Hell Hath no fury like a billionaire's Ex-Chapter 45: Taking Control

Diane’s POV

I ended the call with Jessica, my heart pounding in my chest. For months, I’d avoided this moment, pushed it away, pretended it wasn’t necessary. But now, with my pregnancy becoming more difficult to hide and Liam becoming more and more willing to make my life miserable.

"She’s coming tomorrow," I said aloud to myself, still gripping the phone. "At 10 AM."

I took a deep breath, one hand instinctively moving to my belly. The twins fluttered inside me, a gentle reminder of everything at stake.

I found Joan in the kitchen, arranging fresh flowers in a vase. She looked up as I entered, her smile fading when she saw my expression.

"Everything okay?" she asked, setting down the scissors.

I leaned against the doorframe, suddenly feeling the weight of my decision. "I just called Jessica. From the Daily Chronicle."

Joan’s eyebrows shot up. "The reporter?"

I nodded, moving to sit at the kitchen island. "She’s coming tomorrow morning. With her camera crew."

Joan put down the flowers she was holding and came to sit beside me. "Diane, are you sure about this? Once it’s out there—"

"I know," I interrupted, my voice steadier than I expected. "But I’m done hiding, Joan. I’m done letting Liam control the narrative. It’s time I took the bull by the horns."

Joan studied my face, searching for any sign of doubt. "What exactly are you planning to tell her?"

"Everything," I said simply. "The affair with Sophie. The financial manipulation. The lies." I paused, placing my hand on my belly. "And the pregnancy."

Joan’s eyes widened. "You’re going to announce the pregnancy on camera? Before telling Liam?"

I nodded firmly. "It’s my story to tell, Joan. My body, my babies. And I’m tired of living in fear of what Liam might do with that information."

Joan reached out and squeezed my hand. "It’s going to be a media firestorm, you know that, right? Especially with the divorce proceedings still ongoing."

"I know," I admitted. "Maybe this is the push we need to get Liam to back down."

Joan’s expression softened. "You’re one of the bravest people I know, Diane. And I’m with you all the way."

I felt tears prick at my eyes, overwhelmed by her unwavering support. "Thank you. I couldn’t do any of this without you."

"So what’s the plan?" Joan asked, her practical nature taking over. "How do you want to handle this interview?"

"I want to do it here," I said, gesturing to the living room. "Somewhere comfortable, where I feel safe. I want it to feel honest, not staged."

Joan nodded. "We can rearrange the furniture a bit. Maybe put the blue throw pillows on the couch—they’ll look good on camera."

I smiled at her attention to detail. "There’s something else I need to do," I said, my voice dropping. "Something... less above-board."

Joan’s eyes sparked with interest. "Oh?"

I bit my lip, hesitating. The plan had been forming in my mind for days, a darker impulse I wasn’t entirely proud of. "I need to call Andrew. I want to set something up for Liam. A little... taste of what’s ahead."

A slow smile spread across Joan’s face. "Now you’re talking. What did you have in mind?"

"Something that will hit him where it hurts most—his ego and his wallet."

Joan leaned closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Tell me everything."

I explained my idea—a fake business opportunity, one that would require Liam to travel internationally. A wild goose chase that would end in public embarrassment.

"It’s petty," I admitted. "But after everything he’s done..."

"It’s brilliant," Joan interrupted. "And frankly, it’s tame compared to what he deserves."

I felt a weight lift from my shoulders. Telling Joan made it real, made it possible. "I’m going to call Andrew now."

Joan squeezed my hand one more time. "I’ll start brainstorming how we want to set up for the interview. And Diane? I’m proud of you."

I retreated to my room, dialing Andrew’s number. As the phone rang, I felt a strange mix of nerves and anticipation.

"Diane," Andrew’s voice came through, warm and concerned. "Is everything alright?"

"Yes," I said, settling onto the bed. "Actually, I think it’s about to get better. I need your help with something."

"Anything," he replied without hesitation.

I explained my plan—how I wanted him to orchestrate a fake business opportunity for Liam, something that would require him to travel out of town. Something that would waste his time and money, only to discover it was non-existent after spending on flights and accommodations.

"And I want actors," I continued, feeling a surge of devilish creativity. "People who will approach him on his way back from the airport, pretend to recognize him from embarrassing movie role."

I could almost see Andrew’s eyebrows rising. "Embarrassing how?"

"Oh, you know," I said, a smirk playing on my lips. "’Weren’t you the guy who betrayed his wife in that movie?’ That sort of thing."

There was a pause, then Andrew chuckled. "I have to say, Diane, I didn’t expect this from you. But I like it."

"Does that mean you’ll help?"

