Chapter 338
"Douglas!" Diana cut him off sharply, her voice edged with anger.
"Okay, okay! No more 'sweetheart,' I get it," Douglas quickly acquiesced, taking another glance at her. "Can you tell me, though, if something happened recently that's been bothering you?"
Feeling a twinge of self-reproach for her tone and attitude, Diana couldn't seem to control her emotions, even though she wanted to.Knowing her tone and attitude had been off, Diana felt a twinge of self-reproach. Yet, inexplicably, she couldn't rein in her emotions.
Leaning back in her seat, she let out a deep sigh and looked at Douglas. "Douglas, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you."
"Hey, it's okay. I'm not upset," Douglas replied as he reached out and took her hand. "You wanna tell me what's been bugging you these past few days?"
Diana shook her head, "No, I just haven't been sleeping well."
Douglas looked at her again and noticed the unmistakable dark circles under her eyes.Douglas looked at her again, noticing the unmistakable dark circles under her eyes.
He gently kissed the hand he held and said softly, "Why don't you take a nap then? I'll wake you when we get there."
Diana shook her head again, "No, I can't sleep."
As they reached the end of the freeway ramp, they stopped at a red light. Douglas gently pushed the brakes to stop the car.Just then, they reached the end of the freeway ramp and stopped at a red light. Douglas gently pressed the brakes, bringing the car to a halt.
Once the car was parked, he let go of Diana's hand, opened the glove compartment, and took out a neatly wrapped navy blue box, offering it to her.
"What's this?" she asked without taking the box, her face showing no sign of anticipation or joy.
"A New Year's gift. Open it," Douglas urged, his eyes filled with hope, eager to see her reaction.
Diana glanced at him, then took the box and opened it, revealing a beautiful heart-shaped diamond necklace inside.Diana glanced at him, took the box, and opened it.
Inside lay a beautiful heart-shaped diamond necklace.
"Why waste money on something like this for me?" The necklace was indeed beautiful, but Diana's eyes did not show the excitement Douglas was hoping for; instead, she asked flatly.
"Do you like it?" he asked, still hopeful.
Seeing the eager look in his eyes, Diana finally cracked a smile and nodded, "I do! But, really, next time don't spend so much. You're not making that much yet."
"Anything for you is worth it," Douglas said, smiling now that she was smiling. "One day, when I'm making the big bucks, I'll buy you a bigger diamond."
"Douglas, you don't have to—" Diana began to protest, but before she could finish, Douglas leaned in and planted a kiss on her lips.
"Douglas!" She frowned and pulled away from his kiss.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
This was the first time since they started dating that Diana avoided his kiss, and he looked a little disappointed.This was the first time since they'd become a couple that Diana had dodged his kiss, and a hint of disappointment flashed in his eyes.
She looked at him, quickly flashed a reassuring smile to hide her inner turmoil, and joked, "I haven't brushed my teeth, icky!"
"I don't mind," he exclaimed carelessly.
Diana laughed again, "It's green. Let's drive."
Douglas glanced ahead and saw that the light had indeed changed. He settled back into his seat and pressed the accelerator, driving them forward.
"My sister's back in town. Would you like to swing by my place and catch up with her?" Douglas asked, keeping his eyes on the road as he spoke to Diana.
"It's Christmas Eve; it wouldn't be right to intrude on your family time. Let's rain check that," Diana declined.
Douglas nodded and didn't push further, swiftly changing the topic to something neutral.Douglas nodded and didn't press the matter, quickly shifting the conversation to more neutral ground.
...
"Liam, Faith's here. She's been waiting in the living room," the butler reported respectfully as Liam pulled up to the Evans estate.
"Mhm," Liam responded, nonchalantly agreeing as he stepped out of the car and strode toward the main house.
He hadn't yet confronted Faith about the drugging incident, and since she had shown up uninvited, it was time to settle matters once and for all.
"Liam."
In the main house's living room, Faith, cheerful and laughing with Tyler, stood up gracefully and greeted Liam as he entered.In the living room of the main house, Faith, all smiles and laughter with Tyler, immediately rose to her feet, gracefully addressing Liam as he walked in.
"I'll leave you two to talk. I've got some things to handle upstairs," Tyler said. He'd long since stopped meddling in Liam's personal affairs, so upon Liam's arrival, he promptly excused himself, leaving Liam and Faith alone.
Watching Tyler ascend the staircase, Faith then turned to Liam with an apologetic look. "Liam, I'm sorry. I came here to apologize to you."
"Oh, apologize?" Liam arched a brow, settling across from her on the sofa, "Let's hear it. What are you apologizing for?"
"Sorry, Liam." Faith sat down, eyes downcast in an expression of remorse, bowing her head, "There was no ill intention behind the drugging. All I wanted was to be with you, to be your legitimate girlfriend."
Liam was surprised by her honest confession and by her suddenly submissive behavior.Liam hadn't expected such a candid admission from her, nor her, to take such a submissive stance.
It doesn't quite make sense for her to act so modestly around him, considering she's been spoiled and given everything her whole life as the only heir of the Coppola family.Logically, as the sole heiress of the Coppola family, coddled and given everything since birth, she shouldn't be acting so humbly before him.
"Liam, I'm sorry for the discomfort I caused you. I swear nothing like this will ever happen again. Give me another chance to make things right, to be with you, please?" Faith looked up when she didn't hear Liam's voice, only to find him gazing at her intensely, his emotions unreadable.
Faith couldn't figure out what he was thinking, so she just lowered her posture even more.Unable to guess his thoughts, Faith could only lower her posture even more.
Even if Liam hadn't developed feelings for her yet, seeing her so contritely make herself small would surely give him some satisfaction, maybe even stir a sense of compassion.
