Chapter 307 Never Letting Go
In Janet's younger days, one's word and honor were crucial in the social battlegrounds. She didn't have much affection for Donovan. But if her granddaughter was thinking of using that reason to draw a line between them, Janet found it inappropriate.
Hearing Janet's words, Fiona remained silent.
"Take a rest, will you? You're worn down to a shadow," said Janet, her voice laced with concern.
"Jane understood the implications."
Fiona stayed still, clenching her jaw, "But how can I stand by and watch Lilian walk free?"
"Who said we're letting her off the hook?" Janet let out a scornful scoff. "In my life, I've never rewarded evil with good. My dear, what I mean is, there's no need to force Donovan into making such a decision. If you've chosen him, acknowledged him as your child's father, why press him between betrayal and yourself?"
She paused for a moment before speaking again with profound significance, "Instead of being at each other's throats, why not do him a favor? Let him owe you one more thing in this lifetime. As for Lilian, I'll let her revel in her freedom for a few months. When the assassination attempt blows over, we can arrange a perfect 'accident' to turn the tables on her, can't we?"
Emily and Jane exchanged a glance.
Their eyes fell, and silence ensued.
Jane knew Emily well. Taking Emily's hand, she said, "Grandma understands. She knows you might have already considered this."
Emily remained silent for a moment before admitting, "Yes."
Despite all the challenges with Darwin, he had never firmly chosen her side in matters of right and wrong.
But this time was different!
Charles's illness was like a dagger hanging over Emily's head.
"Regardless of what you decide, Grandma's message remains the same: I am always your strongest support," Jane patted Emily's hand reassuringly. "Stop worrying, turn off your phone, take some sleeping pills, and get some rest. Grandma is here to take care of everything for you."
Emily's eyes stung as she held back tears.
Finally, she took Jane’s advice, turned off her phone, took the sleeping pills, and lay down in the rest room.
The sleep induced by the pills left her particularly drained.
In her dreams, it was as if Emily plunged into a perpetual night without daylight, assailed by terrifying demons gnawing at her.
While Emily rested,
Darwin had been searching for her—visiting her studio, her apartment complex, even checking the flights leaving Armie County.
Jane quickly found out someone was looking for Emily.
She suspected it was Darwin.
She hadn’t planned on intervening.
But shortly before, Stuart called to report the situation at the Klein Mansion and mentioned how Darwin had looked pale and needed support when he left, as if a headache had struck.
Jane knew what that meant.
Her precious granddaughter was in this state because she cared.
If Darwin died while trying to find her granddaughter, it would ruin the rest of her beloved's life.
After weighing everything,
Jane picked up the phone and called Darwin.
The phone rang for a while before connecting.
"Grandma Rhoads!" Before Jane could speak, she heard Darwin’s breathless and anxious voice on the other side.
"Mr. Solomon, you must have quite the influence. My granddaughter, who has a usually stellar disposition, is utterly vexed by you. How can you live with yourself? But if you ask me, I promise I’ll make sure she never sees you again in her life!" Jane’s tone was fierce with conviction.
"Sure, of course I will!" Darwin immediately answered, "Gran, this really is my fault. You can punish me however you see fit, but I won't leave her, not even if it kills me!"
Darwin's resolve was unmistakable.
Janna snorted.
She thought to herself, Darwin sure has changed since a few years back.
A few years ago, getting him to back down was a struggle.
"Anyway, Stella's doing just fine by my side. You better take care of yourself first. Your head's not fully healed. If you end up with some disability, forget about taking my girl away then."
Janna finished speaking.
Without waiting for Darwin to respond, she hung up the call.
A moment later, Darwin sent a message: "Gran, it's my fault she suffered. I swear on my life, it's the last time. As for Lilian, it's over between us. If she doesn't change her ways, I'll deal with her myself."
Janna read the message.
She sighed and shook her head.
Men were a mystery she never figured out in her lifetime (though truth be told, she spent more time making money and building her career than trying to understand them). Why do they only come to their senses after losing something, as if waking from a dream and then chasing it like they've become someone else?
Isn't it exhausting? Doesn't it waste time?
*
The next day, a team of specialists arrived.
Charles' battery of tests began.
Of all the tests, the most painful was the bone marrow biopsy.
Fiona stayed by Charles' side throughout the procedure.
Charles, who normally never made a sound when in pain, cried out during the biopsy.
It nearly broke Fiona's heart.
Grandma Rhoads and Chicago waited together in the relatives' area.
Ideally, Chicago shouldn't have heard her brother's cries, yet she did.
And it made her immensely anxious and unsettled.
Staring towards where her brother was, tears kept rolling down.
"Grandma Rhoads, Chicago wants to go to brother..." Chicago looked up at Janna through her tears.
Janna felt the ache in her heart, too.
She hugged Chicago tightly. "Sweetheart, your brother will be alright soon, don’t worry!"
"That's not true, brother is hurting, it's not alright at all, Grandma Rhoads is lying!" Chicago spoke, suddenly breaking free from Janna's embrace and running outside.
"Please follow me!" Janna quickly signaled to Stuart and Wendy.
Stuart had already taken off running, while Wendy lagged a bit behind.
Chicago ran out of the building, tears streaming as the hospital's red camellias blossomed lavishly around her.
Ignoring Wendy and Stuart trailing behind her, she dashed to a big tree, crouched down, and pulled out the cell phone Darwin had given her.
Sobbing, she dialed Darwin's number.
Darwin felt an unusual headache yesterday, which left his doctor deeply concerned, prompting an array of comprehensive tests to be scheduled for today.
By the time Madison called, Darwin had just finished his check-up.
These past few days, Madison had been in touch more often than usual, the communication seamless, including several video calls. Madison always asked beforehand if Darwin was available, careful not to intrude.
So when Madison's call came through unexpectedly, Darwin's gut told him something was up.
Feeling under the weather yet compelled, he immediately answered the video call.
After a brief shake of the camera, Darwin saw Madison's face on screen, eyes red and swollen from crying, her nose just as red.
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