CHAPTER 145: UNTITLED
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.
James was the first to react. "Babe, are you okay?"
Grandma followed suit, with Jared trailing behind her. James tapped her back gently until she was through vomiting. When Diana lifted her head, there were tears in her eyes.
"I didn't know how the medicine touched my throat. It wasn't supposed to. Guess I wasn't concentrating well enough. I promise I've not thrown up on my own since I started taking the medicine — you can ask Uncle Nik."
Diana felt herself explaining as tears slid down her cheeks, staining her powder.
"Hey now, don't cry baby, I believe you."
"You do?" Diana asked, looking up at him.
"Mhm hmm," James said as he used his hanky to wipe the stain of tears off her face.
Suzanne held her by her other side as they both led her to sit.
"Sister-in-law, are you alright?" Jared asked with concern.
She nodded and looked up at him with pity. Jared felt his heart tug at the way she looked at him and wanted to cry.
James drew his chair closer to his wife and turned to Nik. "Get me another dosage, Nik."
"Yes Chairman."
Nik hurried into the kitchen and got another dosage for James.
Diana looked at him. "More drugs?"
"Baby, you threw up everything after taking it. You need another one so you and our baby girl will be strong, mhm."
Nicodemus brought the cup and handed it to James.
"Now, just like we rehearsed. Sip the water and throw your head really backward so I can just drop it in one go."
She did as she was told, and James dropped the medicine directly into her throat. Diana swallowed and quickly drank water. She was about to throw up again when Grandma splashed water on her face, to everyone's surprise.
Diana quickly swallowed whatever was about to come out.
James looked at his grandma as if asking, What was that for? Jared gave her the same look too.
"Well, can't you see it worked?" Suzanne replied. "Saw it in an African movie."
James sighed and turned to his wife. "Are you okay, babe?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. I'm alright." She looked at Suzanne. "Grandma, how did you know to do that? My mom does it anytime she's with me when I'm taking medicine, so I don't vomit."
"Well," Suzanne smiled as she continued, "I saw it in an African movie."
"Hmm," Diana said as James wiped the water off her face.
"Now eat," he commanded gently.
Like clockwork, Diana picked up her fork and began eating. Everyone dispersed to their seats, except James, who remained close to her and watched as she ate. Watching her now, all he wanted to do was take her back to bed — damn his journey, and her work today. But he knew he couldn't just do that. Now, he had a baby to consider. Plus, he'd really stressed her last night, and she was yet to recover.
Still, he wanted to kiss her so badly. The way her mouth moved, the way she swallowed the food... Damn, James cursed silently as he turned away from her.
"Diana, you will not be driving me," James suddenly said.
Diana whipped her head to the side to look at him. "Why? Is it because I vomited earlier? Look, I'm fine."
"No, it's not because you vomited earlier. You're just not driving me."
Diana smiled sweetly. "Look, my driving skills are actually very good. I mean, you should be happy to experience your wife's driving skills. Not everyone is privileged to see it."