HER ACCEPTANCE HIS REGRET

CHAPTER 3

Mr Gibson cleared his throat, his voice booming across the table. “I think Diana looks lovely,Julian. You should let her express herself. ”Julian's father turned to Emily, his expression stern. “And Emily, perhaps you should focus on taking notes rather than commenting on my daughter-in-law’s fashion choices.”

The room fell silent, with all eyes on Emily. She smiled sweetly, but her eyes flashed with anger. “Of course Mr Gibson. I was just trying to help.

Diana felt a surge of gratitude towards her father in-law, who seemed to be defending her. She smiled at him, and he winked back, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

As the dinner continued, the tension between Julian and Diana remained palpable. But with Mr Gibson's support,Diana felt a sense of empowerment,a sense that she wasn't alone in this marriage.

The question is, how long will this fragile dynamic last? And what would happen when Julian's true nature is revealed to his father?

The dinner party dragged on, with the conversation turning to business and politics. Diana listened intently, mind racing with thoughts and ideas. She was determined to make a statement, to show Julian and the world that she was more than a trophy wife. But for now, she would bide her time, smiling sweetly and playing the role expected of her.

Years went by, and Julian's true nature became increasingly evident. He cheated on Diana with his secretary, Emily. Belittled her in public, and threatened her with divorce whenever she stood up for herself. Diana felt like she was living in a nightmare, her identity lost in the midst of her miserable marriage.

It was a Monday morning, the sun was setting over the mansion, casting a warm orange glow over the opulent decor. Diana sat in the living room, lost in thought, when the doorbell rang. She wasn't expecting any visitors, so she hesitated for a moment before getting up to answer it.

The woman standing at the door was stunning, with piercing green eyes, curly brown hair. She smiled brightly, but her eyes seemed to bore into Diana's soul. “Hi, I'm Emily, Julian's secretary. We met at the company dinner party a few weeks ago. He asked me to pick up a file from the mansion.”

Diana's instinct told her there was more to Emily's visit than just retrieving a file. “Oh, yeah! Emily, I know you. And I'm sure you must have heard about me, I'm Diana, Julian's wife.”

“What file is that?” she asked, her voice neutral.

The word “wife” pierced through Emily's heart, her eyes fixed on Diana's eyes as if she wanted to throw lasers at her.

“It's a confidential document,” Emily replied, her tone dripping with an air of importance. “ Julian needs it for a meeting tomorrow morning.”

Diana wondered what kind of relationship Emily has with Julian, that she calls him by his name. She led Emily to the study where the file was kept. As they walked to the study, Emily chatted about her day, even without being asked , her voice filled with a hint of flirtation. “You know, I just love working for your husband. He's so charismatic and driven.”

Diana's eyes narrowed, sensing that Emily was trying to convey a message. “ Yeah, Julian is a very driven person.” She replied, her voice measured.

As they reached the study, Emily's gaze swept over the room, taking in the luxurious decor. “This is quite a place,” she said, in a condescending tone. “ You and Julian must be very happy here.”

Diana felt a pang of unease, sensing that Emily was proving for something. “I'm sure you've been working for him for such a long time, but you sound like it's your first time coming to his mansion?” She asked Emily, in a low tone.

Emily looked at her with a sense of defeat. “Oh, yeah! Julian never lets anyone into his house. I'm here because he will be going on a business trip after work today, it seems like he didn't tell you.” She replied

“Sure, he did. I guess I forgot.” She said with a smile, as she wondered why her husband never mentioned anything about a business trip.

“I've been meaning to ask, is it a thing to address your boss by his name in the company? Because you've been addressing my husband by his name ever since you got here.”

Emily's smile faltered for a moment and her eyes flashed with a possessive glint. “Oh, have I? Well, I don't know what you are talking about.” She said, as she moved closer to Diana.

“Besides, I didn't know you'll pay attention to that.” She added.

“What do you mean by that?” Diana asked, confused.

“I mean, everyone knows your marriage to the Gibson's family is all for business, and it's more beneficial to your family. Isn't it?” Emily replied in an intimidating tone.

Diana's eyes locked on Emily's,her anger simmering just below the surface. “What makes you think that?”she asked.