Chapter 39
It was an autumn afternoon. The sun was warm, and the breeze was pleasant.
But with the "beep" sound of the disconnection on the other end of the phone, the surrounding atmosphere-with Josh Hunter as the center-quickly dropped to a freezing point.
Divorce?
Did Diana Swift just ask for a divorce?
Even the sun knew better than Rein Garcia to read the room and hid behind the clouds. He burst out a question in surprise, "You've rekindled with Mandy Lee? When did it happen? What the heck, Josh! What did you do? And now Diana knows! What are you gonna do now?"
Josh Hunter didn't bother explaining. He dialed the shortcut key to Sam and muttered, "We're going back to P City immediately."
Hearing his words, Nathan Jones put down his golf club and patted Josh on the shoulder without saying anything.
Eric Cook didn't say anything either. However, he was pondering the same question as Rein.
It was unsurprising, given that the two of them were both ladies men who had had many experiences with countless women. They did not hold onto the value of loyalty to love and marriage.
At this point, they thought Josh Hunter had cheated on Mandy Lee and got caught by Diana Swift. They were all thinking about how to protect the interests of their buddy.
After Josh Hunter left, the two discussed the matter while playing.
"I didn't know that Mandy Lee could be so attractive. It hasn't been long since she came back, and now they are hooking up again," said Rein.
Eric Cook thought about it and replied, "Maybe it's about the personality. Average men can't really stand Diana's personality."
Rein agreed and continued, "That's true. Hey, what do you say? Are they really gonna get a divorce?"
"How is it possible? Did you forget about Sheldon and Edward Swift? Don't you know how strong the collaboration between the two groups is? Plus, basically, it's the Swift family that is benefitting from the Hunter family. This will mainly depend on Josh's will. If he wants a divorce, he will divorce her no matter what."
"You've got a point," Rein Garcia said and nodded. "But Ken and Julie Hunter like Diana so much. They will never agree for sure. And there's Uncle Richard... I think that even if they do get a divorce, it's impossible for Josh to marry Mandy either, right? Uncle Richard will never agree to that."
Hearing this, Eric Cook sneered, "Come on! Marrying Mandy? Don't you see that Josh doesn't want a divorce at all? Otherwise, he wouldn't head back so soon. And Diana was just saying. What are you even worried about?"
...
The more they talked about it, the more excited they became. Josh Hunter hadn't left for more than five minutes, and the two of them had already talked about the division of property after divorce.
Nathan had always held a different value on marriage from theirs, but it wasn't his place to talk about his buddy. He looked at the end of the greenery and said emotionlessly, "Stop it. Mind your own business."
-
Undeniably, Nathan's words were foresighted, but the power of his words wasn't strong enough. In a blink of an eye, Eric and Rein had already let it slip.
The marriage of the Hunter-Swift family was already attracting a lot of attention. Now that it turned sour all of a sudden, words would definitely spread like wildfire.
By the evening, this matter had already reached the ears of the Swift family.
Diana first received the calls from Kelly and Hedy Swift.
The two of them talked about roughly the same thing. They both heard that she was going to get a divorce, so they called to ask what was going on. They also said that if Josh Hunter bullied her and made her feel wronged, the Swift family would definitely help her get justice.
The daughters-in-law of the Swift family were from well-known families. They were well educated, and they were great with their kind words.
If it weren't for the last few classic quotations of "being together would be better than being separated", Diana might really think that they were calling to defend their niece.
She responded faintly. After her mood was already ruined, she felt as if she was sinking into another cold pond again.
It was probably because of her unclear attitude that the Swift family felt a sense of crisis. After her two aunts had advised her, Uncle Sheldon also called her himself.
"Diana, what's going on with you and Josh? Why is everyone talking about you wanting to divorce him all of a sudden?"
Sheldon Swift didn't beat around the bush and went straight to the point. Yet, as usual, he sounded gentle but stern at the same time.
Diana was squatting on the floor packing her luggage. After answering several calls in a row, she was not surprised by Sheldon's inquiry.
She turned the speaker on and put it aside. Calmly, she replied, "I brought it up, uncle. I can't get on with him."
"Is it really you who brought it up it?" Sheldon didn't believe it at first, but now that he heard her, he got worried. "Diana, how can you be so reckless?!"
Diana lowered her gaze and didn't answer.
Sheldon was still in the company. He held his phone in one hand and placed the other hand behind his back. His niece had given him a headache.
He tried his best to calm himself down. "Diana, I won't beat around the bush with you. You're an adult now, and you can't do things simply based on your temperament! Do you know about the South Bay Project that I am working on with the Hunter family and how important it is?"
