CHAPTER 38

The city lights flickered beyond the penthouse windows, casting elongated shadows across the room. Darwin Solomon stood at the bar, his grip tightening around the crystal tumbler filled with amber liquid. His mind churned with the weight of revelations—Fiona’s pregnancy, William Newton’s vendetta, Bella’s deceit. Every piece of the puzzle had fallen into place, yet he felt further from control than ever before.

He had spent years crafting an empire built on dominance and precision. He had always been the one in control—until now. Fiona was gone. Again. But this time, it wasn’t just about losing her. It was about losing the one thing he never thought he could have—a family.

The ice in his glass clinked as he set it down with a thud. He needed to act.

Across the City

Fiona sat curled up on the worn-out couch of Thalassa’s apartment, her hands instinctively cradling her stomach. The baby. Their baby. The weight of everything that had happened pressed down on her like a heavy fog.

"Fiona," Thalassa’s voice broke through the silence, gentle but firm. "You can’t keep running forever."

Fiona let out a bitter laugh, shaking her head. "You think I have a choice? The world already sees me as Darwin’s mistake. Thanks to William and Bella, the press is tearing me apart. If I stay, it’s only going to get worse."

Thalassa crossed her arms, leaning against the counter. "And you think leaving is going to fix that?"

Fiona sighed, rubbing her temples. "I don’t know. But I can’t keep playing his game. I need to focus on what matters—this baby. I won’t let my child grow up in the middle of Darwin’s battles."

Thalassa studied her for a long moment before speaking. "Then fight back, Fiona. If you keep running, people like Bella and William win. You didn’t come this far just to let them write your story for you."

The words struck something deep within Fiona. She had spent years being someone else’s shadow, someone else’s pawn. But this time, she wasn’t just fighting for herself—she was fighting for her child.

Her fingers tightened around the fabric of her dress. "Then I need a plan."

The Enemy’s Next Move

Meanwhile, William Newton sat in his dimly lit office, a smug smile playing on his lips as he scrolled through the latest news articles. The scandal surrounding Fiona had escalated exactly as he had planned. Public opinion was turning against her, and by extension, Darwin Solomon’s empire was beginning to show cracks.

Bella sat across from him, her manicured fingers drumming against the polished wood desk. "You think this is enough to break him?" she asked, her voice laced with doubt.

William chuckled, swirling the whiskey in his glass. "Oh, Bella, you underestimate the power of perception. Darwin might be untouchable in the boardroom, but in the court of public opinion? He’s bleeding. And once the sharks smell blood..."

Bella shifted in her seat, her confidence wavering. She had spent years trying to secure a place in Darwin’s life, only for Fiona to remain the one woman he couldn’t seem to let go of. The jealousy burned inside her like acid.

"And Fiona?" she asked.

William’s smirk widened. "She’s a liability. It won’t be long before she realizes there’s nowhere left to hide."

Darwin’s Resolve

Back in Bay City, Darwin moved with purpose, his expression unreadable as he entered his office. The tension in the air was palpable as his assistant, Lucas, approached.

"Sir, the PR team is working to control the narrative, but the damage is already spreading. Investors are getting nervous," Lucas reported.

Darwin exhaled sharply, rubbing his jaw. "Have you found her?"

Lucas hesitated. "She’s staying with Thalassa Carey. We have a location."

Darwin’s grip tightened. He had given Fiona space before, convinced she would return on her own. But he wasn’t willing to risk losing her again—not when their child’s future was at stake.

He grabbed his coat and strode toward the door. "Get the car ready."

A Confrontation Long Overdue

Fiona wasn’t expecting a knock on the door that night. When she opened it to find Darwin standing there, his eyes dark and unreadable, her breath caught in her throat.

"You shouldn’t be here," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Darwin stepped inside, his presence overwhelming the small space. "We need to talk."

She folded her arms, steeling herself. "There’s nothing left to say, Darwin."

His jaw clenched. "You’re carrying my child, Fiona. That’s not something I can just walk away from."

Fiona let out a hollow laugh. "Oh, now it matters to you? After all these years of treating me like a substitute, like I never existed beyond the role you needed me to play?"

His eyes darkened with something unreadable. "I never saw you as a substitute."

She scoffed. "Then what was I, Darwin? Because from where I’m standing, I was never enough for you—not until it was too late."

A muscle ticked in his jaw. "I made mistakes. But I won’t make another by letting you walk away with my child."

Fiona’s heart pounded. "So, what? You’re here to claim your rights as a father?" She shook her head. "A child isn’t an acquisition, Darwin. You don’t get to just decide now that you want to be involved."

His eyes softened, and for the first time in a long time, she saw something raw beneath his carefully constructed walls. "I don’t just want to be involved. I want you, Fiona. Not as a stand-in. Not as an obligation. As the woman who changed everything."

Her breath hitched, and for a fleeting moment, she saw the man she had once believed he could be. But trust wasn’t something that could be rebuilt overnight.

"I need time," she whispered.

Darwin nodded, his expression unreadable. "Then I’ll wait. But make no mistake, Fiona—I’m not walking away this time."

As he left, Fiona closed the door behind him, her hands trembling. The battle wasn’t over. But for the first time in years, she wasn’t running.

She was ready to fight.