CHAPTER 144: WAKING UP WITHOUT SEEING HUBBY…
"The baby, James? What about her?" Diana asked, a frown marring her brow. "Harry said we should be careful, but you don't seem to care." She pouted slightly.
James raised an eyebrow, a playful glint in his eyes. "Well, you didn't seem to be complaining when I was… showing you how much I missed you."
"Oh, you!" Diana exclaimed, playfully swatting his side.
James chuckled and kissed her gently. "I'm sorry," he murmured. "I just needed to create some… lasting memories to last me for the two and a half weeks I'll be abroad. Is that too much to ask of my wife?" he asked, a teasing smile playing on his lips.
Diana gave him a shy smile and buried her face against his chest. "No, I suppose not," she mumbled softly.
James grinned and gave her backside a playful tap. "Come on, then. Let's shower." He moved away from her, causing Diana to wince slightly, then swept her up into his arms in a bridal style.
In the shower, their passion flared once more before he carried her back to bed. They finally settled down for the night, the lingering warmth of their intimacy filling the room.
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Diana woke up the next morning and didn't find James beside her.
Had he gone already? she wondered, panic rising. Without telling me?
Tears immediately filled her eyes. She reached for her phone to check the time—after 8?!
"Shit! Shit! Shit!" she cried, throwing on her robe and rushing downstairs barefoot, heart racing.
Down at the dining table sat Suzanne, James, and Jared, eating breakfast like everything was normal.
James looked toward the stairs and saw her—his wife, standing there with teary eyes, barefoot, and in just her robe.
Everyone turned.
Suzanne was the first to speak, already rising from her seat.
"Diana, darling, what's wrong? Is everything alright?"
Seeing them all together made Diana breathe easier, but the anger? Still there. Very much alive.
"I'm fine, Grandma," she muttered, brushing past her and walking straight up to James.
"Sister-in-law…" Jared called softly.
She ignored him. Her eyes were fixed on her husband.
"Were you planning on leaving again without telling me, hmm?"
James stood and moved to carry her. "Come on, I'll take you upstairs. It's chilly, and you're barefoot."
"No, James," Diana said, pushing him away. "Do you know how worried I was when I woke up and didn't see you? I had to run downstairs like a madwoman just to check if you were still here!"
Tears were already streaming down her face again.
"So, you were going to leave without telling me. Again?"
"Diana…" James called softly, trying to calm her.
She nodded, wiping her tears quickly. "You know what? I don't care. Just don't move an inch. I'll be back."
"I'm driving you to the airport myself."
With that, she turned and dashed back upstairs, robe flying behind her, leaving the others at the table completely thrown off.
Suzanne secretly smiled and turned to her grandson, smacking his head hard. "What did you do again, you hoodlum?"
James sighed and slumped back in his chair.
"Are you ignoring me?" Suzanne asked him again. "James, your wife is pregnant. That is the more reason why you don't need to stress her with your wicked antics."
"Wicked antics? Really, Grandma?" James fired back. "That is exactly what I'm so trying to keep her from, but it seems as if she just keeps running into it."
Suzanne turned to Jared. "Are you not going to say anything about this matter?"
Jared swallowed and looked at his brother, then back at his grandma. He was more scared of his brother than his grandma, but seeing the way Diana had come in and walked out, he felt his grandma had a point. But his brother, too, had a point. He thought for a while before siding with his grandma.
"Bro, I think we should tell her some certain things so she would be aware too. I mean, it wouldn't hurt to let her know what we're up against."
"Jared, I said no!" James boomed.
Both Jared and Grandma flinched subconsciously. Nicodemus shivered where he stood but maintained a straight face.
Suzanne turned to Nicodemus. "Hurry, go pack the madam's breakfast and her today's drug dosage."
"Yes ma," Nicodemus nodded and walked in relief towards the kitchen.
Diana came down in her black shiny heels, black pants, grey shirt, and a grey coat, coupled with a nude handbag and her laptop bag. She had stylishly packed her hair, applied powder, and her lips were extremely red—probably because she had cried. She strapped a gold wristwatch to her hand and a small chain to her left ankle.
Suzanne went to meet Diana as soon as she came down. She carried her bags for her and led her to the dining. She drew a seat for her beside her husband as she sat.
"Thank you, Grandma," Diana smiled to Suzanne and turned to her husband. "What time is your flight?"
James looked at his grandma as her eyes met his—like a warning—before replying. "Thanks to you, I've moved it to an hour."
Diana smiled and turned back to her front. "Uncle Nik, can I have breakfast and my drugs, please?"
"Coming right up, ma'am."
"So, Jared, how are you?" Diana turned to him.
Jared looked up and smiled. "I'm good, sister-in-law. How are you? Earlier, you were crying…"
Diana cut him off before he could finish, laughing nervously. "Oh, about that… it's alright. I guess I'm fine now."
Nicodemus brought the food for her with her medicines. Everyone watched her as she picked up the medicine cup. Diana looked around the table at the eyes staring at her. She cleared her throat. Jared was the first to cough and continue eating his food. Grandma smiled and raised her hand, pretending to stack the plates. James cleared his throat and brought out his phone.
She gave each of them a side-eye before breathing in and taking the medicine. She didn't know how she managed it, but the moment the medicine touched her throat, it upset her stomach so badly that she ran to the nearest sink and vomited all the medicines she took.