Chapter 301 I Got the Wrong Person
Fiona clutched Charles’s tiny hand, pressing it to her lips repeatedly.
"You tell him, don't carry it all by yourself," Charles gently said.
Fiona's hand trembled, and then she nodded tearfully, "Okay, I understand. When he comes back, I'll bring him to see you, is that okay?"
Charles nodded.
The night stretched on, seemingly unbearable.
Before going to sleep, Fiona kept hoping that this was all just a dream, and when she woke up, Charles would still be healthy and well.
*
As Janna had expected.
The autopsy results for Anniston came back with no traces of drugs and no suspicious injuries.
However, the possibility that some subtle signs had been destroyed by the bloated condition of the body couldn't be discounted.
The case was ultimately closed as an accident.
After the results were in, Darwin had Anniston's body cremated.
While waiting for the cremation, Darwin's father arrived late.
He was so annoyed by Anniston over the disputes regarding Grandma Solomon's estate that he flew to his rainforest vacation villa in the Southern Hemisphere to "escape."
To avoid harassment.
He turned off his cell phone, up until yesterday when Darwin's people finally located his exclusive villa.
Only then had the man learned of his wife's tragic death. He hurried over.
"Do you want to see her?" Darwin asked.
The man thought for a moment, then shook his head, "They said she was bloated, right? Better not. She loved looking good; she wouldn't have wanted anyone to see her looking like that."
Darwin cast a cold glance at him.
Compared to Anniston, Darwin's father had been the true absent figure in his upbringing.
"Darwin, there's a lot of talk outside, I want to know if your mother's death has anything to do with you."
Darwin averted his gaze, "What do you think?"
The man looked at Darwin deeply, then said nothing else.
What good would it do to talk about it now?
At the end of it all, he let out nothing but a sigh. "She played you like a fiddle, nearly costing you your life. Whatever you've done in response, I'd just call it tit for tat."
Darwin's lips twitched into a faint smirk. "From the way you speak, one would think you were oblivious to the whole saga."
"I... I..." The man was taken aback, scrambling for an explanation.
Darwin's voice was cold and cutting. "Her death was hasty; she left no will. What are your thoughts regarding her assets?"
That was, after all, why the man had come.
"Split it fifty-fifty between us, father and son?"
Darwin gave him another look. "What I mean is, neither of us should want any of it. Let's donate all of her possessions to charity, as a final act of goodwill on her behalf."
"How could that be? Darwin, do you have any idea how much she was worth? Just her real estate holdings around the world are valued in the billions!"
"And your point is?"
"According to the law of marriage..."
His voice grew more agitated as he spoke, but then abruptly choked off under the icy glare of Darwin's gaze.
"To be blunt, your life's luxuries are mostly thanks to her. You knew the circumstances of my birth from the start. You and Grandma made sure she could never have kids of her own, and you'll always owe her for that crime. She despised you, detested the entire Solomon family. Why on earth would I let her belongings end up in your hands?"
Darwin's voice was devoid of emotion, sending an inexplicable shiver down the man's spine.
"In the end, I am my brother's flesh and blood; we are the family here. She loathed you, but did she not loathe me too? She wanted me dead!! What's the point?"
"Father."
Darwin called out coolly, and the man stiffened.
"I'm still recovering from serious injuries, and my wife has urged me not to exert myself over trivial matters. As for Anniston's estate, I won't waste any more breath on it. If you're unwilling, I can also take the evidence of your criminal transgressions over the years and send you straight to prison..."
"Darwin!"
The man bellowed in shock, his voice reverberating across the room. Nearby, staff members cast curious glances.
"Fine! You've made your point! Cruelty becomes you!" The man spat, turning to leave, but was blocked by Darwin's bodyguard.
He turned back, asking, 'What's this about?"
"You'll accompany me back; the funeral needs her husband to mourn deeply." Darwin spoke slowly.
"You..."
Darwin didn't look at him again.
On the screen, Anniston's body had been slid into the cremation chamber.
Darwin stood tall and straight, solitary as a pine tree on a cliff's edge, bracing against the biting wind.
After a long moment, he bowed his head to light up his phone's screensaver.
He looked at the image, longing to return home to the life they shared.
The cremation was complete.
The once domineering Anniston was now contained within a simple urn, untouched by Darwin.
"Father, I'll leave the rest to you."
He glanced at the deflated man, frustrated yet powerless, before striding decisively towards the exit.
As soon as he stepped outside, Darwin saw Lilian sitting on a bench, waiting.
"Is it over?" Lilian asked.
"Yeah." Darwin nodded briefly.
Lilian was dressed in somber black.
"I'm sorry for your loss," she said softly.
"I'm going back to the States. You can keep the car and the driver. If you need help, just tell the driver." Having said that, Darwin was ready to leave.
"I asked the relatives; nobody has heard from Thomas, so I'm planning to return too," Lilian hurriedly said, "Can I join you?"
"Lilian, these are sensitive times. I'm being watched constantly," Darwin said, his handsome eyes betraying no emotion. "Just yesterday, someone took a photo of us at the police station. If our PR team hadn’t caught it in time, the tabloids would be swarming with rumors about us. My wife hasn't fully recovered; she needs rest, and I don't want any mess disturbing her. I hope you understand."
"But aren’t we friends? Can't we even meet or travel together anymore?" Lilian asked, her face filled with sorrow.
"I'm sorry," Darwin remained unmoved.
This was not like Darwin. In the past, a mere look of distress from her was enough to bring him to her side, no matter the difficulty.
"I'm not insisting on flying back with you. I can afford my own ticket," Lilian said, her eyes brimming with tears. "Darwin, do you know your wife Chelsea has had someone following me?"
"First of all, it's not 'following,' and secondly, I sent them. With your brother missing and the unclear cause of your mother's death, both Chelsea and I are worried about your safety," Darwin replied.
"Did your people follow me to Singapore, too?" Lilian asked with a cold laugh.
Darwin frowned slightly.
"Forget it. It seems no matter what happens, even if Ms. Rhoads kills me, you'd find excuses for her," Lilian said with a dismal smile. "I thought you meant it when you said you'd always protect me. I guess... I was wrong to rely on you. Sorry to bother you, goodbye!"
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