Chapter 751 The Will to Survive
"Because you've come back to us against all odds." Charles looked at Darwin, his voice choked but earnest.
The injuries were so severe. How could he have survived without the will to return to them? Charles had asked Burl and Kenny about the people who rescued him. They hadn't taken him to a hospital, instead treating him in an unsanitary place with their limited medical knowledge. Charles, after hearing this, could only imagine the slim chances of survival. He had no idea what Darwin had gone through to stay alive.
"Thank you," Charles said, lowering his gaze. He moved closer, resting his forehead on Darwin's arm, and added, his voice trembling, "Thank you, Dad."
"Don't be sad." Darwin's voice was also choked with emotion. Charles had always been reserved and distant. Fiona had once told Darwin that Charles rarely showed his emotions. So, for Charles to express himself like this now, it surprised and moved Darwin.
"I will recover soon, just like before... No, I'll be even healthier!"
Charles knew that Darwin's recovery to his previous state was already remarkable. Becoming even healthier was impossible. But he still nodded. Outside the room, Fiona was in a meeting with the top executives. She had informed them about Darwin's return.
"For now, just let out some information, no need for a direct response. I don't want Darwin to be disturbed," Fiona said in a calm tone.
"We understand!" the others replied.
"The meeting about the island resort development plan will be moved to Saturday morning. I appreciate everyone's extra effort," Fiona continued.
According to the original plan, she should have held this meeting as soon as she returned. But the resort-related meeting would take at least four to five hours. Fiona's plan was to have Charles and Chicago come over to accompany Darwin after their vacation. Then she could attend the meeting without worries.
"I'll coordinate the arrangements."
"Alright, everyone, you've worked hard today. Rest early." The video conference ended.
Fiona felt like every bone in her body was stiff. She stood up and stretched. After taking a shower, she gently pushed open the door to the ward. Darwin was naturally awake, waiting for her. Fiona walked over quietly, and both children were already asleep. What was unexpected today was that Chicago was holding Darwin's hand. Charles was even more dramatic, as he was holding onto Darwin's arm. Fiona couldn't help but smile and sigh. Then she leaned over to Darwin's lips and kissed him twice.
"Did I deceive you? They are all angels, right?"
Darwin nodded, then said, "But I don't think it's because of me. I couldn't have raised such good kids."
"I didn't do much either. It's a gift from heaven. They've always been this lovely since they were little," Fiona said as she lay down, with Chicago in the middle. The two of them talked intermittently for a while. Fiona, exhausted from the day, quickly fell asleep. Darwin was probably very happy. It could also be because he had slept too much in the past few days. He didn't fall asleep. He looked at Chicago, then at Charles, and gently kissed his wife. It felt like a dream. No, even in his dreams, Darwin couldn't have imagined such a good time. In his dreams, it was always full of bloodshed.
The next morning, to everyone's surprise, Chicago was the first to wake up. And she woke up in a panic. She had dreamt that she was holding hands with her father, taking a walk in the park, and in the blink of an eye, her father disappeared. Chicago sat up abruptly. She saw Darwin and immediately threw herself into his arms. Fiona, Darwin, and Charles all woke up one after another. Chicago, still not fully awake, kept crying in Darwin's embrace.
"Baby, what's wrong?" Fiona gently patted her back. Chicago didn't say anything. She had dreamt that her father disappeared, and she just shook her head. Darwin looked at Fiona, feeling a bit at a loss.
Fiona waved her hand, "She's not fully awake yet, probably had a nightmare. Just give her some time."
Darwin nodded. Charles sat there, bewildered. Fiona got up and simply carried Charles off the bed.
"You should get up too and freshen up," she said. By the time Charles came back after freshening up, Chicago had already cried herself awake. She kept sniffling and snuggling into Fiona's arms.
Fiona gently held her. "Did you have a bad dream, baby?"
Chicago nodded. "But I can't talk about it unless Mommy asks."
"Alright," Fiona complied. "Are you feeling better now? Shall we go freshen up together?"
"Mommy, can I skip school today?" Chicago hesitated.
"No, you can't." Fiona shook her head. "Don't you remember? We agreed before that you would study hard and become the top student in your grade to make Daddy happy. Now that Daddy is back, you should make the most of your time and fulfill that promise!"
"Daddy..." Chicago looked at Darwin, tears welling up.
Darwin looked helpless, then said to Chicago, "Listen to Mommy, okay? I'll come pick you up later, alright?"
Chicago's eyes immediately lit up, and she looked at Fiona, "Can Daddy come pick me up after school?"
"Of course!" Fiona said as if it were a matter of course.
"Yay!" Chicago raised her hands in joy, but then she thought of something. "Is Daddy okay? If he's going to be tired, then I don't want him to come. I'm a big girl now, I can take the bus myself!"
"Daddy is fine. We're at the hospital just to let the doctors prescribe the best recovery plan for Daddy," Fiona patiently explained to Chicago. "We'll be able to go home in a couple of days." Chicago believed her mother's words the most. She immediately felt relieved. After breakfast, Charles and Chicago were picked up by Xavier, who took them directly to school. Darwin had originally wanted to take them himself. But there were a lot of tests at the hospital, so he couldn't. Although Charlotte had changed a lot over the past few months, one thing remained the same. Charlotte had always believed that it was her duty to protect Chicago and Charles. So, last night, not only did Charles and Chicago not return to Emerald Pool, but Charlotte didn't either.
In the early morning, the three children sat in the business car and set off together. Christopher had taken a few days off after returning, and he changed out of his suit and into sportswear. Christopher happily took his daughter to school.
"Christopher, thank you for helping me bring back Daddy," Chicago said to Christopher as she got into the car, very seriously.
"Chicago, no need to thank him. It's his duty," Charlotte said, and then handed Chicago a coconut breakfast bun. Chicago liked coconut. Charlotte had seen it in the morning, but she didn't eat it, she saved it for Chicago.
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