Chapter 9

Not long after Arya replied to Diane's message, a commotion erupted downstairs.

She moved to the window and glanced out. Two large trucks had pulled into the front yard, both loaded with yellow roses, roots and all.

Seven or eight gardeners jumped down from the trucks, shovels in hand, and began digging up the tulips that filled the garden.

Arya leaned against the windowsill and watched as her garden was destroyed beyond recognition.

Soon, not a single tulip remained.

It was beautiful.

She smiled for the first time since waking.

…

At 6:00 p.m., Diane's driver arrived to pick Arya up.

Patricia helped Arya into the car. As it pulled away, Arya saw in the rearview mirror that Patricia was already photographing the license plate, likely to report back to Neil.

She didn't care.

Neil knew this was Diane's car. He also knew how much Diane disliked him. In public, he always maintained a polished, gentlemanly image. The last person he wanted to cross was the hot-tempered Diane.

Right now, Arya felt only relief that she hadn't been so lovestruck back then that she gave up her best friend just because Neil disliked her.

…

Thirty minutes later, the car stopped at the parking lot of T-Club.

Still playing her part, Arya put on sunglasses, pulled out her cane, and walked inside, pretending to be blind.

A server greeted her immediately, "Ms. Songhurst? Ms. Rae is already waiting for you in a private room on the fourth floor. Would you like me to take you up?"

"No need," Arya replied. "Just take me to the elevator."

Once they reached the elevator, Arya stepped inside, pressed the button for the fourth floor, and the doors began to close.

Just before the doors shut completely, a group of men in black suits poured through the restaurant entrance, forming two lines. A tall man walked between them, mostly obscured by the guards.

Arya lowered her sunglasses slightly and caught a glimpse through the gap between two bodyguards.

The man wore a deep-colored suit that radiated authority. He looked like a heavy shadow, but what caught Arya's eye most was his hand—long fingers, perfectly defined joints, delicate lines, pale skin with faint veins beneath. There was something oddly sensual about it.

One word popped into her mind. 'Artwork.'

She scoffed inwardly. Men with hands that pretty usually lacked anything else worth admiring.

Before she could get a better look, the elevator doors closed completely.

Outside, the man, Troy, paused mid-step. As if sensing something, he glanced toward the elevator bank, catching only a glimpse of the elevator ascending.

He narrowed his eyes slightly, a curious expression flickering across his face.

At that moment, the manager of T-Club hurried over, smiling and bowing respectfully. "Good evening, Mr. Pearce. Your private elevator is this way."

Troy withdrew his gaze and turned toward a more discreet, luxury elevator.

…

On the fourth floor, Arya stepped out and followed her memory to the private room at the end of the hallway.

The moment she opened the door, Diane flew into her arms with a bear hug.

"Ughhh, my precious Ary! Let me look at you!" Diane whined, cupping Arya's face, her eyes full of pain. "You've gotten so skinny! It's all that bastard Neil's fault. I knew he was a piece of trash from the start!"

Diane had never liked Neil. She might be the only person who thought he wasn't good enough for Arya.

Arya's eyes welled up with tears as she stared at her best friend's lively, familiar face. She choked back a sob. "Diane, I've missed you so much."

They said best friends were the family one chose. To Arya, Diane was family.

Diane hugged Arya tightly, gently patting her back. She could feel every bone.

"Okay, okay, food first! We'll talk while we eat," she said.

She pulled Arya to the table, covered with all of Arya's favorite dishes.

Arya's nose tingled, warmth blooming in her chest. She whispered, "Thank you, Diane."

"No thanks between us," Diane said, pinching her cheek playfully. "You need to eat more, get healthy, and divorce that piece of trash Neil. Worst case, I'll take care of you! I won Best Actress at the Golden Palm Awards last year. I can afford to sponsor my best friend!"

Arya laughed, genuinely happy for Diane. Winning Best Actress had always been Diane's dream.

"Congratulations, Diane. You did it," Arya said.

Despite her success, Diane couldn't smile. Her heart ached for Arya. She grunted, "If you hadn't stayed for Neil seven years ago—"

"Diane," Arya cut her off softly. "There's no point regretting the past. But I hold the reins to my own life. I can change direction anytime. I will divorce Neil, just not yet. I need to prepare if I want custody of the twins. I might need your help."

The Hammonds ranked among the most powerful in Amersol. Neil had spent years crafting a flawless public image—youngest board member in the Niall Group's history, successful, handsome, the perfect husband and father… practically a saint.

The worst part? Arya had helped build that illusion herself.

Fighting for custody against the Hammonds wouldn't be easy.

Diane grabbed Arya's hand and said, "Ary, I've always got your back."

Arya never doubted that.

…

After dinner, Diane slid her phone across the table. "Ary, I found Lindsay's secret social media account. Take a look… if you're ready."

Arya picked up the phone.

The profile photo showed a blurry picture of a man's back.

Arya recognized it instantly. It was Neil. She'd been watching that back since she was 12.

The most recent post dated five years ago—the exact day she went into labor and fell into a coma.

In the photo, Lindsay grinned ear to ear, cradling two newborns. They had to be Christopher and Charlotte.

A wave of fury shot straight to Arya's head. She forced herself to stay calm and kept scrolling.

The deeper she dug, the colder she felt. Her hands began to shake.

In one of Lindsay's university photos, Neil appeared clearly.

They had known each other since university?

Arya remembered it clearly. Neil had told her that he had hired a smart, capable assistant to help while she was pregnant. He and Lindsay had even faked an awkward first introduction in front of her.

Diane growled, "Lindsay's nothing but a snake. She was Neil's junior in university, two years below him, and they were definitely more than just coursemates."

Arya snorted. "More than that is an understatement."

One photo showed Lindsay leaning against Neil's shoulder, taking a selfie. He looked half-asleep but stared at her with such affection it made Arya's stomach turn.

The caption read: [He still came to the hospital on his birthday to take care of me and even brought me a scarf. Thank you, sweetie!]

The past felt like a slap. Arya checked the time of the post. She recognized that scarf. It was the one she had spent all night knitting for Neil.