From Ex to In-law のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 51 - チャプター 60

Diana's POV Who could be knocking on my door at this time? I knew I wasn't friends with anyone in the Lorenzo family, so there was no way any of them could have come to welcome me or check up on me. Except for Grandma Audrey, Gramps was already at the meeting with the board, so it couldn't be him. As I walked up to the door, I expected to see Grandma Audrey, but I was disappointed. Serena. Why is she here? "Hello, step-sister," she said, a wry smile appearing at the corner of her lips. "What are you doing here?" I asked rudely, my voice laced with a low growl. "Oh, is that the way you welcome your sister, the one whose parents fed you, clothed you, and housed you for about twenty years? Come on now, that's not a good attitude. Are you trying to say they didn't train you well? That's not the right attitude to portray." "You are not my sister. You made it clear from the very first day we met, and thanks to you, your parents already disowned me." "Oh, my dear, poor l

Serena's POV I kept mute, pretending not to be angry by his words. I was angry, but it wasn't at him; I was angry at Diana. She was the cause of everything. If she didn't exist, then all this wouldn't have happened. If she had not taken my spot, been my parents' daughter, then all this wouldn't have happened. I felt like everything that was happening was her fault. I took my bag and went out of the house angrily."Serena! Serena!!" Mrs. Riley called, but I ignored her. "Where are you going?" she asked. I looked at her, then my gaze drifted to Marcel's. He didn't even feel sorry or show remorse for what he had said. Then I went outside, slamming the door behind me. As I got into the elevator, I kicked and cursed. Coming out of the Lorenzos' mansion, I stopped, hailed a cab, and then zoomed off to my home.*****"What's the matter, my child?" Mrs. Kensington asked.I ignored her, pacing to and fro in the living room, chewing at my fingers. Mom tried to touch me, but I protested, mov

Diana's POV"Come here my child, let me give you a proper hug," Grandma Audrey beckoned. I went closer to her and she hugged me. "Now you are beginning to scent like a Lorenzo," she teased.She was right though. The moment I got married into the family, I earned a right to one of the Lorenzo's unique scents. It was given to me as a gift from Gramps. The complete whole set, ranging from the roll-on to the body spray, the splash and the perfume, even down to the cream.We both giggled at the same time. "So tell me, what brings you here?""What brings me here?" I repeated the question in a funny tone which made Grandma Audrey burst out laughing."Come here girl, come sit close to me."I went to sit on the spot she had asked me to sit. "Grandma, I only came to say hi to you since it's been a while I saw you. I haven't seen you since I came back from honeymoon with Raphael.""Yeah, you are right my dear, so tell me how did your honeymoon go?""Uhm, it was good.""Good? Just good?""Okay, G

Raphael's POV I woke up the next morning to see that Diana was no longer on the bed with me. Where could she have gone? I thought. I decided to call a friend of mine that I met in Berkeley. Back in my days at Berkeley, I made friends with specific kinds of people, people who I knew I would be able to call for help and they would be able to render it.It was as if I had always known that a time would come when I would need allies, contacts, so I made sure that everywhere I went, I made at least one contact that I knew would come in handy in the nearest future.Back then I wasn't sure why I was doing it, but I just knew I needed to do it. For a man of my caliber, I had to create a wide range of network of people, not just anyhow people but capable people—people who can get the job done. And that is how I got in contact with the likes of Cedric who helped me with arrangements in Paris.Gerrard, an English detective who specializes in tracking accounts, especially offshore accounts used

Raphael’s POV The atmosphere in the room grew heavy, the air seeming tangible with the burden of unspoken thoughts. The lawyer’s voice quavered a bit as he walked back and forth before me, evidently disturbed yet reluctant to reveal the depth of his discomfort. His hands twisted together, but his eyes—those assessing eyes—stayed fixed on mine. "You believe this is just a trivial game, Raphael?" he retorted, his voice becoming sour. "This isn't regarding the dynasty or the riches of your family. This concerns survival, about taking essential actions to maintain power in the appropriate hands." His gaze momentarily shifted to the document on the table. "You pose a danger. A risk.""I moved ahead, sensing the change in energy within the room. "Don’t attempt to control me. You are fully aware of what has been happening. The deception, the falsified signatures, the funds drained from my family's accounts sent into an offshore account with my name on it—it has all been for a single purpos