Chapter 318 Not Backing Down?
The bodyguards instantly turned around, alert.
Fiona and Chicago also immediately looked over.
Today Darwin was dressed in a casual gray outfit, appearing less sharp than usual.
"Mr. Darwin, I'm sorry, but you can't come up here."
Upon spotting Darwin, the bodyguards immediately adopted a defensive stance. Everyone was aware of Darwin's involvement with their boss's brother the previous day, although the specifics were unknown. But it was common knowledge that Darwin shouldn't be allowed anywhere near the young master.
Darwin lifted his gaze, looking past the bodyguards and towards Fiona.
Fiona held Chicago in her arms, her brow furrowed in concern.
Chicago looked worriedly at Fiona, her little hand gently pushing at her furrowed brow, "Mommy..."
Fiona snapped back and gave Chicago a reassuring smile, "It's okay."
She put Chicago down and, holding her hand, walked forward, glancing at the bodyguards, "Let him through."
"Ms. Chelsea..." the bodyguards expressed their concern.
Fiona gave them a reassuring nod, her eyes silently communicating that all was fine.
The guards, their faces stern, stepped aside to clear a path.
"Hey, Chicago, didn't you tell me yesterday that we were running low on paint?" Darwin approached the little girl.
Chicago's behavior around him had changed. She used to run towards him with joy whenever she saw him, but today, she just stood by Fiona's side, leaning against her leg, clutching her hand tightly.
Had someone said something to upset her?
Darwin's heart twinged with pain and anger.
"Chicago, Darwin's talking to you." Fiona gently shook the girl's arm, nudging her to respond.
Chicago glanced at her mommy. Even Fiona seemed different from last night; she didn't appear to dislike Darwin as much.
Still clutching Fiona's hand, Chicago moved forward, took the paint from Darwin, and gazed up at him with bright eyes, sweetly saying, 'Thank you, Darwin.
"There's a good girl," Darwin patted her on the head.
"Chicago, why don't you show your brother your new paint?" Fiona knelt down, speaking patiently to the girl. " And keep an eye on Uncle for me, okay? Make sure he stays focused and doesn't get distracted playing video games with your brother."
Burl had arrived early in the morning with educational games, but Charles had quickly dismissed them.
"Okay!" Chicago nodded.
Waving to Darwin, she exclaimed, 'Darwin, Chicago's heading out now.
"Sure thing," Darwin watched her, his eyes filled with tenderness.
Humming a tune, Chicago hopped and skipped away.
Stuart had injured himself today and was avoiding Chicago; her hair, styled by Fiona, was... well, sufficient.
Darwin's gaze lingered until Chicago disappeared through the door, then finally shifted back to Fiona.
However, all the gentleness and smiles vanished instantly, leaving nothing but coldness
"Let's talk over there."
Fiona didn't look at him, her face an unreadable mask as she turned and walked toward the balcony.
Darwin followed more slowly, closing the balcony door behind him.
Fiona turned to face Darwin: "Mr. Solomon sure moves fast."
The man had been coughing up blood when he left last night, yet by early morning, he had arranged everything that needed attention.
Who wouldn't compliment Darwin, that sly dog, for his exceptional efficiency?
" I had no choice," Darwin responded coolly. "The pain kept me awake all night, my mind tormented by those unbearable memories. How could I comfort myself if I didn't do something about it?"
"Do you really want to push me to treat you the same way?" Fiona asked, every word heavy with consequence.
"What can you do? Expose Solomon's scandal? His backroom dealings?" Darwin chuckled. "But, compared to those revelations, isn’t airing my own dirty laundry a more powerful and hurtful blow?"
Fiona's brows were furrowed deeply.
Step by step, Darwin approached her until she could feel his breath mingling with hers, agitating her yet irresistibly entangling her heart like twisted knives.
"Darwin, I'm not you," Fiona said, her eyes brimming with tears of disappointment. "I've asked myself time and again, over the years I've known you, no matter how many times you've hurt me, except for faking my death and fleeing with our child, I've never harmed you."
His gaze on her grew colder, more menacing.
"And Darwin, why did I fake my death and run away with our child? Have you truly forgotten?" Fiona pressed on, "You drove me to it, every step of the way. You didn’t trust me; you harmed my friends. Despite my explanations, you were adamant about terminating my pregnancy! If it wasn’t for Wyatt, Charles, and Chicago would be dead by your hand. What gives you the right to exact your revenge so self-righteously now?"
"There's no point in rehashing all of this," Darwin said, looking straight at her. "Whether I admit my wrongs or not, you’ve been so merciless to me. So I won’t dwell on the past. Whoever made my life miserable will feel a thousand times that pain."
"So you have no intention of stopping?" Fiona asked, tears streaming down her cheeks.
She licked her dry lips, blinked away her tears, and looked at Darwin resolutely.
"Miss Rhoads, it's simple if you want me to stop." Darwin grasped Fiona's chin and looked down at her. "I want my child. Whenever you return Charles and Chicago to me, that's when I'll stop."
"Impossible," Fiona replied without hesitation.
"Then let's continue," Darwin withdrew his hand. "The Rhoads family has a lot of skeletons in the closet to air out. Think it over, Miss Rhoads."
With those words, Darwin turned and left the platform, heading straight for the hospital room.
"Chicago, how about Uncle plays blocks with you? My game points can't keep up with your losses," Burl joked tearfully to Chicago.
Chicago giggled, leaning on his brother's arm, "Uncle isn’t as good as Charles. He never worries about losing points to Chicago!"
In the midst of their conversation, Darwin opened the door and entered. Everyone in the room turned to look at him. Burl’s face darkened first.
"What game are we playing?" Darwin ignored Burl's expression, walked in, and closed the door behind him.
"Darwin, where's Mom?" Chicago glanced towards the door, not seeing Fiona immediately set a wave of concern into motion.
"She'll be here in a bit," Darwin replied before turning to Charles. "Charles, are you feeling any better today? Still in pain?"
Charles shook his head, his gaze drifting to the door as well. "Much better."
"That's good to hear."
Darwin took note of the children's behavior with a close eye.
Just then, there was a light knock on the door.
A nurse pushed it open, looking at Burl, "Mr. Rhoads, everything is ready. You can come for the tissue typing now."
"I'll be right there."
Burl set down the video game controller, gathering one child under each arm, "Kids, your uncle has to step out for a bit, I'll come back later!"
He then cast a wary glance at Darwin, "Are you here for typing as well? Want to come with me?" "
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
