Chapter 387 Switching Paintings
After saying goodbye to Janna, Darwin was eager to return.
He wanted to spend a rare day with Fiona, not at work, enjoying quality parent-child time. But just as he got into the car, the butler from Emerald Pool rang up.
Darwin answered the phone, and the butler panicked, "Mr. Darwin, the painting in the foyer that was hung up, did you change it?"
A frown immediately formed on Darwin's face. The painting in the foyer was "God" by an artist from Chicago.
"Has the painting been switched?" Darwin asked, his worry deepening.
Upon hearing Darwin's response, the butler's legs turned to jelly. "Yes... it was still 'God' this morning when I went upstairs. There was no alarm from the security system. How could the painting be switched?"
"Alert the security; I'm on my way there now."
Hanging up, Darwin instructed his driver to change their destination. They would arrive in half an hour.
Darwin arrived at Emerald Pool.
The butler was already there, pacing like an ant on a hot pan.
"The police are checking the surveillance cameras in the vicinity," the butler said with a face full of self-reproach, "The camera on the second floor was turned off by one of the new staff members. Otherwise, we would have caught that thief by now!"
Darwin's expression turned sour.
The painting was profoundly significant, both to him and to Chicago.
Whoever had taken it, he was determined to make them pay dearly.
He dismissed what the butler had said and took the elevator straight to the entrance hall. He looked up with a frosty gaze as the elevator doors slid open.
The painting that was supposed to hang where The Divinity once did transfixed him. He was so stunned that he forgot to leave the elevator.
The butler watched with a chilling sense of dread.
He was an old hand in the Solomon family, and Darwin trusted him enough to bring him to his new home.
Before his master had even officially moved in, he felt he had failed, having lost a painting so dear to him.
As the elevator doors began to close, Darwin blocked them with his hand, stepped out, and approached the painting.
The wind-swept emerald grass, the colors and layers were impeccable, and in the distance stood a towering tree, silently braving the winds.
Under the azure sky, on the grass, was the silhouette of a young couple and their two children.
Chicago was riding high on his father's shoulders, joyfully raising both hands in the air while Charles held his mother's hand.
From the back, the artist's touch was so magical that Darwin could picture their faces just by looking.
The father was him.
The mother was Fiona.
And the kids—Charles and Chicago.
"Mr. Solomon! Don't worry, we'll recover the painting!" blurted out the butler, so anxious that he froze.
"Tell the police it was a false alarm; the painting wasn't stolen," Darwin said to the butler with a smile.
The butler was astonished, as if he had seen a ghost.
Was Mr. Darwin a bit too cheerful?
"But this painting..." the butler murmured, puzzled.
Darwin walked inside.
He went straight to Chicago's room, opened the door, and found The Divinity carefully restored.
The butler followed, more baffled than ever. "What's going on here?"
Darwin thought of Chicago's sudden wish to bring Burl over and remembered Burl's winking and nudging as they parted. He was touched beyond words.
"It's a surprise from my Chicago," Darwin said, his voice slightly choked with emotion.
When Charles was still in the hospital, Chicago had run home to paint. It was meant for him.
His precious child had forgiven him long ago.
"Make sure you apologize to the officer; I've gotta head out," Darwin said as he was about to leave, reminding them firmly, "Keep the surveillance on 24/7!"
"Got it!"
Striding out with a purpose, Darwin left.
Heading back, he found himself caught in the evening rush hour.
The traffic was a nightmare.
Darwin was eager to get home, but the congestion got unbearable as the time passed.
By the time he got home, dusk was settling in.
Inside, Fiona and Charles were setting the dining table together.
They exchanged a glance at the sound of the front door.
Darwin, having just swapped his shoes for slippers, hurried over.
"Dinner's ready—"
Fiona invited Darwin to join them for dinner, but before she could finish, Darwin stepped forward and embraced her tightly.
"What's the matter?" Fiona asked, confused. She was already wondering why Darwin had taken so long just dropping Janna off.
His silence and sudden display of affection left her utterly bewildered.
"I'm just happy!" Darwin said, relaxing his grip a little before kissing Fiona's lips unexpectedly.
"Darwin!" Fiona playfully slapped him on the cheek, not too hard.
He didn't get upset; instead, his grin grew even goofier.
"Have you lost your mind?" Fiona glared at him, then hissed through clenched teeth, "Charles is right here; can't you see?"
"I’m cool," Charles said calmly, placing plates on the table.
Fiona was speechless.
"Where's Chicago?" Darwin asked.
"She’s upstairs, painting. Wendy has already taken up her dinner. "Fiona nudged him, suggesting, "Let go of me first..."
"Painting, huh?"
Just hearing that made Darwin smile from ear to ear.
"What has gotten into you?" Fiona looked at him, concern creeping in as she reached up to check his forehead. "You don't have a fever, do you?"
She couldn't help but wonder if Burl's ominous words were coming true, suspecting something was wrong with his brain.
"Let me go see her once," Darwin suggested, releasing Fiona and stepping forward.
Fiona's guard dropped.
Suddenly, Darwin spun back, wrapping his arms around Fiona's waist and kissing her deeply once more.
Then he let go, his footsteps light and bouncy as he went upstairs.
Fiona turned to Charles, who gave her an awkward smile. Her cheeks and ears suddenly flushed.
"Why is it so hot in here? I'll go splash some water on my face..." Fiona coughed and headed to the second floor.
Upon reaching there, she saw Darwin bending down, peering through the slightly ajar door into the room.
Charles and Fiona had already been there earlier that afternoon for a look.
Chicago was working at breakneck speed on her latest piece, voluntarily announcing her intention to paint the family living around them, the rabbits.
The painting was titled "Neighbors."
Fiona walked over and playfully slapped Darwin on the back. Darwin spun around with a burst of laughter, pointing inside the studio. He whispered to Fiona, "She's painting the bunny ears. So adorable!"
Caught off-guard, Fiona could only stutter.
"Get over here!" She grabbed Darwin's shirt and hauled him off to her room.
It was Darwin's first time inside this space.
He first noticed the pleasant scent, her signature fragrance, which he adored the most.
"What were you playing at in front of Charles?" Fiona, arms folded, grilled him seriously. "Darwin, how old are you? Don't you know how to behave?"
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