Chapter 161 The Uninvited Guest in the Ward
I was momentarily speechless, totally taken aback by Edward's rage and at a loss for words.
Edward kept yelling, "I've known Aria for over ten years. I know exactly what kind of person she is, and I don't need you spreading rumors about her. And if I find out you're dealing with Joshua again, don't expect any mercy from me."
I knew his threat wasn't aimed at me, but at Joshua. Edward had a well-worn tactic of menacing those around me rather than inflicting direct harm on me. I could ignore my own future, but I couldn't stand by and watch my friends get hurt because of me. Joshua and Lila were both important to me, and I couldn't let them be in danger.
I didn't want to argue with Edward anymore, so I said, "I'm tired. I need to rest now. Please leave."
Then I lay down and turned my face to the wall, ignoring him. Maybe Edward thought it was pointless, or maybe he had something urgent to do. He turned abruptly and stormed out, slamming the door behind him. The loud bang echoed in the room, hurting my ears.
After he left, I breathed a sigh of relief. Even though there's a saying, "The enemy of my enemy is my friend," I found it difficult to place any trust in Anne's sudden and inexplicable kindness. So, I stayed cautious around her.
I got out of bed to check the stuff she brought, just in case there was anything harmful to me or my baby. After going through everything, I found that all the items were genuinely good, which made me think a bit better of her.
With the phone in hand, the days became more bearable. I clutched it tightly, like a lifeline, and eagerly dialed Lila's number. The moment the call connected and I heard her familiar voice, I almost burst into tears.
I told her everything about being locked up by Aria. She was so shocked that her voice went up several octaves. "Diana, how could this happen? She actually locked you up for days. This is too dangerous; I can't even imagine it. If something happens to you, Edward definitely won't let her off the hook. It's terrifying!"
Lila's words tumbled out in a rapid torrent, the intensity of her emotions striking through the phone.
"So what are you going to do next?" Lila asked after calming down a bit.
I closed my eyes and shook my head in pain, feeling helpless. I said, "I don't know. The Howard family already knows I'm pregnant. They always value the family's reputation and interests above all else. In this situation, they definitely won't let me off easily."
Lila was silent for a moment, as if making a big decision, then asked me seriously, "Do you plan to divorce Edward or continue living with him? This is something you must consider, Diana."
I stared blankly out the window and responded, "My mind is a mess right now. I can't even think about that. I can only wait for the right opportunity to talk to Edward and hope to find a way out. And you know what? The doctor suspects that the nutritional supplements I was taking before had issues, which is why I couldn't get pregnant. I'm really confused right now, feeling like my life is completely out of control."
Just then, a crisp knock on the door broke the silence in the room. I quickly said to Lila, "Someone's here, I have to go." After saying that, I swiftly hung up the phone.
"Mrs. Diana Howard, is this your hospital room?" a gentle voice called out.
I looked up instinctively and saw Aria's sweet face. Her slightly upturned eyes had a natural gentleness, now seemingly filled with a friendly warmth.
I forced a smile and said, "Aria, come in."
I discreetly waved her in with my left hand while my right hand quietly moved toward the alarm button. If she tried anything, I'd press it without hesitation, and the nurses and bodyguards would be all over her. The thought of her possibly harming me sent a chill down my spine.
Aria walked in with the slow, cautious gait of a pregnant woman. She came to the bedside and sat down gently, every movement exuding elegance.
Aria and I got pregnant around the same time, but her belly looked much bigger than mine, and her whole body appeared fuller. It seemed she had been staying at the Howard Mansion, where she was being meticulously cared for. After all, she was carrying Edward's child; how could the Howard family neglect her?
She gently stroked her belly, a shy smile appearing on her face. "Look," she said, "my baby is kicking!"
I couldn't help but feel a wave of disdain, my lips curling into a faint, mocking smile as I looked at her. "Really? How long have you been pregnant? How can you feel such obvious movements so early?" I asked.
Aria's expression changed slightly but quickly returned to her gentle demeanor. "Well, every baby is different, you know. Mine just happens to be a bit more active."
I sneered inwardly but stayed composed on the surface. I said, "Maybe, but you're really lucky to have such an active baby."
With that, I leaned lazily against the headboard, a hint of disdain in my eyes.
Perhaps Aria found my sarcasm uninteresting. She remained silent for a long time before speaking with apparent determination. "Mrs. Diana Howard, I think you might have misunderstood me. I heard from Edward that you thought I locked you in the room."
I looked up and stared directly into her eyes. "Isn't that the case?" I asked.
Aria's eyes reddened, and she choked up. "I didn't know you were home at the time. I just saw the door ajar and closed it out of habit. I never thought this would cause so much trouble." She spoke sincerely, tears streaming down her face. "Mrs. Diana Howard, I really know I was wrong. This incident is my fault. I know you suffered a lot, and I feel very guilty."
Seeing her seemingly genuine demeanor, I tentatively asked, "Then why did you cut off the power to the room?"
She gently wiped her tears and sniffled before continuing, "At the time, I was just habitually considering safety. When I lived abroad, I experienced some terrible accidents caused by electrical negligence. So, when I realized the villa would be empty for a while, I instinctively turned off the main power without considering you were in the room. I really didn't do it on purpose. If I had known, I would never have done it!"
The Howard Villa was equipped with top-tier fire safety measures; it seemed absurd to shut off the main power for a brief vacancy. However, considering Aria's previous life in the chaotic and impoverished environment of Veridian, her behavior seemed somewhat understandable.
"Diana, will you forgive me?" Aria looked at me with tearful eyes, her gaze full of hope.
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