Chapter 3: Lies And Betrayal
1458 Words
Diana’s POV
“It’s not what you think, Ana.
He was being friendly, I never thought he could think of this,” Lauren whimpered, feigning tears.
One thing I hate most in my life? Lies.
Another thing that disgusted me more?
People lying and playing the victim card.
For God’s sake, I could see through the false weeping. It was so obvious.
I chuckled bitterly.
Lauren must really take me for a fool to playact grief.
“So you mean that my husband…” I cackled, almost choking on the words, “you mean Kane was only being friendly to you but still had the balls to ask you to marry him?!”
“You really think I’m stupid, right, Lauren?” I barked.
Lauren’s eyes darted side to side; she broke contact with me too quickly.
That was it my confirmation.
She crept toward me, clutching her hands as if to cup my face, but I slapped them off.
Her touch, once what I had always needed, felt putrid.
“Look,” she breathed casually, “it’s not a bad thing; maybe he saw more in me than he did in—"
“Lauren!” I burst, sending my palm flying to her face in an uncalculated move.
“No!” Mum’s voice thundered.
She rushed toward me and shoved my hand away from Lauren.
The shock on my face was beyond anything I had ever felt.
I couldn’t believe what was happening.
Mum went on, pointing accusing fingers at me.
“You will lay no finger on my daughter!
If Kane chose her instead of you, then it’s for the best,” she pursed her lips, glaring slightly, and continued, “maybe she can do what you could never do.”
I froze. “What?” My voice betrayed me, held back by tears threatening to blur my vision.
The way she looked at me was filled with pure disdain.
Disdain so strong that her pupils darkened because of it.
Was that hate?
No, Mum would never hate me.
She was just mad for being “stupid.”
But she wasn’t the one in the living room who saw doctored photos of herself naked with a mysterious man, nor was she handed divorce papers by the one she loved.
She wasn’t there to experience all of this the humiliation of being tossed out of the house she regarded as her only home.
Yet she stood there siding with the one person she could have confronted.
“Accept it, Diana.
This marriage was a curse.
You cursed it!”
Lauren’s voice joined in, adding to the pain that clutched my chest.
Did she just call me cursed?
Like she was reading my mind, she repeated, “You. Are. Cursed, Diana. Like Mum said, I’ll do what you couldn’t do, and I’ll save our family from the humiliation you’ve caused us.”
It felt like a freely thrown challenge.
But for what?I snorted.
“Everybody get out,” I pointed toward the door.
Dad motioned to speak, but I stopped him.
“You stood there watching your wife and perfect daughter talk to me like they always hated. Please leave.”
Dad’s lip tightened with sadness, but I didn’t care.
He could have defended me when he had the chance but he didn’t.
“Please get out!” I yelled.
Mum ran to the door first, followed by Dad, leaving just me and Lauren.
She stood in front of me, a small wicked grin now visible on her lips.
She walked closer and held my shoulder, stiffening her grip.
The b***h.
“I’m really sorry, dear sister. I love you.”
I gasped, reinforcing my grip on her wrist as I released it from my shoulders.
The brave look on her face was replaced with fear.
“Go rot in hell, Lauren,” I spat. Pointing to the door again, “now get the f**k off my property before I send you down to hell myself.”
Slowly, she edged to the door, feet dragging against the floor, her eyes never leaving mine until she was out.
I waited until I heard them drive off, then released a high sigh. My chest felt heavier than ever.
I tried to console myself. “Don’t cry, Diana.
It’s just a bad dream.”
It only got worse. I broke down, crying my eyes out, throwing everything in my way against the wall, not caring what it was.
Tears don’t solve problems, but they ease pain mine was far from gone.
★★☆☆
I couldn’t remember exactly what moved me to go to Kane’s workplace, but I had remembered seeing Lauren park outside his building.
My intentions?
To get coffee and curse the arsehole.
But instead, I stood outside Kane’s office like a mannequin, eyes peeking inside, waiting to barge in.
Then I saw them. Kane held Lauren and kissed her like his life depended on it, like he hadn’t trampled on my life and made it a living hell by joining hands with my sister.
I moved slightly to catch a clearer glimpse through the slightly open door.
They must have forgotten to lock it before shoving their tongues down each other’s throat.
Taking out my phone, I took pictures.
Not for evidence, but for the fuel to the fire I would light soon.
Now I understood why Lauren had so much confidence to hurl insults at me.
Kane had fed her enough to boldly f**k him in his office, in front of employees.
Classic Kane.
Harsh whispers behind me shook me back to reality.
The workers pretended to attend to their work while sneering.
I slid my sunglasses back on and quietly walked out, as I had walked in. No words, no glances exchanged.
I needed to leave fast.
Once outside, my throat burned with a bittersweet taste.
First, I got the truth; second, it hurt more than the divorce.
I scoffed, muttering, “And I thought I was his untouched trophy wife.
Five years, Kane, and she was the one riding your mucky dick.”
Thinking about it now, I was glad I hadn’t seen it.
It would’ve messed with my head.
I turned right and walked straight, head bent, eyes shielded by sunglasses, escaping the taunts of people on the street.
“Don’t look back, D. Just walk straight,” I told myself, until I entered a café.
Sliding into a table near the window, I leaned
against the chair when someone called out.
“Good day, Ms. Diana.”
I instantly shoved my glasses up my nose, praying it wasn’t anyone from the press or someone I knew.
“Oh God, who is it now?” I whispered, using my hand to cover my face.
“Covering your face doesn’t change the fact that I’ve seen you already.”
The strong baritone sent chills down my arms. Soothing, yet commanding.
“Who are you?” I asked, not looking up.
“A friend of your ex-husband’s—”
I didn’t let him finish. “I don’t have anything to do with anyone linked to Kane,” I announced abruptly, looking up properly.
He was tall, broad, like a large cardboard.
“I’m not on his side, ma’am. I’m here to help you get the news and press off your back in other words, justice.”
“So… you’re here for what reason?”
“Mhm, let’s say I have a strong dislike for men who don’t know how to keep their d**k in check,” he said lazily.
Another hater of Kane’s d**k.
“Another truth,” he continued, “he sabotaged those pictures.
All of it was a lie.”
“Pictures?” I blinked, turning sharply to meet his eyes. Even with the sunglasses, I could read them.
“Yes, Ms. Diana. Your darling ex-husband faked them to get you out of his way.
I’m sure you saw Lauren to confirm this.”
The memory of Lauren and Kane making out sent chills down my arms. I should have known.
How could I have been so blind?
Lauren’s unsolicited advice, the way she spoke about Kane, how her eyes danced whenever he was around I was so stupid.
“That b***h,” I muttered, clenching my fists.
“Now you know your ex-husband is a coward and the biggest cheat the world has ever seen,” he said, voice dripping with disgust.
Without asking, he sat across from me and placed a document on the table.
That was when I saw his face.
Adrian Blackwell.
A familiar name.
“And since it’s revenge you want, I’ll make sure you get that. All you have to do is marry me.”
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