On the bed, sets of wine-red and purple lace lingerie shimmered against each other, casting a seductive glow under the warm ambient lights.
The silk was as light as a feather, and the daring, hollowed-out cuts screamed peak provocation. As Diana spread the two garments out, the air seemed to be injected with a lingering intoxicant, making every breath feel heavy and scorched.
Diana's slender, tapered fingers hovered over the two nightgowns. Her long lashes fluttered as she fell into a sweet yet bashful state of indecision.
Her phone suddenly buzzed with a message from her best friend, Penelope: [Babe, take my advice—go with the purple lace! That peek-a-boo visual impact is a killer. I guarantee your Mr. Knight will have a total meltdown the second he sees you.]
Diana bit her lip and chuckled, her fingers flying across the screen: [Thanks for the invite to a heart attack. I'm afraid I'll end up in the ER with tachycardia before he even gets the chance to surrender.]
Setting the phone down, she ultimately followed her heart and picked up the purple chemise.
She gently unknotted the loose cotton towel around her chest. The white fabric slipped down her porcelain skin like a drifting cloud, eventually pooling onto the deep gray plush carpet.
Stepping into the sheer fabric with her dainty, translucent feet, the purple lace climbed upward. It kissed her ankles, brushed against her long thighs, and finally glided over her graceful hips to snugly embrace her curves.
With straps as thin as gossamer resting on her rounded shoulders, Diana took a deep breath and stepped in front of the full-length mirror.
The silhouette in the reflection was as breathtaking as a succubus...
With just one glance, Diana felt her cheeks burn fiercely. She instinctively closed her eyes.
This is too much, she thought. If she met William like this, would he think she was some sort of pre-calculating temptress?
Besides, they had only recently reunited. This "gift" felt a bit too heavy. She feared he wouldn't be able to handle it—or worse, that she would lose her nerve and bolt.
Blushing, Diana retreated to the bed and quickly swapped the purple piece for the wine-red slip dress.
Standing before the mirror again, she finally let out a satisfied smile.
The wine-red hue made her snow-white skin look radiant. Her lips were parted slightly, and her waist looked narrow enough to be held in one hand. While the style was still bold—exposing a vast expanse of her back like polished jade—the cut possessed a certain high-end restraint. The deep-V neckline precisely traced her captivating curves.
The highest form of seduction was never total exposure, but this kind of "now you see it, now you don't" mystery. The red silk clung to her every contour; every fold seemed to whisper a silent invitation.
She threw on a silk robe to temporarily veil the temptation.
Checking the wall clock, she saw it was already ten, and William had yet to return.
Diana calmed her racing heart. She knew the weight of the burden that man carried on his shoulders. Sitting down at her desk, she opened her laptop and began tending to her career.
Now that she had a stable home base provided by William, she no longer had to live a humble life just to make ends meet. What she wanted now was a position where she could realize her true value.
After filtering through countless job listings, her eyes stopped on a post for a "Senior High School Gold Medal Instructor."
In her previous company, despite having the skills of an A-list lecturer, she had been denied the chance to appear on live streams due to her appearance, which capped her performance and kept that "Gold Medal" title just out of reach.
As she scrolled down to see the company name, her heart skipped a beat.
It was an educational branch under the Knight Group!
It turned out William's business empire had already quietly permeated the education sector.
Diana didn't hesitate. She knew how vast the platform at Knight Group was. Although the boss was her own husband, she had no intention of taking a shortcut. She polished her resume and confidently clicked "Submit." She believed in her professional expertise; that was her strongest armor.
By the time she finished, it was late into the night.
Remembering that late nights were the enemy of good skin, she turned off the lights and tucked herself into bed just a minute before midnight.
Shedding her outer robe, she wore only the wine-red slip, feeling the ultimate support of the two-million-dollar luxury mattress.
But she couldn't sleep.
In the darkness, she couldn't help but grab her phone, the screen's dim light reflecting in her clear eyes.
In the chat, William's cold red rose avatar sat there quietly.
[If you want me to, I'll come home.]
Those seven simple words felt magical, dancing repeatedly in her heart.
She had never longed for a man's return so intensely. It was as if this vast villa only felt like a home when he was there.
By the time she counted her ten-thousand-and-first sheep, exhaustion finally swept over her consciousness.
...
At three in the morning, the bedroom door was pushed open by a pair of large hands.
The floor lamps cast a warm amber glow, like a beacon left specifically for a weary traveler.
William walked to the bedside, carrying the chill of the outside world. Seeing the sleeping Diana, curled up in the blankets and looking as innocent as a child, his heart softened.
He reached out his hand but stopped mid-air, fearing he would wake her from a good dream. He quietly retracted it and went to the dressing room to wash up.
When he finally climbed into bed, a warm, soft sensation pressed against him before he could even close his eyes.
Diana, seemingly seeking a heat source, naturally entwined herself around his arm like a vine.
Tonight, William was wearing a sleeveless sleep shirt. The softness of the girl's chest pressed against his arm without any barrier.
All of William's fatigue vanished instantly.
His blood began to race; a hidden, primal instinct roared within him. He mocked himself inwardly—nineteen hours of high-intensity work couldn't stand a chance against her unconscious touch.
He stared at the ceiling, taking deep breaths, trying to suppress the restless heat. After all, he didn't want to wake a dreaming girl at 3:30 AM just to satisfy his own desires.
However, just as he managed to steady his breathing, Diana shifted in her sleep. A snowy, slender leg draped itself right over his upper thigh.
It was a gesture of absolute intimacy and trust.
Her body was as soft as a vine, tangling around him, shifting occasionally and brushing against him.
William's breath turned heavy and scorched, filled with a mix of frustration and a faint, rising pleasure.
Sleep was officially out of the question...