Crashing into an Old Flame
Chapter 286: You lied

Chapter 286: You lied

It took Maxim a moment to recover his senses, ’’What do you mean by that?’’

’’By what...?" Daisy glanced at him in confusion.

’’Where is Diana?"

’’Wasn’t she at your place?" Daisy’s lips parted.

It was Maxim’s birthday and Diana did not return the whole night which did not surprise Daisy. She concluded that Diana would be living at Maxim’s place for some time. Hence, she did not want to interrupt them.

Maxim raked his fingers through his hair, unable to utter a single word.

And Daisy did not need a verbal response to figure out that something was wrong.

Daisy grabbed her phone and tried to call Diana but the call went into voicemail. She tried calling her again but the response remained the same.

’’Fuck!" Maxim cursed under his breath as he turned to leave.

’’Where are you going?"

’’To the control room. I need to check the CCTV,’’ She was right in front of her place when he last saw her.

Turmoil wrenched Maxim’s heart, rendering him helpless. A pool of regret formed in his heart. He regretted not stepping out of that elevator and answering every question that Diana had for him.

When he texted her and did not get a response, he thought she was just upset and did not want to talk to him but at this point, a nagging feeling rose in his chest.

God, she had to be safe!

’’Stay... I will do it faster,’’ Daisy walked up to him and handed Angel to him.

’’Pa... Pa..’’ Angel looked at Maxim with wide eyes.

Maxim wrapped an arm around the little girl and maintained a facade of calmness as he followed after Daisy. But the constant flexing of his vacant hand gave away the myriad of emotions dominating his mind.

Diana had to be fine.

...

*Flashback*

"You...’’ Diana glanced at the man in astonishment.

She recognized the person standing in front of her very well.

The head of the team of bodyguards who always stayed around her mother whenever she made public appearances.

’’Young Miss, we have been looking for you.’’

Diana did not have a bad impression of the man who always seemed so polite and professional.

But the look on his face gave her bad premonition for some reason.

’’You need to come back with me...’’

’’What...’’ Diana inhaled a breath, ’’...do you mean by that?" the graveness of his tone made her nerves heighten.

’’Madam is in hospital.’’

’Crash’

The phone in Diana’s hand landed on the floor as she looked at the man in disbelief, trying to see if he was playing some tricks on her.

But he remained steady as he looked back at her with a stony expression.

He picked her phone up from the floor, looking at the dark and shattered screen, ’’I will get it fixed, Young Miss.’’

Diana’s hands shook as she looked at the door of her apartment for a moment before she looked back at him, ’’Take me there...’’

Chen Manor, Beijing.

’’You said she is in the hospital...’’ Diana glanced at the man who had accompanied her.

The bodyguard opened his mouth to explain but before he could say a word, the clicking sounds of heels echoed in the living room.

Diana turned her head in the direction of the noise only to find her mother descending the stairs.

She was donned in an elegant dress and the diamonds around her neck sparkled under the sunlight. Not a single strand of her hair was out of place. Two maids followed her with their heads lowered.

Diana carefully scanned her from head to toe, her heart still shaking from the anxiety that she had felt during the long flight. It had been a few hours but it almost felt like an eternity had passed.

But the more Diana observed, the more she realized that nothing was wrong with her mother. Not a single strand of her hair was out of place.

She was still Alice Chen. Perfect and impeccable unlike her daughters, as she claimed.

’’You are back...’’ Alice’s eyes lit up and her lips curved up in a wide smile the moment she spotted Diana. She walked towards her and raised her hand to cup her face.

Diana tilted her face to the side on instinct, taking a step back from her.

’’Ana... you let me down this time. Still, I am not angry now, am I?" Alice sighed as she placed her hands down, ’’I have been looking for you for so long...’’

’’You lied to me,’’ Diana cut her off.

’’What?" Alice frowned.

Diana felt her eyes welling up but she looked up at the chandelier, blinking away those unwanted tears.

’’You manipulated me again. I was terrified of something happening to you and I...’’ Diana gulped the lump in her throat as she whispered, ’’I was scared that something happened to you.’’

Alice looked at her quietly.

No explanation. No apologies. Diana smiled wryly, ’’Mom, don’t you feel ashamed?"

Alice raised an eyebrow. She stepped towards Diana, her eyes doing a once over of Diana from head to toe as a small frown appeared on her face, ’’You have gained weight,’’ her frown became deeper the more she looked at Diana, ’’Your hair has not been taken care of. You don’t have a single accessory on you. What kind of cheap clothes are you wearing?" there was a hint of exasperation in her voice.

Diana’s lips parted, ’’That’s all you have got to say?"

’’Go to your room and get changed before we talk. I can’t bring myself to look at you being like this. This is not how I raised you.’’

Diana chuckled but in the end, she shook her head and turned to leave.

’’If you want to go back to that pathetic place, then go ahead. But this time, I will not send just one guard to drag you back.’’

Diana’s footsteps came to a halt. She turned to look at the woman who had apparently given birth to her.