Chapter 348 All That's Left of Love Is Humiliation
Faith was astonished by Liam's ruthlessness. The fact that he would cut ties with the Shaw family and cancel bonuses for Evans Group all because of a secretary, and in such a short time, was beyond belief.Faith couldn't believe Liam could be so ruthless. To think he'd end all dealings with the Shaw family and withdraw all bonuses from Evans Group just for a secretary—and within an hour, no less.
Evans Group wasn't just the top company in River North; it held a significant reputation nationwide. If Evans Group completely severed ties with the Shaws, it was evident that others would follow suit, putting the Shaw family's future at risk.Evans Group wasn't only the leading company in River North; it was a respected giant nationwide. If Evans Group completely cut off the Shaws, it was clear what would follow – others would turn their backs as well, leaving the Shaw family's future in jeopardy.
No matter how much she loved Liam, she couldn't let a man who clearly didn't feel the same about her destroy her family and undo her parents' hard work.
Recognizing the seriousness of the situation, Faith hurried to call Liam. However, just as she was about to dial, a thought occurred to her.Realizing the severity of the situation, Faith immediately went to call Liam.
But before she could dial, a thought struck her.
‘How could she I be so foolish!’
In a moment of anger triggered by Diana being in Liam's bed, she felt a strong desire to humiliate her and see Diana suffer disgrace and hardships.In a rash fit of anger over Diana getting into Liam's bed, she wanted only to humiliate her and see Diana face disgrace and difficulties.
So, when Faith found out Diana had a boyfriend—who happened to be the brother of her acquaintance, Emily—she tempted Emily to make a scene at Evans Group.
But in doing so, wasn't she inadvertently pushing Diana closer to Liam?
She really had been foolish.
Grinding her teeth with resolution, Faith swiftly dialed Emily's number from another phone.
"Faith, my performance at the Evans Group headquarters this morning was good, wasn't it?" Emily answered, her voice ripe with smug satisfaction.
"Yep, I'm quite pleased," Faith said with an undeniable positivity in her voice before the conversation took a sharp turn. But Emily, you're not going to tell anyone it was me who had people stir up trouble for Diana at Evans Group, are you?"
"Of course not. Why would I do that? I've had it out for Diana for a while now. She had the nerve to try and seduce my brother, thinking she could swindle money from him to buy herself a house—in her dreams!" Emily fumed on the other end of the line, her voice tinged with growing anger. Diana, that shameless wretch, she's asking for it. I'll make sure she regrets this."
During her senior year of high school, Emily had her sights set on a guy she thought she could win over. However, after he had a meal with Diana, he rejected Emily and began pursuing Diana instead.Back in her senior year of high school, Emily had her eyes on a guy she was close to winning over. But after one meal with Diana, he turned her down and started chasing after Diana instead.
It was bad enough that he rejected Emily to pursue Diana, but Diana didn't even appreciate what she had; she dumped him in less than a month.
"No, Emily, you've got it all wrong." Faith felt a chill listening to Emily's bitter tone. "Did you know that Liam actually canceled all his dealings with our family for her?"
"What?!" Emily was shocked. "That little tramp actually managed to bewitch Liam?"
"Exactly! Liam is so obsessed with her that he's even willing to hurt his interests. So, what do you want? To watch Diana become Liam's lady and then turn the tables on you and your family? Or do you want to ensure she can't fight back by having absolute control over her future?"
"I definitely don't want her to be Liam's woman!" Emily retorted, panicking slightly.
The Evans family held the second-most power and wealth in River North. Although Emily's family had some assets, they couldn't match the Evanses. If Liam really wanted to, he could crush their family with the same effort it would take to squash an ant.
"Since neither of us wants Diana and Liam together, there's only one thing to do. Your brother cannot break up with her; your family must shift their stance and accept her. Pretend to like her, be good to her, agree to her marrying your brother. As for the house she wants, agree to buy it for her, and I'll find a way to transfer the funds to you." Faith was now so set on controlling the situation that she no longer cared about the expense.
"You mean actually let her marry my brother? But every time I see her, I want to scream at her..." Emily muttered, hardly able to stomach the idea.
