Chapter 15

The smile on Diana's lips froze the moment she saw the photos. Gabriella had sent her two photos. One of them was a casual selfie, but there was a hand at the bottom right corner of the photo. It was a large, bony hand. Without even guessing, Diana knew that it was Vincent's hand. The second photo showed a lunchbox that Diana knew all too well. Her heart sank as she stared at it. It was the stew she had made herself. She would wake up early every morning to prepare the stew, carefully stewing herbs and vegetables, only because Vincent said he liked them. Convinced that Vincent was the one having it, she would personally hand the stew to Aaron. However, the stew that day had gone to Gabriella. Diana felt a sharp pain in her chest as her nails dug into her palms. Then, Gabriella sent another message. It wasn't a photo but a text message. "Thank you so much, Diana! I've been having your vegetable stew for over two weeks now, and I really feel so much better. "I used to be completely wiped out from late-night shoots, but since I started having your stew, I feel energized. I no longer suffer from dizzy spells or fatigue, even after staying up all night! "Oh, but Diana, today's batch was a little salty. Maybe add less salt next time? I'm not used to the taste." Diana stared at the screen for a long time and fell silent. All her effort over the past two weeks—every pot of carefully made stew—had ended up in the hands of Vincent's precious "younger sister". No wonder he had insisted she make it every day. She had actually believed it was because he liked it and it was his way of appreciating her cooking. However, she didn't expect him to ask only because he felt sorry for Gabriella, who had to starve herself to stay thin, and it left her pale and weak. Maria passed by with an armful of linens and paused when she noticed Diana standing frozen. "Mrs. Hendrix? Are you okay?" she asked, feeling worried when Diana didn't reply a word. "Are you feeling unwell?" Diana blinked slowly, then looked up and smiled faintly. "I'm fine, Maria. Go ahead with your chores. Don't worry about me." Maria's heart eased, then she nodded. "Okay, Mrs. Hendrix. By the way, we're almost out of those medicinal herbs you've been using. I'll put in an order to restock—" "No need." Diana was calm and indifferent. "If we're out, we won't be needing more. I won't be making stew anymore." Maria blinked in surprise. Diana had been so invested in those stews, passionate and hopeful. But now, she would stop making them. But it wasn't Maria's place to ask questions. She simply nodded and walked away. "Alright, Mrs. Hendrix." The moment she left, Diana tilted her head back and let out a long sigh. A single tear slid from the corner of her eye, rolling down her cheek before falling silently to the floor. Her slender shoulders trembled uncontrollably. She couldn't even tell anymore. Was it rage or hatred? Day after day, she woke up early and poured herself into that kitchen. She had researched recipes, chosen the best ingredients, and perfected every flavor, just to please him. And now, reality proved to her that her effort was nothing but a joke. Diana thought she was such a fool to think that they could start again and that some broken things could still be made whole. She had tried so hard again and again. She had given up, but still found reasons to hope again. In the end, all those hopes were completely shattered. And now, there was nothing left to hold onto. The world moved too fast these days. People rushed through life like it was set on fast-forward mode, racing to keep up with the next big thing. Yet, some people got stuck. Diana was one of them, but not anymore. Now, her mind was clear. She once thought guilt shouldn't be mistaken for love. But looking back, maybe what Vincent felt for Gabriella was never just guilt. It was love that he didn't recognize, leading up to a messy tangle of guilt and affection. No matter what Kenneth, Beatrice, Jason, or anyone else said, and no matter how they tried to comfort or persuade her, Diana knew one thing for sure now. This time, she would never go back. Vincent didn't deserve her. He didn't deserve even the slightest bit of love from her. The man who returned from that shipwreck wasn't the same person who once loved her deeply. That Vincent was long gone. He didn't understand her. He didn't see how much she gave and didn't feel the constant fear gnawing at her. Besides, he didn't notice the exhaustion in her eyes or the silent ache in her heart. Everything was clear to Diana now. If she stayed at the same spot, she would be trapped there forever and would never escape. She was dead inside. The beautiful memories they had once shared remained vivid like a painting, but it was impossible to complete the picture now. Parting ways seemed to be the best ending for them both. After thinking everything through, Diana was relieved. It didn't matter if there was love or not. From now on, she would only focus on her own life. Diana returned to her room and took the divorce papers from the drawer. Fortunately, she hadn't thrown away the signed documents after what Jason had said. G At least now, she wouldn't need to get Vincent's signature again. She picked up her phone and called her best friend, Evelyne Cornelius. "Evy, I'm planning to move out once Mr. Hendrix Sr. passes." "Have you really decided to divorce him?" Evelyne asked. Diana hummed in response. "Yeah. Grandpa is in poor health. He has heart issues, so he can't handle any shock. He can't accept it if I leave Vincent, so I plan to keep this from him for now. "I'll get all the procedures done after he passes." In the meantime, she would prepare for the divorce quietly. She couldn't go back to the Gyleon residence now. Kenneth was a typical businessman. To him, their family's interest was more important than anything else. If Kenneth found out about the divorce, he would certainly oppose it or even force Diana to go against her wish. She had been Vincent's wife for seven years. She had no job and nothing to her name. Back then, when she married Vincent, the Gyleon family was in financial crisis. All her wedding gifts that had been given by her mother, Beatrice Palmer, had gone into saving the family business. Kenneth would definitely kick Diana out if she left the Hendrix family. Women had to be independent, not just mentally but also financially. "Diana, I'm coming over right now," Evelyne said after sensing that something wasn't right. The old Diana used to be a hopeless romantic, but she suddenly decided to face reality and made up her mind. Her sudden change worried Evelyne. Half an hour later, a car pulled over outside Hendrix Villa. Evelyne rushed out and ran to the door. Evelyne ran toward Diana and hugged her as soon as she saw her. "I'm fine, Evy." Diana looked composed, and the redness around her eyes was gone. "What's your plan next? Are you going to pretend to be his wife for Mr. Hendrix Sr.'s sake?" Evelyne asked. Diana fell silent for a brief moment before she said, "I want money." "I can—" Evelyne was about to offer the money she had saved up because she thought Diana was in need of money. But Diana shook her head. "I don't literally mean money." She wanted a career. She couldn't rely on the Gyleon family or ask for their help. Once she ended her marriage with Vincent, she would lose all the benefits she had from being his wife. Diana needed to have her own career before she could be financially independent. As the oldest and only daughter of the Gyleon family, Diana had had her bread buttered for life. She had lived a luxurious and comfortable life, and she hadn't done any chores before marrying Vincent. But now, she was no longer the naive girl from the past. A thought crossed Evelyne's mind, and she said, "I have an idea." She led Diana to the vanity. Diana took a deep breath. Then, she stood in front of the mirror and looked at her beautiful face. "Have you thought of joining the entertainment industry?" Evelyne asked.