Chapter 188
The atmosphere in the hospital room was oppressive.
Cleo threw down a blank check directly.
"You've been with Michael all this time for nothing more than money, or power and status. You could totally do this a different way. As long as you're willing to leave Michael, name your price."
Diana raised an eyebrow, glanced at the check, a hint of mockery in her eyes.
In their view, there was nothing money couldn't solve—one check could take care of any woman.
A self-mocking smile played at the corner of Diana's mouth. Before she could speak, Cleo continued.
"You should know that with my position, I don't actually need to come find you myself. I came to see you to avoid hurting Michael. So speak up—rather than end up crushed with nothing left, you might as well take advantage now and make some demands."
As she spoke, she tossed over a document folder.
The contents of the folder scattered across the table.
Diana glanced at them, a shocking coldness flashing in her eyes.
"Leave Michael, and I can help you investigate. Plus, what's in here will guarantee you a comfortable life. And this check is yours too."
In that moment, Diana had to admit she was tempted when she saw what was in the folder.
But thinking of how Michael had risked his own safety to save her at that critical moment, her heart trembled.
Taking a deep breath, Diana ignored the folder and picked up the check instead, grabbing a pen.
The next second, a shocking scene unfolded.
With a grand flourish, Diana wrote countless 9s on the check.
Cleo flew into a rage, slamming her hand on the table and shooting to her feet, "What are you doing? Are you messing with me?"
"Look at what you're saying. Wasn't it you who just said I could name my price? Now that I actually made a demand, you're backing out."
Diana spread her hands, putting on an innocent, helpless expression, "Besides, Michael is worth so much—are you saying he's not worth this number in your eyes?"
"How dare you play games with me! Fine, fine, fine. I'll just have to see how long you can keep this up."
Cleo stormed out in fury.
Diana slumped weakly onto the sofa, her mind filled with images of what was in that folder.
When Aria died back then, everything happened too suddenly.
At the time, the Clark family wanted to push for a thorough investigation, but worried it would hurt young Diana.
But now, after all these years, she never expected Cleo could actually dig up some information.
This proved that what happened back then wasn't simple at all.
Diana closed her eyes, her mind replaying images of Layla back then, strutting around arrogantly with those twins.
She pulled out her computer and looked at the information she'd collected over the years, her eyes turning red.
Back then, Aria had worked herself to the bone at the company, finally managing to save it from bankruptcy, only to have Finn out there living it up, even fathering illegitimate children.
Aria had always been such a strong person—she would never have easily developed depression, yet she ended up losing her life.
What was the real truth back then?
Tears silently slid down her cheeks.
On the other side.
Michael's face was dark as iron, extremely grim.
"Why would you do this? Don't you know that the moment you pulled out that check, it was a huge insult to someone? Why, after all these years, have you never learned to respect others?"
He had always kept Cleo's sacrifices and patience close to his heart. All these years, his greatest wish was to work hard so he could help Cleo escape her suffering.
But what he couldn't tolerate was Cleo's need to control everything.
She had actually gone to Diana with a check.
Diana was an extremely proud person who would never accept any form of insult.
That long string of numbers now was her final act of defiance.
Michael couldn't imagine how much Diana's heart must have hurt when faced with that check.
"You may not have a daughter, but you have nieces. Think about it—if someone treated them this way, what would you do?"
"Of course I wouldn't let them get away with it, but people are different. That Diana has been hanging around you without any official status, knowing full well you have a fiancée, yet still clinging to you—she's no good."
Facing Michael's accusations, Cleo's eyes reddened with pain, "I don't like this Diana, and I won't allow her to have any relationship with you. You can keep her on the side, but I absolutely won't allow her to affect your arranged marriage."
"In your eyes, am I a person or just a tool? Can you show me a little respect?"
"I've already shown you plenty of respect. If it wasn't for your sake, do you think Diana would still be alive and well right now? You should know there are plenty of ways to make someone suffer, to make someone disappear from this world."
The more Cleo spoke, the more convinced she became of her own logic, "Just as I thought—a country bumpkin with no mother to teach her manners, daring to be so disrespectful to her elders."
Hearing this, Michael's heart trembled.
He couldn't believe these words came from Cleo.
All these years, in his eyes, Cleo might lose control emotionally and scream hysterically over those mistresses, but she was fundamentally a gentle and kind person with her own moral boundaries.
But now, she was using the most vicious language to attack another woman.
Was this still the gentle Cleo he knew?
Michael forced back the tears in his eyes. When he spoke again, his voice was hoarse, "I won't have anything to do with Ruby. If you insist on this engagement, don't blame me for what happens."
In that moment.
He suddenly understood why Diana had tried to distance herself again and again.
Facing such a complicated family, and such a difficult mother.
Any woman would be scared.
What's more, Diana had always been someone who deeply lacked a sense of security. She wasn't willing to gamble, didn't want to take that risk.
In the end, mother and son parted on bad terms.
Looking at the hospital room that had been smashed to pieces, Michael was exhausted. He collected himself, then turned and headed to Diana's room.
He quietly pushed the door open and saw the sleeping figure on the bed, moving closer step by step.
On the hospital bed, Diana's face was deathly pale, cold sweat beading on her forehead. She was curled up in a ball, murmuring something.
He leaned his ear close and heard what she was saying. Michael's heart clenched with pain.
"Mom, don't leave me."
"Mom, I miss you so much."
"Mom, they're all bullying me. It hurts so much, it's so painful."
Michael's eyes filled with heartache. He slowly bent down and gathered Diana into his arms, gently patting her back, "Don't be afraid. I'm here. No matter what happens, I'm here."