"Everything is not the same now. The Hunter family doesn't necessarily have to work together with our Swift family. But if we don't work with the Hunter family, nobody else would take on this project! All the development would have to stop!"
Sheldon hated how inconsiderate she was, but he also didn't want to yell at her, making her mind more disturbed than it already was.
Diana slowly put down the clothes in her hands. She then slowly stretched out her hands and covered her face.
If Sheldon scolded her mercilessly, she could have said it confidently that they were kind to her only for the sake of her marriage with the Hunter family. They had no right to put up the superior attitude as elders and criticize her.
But Sheldon did not.
She knew better than anyone that Sheldon and Edward's kindness toward her was intentional, but that did not mean that their kindness was fake.
When she was a child, some classmates from school mocked her that she had no parents and that she was a homeless kid picked up from the rubbish heap. She was so angry that she cried and ran to complain to Sheldon.
After Sheldon found out, he hurried back from out of town immediately and went to talk to the teacher at school.
After he picked her up from school, he even bought an ice-cream for her at a convenience store by the road. He held her by the hand, walked her home, and coaxed patiently, "Diana, you're the little princess of the Swift family. How could you be picked up from the rubbish heap? If anybody says such nonsense again, you must let me know. I will help you catch the bad guys, okay?"
The memory of her uncle slowing down deliberately in the narrow alley was such a long time ago. However, everything was still as clear as if it happened yesterday when she thought of it at this moment.
Her nose felt sour, and her tears flowed uncontrollably.
After a long while, she sobbed and said to the other end of the phone, "Uncle, I'm sorry, but I really... I really don't want to do this anymore. I feel miserable. I feel really miserable."
She couldn't think about the picture of Josh Hunter and Mandy Lee being together. She didn't dare to contemplate on what Mandy Lee said. She couldn't even convince herself that she was just mad at Josh for humiliating her.
Obviously, it was just a marriage of convenience. However, when some other issues arose, it became more than just the interests.
The sunset in the evening was like a salted egg yolk. There was a tint of red in its orangeness.
Sheldon stood in front of the window. Suddenly, he was silent.
He remembered that it was also at dusk like this when Diana's parents were both deceased and sent back to the Swift's old mansion.
At that time, the little girl was like a tiny little dumpling. Wearing a princess dress and holding a beautiful doll in her hand, she was totally unworldly.
The little girl smiled when she saw him. Her aunt taught her to call him "uncle", but when she said it, it sounded funny like "ankle".
At that time, the old Mr. Smith was still alive. Sheldon had just taken over part of the Smith business. He was young, and he loved the little daughter left behind by his younger brother.
It was unlike the present. Now, after experiencing so many episodes in life, all relationships had faded. It was odd. The older a person gets, the more involuntary the things in life get.
He held onto the railing in front of the window. Softening his voice, he said, "Diana, I am not forcing you. I simply hope that you can think about the family a little bit. Now that you are in a bad mood, I don't want to say much. Calm down first, and then talk to Josh."
Diana wrapped her arms around her legs and buried her head in her arms. She remained silent for a long time.
Sheldon sighed and hung up the phone.
-
It was already nine o'clock in the evening when Josh Hunter returned to the Moonshadow Mansion. Tomorrow was probably not a sunny day, as no stars could be seen in the night sky at all.
The door to the master bedroom on the second floor was not closed, and the cloakroom was lighted. Two suitcases were placed at the door.
Looking indifferent, Josh Hunter approached the cloakroom. He saw Diana Swift squatting inside the room packing her luggage and asked emotionlessly, "Where do you want to go?"
A chill went down Diana's spine. She didn't turn around, nor did she respond.
"Cedar Department? Uncle Edward called me earlier. He thinks that you need to stay home and calm down."
The house in the Cedar Department was a gift from Edward. As compared to Sheldon, Edward was rather hard-hearted.
Diana understood what this meant. She got up suddenly, turned her head, and stared at Josh Hunter for a moment. She didn't bother packing her luggage anymore. She just wanted to pick up the box at the door and head out.
However, Josh Hunter suddenly reached out and stopped her.
"What do you want?"
Diana Swift lowered her gaze and asked coldly.
Josh Hunter looked deeply at her. "Diana, I should be the one asking you this question."
They stood still in the position where they passed by each other and stopped.
Josh was tired from the long journey. His voice was hoarse and filled with some unexplainable irritation.
"I was not the one who approved the investment in Mandy Lee's film, and I never intend to humiliate you. Before you threw a fit at me, you could have asked me first. I can't just stop what I am doing at hand and come back to deal with your unreasonable temper every single time."
When she heard his second half of the sentence, she wanted to sneer. "So you think I'm just throwing a fit right now, right?"
