Hell Hath no fury like a billionaire's Ex-Chapter 51: Shifting Tides

Diane’s POV

I set the manila envelope with the prenatal vitamins aside and looked at Joan.

"Want to go show these to my mom? I bet she’ll love seeing Liam finally get what he deserves."

Joan smiled, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Absolutely. She’s been waiting for some good news almost as much as you have."

I eased myself off the bed, feeling the pleasant weight of the twins as I stood. Joan followed me as we made our way down the stairs, my phone clutched firmly in my hand, treasure trove of satisfying images safely stored inside.

We found my mother in the kitchen, chopping vegetables at the counter, humming softly to herself. The domestic scene struck me as wonderfully normal.

"Mom," I called, unable to contain my smile. "You have to see this."

She looked up, setting down her knife and wiping her hands on a dish towel. "What is it? Is everything alright with the babies?"

"Everything’s perfect," I assured her. Operation Wild Goose Chase was a complete success."

"Oh?" My mother’s eyes brightened with interest. "Do tell."

I pulled out a chair at the kitchen table and settled into it, Joan taking the seat beside me. "Liam fell for it completely. Flew all the way to Boston for a meeting that never existed."

"No way! He actually went?" My mother abandoned her cooking and joined us at the table, leaning forward eagerly.

"First-class ticket, luxury hotel suite, the whole nine yards," I confirmed, scrolling through my phone. "And that’s not even the best part. We had actors waiting for him at JFK when he returned. Look."

I handed my phone to my mother, who took it with curious hands. Her expression transformed as she swiped through the photos and video.

"That’s what he deserves," my mother said, her voice thick with vindication. She’d been so angry when she learned what Liam had done—not just to me, but to our family. Seeing him brought low, even in this small way, clearly satisfied something deep within her.

"It’s just phase one," I said, taking back my phone. "But it feels good to see him squirm for once."

"Did he realize it was you?" my mother asked, passing the phone to Joan who wanted to see the images.

I nodded, a smug smile playing at my lips. "He called me right after. Furious doesn’t begin to describe it."

"What did he say?" my mother asked, concern flickering across her face.

"Oh, the usual Liam threats," I replied with a dismissive wave.

"Joan frowned, handing my phone back. "Diane, be careful. Like i told you earlier Liam can be dangerous when cornered."

"I know," I admitted, softly patting my rounded belly. "But I’m being smart about this. Besides, I’m not alone anymore."

The conversation paused as my phone rang. I glanced at the screen, surprised to see Robert’s name.

"It’s my boss," I said, raising an eyebrow. "I should take this."

I accepted the call, putting it on speaker so Joan and my mother could hear. "Robert, hi."

"Diane!" His warm voice filled the kitchen. "How are you doing? I’ve been meaning to check in."

"I’m hanging in there," I replied, exchanging a look with Joan. "What’s up?"

"Well, I’ve got some good news," Robert said, his voice brightening. "The contract with Davidson is officially underway. The legal team just finished their review, and everything’s moving forward."

A flutter of pride warmed my chest. "That’s wonderful. I’m glad it all worked out."

"It worked out because of you," Robert insisted. "Davidson specifically mentioned how impressed he was with your presentation. In fact, the whole team misses having you here."

I caught my mother’s approving smile from across the kitchen. "That’s nice to hear."

"How are you really doing?" Robert asked, his tone softening. "I know things can’t be easy right now."

I hesitated, considering how much to share. Robert knew about the divorce, of course, everything. "It’s... complicated. But I’m taking it day by day."

"Listen," Robert said after a moment’s pause. "I’ve been thinking about our conversation after the Davidson meeting. I know you need time to sort through your personal situation, but if you’re interested, we could set up a work-from-home arrangement."

My heart skipped a beat. "Work from home?"

"Absolutely," Robert continued. "Most of what you do can be handled remotely, and you could come into the office only when necessary. If that’s something you’d like, of course."

I caught Joan’s encouraging nod. "I’d like that very much, actually. I’ve been missing the work."

"Excellent!" Robert sounded genuinely pleased. "We’ll get everything set up. And Diane, I want you to know that we’re continuing your full salary during this transition period, regardless of hours. Consider it the company’s support during a difficult time."

