Chapter 501

Chapter 501

Stanley wrapped his arms around her from behind, resting his chin gently on her shoulder, his breath warm against her skin.

“What’s on your mind?” His deep voice had a husky quality, touched by the night.

“Just thinking how wonderful this is,” Diana replied softly, a note of contentment in her voice.

“The kids are finally home.”

She relaxed completely, leaning her full weight into his embrace, feeling the steady, strong beat of his heart.

This house, which once felt empty, cold, and lifeless to her, had been instantly filled with soul by the arrival of those two little lives.

All the past turmoil, fear, struggles, and pain found their final resting place in this moment.

This place was no longer just a house.

It was a home, complete with him, her, and the kids.

The night breeze on the balcony carried a hint of the city's chill, bringing a slight coolness.

Diana, held by Stanley, stood quietly for a moment before stepping away and turning back into the warmth of the house.

Her voice carried a light, cheerful tone, floating in the air.

“I’ll go run the bath for the kids. You get ready.”

Before she finished speaking, she was already heading towards the bathroom prepared especially for the children.

Stanley’s eyes followed her as she bent down to turn on the faucet, testing the water temperature with her wrist.

He watched as she gently placed a chubby yellow duck and a blue dolphin that squirted water into the filling tub.

She did all this with a natural ease and fluidity that seemed ingrained in her very being.

Stanley, a man who commanded respect in the business world, now felt like a giant in a land of tiny people, standing awkwardly, unsure of what to do with his hands and feet.

Soon, Diana effortlessly carried the two naked, chubby little ones into the steamy bathroom, one in each arm.

“Your turn, Daddy,” she said, handing Stanley a soft towel and a bottle of children’s body wash adorned with cartoon characters.

She winked at him mischievously, her eyes sparkling with playful light, then leaned casually against the doorframe, ready to enjoy the show.

Stanley took the items mechanically, feeling like he was almost touching the ceiling in the small bathroom.

He clumsily rolled up the sleeves of his expensive shirt, revealing his muscular forearms.

Taking a deep breath, he crouched down, trying to meet the eyes of the two splashing kids in the tub.

His voice still carried a hint of the seriousness from business negotiations.

“Alright, you two. Time to get clean.”

The two kids exchanged a glance, a mischievous glint in their clear eyes.

The next second, they both scooped up handfuls of warm bathwater and splashed it right at Stanley’s handsome face!

“Daddy’s a monster! Fire the water cannons!” Daniel squealed excitedly.

“Attack! Concentrate fire on the monster’s face!” William commanded, joining in.

Warm water splashed all over Stanley’s face, dripping down his chiseled jawline and soaking the collar of his white shirt.

For a moment, he was completely stunned.

Since adulthood, no one had dared to challenge him so boldly.

But when he looked into his sons’ eyes, filled with pure joy and fearless challenge, the ridiculous sense of authority he held crumbled instantly.

He found himself, almost instinctively, scooping up water and splashing it back at them.

A smile, unnoticed by himself, tugged at his lips as he spoke in a low, indulgent tone.

“Monster’s counterattack begins now.”

In the bathroom, water splashed everywhere, and the sound of clear laughter and high-pitched squeals blended into a symphony of pure joy.

Stanley was soon drenched, his custom shirt clinging to his body, outlining his defined chest and abs.

He looked utterly disheveled, yet incredibly alive.

For the first time, he realized that bathing two four-year-olds was more exhausting and mentally challenging than leading a high-stakes international merger meeting.

He had to stay alert to keep the slippery soap bubbles out of their eyes.

He had to lower himself to play “sink the yellow duck” with them.

And he had to react quickly to keep them from slipping in the tub.

When Stanley finally wrapped the two exhausted little ones in big towels and carried them out of the “battlefield,” he felt like he had just fought a grueling war, his bones aching.

Diana was waiting nearby, handing him two cups of warm milk at the perfect temperature, her eyes twinkling as she watched him struggle to dress the kids in their pajamas, a smile never leaving her lips.

Putting them to bed was the second battle of the night.

And clearly, it was the tougher one.

After drinking their milk, the kids seemed re-energized, rolling around on the big, soft bed like little worms, refusing to close their eyes.

“Daddy, tell us a story,” William demanded sweetly from his pillow.

“Yeah! We need a story to sleep!” Daniel agreed, raising his hand firmly.

Stanley sat on the edge of the bed, his mind blank, frantically searching for a story.

His life was filled with cold data, strict contracts, cunning opponents, and meticulous strategies—no room for bedtime stories.

Clearing his throat, he tried to construct a story with his usual logic.

“Once upon a time, there was a very tall mountain, and on that mountain, there was a project…”

“Boring!” William interrupted, pouting. “We want a bunny story! With carrots!”

“A bear story is good too! One that climbs trees for honey!” Daniel added, specifying their demands.

Stanley’s business narrative was abruptly cut off.