And the second stage of revenge, as Richard thought, would return him control over the company. He would become the owner of the business he once foolishly lost again. After all, in the years Diana managed the corporation, its assets had grown significantly. Once his daughter-in-law was humiliated and he restored his rights, Richard could finally enjoy life peacefully. And what would happen next with Vicky and his son—no longer mattered. The main thing was that he would be the company owner again.
The young woman couldn’t even imagine that everything happening around was a carefully planned game by her father-in-law, but her intuition clearly suggested: this morning wouldn’t bring anything good. Of course, they couldn’t just take little Eva from her, but what if… Kyle could be very persistent, especially feeling support from his new mistress. Diana glanced at the phone, carelessly thrown on the hallway table.
After calling a locksmith to change the locks, Diana passed by the phone several times, as if undecided to pick it up. But suddenly, as if finding resolve in herself, she grabbed the device and dialed the number she remembered with surprising ease. Andrew’s number, the same man who sent her a message the day before.
She didn’t build special illusions. Andrew was probably busy with his affairs, and the most she could count on was polite sympathy. After all, they hardly knew each other. He wasn’t obligated to solve her problems. Diana had a whole army of lawyers who could help. But despite that, she so wanted someone nearby who cared about her. Someone who wouldn’t just do their job but sincerely care for her.
To her great surprise, Andrew answered immediately, as if waiting for this call. His voice was calm, warm, as if they had known each other for an eternity.
— Is everything okay with you?—he asked with such concern that Diana was momentarily taken aback.
— No, not everything,—she admitted. It seemed wrong to dump her problems on a person she had met so recently. But Andrew’s voice was insistent.
— Tell me,—he demanded, and Diana was sure: if she stayed silent now, Andrew would be here in a couple of hours. That was his nature—active, ready to help without extra questions. She didn’t hesitate and in brief, concise words described everything that happened that morning.
Her husband, who sent their daughter to the nanny, convincing the elderly woman not to bother Diana. The young mistress who boldly strutted around the house in her things. And finally, the threats. Threats and blackmail: her parents’ apartment in exchange for the opportunity to stay with her daughter. Diana didn’t hide a single detail, knowing she could trust this person, despite barely knowing him.
For some reason, Diana was sure Andrew would understand her. She didn’t have time to fully realize she was telling him everything when she suddenly heard:
— Give me the address, I’ll come right now.
In his voice, there wasn’t a shred of doubt. From the background noises, Diana guessed Andrew was already getting ready to leave.
— Don’t do anything until I arrive, okay? Where is Eva now? Is she safe?—Andrew bombarded her with questions. Diana briefly answered that the girl was with the nanny.
— Diana, please, trust me,—said Andrew. — I’m glad you called and told everything. That’s it, I’m on my way.
For some reason, after these words, she felt better. Not because the lawyers were already working on the situation, but because Andrew would be here. He promised to help, and Diana felt she could believe him. Smiling warmly, she put the phone on the table and finally allowed herself to cry. All this chaos of the last hours had hit her too hard.
Later, looking back, Diana understood that all her self-control and strength of spirit were the result of the harsh school of life she went through thanks to her father. After the conversation with Andrew, there was a panicked and excited call from the nanny: some people in the building were threatening to take Eva and were going to call the police if the child wasn’t given to the father.
Fortunately, Diana was already on her way there, accompanied by her lawyers and security personnel. They insisted that the nanny and the baby lock themselves in the apartment and not go out. This incident made the woman understand that Kyle was ready to go all out. At the same time, alarming messages came from the company’s central office.
Richard, that same father-in-law and head of one of the key departments of the company, had initiated a series of deals that Diana would never approve. These steps could lead the firm to serious financial losses and undermine its reputation. When Diana managed to stop the deals, her team reported that false rumors about her company had begun spreading online.
This was another blow. From an unnamed employee, accusations were spreading: that the company keeps «black books,» hides from tax authorities, and is involved in shady schemes. Comments under these posts quickly filled with support from anonymous users with fake profiles. Diana realized—this wasn’t a random attack, but a planned campaign aimed at undermining her business. But she knew how to respond to such blows. And her response clearly wouldn’t please those who started this game.
She was so immersed in solving urgent problems that when Andrew called and said he was standing at her house, it both surprised and delighted her. Diana remembered her father’s words: «Coincidences are not coincidental—only what should happen happens.» Perhaps their acquaintance with Andrew was something predetermined.
Together with Eva, they returned home in Andrew’s car. His imposing appearance, clearly reminiscent of a fighter, immediately deterred any attempts by anyone to interfere or take the girl. When they finally got home, Andrew looked like a real giant, awkwardly holding a cup of coffee and clearly feeling a bit out of place. Little Eva was babbling something cheerfully, and Diana fussed at the stove, trying to cook something delicious for the unexpected guest.
— I don’t even know how to thank you for your help,—Diana admitted, trying to hide her excitement.
— Come on, no need to thank,—Andrew replied. — When I saw you at the conference… Well, you didn’t look like an ordinary person. You seemed to me, how to say it, like magical.
He paused for a moment before continuing:
— I looked at you in profile, and you were like from another world. I immediately wanted to become part of that world, part of your life.
