CHAPTER 168: STICKING TO THE LIE
She looked at the girls, her eyes silently pleading—don't move, don't get involved. Her attention shifted back to Toby.
"This woman," Diana began, her voice calm and cold, her chin lifting as she gestured toward Belle, "is a nobody. Just a ragdoll men use to play and dump. I tried to help her once, and this is how she repays me? Belle, really? Is this how you show gratitude?"
She turned back to Toby with a feigned shrug. "I'm sure her man, wherever he is, must be truly ashamed of her."
Belle laughed, loud and bitter. "Oh Diana, so smooth. Always lying through your polished teeth. You want to talk about shame?"
She snapped her fingers. "Cassandra."
Diana's blood ran cold the moment she heard the name. Her stomach twisted as she watched Cassandra move forward through the crowd like a predator approaching its prey. She had completely forgotten that Cassandra was also here tonight. And now, watching her stroll forward like she owned the room, Diana felt her knees weaken. This was spiraling out of control.
No. Not her. Not now.
Cassandra smiled as she pulled out a familiar clutch bag—Diana's purse,the one she'd misplaced earlier. The moment Diana saw it, her heart dropped. Her chest tightened as panic crept in.
Belle folded her arms, smirking. "Well, I have evidence."
Cassandra held the purse up high like it was a trophy. "Diana, please tell me you didn't actually think you'd get away with this."
Toby frowned. "And who the hell are you?" he asked, clearly irritated.
"I'm Cassandra Movich," she replied smoothly, "and the woman you just introduced as your planner… is a married woman. And a man-snatcher."
The crowd gasped.
Toby turned to Diana like he'd been hit in the chest. "Is that true? You're married?"
Diana forced a tight smile even as her insides spiraled. "Toby, how long have you known me? And these two, have you ever seen them near me before today? Why would you even believe this?"
There are two women here, both accusing you of being married," he said, voice rising. "Did you lie to me? Just to land this gig? Is that how you work? Fooling your way into contracts by pretending to be single, charming clients into thinking they stand a chance? How are you any different from a whore?"
But the murmurs had already begun.
Cassandra gave a dramatic sigh. "Oh Diana, please. You really thought I wouldn't come prepared?" She looked at Belle. "Go on."
Belle opened the bag and pulled out the one thing Diana prayed they'd never find, her wedding ring. The massive diamond sparkled dangerously under the event lights as Belle held it high.
There were gasps in the room as people whispered.
"Who the hell did she marry?"
"Must be some rich man she scammed."
"She doesn't even look like wife material."
"No wonder they say women like her have no value…"
The comments sliced through Diana like tiny knives.
Toby turned to her, eyes filled with disbelief and disappointment. "So it's true then?" he asked, voice quiet but deadly. "You're married."
He stepped closer, his face hard. "I guess you conveniently left that part out when you pitched yourself as this 'brilliant, single businesswoman.' Is that your game, Diana? Let men believe they have a chance with you just so they can hand you business deals on a silver platter?"
Diana tried to breathe, to speak—anything—but no words came.
He leaned in, voice dripping with contempt. "You know what I think? You're no different from a high-class escort, using beauty and lies to secure power. You're not a businesswoman. You're a con artist in heels."
Diana stood there, every muscle in her body frozen. Eyes on her. Whispers everywhere. Her world, crumbling.
Monica stepped out of the crowd. Her voice rang through the hall like a whip. "Enough of your bull, Toby."
Everyone turned at the sound of her voice.
"The woman hasn't even responded to the claim, yet you're already passing judgment. Who do you think you are?"
Belle laughed loudly. "Oh, look, her fellow fraudster speaks. Hide your face, Monica, you're no better. You want to defend her? You're just like her."
Belle yanked out her phone and held up a picture of Monica holding hands with her children.
"She's married too! With kids!" Belle announced. "Guess it's a full club of liars here tonight."
Diana's breath caught.
"You're all the same," Belle continued. "Deceiving men under the guise of doing business. Securing contracts with fake smiles and empty promises. I spit on all of you."
Toby shook his head slowly. "You, Diana, have ruined yourself. This is the last time we ever work together."
Then came the final dagger.
"I'm going to blacklist you in this industry. And I won't even mention your father's name, out of respect for him, because I'd hate to see his reputation dragged down into the dirt with you."
The silence that followed was sharp and bitter.
Diana stood there, humiliated and stripped of everything she'd worked for; her poise, her respect, her reputation. Just like that, her empire—their empire—was cracking under her feet.
And just as the tension reached its highest peak; The men arrived.
