After Paradise: Book Two • jb

Chapter 26

if you're reading this, you look gorgeous today! I'm so thankful for you to read, it means the world to me. Here's to only four chapters left of this story...

// JUSTIN'S POV //

I looked myself in the mirror, continuously hearing Diana's happy voice from downstairs calling my name and telling me to hurry up, I didn't answer but she eventually gave up and I recognised she would just be waiting downstairs for me.

I fixed my tie, looking at myself and my tuxedo which made me feel a little overdressed but then again, Diana was stunning tonight and she deserved to have someone by her side that could at least try and look as glowing as her. I didn't succeed but it was worth a shot.

I know people in the press and media like me more when I dress up too, it causes something interested. Headlines. That's what the media want, after all.

I couldn't stop thinking about Scooter and what other plans he might have. I wasn't sure whether or not he was trying to ruin my relationship or increase the affection in it. However, whatever plans he might have, I didn't need his help. I had everything under control without him having to interrupt or try things. Diana and I were unbreakable and Scooter would soon realise that.

Which would hopefully make him stop informing Diana about my meetings with her assistant!

I took one last glance at myself before I prepared to head downstairs. I called out my lovely girlfriend's name but I got no reply. The house was unusually quiet, especially compared to a few minutes ago when Diana was calling my name loudly. Something felt off and it made my stomach twist uncontrollably.

"Babe?" I called, walking around downstairs to see if I could find her. It was like she was cluelessly gone and I was beginning to get slightly worried. I checked the front door but realised it was still locked, meaning she did not head out yet. It wasn't until I walked into the kitchen, seeing her makeup running down her cheeks leaving black tracks from her eyes, that I realised something was awfully wrong. "Diana? Are you okay? What happened?"

She didn't have to answer because the moment I saw her look up to meet my gaze, I saw the hurt and disappointment in it. It was clear that I was the problem behind this. I had done something. 

"Shit," I mumbled quietly to myself. I had a crying girlfriend, her heart looked shattered in thousand of pieces by the look in her eyes and nonetheless, I also had no idea what I had done to her. "Can you tell me what's wrong?"

I watched Diana as she wiped the back of her thumb underneath her left eye, "Did you do it?" 

I wasn't sure what she was referring to and I made sure to go through my entire existent and all I could think about was the giant lie that could be the biggest plot-twist of her life. She knew. Someone must have told her or she figured out by herself. Perhaps there were some more flashbacks that came flying to her head. Maybe she saw a picture of herself in my home. I rushed my gaze all over the kitchen, no pictures of us as children were seen.

"Diana," I started, "Please, listen to me. I can explain."

She suddenly lost track of breathing and I watched her starting to hyperventilate quickly. I wanted to hug her and comfort her, tell her it doesn't matter because like she always told me before, the past is the past. We needed to move on, together. We couldn't do that unless she accepts her past. Obviously, though, I would have had a hard time forgetting if the love of my life lied to me about my entire childhood. 

"So it's true?" Diana cried some more, her entire face was a mess all of a sudden and it surprised me how underneath all that making that was running, she was still beautiful. I know it wasn't the best time to think about that kind of stuff but she looked gorgeous even though she was crying her face off. She would look beautiful doing absolutely anything. "You're the biggest fucking asshole I have ever met, don't bother trying to contact me. Ever."