Chapter 9 You Are Mine

Diana took a large bite of her vegetable salad, her mood brightening considerably. "I've always been Diana. What's so impossible about that? Someone like you who's had plastic surgery could never understand natural beauty like mine."

Henry opened his mouth, barely able to make a sound.

He studied Diana carefully, but for the life of him, he couldn't remember what she used to look like.

"Stop staring. It's really me. Want me to give you a strand of hair for DNA testing?" Diana reached up to pull out a hair, but Nicholas caught her hand. "That would hurt."

"Then I won't." Diana intertwined their fingers, smiling sweetly.

Henry swallowed hard, finally believing that the woman before him was indeed Diana.

Who else but her could calm Nicholas down and make him so gentle?

And who else could freely enter and exit the Spencer estate, commanding such respect from Mike? It could only be Diana.

Henry rubbed his forehead—he felt like he'd seen a ghost today.

Remembering Diana's comment about his plastic surgery, he rolled his eyes. "I just had my eyelids done. You practically changed your whole face, and you're calling me out for plastic surgery? Seriously?"

This time it was Diana's turn to be speechless.

Thinking back on her appearance over the past three years, she felt utterly deceived by Mandy.

When she'd mentioned her crush on Derek, Mandy had made inquiries everywhere, finally discovering Derek's preferences.

Under Mandy's guidance, Diana had gradually transformed herself into this ridiculous, almost grotesque figure.

Remembering the jeers of her classmates, the scorn from their circle, and everything she'd suffered in her last life, Diana felt her eyes harden. Something inside her was on the verge of breaking loose.

She'd been given a second chance, and she would end her enemies herself. Derek and Mandy—she wanted them dead.

Warmth closed over her hand, and the fury bled out of her.

Nicholas said softly, "Diana."

Diana sniffed and forced a smile. "I'm fine."

She knew his condition—he couldn't take shocks of any kind.

Some things had to be done slowly. Some truths would stay buried forever.

Seeing her expression fall, Nicholas lifted his gaze, cold now, to Henry. "My father and I just finalized an overseas project. Since you seem so free, why don't you go manage it? Three to five years away. How about it?"

Henry glanced at his phone and gasped theatrically. "Oh no! I can't. I've got a very important client—I have to stay at headquarters. The company would collapse without me."

He shot to his feet and bolted without a backward glance.

At the door, he darted Nicholas a secret glare, cursing him for choosing romance over friendship.

Watching his frantic retreat, Diana couldn't help laughing. "Nicholas, Henry didn't recognize me at all. How did you?"

Not just Henry—the household staff hadn't recognized her either.

The villa used facial recognition for everyone—everyone except Diana. She used fingerprints because the scanner never recognized her constantly changing face.

She'd had a different look every day, each one uglier than the last.

Because Derek supposedly liked husky voices, she'd even lowered her tone on purpose, which killed any chance of voice recognition.

And yet Nicholas had recognized her instantly, every single time.

Nicholas lifted her hand and kissed it. "I'd know you no matter how you looked."

His intensity made guilt prick at her.

How had he managed to kiss her yesterday when she looked that hideous? They'd even slept together.

Diana tried to pull her hand back, mortified, but Nicholas only tightened his grip.

Nicholas leaned in until his breath brushed her cheek. "Diana, you're mine. Don't you dare run again. Understand?"

Hearing those exact words from her last life, Diana shuddered.

In that life, by now she'd already smashed everything breakable in the villa.

She'd been assaulted and locked away—she'd only wanted to vent, to force Nicholas to let her go.

He'd watched, icy and unmoved, and when he thought she hadn't done enough damage, he'd had more things brought in for her to destroy. Only when she was spent had he said those words.

That was when the nightmare began.

Nicholas wouldn't let her leave, wouldn't let her contact the outside world. He inspected everything she ate himself.

Worst of all, he would take her whenever he pleased, making her swear she'd never leave before he'd release her.

No amount of steady breathing could tame the panic clawing up her throat.

Sensing something off, Nicholas pulled her into his arms. "Are you afraid of me?" His voice carried a chill.

Diana shut her eyes, forced herself to settle. Things with Nicholas had finally started to move in the right direction—she couldn't ruin it now.

When she opened them again, they were rimmed red. She caught his collar and whispered, "It hurts. I shouldn't have eaten seafood."

Nicholas froze at the flush on her cheeks, then scooped her up and carried her to the bedroom.

He sat at the edge of the bed, at a loss. "Should I… take a look?"

Diana shook her head hard. "No." But she kept their fingers laced tight.

She could refuse him anything, as long as he didn't think she wanted to run.

Seeing their joined hands, Nicholas didn't get angry. "Should I call a doctor?"

Diana slid her arms around him and settled against his chest. "No."

"What do you want, then?" His mood lifted at her closeness, his fingers combing through her hair.

When his tension finally eased, Diana spoke. "I want to take over the Windsor Corporation. Nicholas, I can—"

Nicholas stood immediately, looking down at her. "No. I told you—you're mine. Don't even think about running."

That familiar look in his eyes told her he was angry.

She tamped down her panic and reached for his hand. "Nicholas…"

"So all that just now was a setup for you to escape, wasn't it?"

A shard of cruelty flickered beneath the hurt in his eyes.

He'd thought she finally saw him, finally wanted to be with him.

It was all for nothing.

Thinking of Derek trying to take her away, Nicholas's grip tightened until Diana thought her jaw might crack.

She bit her lip; tears slid onto his hand. He recoiled as if scalded and let her go at once.

Seeing the red mark on her jaw, he looked lost. "Diana, I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize to me." Diana shot upright and hugged him hard.

She knew returning to the company now would make him suspicious, so she changed tack. "You can watch the company for me. My parents have been gone for less than a week. I can't just watch their life's work crumble."

Nicholas's expression softened. He pulled her close and nodded, firm and solemn.

Diana let out a quiet breath of relief. "Will you come with me to see my grandmother? We're engaged now, and she doesn't know yet."