THE b***h

Chapter Seven: " WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON, DIANA?"

She had been standing for almost an hour,behind her bedroom window. Her eyes on the mansion next door,in all it,s elegance and style it stood above the rest,like a mountain.

It,s glory shone like the sun,enough to blind the eyes. It threatened her in every way she could think of.

There was still an unquenchable thirst coming deep within her,it was ravaging her whole,as she stood behind the window that cold night,or probably morning for the alarm clock had been ringing for thirty minutes now and she didn't bother to turn it off. It was all playing in her head, last night dinner.

"Mom" Christian called, bringing her back to reality. She realised she had been dreaming of things she could have,or what she should have and what she didn't have. "You should be mindful of things around you" Christian said as he walked to the bed to turn off the clock.

She glanced at him quickly,and back.

"I didn't mean to harm her, Ma" He said,his head bent, right leg kicking the foot of the bed,hands behind his back and his voice sounded like he was searching for words to say. Just like his father. "I just didn't want to worry you" He continued.

"Is Joy up?,get ready,I am taking you both to school"

Getting into the driver's seat, Amore slide the ear pods on her ears, without connecting it to her phone,she started the car and drove out of the garage. She glanced severally at the rear view mirror and caught a stare from Joy,startled,she looked forward,fixing her eyes on the road. It was the very first time in sixteen years that she was taking them to school,or having to speak to them,but she couldn't help it,she was their mother and they had to deal with it, even though they feel awkward around her.

"I don't know" Joy began. "Why are you taking us to school,it isn't in your nature?" She said,with an unmistakable sarcasm in her voice. Christian glared at her,warning her with his eyes to shut up,but she ignored him.

",Did you suddenly had a change of heart because of what happened with William?"

"What happened yesterday?" Christian was suddenly curious,turning to his mother,she increased speed, avoiding their questions.

"Why did you skip dinner, why did Mom suddenly lock you up ?"

"Joy,that,s enough" Christian said,he was careful not be too loud.

"That silly story about you falling sick was way too outdated,why did you skip dinner ?"

"Mom,why did you not want Christian to be present at dinner,are you scared he will grow up to be like uncle Lucas?"

"Joy. stop" Christian shouted and Amore increased speed again, infuriating Joy.

"We all know Christian killed a woman,what?,who do you think you are Mom,to control our lives,I wished you were dead instead of Dad"

Amore pressed the brake and bowed her head for a few seconds on the wheel,turning to the kids,she frowned deeply and sighed.

",I am your mother,you don't like it?,then bad for you,you can't change it and even though you don't like it,we are a family and we will always be family,and be quiet"

"She is sorry, Mom"

"I said,be quiet!!" Amore glowered,she sped off.

She wasn't the best of drivers, because she was so fond of overtaking cars and ad she drove in anger,the kids were scared, especially Joy who watched in horror as her mother drove madly, overtaking cars and violating traffic rules,with a police car following them, Amore swore,cursing even, forgetting for the first time who she was.

While the devil seemed to have gotten into Amore,an angel was in Diana Han,a high-spirited one at that. She had just been given a credit card with unlimited access,to buy what she needed and she was determined to spend so much from it. Besides it wasn't her being a gold digger,she was only being paid to live in this sham marriage.

Staring at her engagement ring,she pulled out the card from her back,as the driver came to a stop at a popular cloth store. Stepping out,she was surprised at what she saw. Two bodyguards were standing by a car,next to her's, waiting for her,she never expected them to follow her.

"On whose orders?" She asked, directing her questions to them.

"Bryan instructed us to escort you" One replied,then adding,he said. "For your protection"

Rolling her eyes,she walked into the place. It was a bit crowded with people,but what she noticed was that they were mostly couples,though some were friends,but she was shipping alone,and it wasn't nice at all.

Picking dresses here and there,and jewelries and shoes,she picked what she knew would be enough for her for the main time, meanwhile making sure everyone know how much she was buying.

