<h4>Chapter 127: Wee Home</h4>


    Diane’s POV


    The morning sun streamed through my hospital room window as I carefully adjusted Dn in my arms while Danielle slept peacefully in her bass.


    Two days had passed since their birth, and I was finally being discharged. The twins were perfect...healthy, beautiful, and already showing distinct personalities despite being only forty-eight hours old.


    "Are you ready to go home, sweetheart?" my mother asked softly, adjusting the tiny pink nket around Danielle’s face, her eyes still misty with joy every time she looked at her grandchildren.


    She’d barely left my side since the birth, alternating between tears of happiness and fierce protective mode whenever the nurses came to check on us.


    "More than ready," I replied, standing slowly and testing my bnce. My body still felt tender and unfamiliar, but there was an overwhelming sense of aplishment that overshadowed any difort. I had done this. I had brought two perfect lives into this world, and now we were going home.


    Noah appeared at my side instantly, his arm sliding around my waist in that protective way that had be second nature to him. "Easy there, beautiful. We’re not in any rush."


    Sophie bounced excitedly near the door, her arms full of gift bags and flowers from well-wishers. "The car is ready downstairs, and Dad’s already handling the discharge paperwork," She said, as she handed the items to Noah and immediately scooped Dn I’m her arms.


    As if summoned by her words, my father appeared in the doorway, his face breaking into that proud smile that had been his default expression since Dn and Danielle arrived. "Everything’s sorted. Security is positioned, and we’re ready to escort you home."


    But as we approached the hospital’s main entrance, I could hear themotion outside—voices calling out questions, the rapid-fire clicking of camera shutters, the general chaos that could only mean one thing.


    "Of course," I muttered under my breath as the automatic doors slid open. "Of course the press would have heard about my new position and the twins on the way."


    The sight that greeted us was overwhelming. At least Ten reporters and photographers had gathered outside Memorial Hospital, their cameras and microphones at the ready. The moment they spotted me emerging with my babies, they surged forward like a pack of hungry wolves.


    "Mrs. Ashton! Congrattions on your appointment as CEO!"


    "Can youment on your ns for Synergy Sphere?"


    "How does it feel to defeat your ex-husband for the position?"


    "What’s your response to the allegations against Liam Ashton?"


    The questions came at me rapid-fire, but I kept my expressionposed and my focus on protecting my children. The camera shes were blinding, and I instinctively pulled Dn closer to my chest while Noah shielded Danielle with his body.


    "Congrattions, Mrs. Ashton!" one reporter called out genuinely. "We’re so happy for you and the babies!"


    "Thank you," I replied simply to the congrattions, but ignored all the business-rted questions. This wasn’t the time or ce for corporate discussions.


    My mother stepped forward with the fierce protectiveness of a lioness defending her cubs. "Excuse me," she said in her most authoritative voice. "My daughter has just given birth and is exhausted. She needs to rest with her babies. Please give us some space."


    My mother’s tone brooked no argument, and despite their eagerness for a story, even the reporters seemed to recognize the reasonableness of her request.


    "Look at these vultures," my mother muttered under her breath as we slowly made our way through the crowd. "These bastards are looking for blood. I feel like choking one of them."


    Despite everything, I had to suppress a smile at my mother’snguage. She’d always been fiercely protective of her family, but motherhood and now grandmotherhood had amplified that instinct.


    My father and Noah nked us, their expressions stern as they repeatedly answered "Noment" to the more aggressive questions. The security detail created a protective corridor, but the reporters still pressed as close as they dared.


    As we slowly navigated through the crowd, I couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was watching us—and not just the obvious reporters and photographers. There was a prickle at the back of my neck, an instinct that told me we were being observed by someone with less good intentions.


    I turned my head slightly, scanning the area behind the main group of reporters. For just a moment, I thought I caught a glimpse of a familiar figure standing near a parked car, but when I looked again, there was nothing there. Maybe it was just my imagination, heightened by exhaustion and the overwhelming nature of the moment.


    Immediately I turned my attention back to Mom and Sophie, who were each carefully carrying one of the twins toward the car. The sight of them, my mother and sister cradling my children with such love and care, filled me with warmth and pushed away the chill that Liam’s presence had brought.


    "Thank you," I murmured, feeling a wave of gratitude for my sister. Despite everything that had happened between us over the past months, she was here now, helping me protect what mattered most.


    As we finally reached our cars and sessfully maneuvered away from the press, I let out a long breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding.


    "That was intense," Noah said, as we walked toward the car.


