Chapter 6 I Didn't Steal Your Happiness

• “Lie to me? What exactly did they lie about?” Diana asked, her voice filled with disbelief.
• She had always known that when Richard took over the Miller family business, he was under immense pressure. He needed an intelligent and capable partner to support him, someone who could navigate the complex world of business with him.
• Diana had been taken in by the Miller family when she was just eleven. Raised under their roof, she had received the best education and pursued a career in medicine. Through a twist of fate, she once helped two of the Miller family’s shareholders with their medical issues. They were so impressed by her skills and kindness that they grew fond of her.
• It was during this time that Richard Miller married her, a union orchestrated by his grandfather to solidify his control over the company.
• But now, as Diana faced Freya’s enigmatic gaze, she couldn’t help but feel that there was more to the story—something she had never been told.
• “The Miller family kept you in the dark. They never let you see the truth,” Freya sneered, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Diana, do you even realize how lucky you are? You came from nothing—just a girl from the countryside with no connections or influence. And yet, fate handed you everything.”
• Diana remained silent, sensing that the worst was yet to come.
• “Do you think Grandpa took a liking to you just because you saved his life? If that had been the case, then I should have been the one standing in your place. I was the one who tried to save him. If things had been different, maybe I would be the one married to Richard instead of being forced away.”
• Diana stiffened. A strange unease settled in her heart. Memories she had long buried resurfaced, but before she could make sense of them, Freya continued.
• “You think Richard willingly married you? That he chose you over me?” Freya let out a bitter laugh. “The truth is, I was kidnapped. Grandpa had me locked away so I couldn’t interfere. Richard refused to marry you at first, but they forced him—threatened him. He only agreed to the wedding because he wanted to protect me.”
• Diana’s breath hitched. “You’re lying,” she whispered, though her voice trembled. She had always known that Richard Miller hadn’t been eager to marry her, but she never imagined it had been forced upon him like this.
• “The day of your wedding, Grandpa finally let me go. But it was too late. I had to watch you take my place. I was so devastated that I lost control of my car in the snow. Do you know why they held the wedding on a snowy day? Not because it was romantic, but because Grandpa was afraid of what Richard might do if given more time to resist.”
• Diana shook her head, refusing to believe it. “No, that’s not true!”
• Freya’s expression was filled with triumph as she saw the pain flicker in Diana’s eyes. “You stole my happiness,” she hissed. “You took my place and trapped Richard in a loveless marriage.”
• “I didn’t—!” Diana’s entire body shook.
• She wanted to refute Freya’s words, but a creeping doubt had already begun to take root in her heart.
• Was this really the truth?
• For the past two years, she had done everything she could to make this marriage work, but had she been blind all along?
• She recalled the conversation she had with Grandpa before the wedding. She had asked him if Richard was truly willing to marry her. She had always known about Freya —known that she had been Richard’s first love.
• But Grandpa had assured her, “That woman is only after our family’s wealth. When she heard that Richard might be cut off from the Miller family, she left without hesitation. He was heartbroken, and that’s why he agreed to marry you.”
• Diana had believed him.
• She had wanted to believe that if she was patient, if she loved Richard enough, he would eventually love her back.
• And Richard himself had said:
• “I’m willing. Freya and I are over. Let’s make a deal—give me three years to fall in love with you. If I can’t, then we’ll go our separate ways.”
• At the time, Diana had agreed. She had been confident that three years was enough to win his heart.
• Now, she wasn’t so sure.
• “You should end this, Diana ,” Freya said, her voice sickly sweet. “Divorce him. Set him free. Richard has treated you well these past two years, but it was only so you wouldn’t have any complaints when you left. If you take the initiative to leave, Grandpa won’t be able to stop him from marrying me.”
• Diana clenched her fists.
• “What a perfect trap,” she murmured bitterly.
• She had been so naïve. Had everything really been a carefully laid plan?
• But as she looked at Freya, something didn’t add up.
• “If what you say is true,” Diana said slowly, “then tell me—where exactly were you locked up back then?”
• Freya flinched, her expression faltering for the first time.
• Diana pressed on. “You’re the daughter of the Desmond family. If you had really been kidnapped, the entire city would have been searching for you. The news would have spread like wildfire. And yet, I never heard a single word about it.”
• Freya’s eyes darted away as she quickly tried to come up with an excuse.
• “The Miller family has power. Grandpa could have kept it a secret,” she said hastily.
• But Diana wasn’t convinced.
• She had lived in the Miller family long enough to know how things worked. If Freya had truly been imprisoned, she wouldn’t have kept silent all these years. The moment she was released, she would have made it known to the world—especially someone like Freya, who thrived on attention.
• The more Diana thought about it, the more holes she found in Freya’s story.
• Seeing her hesitation, Freya quickly changed tactics.
• “Fine,” she said, her voice softening. “Let’s forget the past. But answer me this—on your wedding day, didn’t Richard leave in the middle of the ceremony?”
• Diana hesitated.
• He had.
• At the time, she hadn’t questioned it. She had assumed he had urgent business to take care of.
• But now, Freya was claiming that he had rushed to her side because of an accident.
• “Richard left because he heard I was injured. My car crashed that day, and I nearly lost my sight. He still cares about me, Diana. Even now.”
• Diana’s heart twisted painfully.
• Was it true? Had she been nothing more than an obligation to him?
• But then she remembered the way Richard looked at her. The way he held her at night, the way his warmth seeped into her skin.
• Had that all been an act?
• She gritted her teeth. No. There were too many inconsistencies in Freya’s story.
• Taking a deep breath, Diana straightened her back.
• “You may have spent two years preparing this story,” she said coldly, “but you overlooked one thing.”
• Freya frowned.
• “You underestimated me.”
• With that, Diana turned on her heel and walked away, leaving Freya staring after her in shock.
• She wasn’t going to let herself be manipulated so easily.
• Not anymore.