Chapter 312 Father and Son Reunion
The noise from the elevator lobby wasn't far off and was audible even from a distance.
Initially excited, Chicago's mood shifted to concern after hearing a few dull thuds, looking worriedly in that direction, "Wendy, did you hear that? Are Darwin and Stuart fighting?"
Wendy had heard some noises too.
But before she could listen more intently, it quieted down.
"That can't be Stuart isn't one to act rashly, and Mr. Darwin's your friend, right? Why would they come to blows?"
Still uneasy, Chicago hesitated for a moment before running back.
Just as he reached the exit, he saw Darwin entering.
Darwin smiled, picking up Chicago in his arms, "What's wrong?"
" Where's Uncle Stuart?" Chicago inquired with a soft concern. "Your uncle said he had some other business to attend to. How about we go see your brother and wait for mom together?" Darwin asked gently.
Chicago looked at Darwin and saw no signs of injury.
Stuart, known for his toughness, contrasted with Darwin's seemingly gentle, almost scholarly demeanor. If they had fought, Darwin would surely be hurt.
After quickly analyzing, Chicago concluded there had been no fight.
"Yeah!" She nodded sweetly.
Darwin looked at her with eyes filled with boundless affection, barely concealing his fury and rage.
As they reached the elevator, Wendy looked past him, her smile fading a bit, "Mr. Solomon, where's Stuart?"
"He's occupied with something," Darwin replied with a hint of dismissal.
Wendy immediately sensed something was off.
Miss Chicago was still here; Stuart wouldn't leave her side, not even if the sky were falling.
"Miss, didn't your mother mention not to always be carried when outside? Please come down..."Wendy tried hard to stifle her fear, keeping her voice from trembling.
"Oh, right."
Looking at Darwin, Chicago said, "Darwin, let me down, please. Chicago is a big kid now and can't always be carried."
Darwin looked at her, his gaze holding a complex silence for a brief moment.
For those two seconds, Wendy dared not even breathe.
"Such a good kid, Chicago," Darwin said with a slight smile, releasing Chicago while Wendy watched him warily.
Wendy was about to rush forward to take Chicago back when the elevator arrived. To her dismay, before she could act, Chicago took Darwin's hand of his own accord.
Wendy was on the verge of panic as Darwin, now inside the elevator, turned to her with an intense stare that sent a shiver down her spine.
"Coming in?" Darwin asked.
Wendy mustered a forced smile and responded, 'Of course!’She steeled herself and stepped into the elevator, her mind racing with how to avoid Darwin's gaze and make contact with the old lady and Miss Chelsea. But what truly perplexed her was what had come over Mr. Darwin. Wasn't he always kind to the lady? Why did he suddenly seem like a villain straight out of a thriller?
Unaware of Wendy's anxiety, Chicago chatted with Darwin, saying, "Did you have dinner, Darwin? Dagmar bought me some really tasty cupcakes, and I can share one with you!"
At the mention of Dagmar, a slight tremor ran through Darwin's fingers. Over the years when he wasn't around, it must have been Dagmar filling in for him, Darwin thought.
Fiona had said no hugging in public. Yet there Dagmar was, holding hands with Chicago when they met.
"Darwin?" Chicago looked up at him, gently squeezing his hand when he didn't respond.
Darwin's face softened into a smile. "Sure, Darwin would love to have a cupcake with Chicago," he said in a gentle tone.
Wendy's eyes never left Darwin. Just a moment ago, his mood had darkened, and now he was tender once again. Thoughts flashed through her mind, and the words 'split personality' sent a new wave of fear through her.
The elevator reached its destination quickly. This floor had security, Wendy thought. The moment they stepped out, she would signal the guards and then, while Darwin was distracted, she would snatch Chicago away and the guards would swarm in and restrain Darwin.
Perfect plan.
However, just then...
The elevator doors slid open. Four alert bodyguards turned to look as they saw Chicago hand-in-hand with Darwin, momentarily taken aback.
Wendy was about to signal them...
As the four bodyguards turned around in unison, they nodded politely and greeted with due respect, "Miss, Mr. Darwin."
Chicago was utterly surprised; her eyes twinkled. "You all know my Darwin?"
Wendy had been wondering the same thing.
"There's no need to tell Mr. Rhoads and Chelsea about my arrival just yet," Darwin said, taking Chicago by the hand and heading towards Charles's hospital room.
Wendy stood there, puzzled.
"How do you all know him?" she asked.
The bodyguards looked even more surprised than she was.
"Mr. Darwin is Chelsea's fiancé, didn't you know?" one replied.
Not long ago, Darwin had been seriously injured trying to save Chelsea, prompting the Rhoads family's security detail to rally to the hospital.
"Fiancé?" Wendy exclaimed, her jaw dropping.
Then she looked at little Chicago.
Chicago had often expressed her wish for Mr. Darwin to be her dad.Wendy had thought it was just child's talk, but the little miss had quietly been making big moves, somehow bringing Chelsea and Mr. Darwin together without a word.
"That's my young lady," Wendy murmured to herself, a huge weight lifted off her chest upon learning of Darwin's connection to Chelsea.
But what about Stuart?
Wendy was still trying to piece it together when Chicago pushed open the door to the hospital room.
In the waiting area outside, Chicago's art supplies and the half-finished sketch she was working on were laid out.
Darwin was hit with a pang when he remembered Chicago mentioning at the art exhibit why she had painted God—it was because her mother was gravely ill. And he thought of her tiny figure in front of the large canvas in the documentary.
"I'm not supposed to be here without mom, am I?" he muttered to himself.
The door to the inner room opened, and Charles walked out in his hospital gown. He looked up to see the tall man staring back at him. Though they had spoken on the phone before, this was the first real face-to-face meeting between father and son.
"Brother, look who's here to see you!" Chicago exclaimed with delight, tugging Darwin forward a few steps.
"Charles," Darwin finally spoke, his gaze falling on the IV in Charles's hand, his heart aching severely.
"Chicago, did you inform mom about his arrival?" Charles asked, fixing his gaze on Darwin.
Maybe it was a subtle telepathy between father and son, but almost instantly, Darwin knew that Charles recognized him.
Chicago hesitated for a second, suddenly realizing he might have made a blunder. "Darwin said, Mom would agree..."
Charles' brows knit together immediately.
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