Chapter 495 The Last Thread of Trust

Diana smiled through her tears, which streamed down her face like pearls spilling from a broken string.

She clutched a cellphone tightly in her hand.

Rose glanced down and saw the location-sharing screen.

The display was still lit, and the two phone icons had merged into one.

That meant the phone linked to Diana’s was right there, inside that room.

“Diana…”

Rose’s throat felt painfully dry. She reached out and wrapped her arms around her friend.

Diana closed her eyes for a moment.

She had never imagined that the last sliver of hope in her heart would be reduced to ashes right here, leaving her feeling utterly broken.

She hadn’t wanted to face the truth. Her first instinct had been to run away, to convince herself that she was simply overthinking things.

She and Liam had shared a deep, youthful love. They had pulled each other out of the mire, step by step, always holding on to each other.

She had never wanted to suspect him.

Even when the smallest details had been laid out right in front of her, she had still tried to find an excuse for him.

And yet, she’d come here anyway.

Years ago, Liam had linked his phone’s location to hers.

He’d been the one to suggest it.

Back then, he was still building his career. Making his way through the business world demanded nearly every ounce of his energy. Over the past two years, he’d become so busy that he seemed to need ten extra hours in every day. Business trips, social engagements, endless meetings—his schedule was relentless.

Sometimes, she couldn’t get hold of him at all.

Diana had understood. She knew how hard he worked and had never wanted to burden him with unnecessary worries. But Liam had been afraid she’d feel anxious whenever he was unreachable, so he’d taken the initiative to set up location sharing.

That way, he’d told her, she could check where he was whenever she wanted. She’d never have to worry that something had happened to him.

Later, she’d mistakenly believed she’d lost the phone.

Now, she’d found it again and reactivated the location sharing.

Only this time, she’d done it to prove that he’d betrayed her.

“Rose, I think it’s over between Liam and me.”

Diana was still smiling, but the tears wouldn’t stop. It was as though smiling was the only way she could keep herself from looking as miserable as she felt.

“Rose, Liam really did…”

She couldn’t finish the sentence.

In fact, she recognized the woman, too.

She’d been working with Sophie on commercial shoots for nearly a month. Sophie had been right in front of her all that time, yet Diana hadn’t suspected a thing.

Now, looking back, she felt as though she’d been the target of some cruel, silent joke.

Sophie must have thought she was a complete fool, too.

Someone who could be led around by the nose without ever realizing it.

Rose’s expression darkened.

She took a deep breath before speaking.

“Have you decided what you want to do? Diana, I know this is cruel, but you can’t leave things like this. Do you want to confront him?”

She didn’t want Diana to swallow this humiliation just because they’d been together for six years.

Diana deserved to be loved wholeheartedly. She always had.

If they didn’t cut things off cleanly now, the situation would only become more tangled, making it even harder to get out.

Diana lowered her head, looking dazed.

“I need some time to calm down.”

What would confronting them accomplish?

Catch them in the act—and then what?

Tear out Liam’s hair? Slap him across the face a few times?

“What about this, then?”

Rose pressed her lips together, unsure what else to suggest.

Diana closed her eyes briefly.

“It’s too ugly. I don’t want to see it.”

She couldn’t bring herself to walk in there and witness Liam making love to another woman. The image would become a nightmare, one that might haunt her for the rest of her life.

But she didn’t need to see it happen to know what it meant.

Liam’s betrayal was already undeniable.

She didn’t need to confirm exactly what they’d been doing behind that door.

Diana tightened her grip on Rose’s hand. Then she led her away, turning her back on the room without looking back.

She didn’t say another word as they walked.

By the time they reached the lobby, Ryan’s car had pulled up outside.

Rose helped Diana into the car.

Diana curled up in her seat, silent and withdrawn, as though she’d retreated somewhere deep inside herself.

Ryan glanced at her, his expression calm. He then cast a brief, indifferent look at the hotel before silently signaling the driver to leave.

