“Diana, do you really want to go through this divorce?” Carla’s worried voice came through the phone. “I need you to sit and think about this, di. Because the moment you put your signature down on that divorce papers, there’s no going back. You can’t have James back.”

Diana bit her inner cheeks staring at the orange juice in her glass. Her eyes were becoming moist with tears. She gulped down the whole juice in one swift move. She doesn’t take alcohol but her heart burned as though she had taken ten bottles of whiskey.

The images from her birthday night swept through her memory and her fingers tightened around the empty glass.

“Just get the papers ready Carla,” she whispered finally. “I have nothing to do with him anymore.”

“Diana, I want you to think this through. And come to think of it, what exactly happened?” Carla’s curious voice made Diana almost chuckle. Where was she going to start from? “You both were the perfect couple, girl.”

Diana choked while trying to stifle the laugh coming from inside her. The perfect couple indeed! She shook her head, blinking away the tears.

“Just let it go, Carla. We’ll discuss this later.”

Carla didn’t push further. “If you say so.”

A few minutes after Carla dropped the call, Diana took the gucci bag James had bought for her on her birthday a week ago.

“I made this specially for you, Diana. Had it customized just for you.” And she had foolishly laughed at that, blushing and thinking he was just the perfect husband.

Everyone struggled to take a photo of the bag during the birthday dinner, swooning over their beautiful love story.

It trended on Instagram for a whole month before finally dying down with young girls wishing for such a husband too.

“Such a joke,” Diana chuckled amidst tears. “Was such an enviable love enough for him to cheat on me with his secretary the very night of my birthday?”

Diana couldn’t help but bury her face in between her knees, trying to hold herself together. On her birthday night, she had worn the favorite lingerie he got for her from Paris, the one with the diamonds at the neck. She instructed the maids not to make dinner and did it herself, scattering rose petals all over the floor while waiting for him.

She sat and watched the clock struck ten pm, then eleven, then twelve. She placed a call to James which went to voicemail many times.

She waited until sleep came over then went off to bed, her eyes heavy with tears.

At exactly four am, the door to the room clicked open and James walked in. “Diana dear, I’m so sorry. I was so swamped with work. I’ll do better next time.”

Diana was too tired and heartbroken to give a reply. She only nodded and went back to bed.

The following morning. Diana was up early when she noticed James’ phone lit up. She picked it up aiming to wake him up but something inside her told her to swipe through.

“I can’t wait to have you, again, james.”

Diana instantly felt the room go cold around her. She quietly searched for a chair with one hand while using the other to scroll the phone, her eyes glued to the the screen the whole time.

“You were so sweet, Erica. I can have you all day.” “Can’t wait to lick your dripping cunt, baby girl.” “You literally made me feel like a man today, I couldn’t stop cumming inside your tight juicy pot.”

Diana’s knees grew weak. Erica is James’ secretary. James had told her he was busy with work whereas he was out making love with his secretary.

Diana’s alarm bells went off. She dropped the phone and staggered to the kitchen, struggling for air.

The messages replayed in her mind, stabbing her like a knife to the chest.

Diana’s eyes were immediately filled with hot tears, biting down on her lower lip. She couldn’t stay still any longer. She brewed a hot tea and without caring if it would burn her tongue, drank the entire cup in one gulp.

“What are you doing standing all alone?” James’ voice sliced through the unbearable silence. She stared at him that morning with a pain so deep she wished she could strangle him for lying but she kept cool.

“Nothing.”

James kissed her forehead and got ready for work, ate the breakfast Diana did then drove off to work and immediately he left, she stopped a cab and followed him.

“Make sure he doesn’t know you are trailing behind him.” Diana instructed the driver. “I’ll pay you double.”

She watched as James drove and suddenly took a different lane from his company. All through she was calm, hoping he was just trying to take a short route but they soon ended up at one of the largest hotels in America.

Diana rushed out of the car like she was chased, paid off the driver and walked straight inside the hotel disguising herself with wide eyeglasses.

The receptionist greeted James cheerfully like he was a regular person there and handed him some keys. Diana followed immediately, walking gently behind him trying not to raise any suspicion.

James soon arrived at a room and tried the key, when it didn’t work, he punched in some numbers on the lock and it clicked.