She let go of her suitcase and looked up at the tall man standing in front of her. She questioned him loudly, "You said that you weren't the one approving the investment in Mandy Lee's film. So, is it true that the Lux Hotel Group invested in her film?"
Josh Hunter was emotionless and didn't answer.
Diana continued, "So, it's true?"
Diana felt that all her internal organs were aching with anger. She spoke louder and faster, "Your company invested in a movie made by your first love to commemorate your love story, and now you're telling me that you have no idea about it and even if you do, you have no right to stop it? Josh Hunter, you are 27 years old now. Are you trying to tell me that you only know about your business and you are so unworldly that you do not understand how to avoid rumors?!"
Josh explained, "It's not what you think it is. She got the investment from the Lux Hotel Group Investment through Victor Kent's connection. Victor and my father have known each other for a long time, and our companies work together. I couldn't refuse it, so I asked Mandy Lee to go through the normal investment evaluation process in the company."
Josh had been extremely patient. He continued explaining it objectively, "She was able to get this investment because the evaluation team felt that they could get a higher return than the investment from her film. Whether the company wanted to invest it or not, it was not my final decision to make, and it had nothing to do with me."
"Nothing to do with you?" Diana Swift was so mad that she laughed hysterically. Sobbing, she said in a trembling voice, "Are you telling me that your subordinates are so ignorant? If you had shown any signs of avoiding rumors, would they fail to see that?!"
She then nodded again. "Okay, I won't pursue this with you. Now, you know that she has received the investment from the Lux Hotel Group and also what she is going to shoot. So, call your company now to cancel the investment. Call now to get the movie out of the way!"
"Diana Swift, I think you need to calm down now."
Josh Hunter warned, grabbing the hand that she wanted to break free.
Diana Swift stared at him, and her tears rolled down suddenly.
She broke free from Josh Hunter's grip and wiped her face with the back of her hand, but her tears wouldn't stop.
Some indescribable irritability surged in Josh Hunter's heart.
Diana Swift took two steps back. "I'm calm now. You refuse to, right? Or you can't do it? You're the president of the Lux Hotel Group, as well as the president of the Hunter Family Group. Is it really difficult for you to divest from a movie that has not yet started? Are you unable or unwilling to do it? If you don't want to, fine, let's get a divorce. I've had enough!"
Finishing her sentence, Diana Swift was already so hysterical that she was on the brink of collapse.
Those emotions that were hidden deep in her heart and which she refused to touch were all pouring out uncontrollably at this moment.
Her face was full of tears, and her shoulders and fingers were shaking.
Right.
She, Diana Swift, was a vicious female supporting role.
She had had a crush on Josh Hunter for many years. She didn't want to face her true emotions, nor did she want to admit them!
She was jealous. She was jealous that Mandy Lee was the Cinderella who made a comeback. She was jealous that even though Mandy's looks, body figure, and family background were incomparable to hers, Mandy had won over Josh's heart. When Mandy showed up again, Josh would have feelings for her!
And she, Diana Swift, had been married to Josh Hunter for three years. Josh Hunter didn't like her, and he never will!
In fact, if it were just a marriage of convenience for the sake of business, she could deceive herself into being ignorant. But why did it have to be Mandy Lee? Did he not consider Diana's feelings for a second? He clearly knew about her rivalry with Mandy Lee, so why did he do this?
"Cut it out."
Hearing Diana Swift's remarks that he should find a way to prevent Mandy Lee's movie from being made or else she would file for divorce, Josh Hunter thought she was totally unreasonable.
"I am not being dramatic. Josh Hunter, I'm serious. Let's get a divorce."
She pulled Josh Hunter's fingers off her one by one. There were some crackling sounds, and then silence fell after she broke free.
She would never allow this ridiculous marriage and her dignity to be torn down by his haunting ex, Mandy Lee.
It was okay if Josh Hunter didn't like her or love her, but it was absolutely not okay for him to stay married to her yet long for Mandy at the same time.
Josh Hunter only felt his temples throbbing. The irritation in his heart became more apparent. He somehow blurted out some cold hard truth that he initially refused to point out.
"Divorce? You keep talking about divorce over and over again. Do you really think that you will be more comfortable after getting a divorce? Diana Swift, what else can you do after you leave me?"
"Ask yourself. How much trouble will our divorce give to the Swift family's business? And to solve these troubles, will the Swift family treat you the same as in the past? Besides, how many people that you know will still be willing to be your sidekick?"
"Diana, you are not a child anymore. You have to be responsible for the consequences of your action."
