Chapter 206: Old Mr. Grant’s Phone Call

She didn't care at all.

Whether it was blind dates or marriage.

She didn't even question him once.

She wouldn't even give him the slightest hint of jealousy.

This indifferent attitude tortured him more than being stabbed with a knife.

"Do you have to talk to me like this?" Ethan gritted his teeth. "Diana, I can explain what happened four years ago, and I can explain about Blair too! Can you just give me a chance?"

"No." Diana's answer was quick and decisive.

The tightly wound string in Ethan's mind finally snapped.

"Diana!"

He suddenly yanked hard, pulling her straight into his arms.

His other hand quickly grabbed the back of her head as he leaned down.

Their lips crashed together heavily.

The movement carried a sense of punishment, mixed with four years of pent-up desperation.

He kissed her lips almost frantically, trying to prove through this that she was still by his side, trying to find from her some of the warmth that once belonged to him.

Diana's hands were pressed between their chests.

She gave no response.

No struggle, no reciprocation.

Her whole body was rigid and cold, letting him do as he pleased.

Ethan's movements gradually slowed down.

Bitterness spread between their lips and teeth.

The moment he let his guard down slightly, Diana suddenly raised her hand and pushed hard against his chest.

A loud smack exploded in the private room.

Ethan's head jerked to the side, five red marks quickly appearing on his left cheek.

Diana shook her numb palm and stepped back two paces, creating a safe distance.

She raised the back of her hand and wiped her lips hard, her disgust completely undisguised.

"Ethan, you make me sick."

She dropped those words, turned toward the door, and left without a trace of reluctance.

Ethan stood there, half his face burning with pain.

The door closed in front of him, and the private room fell silent again.

He looked down at the mess on the floor, then suddenly lifted his foot and kicked over a nearby chair.

The chair hit the wall with a loud thud and shattered into pieces.

Four years.

He thought time could smooth over everything, thought that as long as she came back alive, he could pull her back to his side.

But that slap just now completely woke him up.

She wasn't throwing a tantrum. She really didn't want him anymore.

Outside in the hallway.

Diana walked to the elevator and pressed the down button.

She looked down at her reddened palm, still feeling the sting from the slap.

She let out a deep breath, trying to control her still-trembling hand.

Derek pushed open the private room door.

Ethan stood in the middle of the wreckage, head down, the five finger marks on the left side of his face glaring red.

This emperor who ruled River City was now radiating complete dejection.

Derek froze in place.

In all his years working for Ethan, when had he ever seen his boss like this?

"Mr. Grant..."

Ethan didn't move.

Derek snapped back to his senses and ran outside.

Underground parking garage.

Miles had just backed the car out of its spot when a figure suddenly rushed out from behind a pillar, blocking the front of the car.

Diana sat in the back seat and looked up toward the car window.

Derek stood in front of the car, breathing heavily.

Diana pressed the window button.

"Derek, what is it?"

Her tone was flat without any emotion.

Derek came around to the car window, his hands gripping the door frame, knuckles white from the pressure.

"Mrs..."

"I'm already divorced from Ethan." Diana cut him off directly.

Derek stumbled over his words, his Adam's apple bobbing twice before he corrected himself. "Miss Parker. Can you please care a little more about Mr. Grant?"

Diana frowned. "Care about what? He doesn't need me to care about him."

"That's not true!" Derek raised his voice in urgency. "Miss Parker, you have no idea—these past four years... Mr. Grant hasn't been living like a human being!"

Diana's expression didn't change.

Derek gritted his teeth and poured out everything he'd been holding in.

"After your accident, Mr. Grant went crazy looking for you. He turned River City upside down, even sent people to search the waters of neighboring cities for months."

"He couldn't sleep night after night, could only rely on sleeping pills. That room where you used to live—he won't let anyone touch anything in it, goes in to clean it himself every day. He gets drunk every day and calls out your name. He's been in the operating room several times for stomach bleeding."

"Miss Parker, Mr. Grant truly regrets it. From beginning to end, you're the only one in his heart!"

Derek's voice echoed through the garage.

Diana leaned back in her seat, listening quietly until he finished.

Something in a corner of her heart tugged ever so slightly.

But quickly, she calmed down again.

She turned her head, her gaze falling on Derek's face.

"Are you done?"

Derek froze.

He thought these words would at least move Diana a little.

"Derek." Diana called his name. "We're already divorced. Even if he regrets it, it has nothing to do with me anymore."

Derek's whole body stiffened.

"Save those words for someone else."

Diana looked away and raised the window.

The black sedan drove out of the garage without mercy, not even the taillights lingering for an extra second.

Derek let out a deep sigh.

3 PM.

Top floor suite of the hotel.

Diana had just finished showering and changed into loose loungewear, sitting on the sofa reviewing the audit progress report Miles had sent.

Her phone vibrated on the coffee table.

An unsaved number flashed on the screen.

Diana stared at that number, her hand pausing over the documents.

She knew this number by heart.

Old Mr. Grant's landline.

The ringtone went on for a long time, as if it wouldn't hang up unless she answered.

Diana put down the documents, picked up her phone, and pressed answer.

The other end was very quiet.

After several seconds, an elderly voice came through.

"Is this... Diana?"

Diana's nose suddenly tingled.

Her eyes instantly warmed.

During those three years with the Grant family, Ethan neglected her and Lucy made things difficult for her, but only old Mr. Grant truly treated her like his own granddaughter.

During holidays, the old man always protected her, and if Ethan dared to give her attitude, his cane would fly over without mercy.

"Grandpa."

Diana's throat tightened, her voice a bit hoarse.

A long sigh came from the other end.

"It really is you... Good child, you're alive. That's wonderful." The old man's voice trembled. "Since you're back in River City, why didn't you contact Grandpa? These old bones have been worried about you for four whole years."

Diana bit her lower lip.

"I'm sorry, Grandpa. It's my fault."

"Don't blame yourself, don't." The old man kept reassuring her. "What happened back then—that bastard Ethan wronged you. Grandpa knows everything. You've suffered."

Diana didn't respond, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Child, could you come back for a visit?"

There was a careful, pleading tone in the old man's voice.

"Grandpa wants to have a meal with you, see how you're doing now. I know you don't want to see Ethan, don't want anything to do with him anymore. That's fine, Grandpa won't force you."

"We won't invite him. Just... keep this old man with one foot in the grave company, okay?"

With words like that, Diana couldn't bring herself to refuse.

She closed her eyes, forcing the tears back.

"Okay. Grandpa, I'll come see you tomorrow at noon."

"Ah! Good! Good! Grandpa will have the kitchen make your favorite dishes!"