Diana saw all these and waited for him to go inside before putting in the same numbers. The door opened and her legs went numb.

The coat James had worn was on the floor. Then a pair of red lace panties and a handbag. She stared at the handbag and it was the exact replica of the one James had gifted her on her birthday. The same one he said he customized just for her and her alone.

Diana’s eyes grew heavy with tears. She pressed her palms to her mouth to muffle the scream as she saw the unused pack of durex condoms.

Diana made sure they didn’t see her. James had his back turned to her, his face buried deep into the woman’s huge breasts.

“I couldn’t get enough of last night. I needed more.” James groaned, sucking on one nipple.

Erica chuckled, rubbing his head gently and stroking his hard Penis through his trouser. “I can always give you what Diana doesn’t.”

James’ voice grew deeper as he sucked harder, switching the nipples. “Don’t compare yourself to her, Erica. You are worth more than a hundred Diana.”

That was the last statement that threw Diana off balance. She picked up the last pieces of her pride and staggered to the roadside flagging down a taxi.

“Riverpark Estate, please.”

“Ma’am you okay?” The driver asked, with worry etched on his face.

“Just drive.”

She pushed the door open as she reached home with the last bit of strength in her, placing a call over to Carla immediately.

She was still drowned in the memories of the past events when the door opened and she realized she had been stuck in one position for hours thinking about all the events that happened on her birthday and the reason for the divorce.

Carla strode in with a look of worry all over her face, jolting her. “I couldn’t leave you like that after the call. I had to come over.” Her voice cut through Diana’s memory as she wrapped her arms around Diana.

“What did I do to deserve this betrayal, Carl?” Diana’s voice shook from a mixture of pain and betrayal. “I feel like dying.”

Diana collapsed into Carla’s arm, her whole body convulsing from pain and tears. “He cheated on me Carla. He cheated on me— with his secretary.”

Carla took a deep breath seeing the immense pain her friend was in. A tear dropped from her eyes. “Are you really sure, Diana?”

“I won’t joke with something like this Carla. I am done with him. I hate him and we are done for good.”

Diana took a deep breath, her back pressed hard against the door as Carla watched her like a hawk.

“So you want to work?” Carla asked gently, as if telling her to think this through.

Diana stared at her, trying to calm down from the betrayal. She knew how tough it will be winning a case against James Hartway, a billionaire who had posed as the perfect husband to the public.

Also getting a divorce won’t be easy due to the financial aspect involved.

James gave her a monthly allowance of $20000 dollars monthly and she had always been saying $15000 in a locked account. James never asked her what she was using money for so it made saving easier.

Her hands trembled as she paced the room. “I have some savings, Carla. I’ll depend on that for now while searching for a job.”

“It’s not so easy, di.”

“I know, but I need to try. I just can’t stay here. I can’t.”

A surprised Carla heaved a deep sigh, “I still can’t believe James could stoop so low. I mean with his secretary? That’s ridiculous.”

Diana bit her lower lips, fighting back the tears that had pooled at her eyes. It still felt like a dream to her. Her perfect marriage of 3 years going down the drain all thanks to her husband’s infidelity and betrayal.

“You can stay with me for the meantime actually.”

“Oh Carla,” Diana whispered, hugging her. “You are such a great human. What would I have done without you.”

“Oh common, you do not deserve this betrayal di. I’ll always have your back.”

Diana and Carla discussed about her plans and after Carla left, she felt relief flood over her. She walked into their bedroom, took a long look and pulled out her suitcase then started packing.

As she packed, her eyes fell on the framed photograph they had taken on their honeymoon during winter.

The photo brought back painful memories and sweetness which left her nauseous. How could she be so stupid to not see through his schemes?

She stared down at her finger and on it was her ten thousand dollar diamond wedding ring, shining brightly, a stark contrast to the darkness looming all over her heart.

Tears dropped down her face, dropping on the dresser and with trembling hands, removed the ring and placed it inside his side of the wardrobe then went back to packing.

Halfway through, the roaring engines of james Mercedes benz echoed through the mansion. Diana quickly put the suitcase away. James mustn’t know she’s packing, not yet.

