After returning from the office and arriving home, Darwin stayed silent for a while in his room. After cleaning up, instead of having dinner, he chose to be alone in his office.
While sitting and daydreaming, Darwin occasionally glanced at a row of photos of himself with Veronica that they took while on vacation together. Unconsciously, Darwin smiled, hoping to relive the beautiful moments with his wife, even though he knew it was impossible, especially since they were soon going to part ways.
“Why did I have to fall in love at the last moment like this, Ve? I should have realized and learned to love you from the beginning,” Darwin said as he wiped a tear from one of the photos in front of him.
Lost in thought, Darwin’s phone rang. Glancing briefly, he saw the name Randy on the caller ID. Despite his reluctance, he chose to answer the call. Darwin knew that Randy would keep calling if he deliberately ignored it.
“What’s up?”
“You’re doing okay, right?” the voice on the other end asked. After all, Randy had found out from Kennedy that Darwin had ultimately chosen Infinix Group over Veronica, the woman he currently loved.
“I’m doing fine,” Darwin replied weakly.
“Thank goodness. I thought you were going to be hopeless and suicidal.”
“Come on! Even if I’m in a low place, I would never consider suicide.”
“Of course not, Win. It would be such a waste to end your life. If you need a replacement woman, you can ask me. I can help you find exactly what you’re looking for. Whether it’s a sugar baby, a young virgin, a leading lady, or even an older woman.”
“You’re insane! Are you trying to become a pimp or something? Besides, you don’t even have a partner yourself.”
“Hey, I don’t lack partners because I can’t get one, okay? It’s because I’m choosy,” Randy retorted indignantly.
“Say whatever you want.”
“I’m serious, offer still stands, Win. Who knows, maybe you-”
Before Randy could finish his sentence, Darwin, who was already annoyed, intentionally ended the call. Moreover, when Randy attempted to call again, instead of rejecting it, Darwin decided to block his cousin’s number.
“So annoying,” he muttered in frustration.
As Darwin returned his attention to the row of photos in front of him, he faintly heard a knock on the door of his office. Soon, his father appeared, having come without prior notice.
“Dad,” he called out and stood up. “Who did you come with?”
“Alone,” Magnus replied. When Darwin offered him a seat, he took a position at the end of the sofa. “I came here on purpose to check on you.”
“I’m fine, Dad.”
Magnus nodded. From his appearance, Darwin did seem fine visually, but who could truly know what was going on in his son’s heart?
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
This time, Darwin nodded. Getting angry or feeling regretful wouldn’t change anything now, right? Everything had already happened. Damian Ashborne’s decision was final and couldn’t be challenged anymore.
“What matters most is that Infinix Group can be saved, Dad. As for me, you don’t need to worry.”
“But what about Veronica?” Magnus asked, concerned. Seeing the effort Darwin had put in, he was aware that his son was seriously trying to fight for his current wife.
Magnus remembered clearly that Darwin had been angry and had claimed to be annoyed about being arranged to marry a woman he didn’t love at all. However, as time passed and through divine intervention, Darwin’s feelings gradually changed. Now that he had truly fallen in love, Darwin had to accept the separation as punishment for his past actions.
“If Veronica is meant to be with Darwin, she will come back to him, Dad. What’s certain is that Darwin has fought as hard as possible, not just sitting idly by and making empty promises like what Uncle Darius accused.”
Magnus smiled, feeling somewhat relieved that Darwin was being mature and accepting of what was happening to him.
“Dad, always pray for the best for you, Win. I’m sure, after all this, you will find happiness beyond measure.”
Darwin nodded and smiled in return, silently saying ‘Amen’ to the heartfelt prayer his father had just uttered.
As they continued to chat lightly about various work matters, Renata, Darwin’s household assistant, knocked on the door of his office. Upon entering, she promptly conveyed her message.
“Mr. Darwin, I’m sorry to disturb your time. There’s a guest downstairs looking for you.”
Both of Darwin’s eyebrows furrowed. As far as he remembered, he didn’t have any appointments. Even if his cousins were visiting, they never bothered with formalities and would directly approach him wherever he was.
“Who is it?” Darwin asked, curious.
“You’d better see for yourself downstair, Sir.”
Darwin quickly got up. Together with Magnus, he swiftly descended to the first floor. As they entered the living room, his eyes immediately caught the presence of Veronica and Darius along with their assistant.
Darwin was clearly wondering. Why were his wife and parents-in-law coming to his house late at night? Was there an urgent matter they needed to resolve tonight?
“Veronica? What’s going on?” he inquired, wearing a face full of questions.
“You should welcome Veronica’s arrival with joy, Win.”
It wasn’t Veronica who answered Darwin’s question, as usual, but Darius, without being invited. He even had an expression that was hard to interpret.
“What do you mean? What’s going on?”
Darius chuckled sarcastically. The sound of a sneer was clearly audible from his lips. Darwin couldn’t fathom what else the man would say after this.
“Adrian…” Darius called to his assistant. “Please bring in Veronica’s suitcase from the car,” he ordered.
“What’s really going on?” Darwin asked once more. The longer this went on, the more curious he became about the behavior of his wife and in-laws.
“Just as you heard before. So, since your exams have finished these past few days and Dad considers you passed, in accordance with the promise, Dad is returning Veronica to you.”
“W-what? Returning Veronica?”
“Yes,” nodded Darius. “Starting tonight, Veronica can come back to live with you. And you both can resume your married life like before.”
Darwin was stunned. Blinking his eyes repeatedly, he tried to digest what his father-in-law had just conveyed. Before long, a big question arose within him.
“Is this for real, right?”