Chapter303
"That's because you're Liam's executive assistant. Even if you can't be with him, you still get to be by his side every day," Lauren retorted.
"You're right," Diana nodded in agreement. "It's precisely because I'm by his side every day that I understand my place and what I should and shouldn't do. Otherwise, I'd only be hurting myself. Just like you, what did you get after last night's attempt and today's rash actions?"
"You never truly got Liam, never knew the good in him—that's why you'd say something like that." Releasing Diana's hand, the hurt in Lauren's gaze was more than just anger. It was loathing.
"Lauren, people need to face reality. That's the only proper way to live," Diana said calmly, as was her way. "If you're always lost in some happy moments of the past, then you'll have no future."
"I'll worry about my future without your help," Lauren shot back defiantly.
"Of course," Diana sighed wearily as she stood up. "I'm not here to worry about you. After all, we're hardly friends. I'm just here to do my job."
With that, Diana glanced around the room, and her demeanor turned cold and direct. "Lauren, where did you put all the things Liam gave you? You said you didn't want his money or any claim to it. Let's see you follow through on that promise and hand over everything he ever gave you."
"I've said it before. I don't want Liam's money. You'll find those things in the drawer of the vanity. Please get out," Lauren said briskly, her pride unwilling to let her words ring hollow.
"All right," Diana nodded and strode over to the vanity, pulling open the drawer.
Indeed, everything was there.
Without hesitation, Diana swept all the belongings into her bag, leaving nothing behind.
"Lauren, I'll have someone come to clean the house first thing in the morning, and then we'll get a realtor to sell it quickly, so please make sure you leave early. And don't ever come back here, or else I'll have to ask the security to intervene."
Seeing that Lauren was set in her ways, Diana no longer wanted to waste time or words on her. After all, there was little to pity about a woman who neither loved nor respected herself.
At that moment, Diana was actually relieved that she had never caused a scene as Lauren had.
The thought alone was so embarrassing and pointless!
Turning to face Lauren one last time, Diana spoke her piece and then left swiftly without lingering a second longer.
Watching Diana leave, Lauren felt anger, but even more so, envy. How she envied Diana, being Liam's chief assistant, always at his side, handling his affairs, earning his appreciation.
But for her, those chances were gone—forever out of reach.
...
Outside, Douglas's car was still parked, waiting for Diana.
As he saw her approach, Douglas promptly got out of the vehicle, rounded to the passenger side, and opened the door for her.
With a smile and without a single word, Diana stepped into the car.
After she got in and shut the door, Douglas walked back to the driver's side and took off down the road.
"I saw Liam just now," Douglas casually said, glancing at Diana.
"Mmm," Diana nodded noncommittally.
"You rushed over here, so it's not business-related, is it?" Douglas took another glance at her.
"Right," she acknowledged. "It's a personal matter of Liam's."
"And for his little personal matter, you had to drop everything and rush over here?" he prodded further.
"Yeah, because he's my dear employer. He's the one who pays my salary and bonus. Of course, I'd come running when he calls," Diana replied, oblivious to the dimming expression on Douglas's face.
"What if I gave you money, too? Would you listen to me then?" Douglas challenged.
Douglas, being intuitive about Diana's feelings, sensed that her relationship with Liam went beyond a typical employee-boss dynamic.
"Douglas, what do you mean?" Diana, finally sensing his mood, turned and asked pointedly.
"I just think..." Douglas furrowed his brows, pausing before adding, "I think work is work, and life is life. You should separate the two. After hours, you're supposed to enjoy life, not be on call 24/7, losing yourself in the process."
"That's your opinion, not mine," Diana rejected his comment without a second thought.
"Diana, doesn't what I think matters to you at all?" Douglas suddenly got heated.
Looking at him, Diana let out a scornful laugh, "What, now you're trying to control me before we're even officially dating?"
Douglas frowned deeply at her words, slammed the brakes, and stopped the car abruptly. Turning to her, he said, "Diana, I'm not trying to control you. I just wish you could balance your personal and professional life and not have it revolve solely around Liam."
"So what? That's my business," Diana retorted.
Douglas frowned while rubbing his forehead, at a loss for words.
After a moment of silence, he attempted to ask calmly, "Diana, am I really that incomparable to Liam in your heart?"
Abruptly, Diana unbuckled her seatbelt, turned, and pushed the door open to get out.
"Hey, Diana, what's going on?" Douglas quickly leaned over to grab her.
"Maybe you're right, Douglas. You don't measure up to Liam, so let's just end this here," Diana said, wrenching her hand free and stepping out of the car. With a relentless slam of the door, she strode away without looking back.
As Diana left, Douglas clenched his jaw in frustration, pounding the steering wheel with unmistakable finality.
