Chapter 655 Don’t Risk Your Life
Fiona stirred from her sleep, her eyes scanning the room. No sign of Darwin.
After freshening up and slipping into her coat, Fiona caught sight of Xavier darting out in haste.
It seemed Darwin had eyes everywhere.
Just as Fiona prepared to descend the stairs, Darwin pivoted, the icy facade melting into a warm smile. "Why not catch a few more winks?" he suggested.
"I must say, your staff are quite dedicated. Xavier looks like he's been through the wringer. Doesn't he ever take a breather?" Fiona remarked as she descended.
Darwin reached for her hand.
"I've advised him to, but he's stubborn," Darwin admitted, shaking his head.
"So, what's the latest?" Fiona inquired.
Handing her a portrait, Darwin asked, "Any guesses on who these men might be?"
Fiona's frown deepened as she glanced at the portrait. "They radiate hostility. Did they have a hand in your subordinates' deaths?"
"Not confirmed," Darwin replied, pausing. "But this one here was involved in Thomas and his girlfriend's abduction. He saved Thomas and hid him in the slums."
Fiona was taken aback. "Thomas? How does he fit into all of this?"
Darwin met her gaze. "Lilian, along with the deaths of my men, suggests someone's seeking vengeance for Hathaway."
"Hathaway?" Fiona exclaimed, astonished.
"The head of The Venomous Shadows, now held captive by another faction's leader. Investigating Lilian's attempted hires for assassins, it seems one vanished hours after the attempt," Darwin explained calmly.
"I suspect these men eliminated the assassin, then posed as him to abduct Thomas and his girlfriend, subjecting them to torture to fuel Thomas's vendetta against Lilian. Later, one of them set Thomas free while the other mentored him on seeking revenge."
The pieces clicked into place with meticulous precision.
"Did Lilian and Hathaway have a history?" Fiona asked, furrowing her brow.
Darwin laid out the situation for Fiona in blunt terms.
"Much of what Hathaway did was her own doing," Fiona recalled, then looked up at Darwin. "I recall you exposing the video of her with several men at a party. Hathaway claimed she was drugged. Could Lilian be behind that?"
"My wife is quite astute," Darwin acknowledged. "It was one of Lilian's close associates who orchestrated it."
"Her associate? It was herself!" Fiona retorted. "How low has Lilian sunk?"
Back then, Lilian's confidante had subtly undermined Fiona, angering Darwin enough to have her promptly incarcerated. Later, while in prison, she assaulted a guard and was transferred to a mental facility. During that time, messages filtered back, mentioning Hathaway's ordeal.
The woman's exact words were, "Lilian didn't want you marrying another woman, so she had me do this and sent the video to your confidant. Lilian knew you were meticulous and wouldn't touch a woman who behaved that way, even if you married her. That was her aim."
But during that period, Darwin was deeply scarred mentally and physically from losing Fiona. He was indifferent to everything, even Hathaway, during Anniston's breakdown. He remained in Serene City day after day.
At that time, Darwin still held trust in Lilian. He couldn't fathom that someone as delicate as Lilian could harm another. Learning about Lilian's manipulations at work, he dismissed Hathaway's plight entirely.
It wasn't until last night, when Darwin recalled Lilian's ties to Hathaway, that he recollected this incident. After all, if Lilian had merely been orchestrating from the shadows, the level of animosity wouldn't have led to Lilian's gruesome demise. But if Lilian had schemed to disgrace Hathaway publicly, it was a different story.
Because Lilian had publicly humiliated Hathaway, their retaliation was to publicly mutilate Lilian.
Fiona shivered at the thought. "Who could be pulling the strings behind all of this?" Her brow furrowed.
Considering Hathaway's circumstances, she likely sought revenge against her and Darwin the most. Fiona speculated they targeted others first due to the tight security surrounding her and Darwin.
However, if the adversary was resolute on killing them, no matter how stringent their security, there were always vulnerabilities.
Fiona felt no debt owed to Hathaway.
Upon learning of Hathaway's engagement to Darwin, Fiona departed without hesitation.
Despite Hathaway's repeated framing and near-loss of Fiona's child, Fiona refrained from retaliation.
Later, when Hathaway and Darwin called off their engagement, Hathaway's path toward her demise was of her own choosing for the next six years.
If the avenger sought to blame Fiona, she felt no remorse.
"We might find some answers once we identify these two individuals," Fiona proposed as they conversed.
The conversation paused as Charles descended from upstairs.
Quickly adjusting their demeanors, they greeted him.
"What's wrong?" Charles inquired.
"Just work matters to discuss with me," Fiona replied softly. "Did you sleep well?"
Charles nodded.
"I just woke up too. Let's have breakfast together," Fiona suggested.
"Okay," Charles agreed obediently.
After unraveling the complexities of the situation, Fiona grasped why Darwin had consented to Charlotte residing here.
Darwin had his arrangements, intending for Charlotte to safeguard Charles and Chicago.
Now, with the unknown threat looming, Fiona valued not only her child's life but also the lives of others' children.
She hoped Charlotte could lead a peaceful life, away from strife and bloodshed.
However, Fiona hadn't anticipated Charlotte's unexpected visit after breakfast.
As Charles headed to the study, he encountered Charlotte for the first time.
"Hello, Charles," Charlotte greeted him solemnly.
Charles glanced at her, his expression neutral, nodded politely, then proceeded to the study.
Charlotte didn't seem bothered.
"Why did you come, Charlotte?" Fiona approached her. "Who told you to?"
"I heard," Charlotte replied, her tone calm.
Fiona was taken aback.
"Since Mike assigned a task to Dad, I assigned one to myself. I came to protect Charles and Chicago," Charlotte explained calmly.
"Charlotte..."
Charlotte met Fiona's gaze with determination.
Though Fiona intended to refuse, it transformed into a sigh.
"Alright, but if danger arises, let the others take the lead. Don't rush in, don't risk your life, okay?" Fiona instructed.
"Okay," Charlotte agreed with a nod.
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