Chapter 303 Stuart is a Decent Man
Lilian saw Stuart coming back. "I won't meet with Ms. Rhoads alone," she said loud enough for Fiona to hear on the other end, "When Darwin arrives, if she needs anything from me, I'll ask Darwin to accompany me."
Each mention of Darwin seemed to suggest an intimacy between them.
Fiona was in the car, legs crossed, one hand on the phone and the other resting on her knee, her fingertips lightly tapping.
"Chelsea's looking for you."
Stuart, annoyed, thrust the phone at Xavier.
Xavier quickly took the call: "Ms. Rhoads!"
"Xavier, let Stuart take Lilian. If Darwin has any objections, I'll take full responsibility," Fiona's tone brooked no refusal.
A chill ran down Xavier's spine.
"Ms. Rhoads, why don't you hang tight for a bit longer? The gentleman's plane will be landing soon," Xavier managed to say, despite feeling on edge.
There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line: "Fine."
Xavier breathed a huge sigh of relief.
But then he heard through the phone, "Then you all wait at the airport. Stuart will stay with you. When Darwin arrives, you'll all head over together to the mansion in Anniston."
Before Xavier could respond, Fiona disconnected the call.
Ever since she found out that Darwin had assigned Xavier to protect Lilian, Fiona's temper had been flaring.
After ending the call, Fiona instructed her driver to leave the airport and drive towards the Anniston mansion.
About twenty minutes later, Darwin's plane arrived at the port. As soon as he landed, he immediately called Fiona.
She picked up quickly.
"Honey, have you reached the airport yet?" asked Darwin.
Fiona's tone was chilly: "Stuart is waiting for you there. You'll have to come to me yourself."
Sensing something was off from her tone, Darwin asked, "What's wrong?"
"You'll soon find out just what's wrong," Fiona retorted before hanging up and setting her phone to Do Not Disturb mode.
Darwin couldn't reach Fiona after that. His face grew somber, and he had a sinking feeling.
As he pondered the situation, Xavier, who saw Darwin's plane land, urgently called: "Boss, Ms. Robbins just landed and Ms. Rhoads has sent Stuart with a few others to take her away... I didn't know what was going on, so I didn't let them leave."
Now Darwin understood what was amiss.
"Where are you guys now?" Darwin asked, his voice a deep rumble.
"We're still at the arrival gate. Ms. Rhoads won't let me take Ms. Robbins away. She's instructed us to stick with Stuart and wait for your plane... then head to Mr. Potter's mansion to meet her."
"Klein Mansion?" Darwin's brow furrowed.
He could guess the reason behind Fiona's behavior.
"Yes," confirmed Xavier.
"Got it," Darwin responded curtly, ready to hang up. But remembering his wife's icy tone, he took a deep breath to quell his rising anger, "And Xavier."
"Yes!" Xavier quickly replied.
"Her words might as well be my words. If she wants someone, you give them to her. What's the point in upsetting her?" His voice grew heated with frustration, "Let's not have any more foolishness like this in the future, understood?"
Xavier was sincerely frightened.
Even though Darwin wasn't physically present before him, he quickly bowed with respect, "Yes, Mr. Solomon, it won't happen again."
Darwin didn't respond.
He hung up the phone with a huff.
Moments later.
Inside the airport parking lot.
"Mr. Solomon," Stuart said, looking at Darwin with a rather sour expression.
Stuart’s English was impeccable, having honed it with Charles and the Chicago crowd, so he was not well-versed in the harsher American slang.
He could only convey his disdain with a stern look.
"Let's go," Darwin nodded slightly.
No one around his wife harbored any hostility towards him.
He was used to it.
As long as nobody did anything drastic, like convincing his wife to leave him, he was willing to turn a blind eye.
"I'll just ride with Mr. Solomon," Lilian said as she reached for the door of Darwin’s car.
"No way!" Stuart blocked her path firmly, "Who knows where he might take you? You'll be safer riding with Xavier and me."
"I don't trust any of you!" Lilian protested, seeking Darwin for support.
Darwin glanced at her, "I'll follow behind. Stuart’s a decent guy; he won't pull anything."
"Darwin!" Lilian was incredulous.
Darwin shifted his gaze away and then back to her, " Lilian, you're not hiding anything from me, are you?"
Lilian was caught off guard, and tears began to well up in her eyes, " What would I hide from you? Given my current state, what could I possibly do? Darwin, please don't be too harsh because of Chelsea!"
"As long as you've done nothing wrong, nobody can harm you." Darwin looked away as the car window slowly closed.
The anger inside Lilian was enough to shatter teeth, but she had no choice but to get in the car with Stuart.
When she had heard they were heading to the Klein Mansion at the airport, Lilian's heart sank heavily.
Why were they going to the Anniston's?
Had Chelsea discovered something?
Lilian had suspected that Chelsea might discover the cellphone.But even if the phone was found, how did that implicate her? Why take her to the Klein Mansion? What was the purpose?
With these anxious thoughts, a line of vehicles gradually made their way into the Klein Mansion.
In the living room.
Fiona sat on a dark green, velvet vintage armchair, legs crossed gracefully, dressed in a solemn black suit dress.
As the guests filed in, Darwin was leading the way.
Upon seeing Fiona, he immediately walked towards her. The illness of Charles had kept Fiona up all night, her appearance gaunt and weary.
Darwin frowned, “What happened? You look terrible.”
“Aunt Fiona.”
Fiona ignored him, instead calling out to the last person who entered the room.
The man stiffened, reluctantly turning his head towards Fiona.
“Don’t rush to take the urn; just leave it here,” Fiona gestured towards the coffee table.
The coffee table was a prized possession of Anniston, who had paid an artisan in Italy over a million dollars for it. She treasured it greatly.
“Take the urn and everyone else leave, except for Lilian.” Darwin spoke authoritatively.
Fiona glanced at him.
“I need Anniston here!” she enunciated each word, “Darwin, think carefully before you speak. Anyone who sides with Lilian today is against me!”
“Darwin, please listen to Ms. Rhoads,” Lilian choked up, then approached the man, “Uncle, hand me the urn. It’s been hard on you, running back and forth. Go rest.”
The man had already sensed the mounting tension.
Handing the urn to Lilian, he made a quick exit.
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