Chapter 441 Not Settling for Second-Place Sorrow

Dagmar saw the cautious, fearful expression on the boy's face.

For some reason, it reminded him of the years when Fiona made it crystal clear her feelings for him were nothing more than fraternal.

And him...

He was tentatively clinging to his obsession, hoping that her fraternal affection would change one day.

He believed there was a chance as long as she didn't love someone else.

Perhaps, his fear that she would suddenly fall for someone else mirrored the boy's: a frightened heart with perpetual unrest.

Indeed, from the beginning, it was him who harbored unrequited dreams.

So, where did that leave room for anger or resentment now?
Did she have to hurt someone she had loved for so many years since childhood?
She just chose the man she loved.
And he was also the father of her child.
What had she done wrong?
Oh, Dagmar...

"Why have you gone silent?" the boy's voice lowered slightly. "My little sister, she doesn’t eat much. Once she gets a bit older, she can help you with chores..."

"I'll adopt you both if you want." Dagmar gathered his thoughts.
The boy gazed at Dagmar, stunned.

"But before that, I need to step away to take care of something," Dagmar continued.

The boy grew anxious. "What are you going to do? Will it take long?"

"Do you know what a knight is?" Dagmar asked with a smile.

Yonne raised her hand high. "I know! Knights protect princesses!"

She had heard this from other little girls at the neighborhood playground.

Dagmar nodded with a smile. "Right! I'm off to fulfill my final act of protection for my princess as a knight."

Yonne's eyes shone as she looked at Dagmar.
Is Uncle a knight?
But her brother's expression screamed—liar!
There were no princes or knights in this world—it was clear he didn't want him and his sister around!

"How long will you be gone?" the boy asked again.

Dagmar thought for a moment. "It’s hard to say, but I'll be back within three months!"

The boy said nothing.

When Dagmar left, he and his sister followed him to the hospital entrance.
It wasn't until Dagmar was about to leave that he blurted out, "Adults shouldn't lie to kids."

Dagmar grinned. "Heal up, take good care of your sister, and wait for me."

"Mhm!" The boy held his sister's hand tightly, nodding fiercely as he watched Dagmar enter the car and saw the vehicle vanish.

Dagmar, of course, had yet to go into details with Fiona.

"I was thinking, if I turned down the collaboration with Ken and his wife, they'd surely find someone else. So I might as well accept and see if I can help during the process, or at least get some crucial information for you," Dagmar said to Fiona. "But Ken and Alice, they've been watching me closely; I couldn't get in touch with you."

"Thank you," Fiona said, choking up.

Dagmar looked at her with a deep, solemn gaze, as if trying to etch her image into his memory forever.

"The medicine Alice gave me, I've switched it all out; there's no need to worry about Grandma Rhoads having any side effects," Dagmar said, gently patting Fiona's shoulder. "I've decided not to walk this next part of the path with you."

Fiona stared at Dagmar.
Tears continued to stream down her face.
Dagmar's eyes were tinged with red as he tilted his head slightly and offered a bittersweet smile. "I have no desire to be the tragic second lead in a soap opera. Don't feel guilty. There's a whole wide world out there waiting for me."

Fiona nodded vigorously. "I know. I'm sure you're going to do great."

Dagmar's gaze fell.

He gave Fiona's shoulder a reassuring pat. "I'm off."

"Take care, Dagmar."

Fiona didn't say goodbye.

Dagmar didn't want to either.

With a warm smile that reminded her of the gentle sun, Dagmar finally withdrew his gaze from Fiona, not uttering another word. He walked past her, past Darwin, and without looking back, he left.

Nor did Fiona turn around.

If Dagmar could make such a decision, she was happy for him.

But she couldn't help feeling a profound sadness, especially since Dagmar had felt such a deep betrayal when she and Darwin had suddenly married. Still, he had chosen to risk everything to protect her family.

Ken and Alice had already caused much harm in their quest to take over the company. What would Dagmar's fate be if they discovered that his cooperation was all a ruse?

He might die silently, at an unknown time, in an unknown place.

She would never know that Dagmar had lost his life for her.

He was too good and too kind.

She would choose Dagmar without a second thought if she could choose whom to love.

"Fiona..."

Darwin approached her with a hoarse voice.

"I'm begging you, don't hurt Dagmar again when you lose it!" Fiona implored, her eyes locked on his. "We already owe him more than we can ever repay!"

"I won't... Not anymore," Darwin quickly reassured her.

"I'm going to sit with Grandma. You should get some rest," Fiona said before re-entering the hospital room. Darwin heard Fiona's soft sigh when the door closed behind her.

He slumped onto the bench.

What Fiona didn't know was that when he and his men arrived at the location Dagmar had mentioned, Alice's thugs were pressing Dagmar to the ground, ready to inject him with a poison that could paralyze his heart instantly.

If Darwin had come even a moment later, Dagmar would not have survived.

The only thing Dagmar had said to him on their way back from rescuing Janna was to keep this ordeal a secret from her.

Darwin leaned back, covering his forehead with his hand.

His once invincible life seemed to be shrouded in setbacks lately.

*

Dagmar's flight arrived in Bay City in the early morning hours. He went straight to his apartment, showered, shaved, and even trimmed his hair.

By dawn, he met up with a friend and got what he needed. After picking up a cake he had ordered earlier, he headed to the hospital.
The journey was filled with a unique calmness, and the sun was beaming with delight. Dagmar seemed to have shed the heavy shell that had burdened him, his breathing and steps lightening considerably.

Consider the Yonne siblings. Although it had only been a month, some impatient kids had already lost their faith.

"Forget it, I'm better now. Let's get discharged," one declared.

"But brother, Uncle asked us to wait for him," the sister protested.

"Adults will say anything. He's not coming back. I'm healed, and staying in the hospital is just a waste of money. Let's check out and use what we haven't spent to pay him back," he reasoned.

No sooner had he finished speaking than the door to the hospital room swung open. Over a month could feel both long and short, but these two little ones had eaten well and slept well in the hospital. Their complexions improved, and they looked taller and better.

"Who's the liar now?" Dagmar stepped inside the room, looking at the astonished siblings, and asked with a puzzled look.
The Substitute's Revenge: From Secretary to Queen
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