DIANA'S POV
"What!" I shouted hysterically as I got up from my dressing table. "Why wasn't I called?! How many times have I told you not to touch my son! You know he has sensitive skin and that's why I always have to be present!" I yelled at the maid. I had told them several times that I am the only one who can touch my son.
"But ma'am it was an emergency he had to change, and I had him use the correct—" the maid tried to defend her actions.
"—I don't care!" I interrupted her. "You should have come straight to me I would have handled it myself! I am his mother. What if he gets a skin infection or breaks out into hives due to him putting on the wrong lotion or using wrong soap? Yes, he's 10 years old but that doesn't mean he can't make mistakes when he's washing up! That's why I have to be present!" I screamed at the servant.
"I apologize ma'am but I--," she tried again.
"Get out! You're fired! I want you out of my house now!" I yelled. The maids knew this was a serious rule with no exceptions.
"But ma'am—" she tried to plead with me.
"Don't make me have to repeat myself!" I hissed at the maid and step forward as if I was about to hit her.
The maid fearfully flinched as she began to cry. She then quickly left the room after that. I then dismissed the head maid as well.
When only Marco and I remained I turned to him.
"Marco! How many times have I told you to be careful! Now look at the mess it creates!" I frustratedly yelled at him.
"I'm sorry mum!" he apologized fearfully.
However, I wasn't having it, and I slapped him across the face. His head rolled to one side. He brought his hand up to his cheek and bit his lip as he fought back tears. He then slowly looked back at me.
"From now on you NEVER let anyone get near you under those circumstances when I'm not present, do you understand!" I yelled at him. He knew this rule more than anyone else. He wasn't supposed to bath or change clothes when only servants were around. I had to be there. Even at school he didn't do swimming class for this exact reason.
"Yes, mum!" he accepted my order in a shaky voice.
"Stop crying!" I said annoyed by his tears streamed down his little cheeks. He knew crying didn't work on me, especially for something as serious as this.
"Yes, mum," he said as he aggressively wiped them away.
I inspected his face and hair one last time and then let him go.
"Now go and do your homework with the tutor, he's waiting for you in your study room," I ordered him.
"Yes mum!" he said and quickly left the room.
Marco had to be the perfect son in order to impress Keith. He had to dress well, act well, he had to have outstanding grades at school. Everything had to be just right. He had to be the perfect the same way I had to act like the perfect partner for Keith. That way, no matter how hard Jasmine tried, I would always win. To everyone we would always look like the more deserving ones to be beside Keith. Marco was going to be Keith's heir.
I sat back down at my dressing table and continued to do my makeup. Keith would be coming home soon so I needed to be ready. It was two hours later when Keith arrived home. He entered our bedroom and called out my name.
"Keith," I said as walked up to him and hugged him.
"How was your day?" he asked me.
"I watched tennis with the ladies," I told them. The ladies in question were all Jasmine's former friends, but I had turned them against her.
"Sounds like fun," Keith responded.
"Would have been more fun if you were there," I then told him.
I wanted Keith to feel bad whenever I was with him. He had a weakness for me when I seemed helpless and sad. So, I always played it up a bit for him. So his attraction to me would grow.
"I'll do my best to clear schedule this weekend we can do something together," he said to me
"You promise?" I said to him as I looked up at him with puppy eyes. Trying to play up my innocent look.
"I promise. And to make up for not spending time with you I'd like to give you a gift to apologize. What is it you want?" I asked her. "Just name it and I'll get it for you."
"Mmhmm," I started as if thinking hard. A thought then came to mind. Perhaps I could joke with him. "…To have your last name."
His eyes widened in surprise initially but then; his lips curved into a smile. He then chuckled after moment. "Diana Acland…I like the sound of that. Don't worry I'm working on it," I assured her.
Hearing that put me at ease. Though I said the last name thing as a joke it really wasn't. I just wanted to see if he was still planning on marrying me.
He grabbed my hand and stretched out my fingers. "Before long you'll be wearing a ring you're worried will break your finger from how heavy it is," he told me.
"Mmhmm, that sounds nice," I said to him with a big smile. "I can't wait to finally be your wife. After so many years. I always dreamed of this."
"I promise you things will be different this time," he told me as he hugged me back more strongly.
I know he was planning on divorcing Jasmine, and it would take time but I was too impatient. I wanted him to divorce her this instant and for us to get married tomorrow. I had to remember good things take time. He would marry me before long.
I had worked so hard all these years to get to this stage. Keith you wouldn't believe the things I had to do to get back in your life. All for that moment when I appeared at your birthday party with Marco in hand 2 years ago. This time you WILL choose me, Keith. You will be mine and that woman and all the other people that tried to keep us apart won't succeed.