Outside, Diana recalled Brian’s frustrated look and was amused by his childish ways. She couldn’t help laughing.
“What are you laughing about? Anything interesting?” Chaney looked at her with an amused smile.
“Nothing.” Diana shook her head and returned to a serious expression.
After a while on the road, Diana could see that they were driving to an increasingly remote area. Confused, she asked Chaney, “Where are we going?”
Chaney smiled at her but didn’t answer. Several minutes later, he stopped the car.
Diana got out and looked around. It was a beautiful garden. Diana had lived in this city for more than twenty years, but she never knew there was such a place.
“How did you find this?” Diana asked in excitement.
“Do you like it?” Chaney was happy to see Diana’s cheerful face.
“Yes!” Diana nodded. But she was still confused as to why they were there.
“I thought we were going to the company. Why are we here?”
Chaney looked at her and smiled. “Diana, I lied.”
“What?”
Chaney clapped his hands. On cue, music began to play from behind where they were standing.
Diana frowned as she saw a violinist walking towards them from the corner of the garden.
“Chaney, what is going on?”
Chaney took out something from his pocket and kneeled down before Diana. “Diana, will you be my girlfriend?” Chaney was looking earnestly at Diana,
awaiting her response. Brian had made him anxious. He had planned to wait patiently till Diana one day accepted him, but he couldn’t wait. He had to tell her how much he loved her.
Diana was stunned. She was totally speechless.
Seeing Diana’s reaction, Chaney added nervously, “Diana, I will be good to you and Abby. I swear!”
Diana bit her lip. “Chaney, I have told you before that I view you as a brother.”
Those few painful words caused Chaney to lose control for a moment. The necklace in his hand fell to the ground.
“I am sorry,” Diana uttered.
Chaney forced himself to smile.
“It’s okay, I understand. So how about accepting your brother’s little gift?”
He picked up the necklace and showed it to Diana.
“I spent a lot of time choosing it. Please do not refuse me again.”
His smile relieved Diana from her feeling of awkwardness. She grinned and reached out her hand to take the necklace. It was a delicate piece with a small deer-shaped pendant.
“May I?” Chaney offered.
Diana ignored the voice in her mind that told her to refuse. It was a nice necklace, after all.
“Okay, if you insist…”
Chaney gently moved Diana’s hair to one side and helped her to put on the necklace. With the exquisite jewelry glittering on her delicate, white neck, Diana looked even more beautiful than normal.
“It suits you, Diana, really.”
“Thank you, Chaney.” Diana was genuinely grateful for Chaney’s gesture.
“I’m your brother, remember? No need to thank me. Come on, let me drive you home.”
“Alright.” Diana nodded.
***
In the car, Diana couldn’t help offering Chaney some consolation.
“Chaney, someday soon, you will meet a girl that is much better than me.”
Chaney smiled. In his opinion, he had already found the best girl in the world. “Diana, did you refuse me because of Brian?” Chaney asked.
Diana looked him in the eye. Time to explain, she thought.
“Chaney, two years ago, I left Brian because he had a serious accident whereby he lost his memory.”
“Lost his memories?” Chaney was shocked.
Diana nodded.
“Does he recall anything now?” Chaney asked.
Diana laughed bitterly. “Not yet. But I do believe he will treat Abby well.” Sometimes, the power of family was unbelievably strong. Chaney had taken care of Abby since she was born. Yet Abby called Brian “Father” after knowing him for a few weeks.
“Diana, I won’t forgive him if he hurts you,” Chaney said determinedly.
Diana smiled. “Chaney, you are a good man.”
Chaney stopped the car by Diana’s apartment. Diana could see through the window Brian holding Abby in his arms, turning around to look at who was outside. It was nice to see them looking so close.
“Mummy!” Seeing Diana, Abby ran out to greet her.
Diana squatted down and hugged Abby in her arms. “Did you miss Mummy today?” Diana asked.
“Yes!” Abby nodded.
Brian walked to them and stared at Chaney, who was by Diana’s side.
“Uncle Chaney!” Abby greeted Chaney with her arms open wide.
“Hello, little lady.” Chaney smiled and hugged Abby.
Of course, Brian was annoyed to see them like that. He stood beside Diana and suddenly noticed her new necklace. Knowing that Chaney must have given it to her, he commented, “What an ugly thing! Who would buy that?”
Diana didn’t know what he was talking about. She frowned at him and asked, “What?”
“Nothing…” Brian replied at once.
Chaney was sad when he saw the way they were with each other; there was a certain level of familiarity with their interactions.
“I guess I’ll be leaving now…” He said with a sigh.
“Bye,” said Diana.
“Goodbye, uncle Chaney.” Abby waved him goodbye.
“Drive carefully!” Diana shouted.
“Will do.” Chaney smiled and walked away.