Chapter 492 Everything Seems the Same

Chapter 492: Chapter 492 Everything Seems the Same

Diana tapped the photo Liam had sent her again, studying the dishes on the table.

After a long while, she finally replied.

Diana: [No, I’m tired. I’m going to sleep now. We’ll talk tomorrow.]

She set her phone down.

Then, silently, she began counting.

When she reached twenty, Liam’s reply came through.

Liam: [Okay.]

Diana stared at the message for a moment before turning off her phone and going to sleep.

*****

“Did you really have to reply to her right now?”

Sophie sat on Liam’s lap, her arms wrapped around his neck as she leaned in to kiss him gently.

Liam’s brow furrowed slightly.

His gaze fell to his phone. Diana hadn’t come looking for comfort from him tonight.

In the past, even when he was away on business, they’d always made time to talk.

Suddenly, he’d lost all interest in what he was doing.

He pushed Sophie away, tied the sash of his pajamas, and headed toward another bedroom.

“Go to sleep.”

Sophie wasn’t surprised. Liam had always been like this.

He was difficult to read. He could appear gentle and courteous, yet in reality, he was distant and rarely showed her any warmth.

Just like now.

He’d clearly been about to take things further, only to stop abruptly.

He almost never stayed the night with her.

Even when she tried everything to keep his attention, he’d still interrupt their time together to answer messages from another woman.

Sophie pressed her lips together, then hurried after him barefoot. Wrapping her arms around him from behind, she pleaded, “But you promised you’d stay with me. I don’t want to be alone tonight. Can’t you just stay with me?”

Liam’s brow twitched.

“Let go first.”

“No. Stay with me tonight, please.”

“Sophie.”

His voice was perfectly level, almost gentle.

Yet something in that flat tone sent a chill down her spine.

She instinctively released him.

Liam turned to face her and brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear. His expression was tender as he looked at her, and his voice was soft. But the warmth never reached his eyes.

“Don’t be difficult, okay?”

Sophie bit her lip.

“I know.”

“Good. Go to sleep.”

He went into the other bedroom.

Once he was lying in bed, he opened WhatsApp. His conversation with Diana was still sitting where it had been left more than ten minutes earlier.

Sophie had been flirting with him relentlessly, interrupting their conversation for a while.

And now...

He frowned.

Diana was probably asleep. She’d always been a sound sleeper, and sending her a voice message at this hour would likely wake her.

He placed his phone beside his pillow instead.

Unless he was physically with Diana, he rarely put his phone on silent. He never wanted to risk missing one of her calls.

It was a habit he’d developed years ago.

Back then, when Diana had been mistreated by the Robinson family, he’d failed to answer her calls.

He’d never forgiven himself for it.

Since that day, he’d made sure his phone was always on.

For some reason, Liam suddenly found himself unable to sleep.

He frowned, rolled over, then sat up.

After taking another shower, he ignored Sophie in the other room, got dressed, and drove straight back to the city.

He wanted to see Diana.

The drive took more than two hours. He arrived shortly before two in the morning.

But Diana wasn’t home.

Liam’s brow furrowed.

She hadn’t told him where she’d gone. Normally, she’d eagerly share every little detail of her day with him.

It was already late, so he sent her a message before returning to his room and lying down.

He never really fell asleep.

With Diana away, something simply felt wrong.

******

The next morning, a little after seven, the electronic lock beeped.

Liam hadn’t slept much anyway. At the sound, he immediately stepped out of his room and came face-to-face with Diana, who had just returned.

She paused when she saw him.

“When did you get back?”

Liam walked over, slipped an arm around her waist, and looked her over carefully.

“Where have you been? Why do you look so exhausted? Didn’t you sleep well last night?”

Dark circles had formed beneath her eyes.

Only then did Diana smile.

She gently pushed him aside and went to pour herself a glass of water.

“I’ve been busy lately—editing footage, attending meetings, all that stuff. I ended up sleeping at the office. What about you? Weren’t you supposed to be on a business trip? Why are you home?”