Tears pricked at my eyes—pregnancy hormones making me more emotional than I’d like. "Robert, that’s incredibly generous. I don’t know what to say."

"Say you’ll take care of yourself and come back to us when you’re ready," he replied warmly. "That’s all the thanks I need."

"I will," I promised, blinking back tears.

After a few more details about the upcoming work assignments, we ended the call. I set my phone down, momentarily speechless.

"Well," my mother said, breaking the silence with a warm smile. "That’s wonderful news."

"It really is," Joan agreed, squeezing my shoulder. "Financial security while you prepare for the babies. Perfect timing."

I nodded, still processing the unexpected windfall. Between Andrew’s generous wire transfer and now the continuation of my salary, my immediate financial worries had essentially vanished overnight. It was as if the universe was finally tilting in my favor after months of catastrophe.

"It’s like the earth is conspiring to help me today," I murmured, voicing my thoughts aloud.

Joan chuckled. "You deserve some good fortune after everything you’ve been through."

"Speaking of fortune," my mother interjected, returning to her vegetable chopping, "what are you planning to do with Andrew’s money? It seemed like quite a substantial amount."

I ran my hand over my belly thoughtfully. "Some will go toward medical expenses, of course. But I’m thinking about putting the rest into a trust for the twins."

"Smart," Joan nodded approvingly. "Start building their future now."

"That’s what mothers do," my mother said softly, her eyes meeting mine across the kitchen. There was understanding there, and something like respect. Our relationship had been complicated for years, but in this moment, I felt truly seen by her—not as a daughter, but as a woman making difficult choices to protect her children. It was a new feeling, and one I cherished.

The conversation shifted to practical matters—the nursery I would eventually need to set up, baby supplies to consider, the logistics of working from home while preparing for twins. The normalcy of it was comforting, this planning for a future that suddenly seemed bright with possibility rather than shadowed by Liam’s betrayal.

As we talked, I felt the twins stirring, a gentle flutter that reminded me of all I had to fight for now. I was no longer just reclaiming my own life—I was building a foundation for theirs.

"I was thinking," Joan said, pouring herself a glass of water from the pitcher on the counter, "we should review the security arrangements here. If Liam’s as angry as you say, it might be worth taking some extra precautions."

My mother nodded in agreement. "That’s a good idea. Maybe add some cameras outside? And make sure all the locks are secure?"

"I can have someone come by tomorrow," Joan offered. "A colleague of mine specializes in home security systems. Very discreet."

I appreciated their concern, but couldn’t help feeling a small spark of defiance. "I’m not going to let Liam make me a prisoner in my own home—well, your home," I added with a quick glance at Joan.

"It’s not about being a prisoner," Joan replied gently. "It’s about being smart. Especially now." She nodded toward my growing belly.

She was right, of course. My decisions no longer affected just me. "Okay," I conceded. "Security upgrades it is."

My mother returned to her cooking, the rhythmic sound of her knife against the cutting board providing a soothing backdrop to our conversation. "I was thinking of making that pasta you liked so much as a child," she said over her shoulder. "The one with the cream sauce and peas."

The reference to my childhood favorite brought an unexpected lump to my throat. These small gestures of maternal care—cooking comfort food, worrying about my safety—had been missing from my life for so long that their return felt almost overwhelming.

"That sounds perfect," I managed, swallowing past the emotion.

The aroma of my mother’s cream pasta with peas filled Joan’s kitchen, transporting me back to childhood dinners at our family table. I closed my eyes, savoring the familiar scent as my mother ladled the steaming pasta onto our plates.

"This smells exactly like I remember," I said, feeling the twins give a flutter of movement, as if they too were excited for the meal. "I haven’t had this in years."

My mother smiled, a genuine warmth in her eyes that I’d missed for too long. "Some recipes you never forget. I made this whenever you were feeling down or when you had something to celebrate." She placed a plate in front of me, the portion generously heaped. "Today, I think we have both."

Joan raised her glass of sparkling water. "To a well-deserved revenge."

We clinked glasses, laughing. The weight that had pressed on my chest for months felt lighter somehow, as if each small victory against Liam was gradually freeing me.