Diana Swift closed her eyes and said, "Yes, I know nothing, and I can't do anything. I'm just a canary that you keep as a pet! This is why you have always looked down on me. It's not just you. Your friends and my family as well. They all think that I am some trash who can't live independently without you!"
"I'm not as good as Mandy Lee, I don't have her talent, and I am not as shameless as her. I wouldn't hang around my ex after breaking up with him because of nostalgia. I wouldn't ask my ex to do something that is as if a slap to his wife's face just to fulfill my dream! So, is it alright if I want to fly out of this cage now? It will be none of your business even if I get struck by lightning right after I leave! Get out of my way!"
Diana Swift pushed Josh Hunter away. This time, she wanted to leave without even taking the suitcase.
Since Josh Hunter made it so clear that it was him who gave her her everything, she didn't have to pack up and take those things away shamelessly.
But before she walked out of the room, Josh Hunter suddenly grabbed her wrist from behind her, dragged her, and threw her onto the bed.
He loosened his tie, and there was a thin layer of dominance on his face.
He leaned over Diana Swift and pinned her wrists tightly behind him. His other hand pinched her chin, forcing her to accept his kiss.
He rarely kissed so urgently, so intensely. He didn't think about why he did it. He just had the urge to do it, so he did.
Diana Swift had just cried. Her eyes were red and slightly swollen. There was a salty taste around her eyes and face.
Josh Hunter kissed her lips, moving onto her eyebrows, and then moving down, setting clusters of fire on her body.
During the first half-minute of being thrown onto the bed, Diana hadn't come back to her senses. By the time she realized what was going on, another wave of heated kisses hit her. She began to struggle after a long while.
"Let me go! Let me go! You pervert!"
Her hands were held so tightly in place that she couldn't move at all. She tried to kick but her legs felt weak.
It wasn't until Josh Hunter kissed her on the lips that she found a chance to bite him hard. At once, a smell of rust spread in both their mouths.
After being bitten, Josh Hunter seemed to be clear in his head. The irritation in his heart slowly dissipated.
He held himself up beside Diana. Wiping his bleeding lower lip with his fingertip, he kept staring right at Diana as if he didn't feel pain. He scrutinized Diana closely, but the emotion in his eyes was unclear.
After a long while, he got up, stood beside the bed, and straightened his collar. His eyes became quiet.
Then, he said coldly, "Your family and I think that you need to calm down. Stay here, and don't go anywhere else."
Diana sat up from the bed with difficulty, but before she got up, Josh Hunter had already walked out of the bedroom, slammed the door shut, and locked it.
Stunned, she dashed forward and twisted the doorknob without putting on her shoes.
It was really locked.
Did Josh lock her in the bedroom?!
Diana Swift stood at the door, feeling as if her brain was about to explode. Her thoughts couldn't keep up with what was going on.
Why didn't Josh let her go?
Did he think that it was too aggrieved for Mandy to be accused of being a mistress if she left? Or did he want to wait for the tribunals to calculate and let the Swift family settle the money that she had spent over the years?
It was absurd. How could anyone lock his wife in the bedroom when he lost the argument? It was the 21st century!
-
Coming out of the room, Josh Hunter stood still at the entrance of the stairs. He shut his eyes and recalled the series of things that he had done just now. It seemed that he couldn't find any logic behind it at all.
The only thing he knew in his heart was that he couldn't let Diana Swift leave.
He seemed to lose control started from the moment when Diana Swift uttered the word "divorce", from the moment he was in X City, and from the moment he rushed home without saying a word.
He rubbed his brow bone and called Sam. "The Lux Hotel Group will withdraw the investment from Mandy Lee's film for no reason. Besides, find Mandy Lee's contact information and send it to me."
Ten minutes later, he dialed the unfamiliar phone number that Sam sent him.
"Hello." The lady's voice was gentle.
"I'm Josh Hunter."
There was a moment of silence from the other end of the phone. Then, the gentle voice continued, "Josh, is there anything that you want to talk to me? Did Diana say anything to you?"
Josh Hunter went straight to the topic. "Miss Lee, I had only been with you for three months, and it has been nearly ten years since we broke up. I don't think there is anything between us that is worth making a movie as a commemoration. As an involving party, I think I should have the right to reject it."
Mandy Lee was startled and then chuckled, "Movies nowadays need some means of publicity. Audiences won't pay for movies without stories. But you can rest assured that I won't reveal your identity, and I don't intend to destroy your relationship with Diana... if there is any."
Josh Hunter replied coldly, "I'm not interested in this. I'm just calling you to let you know that it's your freedom to make the movie, but my wife and I don't like to be exploited by anyone in any form. So, please be careful about anything that you do, and do it at your own risk."
After he finished his sentences, he hung up immediately.