just on five.
"Charles, play with your godmother for a bit, Mommy has to check on him," Fiona said as she stroked Charles’ plump cheeks, feeling slightly healed by the contact.
"Mhm."
Charles didn't insist on following.
"You sure you'll be okay on your own?" Ashton asked, a tinge of concern in his voice.
"With so many bodyguards, of course, I will be," Fiona replied as she threw off the covers.
Her knee still hurt, but she weathered the pain well.
Sitting in a wheelchair, she returned to the ICU.
Dawn was approaching.
Darwin had been good, with no complications throughout the night, yet there were no signs of him waking up.
After changing into a sterile suit, Fiona was allowed to briefly enter the room.
Everyone thought she would have a lot to say, but she just sat by Darwin's side until the visiting time ended.
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