"Of course," he said, his voice turning businesslike. "In fact, I have an idea. I could pose as Mr. James. Tell Liam I’m willing to award the contract back to Synergy Sphere, or i could work with James for something more convincing."

I laughed, the sound surprising even me. "That’s perfect. He hates feeling unimportant."

"Consider it done," Andrew said. "And Diane? There’s something else we should discuss."

His tone shifted, becoming more serious. " There’s so documents from synergy Sphere ive been able to lay my hands on. There’s evidence Liam has been hiding assets—significant ones. You can use this in court or talk to Joan about three of us meeting since she’s your lawyer."

My breath caught. "How significant?"

"Enough to change the entire settlement discussion," Andrew replied. "But let’s talk about that after your interview. One battle at a time."

We finalized the details of our plan, and I felt a surge of confidence as I hung up.

I rejoined Joan in the living room, where she had already begun rearranging furniture. "Andrew’s on board," I told her. "He’s going to handle everything."

Joan looked up from the couch she was moving. "Good. Now, let’s focus on making this interview perfect."

We spent the evening preparing, discussing potential questions and how I wanted to present myself. By the time we went to bed, the living room was transformed into a warm, inviting space that still managed to look natural.

"Get some rest," Joan said, giving me a gentle hug. "Tomorrow’s a big day."

But sleep was elusive that night. I tossed and turned, my mind racing with all the possible outcomes of the interview. Would people believe me? Would my mother understand why I kept the pregnancy secret? Would Liam retaliate?

Morning came and I was sipping herbal tea in the kitchen when my phone rang—my mother’s number lighting up the screen.

"Hi, Mom," I answered, trying to sound calm.

"Diane, honey," her voice came through, apologetic. "I’m going to be a bit late coming over. There are some things I need to put together before I head your way."

My heart sank slightly. "That’s okay. How much later are you thinking?"

"Maybe noon? Is that alright? I know you said it was important."

I glanced at the clock—8:30 AM. Jessica would be here in an hour and a half. "That’s fine, Mom. I’ll see you then."

I had barely hung up when the phone rang again. It was Jessica, confirming she was on her way with her crew.

"We’ll be there at 10 sharp," she said, her voice brisk and professional. "We’ve got everything we need for the interview."

I took a deep breath. "Great. We’ll be ready."

Joan and I spent the next hour making final preparations. I chose my outfit carefully—a loose-fitting blouse that wouldn’t draw attention to my pregnancy, but wouldn’t hide it either if I chose to reveal it. My hair was pulled back in a simple style, my makeup minimal but polished.

"You look perfect," Joan said, adjusting my collar. "Strong, but approachable."

The doorbell rang precisely at 10 AM. Joan gave my hand a final squeeze before going to answer it.

I heard voices in the entryway, then Jessica appeared in the living room, flanked by two crew members carrying equipment.

"Diane," she said, stepping forward to embrace me. The gesture surprised me, but I returned it gratefully. "Thank you for trusting me with your story."

"Thank you for being patient," I replied. "I know it’s been months since you first reached out."

Jessica waved away my apology. "These things take time. You needed to be ready." She looked around the room. "This is perfect. Very homey, very authentic."

The crew began setting up—lights, cameras, microphones. Jessica and I sat on the couch, discussing the format of the interview.

"I want this to be conversational," she explained. "I’ll ask questions, but feel free to steer the conversation where you need it to go. This is your story."

I nodded, feeling a flutter of nerves. "There’s one thing," I said, lowering my voice. "I’d like to ask you to hold off on publishing this for a week."

Jessica’s eyebrows rose. "May I ask why?"

"There are... some things I need to put in place first," I said carefully. "Legal considerations."

Jessica studied me for a moment, then nodded. "I understand. We can hold the story for a week. But Diane, once it’s out there—"

"I know," I interrupted. "There’s no taking it back. I’m ready for that."

She smiled. "Good. Now, let’s get started."

The lights were adjusted, the cameras positioned. Joan stood off to the side, a silent pillar of support.

"Rolling in three, two, one..." the cameraman counted down.

Jessica’s demeanor shifted subtly, becoming more polished. "I’m here with Diane Ashton, whose high-profile divorce from business mogul Liam Ashton, CEO of Synergy Sphere has been making headlines for months. Today, Diane has agreed to share her side of the story. Diane, thank you for having us."

I took a deep breath, found my center. "Thank you for being here, Jessica."

"Let’s start at the beginning," Jessica said gently. "When did you first realize your marriage was in trouble?"

I swallowed, the memories flooding back. "I think on some level, I knew something was wrong for a while. But the first concrete sign was when Liam started insisting I quit my job."

"You were a marketing executive, correct?"

