While working to her car in the underground parking lot, Diane tried to reach Phillip one more time but failed.
She went straight to their chats to check if he had read or returned the messages she left for him in between rounds but everything was still unread.
Feeling the rapid rise and fall of her chest plus the strong bitterness hanging in her throat, she threw her phone inside her bag and climbed behind her wheels knowing that anger wouldn't solve anything.
'I think I would have to stay at the hotel in the meantime,' she thought to herself as she put her car on 'Drive' and left the parking lot.
Diane definitely had other options apart from spending the night at a hotel, but none of them were feasible.
The first option would have been to go back to her family's house but after her mother banned her from coming over unless she solved the prenup issue, she knew better than to cross her.
The second option was Christian but Diane wiped that idea away the second it dropped in her heart. She was afraid of him. There was something about him she could not exactly pinpoint.
Christian has changed so much over a few years. She could sense this strong aura from him; auras usually found in people with power.
She felt that he was dangerous and was not to be trifled with, so staying away from him was a better option.
The last option was Tricia who was her only friend who currently lived in NYC. But even though Tricia was kind, Diane couldn't risk exposing the problems in her marriage to her otherwise she would become a trending topic amongst the doctors and nurses the very next day.
This was the reason she didn't want to confide in her for anything private. Already, it was a miracle that she hadn't exposed her challenge down there yet.
---
On her way to the hotel, Diane stopped at a department store to get herself toiletries before going to a cheaper brand store to get some clothes, and she couldn't believe who she bumped into; Vivian Sanders, her sister-in-law and Phillip's older sister, the one he transferred all his valuable assets to.
Vivian saw her first and matched towards her where she was going through some casual dresses in a particular dress rack.
"Diane," she called out.
Hearing her name, Diane turned around only to see her. "Vivian," she called out cautiously. It didn't look like their meeting was a good thing.
"What a not-so-pleasant surprise seeing you here," Vivian continued. "I can get a whiff of that hospital smell from you. Did you just get off work?"
Diane did not answer that question immediately. She first gave her a good glance before turning back to the clothes in the racks that she was looking at.
How could she show any respect to someone who just told her that she wasn't pleased to see her?
"I would suggest taking a few steps back if you don't like the smell of Iodoform," she advised without glancing at her.
Two lines appeared on Vivian's forehead. "What is Iodoform?" she inquired. It was clear that science terms were not her forte.
"The smell you got off me," Diane replied, refusing to explain more as she stared at a particular cotton sweater for a while before taking it off the rack. "I want this in size ten," she announced just as someone came to take the piece from her.
Vivian didn't like the feeling of being ignored and seeing that Diane was buying clothes for herself, she smacked her bright red lipstick and folded her arms below her chest.
Next, she clicked her tongue and got ready to taunt her. "You must still have a lot of money left even though you are going to give Phillip half of your assets once your divorce is finalized."
Diane heard that and frowned. "I'm not giving him a dime," she stated clearly.
"Hahaha…" Vivian had a good laugh and then proceeded to stare at her like she was a fool for saying that declaration out loud. "You must be delusional."
"No! I think it's Phillip who is delusional for thinking that he can get half of my assets after the prenup fraud."
"You deceived him first," Vivian defended proudly. "What were you expecting when you couldn't even perform your bedroom role?" Giving Diane a good glance, she scoffed. "Don't tell me you were expecting to have an easy divorce."
The shock on Diane's face was as clear as day. "I can't believe he told you that." To think that Phillip talked about their private matters to his family and now here she was wondering and worrying about who else he must have mentioned it to.
At least he had a little conscience left to not have told the side of her family about it.
"I am his older sister, the one he chose to hand his net worth over to for safekeeping, remember?" Vivian taunted her by constantly reminding her about the prenup knowing how riled up it would make her.
"Wrong!" Diane fumed just as expected. "Phillip was the one who deceived me and my entire family with the prenup. Why did he agree to it and then go ahead to transfer his assets to you before our wedding if he isn't a thief?"
Diane didn't care how disrespectful she was to Vivian who was more than five years older than her because the woman simply refused to respect herself.
Meanwhile, this was the same Vivian that used to be very kind to her at that time she and Phillip had just got together and were planning their engagement party.
Vivian's gaze darkened at that description. Diane just called his younger brother a thief, how could she hold back and not get mad?
"Young lady, I will advise you to watch your mouth!" she warned while staring daggers at her.
Already, Diane and her estranged sister-in-law were starting to garner attention to themselves, not because their voice was loud, but because of the fierce gazes directed at each other.
They looked like they could tear each other apart any second from then.
Everyone who saw them could tell that they were engaged in a heated argument and didn't bother heading towards their direction to look for any clothes.
Diane snubbed Vivian and proceeded to another clothing rack but how could the latter let her off so easily? Of course, she had to drop another bomb before disappearing from her sight.
"My brother was really blind to fall for you and agree to the marriage. Only if he was smart enough to know like I knew that you still had your ex in your heart at that time. Poor boy. I'm glad he is going to get the redemption you've owed him for more than two years."