Silent Treatment

Diane's POV

The world had turned into a haze of pain and betrayal. I found myself staying away from everything and everyone. The sheer pain of Liam's betrayal with Sophie, my own sister, was about to devour me totally.

I had not informed my mother of the affair or the imminent divorce. The idea of telling her, of watching her world fall apart like mine had, was excruciating. So I fell silent, letting her calls go to voicemail and her texts unanswered. 

As I sat alone, my mind wandered back to happier days. The times when Liam made me feel like the most valued lady in the world.

I recalled our whirlwind romance, and how he had swept me off my feet with his charisma and kindness. Liam, the self-made billionaire, lavished me with affection and luxury. Designer outfits, beautiful jewelries, and surprise visits to exotic destinations - he spared no expense to express his love. 

But it wasn't just about material possessions. It was the way he looked at me, as if I were the most important thing in his world. He would cancel important appointments merely to spend time with me when I was down. He'd gently hold me, uttering words of love and adoration. 

"You're my everything, Di," he'd say, his eyes shining with warmth. "I'd move mountains for you."

The memory triggered a new wave of misery. How did we go from that to this? How had the man who once made me feel so special become the one to betray me in the worst possible way? 

My phone buzzed again, and my mother's name flashed across the screen. I glanced at it, my finger hesitating over the answer button before sending it to voicemail. Again.

I knew she was worried sick. It was unusual for me to leave without saying anything. But how could I tell her that her son-in-law, whom she had warmly welcomed into our family, had betrayed me with her younger daughter?

As tears blurred my eyesight, I played back the voicemail she had left earlier. 

"Diane, baby, this is Mom again. I am worried that something has happened to you. You have not been returning my calls or messages. Is everything OK? Did anything happen to Liam? Please, honey, let me know you're okay. "I love you so much." 

The sadness in her voice made my heart ache. I knew I was being unkind, but the idea of breaking the news and making it true by speaking it out was paralyzing.

I sobbed as I snuggled up on the couch and covered myself with a blanket. It was an excruciating physical aching that felt as though it penetrated every cell in my body. 

Days blended into each other, a haze of restless nights and tear-filled days. Joan was my pillar of support; she brought me food, saw to it that I ate, and respected my want for privacy. She only provided me with calm comfort and a shoulder to cry on when the pain got too much—neither pushing nor prying. 

Joan entered the room one afternoon while I was sitting there looking blankly at the wall, her face filled with worry.

"Diane," she whispered softly, sitting next to me. "Your mom called me. She is crazy with worry." 

I felt guilty but couldn't force myself to answer.

 Joan continued, her voice quiet yet strong. "I understand you are hurting, and you have every right to take the time you need to heal. But isolating yourself from those you care about is not the solution." 

I gazed up at her with new tears streaming down my cheeks. "I cannot, Joan. I can't tell her what happened. "It will shatter her heart." 

Joan took my hand and held it gently. "Diane, your mother adores you more than anything. Yes, she will be devastated by what Liam and Sophie did, but she must know. She needs to be here for you."

Although I knew Joan was right, I was just terrified to tell my mother the news. How could I break the news to her that her younger daughter and son-in-law had both deeply betrayed our family? 

"What do I say?" My voice was hoarse from sobbing as I whispered. 

Joan gave a sad smile. "You let her know that everything is alright first. It's not necessary for you to tell her everything at once. Simply let her know that you're safe by speaking to her.

"My hands were shaking as I reached for my phone. With my heart racing, I dialed my mother's number and realized how much I had missed her consoling presence. 

Her voice was laced with both anxiety and relief as the phone rung barely once. "Diane? My dear, is that you?

"Hi, Mom," I said, my voice breaking. "I'm sorry I haven't called."

"Oh, honey," she breathed. "I've been out of my mind with worry. Are you okay? Where are you?"

I took a shaky breath, steeling myself. "I'm at Joan's beach house. I'm... I'm not okay, Mom. Something terrible has happened."

There was a pause, and I could almost see her bracing herself. "What is it, sweetheart? You can tell me anything."

The dam broke, and suddenly I was sobbing uncontrollably. "It's Liam, Mom. He... he's been cheating on me."

I heard her sharp intake of breath. "Oh, Diane. I'm so sorry, baby. That miserable bastard-"

"With Sophie," I choked out.

There was an unbearable silence for a while. My mother's voice was hardly audible when she spoke again. "Sophie? Sophie, your sister?" 

Yes," I was able to respond in between sobs. There was a muffled sound, as though she had closed her mouth to contain her own tears. Her voice was full of emotion, but it also carried a deep affection when she spoke again. 

"Diane, I'm coming over there right now. Can you hear me? I'm coming there." I experienced a mixture of relief and anxiety as I hung up the phone.

Joan embraced me, and I sobbed onto her shoulder, releasing all the hurt I had been suppressing.

Hours later, I heard a car approach outside. There was a knock on the door, i immediately stood up to open the door, and there was my mother, her eyes red and puffy, her arms spread. 

I sank into her tender embrace feeling like a little girl again. "Oh, Mom," I cried out.

"I'm here, baby," she said quietly, stroking my hair. "I'm here, and we'll go through it together. I love you so much." 

As we hugged each other, a small spark of hope ignited in my chest. The path ahead would be hard, with the pain still raw and overwhelming. But I wasn't alone. I had Joan and my mother, and somewhere deep inside, I had a strength that I was only now discovering.

Taking a deep, quivering breath, I felt the weight on my chest slightly lessen. Although Liam and Sophie's betrayal had rocked our family to its foundation, it wouldn't define us. 

As night fell, I was curled up on the couch with Joan and my mother, with a blanket covering us. I didn't feel totally alone for the first time since learning of Liam's betrayal.

Surrounded by these two powerful women's unconditional love, I truly believed it for the first time in weeks.