Chapter 232
Five minutes short of 2 PM, Liam finally arrived at the office.
Diana immediately reported to his office that everyone was assembled in the conference room, waiting for him.
He nodded without a word, not even glancing at her, and strode past toward the meeting.
Watching his cool, expressionless profile, Diana's brow furrowed deeply.
She wasn't being oversensitive. Liam's demeanor toward her had definitely changed.
Three months by his side, and even on his worst days, he had never treated her like this.
Diana couldn't afford to waste a moment. She quickly grabbed the folder of documents and hastened after Liam, who was already striding into the conference room.
The meeting progressed as usual. Diana took her seat to the right of Liam to take minutes and focused on her task throughout the nearly two-hour session. However, Liam hadn't said a word to her, not even giving her a single glance.
Women are known to be intuitive, and if Diana couldn't sense something was off at this point, she might as well be a fool.
She couldn't fathom what she might have done wrong to have suddenly fallen out of Liam's good graces.
"Book two tickets for Chuck and me—seven o'clock. To Washington," Liam finally said as he emerged from his office after the meeting had ended.
Surprised by his voice, Diana paused for a brief moment before regaining her composure.
‘Liam’s schedule hadn’t included travel today or for the coming days. Why the sudden trip?’
"Do I not need to go?" she asked almost reflexively after a brief pause.
Previously, Liam always took her and Chuck on business trips.
"No need," Liam replied curtly, "just make the arrangements."
With that, he walked into his office, leaving Diana standing outside, puzzled once again. Chuck passed by her, locking eyes for a moment, but said nothing.
He had long recognized Diana's feelings for Liam, but with a wealthy elite like Liam, which woman wouldn't be drawn to him?
Therefore, to Chuck, Diana was only entangling herself in her web. There was nothing he needed to add.
Stunned for a while, Diana finally snapped back to reality, dipped her head, and quickly returned to her own office to book the flights for Liam and Chuck.
After sending the flight details to their phones, she sank into contemplation once more.
Overnight, what had she done to offend Liam? Was it because she had drunkenly confided in Teresa the night before, and then Liam had to come to her apartment because Gabriel had called him, causing him displeasure? Or was it her drunken demeanor in front of Liam that made him disdain her?
Regardless of the reason, the outcome was the same. Liam's attitude toward her had changed. And as for their child... At that thought, Diana placed a hand gently on her belly and bowed her head.
Liam was not a heartless man. If he knew about their child, could there be a chance for them?
Liam hadn't been in the office for long when he left, leaving Diana staring after him, her spirit lost in a daze. It wasn't until nearly seven in the evening, when Teresa called that Diana remembered she had promised to visit her that night.
In a hurry, she clocked out from work, picked up a bouquet of fresh flowers on the way, and headed toward the hospital.
Upon entering Teresa’s room at the hospital, she was greeted warmly by the endearing calls from little Michael. Holding the child in her arms, Diana couldn't help but wonder if she had a son as adorable as Michael for Liam, would they find the same blissful happiness that Teresa and Gabriel shared?
The very thought sparked a flicker of hope in her heart.
After playing with the kid for a bit, since it was getting late and the little one was an early sleeper, Katherine took him home. Gabriel, seizing the opportunity, stepped outside to make a phone call, leaving Diana and Teresa some privacy.
"You looked fine. I guess you're feeling better now?" Diana asked as she settled down beside Teresa once they were alone.
Teresa nodded with a smile, "Yeah, the doctor said I could be discharged tomorrow. You don’t need to come tonight. You should come to my house tomorrow so we can have dinner together."
Diana looked at her friend and smiled genuinely. "Teresa, I truly envy you."
Teresa, observing the sadness and gloom that had grown in Diana's eyes over the past few months—a stark change from before—wondered if what Gabriel had said was true: had Diana fallen for Liam, even though it seemed Liam didn’t reciprocate her feelings?
"Diana, you like Liam, right? Have you ever confessed to him? Does he know how you feel?"
Teresa asked straightforwardly. Having been like sisters with Diana for so many years, she didn't want to beat around the bush.
Caught off guard by the direct question, Diana just gave a wry smile and looked down, her expression shadowed with sorrow.
"Do you think I'm not good enough for Liam?" Diana asked, her voice laced with self-doubt. Without waiting for Teresa to answer, she continued, "I'm not as beautiful as you, nor do I come from a prominent family. It's only natural that he wouldn't be interested in me, right?"
"Diana, in this world, there's only love or no love. There's no question of being good enough or not," Teresa responded, her heart aching for her friend. "We've known each other for so long, and you've never been one to feel inferior. On the contrary, you've always been so confident. Why would you think like this now?”
