Chapter 491

Chapter 491

"Whatever you want." After a long pause, she finally managed to squeeze out the words, her voice barely more than a sigh.

Stanley's eyes lit up with a flash of joy, but he kept it in check. He knew now was not the time to celebrate; any excessive reaction could scare this fragile cat back into its shell.

"Alright." He nodded, unable to hide the smile in his voice. "It's settled then."

The tension seemed to ease.

But Diana knew this was just the calm before the storm. The real conflict wasn't about arguments or confrontations; it was about two people, once torn apart by fate, being forced to learn how to coexist under the same roof.

That night, Stanley didn't leave.

He lay down on the couch in the hospital room, even though it was a bit cramped for his six-foot frame.

Diana lay in bed, her back to him, but she couldn't sleep.

She could clearly hear Stanley's steady, long breaths behind her, like an invisible net enveloping her. Sometimes it made her feel safe, other times it filled her with dread.

In the darkness, she suddenly thought of Alex.

That name was like a thorn embedded in her flesh, usually unnoticed but painful whenever she thought of it. She wondered if that man, who had tormented her for years, could sleep as peacefully as Stanley in prison.

The thought was fleeting, and she quickly pushed it away.

It's all over, she told herself.

But deep down, she knew that for her, everything was just beginning.

She and Stanley, along with their two young children—where would their future lead?

No one knew the answer.

Stanley woke up, still holding Diana's hand.

Diana nudged Stanley. "What are you thinking about?"

"I've thought about it many times, trying to figure out where things went wrong." Stanley's gaze fell on their intertwined hands, his voice deeper than before. "I realized I got it all backwards, too caught up in appearances."

Diana's fingers curled slightly in his palm.

"A grand wedding, countless guests, everyone thinking it was a match made in heaven. But what did it matter? Without that piece of paper, all the promises were weightless, blown away by the wind."

He looked up, his eyes locking onto hers. "If we had gone to City Hall first, instead of the wedding chapel, none of this would have happened."

His words were like a stone, thrown precisely into the deepest, stillest part of Diana's heart.

In that moment, it seemed like they had found the answer.

Yes, that was the crux of it.

If they had been legally married first, everything that happened at the wedding would have been just a mishap between spouses, not a scandal that ruined her reputation. Alex, no matter how shameless, couldn't imprison a woman who was already someone else's wife under the guise of "indiscretion."

Stanley was giving her a belated explanation for his oversight three years ago.

"I've learned my lesson." He looked at her, each word clear and firm. "Diana, this time, we'll get the marriage license first."

It wasn't a question; it was a statement.

The living room was quiet, so quiet they could hear each other's breathing. Outside, the city lights began to glow, their neon reflections flickering in his deep eyes like two dancing flames.

Diana watched those flames for a long time. Then she smiled. Not the helpless smile from before, but a slow, slightly mischievous, genuine smile.

She pulled her hand back, and Stanley's brow furrowed instinctively.

But she just stretched her fingers leisurely, then raised her eyes lazily, her gaze sweeping over his face before she spoke slowly.

"I have a lot of rings. I wonder which one would be the most suitable to wear?"

Her tone was light, as if she were seriously pondering a technical issue.

Stanley's tense jawline softened instantly at her words. He knew she had agreed, in her own unique, slightly proud and stubborn way.

He grabbed her hand again, this time with more force, a mix of regained treasure and unyielding dominance.

"None of them."

He stared into her sparkling eyes, his voice low but resolute.

"Throw them all away. I'll make a new one."

He leaned in, his warm breath brushing her ear, carrying a hint of dangerous warning and a deeper promise.

"Anyway, Diana, this time you won't be able to run away."

The next day.

The car door closed, shutting out the outside world.

The interior was spacious, but the atmosphere was a bit tense.

Diana took the cup, feeling the warmth seep through her fingertips and into her heart. She asked softly, "Where are we going?"