CHAPTER 4: CHANCE MEETING III
Back in the car, James sat fuming. The air inside was thick with tension, so stifling that even breathing felt like a risk to Antonio and Angelo. They sat rigidly, exchanging glances but saying nothing.
James's fingers tapped impatiently on his knee, his jaw clenched so tight it could crack. The memory of Diana's defiance replayed in his head, fueling the fire in his chest. He had expected resistance, maybe some reluctance, but outright dismissal? That woman had the audacity to call him a dreamer—as if this marriage wasn't already set in stone!
His anger only grew the more he thought about it. It wasn't just about her rejection. No, it was deeper than that. James wasn't a man used to hearing no. He wasn't a man accustomed to being dismissed like an insignificant option.
When Antonio finally started the car, the sudden movement made James snap. In one swift motion, his hand shot out and gripped the door handle—only for it to break clean off in his palm.
Antonio and Angelo both stiffened.
James exhaled sharply, dropping the broken handle to the floor.
"How dare her," he muttered under his breath, his voice dangerously low.
Angelo swallowed hard. He had never seen his boss this agitated over a woman before.
"Where to, boss?" Antonio finally dared to ask.
James's cold gaze flickered toward him. "Holland Gardens."
At first, neither man reacted. The tension had paralyzed them both.
"I said, head to Holland Gardens!" James barked, his voice cutting through the suffocating silence like a blade.
Antonio nearly jumped as he immediately obeyed, steering the car toward their destination.
> Holland Gardens is located in Kensington Palace—one of the richest areas in London.
Clapham, London – The Pierce Residence
Diana reached home in record time, but her heart felt heavier with every step she took inside. The moment she crossed the threshold, the sight of their lavish living room—marble floors, chandeliers, imported furniture—only intensified the knot in her stomach.
For the first time, she questioned everything.
Had this been the price of her freedom all along?
She stormed upstairs, her heels clicking sharply against the polished wooden steps.
Valerie, who had entered the house behind Diana, settled onto the sofa, waiting patiently for her boss.
"Mom!" she shouted, her voice echoing down the hallway. "Mom, where the hell are you?"
A familiar voice responded from one of the rooms.
"In here, darling!"
Diana didn't hesitate. She pushed the door open and found her mother sitting comfortably on a stool, painting her toenails while humming to the African jazz played softly in the background.
The sheer calmness of the scene made Diana's blood boil.
Without a word, she dropped the file beside her mother on the bed.
Katherine took one look at her daughter's face and knew something was wrong. She lowered the volume of her music and picked up the file. As her eyes skimmed through the contents, she let out a small sigh.
"Mom, is this true?" Diana's voice trembled, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.
Katherine didn't respond immediately.
"Mom," Diana pressed, louder this time, "I'm asking you—is this true? Did you and Dad make this kind of deal with the Higgins?"
Katherine exhaled before finally answering, "Yes, honey. We did."
Diana staggered back as if the words had physically struck her.
"You did what?" Her voice cracked, and the tears she had been holding back finally spilled over.
"Honey, it's not what you think. Your father and I were in a very difficult position. A friend of his introduced him to Harold Higgins, and he agreed to help us—but in return, he asked for something. We had nothing to offer. So when he suggested we promise our daughter's hand in marriage to his son, we had no choice."
Diana let out a bitter laugh between her sobs, shaking her head. "So you and Dad just gave me away like that? You didn't even consider my life, my choices?" She wiped her face roughly, her shoulders shaking violently. "Mom, for God's sake, you have two other daughters! You could have given them away!"
Katherine's expression hardened, and she stood up. "Enough, Diana!" she snapped. "Giving you up for marriage was one of the hardest things your father and I ever had to do."
Diana scoffed, her eyes red and puffy. "Oh yeah? It doesn't look so hard now that I think about it."
Katherine ignored the jab and continued, "If we hadn't made that deal, do you think we'd be living in this kind of house? Do you think you would have finished business school successfully? Do you think you'd even have your catering business in that location? No, Diana. Everything had already been planned out for you—you just didn't know it. And that family has been more than fair to us. We gave them one daughter, and in return, they changed our lives."
Diana choked on a sob, staring at her mother in disbelief. "So it really was about the money," she whispered brokenly.
Katherine sighed in frustration. "That's not what I meant—"
"Have you even seen their son?" Diana cut in, her voice filled with despair.
Katherine remained silent.
Diana wiped her face, her hands trembling. "But Mom, I'm just twenty-three!" She hated how small her voice sounded.
"Girls older than you are already married and having kids. That's not an excuse." Katherine sat back down, her tone final. "Your wedding is in two days. You better start getting yourself ready."
Diana let out a choked breath and turned away. She took one last, shattered look at her mother before walking out.
She wiped her face roughly, took a deep breath, and went downstairs to meet Valerie.
---
Valerie saw Diana descending the stairs and stood up immediately.
"So?" she asked, concern deep in her voice.
Diana forced a smirk, though her eyes were still puffy from crying. "Well, it seems I'm really getting married."
Valerie's brows shot up. "What?"
Diana let out a dry chuckle, giving a wry smile. "At least he's not that bad."
If James Higgins had heard her describing him—a man women practically died for—as not that bad, he would have vomited blood.
Valerie sighed and patted Diana's back, leading her to the sofa. "You know I'm always here for you—not just as your secretary, but as your best friend too. No matter what."
Diana smiled at her and hugged her close. "I love you too, Valerie."
Valerie had been Diana's closest ally since their teenage years. They met when Diana's family first moved to London, and since then, Valerie had been her rock. Even when Valerie could have chosen her own path, she stuck by Diana—more like a sister than a friend.
Valerie pulled away and smirked. "I should probably get going before your ice-cold sister shows up and starts giving me one of her legendary death stares."
Diana laughed. "Oh, come on, Val. She's not that bad."
Valerie gave her a pointed look. "Right. And I suppose she just radiates warmth?"
Just then, a woman walked through the door, her face blank, her presence chilling.
"Uhm, thanks, Valerie," the woman said coolly. "But I think I'll do just fine. And if I ever have trouble getting laid, I'll be sure to consult you."
Valerie turned to Diana with a see-what-I-mean? expression and immediately stood up.
"Dee, this is my cue."
Diana chuckled and walked her to the door. After Valerie left, she locked the door and slowly made her way upstairs.
As she stepped into her room, she fell onto the bed, staring at the ceiling.
She was really getting married.
And there was nothing she could do about it.
Two days.
In two days, her life would change forever.