Chapter 352 Confessions Over a Feast: Love, Doubt, and Familial Obstacles
<Chapter> Chapter 352 Confessions Over a Feast: Love, Doubt, and Familial Obstacles</Chapter>
"While everybody else seems to be happy during the New Year's, you look a bit off. Something happened you haven't told me about?" Teresa observed Diana closely and asked.
Since Teresa had asked, Diana didn't beat around the bush. After all, she had taken the initiative to meet Teresa today because she needed help.
So, she nodded at Teresa and said, "Teresa, there is something. I really need your help."
"With us, there's no need for formalities. As long as it's within my power and it's not illegal or immoral, I'll definitely help you," Teresa promptly promised. She then pulled Diana to sit down, adding, "I'll have the staff start serving the dishes, and we can talk while we eat."
"Okay." Diana nodded, sitting down to play with Croissant while Teresa went to tell the waitstaff to bring out the food.
The dishes Teresa had ordered on her way were promptly brought to the table, a feast both lavish and exquisite.
Once all the dishes were on the table and the waitstaff had stepped away, Teresa served Diana some veggies, then started peeling shrimp for Croissant as she asked, "So, what's going on? Spill it."
Diana hesitated with her fork in hand, then laid bare her entire situation with Douglas.
"How come you never mentioned Douglas to us before?" Teresa was taken aback after hearing the story.
Diana and Douglas had been officially together for over a month, but Diana hadn't mentioned it to her friends until now.It had been over a month since Diana and Douglas officially became a couple, but Diana hadn't spoken about it in front of her friends before.
Diana took a bite of her meal, let out a wry smile, and said, "I guess I never envisioned a long-term future with Douglas. That's why I never brought it up with you guys."
"But from what you just told me, it seems Douglas treats you really well, and he genuinely loves you. Why don't you see a future with him?" Teresa, not hungry herself, continued to look after Diana's meal while she conversed.
"Firstly, it's the age difference. He hasn't even graduated college yet; he's too young. We're at different stages in terms of education and life experience." Diana paused, took a bite of her greens, and continued, "Secondly, Douglas's family will never accept me. His sister Emily and I had a falling out during our senior year of high school and haven't spoken since we graduated."
Teresa nodded in understanding.
Together, they faced the harsh reality that while age, education, and life experience might not hinder a relationship, family opposition could extinguish all passion, a truth she had learned from her past with Liam. The intense and terrifying animosity Yvonne held toward her due to her relationship with Liam was a constant reminder of this.If age, education, and life experience aren't barriers to a relationship, family opposition certainly can quash all passion—as she knew all too well from her past with Liam.
The animosity Yvonne held for her because of her relationship with Liam was both intense and terrifying.
"So, what do you need from me?" After all this discussion, Teresa still needed to be clearer on Diana's intentions.
Looking serious, Diana furrowed her brows. "Teresa, I want to break it off with Douglas; the sooner, the better."
Teresa put a rib on the plate for the enthusiastic little Croissant, who was busily nibbling away, allowing them to chat undisturbed.
Catching on, Teresa guessed, "You mean Douglas won't let you go? He's been threatening you."
"Yeah." Diana nodded, hesitated, and then confessed, "Before the holidays, something happened on a business trip with Liam, and Faith let it slip to Douglas."
"What happened?" Teresa asked curiously.
Diana understood that she had turned to Teresa for assistance, so it felt necessary to be completely honest. She knew Teresa wouldn't be surprised by her involvement with Liam, so she decided to reveal everything about what had transpired between them.Diana knew she had come to Teresa for help, so it was only right to lay everything on the table. After all, Teresa wouldn't bat an eye over her entanglement with Liam.
So, she spilled the beans about what had happened between her and Liam.
"Liam, he..." Teresa listened, a mix of surprise and irritation on her face. "Didn't he know you had a boyfriend?"
"He did."
"And he still..." Teresa sighed and rubbed her forehead, at a loss for words.
Before, Yvonne had drugged Liam and lured Diana to his apartment, leaving her unconscious on his bed. Liam, upon waking, had rather somewhat knocked himself out than layand then laid a finger on her.
It was a gesture that had touched and moved Diana deeply.
But what was going on with Liam now? He could have opted to go to the hospital or turned to any other woman. Why chase after Diana when she was already taken?
"Why didn't you reject him?" Teresa quickly pressed for an answer.
"I..." Diana caught Teresa's clear, earnest eyes, hesitated for two seconds, and then admitted, "Teresa, I haven't completely let go of Liam in my heart."
"So, what you want now is to avoid the tug-of-war between two men and break up with Douglas," Teresa inferred, gazing at Diana. "After you break up with Douglas, are you planning to be with Liam?"
"No, I haven't thought about being with Liam after Douglas. I want some peace, no strings attached, no one bothering me," Diana denied, furrowing her brows with frustration.
Seeing Diana in distress, Teresa exhaled deeply and said gently, "Diana, you and Liam had your time, but it led nowhere. Are you sure you won't get hurt again?"
Diana was a grown woman, wise to the world. Teresa knew that she didn't need a to remind herer.
"Teresa, I'm not planning to be with Liam. I want to end things with Douglas. It's clearer than ever that we have no future," Diana said with conviction.
"So, what do you need from me?" Since Diana had her mind made up, Teresa was willing to help.
"Teresa, can you talk to Douglas for me? Can you help us part on good terms?" Diana looked at Teresa earnestly, reaching out to hold her hand in a pleading gesture.
She couldn't bring herself to read any more messages from Douglas. Despite this, he kept sending her texts and calling her every day. He even waited for her outside the Evans Group building after work.She couldn't stand to glance at a message from Douglas anymore. However, Douglas persisted, bombarding her with texts and calls every day and waiting for her outside the Evans Group building when her workday ended.
She was at her wit's end.!
"Diana, are you sure about this? Have you thought it through?" Teresa asked in a serious tone, wanting to confirm her decision one more time.
"Yep." Diana nodded with determination. "Please do this for me."
"AlrightAll right," Teresa agreed without hesitation. "I'll help you, but I need to think carefully about what's best for both you and Douglas."
Hearing Teresa's reassuring words, Diana's face broke into a grateful smile. "Thank you, Teresa."
Teresa returned her smile. "Keep an eye on Croissant for me. I'll be right back from the restroom."
"Okay." Diana nodded.
"Sweetie, play nice with your godmother. Mommy will be right back from the potty." Teresa gently reminded the little one before getting up.
The toddler grinned and nodded. "Okay, Mommy goes potty, baby will be good."
Teresa smiled and headed out of the private room towards the ladies' room.
Just after she entered the restroom, a female janitor with a cleaning cart made her way into the same room.
