Chapter 3

Diana's POV

I didn't answer, only looked at him.

Damian seemed uncomfortable under my stare. Rubbing his throbbing temples, he sighed.

"Today was an accident. I drank too much, so I had Cecilia bring me home."

"After all, you left early. I had no choice but to trouble Cecilia."

I remained silent.

His patience finally exhausted, Damian's voice grew heavy with anger.

"I've already cut off all ties with her for you. The baby in her belly is gone too!"

"Diana, what more do you want from me? Do I have to kill her before you're satisfied?!"

After saying this, he seemed to realize his words were too harsh.

He looked away, his voice lowering with guilt.

"Cecilia's family helped me when I had nothing. Without her father's support, I never could have gone from nothing to where I am today."

"Diana, didn't you always tell me that people should repay kindness?"

Those words were like a key, instantly unlocking the floodgates of memory and extinguishing the last light in my heart.

I finally spoke.

"You don't need to explain. I understand everything."

Yes, I understood.

I had believed every excuse like this in the past.

So I could tolerate endlessly how he cared for Cecilia in every aspect of his life, often bypassing me, his wife.

I could tolerate when I had a fever of nearly 104 degrees, curled up in bed burning hot, and he left without hesitation after receiving a call from Cecilia saying she was "scared because the power went out."

I could tolerate carefully dressing up each time, eagerly preparing to attend important events with him, only to receive his slightly apologetic "Cecilia will go in your place tonight. She's new and needs more exposure."

I used to be a proud heiress with my own stubborn principles in relationships.

I loved Damian, which was why I endured again and again.

Each time I told myself that Damian loved me-he only pitied Cecilia, which was why he always sided with her.

Until that time when I had another argument with him over Cecilia and went straight back to my parents' house, but returned early because I was worried about his sensitive stomach.

When I opened the door, I saw overlapping figures in the kitchen.

He was still wearing his loungewear, and Cecilia's skirt was hiked up.

In that moment, I completely lost it.

I smashed every expensive piece of porcelain I could see, rushed up and slapped Cecilia hard several times.

I screamed at Damian to divorce me immediately, or I'd make this scandal known to everyone.

I thought with this evidence, Damian would have to leave with nothing.

But I never expected fate to deliver its heaviest blow so soon.

My family was framed. The company had financial problems uncovered. My parents faced prison.

They had poor health, years of chronic illness. With bodies like that, if they went to prison, they might not even survive the year.

The once-glorious family empire collapsed overnight. All assets were frozen, all connections severed.

With nowhere else to turn, I could only beg my newly divorced ex-husband Damian.

At the time, after hearing my tearful plea, he barely lifted his eyelids.

"Diana."

He called my name, but it was as distant as addressing a stranger.

"I don't know in what capacity I should help your parents. After all, we're just divorced strangers now."

I knelt on the ground, clutching at his pant leg, begging him to remarry me.

But he still wasn't satisfied, his fingertips lightly tapping the table.

He sighed, his tone troubled, but his eyes full of calculation.

"You know your family's situation is quite complicated. I don't have enough authority to pull many strings. Many things are beyond my power."

"But I'm getting promoted at the end of the month. Then things will be easier."

"However, you should understand-infidelity really damages one's reputation. It's bad for me and for Cecilia."

I understood.

Damian wanted me to take all the blame for the affair, to whitewash him and Cecilia.

I finally said those words: "It was all my fault. Nothing happened between you and Cecilia."

My entire being seemed to have its spine removed, wilting instantly.

And he finally bent down, pulling me into his arms, kissing my cold forehead.

"I promise you, I won't see Cecilia again."

Just like that, I carried all the insults and contempt from our circle and remarried him.

While he became the devoted husband everyone praised, never abandoning his unfaithful wife, so loyal and honorable.

Only I knew what sordid truth lay beneath this devoted performance.

Perhaps Damian had some feelings for me-otherwise he wouldn't have agreed to remarry and give my parents a lifeline.

But the one he truly loved was always Cecilia, that heavy "debt of gratitude" he spoke of, his carefully calculated future.

Just like today. He could let the whole world speak ill of me, but couldn't stand anyone saying a bad word about Cecilia.

I stopped looking at the man on the bed.

Just as the silence in the bedroom was about to freeze the air, a shrill ringtone shattered it.