It was almost evening. Diego was busy in the office, and Diane had her lunch not too long ago. She went to check on the children, and was quite surprised to see that they were all getting along. Maria then explained to her that she handled everything. Diane was happy also, because it had been long since she saw Morris playing and laughing like that. She was just walking randomly down the corridor, when she saw a portrait that was quite eye catching. It was that of a man and and a woman. The man was standing, and had dark blue hair and silvery eyes. He had his arms placed on the shoulder of a woman, who had golden blonde hair and red eyes. The man reminded her of Diego, and when she looked closer, she found out that she was right. The same hair color, posture and all that. She was so engrossed in the picture that she didn't notice someone walking towards her. "It's a pretty painting, isn't it?" Startled, Diane nearly broke the flower vase next to her, but quickly caught it before it fell. "I- I'm sorry." She said, a bit flustered, looking at this woman with her empress like demeanor. " it Is okay, I am not going to eat you, you know?" Natasha said, half-jokingly, while waiting for Diane to regain her composure. "Um, is this diego's parents?" She timidly asked, while shyly peeking at the woman who stood next to her. Natasha laughed. "I don't think you were this shy when you proposed to Diego or threatened him, were you?" She asked, a little probing. Diane was embarrassed. Natasha touched her lightly on the shoulder. "But you guessed right. They are indeed Diego's parents." Diane gasped. "What happened to them? Why didn't I see them?" Diane asked in quick sucession. "They are both dead. They died not too long after having their daughter, Leonia." Natasha replied, a tinge of sadness clearly visible in her eyes. Noticing that Diane still had a lot of questions to ask, Natasha told her softly. "Let's go talk in my room."
The two ladies continued their discussion In the room, while enjoying a hot cup of tea. "Jasper and Euphemia." Natsha said, telling Diane of the names of her in laws. "They were quite the jolly bunch. I was quite fond of them when I was little." Natasha stated as she sipped her tea. "And.." Diane began, not quite sure of the proper way to phrase it. "How was Diego like?" Natasha smiled. "The Diego that you see now, and the Diego that was a child, are complete polar opposites." She stated. "You see, after Diego's father, Jasper, divided the Raymond family into the main branch and the sub branch, he invited his younger brother, my father, to join him, and we became a part of the main branch." She said, while Diane listened tentatively. "I and Diego were the same age, with Diego being only a few months older than me, and with no other children along, I had no other option but to tag along with that troublemaker." She said with half of a smile. "I will admit, he was very talented and intelligent, but also had the whack for causing mischief. I always told him that the heir of a renowned family shouldn't act this way, and do you know what he told me?" She asked. "What?" Diane asked, her curiosity rising. "Sasha, you are so old-fashioned. I think you are a candidate for a more suitable heir than I am." She said. "You are lying." Diane said bluntly. She could not imagine her husband saying something like that. It wasn't his style. Natasha, who was pleased that Diane was getting more free with her, however continued. "The mystery of their death still apalls me. Gone without a trace of their deaths, living a fourteen year old and a barely week old baby behind to fend for themselves, fitted the time slot of when the Diego I once knew died." She paused briefly and continued. "He became more serious. He stopped laughing. It was either he was busy with the family, busy with the baby or trying to compete with the adults that kept trying to steal his title as the rightful heir." She said. Diane could almost imagine how lonely he was. "When he saw his baby sister for the first time, he barely showed any reaction. He just told us that he will take care of her, and he did, and he still does so. Leonia's growth and progress these past eight years is all thanks to him. He was even the one that named her leonia when my parents couldn't think of a more suitable name." Diane began to imagine the child, with her blue hair and red eyes, not getting to experience the love of both her mother and father. "It must have been hard for leonia." She said softly. "It would have been." Natasha said. "But thank goodness for Diego. He gave her the love of a father, mother and a brother." She continued and sighed. "But, didn't you try to find who the murderers of Jasper and Euphemia were?" She asked suddenly. "We've tried, but it always ends up in dust. I guess it is save to say that the perpetrators are much more stronger than we are...for now." She said, seemingly a bit frustrated. She looked out the window, and saw that it was already night. "Time sure flies." She stated. "You know, sometimes I wish my brother was a little like you I stead of goofing off and flirting with women. He is just a year older than you, but I can assure you that he wasn't even as bright at you are when he was your age. " She stated. "Um, sister." She said after a slight hesitation. "I can call you that right?" She asked. Natasha asked. "You can call me whatever you want." She said. "If I end up divorcing your cousin, we could still be friends, can't we?" She asked shyly. "We will see when that time comes." Natasha said, getting up. Diane was a bit saddened by her answer, but was surprised to hear her say: "you don't know if you won't fall in love with him, afterall." She said. "I won't!" Diane said in protest, getting up. "Look how resolute you are." Natasha laughed. "But you can't always control what the heart wants." She said, as she and Diane walked out of the room. "Aren't you joining us for dinner?" She asked suddenly. Diane bit her lower lip for some time before telling her that she would wait for Diego. Natasha couldn't help but smile as she walked down the corridor.