Just when it felt like the walls were closing in on her, the grand doors to the event hall swung open with a loud creak that echoed across the room.
Heads turned as the whispers halted.
And then, there came the gasps.
They walked in. And Diana... Diana felt her heart stop.
There, walking through the door like a scene from a movie, was James.
James Deniro Alfred… Behind him followed Jared, Harry, Henry, Jerry and Victor, All five men dressed like power had been sewn into their suits; rich, dark fabrics tailored to perfection, every step calculated, confident, unapologetic. Their entrance was silent, smooth, but it was like the entire party shifted around them.
But it was James who stole the breath from the room.
The lighting hit him just right; sharp jaw, unreadable expression, eyes cold and focused. His presence was like thunder—loud, sudden, impossible to ignore. And from the second he entered, it was no longer Toby's party.
He owned the space without saying a word.
Diana panicked inwardly.
He wasn't supposed to be here.
She had just told the girls their husbands wouldn't show. She had agreed to take off her ring. And now…he was staring straight at her
Her eyes locked with his, and for a split second, everything else melted away, the whispers, the shame, the flashing cameras, the crowd's betrayal. Nothing else existed in that moment except the two of them.
Valerie inched toward her. "Babe… did you know?"
"No," Diana whispered, panic creeping into her voice. "He told me he had business. They weren't supposed to be here."
Sandra sucked in a sharp breath. "What are we going to do?"
"Put your rings back on. Now," Diana snapped in a hush.
But it was too late.
James's eyes locked with hers.
His gaze slid slowly to her empty ring finger, and then back to her face. He didn't react, not visibly...but something in his expression shifted that was cold and controlled.
Dangerous even.
He began walking toward her and stopped directly in front of her
"I must say, the decorations are incredible," he said, voice low, laced with a quiet intensity that only she could recognize.
Diana swallowed. "Thank you."
He smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Quite the crowd. Very lively. But… you seem surprised to see me."
"I… I just didn't expect you," she admitted, trying to keep her voice steady.
"Oh, I gathered that," James replied coolly, his eyes briefly flicking to her left hand again. "It must have slipped your mind to tell me you'd be ringless tonight."
"James, please...."
"We'll talk later," he cut in gently, then leaned closer. "Smile, baby. The paparazzi are still watching."
Diana let out a shaky smile as he turned towards Toby Champion, Belle and Cassandra.
And in his eyes in that moment, she didn't see disappointment. She didn't see disgust. She saw fire.
The kind that burned slow, dangerous and protective.
Belle's face drained of color. Cassandra blinked like her vision betrayed her. Even Toby took a step back unconsciously.
James didn't rush. He walked toward them slowly, like he had all the time in the world—like he knew the show was just getting started.
Raymond and Jason immediately cut across the hall and made their way to Diana, placing themselves beside her without a word.
It was Jackson who turned to Toby first, his voice calm but piercing.
"I believe you owe my sister an apology."
The silence was deafening.
Toby's mouth opened. Closed. Opened again.
James finally spoke, his voice low, deep, and bone-chilling. "You see, Toby…" he started, casually sliding his hands into his pockets. "The problem with believing gossip is, you miss the real story. And now, you've embarrassed yourself in front of a room full of people who actually matter."
James moved to Diana and stood in front of her like a shield. He didn't touch her—yet—but his presence alone was enough to remind the room exactly who she belonged to.
He tilted his head slightly at Belle and Cassandra, eyes narrowing. "I warned you both."
Belle opened her mouth to speak, but the look James shot her made her snap it shut immediately.
Cassandra took a hesitant step back, clutching her bag tightly like it could protect her from what was coming.
"You wanted to play games," James continued. "Now… let's see how well you handle being played."
And with that, he took Diana's hand.
He raised it slowly, deliberately, so everyone could see it.
Then he reached into his pocket…
…pulled out a small velvet box…
…and opened it.
Inside was a second ring, larger, brighter, more dazzling than the one Cassandra had flashed earlier.
James smiled, but there was no warmth in it. "Since my wife forgot to wear her ring tonight," he said, slipping it onto her finger, "let me remind the world exactly who she is."
Diana gasped as her hand trembled.
The crowd went dead silent.
Then the chaos.
Phones went up. People whispered furiously. Cassandra looked like she'd been slapped. Belle stepped back slowly like the floor beneath her was crumbling.
Toby's face was unreadable, caught between disbelief and rage.
James stepped closer to Diana now, his hand slipping to the small of her back.
And he whispered only loud enough for her to hear: "You did well holding your ground, baby. But now it's my turn."
War just walked in wearing a tuxedo