Chapter 2

Just because Vincent took Gabriella as his younger sister, she could wear Diana's clothes. Just because Vincent took Gabriella as his younger sister, she could freely come and leave The Halcyon, the home of the couple. Just because Vincent took Gabriella as his younger sister, Diana would be deemed irrational and harsh if she felt jealous. Diana's heart sank. They had been married for years, so she knew that Vincent was mad, and this was his final warning. She pressed her lips together, and the corners curled into a bitter, mocking smile. Forcing her voice to sound steady and not choked with emotion, she said, "Sure. Please get some rest, Ms. Jackson." With that, she turned around and left. It wouldn't do good to cling on any longer. To him, she had always been irrational and harsh anyway. "Mrs. Hendrix…" Maria carefully called out. She had been waiting by the stairs, and she was full of concern when she saw Diana come down. "I'm fine. Thank you for your concern, Maria." Diana smiled and nodded at her, and only then did Maria breathe a sigh of relief. … That night, Diana sat on the bay window. The breeze was chilly, and the cold moonlight spilled over her, framing her thin and frail figure. It had been a year since Vincent returned. He had regained his memories, but to her, it still felt like he had never truly returned. Sometimes, Diana honestly felt like an outsider. Perhaps she could stop intruding on the perfect couple that Vincent and Gabriella made. Just as the thought surfaced, her phone rang. It was from her best friend, Evelyne Cornelius. "Diana, up for a world trip?" Evelyne asked. Evelyne had meant for it to be a random question. Everyone in their circle knew Diana was a hopeless romantic, and her whole world revolved around Vincent. She wished she could stay by his side all the time. Still, Evelyne made a point to ask every year. "When is it?" Diana asked. Evelyne had braced herself for rejection and was utterly surprised to receive a different response from the cool voice. Diana held her phone and stared blankly out the window as Evelyne's stunned voice came through the line. "Diana, are you serious? Are you not staying glued to that bastard for once?" "Yeah, I've finally figured things out," Diana replied. Yet, Evelyne seemed skeptical. "Don't you dare ditch me halfway and beg to come back. You know these trips last over half a year." "I'm not coming back," Diana replied with a bitter smile. She was never coming back again. "W-What happened?" Sensing something off, Evelyne exploded. "That bastard hurt you again, didn't he? The bitch stirred up more trouble, right? I've just got back and am yet to check the news. Tell me, did they—" "Evy," Diana said, gently cutting her off. "I'm just… really tired." There was a long silence on the other end. Finally, Evelyne said, "You should just leave him, Diana. My brother is a top-tier divorce lawyer. If you need any help, I'll make sure that he helps you out. "Seriously. You should think about it." Diana stayed silent for a while before replying with a soft hum. "I'll make the plans. We'll set out after Christmas and travel the world. Let's forget all these jerks." Evelyne sounded genuinely concerned. After the call ended, Diana sat still and silent as tears dripped onto the back of her hand. She had been married to Vincent for seven years, but in truth, they had only lived as husband and wife for five. For two of those years, he had been with someone else. Three years ago, Vincent had gone missing in a maritime accident. Diana had been so frantic that she had lost all appetite, sleep, and rapidly wasted away. In those days, she had been in such a fragile state that she had seemed like she would collapse at the slightest breeze. The Hendrix family had mobilized every resource at their disposal and searched for him relentlessly for two years. If he were alive, they would find him. And if he were dead, they would get back his body. As the sole heir to Hendrix Corporation, they would never give up until he was found. Two years later, they had found him in a small fishing village, Winderbay. He had lost his memory. He had been taken in by a local fisherwoman, now the rising star, Gabriella. In those two years he had lived with amnesia, Gabriella had been his constant companion. They had spent every moment together, and feelings had begun to blossom. The Hendrix family was the most powerful in Heyton. Vincent's grandfather, Jason Hendrix, would never accept a fisherwoman as his granddaughter-in-law, especially when Vincent hadn't had his complete memory and wasn't technically himself. By Jason's orders, Vincent had been forcibly brought back to Heyton. He had finally regained his memory with the best doctors and cutting-edge equipment. After recovering his memories, he stopped resisting returning home. One could say that with his memory restored, he chose Diana, his childhood sweetheart, over Gabriella. It was under no one's compulsion that he made that choice. As compensation, the Hendrix family had given the Jackson family a large sum of money to help them out of poverty, turning them into the newly rich. Plus, they had repackaged Gabriella and launched her into stardom. Capital ruled everything in the entertainment industry, and a snap of the fingers was all it took for the Hendrix family to give her the best resources. With the Hendrix family backing Gabriella, she shot to fame within a year. At first, Diana thought everything would be fine once Vincent was back. But looking back now, her wishful thinking had been nothing but a joke. Sure, Vincent was back, but his heart stayed with another woman. And because he had chosen Diana over Gabriella, guilt had only driven him closer to Gabriella. Vincent had always been attentive to Gabriella's needs. Over the year, Diana had lost count of how many times he would run out the door after one of Gabriella's phone calls. Even on her birthday and wedding anniversary a few days ago, she had planned so much and hoped for a quiet dinner together. But as soon as he heard Gabriella sobbing on the phone, he set his cutlery aside and rushed out the door. It wasn't the first time, so Diana knew begging him to stay would change nothing. She used to fight him over it, but he had always claimed Gabriella as his younger sister and lifesaver. It was true that Gabriella had saved Vincent's life and the entire Hendrix family's peace of mind, so Diana reminded herself to put up with this. Even Jason had advised her to be forgiving and composed as the lady of the Hendrix family. Plus, Vincent never physically cheated. Everyone used such logic to appease her, including her father, Kenneth Gyleon. A year ago, Diana had tried to end things when Vincent first recovered his memory. She had gone to Winderbay herself when they found him. The cautious and resistant look in the amnesic Vincent's eyes still haunted her. However, all his gestures and glances were natural and intimate when he was with Gabriella. After Vincent regained his memory, he had promised Diana that she would be the only lady of the Hendrix family, and no one else would take her place. "Diana, you're the only Mrs. Hendrix. Whatever happened with Gabriella was when I lost my memories, and it doesn't count. I only see her as my younger sister and lifesaver," were the words Vincent had promised. Vincent had always been cold and never bothered to explain. He loathed trouble, so the fact that he had taken time to reassure Diana meant something. That was why she had been willing to accept Gabriella as a younger sister. But now, Diana was simply exhausted. She had to constantly pretend to be the generous, gracious, and perfect lady of the Hendrix family. Meanwhile, Hendrix would abandon her to the press, let another woman sleep in their former wedding room, and leave her waiting for someone who would never return. Perhaps leaving was the best choice for both of them. If Vincent refused to be the one bringing up the divorce, she would do it. When reporters came knocking, she would face them alone, as long as she could leave the toxic marriage. That night, Diana slept in the guest room.