Chapter 434 A Matter of Perspective
Dagmar furrowed his brow. "Tonight?"
"Yes, tonight. Chelsea is tricky, and with Darwin around, keeping Janna alive invites trouble," Alice said in a deep voice.
Dagmar glanced at her. "Understood. I know what to do. After tomorrow's shareholders' meeting, come over for the cleanup."
Alice froze for a second.
She observed the man before her—strikingly handsome and aloof. "Dr. Dagmar, you're not quite the person I pictured. In the past, you always seemed so sophisticated. Chelsea and Darwin's sudden marriage has hit you harder than I thought."
"Are you done?" Dagmar asked, his scowl deepening.
His entire demeanor was miles away from any hint of gentleness.
"You're so handsome, and soon you'll be the head of a major corporation; you can have any woman you want. Let go and move on. Chelsea isn't worth it."
With that, Alice patted Dagmar's shoulder and strutted away in high heels.
*
Fiona had taken some sleep aids and slept straight through to four in the morning.
Upon opening her eyes, she found Darwin curled beside her, uncovered by the blanket.
Fiona stared at him for a moment.
It was like seeing a ghost.
Lately, Darwin had been looking rejuvenated.
Worrying about his wife meant Darwin's sleep was not deep, and being the alert man he was, he quickly felt her gaze.
He woke up almost instantly.
His eyes met Fiona's.
The next second, Darwin leaned in and brushed his lips against hers.
Fiona was speechless.
"You've slept for quite a while," Darwin whispered, his concern visible.
"I was just tired," Fiona replied. "Why are you in my bed?"
"I wanted to stay by your side. I didn't know I'd drift off," he said. "Hungry? I'll go make breakfast."
"Don't bother." Fiona stopped him and pointed at his arm. "Look at you; you're a mess. Take it easy."
"So, you don't want me at the shareholders' meeting today?" Darwin grumbled.
"Yeah," Fiona nodded. "Grandma's going to pass the Rhoads family business on to me. I need to handle this myself. I can't depend on a man—or I'll carry that burden forever."
"Alright," Darwin conceded reluctantly.
"Just go back to sleep; I'll get ready."
But, of course, Darwin didn't go back to sleep. He followed Fiona around like a loyal puppy. He'd been worried all day and night that Fiona would resent him because of Dagmar's betrayal.
But as she prepared to leave, he realized the confrontation he feared never came.
She didn't even utter a harsh word; instead, she reminded him, "Don't forget to change the dressing on your wound."
"Fiona."
Darwin couldn't hold back anymore and called out to her just as she was about to leave.
"Hmm?" Fiona looked at him, puzzled.
"Why aren't you yelling at me about Dagmar?" Darwin asked, his voice heavy.
Kenny had given him an e-book called "The Marriage Bible" that day, which mentioned that the worst thing in a marriage isn't the arguments themselves but reaching a point where the couple doesn't even bother to fight over their issues.
This was a huge red flag in any marriage.
Therefore, there had to be something wrong if she wasn't scolding him!
The book also mentioned that conflicts should be resolved immediately, not left to rot.
Otherwise, minor issues may accumulate over time and become massive, intractable problems when they finally explode.
"Huh?"
Fiona was taken aback.
"Why should I be yelling at you?" Fiona, with her arms folded, asked in disbelief. "This time, it's not your fault. It was Dagmar's own decision."
Darwin was speechless.
Fiona looked at him with a complex expression and touched his cheek softly. "Darwin, why are you so anxious now? Make sure you watch Chicago's studies; I'm leaving."
After the door shut, Darwin slowly came back to his senses.
He touched his cheek, where Fiona had touched him.
He felt happy, yet at the same time, he thought that damn book was utter nonsense.
He was pulling out his phone.
With gritted teeth, he deleted the book.
Just as he was about to send Kenny a WhatsApp message advising him to read less of that bizarre stuff for a happier family life, an unfamiliar number called in.
*
At eight o'clock
The Rhoads family conglomerate building was shrouded in an ominous silence.
Everyone breathed softly, from the security guard at the entrance to the secretary in the top-floor boardroom.
After all, it was common knowledge that today, the conglomerate would face a significant upheaval.
Everyone worried about how long their generous salaries would last.
"Hey, who do you hope will take over the conglomerate?" Two female employees whispered in the restroom, "I hope Miss Rhoads can turn the tide against all odds. Wouldn't having a rich, beautiful lead make for a thrilling story?"
"Get real, at least Ken shares the Rhoads's last name. Where does Chelsea even come from? And now she's married to Darwin; she's got his name," the other employee replied in an even lower voice. "How many women stand with their own families after getting married? If she manages to turn the tide, it won't be long before Solomon swallows up Rhoads, and then there will be no Rhoads family at all!"
"You're right," the first employee replied, as if a chill had run down her spine. "Then I support Ken too!"
While they were talking, the door to the adjacent stall swung open. A stunning woman, dressed in a sleek black suit and striking red heels, stepped out and walked calmly to the sink.
The female employees couldn't help but give her a double take.
At first, they thought she was beautiful, outshining even the movie stars.
Slowly, though, they realized she looked familiar.
"It's the 21st century, and you still believe that a married daughter can’t take care of her family?" the gorgeous woman said as she finished washing her hands. She casually pulled a paper towel from the dispenser, drying her hands without glancing at the others.
"Chelsea..."
"Miss Chelsea!" they exclaimed in alarm.
"Why put yourself down when we're all women here?"
Fiona patted the shoulder of the woman closest to her, then, with a swift pivot, walked briskly out of the restroom.
"Why... why would she not use the executive restroom and come to ours?" wondered one of the employees, pale as a ghost, who believed Fiona was no longer a part of the Rhoads family after her marriage.
"Damn!" muttered the other employee. "She's so beautiful, and she smells amazing!"
Fiona had come to this floor simply because the restrooms on the top floor were overcrowded.
With the board meeting underway, shareholders related to the Rhoads family had flown in worldwide, regardless of their small holdings.
Fiona hadn't expected to stumble upon some juicy gossip just by visiting the restroom. The company had mixed feelings about her marriage to Darwin.
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