CHAPTER 50: MEETING HUBBY'S FRIENDS XII
James bundled her into the car, where Antonio, his ever-present driver and bodyguard, waited. Antonio discreetly plugged in his noise-canceling buds, as per his standing instructions.
As the car pulled away, Diana retreated to the farthest corner of the back seat, her playful demeanor replaced by a cold distance.
The silence in the car was deafening, punctuated only by Diana's shallow breaths.
"Diana" James called out softly to her as he saw her shrink away from him.
"James," she whispered, her voice tight. "Who was she?"
A tense silence hung in the air. "Cassandra," he finally muttered, avoiding her gaze.
"And who is Cassandra?" Diana demanded, tears pricking her eyes.
"Just... someone I knew," James mumbled, his jaw clenched.
"Why didn't you tell me she was coming?"
"It wasn't important," James muttered.
"Oh, for God's sake, James!" Diana's voice cracked. "Is that all you can offer? We're married, for crying out loud! Don't I deserve to know?"
He sighed, Frustration and anger simmered beneath his stoic facade. "Not now, Diana. I don't want to talk about it."
Tears welled up in her eyes. "Really James! Not now? It's always 'not now' with you! Everything's a secret. Then by all means James, please tell me what you want to talk about hmm let's talk about it. Am tired of you not wanting to talk about everything. How you even managed to tell me about your job or friends beats me. How can we be married if you keep shutting me out?"
"Diana just know she's no one okay. Trust me".
"No one you say? Trust you?" she scoffed, a humorless laugh escaping her lips. "You mean this same no one, this woman who thinks you're still her boyfriend! Just what the fucking hell is going on James" Diana shouted and hit the headrest in front of her in a fit of anger.
A tense silence filled the car, broken only by the hum of the engine.
James's phone buzzed, shattering the already strained atmosphere. He answered it curtly, his face hardening with each word. Answering the call, his voice grew strained with suppressed anger.
Diana watched, a knot of fear tightening in her stomach.
The call ended abruptly. James slammed the phone down, his entire demeanor radiating icy fury. His whole body became taut as she felt the anger emanating from him like waves.
Diana could feel the temperature of the car drop to a full 50 degrees, she shivered subconsciously and swallowed.
"What's wrong?" Diana asked, her voice trembling.
James tapped Antonio, who in turn removed the ear block.
"Antonio, stop the car," he barked, his voice laced with steel.
The car screeched to a halt, Antonio's confused eyes meeting Diana's through the rearview mirror.
"What's wrong James?" Diana asked again. Her tears were already pouring.
"Diana i will see you later" was all he said, while commanding Antonio.
"Take my wife home," James ordered, his voice devoid of emotion. "And meet me at the usual place."
"James, please!" Diana pleaded, tears streaming down her face. "Don't just leave me like this!"
But he was already out of the car, disappearing into the night. Antonio pulled away,
Diana watched him go, tears streaming down her face. Well what was she expecting. The suspicion that had gnawed at her for weeks was now a gaping wound. She knew he might have someone else, but seeing Cassandra, the raw possessiveness in his ex's eyes, had confirmed her fears and she wasn't expecting to see her anytime soon, she just wasn't ready for it. And now, he had walked out on her without a word. She just could not understand why he was still holding back from her. He had secrets, and she wasn't sure how much longer she could pretend otherwise.
She turned to Antonio. "Antonio what is going on with my husband?".
"I have no idea ma'am", Antonio lied through his teeth.
Diana nodded and cried silently, the weight of his secrets pressed down on her, suffocating.
As Antonio sped towards their home, she couldn't help but wonder: what had he been hiding? And what did Cassandra's arrival mean for their fragile marriage?
Back in the house, she gave Nicodemus a curt greeting and avoided his worried glances, retreating to their bedroom.
She showered and got into bed but sleep wouldn't come, her mind consumed by questions and hurt. She felt sick and threw up quite a few times, probably because of the alcohol she had ingested.
As the night wore on, Diana waited for a call, an explanation, anything. But there was only silence, heavy and suffocating.
Finally, around midnight, exhaustion claimed her, and she drifted into a restless sleep, the weight of uncertainty pressing down on her chest, but the answers she craved remained elusive.