Hell Hath no fury like a billionaire's Ex-Chapter 109: A Surprise Visit

Diane’s POV

The morning sun streamed through Joan’s guest room windows as I made my way down the hallway, my mind clearer than it had been in months.

The events of last night—Noah professing his love, the family reconciliation, the overwhelming love I’d felt surrounded by—had crystallized something inside me. I was done living in limbo. Done letting Liam control any aspect of my life through his games and manipulations.

I found Joan in her room, already dressed and checking emails on her laptop. She looked up as I entered, immediately noting the determination etched across my face.

"Good morning, sunshine," she said, setting her laptop aside. "You look like a woman on a mission."

"That’s because I am," I replied, settling into the chair across from her bed. "Joan, I want to go back to court and file a motion to compel Liam to sign the divorce papers."

Joan’s eyebrows rose, but she nodded approvingly. "It’s about time. What changed your mind?"

I placed both hands on my rounded belly, feeling the twins stirring gently inside. "I’m tired of Liam’s games. I’m ready to focus on finalizing the divorce.

I need to end everything I have with Liam and focus on Noah now. I’m dropping all of my baggage from Liam’s hurt behind. I don’t want anything to disrupt what I have going on with Noah now."

Joan’s expression softened with understanding. "You’re protecting your future by closing the door on your past."

"Exactly," I confirmed. "Can you send Holbrook an email telling him that if Liam does not agree to sign in court, I would bring out all the damaging evidence against him? Tell him that Liam knows exactly what I’m talking about. I want this motion filed as soon as possible."

Joan was already reaching for her laptop. "At your service, ma’am," she said with a mock salute that made me laugh despite the seriousness of the moment.

I watched as she typed rapidly, her fingers flying across the keyboard with the efficiency of someone who’d handled countless legal communications. After a few minutes, she turned the screen toward me. freēnovelkiss.com

"Take a look at this before I hit send," she said.

The email was professional yet firm, outlining my intentions to pursue an expedited divorce decree and the consequences if Liam refused to cooperate. It captured exactly what I wanted to convey—that I was moving forward, with or without Liam’s cooperation.

"Perfect," I said, and Joan clicked send.

As the email disappeared into cyberspace, carrying with it my commitment to finally end this Chapter of my life, I felt a weight lift from my shoulders. Whatever came next, I was ready for it.

"Now," I said, standing and smoothing down my dress, "I need you to get dressed up. We’re going to see my father and mother."

"Oh?" Joan’s curiosity was palpable.

"It’s time for a surprise visit," I explained. "I want to see where my father lives, and I think it’s time for you to meet him properly. Plus, I haven’t seen my mother since the party last night, and I want to make sure she and Dad are settling in together."

Joan practically leaped from her bed. "Give me twenty minutes to make myself presentable for meeting a billionaire."

By 11:00AM, Joan and I were seated in the back of Joan’s car with the security detail, being driven through parts of the city I’d never seen before. The neighborhoods grew progressively more exclusive as we drove, until we were winding through tree-lined streets where each property seemed more magnificent than the last.

"Your father lives out here?" Joan asked, peering out the window at estates that looked like they belonged in architectural magazines.

"Apparently so," I replied, feeling a mixture of anticipation and nervousness.

When we finally turned through massive wrought-iron gates and began the long drive up to the house, my breath caught in my throat. Calling it a house seemed inadequate—this was a mansion, a sprawling white structure that gleamed in the morning sunlight like something from a fairy tale.

Joan let out a low whistle. "Diane, this is... this is incredible."

The car pulled up to the front entrance, where I could see figures moving behind the tall windows. As we stepped out of the vehicle, the front door burst open, and Sophie came running toward us, her face lighting up with joy.

"Di!" she called, throwing her arms around me in a hug that was both fierce and gentle, mindful of my pregnancy. "I can’t believe you’re here!"

Before I could respond, the front door opened wider, and a line of staff in crisp uniforms emerged, forming a welcoming committee. They bowed their heads respectfully as we approached.

"Welcome home, Miss Diane," they said in unison, their voices warm and sincere.

Home. The word resonated strangely, applied to a place I’d never seen before but that had somehow been waiting for me.

My father appeared in the doorway, his face radiant with happiness. Behind him, I caught a glimpse of my mother, her eyes already bright with tears of joy.

"My dear," Andrew said, stepping forward to embrace me. "I was hoping you’d visit soon, but I never expected such a wonderful surprise."

"I wanted to see where you live and I miss mom," I said simply.

