Chapter 119: A Shocking Twist

Chapter 119: A Shocking Twist Fiona couldn’t eat her meal any longer, not with the twins’ hot gazes bearing down on her—gazes that mirrored Ewan’s when he was consumed by rage. She cursed at her shaking hands as her fork fell to the floor with a painful clatter, drawing the attention of nearly everyone in the canteen. "Why are you idiots shaking? They are just mere children! Not more than six years of age!" Yet even as she spat these words, her heart felt like it was caught in a vice. Ignoring the spoon that lay abandoned on the floor, she clumsily rose from her seat and hurried out of the canteen, dismissing the whispers that trailed behind her like unwanted shadows. Most of the onlookers judged her to be uncultured for leaving the fork on the floor, which only reminded her of the little girl’s scornful label—uncultured pig. Fiona clenched her fists, straining to regain control as she stormed into her father’s ward. Confusion washed over her when she found the room empty; her fists uncoiled and rested placidly at her sides. Where had the old man gone? A nurse was walking by, and Fiona seized the opportunity. "Excuse me..." She stopped the nurse. "Do you know where Mr. Alfonso is? He was the patient occupying this room." The nurse nodded, a hint of recognition flashing in her eyes. "I think he’s with his wife. He’s been spending a lot of time there." Fiona offered a strained smile, the kind that barely masked her simmering anger, and began her way toward her mother’s ward. As she walked, unease coiled within her, fearing that her father might be blinded by her mother’s recovery. She couldn’t afford to lose her fellow conspirator this early in the game. Their laughter reached her before she approached the ward, sweet yet sharp like a knife. She nearly forgot how it felt to witness them together, sharing those intimate moments. They had a love story that sparkled, something she had always envied and wished for herself with Ewan, but Athena was always the looming shadow that thwarted her aspirations. That bitch! She screamed mentally, balling her right fist. That feeling of helpless rage softened when her mind echoed Nate’s last words: "Call my mother a bitch once more, and I’ll make sure you have no use for your tongue anymore." Fiona shuddered involuntarily, then cursed herself under her breath. How can I be afraid of the words of a six-year-old? She shook her head to dispel the unsettling feeling and sauntered into the ward. "Dad, Mom, good morning. How are you doing?" She greeted, stopping by the bedside, momentarily blindsided by her mother’s miraculous transformation. The woman who had once seemed nothing but bones and eyes was now fleshy and vibrant, as if she hasn’t been in the clutches of death at one time. Fiona couldn’t help but acknowledge the Whitman hospital’s exceptional care this one time. They were the best in the town for nothing. Meanwhile, Alfonso and his wife, Margaret, smiled widely at one another, their love glowing like a beacon. "We are good," They replied in unison, the harmony of their voices grating on Fiona’s nerves. Fighting against the urge to roll her eyes, she perched herself on the edge of the bed and studied her parents. Alfonso was affectionately hugging his wife to his side, carefully removing invisible flecks from her clothes, and the amusement in Margaret’s eyes was a painful reminder of what she lacked. "Father, I’m here to speak with you," She finally said, her patience wearing thin. Alfonso furrowed his eyebrows, halting his gentle ministrations to his wife. "What’s the problem, Pearl?" Fiona bit her lip, the familiarity of her father’s endearing nickname washing over her, causing her tension to lessen, if only for a moment. The last time he had called her that was before her mother’s illness, back when everything still felt right. Maybe her mother’s recovery could be the turning tide. Hadn’t they concocted splendid plans together six to ten years ago? "It’s about the recent case at the elder council," She replied, crossing her arms, her heartbeat quickening as she laid out the stakes. Margaret and Alfonso exchanged alarmed glances. "What case is that?" Alfonso asked, drawing Margaret closer as if to shield himself from the details that followed. "Ewan submitted a case against Athena. He has finally discovered that the twins are his, and he wants them back. The case is in two weeks." An intense and weighted silence fell over the room, thick enough to suffocate. Margaret was the first to find her voice. "I think he should discuss this with her first, though. Perhaps they can reach an agreement. Didn’t he banish her six years ago? How would she have informed him about the twins?" Her words hung like heavy smoke, overshadowing the room as shock laced through the others’ expressions. Alfonso seemed bewildered, caught off guard by his wife’s unexpected stance. While Fiona wrestled against the wave of anger rising within her, acutely aware that any outburst would drive her father to silence her. "Mom, what are you even talking about?" She snarled, struggling to conceal her teeth. "You believe they should meet to discuss, and then what? Kiss and make up? Have you forgotten that I want Ewan? Have you forgotten that Ewan belongs to me? Did the sickness scramble your thoughts?" "Fiona Adams!!" Alfonso roared, his voice echoing in the confines of the ward. Yet, Fiona stood firm, not flinching in the slightest. "Let me go, Father, since you wouldn’t speak for fear of hurting her. I will speak for you." Her fierce gaze fixed on her mother, a burning intensity blazing in her eyes. "Six years ago, we planned together to oust Athena..." She halted, checking the locked door behind her, reassuring herself that they were enveloped in soundproof isolation. Their words were safe. Turning back to her mother, she pressed forward. "We wanted Athena gone. You made her life miserable; you made her hate her life. And now you want her to discuss with Ewan?! You know what will happen, Mom! What man could withstand the temptation of returning to his wife who has twins for him? It’s a blessing he even reported the case to the court, because it gives us a golden opportunity to rid ourselves of those children once and for all!" Fiona inhaled sharply, the struggle to contain her anger palpable, as she fought against the calm, pitying look on her mother’s face. It infuriated her, igniting a desire to scratch that tranquility away. However, Margaret’s calm demeanor remained intact, nearly unsettling and resolute, as though she had donned a mask of superiority. After Fiona’s tirade, she turned to her husband. "Are you in support of her words? To kill the twins so that Ewan will remain hers?" Alfonso paused, resting his head against the headboard as if weighing the gravity of the moment. "Yes. I think Fiona deserves Ewan most. She has been by his side the longest." "But is that true?" Margaret interjected, her voice a mix of disbelief and concern. "We both know our daughter isn’t the one who has stayed with Ewan the longest. We both know she’s occupying someone else’s space." ___________________ To my lovely readers, this author is grateful. I just checked out my inbox, and discovered there had been an author ranking event going on since Dec 1st. Better, I found out that I’m ranking 36th at the moment. That’s a huge win, and it wouldn’t have been possible without you guys. Thanks a whole lot; for the votes, for the gifts, for the comments and reviews, and for the golden tickets. Please keep it coming! To Ctie229, Tani_Nick, hopze21, and Ttt_Never_0488, thanks for the recent golden tickets!