Diana was speechless.She had clearly abided by the rules. How did she suddenly become someone with so many shortcomings in Julian's eyes?She stopped, and forcefully pulled her hand away from his grasp. "Can you please stop bringing up that night?"After taking the pill he had Layla deliver, she felt regret. But more than that, she felt shame!She had actually taken the initiative to be intimate with such a scumbag who made her take morning-after pills!She despised herself.And yet, back then…Her body was beyond her control, and was irresistibly drawn to Julian with an inexplicable infatuation."What's wrong?" His hand landed on her lower abdomen. "Are you pregnant?""Julian!"She was genuinely angry now.Angry that he would ask this question, even though he knew it was impossible. Angry that he had her take that pill, yet was asking her this on purpose!He was rubbing salt in her wounds, making her suffer in silence.He stubbornly held her hand, refusing to allow her
"What about Simon and Cecilia?" Diana asked.She stood rooted to the spot, ashamed for harboring the thoughts deep within her heart."Am I acting very irresponsible?" Julian kept looking at her, like a prince gazing at his princess. His expression was so focused, and his voice so captivating. "Life is short. Isn't it better to live following your heart?"Diana remained silent."Did you come to see me today just because Betty wouldn't let you hold her or get close? In the days of abiding by the rules, didn't you ever yearn for me? Did you never wonder why I didn't initiate a conversation with you? Didn't you feel upset? If you do, then it's proof that you still care about me. That night...was a result of strong feelings that went out of control."As Julian slowly dissected her actions, the feelings Diana suppressed in her heart yearned to burst out. However, they timidly retreated. She still had her most pressing concern. "Simon and Cecilia..."She bit her lip, her overwhelmin
"Would you reconcile with Daddy if we didn't do that?" Betty snorted. Not forgetting the mastermind of the plan, she continued, "Sean is amazing!"Sean appeared completely composed, as if he wasn't the one who came up with the idea. Yet, there was happiness in his eyes. He mirrored Julian almost perfectly.Diana looked at them, and smiled contentedly. "Sean’s becoming more and more like you."Julian raised an eyebrow, clearly in a good mood. "After all, he's my son. If he doesn't take after me, who else would it be?"Diana was about to call him out for being cheeky, when a voice interrupted them. "Where are you guys going?"It was Simon.Diana froze, and subconsciously glanced at Julian. She felt a bit embarrassed to let Simon see her and Julian looking so happy together. This would be too cruel for Simon, who was now disabled and had confessed his feelings to her but was rejected.That was also one of the reasons she had been trying to restrain her emotions regarding Julian
With Simon around, Diana couldn't fully let go.She had to suppress her happiness. She needed to take Simon's feelings into account."You go and play with the kids. I'll stay here with Simon," she said."It's okay. The attractions they're playing are child-friendly. I've arranged for an assistant to watch over them, so safety won't be an issue. You can go play on that one." Julian pointed to the carousel. "We'll be waiting for you outside the carousel. You can see me and Simon anytime.""That's right," Simon said. "You're already here. Won't you be disappointed if you don't go on any of the rides? Go ahead."He smiled. "My brother and I will be waiting here. Just look up, and you'll see us."This was Simon's way of saying he was fine with Julian accompanying him.When Simon called Julian his brother, Diana's heart skipped a beat. She instinctively glanced at Julian. Fortunately, it seemed he was immune to the term now."Go ahead," Julian said. Encouraged by their words, D
Continuing the ride wasn't an option, and going to Simon wasn't either.However, Julian didn't give her any time to ponder. "Quick, look over here!"Suddenly, he embraced her from behind and shouted happily to Simon, "Thanks for taking the photo for us, Brother! You're really considerate!"Simon was just about to check the time on his phone when he heard Julian's words. He replied with a slightly forced smile, "You're welcome."He maintained that smile, and opened the camera app.Click!Julian planted a kiss on Diana's cheek.She was shocked. But there was shyness in that surprise. She looked in Simon's direction, a bit bewildered.This scene was captured perfectly in Simon’s phone.She truly looked beautiful.Much, much more beautiful than back in Stirling City. Simon could see a vibrant air around her, one that hadn't existed before.Reluctantly, he had to admit that Julian brought about this change.However... Smiling, he said to Julian and Diana, "Brother, my phone's
Diana initially thought that she had to take Betty away from Julian as fast as possible. A man like him couldn’t possibly know how to take care of children.Yet, in reality, he had been a perfect father.The passers-by were right. Seeing how much effort Julian put in made Diana want to give birth to another child.The thought made her subconsciously caress her tummy.Since she didn’t end up taking contraceptives the last time, could it be possible…That there was a tiny life inside of her?Still, Diana knew it was impossible.It was just wishful thinking on her part.Her menstrual cycle had just ended a few days ago.Yet her expression when she caressed her tummy was so full of expectation and happiness, Simon couldn’t ignore it even if he tried.He stared at his legs, and his heart tightened.Sorrow filled his eyes. “I want to ride the roller coaster.” Betty’s childish voice pulled Diana back to reality. She pointed at the thrilling ride that made one shriek at the top of
He was afraid that Diana would once again be unable to recall their past.She had no recollection of their past—as if they were starting from a blank slate.Julian was the only one who remembered their precious memories. He treasured them greatly.But now, he was no longer bothered by it.The loss of memories wouldn’t be able to change a person’s very essence and nature.Such as her character, fears, and…everything she loved.Tears filled his eyes at that instant. He was moved by the tenderness that was very much part of her, and their tightly linked hands.While the two of them were strolling along the road, Julian seized the chance to lean into Diana’s ear and whisper, “Thank you for still loving me even until now.”No matter how much time passed, regardless of whether she lost her memories or not, they were in love right now.How amazing was that?Julian spoke softly. So softly, the wind had to carry his tender words into her ears.Diana heard him clearly. Her heart grew
