Chapter 152 Something More Important Than Divorce
The second I walked into the traffic police department, I bumped right into Joshua, who was just heading out.
"Diana, it's only been a few days, but you look exhausted!" he said, looking at me with surprise. He had no clue about my pregnancy or my plans to get a divorce.
A wave of conflict hit me. Knowing how much he cared about me, I couldn't bring myself to tell him all the messy and awful stuff going on, so I decided to keep it under wraps.
"I caught a cold and had a little accident, so I ended up like this." I forced a smile, trying to make it sound casual. Then I asked, "Joshua, what brings you to the traffic police department?"
Joshua scratched his head, his brow furrowing a bit. "There's a case tied to a recent traffic accident, so I came to get some info." As he spoke, something seemed to click, and his eyes lit up. "I think I mentioned this case to you before," he said.
I thought for a moment and asked, "Is it the international fraud case you told me about last time?"
Joshua nodded. "Yeah, that's the one."
He paused, looking serious. "By the way, did you know the Howard family once helped a little girl who lost her parents?"
I nodded. "Yeah, I know a bit about it."
Joshua's expression grew even more serious. "You need to warn your family. That little girl is back in the country, and she's part of that international fraud ring."
I was shocked. "Are you saying she's a criminal?"
Joshua quickly corrected me. "We can't say she's a criminal yet. Until the case is closed, we call them suspects."
Hearing this, I felt my heart sink, and a sense of dread washed over me. If Aria was a suspect in the fraud ring, why would she have a child with Edward? Was she trying to drag the Howard family down with her? Despite all the issues between Edward and me, I didn't want the Howard family to face a disaster. The Howard family held too many memories and bonds for me to just let go.
I quickly asked Joshua, "What are they trying to scam?"
Joshua shook his head. "What I've told you is already sensitive info. I can't say more. Just be careful."
After thanking Joshua, I went to handle the car retrieval and then drove straight to Stellar Legal Advisors. On the way, my mind kept replaying the potential crises the Howard family might face, and I grew more anxious and torn.
When I got to Stellar Legal Advisors, I saw Lila and quickly told her the shocking news. She asked, "What? Are you saying Aria is part of a criminal gang?" Her eyes widened in disbelief.
After a moment, she smirked, taking on a gossipy tone. "This is interesting. A fraudster pregnant with the Howard family's heir. Hayden won't let that child be born, right? If that's the case, your child would still be the only heir of the Howard family."
I instinctively touched my belly, frowning, as if asking myself or the baby, "How should I tell Edward? Will he believe me?"
Lila heard my muttering and said nonchalantly, "Just tell him straight. You're doing it for his own good, not to hurt him."
I sighed and looked at her. "You've been a lawyer for so long, how could you forget that everything needs evidence? I only heard this from Joshua, and I don't know the details. If I tell Edward like this, will he believe me? I need to find a better way."
I paced around the office, hesitating for a while before finally deciding to call Edward.
I was worried, unsure if Edward would even pick up. Past experiences told me he probably wouldn't. But this time, the phone rang for just a few seconds before he answered.
"Remember you have a husband?" Edward's tone was accusatory, but there was a hint of unexpected joy.
I was taken aback and ignored his words, saying directly, "Edward, I have something important to tell you today."
Before I could finish, he interrupted, "If it's about the divorce, don't bother. I won't agree to it."
I was so angry at his words that I laughed. "Do you think the only reason I would contact you is for a divorce? There's something much more important than that."
"What is it?" Edward sounded intrigued.
Sensing his interest, I decided to keep him in suspense. "Let's talk in person," I said.
"Where are you?" Edward asked, his voice instantly turning cold.
I didn't want him to know I was at Stellar Legal Advisors, as it might cause trouble for Lila's business, so I told him I was at a nearby mall.
There was a moment of silence on the other end, then his voice came through, "Alright, wait there. I'll be there in twenty minutes."
Edward arrived quickly. I had just reached the mall entrance when I saw the business car he had bought for me slowly approaching.
He didn't get out of the car; he just rolled down the window, revealing his stern face. His eyes were deep and complex, and he said, "Get in."
I stood outside the car, took a deep breath to muster my courage, and then got in the car. The atmosphere inside the car was tense, and Edward's unique cologne filled the small space. It was a scent I was once very familiar with, each whiff unlocking memories that were both sweet and bitter.
As soon as I sat down, he quickly leaned in like a beast, startling me. I instinctively shrank back, clutching my purse protectively over my belly, like a mother animal guarding her young, afraid of any harm to the baby inside.
"Edward, what are you doing?" I glared at him, my voice filled with anger and fear.
"What am I doing? I'm your husband; what do you think I'm doing?" He smirked, his tone flippant and his face full of a devil-may-care attitude, though a complex emotion flickered in his eyes. He didn't seem to care about my anger, acting according to his own whims. He grabbed my purse and tossed it onto the seat beside me. Then, he leaned in closer, his breath hot on my face, carrying his domineering scent.
I struggled hard, pushing against his chest, trying to push him away, but he was too strong. His lips brushed against my cheek, and his hands began to wander. My resistance seemed to him more like a game of cat and mouse, which made me even more anxious and angry. However, as his actions continued, those once familiar feelings began to resurface, and my resistance started to wane, my movements becoming less forceful.
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