These words touched Diana to the depths of her soul. No one had ever given her such sincere compliments. To hide her tears, she pretended to be engrossed in cooking.
But Andrew obviously wasn’t going to stop at compliments:
— And why did your husband do that? I thought everything was normal with you. What made him snap like that?
Diana, carefully choosing her words, told Andrew how she once acquired the company belonging to Kyle’s father, and how everything went downhill from there.
She bought the company not because it was her goal, but because otherwise it faced complete bankruptcy.
— That’s how they thanked you for saving them from financial collapse,—Andrew finished for her with a slight smirk. — Well thought out, nothing to say.
Diana just shrugged slightly and ran her hand over her forehead—a headache was starting. All these events were too overwhelming for one day. She wasn’t ready for such revelations.
— You know,—Andrew began cautiously, as if choosing words,—after I split with my ex and have been living alone for almost four years, I didn’t want anyone near me. But with you, it’s completely different. I feel I want to stay close and help. I told work I’m taking vacation. I have plenty of days accumulated, so I can stay as long as needed. It seems to me without support it’ll be hard for you to cope. Especially if those two,—he paused, choosing words,—continue to harm from inside.
Diana didn’t look for excuses or formulate an answer. She simply approached closer and gently placed her slender palm on his strong hand. It was a sign of agreement, a sign of trust. Andrew understood everything without words.
As it turned out, he had many ideas. He asked Diana about all the details happening in the company. It turned out that Kyle’s father, using various tricks, had long tried to take a leadership position and establish full control over the corporation. After all the discussions, Andrew made an unexpected conclusion.
— Seven troubles—one answer. I think I know how to handle this,—he said confidently, but immediately warned — Only you and little Eva should stay here. Don’t leave the apartment, and don’t open to anyone except me. Everything will definitely be fine.
— But where are you going?—Diana asked anxiously. — You understand they won’t just listen to you. Richard and Kyle are clearly set to see it through.
Andrew straightened his shoulders a bit and replied with a smirk:
— I wasn’t always a clerk in a real estate agency. Once I stepped into the ring…
— What, are you going to beat them?—Diana felt her cheeks flush. — They’ll just call the police and lock you up for a couple of days at least.
— No, no, of course,—Andrew laughed. — Although, I admit, after what your Kyle arranged, there would be a desire.
— No, I’ll just talk to them frankly. I think my experience will make it clear there won’t be any disagreements.
That night, Diana settled her unexpected guest in the living room, trying to provide him maximum comfort. It was strange for her to realize that a person who was completely stranger recently was spending the night nearby. But Andrew behaved so restrained and simply that she felt no discomfort. «My knight,»—the thought flashed in Diana’s mind. — «I never thought I’d live to the moment when a real protector appears by my side.»
«It’s just a pity it happened under such difficult circumstances,»—she added to herself sadly. It would be wonderful if they had met earlier, under different conditions. But life decided otherwise.
Neither Kyle nor his father expected Diana to suddenly gain a protector. Richard was sure he had calculated everything flawlessly. He knew well how attached Diana was to her daughter and how important it was for her to maintain the illusion of a strong, happy family. It was this sense of stability he tried to destroy by involving Kyle in infidelity. In his plans, it was to force Diana to offer them part of the company herself, just to keep the right to raise her daughter.
In the best case, according to Richard’s calculations, Diana should beg Kyle to return, ready to concede significant privileges in exchange for continuing the previous life. Kyle, of course, would demand greater influence in the company and cancellation of the prenup, which closed his access to Diana’s main financial resources.
Richard’s plans seemed flawless to him, and he was sure Diana wouldn’t think long. After all, in our time, taking a child from a mother who doesn’t abuse alcohol, drugs, and cares for her child is practically impossible. All he managed was to bribe a couple of employees in the local child services to visit Diana with him and scare her. Of course, there could be no serious consequences from this, but Richard hoped that fear and suddenness would make his daughter-in-law yield to pressure.
However, Diana didn’t get scared, and this slightly threw Richard off. He still calculated that she would give in sooner or later. After all, she had nowhere to run—in panic and under pressure, she should break and do what’s required. However, his surprise was boundless when instead of a frightened Diana, a tall man with a serious face promising nothing good appeared on his office threshold.
— Who are you here for?—Richard threw rudely, frowning. — I didn’t invite you. Or are you here about a job? Then go to HR.
The man said nothing. With a cold, motionless gaze, he crossed the office and silently placed a phone with a recorder on on the table.
— Listen here,—he said shortly,—either we talk here, or somewhere else, but believe me, none of the options will please you. Stop pursuing Diana and her child.
— What makes you think I’m involved with them in any way?—Richard had already calmed down and began to understand why this person came. — Why did you decide I’m doing something toward them?
Andrew, barely noticeably wincing as if from an unpleasant smell, replied:
— You seem like a business person, but you behave as if everyone around is idiots. The campaign to discredit Diana online—is that your doing? What do you think? And by the way, I was a journalist for 15 years. I found all the threads that led me to the author of that post. What a coincidence, he was paid for the commissioned material. Amazing, right?