He was very excited about it.The announcement system started playing the reminders. “Please fasten your seatbelts. The ride is about to begin.”Very soon, the roller coaster started moving slowly. It began accelerating, getting faster and faster by the minute. The scenery zoomed past them.Suddenly, the roller coaster accelerated even more. Diana tightened her grip over Julian’s hands. She couldn’t hold herself back from shrieking.She felt rather embarrassed when she realized what she did, but when she paid attention to her surroundings, she saw that people around her were screaming even louder than she did.Shrieks resounded in the air.On the other hand, Julian remained silent throughout the ride.“You’re impressive!” Diana yelled as she shut her eyes.Such extreme circumstances often drove one to say things one usually wouldn’t say. She howled loudly and boldly into the air, releasing the troubles she had suppressed in her heart. They seemed to vanish in the air along with
“Life is all about reconciliation.” Decades passed in the blink of an eye. Diana’s children had all grown up.Kate and Isaac had both passed away. Even Diana’s old friends, Fanny and Oliver, had left the world too.Fanny was never able to get pregnant again after that rainy night. She had gradually let go of her desire to get pregnant under Oliver’s persuasion.They stayed relentlessly by each other’s side, albeit childless. Over the years, having experienced all that life had to offer and being each other’s best friend, Oliver died on a peaceful night, never awaking again.Fanny held his hand while sending him off, and closed her eyes forever as well.Diana had seen too many people off in her lifetime.She had grown old herself, too. She could see her life slowly ebbing away.“Julian, I’m so happy to have lived my life with you.” She had transformed from a disgraced young woman to Mrs. Fulcher, respected by all in Richburgh. Julian even took care of her in person when she
He blurted those words instinctively.He had been waiting so long for a pair of daughters, yet when the doctor came over, he saw a pair of sons instead.Diana thought the hospital must have made a mistake and kicked up a fuss, insisting that she had a pair of daughters. She insisted for them to check the footage from the surveillance camera to see if there was a mix-up. The culprit, Julian, could only stand guiltily at a corner and mumble, “Actually…sons are fine too.”As long as it was their children, it didn’t matter whether they were girls or boys. Either way, Diana was the only woman he loved his entire life. Even his love for his only daughter Betty didn’t match up to that.After witnessing Diana giving birth, Julian’s love for Diana went up a notch, to the point of paranoia.For the rest of their lives, he made sure to never let her worry or touch cold water.He took great care of her.Kate finally appeared two years after Diana gave birth.When the mother and daughter
Nina mentioned the Jenningses. “The Jennings family is gone overnight, just like that.”Diana wasn’t shocked.She guessed that Julian had wanted to do that for a while. Not just for her and to seek justice for the Lemmington family, but also for Simon.Although Julian never allowed Simon to call him his brother, he had wanted to annihilate everything that was involved with the Hughes family since Simon’s death.Him making his move on the Jenningses indicated that the time had come.“Congratulations,” Diana said to Nina. “Has Vans come back to you?”“No,” Nina said with a shake of her head. “Lina Jennings isn’t the only thing standing in between us. We have problems of our own to overcome.”Diana sighed. “I think Marcus is pretty good.”She felt relaxed and comfortable around him.Even if Vans came round and worked with Julian to bring down the Jenningses, and had no feelings whatsoever for Lina, Diana wasn’t exactly eager to be with him.As if they had telepathy with each oth
“He doesn’t need to be jailed,” Fanny said, confused. “One word from him, and his lawyers will be able to exonerate him. I just don’t understand why he’d rather go to jail.”“He wants to pay for his father’s sins,” Diana said with a sigh.Fanny didn’t know what to think of that. Was Oliver innocent, or not? He even went to such great lengths to stop her.Yet, the moment she declared that she would never compromise and would rather be under the protection of Diana than to be involved with Oliver, he clearly looked like he was in a daze.Diana noticed that Fanny hardly smiled over the past few days, and rubbed her hand comfortingly. “He just wants a clean start with you.”Fanny’s heart shook. She couldn’t sleep the entire night.The next morning, she told Diana, “Today’s the day of his trial and sentencing. I want to see him.”Diana asked Julian to send a few bodyguards with Fanny on her trip there.When she returned, she looked as if a heavy burden had been lifted from her shoul
Fanny bet that he wouldn’t dare.That was equivalent to eliminating all chances he stood with Diana.Julian witnessed the scene unfolding before him. Instead of getting frustrated, he stood quietly there, ready to protect Diana, as he watched Fanny and Oliver fight it out with each other.Oliver was confused. “Why not?”He glanced at Diana, and went on, “I did like Diana in the past, but I have since given up on those feelings for her. Fanny Smith, is your heart made of stone? Can’t you tell who the woman I like is after all this time?”Fanny was stunned, feeling suffocated as if something was stuck in her throat. “Don’t tell me it’s me.”Oliver was dumbfounded. Who else could he be talking about? The stars in the sky?Fanny felt indignant under his glare. “If you like me, why did you say that I’m just a child-bearing tool for you?”“If I didn’t say that, would I be able to keep you confined in the villa? Would I be able to dash all your hopes and make you feel hopeless?”
