Chapter 15 — Calculated risk

Diana’s POV

"But they just met, don't you see that this is a game?" Marco yelled

"We didn't just meet," Raphael said calmly.

He raised his head, meeting Gramps gaze "We met three weeks ago when I flew into Mexico for a business."

"You lie?" Marcel yelled

"I would forward you my business schedule for three weeks ago, you can confirm it yourself."

He pulled out his iPhone 16, and moments later, Marcel's phone beeped.

"What's this?" Marcel asked

"Alongside was a picture I took of Diana unawares"

My eyes flew open in confusion. I quickly grabbed his phone from his hands, and there it was—my picture on his screen. He had taken a candid shot of me while I was sitting there, probably right after the kiss.

He probably snapped it as a souvenir, or as evidence or maybe he wanted to find me. I wasn't sure but I knew it had to be one of the options in my head.

Besides, who would have known that the picture would come in handy? At that moment I was glad he took the picture.

Marcel walked up close to me, placing his hands on my shoulders and was about to drag me up when Raphael stopped him.

"Do not lay your filthy hands on my fiancée" he yelled angrily

Marcel's grip loosened.

"Tell me, Diana, how long have you been sleeping with my brother? When did it all start?" He asked

"What's the mean—" I paused. "No, why don't you tell me about my sister? How long have you been sleeping with her too?"

"Don't turn the table around Diana"

I bowed my head to Grandpa and Grandma ignoring Marcel.

"Enough Marcel" Gramps warned

"We give you both our blessings" they echoed together.

Raphael and I stood up, holding hands.

"If you don't mind, would you excuse us? We have a wedding to plan," Raphael said, his voice laced with mockery.

"Dad are you not going to say anything" Marcel said, turning to face Lorenzo junior

"I am sorry son, but whatever your grandpa says is final"

"But you are a co-CEO, don't you have right to..."

"I am sorry son, I don't have the power to transfer managing rights only my father does but even if I do I still wouldn't do anything different from what he just did"

Hearing Lorenzo Junior say this, I became sure of who my enemies were— Marcel, Marco, Anna, Mrs Riley, and Aunt May.

Those were the people that spearheaded my humiliation in the Lorenzo family.

Not excluding Serena and her parents.

As I and Raphael walked majestically out of the living room, I vowed to serve every one of them a piece of their cake.

******

"Where have you been?" Ciara asked, hugging me. "I have been calling you for a while now; you got me worried."

"I am sorry Ciara, I wasn't with my phone."

"You, Diana Kensington, not with your phone; you are always with your phone, it's like your life."

"Well, apparently things took a bit of a turn today."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Are you going to let me in or make me answer every one of your questions standing outside?" I said folding my arms.

Ciara had this naughty attitude of forgetting to let someone in, especially when there were things to talk about or gossip about.

"My bad habit", she chuckled "Please come in."

I went in and brought out my phone from my Hermes bag.

"Oh my gosh! Ciara fifty missed calls!"

"Huh huh, I called you to glory" she chuckled

"I am sorry my purse was in Raphael’s car," I said calmly

"Raphael? Who is this Raphael? Don't tell me you didn't go to the birthday party?"

"I did go"

"How was it?" she asked, moving closer, rubbing her palms together as if she was about to devour something.

"It was a disaster... well not completely a disaster."

"Was that where you met this... this Raphael of a guy."

I nodded. "He's Marcel's elder brother and the first son of Lorenzo Junior, the first grandson of Lorenzo Senior."

I smiled after saying that, recalling how Raphael had expressed those words.

"Oh my gosh, Diana! You love him!" She exclaimed

I threw my purse at her "No I don't" I chuckled

"Yes you do, look at how red your skin is," she said pointing at my cheeks

"You are just exaggerating Ciara"

"Come on tell me what happened at the party."

"Oh gosh! I shouldn't have listened to you Ciara I was humiliated"

"What!" Ciara exclaimed.

"They all agreed to the invitation because they wanted to call me fake, an impostor"

"But it wasn't your fault that you were adopted."

"That's not even the height of it all..." I exhaled "I have been orphaned again."

"What do you mean orphaned again?"

I gave the knowing look the look that carries a quiet message.

"Oh no, you don't mean it; they did that?"

"Yes they did that"

"I am so sorry", she apologised. "I am sorry for forcing you to go to the party."

"Well it wasn't a complete disaster though," I said smiling

"You are blushing again," she said

"No, I am not", I said, trying to hide my face.

"I know it's about this Raphael guy right?"

I nodded

I began to tell her everything that happened right from the time he entered the room down to when Lorenzo senior and his wife gave his blessing.

"Honestly, Diana, I am so scared about this decision you've taken. Are you going to be alright?"

I heaved a deep sigh, "Honestly, I Don't know if I would be alright, but it's a risk I am willing to take; besides I have a contingency."

"Still, what if he gives you a fake document? You wouldn't know"

"Yes, I wouldn't, but I don't think he's capable of doing something like that."

"Three months ago you wouldn't think that Marcel would do a thing like this to you."

Ciara was right.

I wouldn't have imagined Marcel cheating on me with my parent's daughter.

But I was ready to take the risk with Raphael, there was something more to him, something intriguing that I would love to unravel as I carry out my revenge on the members of the Lorenzo's.