Chapter 1

"Mrs. Hendrix, there have been rumors that your marriage with Mr. Hendrix is on the rocks. On your birthday, he was spotted meeting the rising star, Gabriella Jackson, late at night. Do you have any comment on that?" Diana Gyleon's smile froze slightly, and her heart clenched. Questions from paparazzi were always sharp and hit a nerve. She instinctively turned her head to glance at the man beside her. Her husband, Vincent Hendrix, wore a deep frown. Irritation and sullenness were written all over his face. "Mrs. Hendrix, you've been married to Mr. Hendrix for seven years, but there are reports that three years ago, Mr. Hendrix lost his memory and ended up living with a fisherwoman for two years." "He almost agreed to their matrilocal arrangement, too. Is that true?" "Mr. Hendrix, can we get a quick comment? What's your relationship with Gabriella? Is she your lover?" Vincent's expression darkened as he turned and walked away without a word. A crowd of reporters relentlessly surged forward. In the chaos, Diana stumbled and failed to keep up. As she twisted her ankle in the commotion, she reached out and called out, "Vincent…" But she grasped at air. Her fingers curled slightly as she stood in a daze, watching Vincent disappear into the distance. Just then, Vincent seemed to realize he had left his wife behind. He paused and was about to turn around when a sharp sound rang out. His phone started ringing. Vincent stopped in his tracks. In the crowd, Diana was jostled back and forth. She struggled to move closer to Vincent as the stabbing pain in her ankle drained the color from her face. "Vincent, I—" She wanted to tell him she couldn't walk, but she suddenly held her tongue. She watched his expression change drastically as he answered the call. Without hesitation, he spun around and strode off in the opposite direction like something urgent had come up. The reporters surrounded Diana and continued pushing in until there was no way out. She opened her mouth yet failed to find the right words. Her nose tingled, and her heart twisted in pain as she watched Vincent walk further away. She had no doubt the call was from Gabriella. Since Vincent had regained his memory, anything related to Gabriella was his priority. No matter the time or place, he would drop everything and rush to her side. However, this moment was about the Hendrix family's public image. As the lady of the Hendrix family, Diana couldn't just walk away. If she did, the next day's headlines would be full of their news. She took a deep breath and composed herself. After putting on a calm, graceful smile, she turned to face the reporters with poise and serenity. "Ms. Jackson is our close friend. She wasn't feeling well on my birthday, so we visited her together," Diana explained. Diana's voice was gentle and calm. Even in the face of the relentless questions, she was unwavering, and there wasn't a trace of embarrassment or distress on her face. Smiling, she continued, "In fact, I was there the whole time. The paparazzi just didn't catch me in frame. "As for the other rumors, they're just rumors. I trust my husband and believe that the wise don't believe idle gossip." That was all she said. "Everyone, may I leave now?" she asked. From beginning to end, her tone had been calm and soft. She hadn't lost her composure once. The reports were momentarily stunned. Diana didn't have an imposing presence and wasn't particularly sharp in tone either, but her grace compelled them to make way for her even without realizing it. The setting sun painted the sky in gold as a gentle evening breeze stirred the hem of her dress. … Far in the distance, storm clouds gathered. It seemed like it would rain soon, and the air was slightly damp. Diana lowered her gaze and pressed her lips together. Her long lashes covered the sorrow in her eyes. She had just arrived home and taken off her coat when she bumped into Maria Wall, who was holding a plate and looked oddly flustered. "What's wrong, Maria?" Diana asked. Maria looked startled as if she hadn't expected Diana to come back now. She seemed nervous and hesitant to speak. "Is Vincent back?" Diana asked as she glanced up toward the second floor. Maria quickly nodded. Her gaze flickered as she replied, "Mr. Hendrix is back… Mrs. Hendrix, would you like to go out for a bit?" Her voice grew softer until it could barely be heard. Diana had to lean in just to hear her. "Do we have guests?" Diana was no fool. She noticed how Maria kept avoiding eye contact and glancing upstairs, and everything suddenly became clear. Grabiella, the actress the reporters had mentioned, had been here more than once. One of the many guest rooms on the second floor was ready for her at all times. Just as Diana had expected, Vincent had rushed off because of Gabriella. "Why wasn't I told there were guests? I'll go up and take a look," Diana calmly stated as she ascended the stairs. "Mrs. Hendrix—" Maria paled. This was bad, really bad. That guest wasn't just anyone. Why had Vincent brought Gabriella into the master bedroom? If Diana saw that, no explanation could ever clear things up. Diana went upstairs and noticed that the guest room door was tightly shut, but voices came from her and Vincent's master bedroom. She wondered why Gabriella was in the master bedroom instead of the guest room. Although Diana had mentally prepared herself, her expression still fell the moment she pushed the door open. Gabrielle was lying on the master bed, dressed in Diana's nightgown. On the wall above the bed, Diana's radiant smile in the wedding picture now looked mocking and absurd. "Oh my, Diana's back!" Gabriella looked up from the bed and beamed at her. She didn't seem like she intended to get up at all. Diana was about to speak when Vincent appeared with a glass of water. "You're back. Gabby forgot her umbrella and got caught in the rain. She's always been weak, so I brought her home," he flatly explained with a cold expression. Then, he walked up to Gabriella. His voice softened with concern and reproach as he urged, "Hurry up and take your meds, or you'll catch a cold. You're not a child anymore, so why can't you be more careful? If I catch you again, you're dead meat." Gabriella playfully stuck out her tongue. "Fine, I get it. You're such a nag." The scene made Diana's blood boil. Clenching her fists, she glared at Vincent and said, "She's an adult, not a child. Doesn't she know how to take cover from the rain?" Gabriella was a grown woman, and just because she had forgotten her umbrella, she was utterly at a loss. After getting caught in the rain, was she now fatally sick? When Diana remembered that Vincent had left her to face all the reporters alone because of something so trivial, she couldn't help but feel the bitterness rising in her chest. Gabriella's smile froze. Panic and grievance filled her eyes as she hurriedly said, "I-I'm so sorry, Diana. If this is bothering you, I'll leave. I'll get going right now…" As she spoke, she threw off the covers and made to get up. Her eyes shimmered with anxious tears, and she looked utterly frail and sorrowful. "Enough. You've always been understanding, Diana. Why are you being so harsh now?" Vincent frowned, clearly impatient. His tone was rull of reproach, and his gaze was cold. Diana's hands trembled slightly. Angrily gritting her teeth, she hissed, "She's wearing my clothes. Are there no other clothes in the house? Why didn't you have Maria bring something else?" The Hendrix family was immensely wealthy, and there were guest rooms aplenty. Since Gabriella was a frequent "guest", Vincent made sure she had a wardrobe of her own and prepared the latest clothes of every season. Yet here she was, sleeping in their master bedroom. Diana had barely protested, and she was labelled harsh. "Stop making a scene. Gabby is young, and I see her as a younger sister," Vincent said sternly as tension rose in the air.