Oliver would never let her go. “Fanny Smith, don’t even think about leaving me in this life!”That was when Diana and Julian hurriedly made their way.Sean located Oliver very accurately. Diana saw the scene unfolding before her, and couldn’t help but recall everything that happened in Jacroaof. She hurriedly told Noel to take Sean outside and wait. She couldn’t afford to gamble on Sean’s safety. She didn’t want Sean exposed to any form of danger right under her nose.Her actions made Oliver tense. “Diana, do you think I’ve gone mad?” He grabbed Fanny’s hand, as if he was holding onto the most precious treasure in the world.Diana didn’t answer him, but she threw her bag that Julian was helping her carry toward Fanny.She was exerting so much force for a pregnant lady, looking as if she wanted to fight with Fanny.Even Julian didn’t know what Diana was trying to do, not to mention Fanny herself.By the time he snapped back to attention and wanted to stop Diana from doing s
However, Fanny must let go of her hatred and past grudges first.The mention of children made Fanny waver. The hatred in her eyes grew even more intense. “Oliver Channing! The cheek of you to mention children!” What gave him the right to say that?!“We agreed,” Oliver said. He didn’t find anything wrong with that. “Fanny, if you want to leave that villa and be free once more, you must give birth to a child of ours.”“What about the child I lost just a few days ago?” Fanny demanded. She found him unreasonable. “Over the past few days, have you ever thought of him, or felt like you let him down? We haven’t even resolved the issues between us, and you want me to get pregnant again. Are you really ready to be a father?!”“I want you to get pregnant again?” Oliver said as he drew closer to her. His eyes were dark, looking as if he wanted to crush Fanny and put her in his pocket. “Weren’t you the one who tried to seduce me by wearing a revealing dress in my house? Fanny Smith, do
Julian stopped talking to the butler, but he was already making plans in his heart.He returned to the study, and told Diana, “Fanny and Oliver have been fighting for a long time, and it might be over something that might potentially destroy their relationship.”In fact… “Fanny might no longer love Oliver right now.”However, the fact that Oliver faked her death and confined her was enough to show that he still cared for her.If he realized that Fanny no longer loved him, he might do something even crazier.“Let’s hurry up and save her, then!” Diana said.“Wait,” Julian said calmly, “I’m not done with my prediction.”“What?”“Oliver really doesn’t like you now.” Julian’s mood lifted as he arrived at his final conclusion. “We can step in to help Fanny.”Diana was dumbfounded.She had thought that Julian went to such great lengths to analyze the situation for the sake of saving another. To think that his possessiveness took over, and he prioritized figuring out Oliver’s feeli
The three of them entered the study.None of them expected to see a portrait of Diana right in the middle of the study.The portrait was most likely drawn by copying a photo. In the portrait, Diana was eating something with a smile. It looked like the day when Diana encountered a pervert on the train and Oliver stepped in to help her and treated her to a meal.Did she smile so tenderly at him at that time?“You couldn’t have smiled so happily at that time when we were fighting over Kayla.”It was a portrait, not a photo. It was likely that the owner of this portrait added his own interpretation and features when he commissioned this portrait.“He still has feelings for you,” Julian said coldly.He no longer wanted to interfere with the affairs of the Channings.However, Diana disagreed. “If he really had feelings for me, he wouldn’t hang my portrait up so boldly right here.”The fact that Oliver could display the portrait for all to see proved that his feelings for Diana were