Chapter 306 I Was Never Yours
Lilian stood there, stunned, tears streaming down her face as she looked at Darwin. "It wasn't me who wanted her dead; it was Anniston," she asserted, emphasizing each word.
She was determined to pin the blame on Anniston.
"At most, I knew and didn't tell you. Why should I? I wanted her gone so I could have you back!"
"I was never yours," Darwin said, stifling a severe headache as he stood up. "You saved my life and I was coerced into a marriage because of you. I do owe you for that."
Lilian looked at Darwin. There seemed to be an invisible wall suddenly enveloping him. The distance between them, already far, now felt as vast as mountains and seas.
"Darwin…"
"But over the years, I've given you everything I could. Now, I'm giving back the life you gave me," Darwin said, his eyes cold as he looked at Lilian. "Stay here for now. I'll talk to Mrs. Solomon; if she agrees, I'll let you go. After that, we'll have no further ties and we shall never see each other again."
"No, don't…"
Lilian struggled to her feet, trying to embrace Darwin, but Xavier was quicker, feigning support while actually restraining her. "Ms. Robbins, please be careful…"
"Let me go!"
Lilian fought with all her might. Darwin, unturned, walked away with assistance. When the sound of a car starting echoed outside, Xavier released Lilian. "Ms. Robbins, my task here is done. I'll take my leave."
Lilian stood there, swaying as if about to collapse. The expansive living room emptied out, leaving her alone. Her gaze inadvertently met with the portrait on Anniston's urn.
"Ah!"
Lilian screamed in terror and stumbled backward, then ran toward the front door.
Opening the large living room door, she saw Stuart not far away, turning around upon hearing her. He was toying with a Swiss Army knife that looked menacingly sharp. Seeing Lilian as though she intended to leave, he stood still, watching her. His face bore a cruel, bloodthirsty smirk.
Lilian’s feet might as well have taken root; she couldn't take another step.
"Ms. Robbins, are you coming or not?" Stuart asked impatiently after a while.
Lilian clenched her teeth and turned back, forcefully shutting the door.
The Klein Mansion was now utterly deserted; Anniston's husband, sensing trouble, had slipped out the back door just moments before. There were no staff to be seen anywhere.
Bright sunlight filled the living room, yet Lilian felt chilled to the bone. She looked around the room in a panic.
Anniston's taste in decor, heavy on the vintage and outdated, made the atmosphere even more unnerving.
After a moment, Lilian's eyes settled on Anniston's urn.
Her expression transformed from fear to defiance as she walked determinedly to the chair facing Anniston's portrait. Taking a deep breath, Lilian composed herself, fixing her disheveled hair and clothes. "Mr. Potter, there's no reason for you to be upset. Remember what I'm carrying. Don't worry, I won't let that wench win; I won't let her rest in peace. We're on the same side, right?" she said, her voice a mix of venom and persuasion.
After completing her defiant declaration, she brought her hand down hard on the urn. "You never defeated me when you were alive, and you won't in death either. Stay where you are, or I might just scatter your ashes to the wind!"
Anniston's portrait continued to exude an aura of dignified power, yet Lilian felt her presence had weakened significantly.
Collapsing on the sofa that Darwin had just vacated, Lilian's tense body began to relax. As long as you're alive, anything can be negotiated, right? In her heart, she silently thanked the stranger who had saved Darwin at the lake. If not for her, Darwin would not owe her his life, and she might have had to deal with this situation differently today.
Men," Lilian mused, glancing at the intricate ceiling patterns. "When they fall out of love, they leave no trace of affection behind.
A pathological smile crept over Lilian's face.
*
Darwin left the Klein Mansion, incessantly trying to call Fiona, only to find her phone unreachable. After getting into his car, he popped several painkillers to soothe his throbbing headache.
Once the pain subsided a bit, he sent Fiona a WhatsApp message: "Honey, please don't be angry, okay? I'm not defending her. Where are you? Can we meet up and talk things through?"
Fiona replied promptly, with a message that was unnervingly straightforward: "There's nothing to discuss. As for Lilian, I just want her dead."
Darwin's brows furrowed even more tightly as he read her reply.
The Klein Mansion was not far from the hospital.
Within fifteen minutes, Fiona was back by Charles's side. The specialist team had not arrived yet, and after much deliberation, she decided not to administer his medication that day. She had researched the severe reactions the drugs could cause and felt Charles deserved a day of relief.
Perhaps not wanting to worry her sister, Fiona found Charles asleep in the lounge, having been drawing with his sister. Standing at the doorway, she peered through the crack, her heart twisting in pain at the thought of Darwin's defense of Lilian.
How foolish she had been, falling in the same spot as she had five years ago.
"Let her draw, don't go in," whispered Janna's voice from behind.
As Fiona turned around and locked eyes with Janna, a wave of grievance overwhelmed her.
Janet couldn't help but let a smirk slip as she closed the door behind her. Taking Fiona's hand, they stepped out into the backyard patio.
"Ready to play the widow card?" Janet inquired as they settled down.
Fiona let out a self-deprecating laugh. "Grandma, the internet is abuzz about how potent first loves can be. I've tasted the bitterness of an early romance, but I never fully understood it until now."
"Stuart filled me in about this life-saving debt. What's that all about?" Janet questioned.
Truth be told, Janet had always kept an intermittent watch on Donovan. His relationship with Lilian was anything but close. Lately, it seemed like Donovan was even putting more distance between them. And previously, he was vehemently against the person who had tried to kill Fiona.
She was in the midst of taking down The Venomous Shadows, and during the process, her people crossed paths with Donovan's crew. At this moment, both teams were collaborating to dismantle The Venomous Shadows.
Burl had once mentioned to her he felt Donovan might show favoritism towards Lilian. Janet had disagreed. If Lilian had truly attempted to assassinate Fiona, Donovan wouldn't have the heart to let her off easily.
"I'm not entirely sure about the details. It seems that when Donovan was younger, Lilian accidentally saved his life," Fiona responded.
Janet nodded, her eyelids drooping slightly in thought. "If that's the case, it's a real dilemma. A life-saving grace is a mighty one. If he were to completely disregard it for you, he would be no better than a traitor."
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