Ashton was full of regret.
So much regret.She had been way too bold in front of Lilian just a moment ago.And now, was this not retribution?"Kenny?" Darwin spotted Kenny.Ashton had already turned around, jabbing Kenny’s shoulder twice in frustration.That's for keeping it a secret!Kenny, puzzled, caught her hand, then acknowledged Darwin, "Brother."Brother?Ashton was completely bewildered.Kenny seemed to understand her confusion, explaining quietly, "Distant relative, many generations removed, but still, in terms of seniority, I call him ‘brother’.""Oh…" Ashton began to fiddle with Kenny's palm.That’s for keeping quiet!"That’s for keeping quiet!""Darwin…" Lilian’s complexion had turned sour.She didn't want Darwin to encounter anyone associated with Fiona again."What brings you here?" asked Darwin, his brow slightly furrowed.Mrs. Solomon wasn’t fond of Lilian, so he’d made it clear that she didn’t needFiona had to admit, she was a bit baffled when she opened the photo.For the years she'd known Ashton, joking was his forte—constantly talking about sweeping this hot guy off his feet or making that one cry in his arms. But Chris had been his only serious thing.And Fiona was still wrapping her head around the Ashton-and-Chris chapter. Now here was Ashton, arm in arm with another handsome guy, heading to Mrs. Solomon's funeral?After a moment’s thought, she dialed Ashton's number.The call went unanswered, but shortly after hanging up, a callback came."Hey, what's up?" Ashton gasped, out of breath.Fiona pictured Ashton, excusing himself from a crowd, and finding a secluded corner to return her call."Just checking in, almost done with the project. Free for lunch?" she asked casually."Can't today, how about tomorrow?" Ashton hesitated."Something came up?" Fiona asked nonchalantly."Yeah, something," Ashton's response was evasive."Alrig
Ashton too had assumed that the woman standing with Darwin was Lilian. He hadn't even intended to give her more than a cursory glance."My condolences," offered Kenny, his voice a gentle murmur.Ashton echoed the sentiment, "My condolences."At that moment, Kenny and Ashton were hand in hand. Fiona's gaze drifted casually from their intertwined fingers, recalling the announcement that had labeled them as Mr. and Mrs. Walker."Thank you, Mr. Walker, Mrs. Walker, for your thoughts," Fiona spoke with measured composure.Ashton's reaction was as if he'd been struck by lightning. His eyes shot up to meet Fiona's.While her mask concealed much, those expressive eyes could belong to none other than his precious Fiona."Babe?" Ashton's voice shook a bit as he quickly let go of Kenny's hand.Fiona's gaze was sharp as a blade.Kenny turned to look at her, then at Fiona, and again at Darwin.Kenny was a man who had no interest in poking his nose into oth
"I thought being best friends would mean no secrets between you two. It seems I was wrong... She doesn't seem to be that genuine with you either," Darwin heaved a sigh, apparently feeling pity for Fiona.Fiona couldn't be bothered with his act.Something must have possessed him in the past five years.Playing the pity card now, of all things!The viewing was over within an hour.Fiona hadn't stood this long in ages; her calves were about to cramp.Darwin was conversing with some elderly folks.Likely friends who knew Mrs. Solomon well.Finding a secluded corner, Fiona sat down to rub her waist and give her back a gentle pat.Honestly, she'd rather slip off her heels and massage her calves.A moment later,After wrapping up the conversation, Darwin approached her. "They were Grandma's classmates."Without waiting for a response, he squatted down and slipped off her heels.His warm hands gently massaged her calves."Darwin,
She was well aware of it, that much was crystal clear.Not that it needed saying, but if Lilian got into a fight with Ashton, she’d get whooped, no doubt about it.And Kenny...Was he genuinely smitten by Ashton, or just playing along with her act?“What kind of clout is he banking on?” Ashton speared Darwin with an icy look.Her gaze shifted to Fiona.“Lilian and I are not involved in the way you're thinking,” he clarified.Fiona lapsed into silence.Whether they were involved or not didn’t matter to her anymore.“Shall we order? Aren’t you hungry?”Ashton noticed a shift in Fiona’s mood as it turned sour.“Sure!”Over the past while, he had practically memorized the menu. In no time at all, he had ordered the dishes.“Baby, you’ve been working so hard on that project you’re slimming down. I've ordered all your favorites, so make sure you eat up!” Ashton cooed sweetly to Fiona.Her irritation melted away.Like Ashton said,
Silence filled the car. After a moment, Fiona turned to Darwin, her eyes were slightly red. "Darwin, years have passed. We can't go back. I'm living a peaceful and happy life now, and you know how hard that's been for me to achieve... If you have even the slightest bit of sincerity towards me, please, I'm begging you, don't disrupt my tranquil life again, okay?"Darwin's heart felt as if it were being twisted by a thousand knives.Fiona speaking to him so calmly, so candidly—it threw him off balance even more than an impassioned outburst would have.It wasn't words spoken in anger.They were the sincere words of a calm heart.She... truly wanted nothing to do with him anymore.Watching Darwin's figure seemingly crumble before her, Fiona felt a storm of emotions churning within."Let me take you home. To your apartment, right?""Yes."Where else could he go, if not back to his apartment?Without her presence, those houses couldn't be his home.
Ashton had always longed to return and live in the house her father left behind, but one reason or another kept pushing that dream to the back burner. At the start of the year, when she decided to move back to the states and grow her career, she even mentioned it to Chris, considering the house had seen better days and was in desperate need of a renovation.Chris was back home at that time.She had hoped for his help in checking the place.But Chris had said..."The neighborhood's right in city center, sure, but it's pretty run-down, and Maria might not like it. Why not just stay at our family home?"Of course, Ashton knew Maria wouldn't be happy.But she didn't want to live there.Staying in the Shaw family home meant that she and Chris had to constantly dodge the appearance of impropriety.Back then, she naively thought that renovating the place would mean she could move in with Chris. Even if it wasn't every day, one or two nights a week seemed bli
Ashton nodded, "I'll block him right now."" Are you trying to keep our marriage under wraps?" Kenny asked solemnly.Ashton shook her head.She had no intention of hiding her marriage."Good," Kenny said, taking the phone from Ashton and answering the call.Chris's hoarse voice came through, "Ashton..."Before Chris could continue, Kenny responded with a cold tone, "Mr. Durham , it's very late to be calling my wife and disturbing our rest."There was a brief silence on the other end."Put Ashton on the phone!" Chris demanded, his voice low and seething with anger.Kenny chuckled coolly, " My wife wants nothing more to do with the Shaws. Don't bother calling again.""Bullshit!" Chris barked back with vehemence."And who's your wife? I'm warning you, keep your distance or else—"Kenny didn't wait for Chris to finish his threat. He hung up the call and then blocked the number.Ashton sat there, the glow that had lasted the whole eveni
The mention of Dagmar made Ashton’s head hang low."But what about you?" she asked despondently, "Besides Darwin, could you fall for someone else? Marry someone else? Are you going to be alone forever?"Ashton didn't think marriage in itself was essential.But to love someone and still end up alone,That love would turn into a poison, eating away at your heart,Tormenting you every moment.Fiona remained silent.Only when she was tricked into going to Darwin's apartment did she realize what he truly meant to her.Even as the years slipped by,Her body remained loyal to him.But what about her heart?After all these years, never dating another man,Was it because her heart was loyal to Darwin too?"I just want to live well in the present, and as for the future..." Fiona took a deep breath, "I'll just go with the flow, life's too long and always changing."Ashton listened, thinking about Kenny's words from earlier.Yes, life