Chapter 146 Tit for Tat
"Diana, I've missed you so much," Clara said, squeezing me tight, her voice brimming with joy.
I forced a smile and said, "Clara."
Clara let go and held my hand, looking me over. "You don't look so good. Have you been overdoing it?"
I gently pulled my hand away, avoiding her eyes. "Maybe I just didn't sleep well."
She looked worried for a split second but quickly perked up. "Diana, are you still mad at Edward? You need to take care of yourself. Tonight, let's just have a family night and chill."
She led me inside, holding my hand. As we walked, I glanced around the Howard Mansion, feeling both at home and like a stranger. In the kitchen, Melissa and some of the Howard family's staff were busy. In the living room, Anne and Aria were lounging around, with Aria doing Anne's nails, looking all cozy and sisterly.
Watching them, I couldn't help but roll my eyes. Their acting was Oscar-worthy. Just then, Aria looked up and saw me. She stood up with a sweet smile and said, "Mrs. Diana Howard."
I nodded in response as a form of greeting. After all, she greeted me first, and it would be rude not to. But Anne acted like I was invisible, admiring her freshly done nails with a smug look.
Seeing me staring at Anne, Aria, trying to break the tension, said, "I'm doing Anne's nails."
I glanced at Aria's plain fingers and asked casually, "Why didn't you do yours too?"
She looked a bit flustered and lowered her head, blushing slightly. "I don't like doing my nails anymore," she mumbled.
I pretended to get it and nodded, then changed the topic. "Where's Hayden?"
At that moment, Anne, like she just noticed me, snorted and snapped, "If it weren't for you, Dad wouldn't be so sick. How dare you ask?" Her glare made me feel like a criminal in the Howard family.
Aria quickly chimed in, "Mr. Howard is resting in the bedroom. He just got out of the hospital and is still weak. He'll come down for dinner."
Anne's bossy attitude was super annoying, but Aria's submissive act made me feel bad for her. I didn't want to argue with Anne, so I plopped down on the other side of the couch and started messing with my phone.
After a while, Anne finally finished admiring her nails. She sauntered over to me, swaying her hips. "Edward didn't come back. Are you disappointed?" she asked.
I snapped back to reality, realizing Edward wasn't there. I snorted and shrugged, "I think you're the one who's disappointed. Don't project your feelings onto me."
Anne looked like I'd slapped her, her face twisted with anger, lips trembling, but she couldn't get a word out. Finally, she turned on her heel and stomped upstairs, each step echoing loudly.
Seeing Anne so pissed, Aria quickly followed her, grabbing her arm. "Anne, Mrs. Diana Howard was just joking. Don't be mad."
But Anne shook off Aria's hand like it was poison. "Stop pretending to be nice. I don't need your concern!"
Just a moment ago, they were all buddy-buddy, but now the tension was thick. I thought Aria might snap, but she just kept that gentle smile. "Okay, I won't bother you. Go to your room and calm down, rest for a bit."
I had to hand it to Aria; her patience was something else. She seemed so gentle and fragile, but if she ever got serious, Anne wouldn't stand a chance. I just couldn't figure out why she put up with Anne's crap.
By dinner time, Edward was still MIA. Hayden, with Aria's help, took his place at the head of the table. He looked surprisingly healthy and energetic, not like someone who'd just been seriously ill. Maybe his health wasn't as bad as Clara made it out to be, and she just wanted him to stay in the hospital longer.
When Hayden saw me, his eyes lit up, and he gave me a warm smile. "Diana, I'm really glad you came back today. You, Aria, and Anne are all very important to the Howard family. You must stick together to keep the family stable. When the women in the family are united, we men can focus on our work without worries. Especially Edward, who's achieved so much at a young age. Diana, as his wife, you need to support him and be a good, capable partner. Do you understand?"
His lecture annoyed me to no end. Edward and I were getting divorced; his career had nothing to do with me. But I didn't want to make a scene, especially since the delicious smell of Melissa's cooking was making my mouth water. So, I just said, "I see, Dad," while my eyes drifted to the table full of food.
Weirdly, even though I used to love Melissa's cooking, today, nothing looked appetizing. Maybe it was because I caught a cold from the rain yesterday. Everyone could tell I wasn't feeling great.
Clara asked, concerned, "Diana, are you sick?"
I nodded. "Just a bit of a cold, nothing serious."
Anne, of course, had to make a fuss. "You caught a cold and came to infect us? Are you trying to make Dad sick again now that he's recovered?"
I didn't expect Anne to use my cold against me and was momentarily speechless.
Aria quickly stepped in, smiling at me. "Mrs. Diana Howard, Anne's probably just worried about Mr. Howard's health, not targeting you. Let's eat."
Seeing Aria defend me, Anne couldn't sit still. She slammed the table and stood up, pointing at Aria. "Aria, stop pretending to be nice."
Then she turned to me. "Diana, don't think you can do whatever you want just because she's speaking up for you. You should stay away from us if you have a cold. What are you up to? If Dad gets sick because of you, can you take responsibility?"
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