As the evening drew to a close, Diego's family gathered for dinner. Sophia and Alex, Diego's younger siblings, were introduced to the kids, and they were delighted to learn that Jackson and Emily were Diego's children.
As they sat down to eat, Sophia and Alex warmed up to the kids, asking them about their interests and hobbies. The kids, in turn, were thrilled to have new friends and eagerly shared stories about their lives.
The dinner was a lively affair, with laughter and conversation flowing freely. Diego watched his family interact with his kids, feeling a sense of pride and happiness.
After dinner, Diego followed the kids to their rooms, which were conveniently located next door to each other. As he was about to leave Emily's room, she looked up at him with big, sleepy eyes.
"Daddy, would you read me a story?" she asked, her voice soft and gentle.
Diego's heart melted at her request. He smiled and nodded, pulling out a storybook he had specially bought for her.
As he began to read "The Beauty and the Beast," Emily's eyes grew heavier, and she snuggled deeper into her blankets. The soothing sound of Diego's voice and the enchanting story soon lulled her to sleep.
The days flew by quickly as the kids settled into their new routine. They started attending the prestigious *Regency International Academy*, a school renowned for its academic excellence and elite student body. They made new friends and excelled in their studies.
Weekends arrived, and Diego took the kids to their mom, Alice. Alice was overjoyed to see her kids and hugged them tightly.
"How was it? Hope you got fed rightly? Hope you guys didn't eat too many sweets? Do you like the place? Do they treat you well?" Alice bombarded them with questions, her eyes shining with concern.
The kids laughed and reassured her, "Mommy, it's OK. Daddy takes care of us well. If he wasn't treating us well, you know we would have told you, right? So, Mommy, it's OK."
Alice was relieved and spent quality time with her kids. Though they didn't go anywhere, Brenda made the day interesting with games and activities. Alice assisted, and they all had a wonderful time together.
As Sunday evening approached, Alice took her kids, Jackson and Emily, to the restaurant where Diego had asked her to bring them. When they arrived, Alice didn't waste time and pecked her kids goodbye, eager to avoid spending even a second with Diego.
As they said their goodbyes, Diego arrived, a hint of a smile on his face. He nodded at Alice, who ignored him and quickly left. Diego watched her go, his eyes narrowing slightly before he turned to his kids.
"Hey, kids! How was your weekend with Mom?" he asked, his voice warm and friendly.
The kids smiled and chattered excitedly, telling Diego all about their adventures with Alice. Diego listened attentively, his eyes shining with warmth and affection.
Later that night, after dinner, freshening up, and bedtime stories, the kids drifted off to sleep. However, at midnight, Emily's body began to scorch with a high fever. She started crying, and her tiny body trembled with pain.
Luckily, Jackson's room was nearby, and he immediately ran to his twin sister's room. When he felt her hot body, he knew something was wrong. Without hesitation, he rushed to Diego's room and woke him up.
"Daddy, Emily's body is hot!" Jackson exclaimed, his voice laced with worry.
Diego sprang out of bed, his heart racing with concern. He followed Jackson to Emily's room, where they found her crying and shivering with fever.
The maids were quickly summoned, and they tried various remedies to bring down Emily's fever. However, despite their best efforts, Emily's condition only worsened.
Jackson, sensing his dad's distress, suggested, "Dad, you should call Mom. She knows how to stabilize our temperature before taking us to the hospital."
Diego quickly dialed Alice's number, hoping she would answer. When she finally picked up, Diego explained the situation, but Alice thought the kids were just scared and needed reassurance.
Diego tried to convince her that Emily was genuinely ill, but Alice was skeptical. She offered suggestions on how to calm Emily down, but Diego knew it was more serious than that.
Just as Diego was about to explain again, the call dropped. He was about to dial again when he saw Alice running towards the mansion, breathless and worried.
She rushed to Emily's side, "Baby, it's Mommy. Everything is okay, right? Don't cry, because if you do, the sickness monster will laugh at you."
However, this time, Alice's usual soothing words didn't calm Emily down. Alice's expression turned serious, and she asked the maids, "Do you guys have Ibuprofen?"
A maid quickly fetched the medication, and Alice administered it to Emily. She gently caressed Emily's body, trying to comfort her.
As the medication started to take effect, Emily's fever began to subside. Alice's relief was palpable, but she knew they still needed to take Emily to the hospital.
Diego quickly arranged for a car, and they rushed to Leo's hospital, accompanied by Alice and Jackson. At the hospital, Leo and his team quickly attended to Emily, running tests and administering treatment.
The diagnosis revealed that Emily's fever was alarmingly high, and if left untreated, it could have been fatal. Alice was overcome with emotion, fearing the worst.
Jackson, sensing his mom's distress, petted her gently. Alice composed herself, knowing she needed to be strong for her kids.
As the medical team worked to stabilize Emily's condition, Diego stepped out of the ward, followed by Leo. "Man, you got me scared. I thought your daughter was dying," Leo said, playfully hitting Diego on the arm.
Diego shook his head, "What do you expect? I haven't raised a child of mine before, and it was too sudden."
Leo chuckled, "Bro, how about you let Alice stay with you at home to take care of the kids? I mean, she understands them better, so..."
Diego cut him off, his expression firm. "No! She might try to sneak away with the kids. I'm not giving her that chance."
Leo shrugged, "Suit yourself, bro."
Meanwhile, back in the ward, Alice sat beside Emily's bed, holding her hand. Jackson had fallen asleep on the sofa, and Alice had gently covered him with a blanket.
As Emily drifted off to sleep, Alice hummed a soft lullaby, one she often sang to her kids. Emily, still half awake, gave her mom a weak smile.
"Mama, I'm fine. It's just fever," Emily whispered.
Alice's eyes welled up with tears, "Aww, baby. Mama's sorry for crying. It's just that I couldn't bear to see you sick and feel okay. You know that, right?"
Emily nodded slowly, and Alice caressed her face. As they sat there, the machines beeping softly in the background, Alice and Emily eventually fell asleep, with Alice still holding her daughter's hand.
When Diego returned to the ward, he saw Alice sleeping, her body slumped forward. He gently placed a blanket over her, making sure she was comfortable. With a soft glance at his kids, Diego left the hospital, his heart filled with a mix of emotions.