Chapter 213 Give Me a Chance

Chapter 213 Give Me a Chance

The text message on the screen was glaringly harsh.

Diana's fingertips hovered above the keyboard as she tapped forcefully on the screen.

[Mr. Grant, you can forget about it. I'm not going.]

Click, send.

Less than ten seconds later, her phone vibrated.

Diana paused, picked up her phone and swiped the screen open.

[You know how I operate. If you don't come, I'll just wait at the Peninsula Manor gate. When Liv goes to kindergarten tomorrow morning, I don't mind taking her there myself.]

Diana gripped her phone tightly, her knuckles turning white.

What a jerk!

Four years ago, Ethan was high and mighty, unwilling to spare her even an extra word.

Now, Ethan was actually using such shameless tactics to force her hand.

She knew Ethan too well.

This man always did what he said. If she really let him make a scene at the manor gate, Liv would definitely be affected.

Moreover, if Grandma and her brothers caught Ethan making a fuss at the gate, things would only get more complicated.

Fine, she'd go.

She might as well take this opportunity to make things completely clear about the child and cut off any ideas he shouldn't have.

She tossed the clothes in her hand back onto the bed and turned toward the walk-in closet to change.

7:55 PM.

Top floor restaurant of the Peninsula Hotel.

Diana pushed open the glass door, her eyes scanning the hall.

By the window, Ethan had changed into a black shirt with sleeves casually rolled up to his elbows, holding a clear glass of water in his hand, his head turned toward the night view outside.

Diana walked straight over, pulled out the chair across from him, and sat down.

Ethan turned his head, his gaze settling on her face.

A server came over with menus.

"No need," Diana set her bag aside. "I'll just say a few words and leave."

The server tactfully retreated.

Ethan set down his water glass, crossed his hands on the table, and waited for her to speak.

"I'm here to talk about Liv," Diana got straight to the point without any small talk. "Liv is the child I carried for ten months and gave birth to. I've raised her single-handedly for these four years. She's my child alone and has nothing to do with you, Ethan."

Ethan's jawline tightened.

"Don't rush to argue," Diana raised her hand to cut off his attempt to speak. "I'm not here to fight with you today. Since you already know about Liv's existence, there's no point in hiding it anymore. As her biological father, if you occasionally want to see her, I won't stop you. That's your right, and I won't take it away."

She leaned forward, pressing her hands on the edge of the table.

"But," she emphasized, "if you're thinking about taking her back to the Grant family or fighting for custody, Ethan, I'm telling you to forget it right now."

"I'd give my life before I'd let you take her away."

Ethan sat across from her, listening to these words.

He pulled at the corner of his mouth in a bitter smile.

"Diana," his voice was hoarse, "I don't want to fight you for the child."

Diana let out a cold laugh, clearly not believing him.

"I know Liv is your whole life," Ethan's Adam's apple bobbed. "These four years, raising her alone, I can't even imagine how much you've suffered. How could I possibly take her away from you? I couldn't do something that awful."

Diana leaned back in her chair, arms crossed over her chest.

"Like you haven't done enough awful things already?"

Ethan was momentarily speechless.

"I was a bastard in the past. I mistook someone else for you, I was blind, I broke your heart." He lowered his head, his voice dropping very low. "I know nothing I say now can change what happened. You hate me, resent me—I deserve all of it."

He lifted his head, looking directly at Diana's face.

"But I just want a chance."

"A chance to make it up to you, to make it up to Liv."

"Let me take care of you two properly. If you don't want to go back to River City, I'll shift Grant Corporation's business focus to Rosewood City. If you don't want to see me, I can keep my distance—I just need to know you're both doing well."

His tone was urgent, even carrying a hint of pleading.

"Diana, give me a chance, okay?"

After hearing all this, Diana felt nothing inside.

She even found it somewhat laughable.

Four years ago, her heart and eyes were full of him. She humbled herself to the dust, and what did she get in return?

Suspicion, cold treatment, and being forced to divorce.

Now he comes talking about making amends? Too little, too late.

"Ethan, do you think that just by lowering your head and admitting you were wrong, everything can be like it never happened?"

"I don't need your compensation. Neither does Liv."

Diana stood up as she finished speaking, grabbing her bag from the table.

"Liv has grown up surrounded by love. She has me, Sebastian, my grandmother and uncles, so many people who care about her. She doesn't lack a father's love, and she certainly doesn't need you—some random person—showing up to play the good father."

"If you really feel guilty and want to make amends, then stay away from us. Don't disturb our peaceful life."

"That would be the greatest compensation you could give us."

With that, she turned and walked out without looking back.

Ethan sat in his seat.

The neon lights from outside reflected on his face, carrying a sense of loneliness.

He picked up the glass of ice water that had gone cold and drained it in one gulp.

Diana's heart was completely sealed shut, impenetrable.

Force wouldn't work, and wearing her down seemed equally ineffective.

The people around her—Sebastian and the others—protected the mother and daughter too well, leaving him no opening at all.

He pulled his phone from his pocket and unlocked it.

The screen still showed that ugly toad wallpaper.

Ethan looked at the toad and suddenly smiled slightly.

Since this route was blocked, he'd have to find a breakthrough through Olivia.

That girl was clever and mischievous, bold enough to even hack his phone.

Although she'd scolded him at the mall today, in the end she had listened to his explanation.

He opened WhatsApp and found the contact named "Universe's Most Adorable Liv Number One."

His fingers tapped on the keyboard a few times.

[Liv, is there any gift you want? Daddy will buy it for you. The latest tablet? Limited edition art supplies? Or hacking equipment? Just say the word, and Daddy will have it delivered tomorrow.]

Send.

But as soon as the message went out, a red exclamation mark popped up on the screen.

Ethan stared at the red exclamation mark, his expression completely frozen.

This girl had actually blocked him?

He gripped his phone, laughing in exasperation.

She really was Diana's daughter—even their personalities were identical.

He tossed his phone on the table and leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes.

After a while, he picked up his phone again and called Derek.

"Derek."

"Mr. Grant, what is it?"

"Have a car ready tomorrow morning. Take me to Peninsula Manor."

Derek on the other end paused.

"Mr. Grant, are you planning to..."

"Handle some business." Ethan stood up, buttoning his suit jacket.

Since she'd blocked him, he'd just have to show up in person.

He didn't believe this mother-daughter pair could avoid him forever.