Chapter 331
Chapter 331
James POV
He'd deal with me, and Cathy would deal with Diana. Divide and conquer.
Their goal was to break us apart.
Of course, breaking us up wasn't the only possible outcome.
If they couldn't separate us, it would serve as a test.
Cathy pulled out her phone and played a recording.
My conversation with Diana echoed clearly through the study.
"The ones rejecting him are you Howards, not me..."
Diana's voice rang out, gentle yet resolute.
I smiled slowly.
Cathy looked at Arthur helplessly. "Grandpa, just let them be. Don't forget—you have an old friend resting underground. Her grandfather passed away too soon. You wouldn't feel right bullying his granddaughter now, would you?"
Arthur huffed indignantly. "I wouldn't feel right? Why wouldn't I? He left early and let his granddaughter get bullied. How is that my fault?"
"It's not your fault—as long as you're not the one bullying her."
As Cathy spoke, she helped Arthur walk outside.
Arthur had been letting her support him just fine, but hearing that remark irritated him. "You little brat, whose side are you on?"
Cathy: "Yours, of course."
Arthur: "I don't see it."
Cathy: "Then maybe your vision's going. I'll get you reading glasses tomorrow."
Arthur fell silent.
---
Diana POV
I was feeding fish by the pond when Philip crouched beside me, studying me curiously. "Are you still the Diana I used to know?"
I went along with his question. "Maybe not."
Philip said nothing more.
He and I were about the same age. We'd played together as kids, but we hadn't seen each other in years.
He leaned in closer, staring at me—I had no idea what he was looking for.
Suddenly, someone grabbed his head from behind and pulled him back.
"Ow, ow, ow..."
Philip yelped and turned around. Seeing it was James, he immediately put on a flattering smile. "James..."
James gave him a cool glance. "What are you looking at?"
Philip pointed at his watch and leaned in to whisper, "James, you don't know—I've been timing her. Since she started feeding the fish, three different people have come and gone, and she's still here feeding them. Forty-two minutes now. I'm just curious—the old Diana would've jumped in to catch the fish herself. Which fish in our pond hasn't she terrorized? Now she's just sitting here feeding them... It's way too weird."
James said, "What else should she do? Jump in?"
Philip shot back, "Shouldn't she?"
If it were the childhood me, I would've jumped in long ago.
James smiled without warmth. "Maybe it's been so long she's forgotten how to jump in. Why don't you jump in first and show her?"
"No! No! No! I forgot too!"
Philip backed up one step with each word, retreating until he was out of James's reach. Then he grinned and ran off.
I met James's eyes and smiled. "Finished talking with Grandpa?"
"Yeah."
James held out his hand. "Come on. Let's go home."
I placed my hand in his palm, and he pulled me up.
We didn't go back to the living room. We headed straight outside.
Passing the parking lot, he didn't get in a car—he just kept walking toward the main gate, holding my hand.
I was confused. "Aren't we driving?"
He looked at me, a smile playing at his lips. "I heard Ms. York wants me to join the York family."
I was a bit surprised. "You know about that?"
"Mm-hmm."
He casually wrapped an arm around my waist. "I'll grant that wish today."
I didn't respond.
I knew he was joking.
He meant we weren't going home—we were going to the York estate.
The Howard estate and the York estate were two properties in the same villa district, one right after the other.
The back gate of the York estate faced directly toward the front gate of the Howard estate.
A few steps, and we reached the York estate's back entrance.
I didn't want to waste time walking around to the front, so I went straight in through the back.
I wasn't entirely sure why James had come here.
As soon as we entered the main building's living room, I saw a man lounging on the sofa. I froze. "What are you doing here?"
It was Frank.
Since I hadn't come through the front, I hadn't seen his car.
James looked at his bored expression and teased, "How idle is Mr. Smith, sitting here swatting mosquitoes?"
Frank replied, "Exactly. When you have a capable wife, there's not much left to do."
I asked excitedly, "Jane's back?"
Without waiting for either of them to answer, I rushed upstairs.
That left two husbandless men in the living room, staring at each other.
---
James POV
Frank personally poured me a cup of coffee. "I heard Mr. Howard offered shares worth billions to marry Diana. That's quite generous. Impressive."
I took a small sip and set the cup down, saying leisurely, "Can't compare to Mr. Smith, who spent billions clearing all of the York family's debts. Mine's just icing on the cake. Mr. Smith's was aid in a time of need."
We'd both spent billions to marry our wives.
One just came before the other. Neither of us could say much.
---
Diana POV
I wrapped my arms around Jane's neck and whined, "Jane, why did you come back so suddenly without telling me?"
"You're getting married tomorrow. How could I not come back?"
Jane patted the back of my hand. "All right, I still have work to do. Go find your husband and act cute with him."
"Don't kick me out yet. Let me stay a little longer."
I walked around in front of her. "Jane, that diary—you went back to Moly City to get it, didn't you?"
I clearly remembered that years ago I'd put that diary away and never opened it again.
When I came back to New Valley, I didn't bring it with me.
Jane replied faintly, "Mm-hmm."
My eyes reddened as I looked at her. "Why? How did you even know about that notebook?"
"I didn't know about the notebook. I just knew you wouldn't ask to break the engagement for no reason."
So she'd personally gone to the Moly City villa looking for answers.
And she'd actually found that diary.
I guessed she'd waited specifically for James, giving him the diary instead of me because she wanted him to open it himself.
It seemed James hadn't let her down.
Jane continued working without looking at me, her tone casual. "Remember—from now on, if you have doubts, ask. Talk things through. Don't keep everything bottled up inside."
I smiled sweetly. "I know."
Jane looked up at my smile and seemed momentarily dazed.
I could sense what she was thinking—that the bright, warm version of me from the past was gradually coming back to life.
James had put his heart into it.
Jane smiled faintly.
At dinner, we all stayed at the York estate to eat.