Chapter 478 Missing
After wrapping up his work for the day, Darwin dined out with his family of four.
Upon returning home, they put the children to bed, and Darwin retreated to his study to address a last-minute work matter.
Fiona lingered in the living room briefly before deciding to visit the wine cellar in the basement after a prolonged absence.
She contemplated selecting a bottle of wine for a moment before ultimately returning it to the rack.
If tomorrow’s compatibility results were still unsuccessful, Fiona would still have to consider the options of IVF and natural conception.
Thus, it was best to skip the wine.
She slumped on the couch, idly surfing the internet on her cellphone, bored out of her mind.
The past few days, the internet had been quiet.
Just a sprinkle of harmless gossip.
For instance, a young model she knew was rumored to be involved with an actor thirty years her senior, or some corporate powerhouses planning a business marriage.
It was all of that sort.
Bored from scrolling, Fiona dozed off on the sofa.
In the deep of her slumber.
She caught a whiff of a familiar scent.
Gently opening her eyes, she saw Darwin's face.
She did it almost instinctively, lifting her hand to gently caress his cheek. "What are you doing here?"
"I came to find you," Darwin whispered tenderly. "How come you fell asleep here? Did you have a tiring day?"
Fiona, bleary-eyed, gazed at him and replied, "Not really; this couch is just really comfy to sleep on."
Both she and Thalassa had their share of nights, sipping on drinks and dozing off on the couch.
"Did you have a drink?" Darwin inquired.
Fiona shook her head. "When will the results come out from the other side?"
"Probably not until work hours." Darwin took her hand in his. "Are you worried about this?"
"Yeah." Fiona nodded.
Her thoughts were a mess, yet her mind was crystal clear.
Her eyes settled on Darwin like a predator zeroing in on its prey. Her hand slid down to the nape of his neck, gently grazing it. "Come a little closer."
Darwin hesitated for a moment but then edged closer, their proximity so near that a slight tilt could make their noses touch. However, for Fiona, it still wasn't close enough.
She applied a bit more pressure with her hand.
And then, she kissed Darwin.
Fiona was rarely the initiator, but now, taken by her assertiveness, Darwin's handsome eyes instantly reddened.
It wasn't long before Darwin flipped the script and pulled her into his embrace, his breath hot as he deepened their kiss.
The wine cellar was utterly quiet, their breathing the only sound.
They were too familiar with each other, even after all these years.
The teasing quickly escalated, and they were both at a tipping point.
Suddenly, something in Darwin's mind clutched at his racing desire. His breathing grew ragged.
Cupping Fiona's chin, he started, "Do we have any protection at home..."
Before Darwin could finish, Fiona sat up straight and sealed his words with another kiss, her voice muffled, "We don’t need it."
Darwin knew Fiona was always careful about these things in the past.
"Hold on a second."
He pressed Fiona down onto the couch.
"What's wrong?" Her voice was sultry and her eyes misted with a blend of confusion and irritation.
Darwin, as though doused in cold water, had sobered up considerably.
"Are you still thinking about getting pregnant?" he asked, anger tingeing his voice.
Fiona lay on the couch, silently staring at Darwin for a moment, her eyes eventually clearing. "It's strange of you. Didn't you always want this? Now that I’m throwing myself at you, you're not happy?"
"I didn't want to just get you pregnant."
A frown creased Darwin's forehead.
Then, with a sullen face, he started to straighten out Fiona's disheveled clothes.
Watching him, Fiona's eyes began to redden, but she remained silent.
Seeing her pitiful state mixed his feelings with anger, helplessness, and heartache.
After straightening out her clothes, he wrapped his arms around her waist, picking her up and holding her close like pacifying a child. "I apologized for speaking harshly," he said, gently patting Fiona's shoulder.
With her cheek pressed against his shoulder, Fiona mumbled after a moment without a word, "Do you think getting pregnant is that easy? Just one shot and bingo?"
Darwin couldn't help but laugh at her frustration, "I still stand by what I said. Even with a one in a million chance, I don't want to take the risk."
As he spoke, Darwin kissed her blushing ear gently. "I'll purchase everything we need tomorrow, just to be safe."
Fiona was silent. Her recent stress had reached an unprecedented level. Even the time before she had escaped from Darwin had never felt so oppressive.
Indeed, she needed some wild release.
"Let's continue." Fiona nuzzled into Darwin's neck. "We could use protection."
The things said in bed were rarely truth.
"No way."
Unbelievably, Darwin remained unmoved in his stance.
"Those pills can harm your health." Pushed to the edge by temptation, Darwin fiercely pushed Fiona away, getting off the bed and stepping back.
Fiona lay back on the couch, silent for two seconds before chuckling to herself.
