On their way back, Diana was afraid that Brian would repeat something provocative, so she closed her eyes and pretended to be asleep.
Brian knew what she was thinking. But he decided not to speak it out.
At their destination, Brian spoke gently to Diana, who was still pretending to sleep, “Miss Anderson, here we are.”
Diana opened her eyes and stepped out of the car. When she was about to get out, Brian suddenly grabbed her arm and put the flowers in her hand.
Diana held onto them until Brian drove out of sight. There was a bin a few yards away, an appropriate place for the flowers, Diana thought. Except, she couldn’t bring herself to do it. Finally, she hurried into her house and put them into a vase full of water.
Abby hugged Diana excitedly and shouted, “Mummy, where did you get the flowers?”
Diana skipped her question and asked, “Do you like them?”
“Yeah!” Abby nodded her head, crazily.
“What are you two talking about? It sounds interesting.” Chaney walked out and saw Diana and Abby still in a warm embrace. He looked at them and smiled.
“Uncle Chaney! Come see these flowers Mummy brought back with her!” Abby pulled Chaney to the vase and showed him the flowers as if she had found some precious treasure.
Chaney then turned to Diana.
“I have to attend a banquet in a few day’s time. I was wondering if you would go with me?”
“Me?”
“Yes. They told me that I should bring a lady to accompany me,” answered Chaney. He looked at Diana innocently.
Thinking of what Chaney had done for Abby and her, Diana nodded. Plus, he was only recently back, it must be difficult for him to find another girl; otherwise, he wouldn’t have asked her, Diana reasoned.
Either way, Chaney was delighted, grinning happily to himself.
***
Later that week, Diana found herself with a free day. It was a good chance to get out and about, so she took Abby to the supermarket.
As it was the weekend, there weren’t many people there. Abby walked around in the dairy aisle for a long time while Diana waited patiently for her to choose.
“Mummy, can I have this?” Abby asked hopefully, picking up a big box of cheddar cheese.
Diana laughed out loud. Abby had been obsessed with cheese lately; she couldn’t stop eating it! Curiously, Diana didn’t like cheese at all. She thought it must have come from Brian.
Meanwhile, Brian happened to be shopping in the same supermarket. He would hold a celebratory party that night, but his assistant was busy, so Brian went to the supermarket himself.
As he came out from the alcohol aisle, Brian spotted Diana over in the next section. When he was about to go and greet her, he heard a child call Diana “Mummy.”
Brian squinted his eyes in shock. Was she already a mother? When he looked at the kid, Brian got an even greater surprise. He had seen that kid before. Gazing at the child’s face, which was so similar to his own, Brian was unable to move.
He took out his phone and called Ken.
“Hello? Ken, can you do me a favor? I need information on Diana Anderson.”
Ken was intrigued.
Boss, why do you need her information?”
“She has a daughter! And the kid looks like me!”
Ken ended the call and stayed exactly where he was, frozen in shock.
Sybil had just managed to get their baby off to sleep. When she crept out of the room, she found Ken looking slightly distressed.
“What’s the matter with you?”
“Sybil, Diana had her baby!”
Soon, it was the day of the banquet. As planned, Diana accompanied Chaney. Though what she thought was just a small event actually turned out to be quite a big deal, so naturally, Brian was there too.
Seeing him, Diana was nervous and unconsciously held Chaney’s hand.
“What is it?” Chaney asked worriedly.
Diana shook her head slightly. Her face was slightly pale.
After seeing Diana walk in, Brian couldn’t help looking at her. He was irritated to see that she was together with a man. He was eager to ask Diana who the guy was, but he repressed that desire and chatted with the people around him.
Diana escaped from Brian’s gaze by hiding behind Chaney’s large frame. Still, after a while, she started to feel dizzy.
“Diana! Are you okay?”
Diana shook her head. “I need to go to the bathroom.”
Chaney nodded and watched her walk away.
Diana bundled into the ladies’ room and splashed her face with cold water. When she raised her head, she found someone standing behind her in the mirror!
“Brian! Why are you here?” Diana shouted.
Brian approached her and asked with a serious look, “Who is that guy?”
Diana knew he was talking about Chaney. She walked past Brian and uttered coldly, “It’s none of your business.”
Out of anger and jealousy, Brian grabbed Diana by her chin.
His harsh grip was painful, and Diana cried out.
“Brian, you’re hurting me!”
Hearing that, Brian lowered his hand. He didn’t know why he had lost control so quickly. He was famous for always keeping a poker face, whatever the situation.
“I am sorry.” Brian stepped back and apologized.
Diana was about to leave when suddenly Chaney appeared behind them.
“Diana, let’s leave this place.” Chaney reached out his hand, which Diana gratefully accepted. As Chaney led her away, Diana didn’t look back at Brian even once.