Chapter 490
Chapter 490
"Hey, have you eaten yet?" Kaitlyn asked Stanley softly.
Stanley's eyes stayed fixed on Diana. He just gave a slight nod.
"I brought three portions. There's some congee and side dishes that Diana likes, and something you can tolerate," Kaitlyn said as she opened the food container and laid out the dishes. "Is she asleep?"
"She's faking it," Stanley replied quietly, a hint of a smile on his lips. "She's mad at me."
Kaitlyn glanced at Diana's tense back and then at Stanley's contented expression. She couldn't help but chuckle internally. These two, one stubborn and the other shameless, were a perfect match.
"Alright, stop just staring and come eat," Kaitlyn beckoned him over. "If you starve yourself, who's gonna take care of her?"
Stanley seemed convinced by this. He took one last look at Diana before getting up and walking over to the small table.
The aroma of the food filled the hospital room. One bowl of oatmeal congee, cooked to a soft and sweet perfection, was Diana's favorite. Her stomach growled softly, but in the quiet room, it was unmistakably loud.
Diana's body stiffened even more, wishing she could bury herself under the covers.
Stanley heard it and let out a low chuckle, the sound vibrating through the air.
"Did you hear that?" he said loudly as he ladled some congee, "Mrs. Phillips, it seems our Diana is hungry, not sleepy. This congee smells delicious. I'll taste it for her first."
With that, he scooped a spoonful and pretended to bring it to his mouth.
"Stanley!"
Diana couldn't hold back any longer. She sat up abruptly, glaring at him. Her hair was a bit messy, and her face still pale, but her eyes now had a spark of anger, no longer the lifeless look from before.
"You're gonna steal my food too?"
"Your food?" Stanley raised an eyebrow, putting down the spoon and looking at her leisurely. "Diana, have you forgotten? You belong to me. Naturally, your things are mine too."
He said it with such confidence and dominance.
Kaitlyn's eyelids twitched as she listened, worried they might start arguing again. She was about to intervene when she saw Diana take a deep breath and calm down.
"Is that so?" Diana threw off the covers and slowly got out of bed. Stanley immediately stood up, ready to help her, but she stopped him with a look.
She walked to the table, pulled out a chair, and sat down. She took the bowl of congee meant for her, not even glancing at Stanley, and began to eat gracefully, as if he didn't exist.
Stanley, left standing, didn't get angry. Instead, he pulled out the chair opposite her and sat down, resting his chin on his hand, watching her eat with a tender gaze.
Kaitlyn observed the strange yet harmonious atmosphere between them. She quietly took her food and moved to the sofa, deciding to give them some space.
The bowl of congee was soon empty. Diana felt warmth in her stomach and a bit of strength returning. She put down the bowl and wiped her mouth with a napkin.
"I'm done eating," she said to Stanley calmly. "Now, we can talk."
Stanley's eyes lit up. He had been waiting for this. He wasn't afraid of her yelling or arguing, only her silence, fearing she would shut herself off completely.
"Alright." He straightened up, his expression turning serious. "What do you want to talk about?"
Kaitlyn, sensing the gravity of the moment, quietly packed up her things and slipped out of the room, closing the door behind her.
"First, the kids," Diana began, her voice cold and firm. "They're mine. Custody and guardianship have to be with me."
Stanley's brow furrowed immediately. "Diana, they're my kids too."
Diana struck where it hurt. "Stanley, I don't want to go to court over this. I went through the pain of giving birth and raising them. I can't hand them over to you."
She knew that if it came to a legal battle, Stanley's wealth and influence would leave her with no chance. So she had to make her stance clear from the start.
Stanley was silent. He saw the determination in Diana's eyes and knew this wasn't a threat. When it came to the kids, Diana would fight him to the end.
His hand clenched into a fist under the table, knuckles turning white. After a long pause, he finally spoke with difficulty, "Fine. Custody and guardianship are yours."
Diana was a bit surprised. She hadn't expected him to agree so easily.
"But," Stanley continued, a glint in his eye, "I get visitation rights anytime, anywhere. And you can't stop the kids from recognizing me as their father or speak ill of me in front of them."
It was a cunning concession. He gave up nominal rights but secured practical interaction.
Diana thought for a moment and nodded. "Agreed."
"Second," Stanley said before she could speak, "From today, I'll move in with you and the kids."
"No way!" Diana refused without hesitation.
"This isn't a negotiation, it's a notification," Stanley's tone turned firm. "Diana, you can deny me as your partner, but you can't strip me of my responsibilities as a father. The kids are still young, and your health isn't great. I can't trust you to handle everything alone. No nanny can replace a father's role."
He paused, his tone softening, almost coaxing, "You don't want the kids to grow up without a father, do you? You don't want them to be pointed at and called fatherless, right?"
Each word hit Diana's weak spots precisely.
Her greatest fear was her kids suffering any injustice or harm because of her.
Seeing her wavering, Stanley pressed on, "I'll move in just to take care of you and the kids. I'll sleep in the guest room or on the couch. Until you agree, I promise not to touch you. Is that acceptable?"
He lowered his stance, making his conditions seem reasonable.
Diana fell into a long silence. She knew this was Stanley's trap, a gentle snare disguised as love. He was slowly encroaching on her life, making it impossible for her to escape.
But could she refuse?
She looked out at the dark night, remembering the countless nights she spent alone, holding her crying kids, exhausted in body and mind. She also recalled the doctor's warning that she couldn't handle any more upheaval.
Maybe, she really did need someone to share the burden.