Chapter 11 Remember Your Identity
After the "storm" blew over, I snuggled under the covers, my face burning with embarrassment.
Edward cupped my cheeks with both hands, and the moment our eyes met, it felt like I believed in love again.
"Honey, do you love me?" I couldn't help but ask the silly question that all women want to know the answer to.
Edward was taken aback, and I knew the answer. Yet, my body instinctively clung to him.
"Wow, who knew Mrs. Howard had such moves?" he smirked. "You enjoyed it too, right?"
Edward cupped my cheeks and moved my face closer to his lower body.
I reached out my index finger to tease it. His body tensed up, but he tried hard to restrain himself.
Since I married Edward four years ago, our marital home has housed three people: Edward, Anne, and me. To consider Anne's feelings, our lovemaking sessions have been few and far between. The few times we did, it was always initiated by me. Now that I had asked for a divorce, Edward was uncharacteristically taking the initiative.
I wasn't going to pass up this rare opportunity. Love might be absent, but I could at least have this.
I moved closer to Edward, my lips pressing against his. His Adam's apple bobbed as he continued to restrain his pleasure.
I used my tongue to pry open his teeth. Edward chuckled, gently tilted his head, and bit my tongue, followed by another round of passionate lovemaking.
Edward's lips tightly enveloped mine, and I couldn't pull away, so I intensified my hand movements. Edward flipped over, pinning me beneath him.
After a bout of passion, my body was completely limp, and my legs couldn't stop trembling. Edward carried me into the bathtub while he stood under the shower to wash himself.
I tilted my head up, my gaze level with his lower body.
I couldn't help but whine, "Honey, my legs are so sore. Can you massage them for me?"
I extended my beautiful legs out of the bathtub, hoping for a massage.
Edward swatted my legs away, his voice mixed with the sound of water, making it hard to hear clearly. He said, "Diana, you already have the title of Mrs. Howard. Don't concern yourself with matters of the heart."
The steamy water made it hard to see Edward's face clearly. Despite his gentle tone, I felt no warmth, only a bit of harshness.
Edward did a lot for the Cooper Family. Since our marriage, I had never brought any benefits to the Howard Family. Edward, on the other hand, had been unreserved in his support for the Cooper Family's business.
He wasn't an unapproachable rich kid, nor was he a spoiled brat. Edward was a good person, but he wasn't a good husband.
My heart felt as cold as the snow on a mountain, yet there was still a hint of reluctance.
I retracted my legs into the bathtub. Was I asking for too much?
Edward said, "This was the most satisfying time for me. As long as Anne isn't around, I'll make love to you."
"Can't we do it when Anne is around? Regular sex is not only good for health but also promotes marital harmony."
"Diana!" Edward's expression told me that things between him and Anne were far from simple!
"I've pleased you so much; don't you like it?" I cast aside my reservations, trying to communicate with Edward on his terms.
Edward stood still, remaining silent. He bent down to look at me in the bathtub, making me feel a bit uneasy.
"Anne is still young. Don't let her be exposed to these things so early." Edward's explanation was unconvincing.
"Then have Anne move back to the Howard Mansion!" My tone grew urgent, not realizing the change in Edward's expression.
"Enough, Diana! You're in no position to make demands," he said coldly. "And for the record, I was drugged at that party tonight. Don’t get any ideas." He wrapped a towel around himself and left.
Tears streamed down my face, and as I cried, I began to laugh. Indeed, men could separate sex and love. That night, Edward made love to me repeatedly, making me think he had feelings for me. But Edward wouldn't even lie to comfort me in bed.
What am I to Edward?
I texted Edward: [Let's get a divorce!]
I wasn't going to reconsider. There would be no turning back.
In the enclosed space, there were two seconds of silence before the notification sound broke it. Edward said coldly, "Okay, don't regret it."
I lowered my head numbly. I knew I had lost the battle with Anne.
Perhaps Anne was the most important person to Edward. I was just a tool for him to vent when he was being manipulated.
So be it. It was time for me to leave.
When I woke up, the sky was already bright. I stood quietly at the entrance of the Howard Villa. The sunlight on my back couldn't dispel the gloom in my heart. I had lived here for four years, and now it was time to leave.
At some point, Melissa came over with a bowl of medicinal soup.
"Mrs. Howard, drink the medicine. Clara said to drink it after making love. You and Mr. Howard should have your own baby."
"Forget it." I shook my head. "Take it away."
Melissa shook her head, seemingly a bit helpless.
"By the way, Melissa, bring down the luggage I asked you to prepare last time."
Melissa looked like she wanted to say something but went upstairs anyway.
On my eighteenth birthday, my dad gave me an apartment as a gift. It wasn't big, but it was in a prime location in the city.
I looked up at the sky, and it seemed like there was a face hidden in the distant clouds. "Dad, I'm moving back to the apartment you prepared for me."
I was grateful that my dad had prepared a small apartment for me before I got married. It would be my refuge from now on.
I drove the car out of the garage, and Melissa was already waiting at the door with my suitcase.
"Mrs. Howard, you must take me with you once you're settled!" Melissa said reluctantly as she helped me put the suitcase in the car. I nodded and started the car. As I drove out of the villa gates, I received a call from my mom, Mia Taylor.
"Diana, I need to ask you a favor!" Mia's voice was filled with anxiety.
"Mom, what's wrong?" I asked.
Mia said nervously, "A serious cash flow issue has arisen within the company. Right now, the shareholders are all gathering outside my office, and I really can't handle it anymore!"
"How did this happen?" I pulled the car over to the side of the road.
"The project is finally over, but the client is refusing to the final installment. Some nonsense about the packaging, the color not being an exact match. They're just trying to bully us."
"Please ask Edward to help us get the payment settled. The company desperately needs that money!" Mia said urgently.
I was silent for a moment before speaking slowly, "Mom, I'm planning to divorce Edward."
Mia exploded upon hearing this, shouting, "What? Divorce? Diana, are you trying to kill me? How can you be so irresponsible and disobedient? Edward can help us solve big problems, and you're talking about divorce!"
"Mom, this is my life, and I have my own choices," I said, and my voice grew louder.
"What are your choices? Can they help the company navigate through this crisis? Can they prevent our family from falling into hardship?" Mia shouted.
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