Chapter 485

Chapter 485

Alex, once full of life, had been worn down to nothing in this dark, sunless prison.

Outside the prison walls, the Smith Group was being torn apart in the stock market and public opinion by Stanley. Alex's father, Ryan, had a stroke from the stress, leaving him paralyzed and bedridden in the hospital. The Smith family was in complete disarray.

In the midst of this chaos, Alex's mother, Joanna, directed all her hatred towards Diana.

She confronted Diana just as she was preparing to move out.

That day, Diana was packing her things. There wasn't much to pack, as she owned very little in this place.

She packed a few of her clothes, leaving behind everything Alex had recently bought and the furnishings of this "home." She didn't want to take any of it with her.

The doorbell rang urgently and loudly, as if it would break the door down.

Through the peephole, Diana saw Joanna's face, twisted with anger and malice. Behind her were two women, likely distant relatives of the Smith family, all looking ready for a fight.

Diana's first thought was not to open the door. But she quickly changed her mind.

She couldn't hide anymore. Some things needed to be settled personally.

Taking a deep breath, she opened the door.

"You jinx! How dare you stay here!" Joanna lunged at her the moment the door opened, raising her hand to strike.

Diana was prepared, sidestepping Joanna's attack, causing her to stumble and nearly fall, only to be caught by the relatives behind her.

"Mrs. Smith," Diana's voice was as cold as ice, "this is my home. Please leave."

"Your home?" Joanna shrieked, looking deranged. "This is my son's home! You! You ruined my son! He's been sentenced to life in prison! Are you happy now? Do you want the Smith family to be completely destroyed?"

As she cursed, she tried to grab Diana again.

"Yes, I am happy." Diana stood there, her back straight, her gaze icy. "He got what he deserved."

This statement completely set Joanna off. She lunged at Diana like a mad lioness, spewing the vilest curses. "I'll tear your face apart today! See if you can seduce men then!"

The two relatives also moved in, trying to grab Diana's arms.

At that moment, a hand reached out from behind Diana, firmly grasping Joanna's wrist. The grip was so strong that Joanna screamed in pain.

Stanley had appeared behind her. He had just parked his car and heard the commotion in the hallway.

His expression was dark, his gaze at Joanna as if she were already dead. "Let go of her."

The murderous look in his eyes made Joanna and the two relatives shiver, instinctively releasing their hold.

"Stanley?" Joanna recognized him, her face turning pale. She had heard too many stories about how Stanley had brought down the Smith Group. He was a demon even her son couldn't defeat.

"Get out." Stanley's voice was low but carried immense weight.

Joanna trembled under his gaze, but her hatred for her son's fate overpowered her fear.

"You have no right to interfere in our family matters! She's the Smith family's daughter-in-law! She ruined my son, and it's my right to teach her a lesson!"

"Daughter-in-law?" Stanley sneered, pulling Diana behind him protectively, his actions full of possessiveness. "They've been divorced for a long time."

He pulled out his phone and dialed a number, his voice calm and indifferent. "Teddy, what are the security guards downstairs doing? Letting unrelated people come up and cause trouble. Also, call the police. Report a break-in and attempted assault."

Teddy responded immediately, "Yes, Mr. Visconti!"

Hearing the word "police," Joanna panicked completely. The last thing she wanted was to deal with the authorities.

"You... you wouldn't dare!" She pointed at Stanley, her finger trembling.

"Try me." Stanley's gaze cut through her like a knife. "Mrs. Smith, considering your son has already received his due punishment, I'll let you off today. But if there's a next time, I can't guarantee his future will be any less 'exciting.'"

This seemingly casual remark carried the harshest threat. Even Joanna, no matter how foolish, understood what "exciting" in prison meant. She instantly felt all her strength drain away, collapsing.

"Madmen, you're all madmen," she muttered, supported by her equally terrified relatives, stumbling away.

The hallway finally fell silent.

Stanley closed the door and turned to look at Diana. She was still standing there, paler than before, her hands trembling slightly at her sides.

The strength she had shown facing Joanna was like a quickly built ice wall. Now, the wall had shattered, revealing her vulnerability.

Stanley said nothing, just walked over and gently, tentatively, pulled her into his arms.

Diana's body stiffened for a moment but didn't push him away. She buried her face in his chest, which carried a faint, refreshing scent. Her tightly wound nerves finally relaxed completely. Silent tears fell, soaking his shirt.

She wasn't crying because of Joanna's curses or the humiliating confrontation. She was crying for herself. Crying for the countless times over the past three years she had faced even worse humiliation and despair alone.

So this is what it feels like to have someone protect you.

Stanley felt the wetness on his chest and tightened his arms around her, awkwardly patting her back. He said nothing, just let her lean on him and cry.

After a long while, Diana's emotions finally calmed down. She pulled away from his embrace, a bit embarrassed, her voice thick with tears. "I'm sorry for messing up your shirt."

Stanley glanced at the wet spot, not minding at all. In fact, a faint smile appeared in his eyes. "It's an honor for it."

His words eased the awkward atmosphere a bit.

Stanley looked around the apartment filled with oppressive memories and said, "Don't take anything from here. I've already arranged your new place."

Diana looked up, wanting to refuse, but met his serious gaze.

"Don't refuse." Stanley's tone was gentle but firm. "Consider it a welcome gift from your new landlord. The rent can be deducted from your future design commissions."

He produced a set of keys and a beautifully designed booklet as if by magic.

"Sunset Pointe Residences in the west of the city, a top-floor duplex with a large south-facing studio, great for lighting. I took the liberty of setting up the studio for you." He placed the keys in her hand. "Go take a look. If you don't like it, we'll find another place."