Diana didn’t return to the suite she’d shared with Liam.

Instead, Rose took her to her own apartment. They would be alone there, with no one around to make Diana feel embarrassed or force her to explain what had happened.

Diana remained silent.

She moved like a hollow shell, as though all the life had been drained out of her.

After sending Ryan a message, Rose sat quietly beside her.

Diana lay on the sofa with her eyes closed. She looked as if she were asleep, but Rose knew better. Diana was awake, lost in her own thoughts.

It was almost ten that night.

Diana’s phone kept ringing.

She didn’t even glance at it.

Rose finally leaned over and looked at the phone on the table.

The screen was filled with missed calls and messages from Liam.

He wanted to know why she hadn’t come home. He kept asking where she was, telling her that he’d finished work and wanted to pick her up and take her home.

Home.

A trace of mockery flickered across Rose’s eyes.

Was there even a home left to return to?

Why were men so willing to destroy their own homes, yet still expect the women they’d hurt to stay behind, quietly guarding the empty shell of a marriage and keeping it warm for them?

Perhaps because Diana hadn’t answered any of his calls, Liam was finally getting worried.

Then his name appeared on the screen again.

A video call.

The persistent ringing finally made Diana open her eyes.

Her face was deathly pale, and her eyes were red and swollen from crying.

Nearly six hours had passed since she’d left the hotel, and she’d barely spoken a word.

Now, beneath the sorrow in her eyes, there was only a hollow, chilling indifference.

“Are you going to answer?” Rose asked softly.

“Yeah. I’ll answer.”

Diana sat up and picked up her phone.

Liam’s video call request filled the screen.

Even his contact name seemed to mock her.

[Husband “heart”]

That familiar label, with its bright red heart, suddenly hurt to look at.

Diana drew a deep breath and tapped Answer.

The call connected so suddenly that Liam wasn’t prepared for it.

He’d been genuinely worried. Even before the call went through, his brow had been furrowed, his expression grave, and an unusual coldness had settled over him.

The moment Diana appeared on the screen, however, the tension between his brows eased.

“Diana, where have you been? Why haven’t you—”

His voice abruptly trailed off.

His expression changed as he stared at her.

His gaze searched her face, lingering on her swollen eyes.

Then his voice turned cold.

“Have you been crying?”

Diana wasn’t a fragile woman. She was remarkably resilient.

No matter how difficult things became, she’d grit her teeth, curse at the heavens if she had to, and refuse to admit defeat.

For her to look this devastated—to have cried until her eyes were swollen—could only mean one thing to Liam.

The Robinson family had hurt his Diana again.

It was only when faced with her family’s cruelty that Diana allowed herself to show such vulnerability.

Countless times, Liam had hated himself for not being strong enough to protect her from the world.

He’d watched her suffer at the hands of her parents and relatives again and again. Every tear she’d shed had burned into his heart like acid, leaving wounds that had never fully healed.

Even after all these years, those scars remained.

And now, seeing Diana break down like this, his first instinct was to find whoever had hurt her.

A murderous glint rose uncontrollably in his eyes.

He wouldn’t allow anyone to make Diana suffer.

Her bloodshot eyes seemed like poisoned blades, piercing straight through his chest.

An inexplicable pain surged through him, threatening to overwhelm his reason.

“What happened? Where are you? I’ll come get you.”

“No need.”

Diana’s voice was hoarse.

Looking at the worry and urgency on Liam’s face, she knew his concern was genuine.

Over the years, he’d always put her first. If so much as a hair on her head had been out of place, he’d have treated it like a catastrophe.

But even a love like theirs…

It turned out there could be darkness hidden inside it, too.

“I’m coming to see you right now, Diana. Tell me where you are.”

Liam stood up, pressing his lips into a thin line as he reached for his suit jacket.

“I told you, there’s no need.”

Her words made him freeze.

For the first time, he sensed that something about Diana’s tone was wrong.