Chapter 75

Almost a month had gone by, and there was no change in Juan's condition. It was not only his health but also Diona’s state that worried Heather.
Her cousin stood by his side, not leaving him alone for a single second. It had been really challenging for her to make her take a break and get time for herself, but her cousin had sworn to dedicate her entire time to Juan and help him get better.
Although Heather was deeply worried about her cousin, at the same time, she was also humbled by her reaction towards him. Even though she wanted to confront her feelings towards Juan through words, her actions spoke a million words.
Diona's action towards him was not love; it could not be anything else.
“You love him,” she stated as she entered Juan's chambers, where Diona was quietly sitting on the bed, facing him.
“I no longer sustain the energy to deny or fight it anymore.” She quietly replied.
“Then why were you in the first place? Did you first meet him after you caused my amnesia, or were the two of you well acquainted before that?” Heather could not help but ask.
She had been curious throughout the time they had returned, but Diona had punished herself in the world of silence, where she hardly spoke.
Her initial days were spent in complete worry about Juan, and she had no other thoughts or words to speak unless it was about him. Steadily, as time passed, Diona refused to speak completely, and the only response anyone was rewarded with was through her silent, tearful gaze and Juan.
“It was after your amnesia that I met Juan. The alliance with Diadems was a must, but Alexander had disappeared. So Diadem’s asked Juan to portray him as his elder brother.”
“But you already knew the truth, did you not?” Heather looked intently at her sibling.
“I certainly did. I did not lose my memories, but everyone else did. Still, I played along. It was supposed to be a ruse, but I should have known better. One cannot just not love this man.” Diona had tears in her eyes as she stroked Juan’s cheeks.
“Juan is certainly a good man. One of the best I have been honored to know,” Heather nodded.
“So, you will not hurt him, right? You will not punish him for my and his family’s mistake?"
“Diona, I am not a bad person here. I am still the same cousin you knew. I could never hurt him. Unlike a few of the others, he has always stood beside me and supported me. And Juan is a good person. After all, he did come to save your life.”
“He should not have. He should not be suffering for my mistakes.”
“I am sure that he would have something else to say on that. He would have been tormented if you were in his position rather than him.”
“It is still not fair. Juan is completely innocent here. He repeatedly told me that I should not marry Alexander as he would never love me, but I did not listen. I did not have a choice. I had to break his heart. I did everything in my power to hide my feelings for him, make him abhor me, and yet here we are.”
“I always sensed that something was off the moment I saw the two of you interact.”
“You always had a good sense.” Diona chuckled.
“Not always. I have made a grave mistake. I have trusted the wrong, and I do not intend to repeat my mistake.” Heather's tone was suddenly firm.
“Alexander did not want to betray you. Not by choice,” Diona finally said.
“I do not wish to listen to anything on this matter, cousin. Even though most of them believe Alexander's adoration for me and your alliance with his elder brother were not suitable, it does not change anything on that subject. So, I do not wish to have a conversation on his subject. Never again.” Heather did not have the energy to put her trust in him again.
“You should listen to me. Just this once. I know that I should have told you this sooner, the moment we came here, but I was not in the correct state of mind. I still am not, but you need to know the truth. Especially about Alexander and his ever-lasting love for you.” Diona stated.
She felt guilty about the things she had done, but she knew that she could no longer run away from the truth.
“No words of yours could change my mind about him, Diona,” Heather said. It would be false to say that she did not fear the truth.
“Yet, I strongly believe that you need to learn about the other side of the story. His story. Alexander never wanted to marry me. Contessa Diadem blackmailed him with your life. She knew that was the sole way for him to get married to me, and that was the reason for Alexander's acceptance of this alliance. It was only for convenience, and until the time he gained access to his power, it was the only way for him to secure your life.”
“Access to his power? I do not comprehend.” Diona had her full attention.
“Yes, his powers. You do remember four ways for the heir to become the king of the realm?” Diona asked her sister.
"I do.” Heather nodded.
Those four ways were engraved in her mind.
“So, marrying me was the means to the end. And that end was you. When Alexander realized that he did not have much choice left but to marry me, he came to meet me. He clearly told me that the marriage would be temporary, and once he gained his power, he would do everything to get you back and give you your well-deserved place. He even gave me multiple opportunities to back out and break the alliance, but I could not. I did not have the choice, but neither did he, so we came to a truce about getting married for convenience.”
“He did?”
“Yes. Honestly, I did not expect less. I always knew that Alexander would go back to you one way or another. You might not believe me, but I was glad that you showed up at the right moment and stopped our alliance. It may not have been under suitable circumstances, but only you had the power to do that and save both of us from misery. It was only you who could have helped me out of the mess.”
“Why?” Heather was deeply confused. How is she connected to everything, and what mess was Diona tangled in?
“You know why, Heather. It may not look like it, but you are not the only victim here.” Diona's eyes reflected hurt.