The door swung open and james walked in with a bouquet of red roses, her favorite, and placed them on her palms, sweeping her up.

“Once again, sorry for not coming home on your birthday night.”

Diana forced a smile. Before, she would have fell into his arms, kissed his neck and praised him for being the perfect husband but this time, his presence alone made her sick.

“Thank you,” she muttered, placing the rose on the bed. Her nose caught an unfamiliar scent, she nearly puked. Images of him sucking Erica’s breasts flooded her mind again and she pushed him away gently.

“What’s wrong, Diana?” James asked, touching her forehead.

“I’m fine, just a fever.”

“Then let’s go to the doctor…”

His pretentious care and concern was already getting on Diana’s nerves. She gently took his hands off her body and walked to the bathroom. “I need to take a shower.”

She could feel James’ eyes on her as she turned and walked away. Once inside the shower, she scrubbed her skin till bruises appeared, washing off the unfamiliar scent he came home with.

Sitting in the shower, staring blankly at the wall, Diana couldn’t help but think about the moments James had been her safest haven. Now all she felt was disgust.

“Are you done showering, sweetheart?” James voice came through, making Diana’s muscles tensed.

“Almost.” She turned off the shower, wrapped the towel around her chest and walked out drying her hair.

“You look breathtaking, Diana. Why don’t we have some hot sex right now?”

Sex? Diana’s heart skipped a beat. She resisted the urge to lash at him and tell him to take his filthy public penis away from her. “Not now, James. I’m tired.”

“Didn’t you miss me?” James flirted, wrapping his arms around her waist, his chest pressed against her back.

“I said, not now James. Please.” Her voice sounded hollow. She just wanted to be far away from him, to stop perceiving that unfamiliar scent.

James didn’t push further. Just kissed her forehead and went into the shower.

Diana noticed he was taking too long but she cared less. She soon heard someone trying to stifle a moan. She tiptoe to the bathroom which was covered in steam but she still could see what was going inside.

On the glowing screen of his phone was the photo of Erica fully named and james on the other hand held his penis with one hand stroking it, the other on the wall, moaning.

“Yessssssss, yess Erica.”

Her body went rigid as she watched him stroke his cock to orgasm and after he was done, kissed the photo on the screen.

Diana wobbly walked back and fell on the bed, disgust crashing through her entire body.

“You’ll pay for everything, James.” She muttered, her eyes burning with tears.

Chapter 3 “Diana darling,” James voice cut through the silence the following morning during breakfast, his fingers on the cutleries. “My family company is organising a dinner party to mark the company’s tenth year anniversary, you should come.”

Diana dropped her cutlery midway and stared at her food like it was something alien. James had never invited her to anything before regarding his family. He had always insisted it was a trouble and wouldn’t want her to go through such stress.

“Do I really have to come? I mean… you’ve never invited me to any family event before, so….”

“Diana,” james smiled, taking her hand. “I just didn’t want you to go through stress but I feel you will be bored when im away…”

“Hmm, bored.” Diana whispered. James can’t know of her plans to leave, not yet. So that means she still has to act the cool wife and do his bidding.

Diana nodded. “No problem. We’ll go. When is it?”

“Perfect.” James clapped, kissing her hand. “We leave by 2pm.”

2pm came and they both soon arrived at the Hartway’s prestigious mansion. James’ hands wrapped around her waist, his other hand carrying her bag like the perfect husband he was portrayed to be. Diana was sick and couldn’t wait to be away from his and his gimmicks.

Everyone in the family welcomed James but Diana didn’t fail to see the distasteful look on her in-laws’ faces. She was used to the condescending looks and awful comments.

“Look who finally showed up,” Madam Margaret, Diana’s mother-in-law sneered. “So you still know the route to this mansion.”

Diana didn’t say a word but she didn’t fail to notice a pair of brown eyes staring right at her. James seemed to notice too and took her hand asserting dominance. “Good day, Uncle Max.”

Max scoffed, shrugged his shoulders and walked away. He was madam Margaret’s youngest brother and the first billionaire of the family.

Older than James with five years, they had always been rivals due to james nasty attitude and reckless life and maxwell had always made sure james knew to keep off.

