Chapter 114: Red Haze

Chapter 114: Red Haze Fiona stumbled backward in shock, her breath catching in her throat as she took in the sight of the twins sitting on a nearby bench, their legs crossed and faces a mirror of disdainful boredom. They regarded her with an unmistakable air of superiority, but what truly sent her heart racing was the resemblance they bore to Ewan. These were the children Morgan believed belonged to another man? Was he blind or just plain stupid? So much anger bubbled within her, leading to the clenching of her fists tightly at her sides. How could Morgan be so oblivious?! The twins, particularly the boy, were carbon copies of Ewan in his youth. The revelation made Fiona’s blood boil—as if she was seeing a vision of the future she had fought so hard to control. The very fact that Morgan had them at his disposal and had merely played a prank was beyond belief. He should have done away with them! Suddenly, her hands itched with anxiety, and she scratched them nervously while continuing to watch the twins. "Is she suffering from some disease, Mommy?" Kate asked, her innocent query cutting through the tension like a knife. The distraction snapped Fiona out of her red(angry) haze, and she dropped her hands to her sides, casting one last glance at the twins before shifting her gaze to Ewan and then to Athena. Were the twins Athena’s tools to reclaim Ewan’s affections? The thought ignited fresh angry tears in her eyes as dread settled over her. What man could resist such a gift, especially a man like Ewan, who took duty and responsibility seriously? The realization hit her hard: she wasn’t even married to him yet. She felt utterly powerless. "Probably, my dear." A pause. "Ewan, I’m sure she is here for you. You two should leave." Athena said finally, her words fanning the flames of Fiona’s fury. Fiona looked at Ewan, and seeing the knowing in his eyes about the twins, she wailed in her mind but maintained a cool exterior. "Is this why you came back?" She asked Athena, pointing at the children. Ewan, however, wasn’t willing to entertain her drama. "Get out, Fiona!" he snapped. "I won’t!" Fiona shouted back defiantly, surprising both Ewan and Athena. Had he lost his authority? Ewan wondered, looking at Fiona with new eyes. Athena, clearly exasperated with the unfolding theatrics, decided to put an end to it once and for all. "Ewan, take your fiancée out of here. Or else, I’ll call the guards on you both since you’re bent on being a nuisance to the hospital community," She warned. Ewan scowled beneath the weight of that double dose of insult. Him? A nuisance? He inhaled sharply and stormed out of the laboratory without another word and without even bothering to collect the prescription Athena had left for him. Fiona followed closely behind, shooting one last poisonous glare at Athena. "I will make sure you regret returning. The ball is already rolling." Outside, she chose not to follow Ewan, sensing his simmering rage. Instead, she made her way to her father’s ward, after seeking directions from one of the nurses along the way. "Dad, did you know that Athena’s children bear a striking resemblance to Ewan?" She asked immediately she stepped into the ward, her voice dripping with urgency. Alfonso ignored his daughter’s selfishness. She hadn’t even asked him how he was doing! "Yes, I noticed today," He replied, his expression also reflecting surprise. "I was around when Ewan came around, I was around when she arrived too. I was shocked to say the least. When Zack told me about the twins, I thought they were from a husband or from one of her backers. Not Ewan. Did you know she was pregnant all those years ago?" Fiona furrowed her brow, recalling the moment when Athena had burst into Ewan’s sitting room after her mother’s burial, demanding a divorce. She had suspected the existence of the pregnancy then, but she had dismissed the notion when nothing was mentioned on the court day. Which woman wouldn’t use that as leverage? But now, seeing the twins’ knowing looks directed at Ewan, Fiona realized how foolish that assumption had been. Athena was unpredictable, and she had clearly played her cards close to her chest. "No, I didn’t," Fiona answered, sitting on the edge of her father’s bed, still grappling with the reality. From her observations, the twins recognized her, and they also knew Ewan, judging by the way they looked at him. They hated him, and it should have been relaxing for her, but this was real life—anything could happen, and she couldn’t afford to take chances where Ewan was concerned. She wanted them gone. "So, you’ll tell your friend to do away with them then?" Alfonso asked casually, checking out his drip. Fiona nodded, a cold smile gracing her lips. "Of course." "When will I meet your friend?" Alfonso continued. "You’ve never made an introduction." Fiona shrugged, her heart racing. "I don’t know. Very soon." She couldn’t let her father find out she was sleeping with Morgan. Even with his support in her life, there were boundaries he wouldn’t cross—like fidelity. If he discovered her secret, she knew there would be trouble, and that was why she wouldn’t allow him to meet Morgan. The mere thought of introducing a wild card like Morgan to her father made her shudder. She would only arrange a meeting when she was firmly Ewan’s wife and had dealt with Morgan once and for all. "Dad, I’ll be going home now," She said suddenly, standing from the bed. But instead of heading home like she told her father, Fiona slipped into a nearby shop, purchased cyanide, and returned to the hospital, her heart pounding in anticipation of what was to come. Feigning innocence, she hovered around, waiting for the perfect opportunity to execute her wicked plan yet to form. Just then, she spotted a nurse carrying a tray laden with juice cans and snacks, likely destined for Athena’s office and the waiting twins—considering the latter’s trajectory. An idea sparked in her mind, and she hurried to intercept the nurse. "Hey, can you get me a bandage? I’ve been trying to find one but can’t seem to locate it," She asked sweetly. The nurse paused, eyeing the tray in her hand. "Don’t worry; I can keep watch over it for you," Fiona replied. The nurse dutifully handed the tray to Fiona, and hurried away to find the bandages. Fiona’s heart raced as she scanned the hallway. The moment she confirmed she was alone, she swiftly removed the cyanide from its packaging. Without hesitation, she poured the deadly powder into the juice cans. In about thirty minutes, she thought, the children should be dead. A soft laugh escaped her lips as she closed the drink containers tightly before straightening up, eagerly awaiting the nurse’s return. When the nurse finally arrived, Fiona put on her most innocent smile and thanked her as she took the bandages. "Thank you," She said sweetly, collecting the items and watching the nurse carry the tray into Athena’s office. Should she stick around for the news? No, she decided—it was best to leave before anything suspicious could arise. With a sense of victory, Fiona sauntered out of the hospital, a tune of malevolence playing in her mind, effectively displacing the red haze that once ate her up.