The food prepared by the cafeteria was decent, while the porridge and vegetables were soft and flavorful. They would suit Madam Fulcher's taste buds.Diana had only just bid farewell to Nina and walked out of the cafeteria when she bumped into the gloomy-looking Julian."You just had an abortion! How are you in the mood to come here and eat?" Julian looked at Diana's attire. All she wore was a dress with seemingly thin fabric. He couldn't help but feel a little angry.Why didn't she put on an additional layer of clothing?However, Diana couldn't understand what he was saying at all because she was scared out of her wits.She recalled the scene of Julian carrying her into the operating room and forcefully placing her on the bed. The lights were then switched on…Only God knew how hopeless she felt before she had time alone with Vans.In fact, she also wondered if life would become meaningless once she lost her child.Fortunately, that was when Julian walked out.She had the opp
It turned out Julian wanted to put on a show for Madam Fulcher.Diana instantly understood his intentions. "Okay."However, she couldn't bring herself to lie to Madam Fulcher that they were getting back together.Besides, the idea itself disgusted her.It made her feel as uncomfortable, just as the coat that was suddenly draped over her did.In the end, she still followed after him. "Julian, don't you think it's funny to say we're getting back together?""Funny?" Julian couldn't quite get it. "Why would it be funny? Grandma's health is already in a poor state. She's willing to cooperate with you by lying about the pregnancy test. She said you weren't actually pregnant, and she made it all up, resulting in so much confusion. Are you unwilling to tell a single lie for the sake of her health? Diana, you know as well as I do that you didn't fake being pregnant. I saw the baby with my own eyes."Besides, Diana admitted that it belonged to Oliver.Julian didn't say all this in front
Perhaps too many things had happened today. Even something as simple as this made him feel lost.Julian took a deep breath. He ignored the shocked look in Diana's eyes. "Let's not get a divorce. We'll spend the rest of our lives together," he finally said.Diana was speechless.Why weren't they getting a divorce?Why did she have to forgive him just because he apologized, and in such a half-baked way at that?Was this Julian's real motive for dragging her over to Madam Fulcher's bed?Was this what Madam Fulcher asked him to do…after she left the ward?That explained why Julian was so angry when he saw her. He even claimed that Madam Fulcher had cooperated with her…But this wasn't what Diana intended!From the moment she was sent into the operating room and forced to have an abortion, she already made up her mind that she would get a divorce with Julian.Nothing anyone said would change her mind.But now…She looked at Grandma, who couldn't even say a thing, and her resolve
This man was unbelievable!So, he actually wanted to push Diana over to Kayla?What was he thinking?Diana didn't want to see Kayla!Right now, Diana perceived Kayla and Julian as significant threats in her life.Nothing good could happen from seeing either of them!However, Grandma seemed pleased with Julian's reply. In fact, she even gently pinched Diana's hand to signal that Diana should agree to it.Against her own will, Diana was forced to agree. "Okay."Julian decisively made a call and told Diana that the appointment had been made. Regardless of what Diana would say to Kayla, he wouldn't get involved.This man sure was good at pretending!Diana was certain that if she even said anything to hurt Kayla, Julian would rip her throat apart.When she and Kayla were supposed to meet the next day, she switched off her phone and didn't show up at all.Diana didn't want to meet Kayla.Although Diana managed to escape unscathed from the birthday party last time, she had a feel
Diana wasn't expecting their meeting to be so awkward. She wanted to show Fanny the dress, but Fanny's manager suddenly called out to her. "Fanny! What do you think of these?"Fanny and Diana both turned around.Fanny's manager was holding up several dresses. It seemed the manager wanted Fanny to continue choosing her outfit.However, Fanny became visibly impatient. "I already told you, all of them look ugly as hell! I only want designs from D&J. Don't you get it?!"The manager looked troubled. "She hasn't been putting out much work over the past few years. Besides, she just announced she'd stop designing. None of our people can contact her now."Diana was standing right there, speechless.In reality, she was right in front of them. She even came here to personally deliver Fanny's dress…However, Fanny didn't want to entertain Diana at all.It seemed Oliver's girlfriend was jealous of Diana.Diana felt even more guilty about interfering with their relationship. Although she se
In the end, this wasn’t something she could decide. Thus, Diana could only leave with regrets. Half an hour later, at the door of Fanny’s place. Cherise, her manager, was chased out once again. Unfortunately, there were only three hours left till the award ceremony began. Even if the outfit was designed and ready, three hours was hardly enough time to prepare. What’s more, Fanny had yet to select an outfit. She spent the entire time throwing a tantrum, insisting on wearing a D&J outfit. But where was Cherise going to get one when D&J had announced their retirement from the business? Cherise leaned against the door as she heard things being thrown around and smashed in the apartment, her brows furrowing in frustration. This spoiled princess… Even though she had struck out on her own from the Channings, her temper remained the same. But Fanny had to attend tonight’s award ceremony no matter what, because she had won an award. Although she had won Most Popular Celebrity
Julian’s intent for the press conference was to help promote Kayla and help her take her first step as an up-and-coming designer. But at that moment, his attention was fixed on his phone. Diana neither called nor texted him. “Julian, do you think putting the potted plants on both sides will make it look informal?” Kayla was very enthusiastic about the press conference and basically did almost everything herself. Julian didn’t even lift his head to look at her. “Hmm, no.” Kayla sighed and put the things in her hands down before walking toward Julian. “Julian, what’s on your mind? Are you very busy with work?” Julian said noncommittally, “I’ll head out to make a call.” Kayla stopped dead in her tracks. Didn’t they complete the divorce proceedings yesterday? The call definitely had nothing to do with Diana. Kayla tried to reassure herself that Julian was probably busy with work and did not follow behind him. She turned around and continued ordering people around as the
He was always the one who hung up first. But now… Julian felt that ever since Diana was exposed to be pregnant with Oliver’s child and after both of them promised Grandma not to get a divorce, Diana had been behaving without restraint. She acted as if there was nothing he could do about her. She even hung up on him so blatantly! Silence ensued over the phone, and when Julian looked at the screen… Huh? She really did hang up on him. That damned woman! Was she completely fearless now that he had promised Grandma not to get a divorce? Did she think she had protection? He imagined the smug look on her face, and wished he could run to her right now and erase that smile off her face. Unfortunately, he couldn’t leave the press conference at this moment. Kayla needed his endorsement and his presence as a backup. Only with him around will others know how highly he regarded Kayla. That would bring the greatest benefit to Kayla in the shortest time possible. Yet, his heart
“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