Lina, who was walking over from the kitchen with a big fruit platter in her hands, was so
startled by Natalie that the platter almost went toppling to the floor.
Fortunately, Lina had quick reflexes and managed to catch her balance in time.
“Nat, what's wrong with you?” Lina asked in a huffy tone. She straightened her shoulders
and continued toward the couch.
Natalie gestured at her cell phone. “Joyce just called. She said that Stanley would not be
making a police report and that he has allowed her to keep the baby.”
Lina choked on a mouthful of watermelon when she heard the news. It took her a full
minute to regain the use of her voice again. Her face turned red from the effort. “Really? Is
Stanley really such a nice guy?”
Natalie shook her head. “I don't know if it's true.”
If she were being honest, she could not quite believe it. After all, she knew how much
Stanley hated Joyce and the Rivers family.
How is it possible that Stanley would let Joyce keep the baby and let Mr. Rivers go
unpunished?
On the other end of the phone line, Joyce already knew that Natalie would react that way.
She tucked her hair behind her ears and said earnestly, “It's true, Nat. Mr. Quinn really did
say that he would let Dad go and let me keep the child, but he had some conditions.”
“Of course he does,” Natalie replied bitterly, pressing her lips together.
That sounds more like it! It's impossible that he would let Joyce keep the baby in her belly
and let Mr. Rivers walk away unpunished! Of course, he would impose conditions! That
sounds more like the real Stanley!
“So, what are his conditions?” Natalie pressed on.
If Stanley had set any impossible conditions, then she would immediately request Shane
to send some men over to move Stanley or the Rivers family away.
They would never meet each other again.
Otherwise, a tragedy could happen at any time.
Joyce heard the concern laced in Natalie's voice. She replied with a smile, “Don't worry,
Nat. Mr. Quinn hadn't yet set any conditions. So, for now, my dad and I are safe. As for the
conditions that he may set later on, let's deal with them when the time comes. Anyway,
no matter what the conditions are, nothing will ever be as bad as me losing my baby.”
“I understand, but I worry that the conditions that Stanley will set in the future will lead to
another tragedy,” Natalie countered with a frown.
Joyce tilted back her head to study the ceiling above her. “It's fine, Nat. Everything is okay
now. Let's not talk about the future. I'm so tired. I don't want to think about it anymore.
Otherwise, I don't know when my heart will be at peace.”
Natalie sighed. “Okay, we won't talk about it anymore, but when Stanley sets his
conditions in the future, you must tell me! No matter if they're good or bad, you must tell
me!”
“I will,” Joyce said.
Natalie rubbed her temples. “So, since Stanley is allowing you to keep the baby and isn't
pressing any charges against Mr. Rivers, what's the plan between the two of you?”
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm
“I don't know,” Joyce shook her head. “I don't remember him anymore, and I have no
feelings left for him. It's impossible for us to have any relationship with each other
anymore. However, he's hospitalized now. I can't just ignore him. Besides, he has
specifically requested for me to care for him.”
“Stanley asked you to take care of him?” Natalie exclaimed in disbelief.
Joyce murmured in affirmation. “Yes, I don't know why he did that. Dad thinks that he's
doing this to deliberately make things difficult for me in the hopes that I will get rid of the
baby. However, Stanley said that was not his intention, and I believe he really does not
have any ulterior motive.”
Joyce did not understand why Stanley wanted to keep her by his side, but Natalie knew
the true reason.
Shane had once told Natalie that Stanley loved Joyce, but he had been so blinded by
hatred that he had convinced himself that he despised Joyce. All this while, he did not
know who it was he actually loved.