Later, I found out that very day, he had finally won over the university belle he’d been chasing for years.
They spent the night tangled in springtime pleasures at the highest hotel in Anderson.
I hated him.
But over the years, that hatred had worn away every last shred of hope I once held for Diego.
People around me had advised, “You should have another child. Powerful men are never without women. At least Diego’s cleaner than most.”
“Give him more children. No matter what he does outside, your title as Mrs. Powell will always stand firm.”
The Powell family only produced one son per generation.
If I had another child, boy or girl, then even if Diego wanted to make things hard for me, his parents would step in first.
After all, who would go against the benefits right in front of them?
And more importantly, I still had Madeline.
She was nearly everything I lived for.
I carefully tucked the report away, drove home, and brewed a pot of nourishing soup while waiting for Madeline to return.
Night slowly fell.
After the tenth unanswered call to Diego, I could no longer hold it in.
I grabbed my car keys and rushed out to look for him.
He wasn’t at the office.
The amusement park had long closed.
Just as I was about to drive to the Powell family’s old residence in a panic, the housemaid finally called.
“Madam, Madeline’s home. Assistant Walter just dropped her off. She’s sleeping soundly now.”
I leaned back in my seat, closed my eyes, and exhaled slowly.
“Assistant Walter also said Sir won’t be coming home tonight.”
“Okay.”
I hung up and turned the car around.
But after just one turn, I saw Diego’s car.
Under the dim streetlight, his tall figure stretched long and silent. The red glow of a lit cigarette flickered between his fingers, the ground around him littered with cigarette butts.
I had been to this place just yesterday.
It was Courtney’s residence.
He stood there, unmoving, staring up at a lit window without blinking once.
Following his gaze, I saw the faint silhouette of a woman behind the curtains, graceful, soft, like silk gliding across the heart.
He stood there like a lovesick man in a television drama, only daring to look from a distance.
Something inside me cracked, bit by bit.
I remained in the car all night.
Until the sky began to lighten, and Courtney stepped out of the building.
She looked well-rested.
When she spotted Diego, a flicker of surprise crossed her face.
And the man who had seemed so broken just moments ago instantly came alive.
He said something with a smile and took a step forward.
She instinctively backed away, her cheeks flushed with color.
Then, the two of them got into the car.
I sat frozen, breath catching in my chest, as if some invisible thread had wrapped tightly around my heart, pulling, choking.
When Diego chased after me, he was just like this.
Flirtatious. Bold. Relentless.
A cold, elegant young master, fiercely pursuing the girl he wanted, and back then, the girl had been me.
But now, I was no longer the heroine.
I followed them all the way to the office.
From afar, I saw how they deliberately kept a polite distance while walking into the building, pretending there was nothing between them at all.
Diego walked ahead, returning greetings with polished ease, then casually lifted a hand in her direction, effortlessly, almost unintentionally.
Amid the waves of envious stares, she stepped into his private elevator.
As if to declare it to the entire office. She held a privilege no one else could touch.
The sight pierced my eyes like a blade.
I remained frozen in the car, emotions tangled and heavy, until the housemaid called again.
She said Madeline had woken up and was searching the house for me.
I went home.
When Madeline flung her arms around my neck, my nose burned from the tears I fought to hold back.
She wobbled excitedly on my lap, her little voice full of joy as she recounted yesterday’s events.
“Yesterday I saw Aunt Courtney too! She turned into a little bunny and played with me for a long time!”