    "Wee to my new reality, I suppose," I replied, aa i settled into the car, watching through the side mirror as the reporters gradually dispersed. "Being CEO of a major corporation doese with certain... visibility."


    But as we drove through the city streets, I found myself looking forward rather than backward. We weren’t going to Joan’s house, as I’d expected. Instead, we were headed to the new house Dad had bought for me and the twins...our permanent home.


    "I thought we agreed I’d move in gradually," I said, slightly confused by the change in ns.


    Dad’s voice came from the car behind us through the hands-free system. "I may have made a few arrangements," he said, and I could hear the smile in his voice. "Consider it a housewarming gift."


    When we pulled up to the house, my breath caught. The beautiful two-story home looked even more weing than I remembered, but now there were additional decorations that definitely hadn’t been there during myst visit with Noah.


    Colorful balloons lined the walkway, and I could see glimpses of what looked like party preparations in the backyard.


    "Dad," I said as we all gathered on the front porch, "what did you do?"


    "I may have nned a small wee home celebration for my grandchildren," he admitted with a sheepish grin. "I couldn’t help myself. It’s not every day a man bes a grandfather and his daughter bes CEO of a major corporation in the same week."


    As we walked around to the backyard, I gasped. The pool area had been transformed into a celebration space that looked like something out of a magazine. There were elegant decorations in soft pastels, a beautiful banner that read "Wee Home, Dn and Danielle," and tablesden with food that clearly hadn’te from a grocery store.


    "Oh, Dad," I breathed, tears springing to my eyes. "This is beautiful."


    The family gathered around as Sophie and Mom carefully ced the twins in matching basss that had been positioned in the shade. Dn opened his eyes and seemed to take in his surroundings with the serious expression he’d worn since birth, while Danielle slept on peacefully,pletely unbothered by the change in scenery.


    We were all chattering happily, sharing stories and marveling over the babies, when Joan’s phone rang. She nced at the caller ID and her face lit up with a smile that I’d be very familiar with over the past few days.


    "It’s Henry," she announced, but instead of stepping away to take the call privately, she put it on speaker.


    "Joan, I hope I’m not interrupting," Henry Reynolds’ smooth voice filled the air, "but I have some excellent news about our Liam’s financial situation."


    I leaned forward, suddenly very interested. "What kind of news?"


    "Well, hello to you too, Diane," Henry chuckled. "Congrattions on the babies and your new position.


    "I’ve been working extensively with my connections in Panama—specifically, a highly reputable attorney who specializes in international financialw. We’ve sessfully initiated proceedings to freeze Liam’s offshore ounts."


    The satisfaction in his voice was unmistakable, and I felt a surge of vindictive pleasure course through me.


    "What does that mean exactly?" I asked.


    "It means," Henry continued, his voice taking on the satisfied tone of a man who’d just won a particrly challenging case, "that Mr. Ashton will be required to provide a full ounting of all assets hidden in those offshore ounts. Furthermore, those assets will need to be disclosed and divided ording to your divorce proceedings."


    "He can’t touch a penny until this legal mess is sorted out, and when it is, you’ll be entitled to your fair share of everything he tried to hide."


    Joan was practically glowing with pride as she listened to Henry exin the legalplexities of what they’d aplished.


    "This is incredible news," I said, feeling a weight I hadn’t realized I’d been carrying finally lift from my shoulders.


    "Henry," I managed to say, my voice thick with emotion, "I don’t know how to thank you."


    "Seeing justice served is thanks enough," he replied.


    "Actually," Joan said, her voice taking on that shy quality I’d noticed whenever Henry was mentioned, "I was wondering if you’d like to join our celebration? I can send you the address."


    There was a pause, and then Henry’s warmughter. "I would be delighted. I’ll be there within the hour."


    As Joan hung up, I couldn’t help but grin at the pleased expression on her face. But before I could tease her about it, my father’s voice cut through the celebratory mood.


    "Liam has no idea what’sing for him," Dad said, his tone taking on a harder edge that I rarely heard. "I’ve been keeping tabs on him without his slightest knowledge, and when the time I’ve set is right, I’m going to make sure his life bes meaningless andpletely ruined beyond any possibility of amendment."


    The cold satisfaction in his voice sent a small shiver down my spine. I’d always known my father was a formidable businessman, but hearing him speak about systematic destruction reminded me that he hadn’t built Elite Group by being nice to people who threatened his family.


    "Andrew," my mother said gently, "let’s focus on celebrating today. Liam will get what he deserves in due time."


    Dad nodded, his expression softening as he looked at his grandchildren. "You’re right. Today is about new beginnings, not settling old scores."