She picked a simple but beautiful spotty dress,and she wanted to try it out. In the dressing room,she pulled out what she was wearing and began to fit into the dress, when someone suddenly appeared into the room,she shrieked and heard the guard shout from behind the dark curtains.

"Are you alright, miss"

"No" She said, breathlessly. sighing,she continued. "My skin got cut up between the zip of the dress"

"Do you need help?" The store assistant asked.

"No,thank you,I am fine on my own"

Having dispelled all suspicions from the guard that she was in danger,she turned to the mysterious person who wasn't actually mysterious but was Mikayla,herself.

"What are you doing here?" She asked.

"I needed to talk to you,but since I couldn't get your contact...."

"You could have asked Lucas for it"

"And get killed?"

"What?"

"I want you to meet someone,but we can't let your escorts know that we are leaving together,or they won't let us"

"We could take the back,the way you got in"

"Yes I know that"

Leaving the store was not hard, but Diana was still thinking about it,she was in a state where she wouldn't know what was wrong or right,who was with her or against her,and she definitely needed to choose who to stick with.

She only had her phone with her,she had left the card with the bodyguard,so whatever she would need,she would have to call Lucas for it.

Valerie Tan waited at a table for them,upon seeing them,she stood up. They walked to her and Mikayla introduced them.

"Valerie, meet Diana Han"

"We have already met" Valerie cut in, smiling,but Diana didn't smile, thousands of thoughts going through her head.

"We should order" Valerie suggested as she waved at the waiter at a nearby table, who almost ran to her,as if she was someone important.

"Pineapple and green smoothie" Valerie and Mikayla said together,waiting for Diana.

"Avocado and blueberry smoothie"

As the waiter disappeared into a room, Valerie turned to Diana, bracing her self for what she was about to say,and the effect it would have on Diana.

Lucas frowned, deepening his brows, when he heard from Bryan that Diana was missing from the store. Bryan looked at him for what to do,because he was as confused as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs and he knew nothing of that crazy woman,only Lucas would know where the little one ran off to.

"It is Mikayla" Lucas said staring back. "Get the hunters to find her"

"And the price?"

"A million"

Bryan,s eyes widened,but he looked away. It wasn't his business how Lucas deals with his business,as long as he doesn't get himself in trouble,and he knows that Lucas knows how the hunters were always after money,it never seemed to satisfy their thirst. But they will find Diana in less than an hour,with just a picture of her,or her description they would eventually find her.

"Your life is in danger,staying with those people, Diana" Valeria said and Mikayla nodded. "Mikayla can testify to how cruel they can get"

Diana was silent, probably thinking,but she turned away and saw a woman,at a table pointing a phone in her direction,it seemed the woman was taking photos of her. instinctively, Valerie Tan stood up and walked to the other table and questioned the girl,seizing her phone and forcing her to walk back to their table.

"Who sent you?" Valerie growled.

"Give me back my phone" The girl shouted, unashamedly.

"Are you going to call the police if I don't?"

"You bet,I will"

"I wonder who birthed you,for you to be so impudent" Valerie scowled.

"What,s your business,you wretch"

"Who asked you to take pictures?"

"I was paid to look for Diana Han, satisfied?"

Valerie Tan and Mikayla turned simultaneously to Diana,but her eyes was fixed,out of the restaurant,her expression was far away,and they followed her gaze. Outside the restaurant,was Lucas Chua, standing besides a black Roll Royce.

Diana turned her gaze to the two women and the disrespectful girl,who wasn't concerned about anything but wanted to just get her phone back and claim her money.

"Thank you for inviting me,I need to take my leave now" She said, picking up her phone from the table,she left the confused women, standing.

Outside,she walked slowly to the car,not once did she turn to look back.

"I am the only one you can trust,now"

These words were saying in her head,and she saw Infront of her,a glimpse of one of her lost memories. She was in a room,with Lucas Chua and he said these exact words.

She stopped walking,staring now at the present,at Lucas,with his face puzzled