Diana Bell opened the wardrobe and noticed that three of William Knight's suits were missing. She figured he had headed out on another business trip.
Because the household included Noah Bell—a boy who ate as if possessed by a gluttonous spirit—dinner was usually served early. By 6:00 PM, the meal was already on the table.
Since Noah was the only male around, Diana followed her usual routine for days spent at home: she wore her nightgown all day. It was a simple, white silk slip dress that hit just at the knee, leaving her slender, pale calves exposed. The neckline wasn't particularly low, showing off only her elegant neck and delicate collarbones. The soft fabric clung to her frame, highlighting her straight shoulders, narrow waist, and the graceful, soft curves of her silhouette.
Though the design was minimal, on her, it exuded an effortless, captivating charm. Even though the house staff had worked with the new mistress of the Knight family for several days now, they still felt a momentary daze whenever they caught sight of her beauty.
Noah, however, saw her differently. To him, Diana was just "a woman." Her appeal couldn't even compete with the plate of cold shredded beef on the table. While Diana sat down, Noah's eyes were locked onto the beef.
"Is William coming home for dinner?" he asked.
"No," Diana replied. "Let's eat."
"Who says I'm not coming back?" A steady, unhurried footstep echoed as William Knight walked in.
Diana stood up in surprise. "Mr. Knight? Weren't you supposed to be away on business today?"
"Change of plans," William said briefly.
Diana guessed he had something specific to tell her. He glanced at the place setting in front of her and asked, "Have you eaten yet?"
"Not yet. We were just about to start."
William looked at her, gauging her reaction. "Would you be willing to go back to the Knight family estate for dinner with me tonight?"
Diana understood immediately. He was taking her to meet the parents. "Of course," she agreed. Since they were married, meeting the family was the natural next step.
William's gaze swept over the pale skin of her chest. "Go upstairs and change. I'll wait for you."
As Diana headed for the stairs, Noah chimed in, "Hey, sis, William... if you both leave me here to eat alone, I'll be so lonely I'll lose my appetite!"
Diana glanced at his mouth, which was currently stuffed with beef. "You seem to be doing just fine. What more do you want? To eat the entire planet?"
Noah looked at William. "Hey, can I come too?"
William pulled a napkin from the holder and placed it over Noah's mouth with his long, elegant fingers. "Don't talk with your mouth full."
As the couple headed to the second floor, Noah yanked the napkin away, shoveled a massive heap of beef into his mouth, and sighed dramatically. "Sigh. So lonely. I can't even finish my food..."
In the master bedroom, Diana was pulling off her nightgown just as William walked in. The thin straps had already slipped down to her elbows, leaving her chest partially exposed. William was met with the sight of a deep, soft cleavage.
Both froze. An electric spark seemed to flicker in the air.
Diana wasn't used to showing her body to William yet—in fact, she had never been fully exposed to him. She quickly pulled the straps back up, grabbed a dress from the wardrobe, and retreated to the bathroom.
William said nothing. Despite being confident in his own physique, even he felt a hint of self-consciousness at the idea of standing naked before her right now.
When Diana emerged from the bathroom in a fresh dress, she found William sitting on the edge of the bed. His legs, encased in dark suit trousers, were spread slightly in a natural, relaxed posture. His dark eyes were fixed on her. For a moment, Diana felt like a prey animal being watched by a lion on the African savanna—his gaze was intensely predatory.
Her heart skipped a beat.
Since she was meeting his family for the first time, Diana wasn't about to go with a bare face. She sat at her vanity, skillfully applying her makeup. She pressed a dusty rose lipstick onto her hydrated lips, traced a smooth line along her lashes with an eyeliner pencil, and arched her brows into a soft curve. Her foundation was sheer; her skin was so pale and flawless there was hardly anything to conceal.
As she worked, William sat nearby, waiting patiently without a single word of rush. He was holding a book—an English original. Diana's English was excellent; she had even won top honors in national competitions during her university days. She glanced at the cover: Wuthering Heights.
The story centered on a turbulent, obsessive romance. It contained that famous line: "I cannot live without my life! I cannot live without my soul!" Heathcliff's love for Catherine was violent, wild, and consumed his entire life. Diana remembered that William had been reading this same book during their very first meeting. The pages looked well-worn, as if he had read it many times.
The more she learned about William, the more he surprised her. He was a notorious workaholic—why wasn't he staring at financial reports all day?
Sensing her gaze, William looked up. Diana, caught mid-thought, didn't pull her eyes away in time and met his stare. To cover her momentary guilt, she asked casually, "Does this look okay?"
It sounded almost as if she were fishing for a compliment. It was a risky question; if he gave a mediocre answer, it would be incredibly awkward.
William's serious, discerning gaze traced the lines of her face. His stare felt so heavy and physical that wherever his eyes landed, her skin felt like it was burning. She had asked the question to lighten the mood, but it backfired, making her even more nervous.
He didn't answer immediately. He just kept staring, which felt like a slow-motion torture. It was the kind of tension you feel when the exam timer is about to hit zero and you still have half the test left to write.
After a long, quiet observation, William spoke seriously. "Miss Bell, you are beautiful."
Diana's cheeks flushed a deeper red, and a small, satisfied smile played on her lips.
In the back of the Rolls-Royce, Diana watched the scenery flash by. As they drove, the crowds grew thicker. The Knight family estate was tucked away on a mountainside—secluded, quiet, and highly private.
"This looks like the way to the city center," Diana noted.
"I want to stop by the high-end mall," William said, leaning back against the leather seat with an air of quiet nobility. "I want to buy you a dress."
Diana looked down at herself. "Is the one I'm wearing not good enough?"
William turned his head to look at her, his posture relaxed but commanding. "It's beautiful. But it doesn't do justice to the woman wearing it."