Chapter 72 Don't Contact Me Anymore
"Why you all up in my business about my girl? What's wrong with you?" Darwin shot a look at Wyatt.
Wyatt scrunched his face. "That day, 'cause of Hathaway, you bolted from New Port back to Bay City. I had a chat with Fiona."
Darwin kept his mouth shut.
Wyatt went on, "She was dead set on leaving."
Darwin's face stayed the same, but the warmth in his eyes turned ice-cold real quick.
"Back then, I didn't get her. Thought she was just after your money, hanging around to cash in through Lilian," Wyatt continued, "But this time in New Port, I realized I was wrong. Fiona's got skills, man."
Darwin felt a pit in his stomach.
"I'll give her room to do her thing," he said.
But only if he could keep a leash on it.
"What room? Just a bigger cage, right?" Wyatt paused. "I won't ask if you can protect her all the way. Just tell me, is she cool with staying in your cage?"
Tonight, two people had grilled him like this.
Darwin's anger flared up.
He stopped, stared at Wyatt, and said, "Even if she's not cool with it, she's staying!"
Wyatt was taken aback. "You nuts?"
Darwin glanced at Fiona.
Through the dessert shop's glass, she was smiling, picking out a pastry.
Just when Wyatt thought he wouldn't get an answer, Darwin spoke, "Yeah, I'm nuts. I can't live without Fiona."
Wyatt's brows knitted tight.
After a long pause, he finally said, "Darwin, remember when we were kids, you told me you can't have it all? You gotta give up something to get something, or you'll lose everything."
He patted Darwin's shoulder. "Since you can't live without her and can't let her go, at least don't let her get hurt. Her face is so pretty, and I saw the slap mark on it. What if something more serious happens to her?"
With that, Wyatt headed back to the restaurant to hang with his friends.
He couldn't quite pin down his feelings for Fiona now.
Not much he could do; it was all up to her luck from here on out.
Fiona bought a bunch of sweet treats for Janna.
She grabbed some for Stuart too.
"Except for the cake, which you gotta eat in 24 hours, the rest can wait. They've got a three-month shelf life, but don't pig out," Fiona reminded carefully.
Her grandpa had died from diabetes complications.
"Got it." Janna nodded. "Fiona, what I said in the car about wanting you to work for me wasn't a joke!"
Fiona smiled and nodded. "I get it."
"Men are the worst. We gotta rely on ourselves, got it?" Janna didn't want to put Fiona on the spot.
She didn't spell out that she knew about Fiona and Darwin's thing.
Fiona was sharp and wouldn't get it twisted.
"I've always known that," she replied.
Meanwhile, Darwin walked over. "Ms. Rhoads, where do you live? I'll call you a car."
Janna had just had a spat with Darwin.
When she looked at him, there was no warmth left.
"No need, my ride's here," she said, then looked at Fiona with affection. "Come see me when you can, okay?"
"Okay." Fiona's tone was like she was soothing a kid.
Janna hopped into a car parked by the curb. Before it took off, she rolled down the window and shot Darwin a cold look. "Mr. Solomon, next time I see Fiona, she better not have any new bruises!"
"She won't," Darwin nodded.
Janna snorted and signaled the driver to go.
Once she was gone, Fiona turned to Darwin. "After all this drama today, you should probably head back to your place, right?"
"I'm not going back," Darwin said, reaching for her hand.
Fiona pulled away. "There are people around."
Darwin felt a pang in his chest.
People were everywhere. If they got recognized, someone might snap a pic, and that could spell trouble.
He got it. In the past, they always kept a professional distance in public. Back then, it didn't bother him.
But now? What was happening now?
"I need to go back to Thalassa's to pack my stuff. I'll move back to the apartment in a couple of days," Fiona said. "You drive, I'll grab a cab."
Fiona had been through the wringer today. Her face was still red and swollen.
Darwin wanted to stay with her, but she didn't seem to want that.
"Don't you want to be with me right now?" he asked.
Fiona stood under a sycamore tree, withered leaves at her feet. Her eyes were empty as she looked at Darwin. "Mr. Solomon, wasn't last night enough?"
Darwin's heart skipped a beat.
"Then let's go to your place. I'll pack my things tomorrow," Fiona said.
She just stared at Darwin, waiting for his response.
Darwin looked back at her, his lips pressed tight.
When she was with Janna, she wasn't like this. Even with Janna's bodyguards and Wyatt, she wasn't like this.
Darwin felt like the heart he'd laid bare before Fiona was being tossed aside.
After a moment of silence, he turned and left, his face cold.
Fiona stood there for a bit, then, with an indifferent expression, hailed a cab and headed to Thalassa's place.
In the car, she replayed the chaotic day in her mind.
Finally, she remembered Hathaway saying she wanted to take care of Darwin with her, and she felt nauseous again.
The driver glanced at Fiona through the rearview mirror. "Miss, you look really pale. Need to go to the hospital?"
"No," Fiona shook her head.
Seeing this, the driver didn't press further.
After about a half-hour drive, they arrived at the destination.
Before heading up, she found a well-lit spot downstairs and called Harold back. "What's up?"
Harold was silent for a moment. "Did you get back to Bay City?"
"Yeah," Fiona paused.
When Harold had called earlier in the car, she'd looked calm, but inside she was terrified. She was scared Darwin had really lost it and would go after Harold.
"Glad you're back. Easier for me to look out for you when you're close..." Harold's voice trailed off, and Fiona sighed.
She couldn't drag Harold into this mess anymore.
"Harold, I've thought it over. It's easier to stay by Darwin's side, and the kid needs a father," Fiona said calmly. "To avoid causing me trouble, let's not contact each other anymore."
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