“Pay him no attention. That’s my uncle Maxwell. Just older than me with six years old yet acts like he’s some big guy.” James hands wrapped around Diana’s wrist. “Just stay off his lane.”

Diana was left all alone through out the dinner. Her eyes searched around the elegant mansion for James but he was nowhere to be seen.

‘The number you have dialled is not reachable…’ was the response she got every time she dialed his number.

She stared at the last message he had sent before disappearing: Urgent work, see you later, Diana.

Diana’s cheek burned with anger. She sipped the wine slowly while gazing around the mansion like some stranger.

An hour passed by and James was still not back. Diana felt it was time to go home and he had the car keys with him. She stood up decisively, and searched around the house whispering his name.

“When are you going to tell her james?” Diana stopped in her tracks the moment she heard this coming from the guest room on the right wing of the mansion. She placed her ears to the walls gently, listening.

“She doesn’t have to know, Erica.”

Know what? Diana felt a surge of anger rush over her. A part of her wanted to push the door open and finally confront them but another part wanted to listen to the entire conversation and get the whole talk.

“What if she finds out about the court wedding?”

“finds out?” James scoffed. “Oh common, Diana is so naive she wouldn’t figure out a thing.”

Diana grabbed her gown tighter as she listened to their conversation, hot tears pooling at her eyes. The thought of James making nasty remarks about her to his mistress made her sick.

“Enough of Diana, let’s have some fun together.”

Diana peeped through the door left slightly ajar. James was bare chested and his trousers were unzipped. Erica was sitting on his waist, her hands caressing his nipples.

Diana’s knees went weak at the scene. James had left her all alone under the pretense of work only to find him entangled with his mistress or rather his new wife.

Everything made Diana sick. She placed her palms flat on the wall steadying herself as the faint sounds of James groans and Erica’s moans filled her ears.

“If I were you, I won’t be listening to that…”

Diana turned immediately to find Maxwell standing with his legs crossed and right arm against the wall smirking.

“Get away from me.” Diana took several steps back trying to hide her smudged mascara but Maxwell only smiled and handed her a tissue.

“Thank you,” she murmured, taking the tissue from him and trying hard not to break in his presence.

She started to walk away briskly but stopped dead in her tracks as she heard the loud bang of a door being pushed down.

“Uncle Maxwell… what the hell?” She heard James’ voice. Maxwell had pushed the door down and dragged James out by the collar punching his face.

“You left your wife out there only tk come here frolicking with this cheap whore.” Maxwell deep voice vibrated around the room as he landed another punch on James’ face.

“It’s none of your business…” James grunted from pain, trying to dodge another punch. By now, the whole family had gathered and not even a single person had anything tangible to say to Diana.

She turned to catch a glimpse at James who looked horrified. “Diana, please wait…” but he didnt finish the sentence before Maxwell landed another punch on his already bruised and swollen face.

“Thats enough,” madam Margaret shouted, separating her brother and son. “How dare you hit him like this, Maxwell?”

Madam Margaret casted a disdainful look at Diana and sneered, “James has every right to be with whoever he wants to be with.”

That was the final statement that gave Diana the cue that she was never wanted in this family. She turned and walked away ignoring the tears that fell and soaked her gown.

As soon as she stepped outside the Hartway’s mansion, she took a long deep breath as the scent of rain hit her nose. She didn’t bother to run away from it or hail a cab but stood and allowed the heavy rain soaked through her shirt and messed up her perfectly made hair.

“You’ll get a cold standing in the rain.” Diana turned to look at the intruder and was met with Maxwell’s sharp, piercing, brown eyes.

She was trying to protest when her entire legs grew weak. But before she landed on the ground, a strong pair of arms suddenly held her.

Maxwell’s first instinct when he saw his nephew’s wife standing with her ears pressed against the wall, listening to her husband and his mistress, was to just walk past like he hadn’t seen a single thing.

He had always minded his business. Always. But something nailed his feet to the ground and refused to let him move.

He knew that look on her face. The trembling jaw. The wide, glassy eyes trying so hard to hold everything in. The way her fingers pressed flat against the wall like she needed it to keep her standing. He had worn that exact same expression once. A long time ago. In a different hallway. With a different woman.

