Chapter 407 A Puppet Master?
Fiona scrubbed through the surveillance footage, repeatedly observing the segment where Ember burst out. "Chicago's identity wasn't made public. If she wanted revenge, she should be going after Darwin, but she headed straight for Chicago."
"She also knew about Grandma Solomon, about where she's buried," Thalassa said. "If it were someone thinking straight, perhaps they could have made some inquiries, but she didn't have the capacity for that."
"Right," Fiona nodded in agreement. "The craziest part is that she somehow knew which hotel we were staying at."
A lucky guess like that might be unbelievable.
But to guess everything right, someone must be feeding her the answers.
"Xavier, take control of everyone who attended the funeral today; find out who's been in recent contact with Ember."
Knowing the time and place of Grandma Solomon's burial, the hotel they were staying in, and that Chicago was part of the Solomon family...
Fiona couldn't think of anyone besides the relatives attending Grandma Solomon's funeral today.
"On it!"
Xavier should have checked with Darwin. After all this time, Xavier understood that Mr. Solomon might seem mighty, but he was under his wife's thumb. Following her advice was always right.
And it was an opportunity to curry favor and secure his career.
"Who would've thought a simple funeral could turn into a life-and-death crisis!" Thalassa's face darkened. She had also reviewed the surveillance footage and still felt shaken. "If Darwin had reacted just a split second slower, or if that woman wasn't slowed down by her medication for mental illness, the consequences would've been unimaginable!"
Chicago was still so young.
Soft and vulnerable...
And that sharp knife...
Thalassa didn't dare to let her thoughts wander, her hand trembling uncontrollably. "We have to find the person behind this!"
"Right."
Fiona nodded, her gaze settling on the iPad one last time.
The screen froze on Ember, eyes red, face twisted menacingly at the sight of Chicago.
Her eyes were cold.
She looked away and started walking towards Darwin.
It had been just over an hour, and Darwin's wounds had been stitched up.
As the doctor approached, Fiona heard Chicago ask tearfully, "Did you suture Daddy's wound nicely?"
"Of course," the doctor replied gently, "Sweetie, don't worry. Daddy will heal in no time, and there won't be any ugly scars, okay?"
Chicago nodded emphatically. "Thank you!"
"Don't cry," the doctor said. He had his little troublemaker at home, a Charlie not much different from Chicago—nothing on earth could rile him up like she did.
She gently wiped away Chicago's tears. "You and Chicago share such a close bond."
Darwin overheard and couldn't contain a sliver of fatherly pride. He saw Fiona coming over and said with a smile, "Still, her bond with her mom is even stronger."
Fiona just looked at him, perplexed.
Was Darwin aware of how much he was rambling lately? The effort behind his words seemed painfully obvious.
"Mommy!" Chicago turned around and saw Fiona and her grievances erupted anew.
She reached out to grab a few of Darwin's fingers with one hand and stretched out her other arm to hug Fiona.
Fiona walked over, hugged Chicago, and the little girl buried her face into her mother's stomach, sobbing uncontrollably.
"Doctor, thank you for your hard work." Fiona stroked Chicago's head and thanked the doctor sincerely.
The doctor watched the family of three with envy, said his goodbyes, and left.
"Mr. Solomon, having a rough year?" Thalassa wandered over with her hands behind her back and glanced at the gauze-wrapped arm. "Such a long scar..."
Meanwhile, Chicago's cries intensified as she buried her face in Fiona's embrace. She had seen that scary old lady; Daddy had gotten hurt protecting her because of her.
"I'm sorry!" Thalassa snapped to attention and apologized before Fiona and Darwin's intense gazes fully turned her way.
"Baby," Fiona coaxed, trying to coax Chicago's head out of her embrace.
But Chicago clung even tighter.
"Baby, let mommy feel your forehead to see if the fever has come down," Fiona said gently. "Turn around and see how worried Daddy is."
Finally, Chicago relented and lifted her head, her eyes brimming with tears.
Fiona touched her forehead, worried the shock might have brought the fever back.
"How is she?" Darwin asked anxiously.
"Still a little warm," Fiona frowned slightly.
Thalassa seized the moment, scooped Chicago into her arms when she wasn't looking, and said, "We're at the hospital anyway; I'll take her to the fever clinic. Keep an eye on Darwin."
Without waiting for Chicago's reaction, she strode off quickly.
Fiona didn't worry. Thalassa had plenty of experience soothing Chicago.
She shifted her gaze from them back to Darwin, who seemed staggered for a moment and then, in the absence of their child, let the mask of pain he had been hiding slip on.
"What's wrong?" Fiona asked with a hint of anxiety after a brief silence.
"The anesthesia's wearing off; it hurts..." Darwin looked at Fiona weakly. "The doctor said there's a wound so deep you can see the bone, but I don't know if that's really true."
It was true.
Fiona had glanced at it, too.
"This must be someone else's doing, directing that madwoman. I wouldn't be surprised if it were one of the matriarch's relatives," Fiona said as she sat down.
"Oh," Darwin uttered, a touch of disappointment.
He wished she would care more about his injuries rather than that madwoman.
"Darwin." After a moment of silence, Fiona suddenly called out his name.
"Hmm?" He turned to her.
"Thank you," Fiona said sincerely.
She appeared composed, but Darwin knew how terrified she had been after seeing the surveillance footage.
If it hadn't been for him, Chicago by now...
Darwin paused, slightly startled, then reached out with his uninjured hand to hold Fiona's.
His hand was always warm.
But today, perhaps due to the blood loss, it was somewhat cold. Fiona instinctively wanted to withdraw hers, but thinking better of it, she didn't move.
She didn't want to risk aggravating his wound.
"Why would I say thank you? Chicago is my daughter, too," Darwin said.
Fiona looked at him, unsure of what to say.
Darwin, weakened from blood loss, was really out of it. Holding Fiona's hand, he closed his eyes and whispered, "Whether it's saving you or Chicago... it's what I should do... no need for thanks."
Fiona watched him.
"Rest if you're tired," she said softly.
Darwin murmured an acknowledgment, still holding her hand, showing no sign of letting go.
"Stay with me," he mumbled.
Fiona watched him.
After a long pause, she hummed in affirmation so quietly that only she could hear it.
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