While working to her car in the underground parking lot, Diane tried to reach Phillip one more time but failed.
She went straight to their chats to check if he had read or returned the messages she left for him in between rounds but everything was still unread.
Feeling the rapid rise and fall of her chest plus the strong bitterness hanging in her throat, she threw her phone inside her bag and climbed behind her wheels knowing that anger wouldn't solve anything.
'I think I would have to stay at the hotel in the meantime,' she thought to herself as she put her car on 'Drive' and left the parking lot.
Diane definitely had other options apart from spending the night at a hotel, but none of them were feasible.
The first option would have been to go back to her family's house but after her mother banned her from coming over unless she solved the prenup issue, she knew better than to cross her.
The second option was Christian but Diane wiped that idea away the second it dropped in her heart. She was afraid of him. There was something about him she could not exactly pinpoint.
Christian has changed so much over a few years. She could sense this strong aura from him; auras usually found in people with power.
She felt that he was dangerous and was not to be trifled with, so staying away from him was a better option.
The last option was Tricia who was her only friend who currently lived in NYC. But even though Tricia was kind, Diane couldn't risk exposing the problems in her marriage to her otherwise she would become a trending topic amongst the doctors and nurses the very next day.
This was the reason she didn't want to confide in her for anything private. Already, it was a miracle that she hadn't exposed her challenge down there yet.
---
On her way to the hotel, Diane stopped at a department store to get herself toiletries before going to a cheaper brand store to get some clothes, and she couldn't believe who she bumped into; Vivian Sanders, her sister-in-law and Phillip's older sister, the one he transferred all his valuable assets to.
Vivian saw her first and matched towards her where she was going through some casual dresses in a particular dress rack.
"Diane," she called out.
Hearing her name, Diane turned around only to see her. "Vivian," she called out cautiously. It didn't look like their meeting was a good thing.
"What a not-so-pleasant surprise seeing you here," Vivian continued. "I can get a whiff of that hospital smell from you. Did you just get off work?"
Diane did not answer that question immediately. She first gave her a good glance before turning back to the clothes in the racks that she was looking at.
How could she show any respect to someone who just told her that she wasn't pleased to see her?
"I would suggest taking a few steps back if you don't like the smell of Iodoform," she advised without glancing at her.
Two lines appeared on Vivian's forehead. "What is Iodoform?" she inquired. It was clear that science terms were not her forte.
"The smell you got off me," Diane replied, refusing to explain more as she stared at a particular cotton sweater for a while before taking it off the rack. "I want this in size ten," she announced just as someone came to take the piece from her.
Vivian didn't like the feeling of being ignored and seeing that Diane was buying clothes for herself, she smacked her bright red lipstick and folded her arms below her chest.
Next, she clicked her tongue and got ready to taunt her. "You must still have a lot of money left even though you are going to give Phillip half of your assets once your divorce is finalized."
Diane heard that and frowned. "I'm not giving him a dime," she stated clearly.
"Hahaha…" Vivian had a good laugh and then proceeded to stare at her like she was a fool for saying that declaration out loud. "You must be delusional."
"No! I think it's Phillip who is delusional for thinking that he can get half of my assets after the prenup fraud."
"You deceived him first," Vivian defended proudly. "What were you expecting when you couldn't even perform your bedroom role?" Giving Diane a good glance, she scoffed. "Don't tell me you were expecting to have an easy divorce."
The shock on Diane's face was as clear as day. "I can't believe he told you that." To think that Phillip talked about their private matters to his family and now here she was wondering and worrying about who else he must have mentioned it to.
At least he had a little conscience left to not have told the side of her family about it.
"I am his older sister, the one he chose to hand his net worth over to for safekeeping, remember?" Vivian taunted her by constantly reminding her about the prenup knowing how riled up it would make her.
"Wrong!" Diane fumed just as expected. "Phillip was the one who deceived me and my entire family with the prenup. Why did he agree to it and then go ahead to transfer his assets to you before our wedding if he isn't a thief?"
Diane didn't care how disrespectful she was to Vivian who was more than five years older than her because the woman simply refused to respect herself.
Meanwhile, this was the same Vivian that used to be very kind to her at that time she and Phillip had just got together and were planning their engagement party.
Vivian's gaze darkened at that description. Diane just called his younger brother a thief, how could she hold back and not get mad?
"Young lady, I will advise you to watch your mouth!" she warned while staring daggers at her.
Already, Diane and her estranged sister-in-law were starting to garner attention to themselves, not because their voice was loud, but because of the fierce gazes directed at each other.
They looked like they could tear each other apart any second from then.
Everyone who saw them could tell that they were engaged in a heated argument and didn't bother heading towards their direction to look for any clothes.
Diane snubbed Vivian and proceeded to another clothing rack but how could the latter let her off so easily? Of course, she had to drop another bomb before disappearing from her sight.
"My brother was really blind to fall for you and agree to the marriage. Only if he was smart enough to know like I knew that you still had your ex in your heart at that time. Poor boy. I'm glad he is going to get the redemption you've owed him for more than two years."
