Chapter 381 Parent-Child Time
Stepping out of her studio after putting in some extra hours, Fiona was about to call it a day when a message from Roy popped up on her phone.
“Susan returned to the company, and she said she was sorry for offending you earlier. She asked me to give you a set of her cherished pearl jewelry,” the message read.
Fiona smiled wryly and replied, "Please thank Miss Susan for me."
She had no intention of delaying her acceptance.
For someone like Susan, relinquishing a prized set of pearls would put their past issues to rest. If Fiona were to decline, it would leave an awkward tension between them that might resurface during future collaborations.
Fiona strode out briskly, briefcase in hand.
The office was virtually empty, except for Laura.
"Heading out, Chelsea?" Laura stood, stretching.
"Yeah. What's keeping you?" Fiona, with one hand gripping her briefcase and the other tucked into her blazer pocket, exuded a sense of sharp sophistication.
"Just finished up some reports on the computer. I'm leaving in a sec," Laura gestured to her workstation.
"Let's go together. I'll give you a ride." Fiona glanced at the time.
Since Laura was staying in a nearby hotel for convenience, she nodded in agreement and quickly gathered her things.
As they exited the building, they noticed Darwin, in casual wear, idly scrolling through his phone by the passenger door of a sleek black SUV.
As soon as Fiona and Laura appeared, he looked up and waved.
"Looks like I won't be getting that ride after all," Laura muttered cheekily.
Fiona tossed her keys to Laura. "Just drive it back to me tomorrow morning."
"Roger that!" Laura caught the keys with a grin, hurrying down the stairs. Passing by Darwin, she greeted him. "Hey, Mr. Solomon!"
He nodded in acknowledgment.
Fiona wasn't far behind, walking along casually. She glanced at the SUV, then at Darwin, "Aew Charles and Chicago here too?"
"Mmhmm," Darwin confirmed. "We decided we'd treat ourselves to a nice dinner tonight, so I came to pick you up."
With a click of her tongue, Fiona advanced another step. Darwin seamlessly took her briefcase, opening the passenger door to place it inside.
By then, Fiona had already slid into the driver's seat, and Darwin hopped in right after her.
As the engine came to life, Fiona couldn't hide her bemusement. "Isn't there a passenger seat? Why are you squeezing in the back?"
She didn’t want Charles and Chicago to overhear any complaints about their dad, so she playfully bickered with Darwin in a hushed tone.
Darwin, who was clearly enjoying himself, took the opportunity to grab her hand, squeezing it firmly in his palm.
"Mama, Jessie ate so much more today than yesterday, let me show you!" Unaware of her parents' subtle exchange, Chicago excitedly pulled up a video of Jessie eating to show Fiona.
Fiona took the opportunity to slip out her hand out of Darwin’s.
Pretending nothing was amiss, she took the phone and looked at it. "Oh, she does seem more spirited than yesterday!"
"The vet says Godmother can take Jessie home in a few days!"
Darwin's plan was to have Jessie stay at Kenny's house first, and once everything was set up over at Emerald Pool, they would move there and build a doghouse just for Jessie.
"That's wonderful. You can finally stop worrying about her," Fiona said with a smile, caressing Chicago's cheek.
Chicago nodded, her face a picture of contentment, then unexpectedly, gave Darwin a quick glance.
Darwin was momentarily startled, then his smile grew even warmer.
But then Chicago turned her head away again, refusing to look at him.
Darwin couldn't help but laugh at the situation.
The family dinner was at a popular family-friendly restaurant in Bay City, known not just for its delectable cuisine but also for its famous indoor play area.
Fiona held each child by the hand while Darwin followed close behind.
It was a scene of perfect harmony.
When the server saw them, he promptly approached with a polite inquiry about a reservation.
"We have a reservation for four, two adults and two children, under Mr. Darwin."
The server quickly found the reservation on the system and lifted his head with a beaming smile. "Good evening..."
Before he could finish his greeting, he recognized the man and woman before him.
"You’re... you're..."
Darwin, maintaining a polite but distant demeanor, interjected. "The little ones are hungry. Could you please show us to our table? Thank you."
The server snapped back to reality and led Darwin and his family of four to their reserved spot.
Darwin had chosen one of the best spots in the restaurant with a view of the theme park.
The play area of the restaurant was lavishly designed, showcasing excellent greenery and lighting effects.
And every night, there was a signature firework show called the Fiona Fireworks.
The Fiona Fireworks would burst into adorable animal shapes against the night sky.
Darwin had put considerable effort into making this first family dining experience a memorable one, having researched and carefully selected this location.
Meanwhile, the server was going through an internal frenzy.
He was almost certain that those two were none other than the financially powerful couple making waves on the internet, Darwin and Chelsea.
Where on earth did these two four- or five-year-old kids come from?
Well...
The server couldn't help but sneak peeks at the children while he set the table. The kids were nearly identical and had traces of both Darwin and Chelsea in their features.
So, it was highly likely that these two were their kids.
Weren't Chelsea and Darwin supposed to have met only recently?
Wasn't Chelsea just a replacement love interest Secretary Woods had found for Darwin?
The server's mind was filled with questions.
After setting out the utensils, he couldn't linger any longer and left, but he kept glancing back at them.
"Mommy, why did that man stare at me like that?" Chicago asked Fiona, sipping water with an innocent frown.
Fiona glanced at Darwin and said, "Because you're adorable, Chicago."
Shaking his head, Chicago replied, "If it was because of that, he would've made that funny screech and his eyes would've sparkled. But he looked more like he was scared!"
"You have an artist's eye for detail, Chicago" Darwin said, praising Chicago with a smile.
Chicago's pride was evident as she lifted his chin slightly.
But...
"So, why did he look like that?" Chicago turned to Darwin, seeking an answer.
"It doesn't matter," Darwin replied tenderly. "What anyone else thinks is not important."
Chicago blinked in confusion.
Darwin wanted to explain further, but...
"You're right," Chicago nodded, then rubbed her belly. "What really matters is that I'm hungry!"
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