Maxwell exhaled slowly through his nose. He had loved a woman once. Fiercely. The kind of love that made a man stupid and blind and reckless. She had taken every single piece of him and quietly handed it all over to someone else while smiling in his face. He had found out the same way — stumbling into a truth he never went looking for.

It had nearly broken him.

He watched Diana from a few steps away, his jaw tightening as the sounds from beyond the door became impossible to ignore. His hand curled into a fist at his side. He had always known James was reckless. Known he was selfish and arrogant and lived his life like the rules that governed decent men didn’t apply to him. But bringing his mistress here? To a family event? While his wife sat out there alone for over an hour?

The anger that crawled up Maxwell’s chest surprised even him.

He had never particularly cared about James’ personal disasters. His nephew had always been a walking catastrophe and Maxwell had long since decided it wasn’t his problem to fix. But this — this was different. This was a woman breaking apart in silence in a hallway, and Maxwell had stood in that exact same place before.

He didn’t think twice. He shoved the door open.

The rest happened quickly. His hand found James’ collar before either of them said a word and the first punch landed clean across his jaw. The second one connected before James could even process what was happening.

“You left your wife out there only to come here frolicking with this cheap whore.” His voice came out low and steady, which somehow made it worse.

“It’s none of your business—” James started. Maxwell didn’t let him finish. The third punch shut him up.

By the time Madam Margaret shrieked her way through the crowd and pried them apart, James’ face was already swollen and bleeding. Maxwell straightened his suit jacket, breathing evenly, and turned to find Diana gone.

He found her outside.

She was just standing there in the rain. Not running. Not hailing a cab. Just standing, completely still, letting it soak through her and ruin her gown and flatten her perfectly styled hair. Like she had given up on even trying to hold herself together.

“You’ll get a cold standing in the rain,” Maxwell said, breaking through her silent pain.

She turned quickly and the look on her face was one he recognised — embarrassment. The humiliation of being caught in someone else’s sympathy. She opened her mouth to say something, probably something sharp, anything to send him away, but her legs chose that moment to give up entirely.

Maxwell moved fast.

He caught her before she hit the ground, his arms going around her in one swift move, and the moment she was steady against his chest, he felt just how badly she was shaking.

________________

Diana opened her eyes to an unfamiliar ceiling. The first thing she did was reach out and feel the bed for her phone. Her fingers closed around it and she pulled it to her face. Ten pm. She stared at the number for a moment, blinking slowly, then sat upright.

The throbbing started immediately. A hard, pounding ache right behind her eyes that made her squeeze them shut and press her fingers against her temples. She breathed through it, waiting for it to settle, then slowly looked around.

The room was large and clean. Expensive looking furniture, soft lighting, curtains pulled shut against the night outside. Everything was unfamiliar. She turned her head and nearly jumped out of her skin.

Maxwell was sitting in a chair in the corner, watching her. His legs were stretched out, arms folded across his chest, his expression completely unreadable.

“How did I end up here?” The words came out sharper than she intended but she didn’t soften them.

Maxwell let out a short scoff. “So much for a thank you.”

“I didn’t ask you to help me.”

“I know.” His voice was flat and even. “But I know a broken woman when I see one, so I won’t take your words to heart.”

Diana pressed her lips together and looked away. Then slowly, properly, she looked back at him. She hadn’t really seen him earlier. Not properly. She had registered the brown eyes, the sharp interference, the punches — but now she took him in fully and something shifted quietly in her chest before she could stop it.

He was tall. Even sitting down it was obvious. Broad through the shoulders, jaw sharp enough to cut glass, full lashes framing those same piercing brown eyes that had startled her earlier in the hallway. His shirt was slightly open at the collar and she caught the edge of something dark — and ink, a tattoo — before she dragged her eyes away. Damn.

She stopped the thought immediately before it could finish forming. This was James’ uncle. She was a married woman walking out of a nightmare. The last thing she needed was—

“Thank you,” she muttered, clearing her throat. “I should get going.”

“I didn’t bring you here to entertain you.” His tone was blunt, almost cold. “I helped because this area isn’t safe at night. There are men around here known for worse things than stealing.” He held her gaze. “You passed out in the rain. You were soaked. I wasn’t about to leave you on the ground.”