Andrew turned to Joan with a warm smile, extending his hand. "Joan, I can’t thank you enough for everything you’ve done for my daughter. You’ve been more than a friend to her—you’ve been family."

Joan blushed prettily, shaking his hand. "It’s been my privilege, Mr. Evans. Diane is extraordinary."

"Please, call me Andrew," he insisted. "Any friend of Diane’s is family here."

My mother appeared at my side, pulling me into a gentle hug that smelled of her familiar perfume and something new...contentment, perhaps.

"How are you feeling, sweetheart?" she asked, one hand moving instinctively to my belly. "Are the babies behaving themselves?"

"They’re perfect," I assured her, noticing how relaxed she looked, how the lines of stress that had marked her face for years seemed to have softened overnight. "You look happy, Mom."

She glanced toward Andrew, her cheeks pinking slightly. "I am happy. Happier than I’ve been in a very long time."

We moved inside, and I found myself marveling at the grandeur of my father’s home. Every room we passed through was more beautiful than the last...high ceilings, crystal chandeliers, artwork that belonged in museums. But despite the opulence, it felt warm, lived-in. This wasn’t just a showcase; it was a home waiting for a family to fill it.

Lunch was served in a sun-drenched dining room overlooking gardens that stretched as far as I could see. The conversation flowed easily, with laughter and the kind of comfortable silences that spoke of genuine affection. For the first time in years, I felt like I was part of a complete family again.

"Thank you," my mother said to Joan during dessert, her voice thick with emotion. "Thank you for taking care of my daughter when I couldn’t. For being there for her through everything."

Joan’s eyes misted over. "She took care of me just as much, Helena. We took care of each other."

Sophie, who had been quieter than usual during the meal, suddenly reached across the table to grasp Joan’s hand.

"I need to apologize to you too," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "For what I did to Diane. I know it hurt you to see her in so much pain, and I’m sorry for my part in causing that."

Joan squeezed her hand gently. "What matters is that you’re both here now, working to heal what was broken. That takes courage, Sophie."

As we finished lunch, Sophie stood excitedly. "Diane, there’s something Dad wants to show you. Both of you," she said, gesturing to Joan and me.

My father nodded, his eyes twinkling with anticipation. "Come with me."

He led us through several hallways to a room I hadn’t seen during our earlier tour. When he opened the door, I gasped. The room was filled with wrapped presents...dozens upon dozens of them, arranged on shelves that lined every wall.

"What is all this?" I whispered, stepping inside.

"Twenty-nine years of birthdays and Christmases," my father said softly. "For you and Sophie. I never missed a single one, even though I couldn’t give them to you in person."

My eyes filled with tears as I moved closer to examine the gifts. Each one was labeled with my name and a date, written in my father’s careful handwriting. Years and years of love, wrapped and waiting.

"Sophie," my father said gently, "would you show Diane her room?"

Sophie took my hand, leading me across the hall to another door. When she opened it, I couldn’t hold back my tears anymore.

The room was beautiful...spacious and elegant, with a view of the gardens. But what took my breath away were the photographs covering one entire wall. Pictures of me at every stage of my life, from baby photos to my college graduation.

"Dad," I whispered, turning to find him standing in the doorway, tears streaming down his own cheeks.

"I never stopped loving you," he said, his voice breaking. "Not for a single day."

I walked closer to him, wrapping my arms around him. "I love you too, Dad. I’m so sorry for all the time we lost."

"We have time now," he murmured into my hair. "All the time in the world."

Sophie joined our embrace, and for several minutes we stood there, a family reunited at last. When we finally separated, all of us were crying.

Joan, who had been watching from the doorway with tears in her own eyes, stepped forward. "This is beautiful," she said softly. "All of it."

After spending the afternoon exploring more of the mansion and sharing stories, it was time to leave. As Joan and I prepared to go, I hugged my father tightly.

"Thank you," I whispered. "For everything."

"Thank you for giving me a second chance," he replied, kissing my forehead.

I turned to my mother, pulling her into a warm embrace. "I love you, Mom. Thank you for being here."

"I love you too, sweetheart," she said, her hand moving to my belly one more time. "Take care of yourself and those babies."

As Joan and I settled into the back seat of the car for the drive home, I felt overwhelmed with gratitude. My family was whole again, my future was bright with possibility.

It was mid-afternoon when we returned to Joan’s house, both of us glowing from the warmth of family connection. I was looking forward to a quiet evening, maybe a warm bath and an early bedtime, when I heard voices at the front entrance.