Chapter 8 Walk Right Into a Trap

• An extravagant chandelier shone brightly in the minimalistic yet luxurious living room.
• The light shone on the man sitting on the couch, making the perfect contours of his face look even more dimensional.
• Hearing Gael's words, Stanley lightly caressed his wristwatch before lifting his gaze to look at the butler. "Go ahead and take the children upstairs," he instructed through parted thin lips.
• Both the children were confused by that just like Gael was, but they listened to their father and obediently followed the butler upstairs.
• It didn't take long before Melinda was manhandled into the living room by two bodyguards.
• Stanley stayed seated on the couch. However, his lazy and somewhat cold gaze was on her.
• He then casually brought a hand up, to which the bodyguards released their grips on her and left.
• Now that Melinda was standing under the bright lights, she felt uncomfortable being scrutinized like she was something entertaining.
• She looked pathetic after being soaked in rainwater. Not only was her silky black hair sticking to her face like it was glued to her, but her clothes were dripping wet as well.
• The wet garment stuck to her body perfectly accentuated her curves.
• The man soon stood up and stalked toward her with his palms in his pockets.
• Melinda's eyes were filled with nothing but hatred when she was forced to meet his eyes. She was determined to leave this place with her children tonight.
• Stanley had made himself her enemy when he stole the children away from her.
• As he approached her, the air in the living room seemed to freeze. She was now clenching her fists by the sides of her torso out of panic.
• For some reason, the man's aura flustered her.
• Stanley, on the other hand, took in all of Melinda's emotions, be it her awkwardness, cautiousness, or anger.
• The faint fragrance drifting off her distracted him for a moment.
• "Ms. Veronica." His voice didn't sound as cold as before. "Please get Ms. Paisley here some fresh clothes."
• "Yes, Mr. Fox."
• An unnamed emotion seemed to flash across Melinda's eyes as she stared at Stanley. "There's no need for that!" she hissed. "I am here to take the kids!"
• "You should get changed before that," he replied indifferently in a low voice and turned to look out the door.
• She couldn't hold back from quietly cursing him out when she saw how dignified and nonchalant he was.
• "Ms. Paisley." The woman named Sherry Veronica promptly walked over to Melinda before informing her gently, "I have prepared the clothes. Please come with me. It will be better for you to have a hot shower, lest you catch a cold."
• Melinda was already frozen from being soaked from head to toe.
• Hearing Sherry's words, Melinda stubbornly peeked at the man looking out the window and finally followed Sherry to the bathroom.
• Now that Stanley was alone, he went to the study upstairs and stood in front of the window. Thoughts of his father gradually came to him when he looked at the frightening lightning flashing across the sky.
• He put on a slight frown then. He never had any dating scandals because he didn't believe in love and marriage.
• But that didn't mean that he didn't want children.
• In fact, he was overjoyed when he received the test results.
• He then thought about how Jennifer was still pressuring him about his marriage when Monica was about to return to Riverdale.
• It just so happened that Melinda, whom he surprisingly didn't dislike, came into his life at the perfect time.
• And so, an idea started to come to mind.
• …
• Melinda's head gradually got clearer when she took her shower. It was also then that she realized how Stanley might be waiting for her to walk right into his trap, judging from how he wasn't surprised at all to see her earlier.
• She only came out of the bathroom after ten minutes, where she found Sherry waiting for her outside. Is she here to stop me from running around and looking for the children?
• "Have some ginger tea, Ms. Paisley." The older woman passed her a fine bone china mug, which Melinda carefully took out of her hands.
• "Thank you." She put the mug back in Sherry's palms after she finished the tea.
• "Mr. Fox is waiting for you in the study on the second floor. It is on your right immediately after you go up the stairs."
• Melinda didn't have a good feeling about this, but she replied, "Alright."
• Her heart was filled with uncertainty as she walked up the stairs. Will he let the children go? she pondered. Because it sure doesn't look like he is going to do that.
• Damn it! I am going to fight for them no matter what!
• Right after she turned right upstairs and came into the study, she was immediately greeted by the sight of the man standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows with his hands behind his back.
• That upright stance of his was so dignified it made him look distant for some reason.
• When Stanley heard the approaching footsteps, he turned around and locked his gaze on the woman's exquisite face. "I did a paternity test." He cut straight to the chase in a low and deep voice.
• "I don't deny the fact that you are their father," Melinda spoke without being intimidated at all, and she came to stand in front of him while she bravely met his gaze. "So what?"
• "Sign this." He passed her an agreement. "This is the only way you will get to see the children."
• Her chest tightened at that, and when she lowered her eyes to look at the words on the agreement, she almost choked.
• It was a postnuptial agreement!
• "I have registered for our marriage certificate. Someone will have it brought over tomorrow morning," he informed her through his parted thin lips. "This is a postnuptial agreement. Sign the papers if you agree with the terms. If you don't accept this, you can add in a few terms of your own."
• Melinda's shell-shocked appearance was reflected in Stanley's deep eyes.
• Unable to comprehend how ridiculous all this was panning out, she let out a scoff. "I am not here to marry you. I am here to take my kids with me!"