"Yeah, you guys have to play it smart. Act like you adore her and go out of your way to set her up with your brother. Once they're hitched, everything else will fall into place, won't it?" Faith said with a sudden smirk. "Think about it.: Oonce Diana's part of the family, you call the shots. Even if she can't stand it and divorces your brother, she'll be seen as a divorcee. And let's be honest, do you think Liam would go for a woman who's been married before?"
Hearing this, a lightbulb went off in Emily's head.
‘Of course!
This was the ultimate way to torment Diana.’
"The moment your brother gets sick of her, and Liam loses interest... if she's labeled a divorcee, all the decent guys will steer clear of her. We're guaranteeing our triumph!" Faith thought, her mood soaring with the cunning plan.
"You're absolutely right," Emily agreed, practically buzzing with excitement. "Faith, I'll do exactly as you suggested. About our little deal..."
"Don't worry. Once everything's settled, you'll get what's promised and then some. Otherwise, you're free to spill the beans to Liam."
"Great, I trust you. I'll call my family and my brother right now," Emily said without hesitation.
"Good. I trust you to handle this. Now it's up to you to deliver the results."
After a few more exciting exchanges, they ended the call. A cunning expression of triumph briefly flashed across Faith's eyes before she regained her composure and dialed Liam using her usual number.After a few more exhilarating exchanges, they hung up. A sly look of triumph flitted across Faith's eyes before she composed herself and dialed Liam using her regular number.
But she couldn't get through to Liam at all.
There was only one explanation.: Hhe had blocked her.
Not wanting to waste time, she simultaneously called Thomas while rushing to the offices of Evans Group.
"Faith, what's up?" Thomas had severed all dealings with the Coppola family, so it was clear why Faith was calling now.
Of course, Thomas had to play dumb.
"Thomas, I'm hoping to speak with Liam. Could you relay the message?" Faith asked, her voice unusually soft and submissive.
"I'm sorry, Faith, Liam's really tied up. He probably doesn't have time to meet with you. You might have to reach out to him directly if it's that urgent."
Knowing the current situation between Faith and Liam, Thomas was not about to set himself up by getting involved.
"Thomas..."
"Sorry, Faith, if there's nothing else, I should get back to work." Thomas cut her off before she could plead further, ending the call swiftly.
The loud dial tone blared in Faith's ear, and her frustration was close to boiling over. It felt like a slap in the face to be disrespected by someone like Finley, bold enough to hang up on her!The dial tone blared in Faith's ear, her frustration nearly reaching boiling point.
It felt like a slap in the face for her to be disrespected by someone like Finley. Bold enough to hang up on her!
But anger aside, business was business.
"Go, find out where Liam is right now," Faith instructed Finley, who stood by her side.
"Yes, Miss."
...
In the hotel room, after everything had settled, Diana lay on the bed, her complexion ashen.
At that moment, there was no trace of the joy that peaked during the heights of passion. Instead, she was overwhelmed by an unprecedented sense of humiliation.
Douglas was right; in the past, he was the one striving to please her, often going down on her, yet she had never done the same for him.
Today, he had forced her, pushing into her mouth and even finishing there.
Now, not only did her throat burn with pain, but she also felt a nauseating revulsion washing over her...
"Ugh!"
All of a sudden, Diana couldn't stop feeling sick. She covered her mouth, hurried to the bathroom, and slammed the door shut behind her, throwing up loudly.Suddenly unable to hold it back, Diana's stomach churned. She clamped a hand over her mouth, dashed to the bathroom, and, with a loud slam, locked the door behind her and retched violently.
Douglas lay in bed, the waves of pleasure inside him not yet fully subsided. But as he watched Diana rush for the bathroom and heard the sounds of her throwing up, the pleasure was gradually replaced by irritation and even anger.
They say that when two people truly love each other, they can accept everything about one another.
He could embrace all of Diana, but she couldn't do the same for him.
She didn't love him, not really. With him, she was merely basking in enjoyment, never contributing anything in return.
"Buzz—Buzz—Buzz—"
Suddenly, his phone on the sofa began to vibrate. Douglas got out of bed, picked it up, and saw it was a call from Emily.
