Chapter 377
"Is that so?" Liam scoffed, fixing a cold gaze on Diana. "And what does Brian have to do with what happened to Teresa last night?"
"Brian kidnapped Teresa. Her mother told me so," Diana replied with a steady calm.
Narrowing his eyes, Liam's lips curled into a faint smirk before extending his hand towards her.
Diana, staring at his outstretched hand, felt a surge of unease. Slowly, she handed back his phone to Liam.
Taking his phone, Liam flipped it open right in front of Diana, found Sophia's number, dialed it, and then put it on speakerphone.
Diana watched as Liam made the call, her face turning ashen with uncontrollable anxiety. Luckily, her makeup obscured the change in her complexion.
"Liam," Sophia's kind voice came through promptly.
"Sophia, I have a question for you," Liam said, locking eyes with Diana.
Diana tried to meet his stare, but the panic and fear in her eyes spilled out beyond her control.
"Yes, go ahead."
"Sophia, did Diana call you inquiring about Teresa? Did you tell her that someone named Brian kidnapped Teresa?" Liam asked bluntly.
As Liam said the words, Diana's courage to maintain eye contact crumbled; she lowered her head slowly.
"No, I didn't say that. I only told her that Teresa was kidnapped last night, she's at First Hospital, and she's suffering from temporary amnesia." Sophia paused for a moment on the phone before continuing, "Oh, right. I was going to advise her not to go to the hospital, but she seemed so worried about Teresa that she hung up abruptly."
"Okay, Sophia. Thank you. I got it," Liam responded, still fixated on Diana.
"Liam, what's going on? Why are you suddenly asking me these things?" Sophia's voice emanated confusion from the other end.
"Sophia, it's nothing. Diana went to the hospital at lunch and was late for work; I was just wondering," Liam found himself inexplicably lying to Sophia.
Diana, overhearing the conversation, looked up at Liam in surprise.
Could there be a twist in the tale?
"Alright, no hard feelings then! Diana was looking out for Teresa; don't hold it against her."
"Okay, I got it." After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Liam hung up the phone and, in the very next moment, ordered curtly, "Pull over."
At the command, the driver felt a chill run down his spine, so he immediately steered the car to the side of the road and stopped.
"Liam." Diana started.
"Get out!" Liam roared before Diana could finish her sentence, veins throbbing on his forehead.
He must have been blind to have fostered such a manipulative woman in his midst.
"Liam, listen." she tried again.
"Get out!" Liam's icy gaze cut her off. "Don't make me say it a third time."
Diana trembled with fear, but she didn't dare utter another word. Obediently, she turned around, opened the car door, and slowly stepped out.
As soon as she was out, the door slammed shut, and the car sped away, disappearing into traffic. Watching the black Bentley fade away, Diana's knees buckled, and she slumped down by the roadside, hugging herself tightly and curling into a ball.
It was over; this time, she was truly done for.
...
"Liam, can't you give me a chance to explain?"
After catching a cab back to the Evans Group, Diana hurried to Liam's office, desperate for his forgiveness.
But Liam didn't even glance at her sideways. Focusing on the documents in his hand, he said coldly, "The compensation check is on the coffee table. You're no longer an employee of the Evans Group. Take it and leave, and it's best if you never cross my path again."
"Liam, back in Jena, I got along well with Teresa and Brian. We even shared a few meals. I had no idea Brian was tracking Teresa to kidnap her if I had known..."
Thwack! Just as Diana tried to defend herself, Liam flung the stack of papers at her, barking, "Take your things and get out!"
His throw was so powerful that the papers hit Diana's forehead before fluttering to the floor.
Standing there, Diana was in shock. She stared at Liam, and deep in his eyes raged a fire like never before.
Since Teresa had married Gabriel, it seemed almost every hurt she suffered was somehow linked to him.
Yvonne, Lauren, and now Diana.
Diana had always been Teresa's most trusted confidante. How could she betray Teresa and cause her harm? Liam was so infuriated by the thought that he found himself struggling to suppress the desire to wring Diana's neck.
"Liam, I messed up!" Diana's eyes brimmed with tears as she faced him, the droplets eventually spilling over. "Please, give me another chance. I promise I won't do anything foolish again."
"Diana, let's have some self-respect here. I don't want to have to call security to kick you out," Liam said, his deep voice colder and tinged with heavy anger as he regarded her.
"Liam, remember what you said on that trip before the holidays? If I were willing, you'd take responsibility for me, be with me, announce our relationship publicly, and even marry me." Hiding her tears, Diana curled her lips into a faint smile as she regained her composed demeanor. "Have you forgotten all that, Liam?"
"Be your Vanessa?" Liam scoffed coldly, squinting at her. "Do you really think you're her equal, Diana?"
"Liam, I—"
"Shall I call someone in?" Liam cut her off, having lost any last shred of patience, his gaze hardening even further.
Diana was smart enough to realize that her position was beyond salvaging. After hesitating only for a moment, she finally said, "Fine, I'll leave. Take care, Liam."
With those words, she turned and walked away, maintaining her grace to the best of her ability.
Once out of Liam's office, Diana went back to her own to pack her things, only to discover that all her files and her computer tower had been cleared out.
They sure moved fast! Was Liam really that worried she might leak the Evans Group's secrets? she thought with a sneer of self-mockery.
It's true—Teresa owned the world. No matter how hard Diana tried, she couldn't win anything. If Brian had not held something over her head, she would never have gotten entangled with him again.
Moreover, she had no idea that Brian was so twisted. Not only had he kidnapped Teresa, but he had also tortured her to an unbearable extent. Had she known, she wouldn't have engaged in such a losing endeavor.
Now, would Liam forgive her if she explained everything to him?
...
