Chased By My Billionaire Ex-husband
Chapter 129: But Not Anymore!

Chapter 129: But Not Anymore!

Claire’s POV

Just as I had taken a step away from her, I was stopped by Diana yet once again. However, it seemed Diana wasn’t done yet. She followed me, her heels clicking sharply against the floor as if announcing her strong presence to me. Before I could take another step, she stepped in front of me, blocking my path.

"So, you really don’t think he wanted me?" She sneered, her arms crossing defiantly over her chest. "You are already divorced, Claire. So what does it matter if he did or didn’t?"

I paused, my eyes narrowing as I met her gaze. "And?" I prompted as my tone was calm but edged with steel.

Diana’s lips curled into a wicked smile. "And... about your mother..." She trailed with a mocking concern in her tone, as if she were about to drop some damning revelation, making my heart skip a beat.

My chest tightened, but I refused to let her see it. "What about my mother?" I asked, keeping my voice steady even as my stomach churned.

"Oh, don’t act like you don’t know," she said, her words dripping with malice. "Your perfect, saintly mother. Always preaching about morals and loyalty, yet... She leaned closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "She wasn’t as flawless as you think."

I stiffened, my hands instinctively clenching at my sides. "If you have something to say, Diana, say it," I snapped, my voice firm now. "Stop playing games."

Diana laughed as a hollow sound echoed between us. "You think you are so strong now, don’t you? So confident." She tilted her head, her eyes gleaming with a mixture of spite and amusement. "But when you find out the truth, let’s see how long that confidence lasts."

I held her gaze, refusing to flinch. "Whatever you think you know, Diana, it doesn’t matter. My mother is gone, and nothing you say can change that."

Her smile faltered just slightly, but she quickly recovered, flipping her hair over her shoulder with exaggerated nonchalance. "We will see," she said smugly, stepping aside to let me pass. But just as I thought she would drop the topic and let me go when her voice followed me, dripping with venom. "However, your mother was a real adulteress. She—"

Before she could finish that vile sentence, I spun around and grabbed her wrist tightly, my nails digging into her skin. "Do you really think you can slander my mother and walk away unscathed?" I hissed, my voice colder than I had ever imagined. A part of me recognized the tone, and it was something Evander might use. It seemed I was turning into him slowly.

Diana’s smug expression faltered, and a flicker of fear crossed her face. "Let go of me!" she snapped, trying to pull her hand away, but I held on tighter as I didn’t let go of her.

Without another word, I dragged her to a secluded corner, away from prying eyes. I shoved her back against the wall, the sound of her back hitting the surface satisfying in a way I didn’t want to analyze too deeply.

"What the hell? Are you insane? What are you doing? It hurts!" she winced as her voice rose in panic.

I leaned in closer, grabbing her cheeks with one hand and forcing her to look at me. My fingers pressed into her skin just enough to make her wince again. "Listen to me, Diana," I said, my voice low and deadly calm. "I am not the same Claire you used to bully and walk all over. If you think you can push me, insult my family, or ruin what I have, think again."

Her eyes widened as the mixture of shock and disbelief was flooding in them as she struggled against my grip. "You are crazy!" she spat as she glared at me with her teary eyes.

"You haven’t even seen crazy yet," I replied, pushing her face away with a firm shove before stepping back. She stumbled slightly but composed herself, glaring at me as she rubbed her cheeks where my fingers had been.

"If you don’t want to end up regretting it, Diana," I continued, my voice steady and sharp. "I suggest you think long and hard before trying me again. You won’t win. Not this time."

She stood frozen for a moment, her mouth opening as if to retort, but no words came out. I didn’t wait for her to gather herself. With my head held high, I turned and walked away, my heart pounding in my chest.

For once, I felt strong. For once, I wasn’t the Claire who cowered under Diana’s cruel words or anyone else’s judgment.

I was stronger now, and no one— not even Diana—was going to break me.

I walked away as I still couldn’t calm my beating heart. Diana’s words lingered like shadows, but I wouldn’t let them derail me. She wants to break me, I thought, but she will have to try harder than that.

However, I couldn’t let go of her so easily—not after the way she insulted my mother. My fingers trembled slightly as I clenched them into fists, but I straightened my back and forced the rising emotions to stay buried. If Diana thought she could get away with this, she was sorely mistaken.

I had endured everything they had done to me for too long— humiliation, betrayal, and lies. In the past, I had bowed my head, letting them trample over me in the name of family, respect, or peace. I had told myself it was the right thing to do— that forgiveness and tolerance made me a better person. But now I realized it had only given them more power over me.

But not anymore.

They had taken everything from my mother—her pride, her dignity, her legacy. And I had foolishly tried to make peace with it, convincing myself that moving on was enough. But now, if Diana, George, or anyone else in this twisted family thought they could make my life even more difficult, I would make sure they regretted it.