Chapter 104 Diana's Confusion
"But that's not what he said to me" I retorted. Edward looked like he'd seen a ghost; he didn't think I'd met that man before.
He stared at me, wide-eyed, and asked, "Who told you that? Was it Joshua or Nolan?"
"No, the guy himself told me," I said, keeping my cool.
"Have you met him?" Edward's eyes were full of doubt, like he was trying to read my mind.
I nodded slightly and said in a low voice, "He came to see me after he got out of prison and spilled everything."
Edward suddenly got all worked up. His face turned red, and he yelled, "Diana! He came to see you, and you didn't tell me? Why are you hanging out with such a dangerous guy?" His voice echoed through the room.
Then, as if something clicked, Edward's eyes turned cold, and he asked, "Did you only meet him once?"
I nodded again, fear and helplessness flickering in my eyes, and said slowly, "He followed me and asked me to help him find Anne. He said Anne told him to kidnap and rape me so I'd feel humiliated and couldn't stay as Mrs. Howard. Someone could then take advantage of the situation." I didn't mention Anne's name directly, hoping Edward would get the hint.
"But his crew messed up. They kidnapped Anne instead of me. I told him to stop making mistakes, and he promised he wouldn't go after Anne again or deal with her. But I don't know why he showed up today." I knew Edward was aware of Anne's past schemes to frame me and the Howard family. Given today's events, it was clear Anne wasn't entirely out of the picture.
Edward's face grew darker as he listened, a deep frown etching lines of thought across his features. "So," he murmured, "you know everything?"
I couldn't tell what he was thinking, but I felt his inner turmoil. The room felt heavy, like the air was thick and hard to breathe.
I stood up. "Yeah, I know everything. Do you still want to patch things up with me now?"
Edward looked at me cautiously. "What do you mean?" he asked.
"I mean I know all the dirty stuff Anne's done. You should understand why I've been arguing with you lately. Do you still want to make up with me?" I asked honestly.
A tear slid down Edward's cheek. He looked at me with intense eyes and said, his voice breaking a bit, "Diana, I want to be with you, not because of Anne or anyone else. I really like you. I've realized I can't live without you. I want you to be Mrs. Howard forever."
"And I've already sent Anne abroad. She won't come back unless necessary. She won't bother us anymore. You'll be the only Mrs. Howard of the Howard Group," Edward said, like it was no big deal.
I was shocked and asked, "Why did you send her abroad?" This time, Edward looked surprised.
"I sent her abroad. Aren't you happy? Isn't this what you wanted?" He frowned, looking confused.
I laughed bitterly, feeling a mix of bitterness and helplessness, but said nothing more. Was this what I wanted? Of course not. I had spent so much time and effort gathering all the dirt on Anne, getting ready to sue her and make her pay for what she did. But now, Edward had shipped her off abroad. Sure, she wouldn't bother me anymore, but I lost my chance to take her to court.
In the end, Edward didn't do it for me; he did it to protect Anne. He was calculative and strategic, ensuring that his beloved sister remained beyond the reach of justice. I started regretting telling him everything about the evidence Theo helped me gather. If I hadn't spilled the beans, maybe Edward wouldn't have rushed to send Anne away, and I'd still have a shot.
Seeing me quiet, Edward cut the steak for me. But looking at it, I felt a wave of annoyance and had no appetite. My mind was ensnared by thoughts of Anne's escape, the lost opportunity to take her to court, and Edward's murky motives. His actions really puzzled me. I used to think he was genuine with me, but now I was super disappointed. I started wondering if our relationship could go on and how many more letdowns were in store. Right now, I felt lost, like I was wandering in a fog with no clear direction.
Noticing I hadn't touched my food, Edward checked his gold watch. "Diana, I have another surprise for you later. Want to see it?" he asked.
Seeing him trying so hard to please me, I felt a mix of guilt and warmth. I nodded. "Okay, I'll go with you."
His face lit up. He took my hand. "Wait for me. I'll just hit the bathroom, and then we'll go." His eyes sparkled like stars, making it seem like nothing had happened. He reached out and gently pinched my waist, the spontaneous intimacy sending a wave of warmth through my heart.
I had to admit, as long as Edward treated me a bit better, I'd fall for him. Just like he said about his feelings for me, a little kindness from me, and he couldn't help himself.
I had heard that many young couples lost their spark soon after getting married, looking for excitement elsewhere instead of with each other. Compared to that, even though Edward and I argued and fought, we still had strong feelings for each other. Wasn't that a kind of love too?
Edward had dismissed the butler and servants, leaving me alone in this big room. With nothing else to do, I glanced around and decided to review the contract. If everything was good, it would be smart to sign it early and avoid any complications.
As I stared at the contract before me, my heart fluttered with a multitude of conflicting emotions. I had always wanted to sell the Cooper Group's shares, but now that it was time to sign, I felt a deep reluctance. This company was my parents' lifelong effort, and their lives had ended because of it. What I once wanted to escape from now felt like a sharp knife in my heart. It would hurt to keep it, but it would hurt even more to let it go.
I knew that signing the contract would mean severing any ties with the Cooper Group. My initial plan was to sell the Cooper Group and completely cut ties with Edward, then find a way to buy it back. But now, it seemed I couldn't cut ties with Edward. If I sold the Cooper Group, apart from the $80 million I got from the lawsuit, I would have nothing left. So should I still sell the shares?
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