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Diane didn't know how she made it out of the mall, but when she did, she was completely broken and lost for several reasons.
As Diane got to the hotel, she stopped at the reception desk to book a room.
At the same time, Christian was stepping out of the conference hall in the hotel after a meeting when saw her familiar figure and stopped in his steps.
The people he was working with stopped as well to follow his gaze. "Mr. Knowles, is there any problem?" one of them inquired.
"No," Christian answered without meeting his gaze. "Go ahead, I will meet you all there in a few minutes."
Although the conference he had come for ended three minutes ago, there was still a roundtable meeting over dinner he needed to attend.
So, while others left, he adjusted his necktie and walked towards the front desk. "What are you doing here?" he asked from behind her.
Immediately Diane heard that familiar voice, she spun to face him. Seeing Christian standing right in front of her surprised her.
For a good minute, she remained confused as she started to think if she had mistakenly stepped into one of Heir's Hotels in which he was the CEO.
As unlikely as this may sound, Diane had indeed stepped into one of Heir's Hotels. Of everything that went through her mind when she made her pick, the fact that Christian was the CEO of Heirs' Hotel didn't come to her mind, and it's not like she was expecting to meet him.
The odds were numbered.
Christian took in her surprised expression before his gaze wandered to the four branded bags that were neatly placed next to her feet.
This time around, he just went ahead to grab her hand and take her towards the lounge area, leaving the branded bags at the front desk. It's not like anyone was going to touch it.
Christian released Diane's hand as soon as they had some privacy around them. "What are you doing here?" he asked again. There was no way he thought that she had come to see him.
The first guess that came to his mind was that she wanted to book a room. At least that's what they do at the front desk apart from making inquiries. And if she wanted some information from him, she would have directly called instead of going through the trouble to come down here.
"I am here to book a room," Diane answered as she took in his sophisticated appearance.
Christian was putting on a slim-fit beige three-piece suit, a white shirt and a navy necktie. His shoes were a product of brown Italian leather. It was definitely a Dolce & Gabbana.
His dark-brown hair was slicked to one side and shined before her eyes, courtesy of a good shampoo.
"Why do you need to book a room?" Christian stuffed his hands inside his pant pockets and gazed at her. "What happened to your apartment?"
Diane released a deep sigh and nudged the tip of her sneakers on the clean tiles. The number of times her situation has embarrassed her before Christian was reaching a million, and it was alarming.
He seemed to be getting really close to knowing every ugly experience she had passed through.
Diane was already embarrassed enough to want to disappear.
"My husband changed the codes," she answered as she met his inquisitive gaze.
Hearing that, Christian took another look at her. Even he has been wondering why she was still dressed in the same clothes from yesterday and it turns out that she was locked out of her apartment.
"Why come to book a room in a hotel when you could have driven back to your parents' villa?" he asked.
Almost immediately, she answered without mincing words. "I am not allowed to go back home until the prenup issue is settled. My mother banned me."
Christian was stunned for a bit as he realized the other reason Diane had come to him for help. She had no support from her family regarding the divorce and prenup challenges with her husband.
Half of her assets were on the line, and she was going to lose them if something wasn't done. Still, instead of her family sending their lawyers to help her, they left her alone to fight her battles.
Different thoughts went through Christian's mind for a while. He has always known the kind of family Diane came from and hearing what she revealed, he didn't even have an ounce of doubt.
Her mother was truly capable of anything, unlike her father who was much more lenient but would always end up leaning toward his wife's decisions.
"Have you booked the room already?" he inquired.
Diane shook her head. "They were trying to see which rooms were available before she you came."
"No need to book a room. You can stay at my place until you figure out how to get past the door to your apartment," he said to her with a serious look on his face before adding, "That's part of the perks that came with our agreement."
Christian didn't want to directly remind her that she was his mistress, so he used other terms. But it was not his business whether Diane understood his thoughtfulness towards not rubbing salt in her wounds.
Diane did not agree to his offer immediately as she remained rooted in the same spot contemplating her options.
She didn't mind spending a few nights at such an expensive hotel because money was the least of her problems. Her family had that in abundance.
On the other hand, Christian didn't wait to hear her response. He glanced at his wristwatch and discovered that he was running a bit late for his next meeting, so he said to her, "There is food at home. Order something from the hotel in my name. You can go to bed if you are tired, so don't wait for me."
Just like that, he made the decision for her and handed the keycard to his penthouse to her. "George will escort you into the estate, walk you up to my floor and leave."
Diane was left with no choice. And to think that Christian would go ahead to order her dinner as if he knew that she wouldn't listen and put the bill in his name.
Shortly after he left, George came to the lounge area to help her with her bags. "Ms. I will take you in my car and have someone drive yours back…"
"No," Diane quickly refused. As funny as it sounds, she has been losing her things or rights to her properties and she didn't want to leave her car behind.
George was forced to compromise by letting her follow behind him in her car on their drive back to Christian's estate.
He also didn't forget to make a report back to Christian concerning Diane's request to which the former told him to let her do as she pleased if that's what would give her peace of mind.
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