FOREVER HIS

CHAPTER THREE

I can't shake off the memory of what occurred at the hotel with Liam. "Why on earth did I do that?" I berated myself repeatedly.

"I believe this might work," I thought, selecting a red lingerie piece that I wore on our wedding night. Desmond had mentioned that it turned him on instantly when he saw me in it. I hoped to revive that wonderful memory once more.

"Perhaps I did that with Liam because I'm s*x-starved. It's true that Desmond and I haven't been intimate for quite some time, and I can't fathom why he keeps avoiding me," I mused as I admired myself in the mirror and adjusted my boobs to make them more exposed. Just as I was engrossed in the mirror, I sensed someone entering the house. Hastily, I rushed out of the bedroom to surprise him, only to find him standing there........with Linda.

"Thank goodness I didn't go through with my initial plan to walk down here naked," I chuckled, caught off guard by Linda's unexpected arrival. However, the two of them didn't seem to find it funny, and Desmond appeared visibly angry and I wondered why.

"Diana, I'm not going to ask you twice. Who's Liam?" he demanded, sending a chill down my spine as fear immediately swallowed me.

All my past memories came flooding back in the moment he asked that question. Memories of how I used to get paid for having s*x with wealthy people, memories of stripping down on the stage and dancing to entertain older men. Yes, I once worked as a p********e and was one of the highest-paid strippers at a company owned by Liam. But it was all in the past, I did it out of necessity to survive and pay for my sick mother's bills. I can't tell him any of this, no man would want to stay with someone like me if they knew my past. I'll have to lie, with Linda by my side helping me cover it up. But how did he find out about it?

"I met Liam through Linda," I quickly lied, turning to her with desperate eyes, hoping she would help me out. But her response quickly shattered my facade.

"Wait, what? How did I introduce you to him?" Linda's unexpected question left me exposed and vulnerable.

"Linda, have you forgotten that he's a friend of yours and you introduced him to me?" I said, stepping closer to her, holding her arm. However, Linda brushed me off, pulling away from my touch, leaving me speechless.

"If you're done with all the charades, will you answer my question now?" Desmond interjected, sending a surge of fear through me, causing my hands to tremble and my throat went dry.

I was completely lost in the moment, utterly confused by Linda's actions towards me. As I struggled to find the right words to convince Desmond of the truth, my mind raced with thoughts of what he already knew about me and Liam. Trying to come up with a convincing explanation seemed futile as I'm totally confused.

"Let me be honest with you, he was one of my clients back when I worked at the insurance company," I confessed, hoping this lie would finally convince him.

"And you ran into him at the hotel? Why? Please don't say he requested your help with insurance recommendations, because if you don't tell me the truth, I can't predict how I'll react," he yelled at me, his anger visible. As I noticed a smirk on Linda's face, I understood the situation unfolding before me.

But why would she do something like this? I trusted her, which is why I confided in her about what happened with Liam at the hotel, but she betrayed me by telling Desmond everything. "Honey, please believe me, it was just a moment of confusion. I wasn't thinking clearly when all of this occurred. Remember how I found you with your secretary? That must have clouded my judgment, and I made a mistake. I swear to you, I didn't have s*x with him," I pleaded, dropping to my knees with tears streaming down my face, desperate not to lose him.

"I had no idea that the woman I've been married to for three years is a p********e who has been with various men all over the world. Diana, how could you do this to me? I trusted you, but you betrayed me," Desmond cried as tears rolled down his face. I felt overwhelming guilt for breaking his heart, knowing that he loved me but couldn't resist other women.

"I'll be sending you the divorce papers soon, so get ready to sign them," he said, pushing me away from his leg in anger as Linda followed him out. I hurried after him as he got into the car, begging for his forgiveness, but he refused to listen and shoved me away once more, causing me to fall to the ground and sustain bruises on my leg. Despite the pain, I managed to chase after his departing car, but I stumbled and fell to the ground, feeling utterly lost in the world. I had lost the only thing that mattered to me.

*******************

Fully aware that Linda was likely the mastermind behind all this turmoil, I decided to visit Desmond at his office, have a personal conversation with him as he hadn't returned home for a week. As I arrived at his office, I met his secretary at her desk this time.

"Good morning, ma'am. Would you like me to inform him of your presence?" she inquired with a broad smile, but I politely declined and marched towards his office door. Upon cracking it open slightly, I overheard a familiar voice.

"Have you sent the divorce papers?" Linda asked him.

"She'll receive them by this evening," he responded.

"Finally, we have achieved everything. Poor Diana has no inkling of what awaits her now," Linda chuckled. "I can't believe she was foolish enough to trust us, and now she's left with nothing. Have you finalized everything with the bank? Ensure that they send her an eviction notice soon," she instructed.

"Yes, my dear, I've taken care of everything. I must thank my little helpers for orchestrating the plan, from how I met her to making her fall in love with me. That stupid woman still believes it's all a coincidence," he disclosed, and I couldn't believe my ear.

I felt the weight of it all crashing down on me. I was on the verge of collapsing when Desmond's secretary quickly reached out, grabbed my arms, and helped me back on my feet. She guided me out of the office.

"This is the best I can do for you to make amends for what I've been part of. I was supposed to inform him that you're here and prevent you from hearing anything, but I want you to uncover the truth, which is why I let you in. They've been scheming like this for quite some time. I suspect they're planning to sell the company soon, as a new branch has opened, and they're relocating. They're now partners. By the way, my name is Bianca, here's my number. Reach out if you need anything," Bianca quickly explained as she handed me her contact details and left.

Now feeling hopelessness, I burst into tears and pressed my palm against my mouth, trying to suppress the sobs welling up inside me. I don't know how I managed to leave that place and found myself in the bustling streets of Chicago, blending into the crowd.

"Where did everything go wrong? What red flags did I overlook?" I questioned myself repeatedly as I aimlessly made my way down the street. Suddenly, a shoulder bumped into me, causing me to lose my balance and stumble towards the ground. Just as I was about to fall, a sturdy arm wrapped around me, preventing me from hitting the pavement. Slowly, I opened my eyes to meet the gaze of my unexpected savior.

His dark brown eyes lured me in, drawing me into a world of wonder. I admired his strong jawline, symmetrical facial features, high cheekbones, charming smile, with a smooth complexion that enhances his overall attractiveness. And I will say he is a perfect and flawless creation.

"Are you all right?" he asked me with an angelic voice, while I remained entranced by his face. "You can gaze as long as you wish, but perhaps we should move from here. It seems I am holding you in a rather……awkward position," he added with a wink, causing me to finally realize that he was still leaning back to keep me from falling.

Swiftly, I stood upright and apologized for my actions before shyly making my way onwards.

"Are you trying to avoid me?" I was taken aback by his sudden question. Just when I thought I had left him behind, his presence hovered beside me, and I wondered why he was following me.

"Dana, I've already apologized, what more can I do?" he exclaimed, mistakenly using my sister's name.

"Wait, did you just say 'Dana'?" I questioned in astonishment. "Oh my goodness, do you know Dana? Have you seen her?" I eagerly grabbed his hand, unable to contain my happiness.

"You're really scaring me now. Have you lost your memory or something?" He pleaded with me,"Please, don't do this. We're getting married in a month. What should I tell everyone if you continue like this?" he said, mentioning that he was Dana's fiancé, which filled me with joy.

Finally, I found my twin sister…