I nodded. "Yes, I had built a successful career. But Liam said it was affecting our marriage, that we never saw each other. He wanted me home more." I paused, emotion threatening to overwhelm me. "I loved my job, but I loved him more. So I agreed."

Jessica leaned forward. "And what happened after you quit?"

"At first, things seemed better. But then Liam started working later and later. Business trips became more frequent. And then..." I paused, tears welling in my eyes.

"Take your time," Jessica said softly.

I took a shaky breath. "Then I found out he was having an affair. With my sister, Sophie."

Jessica’s expression remained professional, but I could see the shock in her eyes. "Your sister? How did you discover this?"

The tears spilled over now, hot tracks down my cheeks. "I found them together," I choked out, the words barely audible. "In his office... at Synergy Sphere."

I had gone there with the best of intentions, hoping to surprise him and reignite the spark in our marriage. But instead, I stumbled upon a scene that would forever shatter my trust.

The camera zoomed in slightly, capturing my pain. I didn’t try to hide it. This was real, raw—exactly what I wanted people to see.

"I can’t imagine the betrayal you must have felt," Jessica said softly. "From not just your husband, but your own sister."

I nodded, wiping away tears. "It destroyed me. Everything I thought I knew about my life, my family, was a lie."

"And after this discovery, what happened?"

"I left. I couldn’t stay in that house, with those memories. My friend Joan," I gestured toward her, "she offered me a place to stay. She’s been my rock through all of this."

Jessica nodded sympathetically. "And Liam’s reaction? When you left?"

"At first, he tried to convince me to come back. Said it was a mistake, that he would change." I laughed bitterly. "But when I filed for divorce, everything changed. He became vindictive, hostile. He started spreading lies about me, claiming I was the one who had been unfaithful."

"Those accusations have been widely reported," Jessica acknowledged. "How did it feel to have your character attacked so publicly?"

I shook my head, fresh tears threatening. "It was devastating. I had already lost my husband, my sister, my home. And now my reputation was being dragged through the mud."

"And there were financial issues as well, correct?"

I nodded. "Liam had been trying to freeze our joint accounts. Money that was meant for our future, for our family. When I tried to access those funds during the separation, I was denied access."

Jessica’s eyes widened slightly. "So not only emotional betrayal, but financial as well."

"Yes," I said, my voice hardening. "Liam wanted to make sure I had nothing when I left him. No money, no dignity, no support."

"And now, you’re in the middle of divorce proceedings. How has that been?"

I took a deep breath. "Difficult. Liam is fighting me on every front, trying to deny me what’s rightfully mine. But I’m not backing down."

Jessica nodded, then paused, as if considering her next question carefully. "Diane, there have been rumors about your health recently. You’ve been seen at medical appointments, and there was an incident at a farmers market."

I felt my heart rate increase. This was it—the moment I had been dreading and anticipating. "Yes," I said, my voice suddenly stronger. "That’s actually something I wanted to address today."

I straightened in my seat, one hand moving to rest on my belly. "I’m pregnant. With twins."

Jessica’s surprise seemed genuine. "Congratulations," she said, then added carefully, "And Liam is the father?"

"Yes," I confirmed. "Though he doesn’t know yet. I’ve been keeping it secret, for my own protection and for the protection of my children."

"Why did you feel the need to keep it secret?"

I looked directly into the camera now, wanting my words to reach not just Jessica, but everyone who would watch this interview. "Because Liam has shown me who he truly is. A man who would betray his wife with her own sister. A man who would steal from his family. A man who would lie and manipulate to get what he wants."

I paused, my voice breaking slightly. "I feared what he might do if he knew about the pregnancy. How he might use it against me, or try to control me through my children."

Jessica nodded solemnly. "You mentioned an incident at a farmers market. Can you tell us about that?" freēwēbnovel.com

I glanced at Joan, who nodded encouragingly. "Liam ran me over with his car," I said bluntly. "Joan and I were shopping, and he came speeding through the market. He hit me and kept driving."

Jessica’s eyes widened. "That’s a serious accusation. Were there witnesses?"

"Dozens," I confirmed. "And there’s more.

"These incidents—do you believe they were intentional?"

I hesitated, then decided to be honest. "I don’t know. But the timing was... suspicious."

Jessica let that hang in the air for a moment. "Diane, what do you want people to understand about your situation?"

I took a deep breath, gathering my thoughts. "I want people to understand that there are always two sides to every story. That despite what Liam has said, I was a faithful wife who loved him deeply. That I’m now fighting not just for myself, but for my children."

I paused, emotion welling up again. "And I want other women in similar situations to know that they’re not alone. That it’s okay to speak up, to fight back, to demand what’s rightfully theirs."

Jessica nodded, her expression softening. "One final question