<h4>Chapter 41: Ready or Not</h4>


    Diane’s POV


    The drive back to Joan’s beach house was a blur. My mind was still processing the meeting with Andrew, the weight of the cashier’s check in my purse a tangible reminder of my newfound alliance.


    The evening sky painted the ocean in hues of purple and orange as I pulled into the driveway, the familiar sight of Joan’s beach house oddlyforting despite it being my temporary refuge.


    I spotted Joan immediately, sitting on the wooden deck facing the shore, her silhouette illuminated by the setting sun. She jumped to her feet the moment she saw my car, rushing over before I could even properly park.


    "Where have you been?" she demanded as I stepped out, her voice a mixture of relief and exasperation. "I’ve been calling you for hours!"


    "I’m sorry," I said, embracing her tightly. The warmth of her hug reminded me how lucky I was to have her in my corner. "My phone was on silent. I was with Andrew."


    Joan pulled back, her eyebrows shooting up. "Andrew? The guy who hit you with his car? Diane, I told you to wait until I finished looking into him."


    I sighed, grabbing my purse and the folder Andrew had given me. "I know, I know. But he called, and after what happened with Liam today, I just... I needed to hear what he had to say."


    Joan’s expression shifted. "What Did you do? Diane, please tell me you didn’t do anything reckless."


    I couldn’t help the smile that crept onto my face. "Let’s go inside. I have a lot to tell you."


    Once settled on the couch, I handed her the folder. "Andrew gave me this. It’s information about Synergy Sphere and a n to acquire enough shares to challenge him."


    Joan flipped through the documents, her trainedwyer’s eye scanning the pages with focused intensity. "This is... detailed. Very detailed." She looked up at me. "He’s offering to finance this?"


    I nodded, pulling out the envelope and showing her the check. Joan’s eyes widened. "Jesus, Diane. That’s a lot of money. What does he want in return?"


    "Justice, he says. Apparently, Liam really hurt him in the past. He wants to see him held ountable."


    Joan set the documents aside, fixing me with a serious look. "And you believe him? Just like that?"


    "Not just like that," I admitted.


    Joan took out her phone, handing it to me. "I did some digging too," she confessed. "Nothing suspicious came up. He seems clean—humanitarian work, charitable donations, respected in business circles. But Diane, I still don’t understand why he’s so invested in helping you."


    I shrugged, leaning back against the cushions. "Maybe he really was wronged by Liam. You know how Liam operates, stepping on anyone who gets in his way."


    I ced a protective hand over my stomach. "And maybe... maybe seeing me pregnant after hitting me with his car made him feel responsible."


    Joan nodded slowly, not entirely convinced but willing to consider it. "Alright. But we proceed with caution, okay? Now, tell me about Liam. What happened when you saw him?"


    I couldn’t suppress my grin as I recounted my confrontation with Liam, the look on his face when I brought out Sophie’s lingerie, the way he’d paled when I threatened to expose his indiscretions. Joan listened intently, a smile ying at her lips.


    "You should have seen him, Joan. For once, he was the one off-bnce, the one scared." I paused, debating whether to tell her the rest.


    "There’s something else, isn’t there?" Joan knew me too well.


    I took a deep breath. "I may have... done something to his car on my way out."


    Joan’s eyebrows shot up. "What do you mean ’done something’?"


    "I sort of... destroyed it?"


    "WHAT?" Joan’s mouth fell open.


    "I found a metal rod in the parking garage and... well, I took out some frustration on his precious Audi." I detailed the damage—the smashed windows, the punctured tires, the dents, and the lipstick message.


    Joan stared at me in stunned silence for a moment before bursting intoughter. "Oh my God, Diane! I can’t believe you did that! His face when he sees it...I wish I could be there!"


    I joined herughter, the release feeling cathartic. "He wanted to y dirty. Now he knows I can too."


    Joan’sughter subsided, reced by concern. "But seriously, Diane, you need to be careful. Liam could press charges for destruction of property."


    "Let him try," I said, surprised by my own boldness. "I’ll im pregnancy hormones made me snap after discovering his continued affair with my sister."


    She studied me for a long second, then shook her head. "You really have changed. I just hope this new Diane knows when to stop before she burns everything down—including herself."


    I swallowed, appreciating her concern but knowing that hesitation wasn’t an option anymore. "I can’t stop, Joan. Not yet."


    "The old Diane is gone, she died the day she found her husband sleeping with her sister."


    She let out a sigh and sat back. "Alright. Then we make sure we y this smart." Diane, she held my hand aa she continued, "Just promise me something."


    "What?"


    "That when all of this is over, you don’t let Liam define you anymore. That you find a way to move forward, not just keep looking back."


    I hesitated, then gave her a small nod. "I promise."


    We sat inpanionable silence for a moment, the gravity of my words settling between us. Then Joan reached for the folder again.


    "Alright, let’s go through these documents properly. If we’re going to hold Liam ’by the balls,’ as you so eloquently put it, we need to understand exactly what we’re dealing with."


    For the next hour, we pored over Andrew’s files, Joan exining the legal implications of each piece of information. We were just discussing potential next steps when my phone rang. Noah’s name shed on the screen.


    "It’s Noah," I told Joan before answering. "Hey, Noah."


    "Diane, hi," his voice came through, warm and familiar. "I’ve been thinking about our conversation. About that cabin getaway I mentioned? I spoke to my friend, and it’s avable this weekend if you’d like to go. I think some time away from everything might do you good."


    I hesitated, my mind immediately calcting. Noah—Liam’s best friend, his closest confidant. The same Noah who had looked at me with something more than friendship in his eyes, the Noah who had kissed me back when I impulsively pressed my lips to his.


    An idea began to form.


    "This weekend?" I repeated, catching Joan’s curious gaze.


    "Yeah, if that works for you. The ce is amazing—secluded, peaceful, right by ake. Perfect for clearing your head."


    I thought about Liam, about how furious he’d be knowing I was spending the weekend alone with Noah. I thought about how it would feel to use one more thing he valued against him.


    "Actually, that sounds perfect," I said, making my decision. "I could use a break from everything."


    "Great!" Noah’s enthusiasm was palpable. "I’ll pick you up Friday afternoon around four? Pack light, it’s pretty rustic up there."


    "I’m looking forward to it. And Noah? Thank you."


    After hanging up, I turned to find Joan watching me intently.


    "You’re going to a cabin with Noah?" she asked, her tone carefully neutral.


    "I am," I confirmed. "It’s just what I need—time away to think, to n."


    Joan’s eyes narrowed slightly. "This wouldn’t have anything to do with Noah being Liam’s best friend, would it?"


    I smiled innocently. "Would that be so terrible? Liam took something I loved. Maybe I’ll return the favor."


    "Diane," Joan’s voice held a warning. "Noah is a person, not a possession. And he cares about you—genuinely cares. I’ve seen the way he looks at you."


    "I know," I said softly, the memory of our kiss shing through my mind. "And I care about him too. But I also know that nothing would hurt Liam more than losing his best friend to the wife he betrayed."


    Joan sighed, shaking her head. "Just be careful. I don’t want you to get hurt, and I don’t want you to hurt Noah in the process. He’s a good guy."


    "I know," I repeated, feeling a twinge of guilt. "I’ll be careful."