Chapter 388 Hard to Say
Fiona's words hung unfinished as Darwin leaned in to steal another kiss.
Fiona, stunned, managed to utter, "You…"
Her words were cut short by another kiss.
"Darwin!"
And another kiss followed.
Fiona stood speechless.
"Charles isn't here right now. You can't possibly have a reason to deny me a kiss, right?" Darwin asked with a mischievous grin.
Fiona gazed at him. How should she put it?
Her senses were just too attuned to Darwin's face. And Darwin, who once seemed as distant as the chill of winter, now appeared to have stepped into the sunlight, his demeanor brightening.
"What did Janna tell you? What got you all energized?" Fiona asked.
With a smile, Darwin slipped his arm around her waist, pulling her close. Fiona sighed in a blend of frustration and amusement.
Just as she was about to retort, he beat her to it. "Guess where I just came from?"
"Where?" Fiona was genuinely curious.
"Emerald Pool," Darwin replied.
"Emerald Pool? For what, rabbit hunting?"
"The butler called. Chicago's painting, 'The Divine,' was stolen," Darwin reported, yet an irrepressible smile played on his lips.
Fiona gasped, "How can you laugh when the painting is missing? Chicago spent so long on that piece..."
"It's not gone," Darwin gently interjected. "Chicago painted another one and secretly switched out 'The Divine.'"
"A different painting?" Fiona paused, then suddenly, like a flash of lightning, something clicked in her mind.
Cradling her with one arm, Darwin pulled out his phone and showed her the photo the butler had taken.
He was so eager to return home that he had almost forgotten to take the picture.
Taking Darwin's phone, Fiona looked at the image of the painting.
"This painting, she must have done it during those days she locked herself away," Darwin murmured. "Honey, has Chicago forgiven me?"
"It's hard to say."
Fiona handed the phone back to him.
"Why?" Darwin inquired anxiously.
"Strictly speaking, this painting is something Chicago created for you back when you were still the cool uncle," Fiona responded.
Darwin was taken aback.
Fiona watched him. "She painted a scene from a dream before being sent back to the island. Later, after you bought her and Charles some gifts, I asked her to prepare something in return, and this painting is her way of reciprocating."
"But... it clearly shows the four of us together. "Darwin struggled with the possibility that Chicago might not have forgiven him yet.
"Think about it carefully."
Fiona was inexplicably irritated.
She pushed past him, opened the door, and went downstairs.
Darwin stood still, racking his brain in a rapid brainstorm. He pieced together the timeline and the events surrounding the gift-giving.
It didn't take long for him to come up with an answer.
Chicago cared deeply for her mom and wouldn't have painted such a picture if her mom still had such strong aversions to him as the cool uncle.
It could only mean...
Fiona and Chicago must have had a conversation about their relationship. Chicago knew her mom was open to him being her dad, so she painted it.
A mix of emotions welled up inside Darwin.
If it weren't for Lilian's situation.
Maybe, without him finding out on his own, Fiona would have told him about the kids.
Darwin felt a sting in his eyes and a swelling feeling.
After taking a moment to compose himself, he finally headed downstairs.
Burl was a man of action.
After Janna left that afternoon, he buzzed off to Solomon on an excited whim.
His sparring with the big shots went exceptionally well, so he didn't come home for dinner, opting instead to dine out with his newfound brotherhood.
Therefore, only Darwin and his family graced tonight's dinner table.
Knowing Charles also wanted to visit the company, Darwin agreed with pleasure, then brought up the time when Chicago, with her little kitten, had run away from home and hacked into the Solomon building to check the surveillance.
"Charles's infiltration was silent and undetected; the security department only caught on after he'd pulled out. Honey, you have no idea how the bigwigs couldn't sleep a wink that night; they were so agonized they had to reinforce the building's defenses immediately," Darwin recounted.
Fiona looked at Darwin.
Could fatherhood change a man so profoundly?
In the past, Darwin's speech had always been clipped and brief.
"It's normal for programs to have vulnerabilities; some veterans are much more skilled than I am. There is a lot for me to learn," Charles replied.
He held his composure well, and if not for the rosy tips of his ears, no one would suspect he was bashfully flattered by his dad's praise.
"You're too young, Charles, too young!" Darwin boasted with unabashed pride, "My Charles is something!"
Charles was never comfortable with such lavish compliments.
The only praise he could stand was his mommy's endearment.
He let out a sigh.
"Help yourself to some more," he said to Darwin.
"Have another piece; Charles thinks you talk too much," Fiona said as she placed a chicken wing on Darwin's plate, finishing the sentence Charles left unsaid.
"Alright then."
Darwin was still in high spirits.
He had gotten a few lessons from Charles and Chicago over the last few days.
After dinner, to everyone's surprise, Darwin voluntarily cleared the table, loaded the dishwasher, and deftly started the cycle.
Fiona was floored.
"Did you guys teach him?" she asked Charles.
Charles thought for a moment, then shook his head. "He must've picked it up himself."
After a pause, he added, "For now, he's doing alright."
Fiona looked at him, then burst into laughter.
Darwin turned around, saw Fiona's amusement, and joined in, "What's so funny?"
"Nothing." Fiona stood up. "I have a meeting to catch. You two enjoy your father-son time."
Fiona ascended the stairs.
The two below watched her retreat, faces mirroring each other's expression.
Once Fiona left, the dining room fell silent instantly.
Darwin looked at Charles, and Charles mirrored his gaze.
"Did you see the painting?" Charles asked.
Darwin couldn't hide his grin. "You knew about it, Charles?"
"I found out this morning, when Burl hung the painting," answered Charles.
Looking earnestly at Charles, Darwin confessed, "Seeing that painting made me feel so happy."
Charles averted his gaze, nodding, "Keep it up."
"Will do!" Darwin replied eagerly.
Right at this harmonious moment, the front door opened.
Thalassa burst in energetically.
Noticing the emptiness, he instinctively glanced toward the dining room, locking eyes with the Solomon father and son.
"Just you guys?" Thalassa asked before waving her hand dismissively. "Never mind, I'm late to pick up Kenny from the airport!"
"The car keys are in the shoe cabinet, right side, second compartment," advised Charles.
Following Charles' instructions, Thalassa quickly snagged the car keys, "Charles, you're like a guardian angel, my lifesaver!"
He blew a few air kisses.
Slipping on a pair of flats, he hurriedly dashed out of the house.
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