The studio team was abuzz with energy as if they'd all been injected with adrenaline. Only Laura remained clear-headed amidst the excitement.
"Is Miss Robbins the current flame?" she wondered.Curiosity had gotten the better of her earlier that day, leading her to do a quick internet search. The rumors linking Miss Robbins and Darwin had been persistent, yet Darwin had never publicly acknowledged any romantic involvement with her. Moreover, on the day of Darwin's car accident, he had called out for Chelsea as his 'wife'—a subtle but telling detail.Laura mused over the delicacy of the situation as she scrolled through her phone's photo gallery. She found a picture of Secretary Woods, who had tragically passed away in a plane crash, and couldn't help but notice the striking resemblance to Chelsea. Chelsea had claimed that Darwin was once her fiancé. To the public's knowledge, the only fiancée Darwin had ever acknowledged—apart from the one he had personally denied, HathawThe young woman who posted the video was initially worried about not capturing a clear frontal shot and the possibility of trouble that might follow. But as the video's popularity exploded, her concerns were swept away by the overwhelming response.As the tide of skepticism about Darwin reached its peak, she felt the timing was right and released another video, this time with a clear shot of the subject's face. The caption read: "Enough with the Darwin bashing. Didn't want to disturb the tycoon's lady with a frontal, but trolls know no limits. Here comes the truth!"With the release of this new video, the level of discussion skyrocketed. Those who had previously shipped Secretary Woods with Mr. Solomon and had looked down on Darwin's supposed marriage were mostly staying out of it, preferring to turn a blind eye.But this photo changed everything. Fans of Secretary Woods and Darwin, those rooting for Darwin's first love, and the latest tycoon and CEO's darling wife were
The feeling of complete freedom was simply too comfortable.Breathing seemed even smoother than usual.Kenny had invested in a lot of real estate in Bay City.He picked out some of the best properties in terms of location and layout, and Charles took her to see them.Three of the properties hit all of Ashton's preferences perfectly: the neighborhood's ambiance, the geographical location, and the design.In the end, Ashton chose the one that was most convenient for Kenny's commute to work.After selecting the house, Kenny handed her a few forms to think over and fill out at her leisure.They were all about the interior design and functional requirements.Handing over the forms, Kenny said earnestly, "This will be our home for a long time to come. I want to make sure that Mrs. Walker feels completely satisfied and comfortable. It would make me very happy."Ashton briefly shared with Fiona the process of choosing their new home.Stirring the fros
That night.The restlessness lingered in the air— and little Charles wasn't immune.Ever since he stumbled upon the morning's trending debacle of his mother and the nefarious dad, his attention stayed hooked. The afternoon's indiscretions, for a child like Charles, packed an overwhelming punch.He tiptoed out of his bed, gravitating towards his sister's room.The gloom from her trip to Chicago seemed to have lifted after her call with Darwin. Joy had blossomed over her—so much so, that her tranquil slumber was painted with a smile.Charles watched her, lost in deep contemplation.On the internet, the rumor mill churned tirelessly. The tale of Darwin’s new bride and the supposed stand-in for Secretary Woods had been the stuff of rampant speculation for two days straight. Despite the buzz, the Solomon PR team, and the Solomon family at large remained silent. The identity of the woman bearing an uncanny resemblance to Secretary Woods? A mystery no one seemed eag
The crowd processed Anniston's words, exchanging varied glances, until at last the loud-voiced woman shouted, "Well, we've come all this way, can't waste our time for nothing. Let's go!"She took the lead and marched out the door to find a sharply dressed young man holding a stack of checks."Please come this way for your checks, one per household, and each for the same amount," he directed."These are just peanuts," the woman grumbled, scrutinizing the check. "You're writing checks like we're beggars."But when the young man handed her the check, her eyes nearly popped out, "One hundred thousand?"The news of a hundred thousand dollars sent a ripple through the less affluent branches of the Solomon family, who now clamored to get their hands on the checks. The distribution complete, they each left with their own piece of unexpected fortune.The young man's meticulous hairstyle was now disheveled.He exhaled deeply, smoothed his hair back into place, and
Darwin, who had been smiling, knitted his brows instantly at her words: "Lilian is not my darling."Fiona crossed her arms and watched him coldly.Darwin took a couple of steps towards her: "What are you talking about? If Lilian were my darling, why would I be pleading with you like this?"The initial barrier between Fiona and Darwin had been none other than Lilian.That barrier was still there.The barrage of texts Lilian sent during the day, if Fiona cared about them, they would be heart-wrenching.If there wasn't something more between her and Darwin, why would she be so furious?Fiona remembered being someone else's stand-in. She would never forget the terror and helplessness that engulfed her in that hospital room when she had seen Lilian.She didn't like Lilian.But having been out in the rain herself, she never wanted to become someone like Lilian.So.If she was really considering giving Darwin another chance, the issue of him and
Darwin's hand clearly trembled."Never again," he promised, "I could transfer everything—Solomons, Solomon—all my possessions into your name!"Fiona was taken aback. Those things were treasures in Darwin's eyes."Enough," Fiona lowered her eyelids, attempting to pry his grasp from her arm. "I really need to get going.""Wait a second."Before she could respond, Darwin's voice faded, and he leaned in to capture her lips in a kiss. In the quiet intimacy of the moment, they shared a lengthy kiss, after which Darwin wrapped his arms around her, a picture of contentment."Are you trying to strangle me?" Fiona swatted at his arm.He kissed her cheek once more. "You've forgiven me, haven't you?"After a brief silence, Fiona spoke up with gravity in her voice. "Darwin, I'm going to ask you this once, and if you dare lie to me, I will never forgive you for as long as I live.""Ask away," Darwin said earnestly. "I swear I won't lie to you!"He had alway
"Darwin's told you quite a bit, huh?" Anniston looked at Darwin. "You haven't actually lost your mind, thinking she’s Fiona?"Darwin silently watched her."Anniston, being in your womb wasn’t his choice. Over those years, you and Grandma Solomon turned him into someone self-absorbed and cold-blooded. But even then, wasn’t he good to you? Your relatives screwed up the Solomons' finances time and again, and who was it that always filled those gaps? When you realized he was out of control, you conspired with the Solomons’ higher-ups to kick him out. Did maternal love cross your mind when you were bullying him to the point of fighting back?" Fiona’s words resonated powerfully.During Fiona's time by Darwin's side, Anniston had almost reached new heights of treachery.Especially after Grandma Solomon's dementia, Anniston acted like she had no one to answer to, driven by a desire to commandeer the Solomons and become the new matriarch her ambitions plain for all to see.
Fiona rose early the next morning, her routine dictated by the scheduled seminar. After getting ready and dressed, she descended the stairs to find Ashton already busy in the kitchen."Up with the birds, Mrs. Walker?" Fiona greeted her in passing, making a beeline for the elevator."Hold on a sec!" Ashton called out, dashing over with a bag in hand. "French toast, black coffee, and a berry smoothie for the road.""Thanks a million," Fiona said, blowing a kiss as she accepted the bag."Don't forget to eat!" Ashton reminded her just as she stepped into the elevator. "Knock 'em dead!""You betcha!" Fiona affirmed, and with the elevator doors closing, Ashton hummed a merry tune and returned to her kitchen activities.Cooking had never been Ashton's strong suit. She'd considered picking up culinary skills for Chris, but their taste in food was poles apart, and he was too much of a perfectionist. Cooking together was a rare occasion that usually ended up with him t