Diana batted her eyes slowly and didn’t respond. Then something occurred to her. She looked down to see that she was wearing a t-shirt that was definitely not hers. It was oversized, soft, smelling faintly of something clean and masculine. Her gown was nowhere in sight.

Her eyes snapped back to Maxwell.

As if he had already anticipated the exact thought running through her mind, he spoke before she could open her mouth.

“The maids changed you.”

Diana exhaled and gave a small nod, saying nothing.

Maxwell stood. He was even taller upright. His shirt was still unbuttoned at the top and as he moved, her eyes caught the snake tattoo properly this time — dark ink curling across his chest, the tail disappearing beneath the fabric. She looked away quickly.

“Get some rest,” he said, already moving toward the door. “Tomorrow, if you want to go home, you can.” He paused briefly without turning around. “Wherever home is for you right now.”

He said it simply. Without malice or contempt. But they both understood exactly what it meant. Then he walked out and pulled the door shut behind him.

Diana sat in the silence for a moment, then picked up her phone. The missed calls loaded immediately. Four of them. All James.

She hissed and turned the phone face down on the duvet.

She was done. There was nothing left in her for him — not anger, not love, not even the energy required to feel properly betrayed anymore. She was just exhausted. Hollowed out.

Her eyes grew warm and she blinked hard. The memories crept back anyway. The rose petals she had scattered on the bedroom floor on her birthday night. Sitting up waiting for him until sleep dragged her under. The way he had kissed her forehead in the morning and said I’m sorry, I was swamped with work like it was the most natural thing in the world.

She had believed him.

The phone started ringing again. She grabbed it, ready to decline, then stopped when the name on the screen registered.

Carla.

She picked up.

“Diana!” Carla’s voice flooded the line immediately. “I have been calling you for the last two hours. Your phone wasn’t going through and I was about to drive to that mansion myself — how did the dinner go? Are you okay?”

Diana wiped her eyes quickly, as though Carla could see her through the screen. She exhaled. “I caught him again, Carla.”

Silence for one beat.

“What?”

“At the house. With Erica. The same girl.” Diana paused, steadying her voice. “And it’s worse this time. They already had a court wedding.”

The sound that came through the phone was somewhere between a gasp and a shriek. Carla launched into a stream of insults so colorful and precise that Diana almost smiled despite herself. “He is a wretched, disgusting, low-life excuse for a man and I hope he rots,” Carla finished breathlessly. “Oh, my poor baby. I am so, so sorry. You don’t deserve any of this.”

“I know.”

“Where are you right now? I’m coming to you.”

Diana hesitated. “Di?”

“I’m… I’m fine. I’m somewhere safe.”

“Somewhere safe where? Diana, where are you?” The silence stretched one second too long and Carla, who had known her since university and could read her hesitations like a language, cut straight through it. “Diana Hartway. Where are you?”

“It’s complicated, Carl—”

“Whose house are you in?”

Diana closed her eyes. “Maxwell’s.”

The silence on the other end was deafening. Then — “Whose house?”

“Maxwell Hartway.”

“You mean—” Carla’s voice dropped to something between a whisper and a shriek. “Maxwell Hartway? The Maxwell Hartway? You are in that man’s house right now?”

“Carla—”

“Diana, that man is worth more than most small countries—”

“Carla, I am not in the mood—”

“I’m just saying! That is quite…” she trailed off, exhaling slowly. “Interesting. That’s quite interesting, di.”

“I’m hanging up.”

“Okay, okay! I’m sorry. Are you okay? Really?”

“I’ll be fine. I just need tonight.”

Carla softened immediately. “Okay. Call me first thing in the morning.”

________________

Diana didn’t sleep. Not really. She lay with her eyes open staring at the ceiling while the clock ticked past midnight, past one, past two. Her mind wouldn’t rest. It kept replaying everything — the conversation she had heard through the door at the mansion, James’ bare chest, Erica’s satisfied laugh, you are worth more than a hundred Dianas.

She was still awake at three am when she finally stopped fighting it and just let the thoughts run themselves out.

By the time morning came, pale light leaking in through the curtains, she felt strangely calm. Not healed. Not fine. But settled, the way a storm settles into quietness.

She sat up.

