Chapter 7 Please Call Me Princess

Clara was all smiles, and the whole family was having a great time. After dinner, she went to her room and came back with a pair of ruby earrings for me.

"Mom, that's not fair," Anne whined, squeezing between us and clinging to Clara's arm.

I glanced at Anne's perfectly made-up face and felt a bit of disdain.

"Mom, give them to Anne. She seems to like them too," I said, pretending to be reluctant as I handed the earrings to her.

Everyone noticed the jealous look on Anne's face when I said that.

Clara patted Anne on the shoulder and took the earrings back, placing them in my hand. "No, Anne can't have them. She's too young for these."

But Anne had backup.

Edward easily took the small jewelry box and tossed it in front of Anne. "Mom, give them to your daughter. Diana can wear what I give her."

Anne was a bit shocked, and the tears she'd been holding back all evening finally fell.

I thought I had won a round and made her cry.

I looked at Edward's cold face, and a wave of bitterness hit me.

Clara didn't notice Edward was angry and kept teasing him about his possessiveness.

Edward wasn't possessive of me; he just thought I had taken something that belonged to Anne.

Anne, with tear-filled eyes, walked up to me and took my hand. "Diana, this is for you. I never meant to take it."

I gently wiped Anne's tears with a tissue and said seriously, "If Edward gives you something, just take it. He'd give you the world if he could."

In my heart, even Edward belonged to her. What could Anne possibly not have? I glanced at Edward out of the corner of my eye, and sure enough, he was pleased with my gesture.

Anne's emotions were like a child's, coming and going quickly.

Anne soon started laughing, spinning around and throwing herself into Edward's arms, just like always.

"Edward, is what Diana said true?" Anne looked up, her face pitiful.

Edward reached out, playfully tapped Anne's nose and nodded.

"Then say, 'Princess, please accept this.'"

Edward frowned.

Anne continued to pout. "Edward, say it!"

Edward patiently coaxed her, repeating what Anne said.

In such a warm and harmonious atmosphere, I felt out of place.

I silently told myself, 'Diana, stop fighting. It's useless. You can't win against Anne.'

"Edward, I'm tired. I'm going to rest in my room."

I hurriedly escaped to the bedroom. After a while, Clara knocked and came in, holding another gift box.

"Diana, I know you've been wronged all these years. Anne's been spoiled her whole life. Please be patient with her."

Clara's well-maintained hand gently stroked my head, letting me lean into her embrace.

Did she know? Did she realize how deeply I was hurting?

Until these past few days, I hadn't felt wronged.

Looking back now, I had loved Edward for twenty years and been married for four. We might not have been passionately in love every day, but at least we respected each other. Clara and Hayden were especially good to me, and I had a lovely sister. Back then, life was harmonious and filled with warmth and love. It was a precious time in my life. To me, it was so happy and perfect. But now, thinking about it, could such a life be considered a grievance in others' eyes?

I couldn't understand why Clara would think that way.

Suddenly, a huge conspiracy theory popped into my mind.

Was Clara being so nice to me to cover up for someone?

If the whole family knew about Edward and Anne's affair, then what was I? Just a pawn to keep up appearances?

I loved Edward, and love doesn't just vanish at the mention of divorce.

As my trust in Edward faded, I couldn't trust anyone completely anymore.

I quietly accepted the gift, exchanged a few meaningless words, and sent Clara out.

Lying in bed, I couldn't sleep. I wanted to ask Edward, who was more important to him, Anne or me?

When Edward came back and saw the gift box on the table, he said, "Why did you fight with Anne over a pair of earrings? She's just a kid. What's wrong with letting her have them?"

Edward's attitude was terrible, and I didn't want to please him anymore. I turned my back to him and said, "This isn't the pair you gave Anne. Mom brought me another one." Edward seemed embarrassed, and his voice grew colder, saying, "Go get me a set of pajamas."

"Say, 'Princess, please get me my pajamas.'"

In the past, Edward would never have tried to please me this way. Sure enough, Edward froze. From the moment he entered the room, I would always be around him, calling him 'honey,' cherishing our time alone. But now, I no longer wanted to revolve around Edward.

I sneered, "What? You can sweet-talk Anne but not me?"

"It's not that I can't sweet-talk you!" Edward undid his tie with one hand and threw it on the ground. The next second, he pressed me down on the bed. "I just won't wear anything!"

My body sank deeply into the bed.

Edward's deep voice, with a magnetic quality that made me swoon, commanded, "Look into my eyes."

I was slightly stunned and slowly lifted my gaze, meeting Edward's. His eyes were deep and intense, as if a powerful force was drawing me in.

I saw the little figure in Edward's pupils gradually enlarge. Before I could react, his lips, carrying a faint coffee scent, invaded my mouth.

I snapped back to reality, pushed Edward away forcefully, and quickly wiped my mouth, showing my disdain.

Edward was clearly angered by my action, and his kisses became more fervent on my lips and neck.

Maybe it was the effect of the herbal soup Clara had given him, but Edward was particularly eager tonight. I resisted with all my might, finally ending with a punch to his jaw.

Edward touched his jaw, his eyes blazing with anger. He propped himself up and squinted at me. "You don't want it?"

"No!" I said firmly.

Edward stood up, turned his back to me, and adjusted his shirt. "Then, I won't touch you again."

Looking at Edward's back, my eyes blurred once more.

I thought, how could I not want it? To keep Edward, I had even consulted friends. I learned that no man could resist the allure of lingerie.

I heard that no matter what kind of man, when faced with lingerie, would be instantly attracted. Those pieces of lingerie, full of charm and temptation, seemed to have a magical power that could easily arouse the most primal desires in a man's heart.

But I still failed.

Edward only knew I wanted it but didn't understand why. Edward never tried to understand me.

Edward didn't give me enough security and thought I was just after physical pleasure.

I finally couldn't help but speak, "I want it!"

Upon hearing this, Edward took off the bracelet on his wrist and threw it on the bedside table. He pressed down on me again. Unfulfilled desires could affect marital harmony.