Chapter 285 When All Else Fails, A Widow's Resolution
Even after Darwin woke up and never left Fiona's side, with endless hugs and affection, she never said they were officially back together.
Darwin, too fearful to destroy the precious moments they were sharing, didn't dare to press her with questions.
So, when Fiona finally spoke those words, Darwin was stunned and found it hard to believe.
"It's about time for my ride to show up, so you make sure to eat your dinner," Fiona said, brushing Darwin's cheek with her hand. "Don't go doing anything reckless the moment I'm out the door. Once you're fully recovered, I've got an incredible surprise for you. It's definitely something you’ll love. So, stay on track with your recovery, okay?"
An incredible surprise, something he loved.
Darwin's mind flirted with the unmentionable and unwritable.
"Okay!" He nodded vigorously, then grabbed Fiona's hand. "So, when are you coming back? Tomorrow morning? Afternoon? Or evening?"
Fiona laughed.
Darwin felt his spirits deflate.
"It can't be the day after tomorrow, right?"
Fiona teased his flushed ear. "Mr. Solomon, you’re clingier than a toddler. My work schedule is insane, and if you're this needy, what'll we do when you're discharged and we've both got our jobs to handle?"
"True," Darwin admitted, wrapping his arms around Fiona and gazing up at her. "How about I hand over my company to you and become your secretary? That way, I can be by your side all day, every day."
"In your dreams," Fiona tapped him gently on the forehead. "Once you're healed, you better get back to work. Raising kids is no cheap affair!"
If she was serious about continuing with Darwin...
Then it was settled that Charles and Chicago would attend school locally. As for which school, she planned to leave those in Darwin's capable hands.
He'd missed so many of their important moments in the past.
This would be the first official dad duty.
"I'll do as my wife says!"
Darwin nuzzled against Fiona in sheer happiness.
"Stop that; you'll wrinkle my clothes," Fiona said with a mix of laughter and exasperation.
Darwin kept nuzzling joyfully, then buried his face by her stomach. "Honey, thank you... Thank you for coming back, and please believe me, I'll hold on tight this time. We'll be inseparable till the end."
Fiona felt a slight sting on her nose.
"Let's both give it our best."
"Yeah," Darwin said, rubbing her waist and then quipping, "but you got to file for divorce first."
Fiona could only sigh.
Back to square one.
"Darwin!" She called out.
He looked up at her, and as their eyes met, Fiona cradled his face in her hands, planted a kiss on his lips, then scolded him affectionately, "You dummy!"
Mr. Solomon was hopelessly enchanted.
Floating on cloud nine, he didn't care about the scolding and leaned in for another kiss.
Their lips met softly and tenderly, several times.
Just then, Fiona's phone rang.
It was Janna.
"Shh!"
Fiona shot Darwin a warning glance and answered the call.
"I'm downstairs; come on down."
"You came yourself?" Fiona said, surprised.
"I brought a couple of cars full of guys, just in case some people weren't too keen on letting go," Janna's voice was calm and measured. But even in the midst of getting cozy with his wife, Mr. Solomon heard her loud and clear.
The rascal herself had a smirk plastered across her face.
"How could you think... I'm coming down right now."
"Mhm."
With a touch of cool, Janna ended the call.
"It's time to release the captive," Fiona joked with Darwin.
Darwin, reluctant to let go and ignoring Fiona's protests, escorted her down to the street.
Janna wasn't kidding.
Beyond her own ride, two more vehicles sat idling, their windows rolled down, stuffed with burly figures.
Fiona couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of it all.
Darwin offered a polite greeting to Janna.
He hadn't seen her since he woke up; this was essentially their long-awaited reunion.
"I'm not that close with you," Janna said icily. Then, turning to Fiona with a much softer gaze, "Sweetie, hop in. Grandma got you some candied chestnuts, the soft and sticky kind you love."
"Yay!"
Before boarding the car, Fiona gave Darwin's butt a stealthy pat, out of Janna's view.
Then she whispered to him, "Congratulations Mr. Solomon, you've just encountered your first post-reconciliation hurdle."
With those parting words, Fiona got in the car.
The driver shut the door and, as Darwin lingered for another look, Janna rolled up the window.
Wrapped in his coat, Darwin watched the trio of cars disappear into the distance.
After standing alone for a moment longer, he trudged back upstairs, accompanied only by his own sense of solitude, at the urging of his caretaker.
Inside the car.
"Darwin's really changed; Ashton wasn't lying," Janna remarked as she peeled some chestnuts.
Delicious chestnuts were becoming rare this season.
The ones she'd purchased were particularly tasty and worth a trip across half of Bay City after researching online.
Fiona, about to ask what was different about him, was cut off by Janna's dismissive words, "Look at him playing the poor, woeful soul, thinking he could fool an old fox like me? Not a chance. That's only for those blinded by desire, those who forget the pain once the wound heals."
"I’m not exactly being fooled," Fiona replied as she popped a peeled chestnut into her mouth. "I figure; if he's weeded out the bad traits I despise, and I don't want him, someone else will. Why should someone else reap the fruits of what I've sown with years of tears and toil?"
Janna had always been a career-driven maverick.
A few men had come and gone; despite their good looks, they amounted to little.
She had never truly loved any man; they were more playthings, mere passersby.
Therefore, she didn't quite grasp the notions of young love and loss.
All she knew was that anyone not good for her granddaughter was no good at all.
But hearing Fiona put it that way, it dawned on her that maybe there was some sense in that.
Not that it mattered much, after all...
"How long have you been back with him? How can you be sure he's not faking? What if he goes back to his old ways after you patch things up?" Janna had zero confidence in men. "By then, he'd already be aware of the kids, Chicago and Charles. What if he treats them poorly, or if you end up splitting and he fights you for custody?"
Fiona glanced at Janna, her eyes clear and bright. "That won't happen."
"Don't trust him so blindly!" Janna urged, distress coloring her voice.
Fiona had always been strong in so many ways, but when it came to matters of the heart, it was always so hard for her.
"I trust myself," Fiona said calmly. "If he's pretending, if he reverts to his old ways, I won't run away again. Being a widow isn't that bad. In fact, it sets the stage perfectly for the Rhoads family to take over the Solomon company."
Janna paused, then burst out laughing with a slap on her thigh. "I like that! I love the sound of 'widow'!"
Fiona nibbled on a soft, sweet chestnut with a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. She still loved Darwin, that was certain, but she was no longer the old Fiona who would suffer in silence.
If they could spend their lives together, great.
If not, then she'd reach the pinnacle of her career that no one else could touch.
Half an hour later, the car pulled into the neighborhood.
Fiona suddenly felt nervous. She checked her makeup mirror to make sure there were no marks on her face before she opened the car door and got out.
"Mommy! Mommy!!" Chicago burst with joy on the porch, bouncing on the spot as her little hands waved incessantly.
Under normal circumstances, she would have already lunged into her mother's arms. But her brother had warned her earlier that Mommy was very tired from her business trip and should not be pounced on.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