Liam followed her into the kitchen, wrapped his arms around her from behind, and nuzzled her neck.

“I missed you. I drove back overnight.”

“Oh?”

Diana narrowed her eyes playfully and reached up to stroke his face.

“Where were you that you could get back so quickly? Somewhere nearby?”

“Not far.”

He didn’t elaborate on the supposed business trip.

Instead, his attention returned to her tired face.

“Take the day off. Don’t go to the office today. Your cold hasn’t completely cleared up, either.”

His brows drew together.

“Diana, you don’t have to push yourself this hard. I’m not asking you to quit your job. I know how much your work means to you. But if it’s leaving you this exhausted, I don’t want you putting yourself through it.”

He paused, tightening his arms around her.

“You could stay home and enjoy yourself if you wanted. Isn’t everything I earn yours anyway?”

He wasn’t exaggerating.

The supplementary credit card he’d given Diana had no spending limit, and he’d transferred several million dollars into her personal account as well, just in case she ever needed more money.

If she wanted his primary card, he’d give her that, too.

He simply couldn’t stand seeing her wear herself out.

It had taken him an enormous amount of effort, patience, and coaxing to help her get back on her feet. The thought of her exhausting herself all over again troubled him.

Neither of them brought up the business trip any further. Diana didn’t press him for details, either. Instead, she changed the subject.

“That’s different.”

She set her glass down.

“You’re willing to give me everything now because you still love me. But what happens if that changes someday? What if you stop loving me? I don’t have a career of my own to fall back on. Who am I supposed to turn to when I’m heartbroken?”

“Diana, don’t talk nonsense.”

Liam’s expression darkened.

He pulled her into his arms, his frustration suddenly unmistakable.

“Even if I stopped loving myself, I’d never stop loving you.”

Diana was part of his life. They’d been intertwined for so long that he could hardly imagine one without the other.

Looking up at him, Diana giggled.

“Okay, okay. I was only joking. You actually got angry.”

Liam leaned down and gave her cheek a gentle bite.

Then he cupped her face and kissed both cheeks, his voice softening. There was a trace of hurt beneath his tenderness.

“Don’t joke about things like that. What do you want to eat? I’ll make it for you.”

He knew Diana would never willingly give up her career.

Ideally, he wanted her to stay home, enjoy life, and take care of her health. Then, when they were ready, they could have a baby and build a peaceful little life together.

But Diana wasn’t willing to give up her work.

He wouldn’t force her. As long as she was happy with her choices, he would support her.

Diana wiped her face.

“Whatever. Let go of me already. How long have we been together? Don’t you ever get tired of this?”

Liam burst out laughing.

“Never. Even fifty years from now, I won’t be tired of it. So don’t even think about getting away from me.”

Diana paused with the tissue halfway across her face.

“Oh.”

She turned and headed into the bathroom.

Standing in front of the mirror, she studied her reflection.

There really were dark circles beneath her eyes. She hadn’t slept a wink the previous night.

She hadn’t wanted to disturb Rose, so she’d sent her a message and returned home first.

But she couldn’t understand why she’d been in such a hurry to leave.

Or perhaps...

Had she been running away from something?

She simply hadn’t expected Liam to get home before her.

Everything was as usual.

Everything was clearly just as it had always been.

And yet...

Diana suddenly crouched beside the sink, leaning against it as weakness swept through her limbs.

The man she’d seen at the resort the previous evening had looked so much like Liam.

She hadn’t gotten a clear look at his face, but the moment she’d spotted him, her heart had begun racing uncontrollably. She still couldn’t explain the feeling that had come over her.

She’d instinctively told herself she’d made a mistake. She was just being paranoid, seeing Liam in strangers because she missed him.

She hadn’t dared let Rose catch even a glimpse of her suspicions.

After all, she was afraid to examine them herself.

But then Liam had sent her that photo of his dinner.

And the tableware in the picture had been exactly the same as the set she’d used with Rose when they’d ordered their food at the resort.