Her gown was laid neatly across the foot of the bed — washed, pressed, looking like it hadn’t spent half the night soaked in rain. She stared at it for a moment, something she couldn’t name moving through her chest, then quietly got dressed. She gathered her bag and her phone and walked out of the room.

The house was still and cool in the early morning as she made her way down the wide staircase and nearly walked straight into Maxwell at the bottom.

He was already dressed. Dark trousers, a simple shirt, expression as unreadable as it had been the night before. Neither of them said anything for a moment.

Diana moved to step past him, then stopped. “Thank you,” she said, meeting his eyes briefly. “For last night. I should get going.”

Maxwell nodded once. “Take care of yourself.” He turned to the side. “I’ll have my driver take you.”

“I already booked a cab. Thank you.”

He raised an eyebrow. Something shifted briefly in his expression — amusement, maybe, or just faint surprise — then he shrugged, a slow, unhurried movement that said as you wish without a single word, and turned and walked back upstairs. Diana stood at the foot of the staircase alone for a moment. Then she walked outside.

She sat in the back of the cab the whole way home without checking her phone once. When the familiar gates of Riverpark Estate came into view she felt the dread settle into her stomach like something solid.

The cab stopped. She paid, stepped out, and stood on the pavement with her bag at her feet, staring at the front door.

She stood there long enough that the cab drove away.

Then she picked up her bag, lifted her chin, and walked inside.

James was in the sitting room. She stopped dead. She hadn’t expected that. He was usually at work by now — had always been at work by now — and the sight of him sitting there, watching the door like he had been waiting, sent a sharp spike of anger straight up her spine.

She didn’t say anything, just turned and made for the stairs.

“Diana.” His hand closed around her wrist.

The touch hit her like something electric and wrong. She wrenched her arm away hard and spun to face him. “Don’t you dare.”

“Diana, just listen—”

“I am done.” Her voice didn’t shake. She was surprised by that. “I am done being your fool, James. I am done.”

She turned and walked upstairs. Found the suitcase exactly where she had left it, half packed, tucked behind the wardrobe. She pulled it out and dragged it down the stairs without bothering to add anything else to it. She had enough.

James appeared at the bottom of the staircase. “What are you doing? Diana—”

She walked past him.

“Diana, put that down. Let’s talk about this—”

“You’ll be hearing from my lawyer.” She wheeled the bag toward the front door and pulled it open.

“You’re being dramatic. Stop—”

She walked outside, standing on the front steps trying to figure out whether to call Carla’s driver or book another cab when she heard it — the smooth, quiet rumble of an engine. A black Rolls Royce rolled to a stop directly in front of her.

The window came down and to the duo’s shock, Maxwell looked out at her, his arm resting on the door, completely unbothered.

“What the—” James shoved past her. His whole face had changed, the pretense falling away entirely. “What the hell are you doing here?”

Maxwell didn’t look at him. His eyes were on Diana. “You have three seconds to get in.”

James turned to her. Something panicked moved across his face for the first time. “Diana. Sweetheart, don’t — don’t listen to him—”

Diana looked at Maxwell. Looked at James. Looked at the car.

Then she opened the door and got in. She heard James shouting as Maxwell’s driver stepped out, lifted her suitcase with quiet efficiency, and placed it in the boot. The door clicked shut. The car didn’t hurry. Maxwell glanced once in the side mirror, and the ghost of something that might have been a smile crossed his face.

“Loser,” he said, almost to himself.

The Rolls Royce pulled away smoothly. Diana stared out the window as the gates of Riverpark Estate disappeared behind her. She didn’t know where they were going. She didn’t know what she was doing. She didn’t know if any of this made sense.

She stole a glance at Maxwell from the corner of her eye. He was facing forward, his jaw set, one hand resting loosely on his knee — completely unbothered, like he hadn’t just upended her entire morning. Like rescuing her was the most ordinary thing in the world.

Diana faced the window again before he could catch her looking.

She didn’t know what to make of him. Didn’t know why he kept showing up. Didn’t know why a man like Maxwell Hartway — cold, sharp-edged, someone who clearly had no business concerning himself with his nephew’s failing marriage — had now twice in less than twenty-four hours stepped between her and the worst version of her life.