For some reason, she thought about what Thalassa once said — whether Kenny had been detoxed.
Now, she pondered the same question about Darwin.
When it came to the dangers of medication, Darwin was no stranger. Throughout the years when he served as her body double, save for the initial instances, he consistently took measures to ensure she wouldn't have to resort to taking any pills.
"You're still laughing!" Darwin's face was drained of color.
Fiona waved him off, "Go take a shower."
Darwin was silent, thinking it over and still angry.
She was deliberately teasing, trying to make him give in.
So, Darwin leaned forward again, his lips finding her neck, sucking hard at the skin.
Fiona winced in pain, slapping him on the back.
It was as if Darwin had lost all sense of pain.
After leaving a bright red mark, Darwin was satisfied.
Then he stared at Fiona, "Fiona, you'll pay for this!"
With that, Darwin left the wine cellar directly.
A moment later, Fiona sat up, grabbed her phone, and checked her neck in the camera.
Darwin, had left it so red.
Still, what was more troubling to Fiona was Darwin's attitude — it was even more resolute than she had imagined.
If he stubbornly refused to agree, there was nothing that could be done about it, artificial insemination or natural conception alike.
After lingering in the cellar for a bit longer, Fiona returned to her room, showered, and when she came out, someone else was in her bed. Fiona was momentarily speechless. Then, she thought better of pushing him away again. If he wanted to share the bed, so be it. The idea of surrendering to passion crossed her mind, considering it wouldn't be the worst thing.
With that thought, Fiona turned off the lights and gently climbed into bed, lying down next to Darwin. It didn't take long before Darwin turned toward her, pulling her into his arms and kissing her neck softly, whispering, "Don't worry, just sleep well." His voice was as soothing as the warm sun of March, gently enveloping her.
Fiona's anxiety alleviated considerably, succumbing to sleep in Darwin's embrace not long after. Sometimes, habit can be a terrifying force. The sense of security she had once derived from Darwin now served as a healing balm during her moments of intense unease. Despite this comfort, Fiona's sleep was still restless throughout the night.
As dawn was approaching, she faintly heard Darwin on the phone. "He's missing?" "How can someone just disappear? What have you all been doing?"
Fiona's mind hazily pondered over these words before a sudden realization startled her awake. "Who's missing?" she asked, sitting up to look at Darwin.
Darwin seemed briefly surprised. "Check the security footage immediately," he ordered before hanging up the phone. Fiona threw back the covers and got out of bed, heading toward Darwin. "Who's missing?"
"My half-brother," Darwin replied. "The folks there say he probably slipped out for drinks last night."
"What time is it?" Fiona glanced at Darwin's phone as she spoke.
It had just turned seven o'clock.
"Where does he live? Let's go over there," Fiona said with a firm tone.
"I'll go alone," Darwin suggested.
"No, I'm coming with you," Fiona insisted, determined.
With no other choice, Darwin agreed. Before heading out, Darwin handed Fiona a cup of oat milk, which she downed in one go in the car.
Steven's hotel was located near the Rhoads family hospital — a mere three-minute walk away. When they arrived, the people there still hadn't found Steven.
"Could he be afraid of the bone marrow donation?" Fiona asked gravely. "Did you explain to him that it won't affect his health?"
"Ms. Fiona, we've explained it to him, and he's been very cooperative — as long as he's paid, he's willing to do anything," they replied gravely.
Darwin surveyed the somewhat disheveled hotel room. "Did you let something slip?" he asked coldly.
"Impossible!" The two exclaimed in unison. "We've never said anything out of line in front of him!"
Fiona listened intently, and inexplicably, the image of the man she'd seen yesterday at RH Company flashed through her mind. "What does he look like?" she asked immediately.
The two men hurriedly pulled out their phones. On the screen was a face with dry, wrinkled skin, the same face Fiona had encountered the previous day in the parking garage. However, the man seemed even greedier and more unsettling in person than in the photo.
"Honey, what's wrong?" Darwin, noticing Fiona's change in expression, quickly inquired.
"He came looking for me yesterday," Fiona revealed, looking at Darwin. "In the RH Company's parking garage."
Darwin's hair stood on end. "Calvin!"
Calvin also felt a chill. "Mr. Darwin..."
"Didn't you say they'd stayed in the hotel the whole time before last night?"
Calvin was sweating profusely from his forehead; indeed, he had not noticed Steven and his henchman stepping out.
"What's the panic?"
After confirming the man's identity, Fiona seemed less in a hurry. She glanced around the messy room. "If he came to me, he's clearly aware of my relationship with Darwin. He must just be waiting for the blood typing results to ask for a bigger payment."
However, that didn't matter. If the blood typing was a match, Charles could be saved. Money was of no concern.
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